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Judges Chapter 6 "Midian's Oppression [1-10]." "The Deliverer Raised Up [11-18]." "The Angel of Yahoveh: The Message [19-40]." Remember the time of the judges was prior to the time that God gave the Israelites kings. There was the four hundred year period from the coming out of the wilderness, to the time when Samuel anointed Saul to be king over all Israel. During this time of the judges, the people wanted something that they could see and touch before they could believe in it, and God was not that, so the people would continually drift off into the worship of heathen gods, and build their heathen altars. God had given His laws and commandments to Moses while the Israelites were in the wilderness, however, now that Moses has died, as well as Joshua, the Judges were appointed to lead the people of Israel in the following of these laws, and also be the go between with God and the Israelites. This then is theocratic form of government where the religious order is the political leaders also. When one Judge would die there was a gap in time where there was no Judge to guide them. The Israelites would then just drift back into the old forms of heathen gods and religious forms that they were in before. Israel's problem came when they refused to follow God's command to them to either drive out or kill all the inhabitants of the land. God commanded through Moses that these heathen were not to be allowed to mix with them and even the cattle and altars were to be destroyed. The Israelites were disobedient and because of this sin against God, God allowed these heathen, these Jebusites, Canaanites, Kenites, Midianites and so on, to stay in the land and be a scourge to them. When Joshua died it wasn't long until all of Israel drifted into heathen religions, and their heathen neighbors put them under their rule. Each time this happened, God would raise up a Judged to put down the enemy. First it was Othniel the son of Caleb, who lead the Israelites in taking back their lands. After Othniel the Judge died, the nation went right back into Baal worship. It is important to understand the reason for Israel's falling back into bondage continually, is recorded in Judges 2:19. Judges 2:19 "And it came to pass, when the judge was dead, that they returned, and corrupted themselves more than their fathers, in following other gods to serve them, and to bow down unto them; they ceased not from their own doings, nor from their stubborn way." Then God raised up judges to free the people when they would drift from His laws and commandments, and when Othniel died, in time God raised another judge Ehud, and after Ehud came the powerful judge Deborah, who lead her army against Sisera and his nine hundred chariots. In each case, the victory was so complete that the people had no doubts in their mind that it was God that gave the victory. So now that Deborah is dead, and the nation of Israel has been in the hands of the Midianites for the past seven years, God is going to raise up a judge to bring the people back to Himself. God left the Canaanites and other enemies in the land for the sole purpose to teach the people to war. It's purpose is given in Judges 3:1, 2; "Now these are the nations which the Lord left, to prove Israel by them, even as many of Israel as had not known all the wars of Canaan; [1] Only that the generations of the children of Israel might know, to teach them war, at the least such as before knew nothing thereof; [2]." In teaching the Israelites to war, God used Shamgar with a ox goad, which is a six foot long stick with a nail on the end of it. God used a handicapped man with a knife, and a woman to lead the men into battle. Now here in this chapter we will see that God will use something entirely different. God will use the trumpet, the lantern and a bowl that the soldiers will break at the proper time. Each time and thing that is used for the battle is done so that His people will know for sure that it is God that is giving the battle into their hands, and it is He that gets the praise for the victory. The victory comes when the people of God have faith enough to trust that what He has said will come to pass, is sure, and the act on that faith in following God's instructions. Keep in mind that every one of these judges gave God the credit for the battle. Judges 6:1 "And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord: and the Lord delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years." These Midianites are the same people that Moses' father in law came from. Midian was the son of Abraham by his second wife Keturah. Genesis 25:1 "Then Again Abraham took a wife, and her name was Keturah." Genesis 25:2 "And she bare him Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah." However, the Midianites had intermarried with the Ishmaelites, and other nations, and mixed together, and took their heathen gods. These people were a Bedouin people, and it is important to know this, to understand what kind of people it is that conquered the Israelites. As Bedouins and wanderers, they are not soldiers and they were not well organized. When an organized army comes against any massive numbers of these wandering tent people, they will run from the danger. So we will see these Midianites defeated because God will create the kind of emotion that will cause them to run in terror. Judges 6:2 "And the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel: and because of the Midianites the children of Israel made them the dens which are in the mountains, and caves, and strong holds." These Midianites were robbers and nomads, and in their massive numbers they were stripping the Israelites of all their wealth. This is why the Israelites were digging dens and caves into the mountains to hid what wealth that they had. The Midianites were not so much interested in killing anyone, as much as they were stealing what they had, their sheep, gold and even their grains. When they came in amongst the Israelites in their massive numbers, the Israelites were defenseless to their ways, and stood by as these robbers walked off with anything of value. When this type of people takes over, all you need is someone to make a stand and say, "That's far enough, no more." Then these Midianites would have turned tail and ran. This is going to be another way that God is going to teach Israel to fight, even spiritually. When we learn to lean on our Father, and follow the instructions that are written in His Word, then one person can make a difference. A few good men and women can turn back multitudes far greater then themselves when they learn to trust on the Lord. These things happened as an example to us today, so that we can learn how to stand up and be somebody. Judges 6:3 "And so it was, when Israel had sown, that the Midianites came up, and the Amalekites, and the children of the east, even they came up against them;" So for the past seven years every time the Israelites planted their crops, when it became harvest time these Midianites would come upon them in masses, and take the harvest right out of the field, and out of their storehouses. This made it real tough when the winter came and there was no grain to feed their families. Judges 6:4 "And they encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth, till thou come unto Gaza, and left no sustenance for Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor ***." These Midianites were just a bunch of robbers that would take what they could and destroy the rest. This is why the Israelites learned to use those natural caves that were in the area, to store enough to survive the winter. Judges 6:5 "For they came up with their cattle and their tents, and they came as grasshoppers for multitude; for both they and their camels were without number: and they entered into the land to destroy it." These Midianites were so thick that they covered the earth like waves of locust. When they moved into any land, the ripe harvest that lay before them would turn like a wilderness when they had passed through. They stripped the land bare, and left nothing behind. Joel tells us that this is a type of how the Kenites and the locust army of fallen angels will strip the land of truth when they come with Satan at the sixth trump. Joel 1:4 "That which the palmer worm hath left hath the locust eaten; and that which the locust hath left hath the cankerworm eaten; and that which the cankerworm hath left hath the caterpillar eaten." The term "that which" refers to a warning that Moses gave in Deuteronomy 28:38, and this warning is to those that continue in forms of idolatry. This entire book of Joel is written to those that live in the final generation, for that time is after the Jews have returned to their homeland, and established their nation there. It is during this time that God would see to it that though the harvest was good, others would steal and take away by other means the fruits of our labor. Joel is giving us a warning for the end times, and he is using symbolism to tell us. This period of time is called the "great tribulation", which is the "great deception". It is a warning just like the one that Jesus gave us, comparing this time to the time of Noah. The Palmerworm are the "gnawers", the Kenites who prepare the way for the other steps of the locust. The "locust" army is the fallen angels that are cast out onto the earth with Satan, when he comes in his role as the Antichrist or false messiah. This time is at the sounding of the sixth trumpet. The last two stages of this stripping of the earth of all truth from God's Word is done by the "cankerworm" which are your spiritual leaders, such as your pastor, and the "caterpillar" which is your own family members. Between all these four levels, lead by the Kenites; the earth will be stripped clean of the truths of Word of God with understanding, and the only truth that is left for the time of the deception will be sealed away in the minds of the saved or foreheads of God's elect. During these end times when Satan is here on earth, These angels will intermingle with all of mankind around the earth. Though these spiritual beings will appear to be human, they are spiritual beings, just as those "sons of God" were in Genesis 6:1-6. The message that they will give will be taught by most all ministers from the pulpits of their church houses. They will promote Satan as the messiah, defend the right of the Sodomites, teach ecology, psychology and many other worldly causes. However, there will be a void in the teaching with understanding of God's Word, except to twist it, and make their teaching of it a lie. Joel 1:5 "Awake, ye drunkards, and weep; and howl, all ye drinkers of wine, because of the new wine; for it is cut off from your mouth." This "wine" in the Hebrew is "Yayin", or "Yayan". It is a bad wine, common and made from any root or plant you can get your hands on. In a spiritual sense, it makes you intoxicated or drunk and out of mental control. The "new wine" is derived from the Hebrew word "Asaia", which is "to dread". "Asaia" is a new and sweet wine from a vintage year. This wine, is held out by God to be given as a blessing. So what we are talking about here is the fact that God is calling out to His people in this last generation to wake up and seal in our minds with the truth of His Word. The "New Wine" is the knowledge about the difference between the fake Christ's coming, and the True Messiah which is Jesus Christ. It is the knowledge of the events of our day, that cause us to know where we are in relation to the coming of Satan to deceive the entire earth, so that we will not be deceived by him. Joel 1:6 "For a nation is come up upon My land strong, and without number, whose teeth are the teeth of a lion, and he hath the cheek teeth of a great lion." Prophetically, "My land" is "Jerusalem", which is the small nation calling itself Israel today. Remember that Joel is speaking to the final generation of the House of Judah, to that part of Israel that is in Palestine today. When Satan arrives on earth, he will set up his kingdom in Jerusalem and the entire world will come to worship him there. The number of people will be without number. Directing things from Jerusalem will be Satan's locust army of fallen angels, along with his offspring the Kenites. We read of this in Revelation 9. Revelation 9:7 "And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it crowns like gold, and there faces were as the faces of men." These angels have the faces of men because that is what they are, for mankind is made in the image of God and the angels. The reference to the hair of women is because they appear to be gentle as women, however they have the teeth of a lion that will rip the heart right out of you, spiritually speaking. They know they are doomed, and they want your soul right there in hell fire with them. Revelation 9:8 "And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions." Joel 1:7 "He hath laid My vine waste, and barked My fig tree: he hath made it clean bare, and cast it away; the branches thereof are made white." Jesus told us that we are to know "the parable of the fig tree", so that we would not be deceived during the time of the end. This parable was given to prepare us for the coming of Satan the Antichrist, and so that we could be on guard against the methods of the Kenites. To know who they are and what they intend to do. The first part of understanding this parable is to know what happened in the garden of Eden between Eve and Satan. For that sexual union of Satan and Eve came their son Cain. The Kenites are the offspring of Cain, who was the first murderer, and they have the mind of their father the devil. This is what you have to know, if you are to understand any of the parable of the fig tree. So the over-running of the Israelites by these Midianites was a type of what we shall see very shortly, when we are over-run By Satan and all his hoards. We are to be tested and guided before hand, just as God is preparing Gideon for his mission of making an end of these Midianites in the land. Judges 6:6 "And Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites; and the children of Israel cried unto the Lord." The Israelites had reach the end of their rope, and they could see no way out of their situation, and they cried out to the Lord God. Any time you cry out to the Lord and tell Him that you love Him, He will hear your prayer and forgive your sins. That is the starting point of having the victory over your enemies, your turning to God in prayer. It is no different today then it was in Gideon's day. Judges 6:7 "And it came to pass, when the children of Israel cried unto the Lord because of the Midianites," When you are in trouble and cry out to the Lord for His help, God will change things for you. Judges 6:8 "That the Lord sent a prophet unto the children of Israel, which said unto them, " 'Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I brought you up from Egypt, and brought you forth out of the house of bondage;" This Prophet from God is reminding the Israelites of all the miracles that God had done for them, from the time of their bondage in Egypt and the parting of the Red sea, to the fall of the walls of Jericho. Judges 6:9 "And I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all that oppressed you, and drave them out from before you, and gave you their land;" It looks like these Israelites, our forefather were kind of spoiled when God made it so easy for them. All they had to do is to follow the path that He leads. While they were in the desert or wilderness for the forty years, God placed the manna out on the ground so all they had to do is to go out and pick it up. God provided so many quill for the Israelites in the wilderness that it was like going to the chicken house to select the one that you would have for dinner today. Judges 6:10 "And I said unto you, 'I am the Lord your God; fear not the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but ye have not obeyed My voice.' " When the Israelites came into the promised land, they forgot all the blessings that God gave them, and they switched right into Baalism, and the worship of Ashorath. It's the questioning as to whether God really exists, and the putting man and his reason and reproductive abilities in the place of the True God. This same thing is going on today in many church houses, and religious orders that could be considered cults, or part of the occult in their questioning That God is actually real, or is some force off in the universe. In fact even science today has departed from the very forms that they established for themselves, as to whether something could be accepted as scientific evidence, or a fake. Before being accepted today by the scientific world an "authority", someone that they have established as being all knowing must understand and accept the fact as being true, then they will accept it as being absolutely true. The problem is that these co-called "experts" are men that base their conclusions on the reasoning capacity of their own minds. Their minds are quite limited, thus there conclusions become as strange as they are. They make their statements, and because they have made them, they expect others to accept them as fact. Their strange outcome becomes obvious in such areas as evolution, and astronomy. When Charles Darwin made his statements, which he stole from the works Herbert Spencer and Alfred R. Wallace, they were a series of assorted ideas where each idea on it's own wouldn't hold water. So he borrowed from Charles Lyell, his old friend, Lyell's "Doctrine of Uniformity" that states that: 1. All conditions have existed for millions of years, exactly as they are today. 2. No world wide catastrophes have occurred for the past 240 million years. This time factor gave Darwin time to explain away his conclusions. However, when anyone talks about one million, fifty million or two hundred and forty million it is an abstract that man's minds simply can't comprehend, nor prove, so their ideas take the form of theories, and puts their ideas in the realm of "make believe". It removes evolution from being scientific, and places it as a religion, something that you take by faith, sight unseen, for religion is a man made form of worship: unlike Christianity, which is a reality. It is interesting that this "uniformity doctrine" was taken from Hutton in 1795, and later developed by Lacarch in 1800, but it was Lyell, the young attorney, with his interests in geology that made the statement so modified to read so it could be reasonable and acceptable to others. The mixture of Lyell's dogma made Darwin's evolution theory reasonable, and the so-called scientific world took up the cause, because it gave them something to replace God in their lives. Today the Kenites will destroy anyone that goes against their wild ideas in the scientific world, and this occult of evolution has become reality. To many this reality cult of evolution has become a way of life and the way of earning a living to these people. Everybody is trying to steal from others and put their name to it, and call themselves the fathers of what ever the idea is. There is a statement made in the book, "Protocols of Zion", by the Learned Elders of Zion; under Protocol No. 2, on page 16. It is in reference to the changing of the minds of what Jews call "goyim" with regards to science. The quote goes like this; "Do not suppose for a moment that these statements are empty words: think carefully of the successes we arranged for Darwinism, Marxism, Nietzsche-ism. To us Jews, at any rate, it should be plain to see what a disintegrating importance these directives have had upon the minds of the goyim". By the way, Christians and non-Jews are considered "goyim" by the Jews, and it is a word that means "cattle". The theory of evolution states that: "All forms of life evolve by gradual emergence from the same most primitive, one-cell living organism. Chance variations occur in members of every species, and no two individuals are entirely identical. These variations are inheritable. The favorable variations, those that are helpful in the struggle for existence, may accumulate to such a degree that a new species originates, the members of which can have no fruitful progeny with the members of the parental species." Charles Darwin. The theory of Darwin and Christianity simply don't mix. Darwin relies on the mind and reasoning of man, and states that man originated by chance, while the Bible teaches quite the contrary. God stated that man was created in the state that he is in, in all the races, and our souls were placed in our physical bodies at the time of conception. There is nothing to argue about on this matter, you either accept God's Word as truth, or follow the lies of Darwin's man made traditions. What we are led to believe is that all life forms came by chance from a one celled organism, and that it just happened by chance. Then over the course of 240 million years, there was no world wide existence of any world wide catastrophe, but that all things have remained the same. This goes against what the Bible says, and even against the evidence that exists no matter where you are in all the earth. Even common sense tells you that the whole idea is nuts. Every time you drive your car, you burn fuel that comes from the chemical adjustments of dead organisms from a catastrophe from somewhere in the past. Even life itself proves that it is a lie, in that there has been not one mutation from one animal species to another that has been witnessed by any man, or even recorded anywhere in history. The apostle Paul wrote in I Corinthians 1:18 "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God." The world "power" as given here, in the Greek tongue it is "dunamis", which we get our word for "Dynamite". I Corinthians 1:19 "For it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent." Paul is quoting from the prophet Isaiah, from Isaiah 29:14; "Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvelous work among this People, even a marvelous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid." This marvelous "work and wonder" that shall come upon all of these people is that they shall be fool and deceived through the so-called wisdom of their "wise men". It is God that will send the delusion so that if you want to believe a lie, He will not hinder hinder you one bit. If you want to believe Lyell's theories, or Darwin's, or in fact any of the cults, God will not only allow you to do it and He will not hinder you an any way. He will let you sink all the way to the bottom of that spiritual pit, and hit with a thud. It is only then that you will come to your senses and cry out to God for help. Today this wisdom of the so-called wise is leading our nation into the new world order, and it is giving a strange twists to the Word of God. However in the time of the Judges, when the judge died there was no the go-between of God and man, then the people would lose their sense of direction and stray after strange gods, idols and forms of religious practices. Men and women think that they need their God to be seen and touchable before they can have faith in Him, However, our God requires our faith in Him when we can neither see nor touch Him physically. For this blind obedience by faith, God gives us salvation by grace, which is only offered in this earth age. This is because in the Millennium age, all souls will be in their spiritual bodies, and Christ will be here with us. There will be no grace by faith then, but salvation in the Millennium age will come only by your works, and those works will be reviewed at judgment day by our Father. Though we have the cross today to look back to today and His coming, those same promises were given in the Old Testament times, even back in the Garden of Eden, yet the Israelites departed from God over and over when their leaders would die. They departed from the burnt sacrifice offerings for their sins, and the love offerings for the Father, and would turn to the so-called "wise men" of their day. These were the Kenites that they allowed into their midst, and they brought their man made forms of worship that were called "Baal" and "Ashorath", that were forms of men worshipping themselves. When God told the Israelites "fear not", which in the Hebrew text is "don't give reverence to" the gods of the Amorites, which were Baal and Ashorath; they would not listen to God. We see in the book of the judges that thirteen times when their judge or spiritual leader died, they headed right out to the gods of the heathen Kenites and Amorites that were living amongst them. Judges 6:11 "And there came an Angel of the Lord and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abi-ezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites." "Angel of the Lord" spoken of here is God Himself, in the likeness that flesh man can face. It is a Christ walking the earth Himself, "Emmanuel", which translated means; "God with us". This is how God could talk directly to man, through the "Angel of the Lord". It is important that we translate both Joash and Gideon back into the Hebrew tongue. "Joash the Abiezrite" means "the father [Joash] of help [Abi-ezrite], or "the father of helps his son". "Gideon" means "the cutter down" being translated from the Hebrew text. So lets try to understand who this man Gideon is, and what type of fellow he is. The "winepress" is a vat used to crush the grapes to extract the juices, and it is located in the vineyard itself. It is usually hidden in such a location that one could hide in there and not be noticed. Gideon is not crushing the grapes near this winepress, but he is threshing wheat. Gideon is pounding the wheat with a stick there because it is quieter. Gideon is afraid of being noticed, for this is the low estate that the Israelites had come, allowing these foreigners to run wild through their lands. There was no one in all the land to stand up for what was rightfully their, but instead they ran and hid like a bunch scared rabbits. So rather then doing the threshing out in the open, like it should be done, Gideon is stroking the wheat with a stick off in a hidden area. Judges 6:12 "And the Angel of the Lord appeared unto him, and said unto him, "The Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valour." Many teachers get this verse a little mixed up, for Gideon is not a "mighty man of valour" when he is hiding out behind the winepress out in the orchard. However, in as much as God is with Gideon, and Gideon will be drawing from the strength of God, the valor comes by following God's instructions which will give the victory. It is God that makes things happen to where you find favor with God, and through your obedience to His Words, you receive the valor from God. It is because of Gideon's following the instructions of exactly what God gave to him, that he became the hero to the people. Judges 6:13 "And Gideon said unto Him, "Oh my Lord, if the Lord be with us, why then is all this befallen us: and where be all His miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, 'Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt?' but now the Lord hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites." This is a face to face conversation between Gideon and God, who is in a form that Gideon can see. Gideon is very serious about why and how this could all have happened where the Midianites are over-running the land. No one was safe in the streets, and their wealth and property are being taken from them to where they are stripped clean of what they had. Gideon is asking, if the Lord is with us, then why am I hiding out in this corner of the orchard, striving just to get enough wheat to make my bread? Why are our people become impoverished by the Midianite thieves that are running the streets around us. Friend, this is not God's fault, if you look around your streets today and see the same things happening today; then take a look at the people of God, and what they are doing. Are they studying God's Word to know what they are to do, and following those instruction? Or have they brought into their church houses some Kenites, with their twisted doctrines and accepting those forms of Baal, Ashorath, and maybe the rapture doctrine as the foundation of their faith? Are they preparing for the coming of the first christ, the Antichrist so that they will not be deceived, or are they preparing themselves to be spiritual whores to Satan the Antichrist? If you are one of these poor-me babies that like to whimper and cry over everything that goes on, then you better take a better look at yourself. You make the bed that you lie in, and that is exactly what will come your way. Remember what we read earlier from Isaiah 29:14, the wisdom of the so-called wise men of any day shall parish, and the understanding that comes from their prudent men shall be hid from those that do not seek the wisdom from God. Anything that comes your way, come because you allow it to happen by the very choices that you make for yourself. You can stumble through your life in this world and not even know why you are here in this flesh body, or you can seek the truth from His Word and know the entire plan of God. Anytime Jesus Christ was asked a question by the Kenites, and the wicked of His day, He would answer; "It is written...", haven't you read it? Unfortunately there is not much difference between Jesus day and ours, or that of Gideon's day. People like to stand by and moan and complain about everything that goes wrong, and leave God completely out of their lives. The point to this chapter is that God can take poor losers and make champions out of them when they learn to follow God's Word, and do as they are instructed. God is going to lead Gideon, because He is going to give the enemy into Gideon's hands. Judges 6:14 "And the Lord looked upon him, and said, "Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee?" Gideon's might is YHVH, the Lord God almighty, and that is where all of our mights rests, when we learn to communicate with Him. God gives His instructions when we are taught through His Word, and when we use those instruction for the service of the Lord and He blesses us, then God gets all the credit. When you claim a promise of God, and God delivers that blessing to you, then you are to recognize where the power of your strength came from. Judges 6:15 "And he said unto Him, "Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house." Gideon was crying and moaning that he is nothing, he is the least in his family and that his father's family is the poorest of all the families of the tribe of Manasseh. "Poorest" as it is used here, means "the youngest of all his brothers". Judges 6:16 "And the Lord said unto him, "Surely will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man." God is telling Gideon that though the Midianites are many, God is going to allow Gideon to smite them all as if they were but one man. One person can make a difference in a world that has rejected our Heavenly Father. You can make a difference when you allow God to use you as He sees fit. God will use you exactly where you are, in your home, community and family, and He can turn you from a cry baby, into a champion for Him. People are drawn to the strength and honesty that comes only from God. Judges 6:17 "And he said unto Him, "If now I have found grace in Thy sight, then shew me a sign that thou talkest with me." Talk is great and especially when it comes from God, when you are looking at God in the person, but Gideon is saying prove it to me that you will give me the victory. This is a normal response for anyone in the flesh. Judges 6:18 "Depart not hence, I pray Thee, until I come unto Thee, and bring forth my present, and set it before Thee. And He said, "I will tarry until thou come again." It was customary that you offer something to somebody when you are asking a favor of them. God told Gideon to go and get his gift and He would wait until Gideon would return. This was not just a man waiting, but it was the "Angel of the Lord". Judges 6:19 "And Gideon went in, and made ready a kid, and unleavened cakes of an ephah of flour: the flesh he put in a basket, and he put the broth in a pot, and brought it out unto Him under the oak, and presented it." Notice that it was "unleavened" cakes of bread, and an "ephah", which is about twenty pounds of flour. These were had times, and we see that this offering to God just about emptied the cupboards. This place that God waited was under a popular oak, for there is no other description given as to its location. Judges 6:20 "And the Angel of God said unto him, "Take the flesh and the unleavened cakes, and lay them upon this rock, and pour out the broth." And he did so." Gideon did exactly as God told him to do, even though it may seem like it was wasting the precious food, the unleavened bread, the meat and the broth. These were hard times, and it was hard to get food in that day. Yet when God told Gideon to place them on the rock that was there, and he pour the broth over the altar, Gideon followed God's instructions. Judges 6:21 "And the Angel of the Lord put forth the end of the staff that was in His hand, and touched the flesh and the unleavened cakes; and there rose up fire out of the rock, and consumed the flesh and the unleavened cakes Then the Angel of the Lord departed out of his sight." When there is fire on the altar of God, it means that God had accept that sacrifice that was offered to Him. This is similar to the altar that Elijah had made to God, when challenging the four hundred prophets of Baal, when king Ahab and all Israel turned to Baalism and against God. I Kings 18:31 "And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the Lord came, saying, "Israel shall be thy name:" I Kings 18:32 "And with the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord: and he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed." I Kings 18:33 "And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid him on the wood, and said, "Fill four barrels with water, and put it on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood." I Kings 18:34 "And He said, Do it the second time." and they did it a second time. And he said , "Do it a third time." And they did it the third time." " I Kings 18:35 "And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water." Elijah had built the altar and placed what should be on that altar according to His Word. Then to make sure that there would be no misunderstanding as to who was accepting that sacrifice, God instructed Elijah to soak the entire thing in water three times. I Kings 18:36 "And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, "Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that Thou art God in Israel, and that I am Thy servant, and that I have done all these things at Thy word." Elijah is letting the people know that what is going to happen that they will witness is from God, and it is He that will consume the sacrifice. There will be no confusion of what God will do. I Kings 18:37 "Hear me, O lord, hear Me, that this People may know that Thou art the Lord God, and that Thou hast turned their heart back again." There is the reason for this demonstration that God will perform through the hands of Elijah. It is to turn the hearts and minds of the people away from Baalism and back to God, so that they will live for God and follow His ways. I Kings 18:38 "Then the fire of the Lord fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench." God didn't just consume the sacrifice, but the soaked wood, the stones that the altar was made of, and the dust of the earth that was under the stones were taken by the fire. Even the water in the trench around the altar was licked up and consumed by the fire. "Our God is a consuming fire" [Hebrews 12:29], and this is stated in both the Old and New Testament. I Kings 18:39 "And when all the People saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, "The Lord, He is the God; the Lord, He is the God." This was the purpose for the altar and the demonstration that Elijah gave. It was to turn the hearts of the people back to God. When they witnessed this fire from God, they believed. We live in a time today when all kinds of prophesies from the Bible are happening right before our eyes, yet the people are spiritually blind to them. When they should be turning back to God, most simply go about their daily lives as though what is happening is what God owes them. Lets look at the symbolism of this verse in Judges. The "unleavened bread" is our Passover of today, and it symbolizes Jesus Christ body in at the Communion table. The "Rock"; God is our Rock and the very foundation that we build our lives upon. In that the Angel of the Lord has departed, Gideon is now alone. Judges 6:22 "And when Gideon perceived that He was an Angel of the Lord, Gideon said, "Alas, O Lord God! for because I have seen an Angel of the Lord face to face." It wasn't until after the Angel of the Lord had departed, that Gideon become afraid. It was written in traditions that when you see the face of God you will die. Gideon had seen the face of God, and he expected to die, however he was still alive. Judges 6:23 "And the Lord said unto him, "Peace be unto thee; fear not: thou shalt not die." The Angel of the Lord had departed from Gideon to where he could not see Him, yet God simply talked to Gideon and assured him that he would not die. Judges 6:24 "Then Gideon built an altar there unto the Lord, and called it Jehovah-shalom: unto this day it is yet in Ophrah of the Abiezrites." Gideon built an altar to the Lord, and this altar in the Massorah text is called "YHVH-shalom". "YHVH" is the sacred name of the Lord, and "shalom" in the Hebrew tongue means "peace".. Gideon called the Lord "Father", the Lord of Peace, for surely He is going to bring peace to His people. Judges 6:25 "And it came to pass the same night, that the Lord said unto him, "Take thy father's young bullock, even the second bullock of seven years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that thy father hath, and cut down the grove that is by it:" The "Grove" is where they practiced their "grove worship, which was their sexual orgies. It is their fertility rites from were we get the Easter bunny, Easter eggs, the Easter bonnet and all the other things of spiritual whoredom that go with grove worship. This includes the early Sunday morning sunrise service where all the men would go out on a hill and bow to the sun when it came up on that day. Then because we are Christians we rename these heathen customs and call them "Christian rites", and it is suppose to please our Father. It doesn't. The truly sad part of this custom is that we have overlooked the most important day of all Christianity, and that is the Passover, for on that day Christ came out of that tomb, and through His resurrection we have victory over Satan and all of his realm. Somehow so-called Christians attribute Passover to the Jews, who denounce Christ, and chase after the Kenite Jews religious order of Baal and Ashorath [Esther] as being Christian. If they will do this in their church houses, there is no doubt that they will worship Satan as their Christ, when he is cast from heaven at the sixth trumpet. This act of preparing for Satan's coming is what the rapture is all about, being taken by the first messiah to come, which is the false Christ, Satan, in his role as the Antichrist. Christians today are one confused bunch of people, thy refuse to take God at face value, yet they will run to the Kenites and all their stupid doctrines and grab them like those heathen customs were from God. This is where "Gideon" received his name from, "the cutter down", for Gideon will be the one to cut down the grove worship, the sexual orgies of Baal and Ashorath, and turn the hearts of the people back to God. Judges 6:26 "And build an altar unto the Lord thy God upon the top of this rock, in the ordered place, and take the second bullock, and offer a burnt sacrifice with the wood of the grove which thou shalt cut down." God is telling Gideon to clear out all the idols and things that were part of grove worship and destroy them. Then Gideon is to form the altar to God in an orderly manner. On the top of these rocks, take the wood from the idols of the grove worship and use that wood to build a fire on the top of My altar. This way God is going to have a burnt sacrifice on His altar, and clean up the heathen mess at the same time. Judges 6:27 "Then Gideon took ten men of his servants, and did as the Lord had said unto him: and so it was, because he feared his father's household, and the men of the city, that he could not do it by day, that he did it by night." Give Gideon credit for using his head and getting the job done at a time when there was the least resistance. I'm sure there would be a real battle if this had happened when the people were aware of their heathen gods were being destroyed. You know that their would be war if someone tried to take the heathen customs out of the Christianity, and force the congregation to accept only the Word of God. Judges 6:28 "And when the men of the city arose early in the morning, behold, the altar of Baal was cast down, and the grove was cut down that was by it, and the second bullock was offered upon the altar that was built." As the town started to awake in the morning, the men went to their idols to worship and there was no altar, nor grove area for their sexual orgies. It was all gone and the tempers started to flare. All of this is a type of something that will happen at a later time. The false messiah will appear on this earth prior to the True Messiah Jesus Christ. The false messiah, or Satan in the role of the Antichrist is symbolic of Baal, which came out of ancient Babylon. This is the same Babylon mentioned in Revelation 17:5; "And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH." One Babylon is a type of the other. It is the rebirth of an ancient religious order that is brought forward to the time of the end, or our generation, and this religious form will be accepted in the minds or "forehead" of this one world religious system called "the Mother of Harlots, and the Abominations of the earth". Gideon knew that their must be a change before God would listen to their cries and do something about it, and he is following God's instructions in what is required before He will accept their sacrifices. Judges 6:29 "And they said one to another, "Who hath done this thing?" And when they enquired and asked, they said, "Gideon the son of Joash hath done this thing." When the town folk saw what had happened they knew at once that it was Gideon; the "cutter down" [Gideon] did it. Judges 6:30 "Then the men of the city said unto Joash, "Bring out thy son, that he may die: because he hath cast down the altar of Baal, and because he hath cut down the grove that was by it." You can see how serious this matter is, for Gideon had destroyed their idols and altars to Baal. He destroyed their places of sex orgies, and disrupted their forms of worship. In archaeological finds, even in America, there have been ancient Baal altars and symbols found. There is nothing new under the sun. Any time people drift away from the truth of God's Word they allow time and man's inventions of religious forms to take hold. When the religious leaders start to substitute heathen religious practices and symbols for the things of God's Word, in time they lose all sense of what is of God, and what is of man. In time the things of man and his pleasures take priority over their things that God requires. This is what has happened in Gideon's community, and it is also what is going on in Christian America today. In fact in the prosperity doctrines that are common today, Christians have come to believe that prosperity is a measurement of your spiritual positions with God. They think that man can demand something of God, and He has to give it. Friend, anything that you put before God is an idol, and when these people came to Joash, Gideon's father, to complain of what Gideon had done, we can see the good stock that Gideon came from. Judges 6:31 "And Joash said unto all that stood against him, "Will ye plead for Baal? will ye save him? he that will plead for him, let him be put to death whilst it is yet morning: if he be a god, let him plead for himself, because one hath cast down his altar." After Joash heard all that the people had to say, he asked the people, "Do you have to do Baal's fighting for him?" Is this a god that requires you to save him? Joash had the right idea here and he told the people, if Baal is a god, then let him come an plead for himself. Don't you go and try to kill my son, for if Baal is mad about my son destroying his altar, let Baal do the killing himself. The point here is that Baal is not a god, but a religious form that people have dreamed up, and in their ignorance have followed. When people say that they are going to put a curse on someone, it shows their ignorance, for there is no such thing. However if they believe it, it cause them to do strange things and their actions almost become the fact. If someone allows Satan to send his evil spirit upon them, and they are open to that evil spirit, that causes them to do the evil deed that they blame on the spirit. A servant of God does not have to put up with non-sense, but we have the power to order evil spirits out of our lives. In the power of God, you have power over anything negative in your life. Superstition is a evil religious form, and when it is in your life you put yourself a slave to it. It is not the fact that you do that particular thing, but the condition that you set in your mind and allow your mind to be a slave to. Christians are to refuse to allow superstitions and evil practices that are negative to get in the way of seeing the truth from God's Word. Judges 6:32 "Therefore on that day he called him Jerubbaal, saying, "Let Baal plead against him, because he hath thrown down his altar." So Joash was renamed at that place to "Jerubbaal", which means "Let Baal plead for himself". Judges 6:33 "Then all the Midianites and the Amalekites and the children of the east were gathered together, and went over , and pitched in the valley of Jezreel." "Jezreel" is a play on the word "Israel" and it means "the seed of God". These Midianites and their friends the Amalekites came upon the children of Israel, all the tribes as Israel is preparing for the time of harvest. It was the annual time when the Midianites would come in and take everything that was lose and not tied down. Judges 6:34 "But the Spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon, and he blew a trumpet; and Abi-ezer was gathered after him." The Spirit of the Lord is about to do a great work through Gideon, and Gideon blew the trumpet to get the troops together. Judges 6:35 "And he sent messengers throughout all Manasseh; who also was gathered after him: and he sent messengers unto Asher, and unto Zebulun, and unto Naphtali and they came up to meet them." Manesseh is the largest of the tribes in number. Remember that in the previous battles Zebulun and Naphtali were right there when it was time for the battle. The word "Manasseh" means "forgetful" and we have see that it doesn't take long to forget the things that have happened to them. Judges 6:36 "And Gideon said unto God, "If Thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as Thou hast said," Judges 6:37 "Behold, I will put a fleece of wool in the floor; and if the dew be on the fleece only, and it be dry upon all the earth beside, then shall I know that Thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as Thou hast said." Gideon has seen the Angel of the Lord face to face. He has heard God talk to him from heaven, and he trusted the Lord enough to destroy all the heathen idols and grove worship, but Gideon still wants another sign from God before he leads the troops against this huge multitude of Midianites. The way that Gideon has stated this test of God, is just the reversal of the natural order of the due when it settles on the ground in the mornings for only the fleece of wool would be wet. Judges 6:38 "And it was so: for he rose up early on the morrow, and thrust the fleece together, and wringed the dew out of the fleece, a bowl full of water." In the morning when Gideon went to get the fleece, He found a bowl full of water while the ground around it was dry. Judges 6:39 "And Gideon said unto God, "Let not thine anger be hot against me, and I will speak but this once: let me prove, I pray Thee, but this once with the fleece; let it now be dry only upon the fleece, and upon all the ground let there be dew." This would be the reversal of the first test that Gideon gave to God. Judges 6:40 "And God did so that night: for it was dry upon the fleece only, and there was dew on all the ground." God really had a lot of patience with Gideon. God wanted to relieve His people from the bonds of those Midianites, and at the same time turn His people back to Him. God choose Gideon, a man hiding out back behind the vat in the orchard, and came to speak to him personally. God tested Gideon by having him destroy the altars of Baal, and then use that material to build an altar to Him, and offer a sacrifice on that altar. Then God allowed Gideon to test Him, to verify that what He was about to do, was for sure from God. We have many churches today that fit the category that the people were in at the time of Gideon. They are so deep in tradition and Baal worship that they are just like those Israelites that came to Joash. Modern day man has brought in today's form of heathenism, and their ignorance is bliss to them. So God's Word is very clear and the types are set for the deliverance that is about to come to Israel. Today ignorance is bliss, however, God's Word is very clear as to the types and events that are set. Of course the children are not going to hell for rolling an Easter egg, or mother for wearing her bonnet. When you teach your children, teach them the truths out of God's Word. Teach them what what the egg stands for, and that it symbolizes fertility and that it came from the ancient feast of "Ishtar" the heathen goddess. It was a fertility rite. If you want to have your children carry the eggs on Passover, and partake in this rite, it is up to you. But teach your children what the things that they do symbolizes. It has absolutely nothing to do with our Lord's passover. This is said to inform you that heathenism is in many places of our churches today. The Shepherds Chapel

Judges Chapter 8 "Pursuit and Capture of Midianite kings." We saw in the last chapter that God chose three hundred men to go against the multitude of Midianites, and chase them from their lands. We saw that God had the victory through conditioning the Midianites to the point that at the name of Gideon, they went into a stampede, and in terror ran from the land of the Israelites. So in this chapter, Gideon and his three hundred men are going to pursue after the Midianites until they have been completely destroyed and their two kings taken captive. God gave us this story in the book of Judges so that we could know that there are no giants in the land, and with God on our side there is nothing to big for us. The point is that we follow His Word and try to be pleasing to God. We must be just and right in our ways, according to His Word. When we try to please our Heavenly Father, He will give us the victory, or blessing in our daily life. When Gideon had the Midianites on the run, the members of the other tribes joined in on the chase, and this is where this chapter begins. Judges 8:1 "And the men of Ephraim said unto him, "Why hast thou served us thus, that thou calledst us not, when thou wentest to fight with the Midianites?" And they did chide with him sharply." Ephraim was one of the largest tribes, along with Manasseh and as Jacob blessed these two sons of Joseph in Genesis 48:16 he said; "The angel Which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth." Though Manasseh was the older of the two brothers, God showed Jacob [israel] that the grandson that would carry the name of Israel to the final day of this earth age, was the younger brother Ephraim. Joseph saw his father had crossed his arms when he was blessing his sons, and giving the blessing of the Abrahamic covenant to the younger son, when it should have gone to Manasseh, and he spoke out. Genesis 48:19 "And his father refused, and said, "I know it, my son, I know it: he also shall become a people, and he also shall be great: but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become a multitude of nations." Genesis 48:20 "And he blessed them that day, saying, "In thee shall Israel bless, saying, 'God make thee as Ephraim and as Manasseh:' "and he set Ephraim before Manasseh." So Ephraim became the leader and the one to carry the covenant promises that God promised to Abraham. Many today think that Judah is the tribe that God chose to carry the blessing of the covenant promises, but Judah was selected to carry the scepter, to write the laws and be the judge. I point this out here because Ephraim knows that it is his responsibility and position to be the leader of the tribes, and to carry the banner for all Israel when there is a conflict. When Gideon took his three hundred men against the Midianites, the tribe of Ephraim was left out of the battle, and it is obvious why. The Midianites had been dominating the Israelites for many years, and during that time Ephraim did nothing to remove the Midianites from their lands and stop the thievery. They had turned their backs on God and his ways, and gone whoring after Baalism and the grove worship of Ashorath. God chose Gideon because he was willing to do exactly what God told him to do. It was God's battle, and God set the plans and carried them out through His Spirit. The men of Ephraim were mad at Gideon for taking the three hundred men up to the battle, and leaving them out of all the fun. They wanted to take the credit for kicking out the Midianites, and now there was none for themselves, so they thought. I wonder why Ephraim didn't take the leadership during the eighteen years of bondage, and make a move then to kick the rascals out then. They were to use to running and hiding, and being afraid of the Midianites' numbers. Remember that is was God's battle, and God is the one that gave the victory to Gideon. Judges 8:2 "And he said unto them, "What have I done now in comparison of you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better then the vintage of Abiezer?" This is the way that you get along with people, you find something that they did well and stress it as having greater value then what you have done. The men of Ephraim knew that it is not so, but they accepted Gideon's humble attitude. The point made here is that the gleaning is for the poor people, while the vintage is for the cream of the crop. Gideon is comparing all the things that the men of Ephraim had done in the victory, as the gleanings, and saying that their gleanings are far better then the best, or vintage of the battle of Gideon's men. It is a method of building up Ephraim and lowering the value of what he had done. Remember when Gideon was back behind the grape vat in the orchard, and God called Gideon in the first place? Gideon's response was that he was from the poorest fo the poor families, and he was the youngest of the family. Why are you picking on me, God? So Gideon is blowing their horn for them. Judges 8:3 "God hath delivered into your hands the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb: and what was I able to do in comparison of you?" Then their anger was abated toward him, when he had said that." This is politics here. Gideon is pointing to the fact that Ephraim has capture the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb, and how can you compare this great act to what I have done. When the men of Ephraim heard Gideon build them up, their pride took away their anger, and Gideon looked now to be a pretty swell guy. It was written in the last verse of Judges 7 that Ephraim had taken the two princes and put them to death. Judges 8:4 "And Gideon came to Jordan, and passed over, he, and the three hundred men that were with him, faint, yet pursuing them." After the battle of the three hundred men, not one of them lost their life, and they were still together. There was a slight delay in Gideon's plans with his meeting with the men of Ephraim, but now Gideon and his men were on their way again in hot pursuit of the Midianites, and their two kings. The men had been going all night long, and it is now well into the next day. They were tired and hungry and desired something to eat. Judges 8:5 "And he said unto the men of Succoth, "Give, I pray you, loaves of bread unto the people that follow me; for they be faint, and I am pursuing after Zebah and Zalmunna, kings of Midian." In their pursuit of the Midianites they came upon the town of Succoth, and Gideon asked the men of Succoth for food for his men to eat. There could be no doubt what the mission of Gideon was, for the Midianites where large in numbers, and the men of Succoth did not want to face these kings if they had given comfort to their enemies. Judges 8:6 "And the princes of Succoth said, "Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine hand, that we should give bread unto thine army?" The men of Succoth have had thousands of Midianites marching through their city for the past seven years, and not one Israelite has lifted a finger to put a stop to the looting. These princes of Succoth want to know, if you have the kings Zebah and Zalmunna in your hands now, then we will help you. There these three hundred rag tag army men of Gideon, straggling into town and claiming that they are in hot pursuit of the Midianites. That was hard for the men of Succoth to believe. The men of Succoth are a bit cowardly, for they knew that there is no way that the Midianites will fall to this group that stands before them, and they refuse to give Gideons army anything. The Succothites are showing their complete lack of faith in God, or His Word. Judges 8:7 "And Gideon said, "Therefore when the Lord hath delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into mine hand, then I will tear your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers." Gideon is mad, so he gave these people a promise that when he had taken the kings Zebah and Zalmunna, he would be coming back here and beat them with the thorns of the widerness and with briers. This isn't a threat of killing them, but of giving them great discomfort. There wasn't time to waste on the matter now, but latter when Gideon came back he would set the matter straight. Judges 8:8 "And he went up thence to Penuel, and spake unto them likewise: and the men of Penuel answered him as the men of Succoth had answered him." When they were turned down in Succoth, the three hundred men staggered on to the next town, Penuel, and they received the same reception there. Judges 8:9 "And he spake also unto the men of Penuel, saying, "When I come again in peace, I will break down this tower." Their "tower" was a castle that they were proud of, and Gideon warned that the next time that he came here, he was going to tare down their castle. Judges 8:10 "Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor, and their hosts with them, about fifteen thousand men, all that were left of all the hosts of the children of the east: for there fell an hundred and twenty thousand men that drew sword." Of all the hoards of people and armed men that were with them, there were very few Midianites left, for those left were men of the east. Stop and think for a moment. Gideon has not lost a man yet, nor had the others of Israel, yet God so set a panic within their camp that 120,000 men of the Midianites and their allies were killed. When the battle began they turned and killed each other. They lost their senses of who the enemy was, and drew their swords on their own brothers. The odds are getting better for Gideon and his men, with only fifteen thousand men remaining to fight against the three hundred men of Gideon. Look at it this way, this was the fifteen thousand that could run the fastest, to keep up with their kings that were on the run. Judges 8:11 "And Gideon went up by the way of them that dwelt in tents on the east of Nobah and Jogbehaha, and smote the host: for the host was secure." Gideon and his men took their time, and moved against the Midianites when they were in their tents and finished them off. Judges 8:12 "And when Zebah and Zalmanna fled, he pursued after them, and took the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and discomfited all the hosts." When the battle was over Zebah and Zalmanna had fled, and those left in the camp were terrified by what was going on in the camp. Here again that strange feeling that hit the camp the night before when Gideon sounded the trumpets and broke the pitchers, and shouted, "The sword of the Lord, and of Gideon". The Spirit of the Lord will put discomfort in the hearts of your enemies, when you are doing the service of the Lord. Judges 8:13 "And Gideon the son of Joash returned from battle before the sun was up," This battle like the last one didn't last long, it was over before the sun came up. So now Gideon has the two kings in hand, and he is heading back home with the kings of the Midianites. Judges 8:14 "And caught a young man of the men of Succoth, and enquired of him: and he described unto him the princes of Succoth, and the elders thereof, even threescore and seventeen men." Before Gideon entered into Succoth, he caught a young man from Succoth, and had the young man describe to them exactly who the elders of the city were, and those that were in charge. When the young man was finished detailing and writing down who the important men of the city were, the count was seventy seven men. There would be no person of importance in this town that would go unpunished for the rudeness that they gave Gideon and his men. Judges 8:15 "And he came unto the men of Succoth, and said, "Behold Zebah and Zalmunna, with whom ye did upbraid me, saying, 'Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine hand, that we should give bread unto thy men that are weary?' " Gideon is reminding the men of Succoth what was promised to them when they took Zebah and Zalmunna, and returned. God wants you to see that Gideon is going to be a judge, and he is reacting with God's power and with God's blessing. Gideon is going to judge these people and judge them fairly, and God is in complete agreement with the decision that Gideon is going to pass on the men of Succoth. The judgment that is passed here should be the same as you would find in a court of law. God's law is absolute, and not like our laws of our land today. For we are under "the law of precedence" today, whereby when a judge makes a decision, that sets the standard or precedent for the next time a similar case come before the bench of any court. If it is a bad decision, the cases there after are also going to be as the first case that was decided. So we are going to see a little example of law here. The point here is that when you judge by God's law, it is just. Judges 8:16 "And he took the elders of the city, and thorns of the wilderness and briers, and with them he taught the men of Succoth." "Taught" as used here, is that he made them know that he was in the power of God. That what he was doing, he was within the power of his authority. Judges 8:17 "And he beat down the tower of Penuel, and slew the men of the city." The word "Penuel" translated means "the face of God". This is the place where Jacob wrestled with God all night, and God changed Jacob's name to "Israel". Genesis 32:28 "And He said, "Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed." Genesis 32:29 "And Jacob asked Him, and said, "Tell me, I pray Thee, Thy name," And He said, "Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after My name?" And He blessed him there." Genesis 32:30 "And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: "for I have seen God face to face and my life is preserved." Genesis 32:31 "And as he passed over Penuel the sun rose upon him, and he halted upon his thigh." Because of this wrestling with God, and the renaming of this location, God changed Jacob's name from Jacob to Israel. The very people called the Israelites, those twelve tribes that entered the promise land are the offspring of Jacob. Jacob had twelve son by two wives and two other women. Of these twelve sons, two of the sons were special to him, for they were born to the woman that He loved the most, Rachel. Joseph was the oldest of the two sons born to Rachel, and the two sons of Joseph were the ones that the Abrahamic covenant blessings were passed on to, as we discussed in verse one. When Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers, He in time was raised to the position second in line to the Pharaoh in Egypt. Then during a famine in the land of Canaan, Joseph brought his brothers to Egypt, and protected them there. This small family grew into a nation in Egypt, and the sons of Jacob, or Israel became the father of the tribes that took on their names. This time of Gideon then is some four hundred and seventy years after the time when Jacob passed through Penuel, and we see that there is another time of judgment taking place here. Gideon is making the stand and judging the offspring of Jacob. That same covenant that God made with Jacob took place at this location of Penuel and it goes on even today. Judges 8:18 "Then said he unto Zebah and Zlmunna, "What manner of men were they whom ye slew at Tabor?" And they answered, "As thou art, so were they; each one resembled the children of a king." It is now the time to judge these two enemy kings. Gideon asked the two kings of the Midianites to identify the manner of the men that they had killed at Tabor. The two kings, Zebah and Zimunna answered Gideon, they looked just like you do, they were stately an resembled the children of a king. They were the children of royalty, they were Gideon's brothers and many others as well. These two had boasted of this fact to the men that they had killed, and they murdered them for no just reason. However these kings are not in power now, but it is Gideon that is on the bench, and it is God's laws that these two kings are judged by. Judges 8:19 "And he said, "They were my brethren, even the sons of my mother: as the Lord liveth, if ye had saved them alive, I would not slay you.' " There need not be any witness to this case, for the kings admitted to the acts that they had ordered. This is God's law, that if they would have saved the life of the innocent, then God would not demand the life of the slayers. Judges 8:20 "And he said unto Jether his firstborn. "Up, and slay them." But the youth drew not his sword: for he feared, because he was yet a youth." When Gideon had made the judgment, he turned to his young son, who was just a child, "Up and slay them." This is quite a thing at any time to order a young child to do. The boy was just a child with the mind of a child, and to follow through on the punishment would require a lot of strength. Judges 8:21 "Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, "Rise thou, and fall upon us: for as the man is, so is his strength." And Gideon arose, and slew Zebah and Zalmunna, and took away the ornaments that were on their camels' necks. In Zebah and Zalmunna's raids through Israel, they took much gold and fine objects, and when Gideon had slain the two kings, he took their items of royalty. Judges 8:22 "Then the men of Israel said unto Gideon, "Rule over us, both thou, and thy son, and thy son's son also: for thou hast delivered us from the hand of Midian." Here the people of Israel, of all the tribes are asking Gideon to be their king. However stop and consider, Who delivered the Midianites into the hands of Gideon, and gave the victory. It was God, of course. Stop and think for a moment what Gideon was doing on that day that God called him to service. Gideon was hiding out in the orchard behind the grape vat, and so scared of the Midianites that he wouldn't even thresh the wheat out in the open. They were so poor that he was trying to get enough wheat so his family could have a loaf of bread. It was God that told Gideon that He had chosen Gideon to deliver Israel from the Midianites, and deliver them into his hand as if they were only one man. So now after the battle is over and God had the victory, the people are telling Gideon that it was Gideon that had the victory and this is why they wanted Gideon to rule over them. Gideon knew that it was God that had the victory, and all he did was follow a few instruction. This is something that we must remember in our lives, that we must give God the credit for all the blessings and good things that come our way. Many times we pray abut something and go out and get the good breaks to have it come true, and then we forget to give God the credit and thanks that He deserves. We get to the point of thinking that we didn't need God on the matter, when it was God that made it come to pass in the first place. God is the owner and creator of all things, and it is His to do with as He chooses. Gideon has kept this in mind, and the people have lost sight of God and are giving Gideon the credit for the victory. We will now see what kind of man that Gideon really was. Judges 8:23 "And Gideon said unto them, ""I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you: the Lord shall rule over you." " Gideon is a true judge for he has all sides of the matter under consideration. Gideon knows that it was only God that gave the victory, and He had allowed Gideon and his men to have a small role in matter. Gideon had over twelve thousand men on the battle field, and God said to send them home, all except the three hundred. Gideon made a stand on that day, and refuse to allow the men of Israel to have him or any member of his family as their king. "I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you: the Lord shall rule over you." Gideon's stand could not be any clearer. In this theocracy it is the judge that stands between God and man, and it is God that rules and sets the standards, and the judge that carries out the commands of God. God rules and man is subject to God. Any gift that man receives is not the man's but they are God's. They are given so that a man can be of service to God, and any glory that comes from the gift goes directly to God. When a person keeps this in mind the blessings keep flowing his or her way. Judges 8:24 "And Gideon said unto them, "I would desire a request of you, that ye would give me every man the earrings of his prey." (For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.)" The heathen Midianites were loaded with gold and many riches, and Gideon's request was for the earrings of those that the men of Israel took off the slain in battle. Most of those items were stolen in the first place, and melted into the forms that they then existed in. What Gideon is trying to do over the next few verses, is to get the earthly things that can be a form of idolatry out of the hands of the Israelites, and get them focused back on God. Gideon is going to try to put those things in use for God. However, note here that God did not tell Gideon to do any of this. Judges 8:25 "And they answered, "We will willingly give them." And they spread a garment, and did cast therein every man the earrings of his prey." The nation of Israel was happy to reward Gideon in this manner, and they had no idea at all what he was going to do with the gifts. Judges 8:26 "And the weight of the golden earrings that he requested was a thousand and seven hundred shekels of gold; beside ornaments, and collars, and purple raiment that was on the kings of Midian, and beside the chains that were about their camels' necks. Just in the earrings alone the weight in gold came to almost fifty pounds of gold. On top of the earrings Gideon was given much more in gold in other items, ornaments, collars, chains and so forth. Judges 8:27 "And Gideon made an ephod thereof, and put it in his city, even in Ophrah: and all Israel went thither a whoring after it: which thing became a snare unto Gideon, and to his house." Gideon wanted to bring all booty from the war, taken off the Midianites and bring it all into God's house. An "ephod" is an image or idol in the shape of something spiritual that all the people could walk by and pay reverence to. And in the end, instead of turning the people's heart to God, their hearts and minds were turned to the image. When Gideon tried to do something on his own for the Lord, it worked in reverse. God didn't tell him to do such a thing, in fact God commanded that Israel shall have no other god's or images before Him. Exodus 20:1 "And God spake all these words, saying," Exodus 20:2 "I am the Lord thy God, Which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage." Exodus 20:3 "Thou shalt have no other gods before Me." Exodus 20:4 "Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:" Exodus 20:5 "Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate Me;" Exodus 20:6 "And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love Me, and keep My commandments." Exodus 20:7 "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh His name in vain." Exodus 20:8 "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy." These are the first ten commandments that God gave to Moses on Mount Siani, and the first five commandments deal with our relationship to God our heavenly Father. Gideon knew these commandments and in his love for God, he overlooked the very thing that our heavenly Father holds dear. When he made that ephod, or image of gold, he sought to honor God, but in his zeal he laid a trap for the rest of Israel, for they came to the house of God to give reverence to the image, and not to God. This is why it is important to study God's Word, all of it, so that we can know what pleases our Father, and what makes Him jealous and mad. Gideon was trying to think right and honor God with his use of the fifty pounds of Gold that they gave him, and the image that was made was a priest shoulder robe. The gold was woven to make this garment and placed in the house of God for all the people to see and enjoy, and help in the restoration of worshipping the true God. This ephod robe is the robe that the priest uses when he goes in before the alter to talk with God. This was a time when the priest became lax in restoring the worship of the True God. This breastplate of the priest, the Urim and Thummim is discussed in Leviticus 8:7 - 9. Leviticus 8:7 "And he [the priest] put upon him the coat, and girded him with the girdle, and clothed him with the robe, and put the ephod upon him, and he girded him with the curious girdle of the ephod, and bound it unto him therewith." Leviticus 8:8 "And he put the breastplate upon him: also he put in the breastplate the Urim and the Thummim." Leviticus 8:9 "And he put the mitre upon his head; also upon the mitre, even upon his forefront, did he put the golden plate, the holy crown; as the Lord commanded Moses." The "Urim" and the "Thummim" are the lots that the priest carried in a small bag and he used them when he went in before the Lord God to cast lots to seek direction from God. The robe was suppose to be a very righteous robe, only the people could not take their eyes off the gold, the center of attention was not God, but the robe. Gideon wasn't greedy but he wanted this man that was to approach God to have this beautiful robe. What was given as a love gift to God, had just the opposite effect towards God. The lesson that we should learn from this is that the robe does not make the priest, And taking away the trophies of war, and turning them into something of righteousness, actually brought shame on the house of God at the city of Ophrah. When Gideon tried to make something righteous and give it to the worship of God, that gift did not work out as it was intended. It became a snare to the people in their worship of God, rather then a blessing. So the lesson to us is that before we are about to do something on our own to advance the ministry of God, search the Word of God and find the will of God, and follow the Spirit of God as to whether it is acceptable or not to Him. Judges 8:28 "Thus was Midian subdued before the children of Israel, so that they lifted up their heads no more. And the country was in quietness forty years in the days of Gideon." The Midianites were so badly beaten in this war with the Midianites that these people were never respected anymore by the Israelites. Forty is the number for probation, and Gideon sat over the people for that forty years as their judge. Judges 8:29 "And Jerubbaal the son of Joash went and dwelt in his own house." "Jerubbaal" was the name that was given Gideon when he tore down the altar of Baal, and cut down the groves in the worship of Asherah. The translation for the name "Jerubbaal" is "Let Baal plead for himself." Judges 8:30 "And Gideon had threescore and ten sons of his body begotten: for he had many wives." Gideon had seventy children by his many wives. Judges 8:31 "And his concubine that was in Shechem, she also bare him a son, whose name he called Abimelech." The next chapter of Judges deals with the life and deeds of Abimelech. Judges 8:32 "And Gideon the son of Joash died in a good old age, and was buried in the sepulchre of Joash his father, in Ophrah of the Abiezrites." Judges 8:33 "And it came to pass, as soon as Gideon was dead, that the children of Israel turned again, and went a whoring after Baalim, and made Baal-berith their god." We have seen in this book of Judges that each time the judge of Israel died, the people drifted back into Baalism, and when Gideon died they went back to make Baal-berith their god. Lets go back and try to get a better understand of what Baal-berith, grove worship and Baal is all about. What makes this form of worship so inviting to the Israelites, that they so willingly give themselves over to it. "Baal-berith" in the Strong's Hebrew dictionary is # 1170; "Ba'al Beriyth, bah'-al-ath beh-ayr'; from 1168 and 1285; baal of (the) covenant, Baal Berith, a special deity of the Shechemites: Baal berith." Under 1168 we are told that the Baal of the Phoenician deity, is the same Baal as the Shechemites. However in # 1285 we read, "Beriyth, ber-eeth'; comes from 1262 in a sense of cutting; a compact (because made by passing between pieces of flesh: a covenant or league." Where ever Baal worship exists, the groves are mentioned, as well as this word "Asherah". The word "Asherah" is from the root "ashar", which is "to be straight, erect, or upright". It is from this word "asherah" that we get the moral reference, "to be upright", hence happy and prosper." When the word "Asherah" is used in the scripture the word is also given as "grove or groves" and is left as a proper name. So from the summary of all the times that Baal, Asherah and groves are used in the form of worship, they are all tied together. And it deals with a tree with the tops cut off, and the trunk or stump fashioned into a certain shape. Deuteronomy 16:21 "Thou shalt not plant thee a grove of any trees near unto the altar of the Lord thy God, which thou shalt make thee." When we take the word "grove" back into the Hebrew, here again we see the word "Asherah". This is not talking about just planting trees, but what you make of the trees once they have grown to maturity. It deals with how you shape the trees, and what those shapes are symbols of. These tree stumps were artificially shaped and set into the ground. Isaiah 17:8 "And he shall not look to the altars, the work of his hands, neither shall respect that which his fingers have made, either the groves or the images." Once again the groves and the images are tied together. The Hebrew text refers to the groves again as "asherah", and the images to the "sun". These groves or tree trunks were artificially fashioned and set erect in the ground. They were made of wood or the images were shaped from stone. This is why Gideon was able to cut down those groves, as we read earlier in Judges 6:26, where Gideon got his name "Jerabbaal", which means the "cutter down". So this "asherah" can be a living tree that is cut of at the top and shaped, or the trunk of a tree that is cut off and shaped and stuck in the ground in an upright position, and when these images are coupled with "Mazzeroth" or "pillars of stone", it is connected directly to Baal-worship. The male part called "Asherah" is distinguished from "Ashtoreth" the female goddess, yet the images are worshipped together. The Ashtoreth being representative of the productive (or passive) principle of life; and "Baal" being representative of the generative (or active) part of the process for producing life. In other words this is using the sexual process in a form of worship, and the shaping of the trunks of trees as the idols and images to excite the worshippers into the practice, and God hates the practice. Stones of worship in Baal and Asherah are set up all over the Semitic world; and even in Arabia. Even the Mohommedian sacred stone, the "kaaba" in Mecca, remains an object of reverence. Like every form of religion, the stones and tree trunks have to do with the "flesh", and thus by the law of evolution also. Evolution is seen as the progress of man's works, because he considers himself to have begun in the simplest form in ignorance, and through the development and learning process of mistakes and failures, achieve to the point he is today. Isaiah 57:6 "Among the smooth stones of the stream is thy portion; they, they are thy lot: even to them hast thou poured a drink offering, thou hast offered a meat offering. Should I receive comfort in these?" When you put the term "smooth stones" with the word "lot", it forms the Greek word for "Stigma", and it should be a warning to us. It comes from the number 6-6-6, which has nothing to do with a actual number, but to the word stigma, which is the counting of stones worn smooth over a long period of time. The stones are the number for a man, and that man is Satan, and when you know Satan, you will know his children. This verse is addressing the identity of the Kenites. This is written to the generation of the end times, and we are living in those times. The drink offerings and meat offerings are those things that you use in your worship service, to seek forgiveness for sin, and as love offerings to God. Today most churches have allow the Kenite traditions (the smooth stones of the stream) and their lot or traditions to become the drink offering and meat offering to God. God is asking, "Should I receive comfort in these?" Isaiah 57:7 "Upon a lofty and high mountain hast thou set thy bed: even thither wentest thou up to offer sacrifices." Isaiah 57:8 "Behind the doors also and the posts hast thou set up thy remembrance: for thou hast discovered thyself to another then Me, and art gone up; thou shat enlarged thy bed, and made thee a covenant with them; thou lovedst their bed where thou sawest it." This bed is not something that you sleep in, but it represents something quite religious. Today instead of painting the door outside and over the top with the Lamb's blood, which is to say the blood of Jesus Christ who became our Passover, Christians paint a substitute for the blood on the inside of the door post of their hearts. The Lamb's blood forces Satan the death angel to pass over you, and when something other then the blood is on the inside (which is behind the doors and the posts), it means that they have turned back to heathenism. The word for "bed" in the Hebrew text is a "couch", "a place for sexual joining". What it is then saying is that you enjoy the heathen religious experiences, and you have not saved yourself as a virgin for me, but you have given yourself over to another. This is exactly what Christ taught in Matthew 24:19; "And woe unto them that are with child and to them that give suck in those days." Jesus expects you to be one of the virgins that remained true to Him, spiritually speaking, right up to the moment of His return. When you have given yourself over to the first Christ, Satan the Antichrist, then you have gone whoring and are "with child" from Satan. The subject of this verse is the word "bed", so lets take this word back to its prime root meaning. Strong's Hebrew numbered dictionary gives us the number # 4904. "Mishkab, mish-kawb'; from 4901, a bed (fig. a bier) abstr. sleep, by euphem, carnal intercourse: bed [chamber] couch, lying with." Lets continue with # 4901; "Meshek, Meh'-shek, from 4900, a sowing; also a possession: precious price." Lets now go to the prime for this word "bed" to see what God is talking about in Isaiah 57:7, 8; The # 4900 reads; "Mashak, maw-shak'; A prime root; to draw, used in a great variety of applications, (including to sow, to sound, to prolong, to develop, to march, to remove to delay, etc.): -draw (along out), continue, extend." The "covenant" that God is referring to here in this eighth verse, is a "marriage contract" that you have made with Satan, when you are lying in his bed, and doing the work of his world system to draw other to him. God is saying "Thou lovest their bed", you like to crawl into Satan's bed and do his work. "Where thou lovest it" is "when you saw Satan's manhood". When Satan's system beckons to you, in ignorance you will be drawn to him joyfully for your church house is training you to do so. Christians are suppose to be "the bride of Christ", however most of them don't know how to identify their husband when He does arrive. Symbols mean everything in religious form, and the Ashrah, or the "phallus" became the symbol for the Baal worship. What started out of be the honoring of the origin of life, became corrupted into a form of worshipping the organs that produce the life. These symbols, in turn, became the incentive to all forms of impurity, which in time turned into nothing but sexual orgies. The start of these principle forms started in the ancient Canaanite religions, which originated way back in Nimrod's day, who was the grandson of Ham, the son of Noah. Ham had four sons and their names were Cush, and Mizraim, Phut, and Canaan." Genesis 10:8 "And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth." Genesis 10:9 "He was a mighty hunter before the Lord: wherefore it is said, "Even as Nimrud the might hunter before the Lord." It is from Ham that the Canaanites came, and the one to first give form to the one world religious order was Nimrod. This family of Canaanites is where the development of the Baal and Ashtoreth took hold and spread. It spread over the entire face of the earth when Nimrod's kingdom was split when God confused the people with different languages. In that ancient Semerian religion Nimrud was the male form, and believed to have become the sun. Nimrod's wife Semiremis, took on the goddess form after her death, that at first she was called Shamash. Then she universally took on the name of Ishtar, as well as other forms such as Diana of Corinth in the time of Paul. All of the ancient systems of idolatry connected with Astrology and Mythology and so on, were not something that was new, but a twisting and corrupting of what was old, and accepted from the early days of the Canaanites. There can be no doubt about the origin of all "Phallic" worship, pure and simple, for this abomination was common to all the ancient nations, and relics from all over the world are found to prove this fact. What first started by the Canaanites in the world system of Nimrod, spread when God scattered the people at the tower of Babel. Genesis 11:4 "And they said, "Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth." In the Hebrew text "let us make us a great name", reads, "let us provide our own salvation". These same people lived to hear and remember from those that went through the great flood of Noah's day. All of the souls that went through the flood were alive in the day that Nimrod was setting up this new world order. They were banded together to keep from being spread abroad. They also knew that God had made a covenant with Noah that mankind would never be destroyed by flood waters again. However, they did not believe God, nor did they trust Him. They knew of Nimrod's strength, and the people relied on him for their security. They trusted Nimrod. Hitler and the Nazi's rose to power under the same conditions, protection, security, law and order. The Germans also had faith in Hitler to bring them peace and prosperity, however they did not consider the cost. In the phrase "a name" shows that the people desired their independence from God. Genesis 11:5 "And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded." God has stated in His Word what man has to do to be saved, however, man continues even today to build his towers to reach his own false peace and salvation. They try to move to bypass the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ, and His shed blood on the cross. They have rejected God's plan for their own man made forms of religions. The term "come down" in the Hebrew is "anthropopatheia". This is ascribing to God the things that belong to human and rational beings, irrational creatures, or inanimate things. Genesis 11:6 "And the Lord said, "Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do." Genesis 11:7 "Go to, let us go down, and there confounded their language, that they may not understand one another's speech." In the phrase "let us go down" in the Hebrew text shows that Judgment is going to take place to these people. Genesis 11:8 "So the Lord scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city." Genesis 11:9 "Therefore is the name of it called Babel: because the Lord did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the Lord scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth." Keep in mind that this event is called "Babel", not the location. The subject is what the people are doing, and that is to create a way on their own for their own salvation. The word Babel in the Hebrew tongue means "confusion". It was through the confusion of languages, that God scattered the peoples of the earth. It was also the confusion of man substituting God's plan and covenants for their own, that man formed his religions. It is from confusion that the word "Babylon" came. These early Canaanites were the founders of the ancient Babylon, the Babylon prior to the Babylon of Nebuchadzeddar's kingdom of Daniel's day. This was the main reason that God gave the commandment for the children of Israelites to destroy the Canaanites, for these Canaanites were the mixture and descendants of the "Nephilim", the fallen angels that came to earth to breed with women in the second influx. This is what the book of Jude is all about; the time when the fallen angels left their first habitation and came to earth, disregarding God's orders to them. The Israelites did not destroy the Canaanites but made them their neighbors instead, and took on their gods. That is what this book of Judges is all about, for continually when their judges died the Israelites fell back into the way of Baal and Ashtoreth, the grove worship. It was after the death of Solomon that the Israelite nation split into two nations or houses, and because of the sins of the house of Israel in following these heathen religious forms, that God separated Himself from the House of Israel. Then after the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the way was made so that we, of the house of Israel could be drawn back to God. The practices of these heathen forms may not look the same today, but the symbols of those ancient forms are just as much present today in the Christian Churches as they were then, only we like to cover them over by redefining what they are. In ignorance man seems to think that because he can con himself, he can also con God. Our Heavenly Father hates all forms of those ancient religious practices, and He is a jealous God, which most Christians don't understand. Today much of Baal and Ashtoreth is preserved in veiled language in secret fraternities, Freemasonry, Theosophy, and in the Roman Church. The language of these religious forms are so concealed that those using it probably have little idea at all what it is pertaining to, or what they are perpetuating. In those ancient symbols "I O" proclaims "sex as the true God of Hosts," as the Jewish Kabala declares. The reason that I went into such detail here on Baal and Ashtoreth or grove worship, is that it is what we will be bumping into for the rest of the book of Judges, and we had better understand what it is that God so hated and despised. Many of those thing have come down through the centuries, and are appearing in new forms in the church house today. There is nothing new under the sun, for today the movement is to drive God completely out of schools, and they have cleaned up their orgy act and renamed ideas with names like evolution, Darwinism, as well as bringing in forms of Baalism by condoning Sodomy as a different life style. Judges 8:34 "And the children of Israel remembered not the Lord their God, Who had delivered them out of the hands of all their enemies on every side:" It wasn't Gideon that delivered the Israelites out of the hand of their enemies, but God delivered them. And when Gideon the judge died, they forgot God and his ways and return to those heathen forms of Baal and Ashtoreth, or grove worship. Judges 8:35 "Neither shewed they kindness to the house of Jerubbaal, namely, Gideon, according to all the goodness which he had shewed unto Israel." The Israelite people seem to forget so quickly who they are, where they came from, and the ones that they should remember of importance. Is it human nature? Well, it goes on where one generation forgets the lessons of what the prior generation learned. In just one generation a complete language can change, along with the morals and interests of the people. Even though there is a change from generation to generation, the one thing that is important to keep is ones common sense, the normal way of doing things. The entire Word of God is common sense, and it is God's instructions to man of how we are to live in these flesh bodies in health and with peace of mind. It is God's way of doing things. Stop and think the next time there is a blessing that came your way. It is God that gets the credit and the thanks for it, for all blessings come from God. The Shepherds Chapel

Judges Chapter 5 "The DELIVERERS SONG." "Praise of Yahoveh [1-11]." "Conduct of the Tribes [12-18]." "Contrasted Succor for Israel [23-27]." "The Enemies Defeat, Yahoveh's Victory [28-31]." The "song of Deborah" which is also called "the Deliverers song" for it tells us how God protects His own. This chapter goes much deeper into exactly what happened in the field down in the valley to those men and their chariots. We will see that God was in complete control of everything that happened on that day of Deborah's victory. God has always been in control, and He is in control today. Before you communicate with God, it is important to first communicate with Him through His Word. To understand what God is trying to say to you, you must first come to know His general plan from His Word, then He will speak to you and reveal what He wants you to do. God spoke this letter to you and I, and the prophets and apostles wrote it down. In the letter our full instructions are given as to what He expects from each of us, when we call ourselves Christians. All of the instructions are in His Word and He expects us to read it and follow those instructions. God used stories of thing that actually happened to teach us His plan, and in most cases, even a child can understand them. Solomon, the wisest of all men told us that there is nothing new under the sun. Ecclesiastes 1:9 "The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun." Each of these stories of God's warriors in the Old Testament are given to us as examples of things that would come again in the future. The apostle Paul wrote of this in I Corinthians 10:11: "Now all these thing happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come." Deborah is singing the praises to God in this chapter, for it was God that used this brave woman in battle when there was no man that would stand up to face the enemy. God used Deborah and the other woman, Jael, and together God used them to destroyed the entire army of the Canaanites, including the feared general Sisera and his nine hundred chariots. So we will not find out exactly how that battle of the chariots was won. Judges 5:1 "Then sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam on that day, saying," A "song" seals the emotions of an event that has taken place. In this case, Deborah and Barak's song gives all the praise to God, and thanks for the victory. Judges 5:2 "Praise ye the Lord for the avenging of Israel, When the People willingly offered themselves." This is the subject of the song; "Praise ye to Lord for the avenging of Israel." This word "avenging" is better translated from the Hebrew to be "leading" of Israel. God was the leader and He is the one that brought about the victory. When God was doing the leading, the People willing offered themselves in the service of the Lord. Even though many willingly went to battle, we will see that there were also many that were not so willing and feared for their lives. Judges 5:3 "Hear, O ye kings; give ear, O ye princes; I, even I, will sing unto the Lord; I will sing praise to the Lord God of Israel." This is Deborah's song, and it is Deborah that is singing her song unto the Lord. Deborah sung the words two times for emphasis. She is singing this song to God and giving God the glory for the victory. When God does something special in your life, you need to thank Him immediately for that blessing. Talk to the Lord and thank Him for those blessings that He sends your way, after all, that is the reason that God created you and I in the first place. Revelation 4:11 "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created." So the question that we must ask ourselves is, Have we given our heavenly Father any pleasure from our lives lately. After all that is the reason that He created us and put us on the earth. Judges 5:4 "Lord, when thou wentest out of Seir, when thou marchedst out of the field of Edom, the earth trembled, and the heavens dropped, the clouds also dropped water." This is now taking us back into history, and Seir is of Edom are in the land of Rosh, in the land of Esau. When the people of Israel were willing to take a stand, God shook the earth, and a flood of water come down from the heavens. The Edomites in the land of Canaan had suppressed God's people, and even today this suppression goes on in the land of Esau's people. Russia moved to take God out of the lives of their people and their people became spiritually bankrupt and to the point of starvation. Their form of government was communistic and socialistic where they took the blessings that God gives His people and distributed it to those that are unworthy of it. There is nothing new under the sun; what king Jabin was doing to Israel in Deborah's day, the Russians are still trying to do today. The word "Edom" in English means "red", and God has put down the red nation in these latter days by the strength of His armies of the past few generations. Judges 5:5 "The mountains melted from before the Lord, Even that Sinai from before the Lord God of Israel." There was an earthquake with torrents of rain, and with the rain and the shaking the top soil turned this battlefield to mud and muck. Keep in mind also that where "mountains" are used in God's Word, it also refers to "nations", and when a nation is evil, God will give it a shaking also. God will use whom ever and what ever is necessary by natural means that He chooses to cause the shaking that must be done. Judges 5:6 "In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, In the days of Jael, the highways were unoccupied, And the travelers walked through byways." Shamgar was the third judge that we read of in Judges 3:31; "And after him was Shamgar the son of Anath, which slew of the Philistines six hundred men with an ox goad: and he also delivered Israel." The "ox goad" was a long six foot stick with a nail tied on to the end of it, that was used to prod cattle. Shamgar the judged used a cattle prod like this to kill six hundred of the Philistine marauders that would lie in wait to rob and kill the Israelites and other travelers that walked the roads at that time. Shamgar was the judged just prior to Deborah, while Jael was the young farm lady that ran the tent stake through the head of general Sisera. Deborah did the leading, but Jael was the one who finish the job for God. It had come to the point that people were afraid to walk the streets and byways in that day because of these Philistines. It took a few good people to make a difference and stand up and say, "That is enough". Then after Shamgar killed six hundred of these gangsters, the Philistines got the picture that it was not a safe practice their evil business against the Israelites anymore; and the robbing and stealing stopped. Stop and take a look at what is happening in our cities today, for it is even spreading to the small town. The problem today is that when the robbers and thieves are caught, what is happening to them? A slap on the wrist and they are right back on the street to continue their trouble. Judge Shamgar sent a message in His day, and it didn't take long for the Philistines to catch on. When the thieves were caught, the judge put them to death right then and there, and peace soon came to the travelers. It took six hundred deaths to get the message across to these Philistines. Judges 5:7 "The inhabitants of the villages ceased, they ceased in Israel, Until that I Deborah rose, That I arose a mother in Israel." Deborah was a prophet and a teacher besides being a judge. Many of the teachers and preachers of today say that women are not to be preachers and stand in the pulpits of a church. These are self-righteous hypocrites, for God will use anyone that He pleases, and Deborah was one of the best. She taught and preached and had her mind in tune with God. God used her because there wasn't a man in all Israel that had the guts and courage to make a difference. Think of it, the top general of the nation requiring this mother and teacher to lead all his troops into battle. It sounds like it could have come out of the military leaders of today. When the nation trembled, and was afraid to make a stand, Deborah made that stand and led the troops into battle. Barak told Deborah that I will not lead my troops into battle unless you are there by my side, and Deborah jumped to her feet and said, let's go. Judges 5:8 "They chose new gods; Then was war in the gates: Was there a shield or spear seen Among forty thousand in Israel?" There were forty thousand Israelite troops in the land, and yet there wasn't a one that would pick up his sword and spear and make a stand. They would rather bow down to new gods of the heathen that ruled over them, that take a stand and trust God for the victory. Mankind has not changed in four thousand years, and when our nation is being flood by eastern religious thought, and Kenite fairy-tales of fly-away doctrines, it is easier to go along with that garbage, than to get down and study God's Word for the truth. The teaching in most church houses today is that you don't have to know the plan of God, and study His Word from the book of Revelation, and the Old Testament, because it doesn't apply to you. What a lie; and the bad thing about it is that these same people that believe it are those that will grab on to fairy-tale and fly away doctrines and think nothing about it. They say all you have to do is believe, yet the babe in Christ is given nothing to believe in. Today we have millions of people that say they are in the army of God, and call themselves Christians, yet they have hung their shields of protection on the wall, and they will be taken immediately at the coming of the fake Christ, who is Satan. We are living in the final generation, and yet the church world has no idea of the times that they are living in. They have detached themselves from the Creator and His plan, and they could care less about it. This is as the troops of Israel were in days of Deborah, and it took this woman to light the fire under them. There is a spiritual war going on and our people have lost the interest to fight and be part of that war. They just don't care, as the world is being swept into a new world order, and they have forgotten that it is God that gives us the victory. It is God that we rely on for our provision and the direction that we should be taking in our lives, and not the government. In our generation the weapons of war is your gospel armor, all of the Word of God, for that is the only way that we can have an understanding of God's plan and how you and I fit into it in these final days. The sword of the Lord is the Word of God, and the war that is taking place is a spiritual battle. The battlefield is in our minds, while the weapons are fought with words and ideas that come right from the Word of God. Satan is an expert in tripping people up with the Word of God. He distorts it, and adds a word to and takes a word away until what Satan wants you to believe is a lie. Judges 5:9 "My heart is toward the governors of Israel, that offered themselves willingly the People. Bless ye the Lord." Judges 5:10 "Speak, ye that ride on white *****, ye that sit in judgment, And walk by the way." The ones that rode the white ***** in Deborah's day are the ones in authority, and many of the governors were on the side of Deborah, even though the people of Israel were not. When the Judge made a ruling these governors sitting over the different tribes would back the judge up. However, in the times when there was not Judge sitting over Israel, these governors and leaders on their white ***** would walk or drift off into other directions. There was no spiritual backbone within any of them, for they were political in nature. What we see today is that the church houses are becoming "Beth-avens" like in the days of the judges. They are becoming "houses of emptiness", where the Word of God is not taught. True Christians make a difference, because they are the salt of the earth, they wheel the sword of the Lord, and that cuts, corrects, reshapes, and changes the minds and souls of men and women. Judges 5:11 "That they are delivered from the noise of archers in the places of drawing water, There shall they rehearse the righteous acts of the Lord, Even the righteous acts toward the inhabitants of his villages in Israel: Then shall the People of the Lord go down to the gates," Instead of shouting back at the archers at the well sight where they were being shot at, they went to the battle and praised the Lord Jehovah for His righteous acts of deliverance. When the people went out to draw the water at the well sight, that is when the enemy archers took aim on them. They didn't have faucets in the kitchen and bathrooms, and everyone drew their water from a common place. When Deborah led the troops into battle and king Jabin was dethroned, God took care of this problem. Spiritually speaking this is why we put on the gospel armor, to fight off the fiery darts of Satan when he comes against you. Judges 5:12 "Awake, awake, Deborah: Awake, awake, utter a song: Arise, Barak, and lead thy captivity captive, thou son of Abinoam." Stop and think for a moment, when you plant a seed of truth from God's Word, who do you want them to be held captive of through your words? I hope it is Jesus Christ, the King of kings. When we are held captive by Christ, we are held by His love and His Spirit that guides and comforts us in times of trouble. That is the reason that you make any effort at all to bring someone to the knowledge of Christ. If you have tasted of God love to you, His love within you makes you want to share it with others. Once you have the knowledge and power to lead someone captive for Jesus Christ, then arise and get on with what needs to be done. It isn't you that does the saving, but it is you that plants the seed, Once you have planted the seed then the Spirit of God does the work to make that seed grow in the mind of the person. Once Deborah planted the seed of what God revealed to her in the mind of Barak, it was Deborah that did the leading to direct Barak, and from that leading came the captivity to God and the destruction of the enemy. Judges 5:13 "Then He made him that remaineth have dominion over the nobles among the people: The Lord made me have dominion over the mighty." After God had lead "him", "Barak", God made Barak the leader over all the rulers of the tribes. Then the song says, The Lord made me [Deborah] to have power over the army. God chose Deborah and placed her over Barak and his army, and then when the battle was over, God received all the glory for the victory. When you take a stand for God today, you can't worry about what the religious community is going to think, because the religious community has already gone sour and given themselves over to the world system. It is because of the religious community's position that the world is in the condition that it is in. It was the religious community that plotted to kill Christ from the first day of his ministry, and it was the religious community that followed through with the murder. The same offspring of those religious leaders are the ones that are developing the traditions of men religions today. This is why we must stick with the Word of God for where ever that sword is drawn, it will have power over those that hear it. When you willingly serve God you even have an influence over the mighty and those in authority, whether you realize it or not. Where ever that sword of the Lord is given, it will touch the hearts and minds, and will make a change in the life of the one hearing it. Judges 5:14 "Out of Ephraim was there a root of them against Amalek; After thee, Benjamin, among thy people; Out of Machir came down governors, And out of Zebulun they that handle the pen of the writer." Before we can understand these lines of the "song of Deborah", there must be an understanding of what " they that handle the pen of the writer" is. Remember that it was Deborah that called the troops to battle for she was the Judge of Israel at this time. Before any nation goes to battle against another nation, there is a mustering of the citizens for the forming of the army that will fight. "Handle" as used in the Hebrew text is "to number or enroll" the men that will be sent into battle. The "pen" that is used is not like the pen that you use to write with, but it is a "rod" or "law" that is used to force those selected to become part of the army. So this is the process that all nations go through in forming their armies and calling the men, and it is like our selective service of today. "Machir" was the son of Manasseh, who was the grandson of Joseph. We know from Genesis 48:13 that both Ephraim and Manasseh were chosen by God through Jacob to be the ones to receive the blessing of the Abrahamic Covenant. Genesis 48:13 "And Joseph took them both, Ehpraim in his right hand toward Israel's left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel's right hand, and brought them near unto him." Genesis 48:14 "And Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it upon Ephraim's head, who was the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh's head, guiding his hands wittingly; for Manasseh was the firstborn." Genesis 48:15 "And he blessed Joseph, and said, "God, before Whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God Which fed me all my life long unto this day, " When Jacob put his hands on the heads of Joseph's two sons [Ephraim and Manasseh], he was passing the Abrahamic covenant of God on, from himself to the two lads that would grow into two different tribes. It is from those tribes that many nations would come into existence, as they are even today. To Judah went the scepter, the right to rule, and that right would not be taken from him. In fact to this day all the king lines of the Christian nations can be traced all the way back to Judah: Including the lineage of Queen Elizabeth of England. Genesis 48:16 "The Angel Which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth." It was Ephraim and Manasseh jointly that received the blessing that God gave Abraham and Isaac, to be passed on through Jacob to his son Joseph. Today man religious leaders don't know the difference between Joseph and Judah, and they attach the Abrahamic blessings to Judah, and not to the rightful owner, Joseph. It is through Ephraim and Manasseh [Machir] that God will lead His people into battle today as He did the time of Deborah. Benjamin was right by his side, for Benjamin held the title for the land of the city of Jerusalem, which includes the tribe of Judah and all the Jews [benjamin and the Kenites included]. Notice that God is using "just a root" [just a few] of those people to do this job for Him, and go to war. That is all that is necessary when God goes before you into battle. All God wanted from Ruben, Dan and Asher was their commitment of just a few men to make a stand, and their people would not allow it. Down through the years this small family tribes of Israel's twelve sons had become the entire nation for God. Judges 5:15 "And the princes of Issachar were with Deborah; Even Isachar, and also Barak: He was sent on foot into the valley. For the divisions of Reuben There were great thoughts of heart." The sons of Issachar didn't slack off but were right there by Barak's side as Barak went charging down off mount Tabor and into the valley. They were after those nine hundred chariots and Sisera. These "divisions" of Reuben meant they were divided in thought about the battle that was to take place, and they stayed at home where it was safe. They were the ones that spoke out against the war, and had no faith in God or God's protection. Reuben's people were the war protestors, but not Issachar and Zebulun, for they stuck right by Ephraim and Manasseh's side. Judges 5:16 "Why abodest thou among the sheepfolds, to hear the bleatings of the flocks? For the divisions of Reuben there were great searching of heart." This song is beautiful and it hits the nail right on the head. Deborah is asking Reuben, "Why are you out there with the sheep day dreaming when there is a war to be fought?" Deborah was asking, "Are you afraid?" They ran to the bleatings of their flocks and the safety of their sheep, rather then making a stand and facing their enemies. This is exactly what was happening, Reuben would not make a stand and commit themselves to the work of the Lord, when God said its time to take on Jabin and the Canaanites. Then Reuben said, "Not me brother, I have to go and sheer the sheep." In their mind they were comfortable with what they had, so why take a chance and loose it. If things are bad and the times are tough, it is because we have allow them to become that way. We have followed the same path as Reuben's people, and would rather run as a coward, than make a stand to say, "Not any more." It is time to make a difference right were you are, for the wrath of God is hot by what is happening today. It will continue to boil over until that final day of this earth age of the flesh when Jesus shall return and make all things right. Judges 5:17 "Gilead abode beyond Jordan: And why did Dan remain in ships? Asher continued on the sea shore, And abode in his breaches." Reuben stayed in Gilead beyond the Jordan with his sheep, and Dan remained in his ships making money jointly with the Kenites in their trade and commerce, and they also didn't come and help in the battle. The tribe of Asher stayed in their little houses by the sea shore, and continued in the safety behind his brothers. While all these other tribes were out making their money, and using their excuses to keep from facing the enemy because of their fear of the enemy. Judge Deborah lead the charge with those few that would come to follow her. "Deborah" in the Hebrew tongue means "bee", and she proved that she was the "Queen Bee". Judges 5:18 "Zebulun and Naphtali were a people that jeoparded their lives unto the death in the high places of the field." Deborah is singing the praises of Zebulun and Naphtali, for they were the ones that put their lives on the line in the field of battle, so the others could run in fear and go out to make their money and tend to their sheep while the war was fought. There is not much difference today or in any generation then it was in Deborah's day. When Reuben, Dan, and Asher were hiding out, God was giving the others the blessings and the victory. God took care of the chariots and the men took care of the enemy after God stripped the enemy of their power. Judges 5:19 "The kings came and fought, Then fought the kings of Canaan, In Taanach by the waters of Megiddo; They took no gain of money." There is prophecy in this verse also. The battle that shall take place in Megiddo is what we call the battle of Armageddon, the final battle of this earth age. There are two battles fought on that final day of this earth age, "Armageddon" and "Hammon-gog". "Armageddon" means the "gathering place of the crowd", which shall be in Jerusalem. That is where Satan will be in his role of "instead of Christ", or "the Antichrist" and rule from. It is from Jerusalem that the crowd of the nation's leaders of the earth shall gather to worship Satan, and it from Jerusalem that Jesus Christ shall destroy those that have given themselves over to Satan. God's elect are to keep their watchful eye on Jerusalem, and become aware as the events of our generation are taking place. Are you going to be afraid of Satan and his crowd when he gathers in Jerusalem on that day? Those that truly know the Lord and His Word are not afraid one bit, for we know that Jesus will do the fighting for us, and Satan and all his chariots and power will be destroyed. God will do the battle for us then, just as he took out Sisera's chariots. "Hammon-gog", on the other hand is the battle that shall take place at this same time, when Russia and all her allies come against the nations of the House of Israel. She shall come against us going to her east [our west], and the battle I feel will take place in Alaska. This battle is described in Ezekiel chapters 38 and 39, and it is God that does the destroying in both of these battles, just like He gave the victory in the war that Deborah fought, by using natural forces. God is calling out His people who will take a stand in these latter days. Though God's elect will take a stand and not bow to Satan, most of those that call themselves "Christians" today, will be just like the people of Reuben, and Dan were in Deborah's day, they will gladly give in to Satan, because they really don't care who is in charge. As long as they can have their jobs, and live in safety to do the things that they want to do, they just don't care. It is all part of their prosperity doctrine, for as long as someone gives them what they want, they will do anything for that person. Judges 5:20 "They fought from heaven; The stars in their courses fought against Sisera." The way that Deborah and her forces had their victory, is the same way that God will give victory on the day of battle of Armageddon and Hammon-gog, when Satan's forces are crushed. This is how the battle is won. "They fought from heaven; " The "stars" or "angelic forces" from heaven fought against Sisera. The angels fought against a army of flesh men, with Sisera's army was made up of men in flesh bodies. The "stars" are the "sons of God", and those sons of God from the heavens fought against Sisera. God takes care of His own, for before the men of Deborah's army could reach the chariots, the floods from heaven came, and the angelic forces had neutralized the enemy. Just as God came to the defense of Israel on the day of Deborah's battle, so also it is God that will do the fighting and disarming of His enemies on the final battles of this earth age. God makes this very clear in Ezekiel 39:1-8 when He tells us exactly what He is going to do to eliminate the enemies of Israel. Ezekiel 39:1 "Therefore, thou son of man, prophesy against God, and say, 'Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal:" The Christian nations, including Christian America [Manasseh-Israel, of Genesis 48] have become care free in the one world system that exists today. We have become oriented to money, trade and politics, and as such have gone to sleep in our attitudes concerning God's Word. False traditions and the release of control to taxing agencies have allowed the doctrines and attitudes to change and become acceptable, whereby most churches today allow those traditions and false doctrine go on in their church houses. They accept those things that go against what God's Word teaches. This change has come about by the influence by the Kenite controlled "World council of Churches", an agency under the United Nations charter. The actions that God will take is against "Gog" [Russia], and "Tubal-cain" [the Kenites], and not the America, or the Christian People. The Kenites are the physical offspring of Cain, the child born from the sexual union between Satan and Eve in the garden of Eden. This is what the parable of the fig tree is all about, and it is what Jesus told His followers of the end times to learn, in Matthew 24:32-34. Why? Because this is that generation that sees this parable come to pass. This is also the generation that will witness every prophesy that is addressed to "the time of the end" of this age of man in these flesh bodies. Then if you know who these Kenites, or these offspring of "Tubal-cain" are and how they operate, you will not allow yourself to be deceived and robbed by them. Ezekiel 39:2 "And I will turn thee back, and leave but the sixth part of thee, and will cause thee to come up from the north parts, and will bring thee upon the mountains of Israel:" God is saying, "I will turn thee back," I put a stop to your activities, and destroy you. Where do we look for this to happen? We must look to the north. The "Mountains" of Israel are the nations of the house of Israel; both in the America, and the Christian nations of Europe. These are the offspring of the ten tribes, the "house of Israel". How could we be attacked in America, and in the northern parts? Remember from school history of the purchase of Alaska from Russia, for it was called "Seward's Folly" then. When Seward purchased the entire state of Alaska for seven million dollars. Today an average commercial building cost more, as well as the construction of one mile of railroad tracks, or the average cost of a bridge. Ezekiel 39:3 "And I will smite thy bow out of thy left hand, and will cause thine arrows to fall out of thy right hand." As the labor pains of the signs of the end times grow closer together, The Christian world just seems to sleep on. This is just as the humor that must have been that went on in Noah's day, when for one hundred and twenty years Noah kept working on a ship that would carry him to safety through a flood that God said would come. This was at time when there was no rain as we have it today, but only a mist in the air. The people of the world then were not expecting a disaster, for one had never happened before. God is telling us that it is He that will disarm Russia and her hoards of allies, and her weapons will fall in the mud just as Sisera's chariots in Deborah's day. All signs are here now that we are being ushered into a new age, as recorded in the Scriptures, yet most Christians choose to remain "Sottish" [stupid] on this matter. The entire Christian world has become nothing more then bottle sucking religious babies, taught by their "one verse pastors", and running in circles. It is time to wake up. If the United States and NATO have defeated Russian forces and her allies, then the world would say that we are the most powerful force in the world. However God wants the battle to be so decisive that there can be no doubt that it is God, and not man's forces that will cause Russia to fall. We are moving to this end daily as we continue to cut back our defense budget, and destroy our military weapons. We rely on weapons systems that just don't work. Our national leaders have turned their backs on Russia, as she will continues to build her forces and those of her allies back into the strongest force in the world. However, this will not matter, for the battle that Russia and her allies will fight will not be against any man, but against God. It will be against the forces of Jesus Christ, and the natural forces of God that will make her weapons useless. This demonstration of the victory will be so complete that every knee on the face of the earth will bow to Jesus Christ as He comes on that day to establish His kingdom. Ezekiel 39:4 "Thou shalt fall upon the mountains of Israel, thou and all thy bands, and the people that is with thee: I will give thee unto the ravenous birds of every sort, and to the beasts of the field to be devoured." To find out who the Russian bands are, go back to Ezekiel 38:5, 6. These Russian allies are Persia, Ethiopia, Libya, along with Gomer and the house of Togarmah. They also represent China and parts of Eastern Europe, and then some. This is the time of the cleansing of all flesh. These armies of the enemy shall fall on the nations of the house of Israel. Those nations are the ones that call themselves Christian. Hosea tells us how to identify them in the latter days. Hosea 1:10 "Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, `Ye are not My People,' there it shall be said unto them,` Ye are the sons of the living God.' " The "House of Israel" is not the Jews, as is taught in most church houses of today, but they are those nations that call themselves "Christian". Most Jews do not claim that Jesus ever existed, and would like to purge Christ from your mind. Though they like to make money off the holidays that are based on the life of Christ, they denounce Jesus as being God, and begotten of the Father. This thought then is of the mind of the Kenite, the offspring children of Satan through his son Cain. "My People" are such a huge in number [they cannot be measured or numbered], and they do not know who they are. They do not know where they come from; but they do know the "living God" [Jesus the Christ], and call themselves by His name. We know that Jesus Christ is our "living God", and that He arose from the tomb to defeat death. When you are a son of the living God you call yourself a "Christian". So back in Ezekiel God continues to tell how these heathen nations will fall. Ezekiel 39:5 "Thou shalt fall upon the open field: for I have spoken it, saith the Lord God." The "open field" refers to the fact that not one of our people will be harmed. The fall of Russia and her hoards of allies was monumental in loss to the communist world, yet the loss to the Christian nations of Israel [united States, Canada, England and the rest of the Christian nations] was non-existing. It will be the same at the fall of Russia and her allies at the battles of Armageddon and Hammon-gog. That is God's promise to you. The rest of this chapter of Ezekiel 39 continues to detail how God will destroy our enemies so completely that they will simply not exist. This will happen when Jesus Christ returns to sets up His Millennium Kingdom right here on earth. God gave us an example of how this will happen when he shook the earth and turned the battle field into a mud bath, for Deborah and her forces to gain the victory and not lose one soul of her army. It is God that will give us the victory. Judges 5:21 "The river of Kishon swept them away, That ancient river, the river Kishon. O my soul, thou hast trodden down strength." This then is how the angelic beings accomplished this, he swept them away with a flood. That lazy old river that had existed there of centuries, came alive in the rains, and God used natural forces to wipe away the horses of His enemies. Judges 5:22 "Then were the horsehoofs broken By the means of the pransings, the pransings of their mighty ones." This loses much in the translation of the King James Bible. The James Moffatt Bible translation shows that these horsehoofs are not pransings as in a show parade, but in the thunder of the flight in terror as they are running from a battle. When the horsemen of the cavalry saw that the strength of their chariots was taken from them, and that God's power was not something that they could contend with, they ran in terror. Judges 5:23 " 'Curse ye Meroz,' saith the Angel of the Lord, `Curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof; Because they came not to the help of the Lord, To the help of the Lord against the mighty.' " This is the Lord God Himself saying "Curse you Meroz". "Meroz" are the different places in the land of Palestine that are considered an outcast by God. God cursed them bitterly for their refusal to take an active part in the battle and or give support to His judge Deborah. God is cursing all those that will not take an active role in helping Him. It is important to make a stand for God where ever you are: To know the Word of God, and what is to take place, and become an active member in the army of God. It is a fact that when God places a curse on someone or thing, it is in for troubled times. Here in Deborah's time, She received a direct message from God as to what He was going to do with the enemies of Israel. However, Deborah was to muster up the troops, and get them ready for the battle that God said He would give into their hands. We saw that some of the tribes, Reuben, Dan, and Asher refuse to send a person to the cause, and went on with their business as if nothing was happening. They were afraid of losing even one son in the cause. They wanted to reap the benefits of the battle, without paying the price. What would you do with those that were sluggards and cowards and never raised a hand, nor could care less about what God had said? It is obvious that you would curse them for their cowardly ways. In these latter days, God has told us through His Word exactly what He is going to do in our generation, and what we are to do. We are in the final days, and it is time to study His Word to know how the battle is to be fought, and what you are to do in the spiritual warfare that is for our generation. It is your choice as to whether you will be blessed or cursed by God. Judges 5:24 "Blessed above women shall Jael The wife of Heber the Kenite be, Blessed shall she be above women in the tent." God blessed Jael above all women because she took a stand and made a difference. Remember though, that Jael was not of the Kenite race, but a Midianite lady that came from the geographical location of the Kenites. However God is going to bless her above all the other women. She took action on her own accord when the enemy, Sisera, came into her tent. She destroyed the enemy when God placed him helpless before her. She hammered the tent peg right through Sisera's skull, and ended this blight on Israel. Judges 5:25 "He asked water, and she gave him milk; She brought forth butter in a lordly dish." When Sisera asked for water, Jael gave him buttermilk to soothe his thirst and put him off guard. Paul address this same thing in Romans 12:20 "Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head." When Sisera hungered and thirst, Jael gave him buttermilk and in so doing she put him to sleep to where she could heaped the tent peg of fire right into his temple. Through her act of kindness she put him off guard, and fast asleep. Like the old poem goes; "Come into my parlor, said the spider to the fly, and let me show you a good time." She deceived the enemy to the point of having the victory. God led Sisera to her, and God helped her do what she did. Judges 5:26 "She put her hand to the nail, And her right hand to the workmen's hammer; And with the hammer she smote Sisera, she smote off his head, When she had pierced and stricken through his temples." The nail she used was a tent peg, and the workman's hammer was a big one that could drive the peg through his skull and fast into the ground. She nail that old boy to the tent floor as he lay sleeping under her protection. She destroyed the enemy of God's children, and God gave her the opportunity and the power that she needed. Judges 5:27 "At her feet he bowed, he fell, he lay down: At her feet he bowed, he fell: Where he bowed, there he fell down dead." This was the mighty Sisera, the general of the mightiest forces of the day that bowed and fell to under that rug and went to sleep under the protection of Jael. He gave himself over completely to Jael, the sweet farm lady that gave him the buttermilk and heaped the coals of kindness in his mind while he was awake, so that she could perform the righteous act of God, when he was asleep. The instant that he bowed to her completely in sleep, was the moment that he was destroyed. Jael was the wife a Midianite priest, the offspring of Abraham doing an act for God. This ends the song concerning Israel, and those that dared to take a stand and make a difference. God blessed those that did it His way, and cursed those that were indifferent to the Word that He gave to Deborah. You know that there is more to God's Word then you have been taught in your church house, and it is time to get into his Word, for these are not just stories to entertain you, but they are ensamples of how things shall be in the end times. We are seeing today that some are opening their eyes to the truth, and studying to see what God would have them do for Him, yet many are just like Reuben and Dan of Deborah's day, they just don't care what the enemy is doing, the just want to go about their days is peace and comfort, and let the other man do the job, fight the enemy and control their lives. It is time you make a stand and let God know that you can be counted upon with what ever the gifts that He puts into your hands to fight in the spiritual warfare that is coming. So now we will see what happened in the other camp, the camp of Sisera. Judges 5:28 "The mother of Sisera looked out at a window, and cried through the lattice, `Why is his chariot so long in coming? Why tarry the wheels of his chariots?' " We know why the chariots of Sisera are not coming, because he is lying dead in the tent of Jael. We also know why the 900 chariots of his army are not coming, because they are bogged down in the mud, and their chariot drivers are lying dead at the hands of Deborah's army. Judges 5:29 "He wise ladies answered her, Yea, she returned answer to herself," Those ladies of her council are telling her that the men are just having a good time, and in her mind that is what she is thinking also. Don't worry about him mother, he will be home soon. She took the words of comfort, but still went back to the thought like only a mother can worry. Judges 5:30 "Have they not sped? have they not divided the prey; To every man a damsel or two; To Sisera a prey of divers colours, A prey of divers colours of needlework, Of divers colours of needlework on both sides, Meet for the necks of them that take the spoil?" Yes, Sisera had the needlework okay and Jael put put the needlework right over him before she drove the peg through his skull. These ladies of council are giving a picture of the joys of victory after the battle, and they are saying that this is why Sisera is so late in coming home after the battle. Yes, general Sisera had a couple of "damsels" to his credit, Deborah and Jael, and both worked together in fulfilling the work of the Lord. Friend, the bad ones don't always win, and this one never got away with anything, even though it took eighteen years before the Israelites came to the point of turning back to God and trusting in Him. Those that do wickedly only think that they are getting away with something. Someone did dared to make a difference and allowed God to lead them, and there names were Deborah and Jael. Deborah listened to God and led the troops into battle, and Jael did the clean-up on the big one that got away, and fled from the battle. These two women did more then all the men of that day, for all the men were looking for a way out of facing the enemy. Judges 5:31 "So let all thine enemies perish, O Lord: but let them that love Him be as the sun when he goeth forth in his might." And the land had rest forty years." There is a time coming very shortly when all the enemies of God shall be destroyed, and yet those that love the Lord will be bless by God. Are you looking forward to that day, or are you dreading it, for at our Lord Jesus Christ's return will be a time of rewards and blessings. However, while we live in these flesh bodies God will give His protection to those that love Him. This is asking, which is it, is the sun with you and do your have a bright and shining day, or does it seem like everything you do is wiped out by the storms of life? God is letting it be known that all of His enemies will perish, and if you are on His side, then your enemies are God's enemies. Are you trusting in the Lord, or do you have the cursings of God. Following the battle, there came upon the Israelite forty years of rest, and this is the number for probation in Biblical numerics. Israel follow God during the time of Deborah's rule over them as their judge, then after she died, the Israelites returned right back into the condition that they were before. The Shepherds Chapel

Judges Chapter 6 "Midian's Oppression [1-10]." "The Deliverer Raised Up [11-18]." "The Angel of Yahoveh: The Message [19-40]." Remember the time of the judges was prior to the time that God gave the Israelites kings. There was the four hundred year period from the coming out of the wilderness, to the time when Samuel anointed Saul to be king over all Israel. During this time of the judges, the people wanted something that they could see and touch before they could believe in it, and God was not that, so the people would continually drift off into the worship of heathen gods, and build their heathen altars. God had given His laws and commandments to Moses while the Israelites were in the wilderness, however, now that Moses has died, as well as Joshua, the Judges were appointed to lead the people of Israel in the following of these laws, and also be the go between with God and the Israelites. This then is theocratic form of government where the religious order is the political leaders also. When one Judge would die there was a gap in time where there was no Judge to guide them. The Israelites would then just drift back into the old forms of heathen gods and religious forms that they were in before. Israel's problem came when they refused to follow God's command to them to either drive out or kill all the inhabitants of the land. God commanded through Moses that these heathen were not to be allowed to mix with them and even the cattle and altars were to be destroyed. The Israelites were disobedient and because of this sin against God, God allowed these heathen, these Jebusites, Canaanites, Kenites, Midianites and so on, to stay in the land and be a scourge to them. When Joshua died it wasn't long until all of Israel drifted into heathen religions, and their heathen neighbors put them under their rule. Each time this happened, God would raise up a Judged to put down the enemy. First it was Othniel the son of Caleb, who lead the Israelites in taking back their lands. After Othniel the Judge died, the nation went right back into Baal worship. It is important to understand the reason for Israel's falling back into bondage continually, is recorded in Judges 2:19. Judges 2:19 "And it came to pass, when the judge was dead, that they returned, and corrupted themselves more than their fathers, in following other gods to serve them, and to bow down unto them; they ceased not from their own doings, nor from their stubborn way." Then God raised up judges to free the people when they would drift from His laws and commandments, and when Othniel died, in time God raised another judge Ehud, and after Ehud came the powerful judge Deborah, who lead her army against Sisera and his nine hundred chariots. In each case, the victory was so complete that the people had no doubts in their mind that it was God that gave the victory. So now that Deborah is dead, and the nation of Israel has been in the hands of the Midianites for the past seven years, God is going to raise up a judge to bring the people back to Himself. God left the Canaanites and other enemies in the land for the sole purpose to teach the people to war. It's purpose is given in Judges 3:1, 2; "Now these are the nations which the Lord left, to prove Israel by them, even as many of Israel as had not known all the wars of Canaan; [1] Only that the generations of the children of Israel might know, to teach them war, at the least such as before knew nothing thereof; [2]." In teaching the Israelites to war, God used Shamgar with a ox goad, which is a six foot long stick with a nail on the end of it. God used a handicapped man with a knife, and a woman to lead the men into battle. Now here in this chapter we will see that God will use something entirely different. God will use the trumpet, the lantern and a bowl that the soldiers will break at the proper time. Each time and thing that is used for the battle is done so that His people will know for sure that it is God that is giving the battle into their hands, and it is He that gets the praise for the victory. The victory comes when the people of God have faith enough to trust that what He has said will come to pass, is sure, and the act on that faith in following God's instructions. Keep in mind that every one of these judges gave God the credit for the battle. Judges 6:1 "And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord: and the Lord delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years." These Midianites are the same people that Moses' father in law came from. Midian was the son of Abraham by his second wife Keturah. Genesis 25:1 "Then Again Abraham took a wife, and her name was Keturah." Genesis 25:2 "And she bare him Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah." However, the Midianites had intermarried with the Ishmaelites, and other nations, and mixed together, and took their heathen gods. These people were a Bedouin people, and it is important to know this, to understand what kind of people it is that conquered the Israelites. As Bedouins and wanderers, they are not soldiers and they were not well organized. When an organized army comes against any massive numbers of these wandering tent people, they will run from the danger. So we will see these Midianites defeated because God will create the kind of emotion that will cause them to run in terror. Judges 6:2 "And the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel: and because of the Midianites the children of Israel made them the dens which are in the mountains, and caves, and strong holds." These Midianites were robbers and nomads, and in their massive numbers they were stripping the Israelites of all their wealth. This is why the Israelites were digging dens and caves into the mountains to hid what wealth that they had. The Midianites were not so much interested in killing anyone, as much as they were stealing what they had, their sheep, gold and even their grains. When they came in amongst the Israelites in their massive numbers, the Israelites were defenseless to their ways, and stood by as these robbers walked off with anything of value. When this type of people takes over, all you need is someone to make a stand and say, "That's far enough, no more." Then these Midianites would have turned tail and ran. This is going to be another way that God is going to teach Israel to fight, even spiritually. When we learn to lean on our Father, and follow the instructions that are written in His Word, then one person can make a difference. A few good men and women can turn back multitudes far greater then themselves when they learn to trust on the Lord. These things happened as an example to us today, so that we can learn how to stand up and be somebody. Judges 6:3 "And so it was, when Israel had sown, that the Midianites came up, and the Amalekites, and the children of the east, even they came up against them;" So for the past seven years every time the Israelites planted their crops, when it became harvest time these Midianites would come upon them in masses, and take the harvest right out of the field, and out of their storehouses. This made it real tough when the winter came and there was no grain to feed their families. Judges 6:4 "And they encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth, till thou come unto Gaza, and left no sustenance for Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor ***." These Midianites were just a bunch of robbers that would take what they could and destroy the rest. This is why the Israelites learned to use those natural caves that were in the area, to store enough to survive the winter. Judges 6:5 "For they came up with their cattle and their tents, and they came as grasshoppers for multitude; for both they and their camels were without number: and they entered into the land to destroy it." These Midianites were so thick that they covered the earth like waves of locust. When they moved into any land, the ripe harvest that lay before them would turn like a wilderness when they had passed through. They stripped the land bare, and left nothing behind. Joel tells us that this is a type of how the Kenites and the locust army of fallen angels will strip the land of truth when they come with Satan at the sixth trump. Joel 1:4 "That which the palmer worm hath left hath the locust eaten; and that which the locust hath left hath the cankerworm eaten; and that which the cankerworm hath left hath the caterpillar eaten." The term "that which" refers to a warning that Moses gave in Deuteronomy 28:38, and this warning is to those that continue in forms of idolatry. This entire book of Joel is written to those that live in the final generation, for that time is after the Jews have returned to their homeland, and established their nation there. It is during this time that God would see to it that though the harvest was good, others would steal and take away by other means the fruits of our labor. Joel is giving us a warning for the end times, and he is using symbolism to tell us. This period of time is called the "great tribulation", which is the "great deception". It is a warning just like the one that Jesus gave us, comparing this time to the time of Noah. The Palmerworm are the "gnawers", the Kenites who prepare the way for the other steps of the locust. The "locust" army is the fallen angels that are cast out onto the earth with Satan, when he comes in his role as the Antichrist or false messiah. This time is at the sounding of the sixth trumpet. The last two stages of this stripping of the earth of all truth from God's Word is done by the "cankerworm" which are your spiritual leaders, such as your pastor, and the "caterpillar" which is your own family members. Between all these four levels, lead by the Kenites; the earth will be stripped clean of the truths of Word of God with understanding, and the only truth that is left for the time of the deception will be sealed away in the minds of the saved or foreheads of God's elect. During these end times when Satan is here on earth, These angels will intermingle with all of mankind around the earth. Though these spiritual beings will appear to be human, they are spiritual beings, just as those "sons of God" were in Genesis 6:1-6. The message that they will give will be taught by most all ministers from the pulpits of their church houses. They will promote Satan as the messiah, defend the right of the Sodomites, teach ecology, psychology and many other worldly causes. However, there will be a void in the teaching with understanding of God's Word, except to twist it, and make their teaching of it a lie. Joel 1:5 "Awake, ye drunkards, and weep; and howl, all ye drinkers of wine, because of the new wine; for it is cut off from your mouth." This "wine" in the Hebrew is "Yayin", or "Yayan". It is a bad wine, common and made from any root or plant you can get your hands on. In a spiritual sense, it makes you intoxicated or drunk and out of mental control. The "new wine" is derived from the Hebrew word "Asaia", which is "to dread". "Asaia" is a new and sweet wine from a vintage year. This wine, is held out by God to be given as a blessing. So what we are talking about here is the fact that God is calling out to His people in this last generation to wake up and seal in our minds with the truth of His Word. The "New Wine" is the knowledge about the difference between the fake Christ's coming, and the True Messiah which is Jesus Christ. It is the knowledge of the events of our day, that cause us to know where we are in relation to the coming of Satan to deceive the entire earth, so that we will not be deceived by him. Joel 1:6 "For a nation is come up upon My land strong, and without number, whose teeth are the teeth of a lion, and he hath the cheek teeth of a great lion." Prophetically, "My land" is "Jerusalem", which is the small nation calling itself Israel today. Remember that Joel is speaking to the final generation of the House of Judah, to that part of Israel that is in Palestine today. When Satan arrives on earth, he will set up his kingdom in Jerusalem and the entire world will come to worship him there. The number of people will be without number. Directing things from Jerusalem will be Satan's locust army of fallen angels, along with his offspring the Kenites. We read of this in Revelation 9. Revelation 9:7 "And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it crowns like gold, and there faces were as the faces of men." These angels have the faces of men because that is what they are, for mankind is made in the image of God and the angels. The reference to the hair of women is because they appear to be gentle as women, however they have the teeth of a lion that will rip the heart right out of you, spiritually speaking. They know they are doomed, and they want your soul right there in hell fire with them. Revelation 9:8 "And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions." Joel 1:7 "He hath laid My vine waste, and barked My fig tree: he hath made it clean bare, and cast it away; the branches thereof are made white." Jesus told us that we are to know "the parable of the fig tree", so that we would not be deceived during the time of the end. This parable was given to prepare us for the coming of Satan the Antichrist, and so that we could be on guard against the methods of the Kenites. To know who they are and what they intend to do. The first part of understanding this parable is to know what happened in the garden of Eden between Eve and Satan. For that sexual union of Satan and Eve came their son Cain. The Kenites are the offspring of Cain, who was the first murderer, and they have the mind of their father the devil. This is what you have to know, if you are to understand any of the parable of the fig tree. So the over-running of the Israelites by these Midianites was a type of what we shall see very shortly, when we are over-run By Satan and all his hoards. We are to be tested and guided before hand, just as God is preparing Gideon for his mission of making an end of these Midianites in the land. Judges 6:6 "And Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites; and the children of Israel cried unto the Lord." The Israelites had reach the end of their rope, and they could see no way out of their situation, and they cried out to the Lord God. Any time you cry out to the Lord and tell Him that you love Him, He will hear your prayer and forgive your sins. That is the starting point of having the victory over your enemies, your turning to God in prayer. It is no different today then it was in Gideon's day. Judges 6:7 "And it came to pass, when the children of Israel cried unto the Lord because of the Midianites," When you are in trouble and cry out to the Lord for His help, God will change things for you. Judges 6:8 "That the Lord sent a prophet unto the children of Israel, which said unto them, " 'Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I brought you up from Egypt, and brought you forth out of the house of bondage;" This Prophet from God is reminding the Israelites of all the miracles that God had done for them, from the time of their bondage in Egypt and the parting of the Red sea, to the fall of the walls of Jericho. Judges 6:9 "And I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all that oppressed you, and drave them out from before you, and gave you their land;" It looks like these Israelites, our forefather were kind of spoiled when God made it so easy for them. All they had to do is to follow the path that He leads. While they were in the desert or wilderness for the forty years, God placed the manna out on the ground so all they had to do is to go out and pick it up. God provided so many quill for the Israelites in the wilderness that it was like going to the chicken house to select the one that you would have for dinner today. Judges 6:10 "And I said unto you, 'I am the Lord your God; fear not the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but ye have not obeyed My voice.' " When the Israelites came into the promised land, they forgot all the blessings that God gave them, and they switched right into Baalism, and the worship of Ashorath. It's the questioning as to whether God really exists, and the putting man and his reason and reproductive abilities in the place of the True God. This same thing is going on today in many church houses, and religious orders that could be considered cults, or part of the occult in their questioning That God is actually real, or is some force off in the universe. In fact even science today has departed from the very forms that they established for themselves, as to whether something could be accepted as scientific evidence, or a fake. Before being accepted today by the scientific world an "authority", someone that they have established as being all knowing must understand and accept the fact as being true, then they will accept it as being absolutely true. The problem is that these co-called "experts" are men that base their conclusions on the reasoning capacity of their own minds. Their minds are quite limited, thus there conclusions become as strange as they are. They make their statements, and because they have made them, they expect others to accept them as fact. Their strange outcome becomes obvious in such areas as evolution, and astronomy. When Charles Darwin made his statements, which he stole from the works Herbert Spencer and Alfred R. Wallace, they were a series of assorted ideas where each idea on it's own wouldn't hold water. So he borrowed from Charles Lyell, his old friend, Lyell's "Doctrine of Uniformity" that states that: 1. All conditions have existed for millions of years, exactly as they are today. 2. No world wide catastrophes have occurred for the past 240 million years. This time factor gave Darwin time to explain away his conclusions. However, when anyone talks about one million, fifty million or two hundred and forty million it is an abstract that man's minds simply can't comprehend, nor prove, so their ideas take the form of theories, and puts their ideas in the realm of "make believe". It removes evolution from being scientific, and places it as a religion, something that you take by faith, sight unseen, for religion is a man made form of worship: unlike Christianity, which is a reality. It is interesting that this "uniformity doctrine" was taken from Hutton in 1795, and later developed by Lacarch in 1800, but it was Lyell, the young attorney, with his interests in geology that made the statement so modified to read so it could be reasonable and acceptable to others. The mixture of Lyell's dogma made Darwin's evolution theory reasonable, and the so-called scientific world took up the cause, because it gave them something to replace God in their lives. Today the Kenites will destroy anyone that goes against their wild ideas in the scientific world, and this occult of evolution has become reality. To many this reality cult of evolution has become a way of life and the way of earning a living to these people. Everybody is trying to steal from others and put their name to it, and call themselves the fathers of what ever the idea is. There is a statement made in the book, "Protocols of Zion", by the Learned Elders of Zion; under Protocol No. 2, on page 16. It is in reference to the changing of the minds of what Jews call "goyim" with regards to science. The quote goes like this; "Do not suppose for a moment that these statements are empty words: think carefully of the successes we arranged for Darwinism, Marxism, Nietzsche-ism. To us Jews, at any rate, it should be plain to see what a disintegrating importance these directives have had upon the minds of the goyim". By the way, Christians and non-Jews are considered "goyim" by the Jews, and it is a word that means "cattle". The theory of evolution states that: "All forms of life evolve by gradual emergence from the same most primitive, one-cell living organism. Chance variations occur in members of every species, and no two individuals are entirely identical. These variations are inheritable. The favorable variations, those that are helpful in the struggle for existence, may accumulate to such a degree that a new species originates, the members of which can have no fruitful progeny with the members of the parental species." Charles Darwin. The theory of Darwin and Christianity simply don't mix. Darwin relies on the mind and reasoning of man, and states that man originated by chance, while the Bible teaches quite the contrary. God stated that man was created in the state that he is in, in all the races, and our souls were placed in our physical bodies at the time of conception. There is nothing to argue about on this matter, you either accept God's Word as truth, or follow the lies of Darwin's man made traditions. What we are led to believe is that all life forms came by chance from a one celled organism, and that it just happened by chance. Then over the course of 240 million years, there was no world wide existence of any world wide catastrophe, but that all things have remained the same. This goes against what the Bible says, and even against the evidence that exists no matter where you are in all the earth. Even common sense tells you that the whole idea is nuts. Every time you drive your car, you burn fuel that comes from the chemical adjustments of dead organisms from a catastrophe from somewhere in the past. Even life itself proves that it is a lie, in that there has been not one mutation from one animal species to another that has been witnessed by any man, or even recorded anywhere in history. The apostle Paul wrote in I Corinthians 1:18 "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God." The world "power" as given here, in the Greek tongue it is "dunamis", which we get our word for "Dynamite". I Corinthians 1:19 "For it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent." Paul is quoting from the prophet Isaiah, from Isaiah 29:14; "Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvelous work among this People, even a marvelous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid." This marvelous "work and wonder" that shall come upon all of these people is that they shall be fool and deceived through the so-called wisdom of their "wise men". It is God that will send the delusion so that if you want to believe a lie, He will not hinder hinder you one bit. If you want to believe Lyell's theories, or Darwin's, or in fact any of the cults, God will not only allow you to do it and He will not hinder you an any way. He will let you sink all the way to the bottom of that spiritual pit, and hit with a thud. It is only then that you will come to your senses and cry out to God for help. Today this wisdom of the so-called wise is leading our nation into the new world order, and it is giving a strange twists to the Word of God. However in the time of the Judges, when the judge died there was no the go-between of God and man, then the people would lose their sense of direction and stray after strange gods, idols and forms of religious practices. Men and women think that they need their God to be seen and touchable before they can have faith in Him, However, our God requires our faith in Him when we can neither see nor touch Him physically. For this blind obedience by faith, God gives us salvation by grace, which is only offered in this earth age. This is because in the Millennium age, all souls will be in their spiritual bodies, and Christ will be here with us. There will be no grace by faith then, but salvation in the Millennium age will come only by your works, and those works will be reviewed at judgment day by our Father. Though we have the cross today to look back to today and His coming, those same promises were given in the Old Testament times, even back in the Garden of Eden, yet the Israelites departed from God over and over when their leaders would die. They departed from the burnt sacrifice offerings for their sins, and the love offerings for the Father, and would turn to the so-called "wise men" of their day. These were the Kenites that they allowed into their midst, and they brought their man made forms of worship that were called "Baal" and "Ashorath", that were forms of men worshipping themselves. When God told the Israelites "fear not", which in the Hebrew text is "don't give reverence to" the gods of the Amorites, which were Baal and Ashorath; they would not listen to God. We see in the book of the judges that thirteen times when their judge or spiritual leader died, they headed right out to the gods of the heathen Kenites and Amorites that were living amongst them. Judges 6:11 "And there came an Angel of the Lord and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abi-ezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites." "Angel of the Lord" spoken of here is God Himself, in the likeness that flesh man can face. It is a Christ walking the earth Himself, "Emmanuel", which translated means; "God with us". This is how God could talk directly to man, through the "Angel of the Lord". It is important that we translate both Joash and Gideon back into the Hebrew tongue. "Joash the Abiezrite" means "the father [Joash] of help [Abi-ezrite], or "the father of helps his son". "Gideon" means "the cutter down" being translated from the Hebrew text. So lets try to understand who this man Gideon is, and what type of fellow he is. The "winepress" is a vat used to crush the grapes to extract the juices, and it is located in the vineyard itself. It is usually hidden in such a location that one could hide in there and not be noticed. Gideon is not crushing the grapes near this winepress, but he is threshing wheat. Gideon is pounding the wheat with a stick there because it is quieter. Gideon is afraid of being noticed, for this is the low estate that the Israelites had come, allowing these foreigners to run wild through their lands. There was no one in all the land to stand up for what was rightfully their, but instead they ran and hid like a bunch scared rabbits. So rather then doing the threshing out in the open, like it should be done, Gideon is stroking the wheat with a stick off in a hidden area. Judges 6:12 "And the Angel of the Lord appeared unto him, and said unto him, "The Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valour." Many teachers get this verse a little mixed up, for Gideon is not a "mighty man of valour" when he is hiding out behind the winepress out in the orchard. However, in as much as God is with Gideon, and Gideon will be drawing from the strength of God, the valor comes by following God's instructions which will give the victory. It is God that makes things happen to where you find favor with God, and through your obedience to His Words, you receive the valor from God. It is because of Gideon's following the instructions of exactly what God gave to him, that he became the hero to the people. Judges 6:13 "And Gideon said unto Him, "Oh my Lord, if the Lord be with us, why then is all this befallen us: and where be all His miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, 'Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt?' but now the Lord hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites." This is a face to face conversation between Gideon and God, who is in a form that Gideon can see. Gideon is very serious about why and how this could all have happened where the Midianites are over-running the land. No one was safe in the streets, and their wealth and property are being taken from them to where they are stripped clean of what they had. Gideon is asking, if the Lord is with us, then why am I hiding out in this corner of the orchard, striving just to get enough wheat to make my bread? Why are our people become impoverished by the Midianite thieves that are running the streets around us. Friend, this is not God's fault, if you look around your streets today and see the same things happening today; then take a look at the people of God, and what they are doing. Are they studying God's Word to know what they are to do, and following those instruction? Or have they brought into their church houses some Kenites, with their twisted doctrines and accepting those forms of Baal, Ashorath, and maybe the rapture doctrine as the foundation of their faith? Are they preparing for the coming of the first christ, the Antichrist so that they will not be deceived, or are they preparing themselves to be spiritual whores to Satan the Antichrist? If you are one of these poor-me babies that like to whimper and cry over everything that goes on, then you better take a better look at yourself. You make the bed that you lie in, and that is exactly what will come your way. Remember what we read earlier from Isaiah 29:14, the wisdom of the so-called wise men of any day shall parish, and the understanding that comes from their prudent men shall be hid from those that do not seek the wisdom from God. Anything that comes your way, come because you allow it to happen by the very choices that you make for yourself. You can stumble through your life in this world and not even know why you are here in this flesh body, or you can seek the truth from His Word and know the entire plan of God. Anytime Jesus Christ was asked a question by the Kenites, and the wicked of His day, He would answer; "It is written...", haven't you read it? Unfortunately there is not much difference between Jesus day and ours, or that of Gideon's day. People like to stand by and moan and complain about everything that goes wrong, and leave God completely out of their lives. The point to this chapter is that God can take poor losers and make champions out of them when they learn to follow God's Word, and do as they are instructed. God is going to lead Gideon, because He is going to give the enemy into Gideon's hands. Judges 6:14 "And the Lord looked upon him, and said, "Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee?" Gideon's might is YHVH, the Lord God almighty, and that is where all of our mights rests, when we learn to communicate with Him. God gives His instructions when we are taught through His Word, and when we use those instruction for the service of the Lord and He blesses us, then God gets all the credit. When you claim a promise of God, and God delivers that blessing to you, then you are to recognize where the power of your strength came from. Judges 6:15 "And he said unto Him, "Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house." Gideon was crying and moaning that he is nothing, he is the least in his family and that his father's family is the poorest of all the families of the tribe of Manasseh. "Poorest" as it is used here, means "the youngest of all his brothers". Judges 6:16 "And the Lord said unto him, "Surely will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man." God is telling Gideon that though the Midianites are many, God is going to allow Gideon to smite them all as if they were but one man. One person can make a difference in a world that has rejected our Heavenly Father. You can make a difference when you allow God to use you as He sees fit. God will use you exactly where you are, in your home, community and family, and He can turn you from a cry baby, into a champion for Him. People are drawn to the strength and honesty that comes only from God. Judges 6:17 "And he said unto Him, "If now I have found grace in Thy sight, then shew me a sign that thou talkest with me." Talk is great and especially when it comes from God, when you are looking at God in the person, but Gideon is saying prove it to me that you will give me the victory. This is a normal response for anyone in the flesh. Judges 6:18 "Depart not hence, I pray Thee, until I come unto Thee, and bring forth my present, and set it before Thee. And He said, "I will tarry until thou come again." It was customary that you offer something to somebody when you are asking a favor of them. God told Gideon to go and get his gift and He would wait until Gideon would return. This was not just a man waiting, but it was the "Angel of the Lord". Judges 6:19 "And Gideon went in, and made ready a kid, and unleavened cakes of an ephah of flour: the flesh he put in a basket, and he put the broth in a pot, and brought it out unto Him under the oak, and presented it." Notice that it was "unleavened" cakes of bread, and an "ephah", which is about twenty pounds of flour. These were had times, and we see that this offering to God just about emptied the cupboards. This place that God waited was under a popular oak, for there is no other description given as to its location. Judges 6:20 "And the Angel of God said unto him, "Take the flesh and the unleavened cakes, and lay them upon this rock, and pour out the broth." And he did so." Gideon did exactly as God told him to do, even though it may seem like it was wasting the precious food, the unleavened bread, the meat and the broth. These were hard times, and it was hard to get food in that day. Yet when God told Gideon to place them on the rock that was there, and he pour the broth over the altar, Gideon followed God's instructions. Judges 6:21 "And the Angel of the Lord put forth the end of the staff that was in His hand, and touched the flesh and the unleavened cakes; and there rose up fire out of the rock, and consumed the flesh and the unleavened cakes Then the Angel of the Lord departed out of his sight." When there is fire on the altar of God, it means that God had accept that sacrifice that was offered to Him. This is similar to the altar that Elijah had made to God, when challenging the four hundred prophets of Baal, when king Ahab and all Israel turned to Baalism and against God. I Kings 18:31 "And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the Lord came, saying, "Israel shall be thy name:" I Kings 18:32 "And with the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord: and he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed." I Kings 18:33 "And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid him on the wood, and said, "Fill four barrels with water, and put it on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood." I Kings 18:34 "And He said, Do it the second time." and they did it a second time. And he said , "Do it a third time." And they did it the third time." " I Kings 18:35 "And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water." Elijah had built the altar and placed what should be on that altar according to His Word. Then to make sure that there would be no misunderstanding as to who was accepting that sacrifice, God instructed Elijah to soak the entire thing in water three times. I Kings 18:36 "And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, "Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that Thou art God in Israel, and that I am Thy servant, and that I have done all these things at Thy word." Elijah is letting the people know that what is going to happen that they will witness is from God, and it is He that will consume the sacrifice. There will be no confusion of what God will do. I Kings 18:37 "Hear me, O lord, hear Me, that this People may know that Thou art the Lord God, and that Thou hast turned their heart back again." There is the reason for this demonstration that God will perform through the hands of Elijah. It is to turn the hearts and minds of the people away from Baalism and back to God, so that they will live for God and follow His ways. I Kings 18:38 "Then the fire of the Lord fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench." God didn't just consume the sacrifice, but the soaked wood, the stones that the altar was made of, and the dust of the earth that was under the stones were taken by the fire. Even the water in the trench around the altar was licked up and consumed by the fire. "Our God is a consuming fire" [Hebrews 12:29], and this is stated in both the Old and New Testament. I Kings 18:39 "And when all the People saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, "The Lord, He is the God; the Lord, He is the God." This was the purpose for the altar and the demonstration that Elijah gave. It was to turn the hearts of the people back to God. When they witnessed this fire from God, they believed. We live in a time today when all kinds of prophesies from the Bible are happening right before our eyes, yet the people are spiritually blind to them. When they should be turning back to God, most simply go about their daily lives as though what is happening is what God owes them. Lets look at the symbolism of this verse in Judges. The "unleavened bread" is our Passover of today, and it symbolizes Jesus Christ body in at the Communion table. The "Rock"; God is our Rock and the very foundation that we build our lives upon. In that the Angel of the Lord has departed, Gideon is now alone. Judges 6:22 "And when Gideon perceived that He was an Angel of the Lord, Gideon said, "Alas, O Lord God! for because I have seen an Angel of the Lord face to face." It wasn't until after the Angel of the Lord had departed, that Gideon become afraid. It was written in traditions that when you see the face of God you will die. Gideon had seen the face of God, and he expected to die, however he was still alive. Judges 6:23 "And the Lord said unto him, "Peace be unto thee; fear not: thou shalt not die." The Angel of the Lord had departed from Gideon to where he could not see Him, yet God simply talked to Gideon and assured him that he would not die. Judges 6:24 "Then Gideon built an altar there unto the Lord, and called it Jehovah-shalom: unto this day it is yet in Ophrah of the Abiezrites." Gideon built an altar to the Lord, and this altar in the Massorah text is called "YHVH-shalom". "YHVH" is the sacred name of the Lord, and "shalom" in the Hebrew tongue means "peace".. Gideon called the Lord "Father", the Lord of Peace, for surely He is going to bring peace to His people. Judges 6:25 "And it came to pass the same night, that the Lord said unto him, "Take thy father's young bullock, even the second bullock of seven years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that thy father hath, and cut down the grove that is by it:" The "Grove" is where they practiced their "grove worship, which was their sexual orgies. It is their fertility rites from were we get the Easter bunny, Easter eggs, the Easter bonnet and all the other things of spiritual whoredom that go with grove worship. This includes the early Sunday morning sunrise service where all the men would go out on a hill and bow to the sun when it came up on that day. Then because we are Christians we rename these heathen customs and call them "Christian rites", and it is suppose to please our Father. It doesn't. The truly sad part of this custom is that we have overlooked the most important day of all Christianity, and that is the Passover, for on that day Christ came out of that tomb, and through His resurrection we have victory over Satan and all of his realm. Somehow so-called Christians attribute Passover to the Jews, who denounce Christ, and chase after the Kenite Jews religious order of Baal and Ashorath [Esther] as being Christian. If they will do this in their church houses, there is no doubt that they will worship Satan as their Christ, when he is cast from heaven at the sixth trumpet. This act of preparing for Satan's coming is what the rapture is all about, being taken by the first messiah to come, which is the false Christ, Satan, in his role as the Antichrist. Christians today are one confused bunch of people, thy refuse to take God at face value, yet they will run to the Kenites and all their stupid doctrines and grab them like those heathen customs were from God. This is where "Gideon" received his name from, "the cutter down", for Gideon will be the one to cut down the grove worship, the sexual orgies of Baal and Ashorath, and turn the hearts of the people back to God. Judges 6:26 "And build an altar unto the Lord thy God upon the top of this rock, in the ordered place, and take the second bullock, and offer a burnt sacrifice with the wood of the grove which thou shalt cut down." God is telling Gideon to clear out all the idols and things that were part of grove worship and destroy them. Then Gideon is to form the altar to God in an orderly manner. On the top of these rocks, take the wood from the idols of the grove worship and use that wood to build a fire on the top of My altar. This way God is going to have a burnt sacrifice on His altar, and clean up the heathen mess at the same time. Judges 6:27 "Then Gideon took ten men of his servants, and did as the Lord had said unto him: and so it was, because he feared his father's household, and the men of the city, that he could not do it by day, that he did it by night." Give Gideon credit for using his head and getting the job done at a time when there was the least resistance. I'm sure there would be a real battle if this had happened when the people were aware of their heathen gods were being destroyed. You know that their would be war if someone tried to take the heathen customs out of the Christianity, and force the congregation to accept only the Word of God. Judges 6:28 "And when the men of the city arose early in the morning, behold, the altar of Baal was cast down, and the grove was cut down that was by it, and the second bullock was offered upon the altar that was built." As the town started to awake in the morning, the men went to their idols to worship and there was no altar, nor grove area for their sexual orgies. It was all gone and the tempers started to flare. All of this is a type of something that will happen at a later time. The false messiah will appear on this earth prior to the True Messiah Jesus Christ. The false messiah, or Satan in the role of the Antichrist is symbolic of Baal, which came out of ancient Babylon. This is the same Babylon mentioned in Revelation 17:5; "And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH." One Babylon is a type of the other. It is the rebirth of an ancient religious order that is brought forward to the time of the end, or our generation, and this religious form will be accepted in the minds or "forehead" of this one world religious system called "the Mother of Harlots, and the Abominations of the earth". Gideon knew that their must be a change before God would listen to their cries and do something about it, and he is following God's instructions in what is required before He will accept their sacrifices. Judges 6:29 "And they said one to another, "Who hath done this thing?" And when they enquired and asked, they said, "Gideon the son of Joash hath done this thing." When the town folk saw what had happened they knew at once that it was Gideon; the "cutter down" [Gideon] did it. Judges 6:30 "Then the men of the city said unto Joash, "Bring out thy son, that he may die: because he hath cast down the altar of Baal, and because he hath cut down the grove that was by it." You can see how serious this matter is, for Gideon had destroyed their idols and altars to Baal. He destroyed their places of sex orgies, and disrupted their forms of worship. In archaeological finds, even in America, there have been ancient Baal altars and symbols found. There is nothing new under the sun. Any time people drift away from the truth of God's Word they allow time and man's inventions of religious forms to take hold. When the religious leaders start to substitute heathen religious practices and symbols for the things of God's Word, in time they lose all sense of what is of God, and what is of man. In time the things of man and his pleasures take priority over their things that God requires. This is what has happened in Gideon's community, and it is also what is going on in Christian America today. In fact in the prosperity doctrines that are common today, Christians have come to believe that prosperity is a measurement of your spiritual positions with God. They think that man can demand something of God, and He has to give it. Friend, anything that you put before God is an idol, and when these people came to Joash, Gideon's father, to complain of what Gideon had done, we can see the good stock that Gideon came from. Judges 6:31 "And Joash said unto all that stood against him, "Will ye plead for Baal? will ye save him? he that will plead for him, let him be put to death whilst it is yet morning: if he be a god, let him plead for himself, because one hath cast down his altar." After Joash heard all that the people had to say, he asked the people, "Do you have to do Baal's fighting for him?" Is this a god that requires you to save him? Joash had the right idea here and he told the people, if Baal is a god, then let him come an plead for himself. Don't you go and try to kill my son, for if Baal is mad about my son destroying his altar, let Baal do the killing himself. The point here is that Baal is not a god, but a religious form that people have dreamed up, and in their ignorance have followed. When people say that they are going to put a curse on someone, it shows their ignorance, for there is no such thing. However if they believe it, it cause them to do strange things and their actions almost become the fact. If someone allows Satan to send his evil spirit upon them, and they are open to that evil spirit, that causes them to do the evil deed that they blame on the spirit. A servant of God does not have to put up with non-sense, but we have the power to order evil spirits out of our lives. In the power of God, you have power over anything negative in your life. Superstition is a evil religious form, and when it is in your life you put yourself a slave to it. It is not the fact that you do that particular thing, but the condition that you set in your mind and allow your mind to be a slave to. Christians are to refuse to allow superstitions and evil practices that are negative to get in the way of seeing the truth from God's Word. Judges 6:32 "Therefore on that day he called him Jerubbaal, saying, "Let Baal plead against him, because he hath thrown down his altar." So Joash was renamed at that place to "Jerubbaal", which means "Let Baal plead for himself". Judges 6:33 "Then all the Midianites and the Amalekites and the children of the east were gathered together, and went over , and pitched in the valley of Jezreel." "Jezreel" is a play on the word "Israel" and it means "the seed of God". These Midianites and their friends the Amalekites came upon the children of Israel, all the tribes as Israel is preparing for the time of harvest. It was the annual time when the Midianites would come in and take everything that was lose and not tied down. Judges 6:34 "But the Spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon, and he blew a trumpet; and Abi-ezer was gathered after him." The Spirit of the Lord is about to do a great work through Gideon, and Gideon blew the trumpet to get the troops together. Judges 6:35 "And he sent messengers throughout all Manasseh; who also was gathered after him: and he sent messengers unto Asher, and unto Zebulun, and unto Naphtali and they came up to meet them." Manesseh is the largest of the tribes in number. Remember that in the previous battles Zebulun and Naphtali were right there when it was time for the battle. The word "Manasseh" means "forgetful" and we have see that it doesn't take long to forget the things that have happened to them. Judges 6:36 "And Gideon said unto God, "If Thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as Thou hast said," Judges 6:37 "Behold, I will put a fleece of wool in the floor; and if the dew be on the fleece only, and it be dry upon all the earth beside, then shall I know that Thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as Thou hast said." Gideon has seen the Angel of the Lord face to face. He has heard God talk to him from heaven, and he trusted the Lord enough to destroy all the heathen idols and grove worship, but Gideon still wants another sign from God before he leads the troops against this huge multitude of Midianites. The way that Gideon has stated this test of God, is just the reversal of the natural order of the due when it settles on the ground in the mornings for only the fleece of wool would be wet. Judges 6:38 "And it was so: for he rose up early on the morrow, and thrust the fleece together, and wringed the dew out of the fleece, a bowl full of water." In the morning when Gideon went to get the fleece, He found a bowl full of water while the ground around it was dry. Judges 6:39 "And Gideon said unto God, "Let not thine anger be hot against me, and I will speak but this once: let me prove, I pray Thee, but this once with the fleece; let it now be dry only upon the fleece, and upon all the ground let there be dew." This would be the reversal of the first test that Gideon gave to God. Judges 6:40 "And God did so that night: for it was dry upon the fleece only, and there was dew on all the ground." God really had a lot of patience with Gideon. God wanted to relieve His people from the bonds of those Midianites, and at the same time turn His people back to Him. God choose Gideon, a man hiding out back behind the vat in the orchard, and came to speak to him personally. God tested Gideon by having him destroy the altars of Baal, and then use that material to build an altar to Him, and offer a sacrifice on that altar. Then God allowed Gideon to test Him, to verify that what He was about to do, was for sure from God. We have many churches today that fit the category that the people were in at the time of Gideon. They are so deep in tradition and Baal worship that they are just like those Israelites that came to Joash. Modern day man has brought in today's form of heathenism, and their ignorance is bliss to them. So God's Word is very clear and the types are set for the deliverance that is about to come to Israel. Today ignorance is bliss, however, God's Word is very clear as to the types and events that are set. Of course the children are not going to hell for rolling an Easter egg, or mother for wearing her bonnet. When you teach your children, teach them the truths out of God's Word. Teach them what what the egg stands for, and that it symbolizes fertility and that it came from the ancient feast of "Ishtar" the heathen goddess. It was a fertility rite. If you want to have your children carry the eggs on Passover, and partake in this rite, it is up to you. But teach your children what the things that they do symbolizes. It has absolutely nothing to do with our Lord's passover. This is said to inform you that heathenism is in many places of our churches today. The Shepherds Chapel

Matthew Chapter 18 "Discipleship. As a little child." This chapter teaches you how to plant seeds in our daily life, and gain the knowledge that Christ was teaching while on earth in His first advent. It is important in our lives to learn to release the pressures and stresses in our lives, and turning them over to Jesus Christ; knowing that He cares for you. Christianity is not a religion, but a reality. It is words of encouragement of how we can grow closer to our Heavenly Father, and please Him. It is from the Father that all blessings flow back to us. Matthew 18:1 "At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" The whole state of affairs of mankind living on the earth, is based on positions of standing. Whether in government, the church and even within our family. We are going to learn four lessons in this chapter, the first lesson is to be humble, and stay in the low places, and be ready to serve when you are called upon by God. In the Millennium age there are many that consider themselves authorities in Scripture, and deserve the high places, yet they will find themselves in the children's area of teaching, so to speak. We must learn that it is God's Word that does the teaching, and not man's word. The second lesson taught here is to be patient with our neighbor. Don't be a busybody with the neighbor. The third lesson is that we are not to take advantage, or scandalize a weak brother. Learn patience when dealing with others, especially those that claim the name of Christ. The fourth lesson is to correct that brother, or neighbor with love and compassion, when he is at fault, that Christ may be presented to him. Matthew 18:2 "And Jesus called a little child unto Him, and set him in the midst of them." This deals with who is the greatest in heaven, and Jesus is going to explain this in a simple object lesson. Matthew 18:3 "And said, "Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven." When you teach a child a new thing that he is interested in, he will open his mind and accept whatever you say. His eyes light up, and the excitement of learning can be seen in his whole body. This child has one hundred percent faith in his father or mother, or whomever is teaching him. As the child listened, there wasn't a doubt in his mind as to the truth of the matter. Friend, that is exactly what you have to do with Jesus, and the Word of God. Adults pretty much think that we know it all already, and that is a mistake. Regardless how much you think you know, there is so much more that you can be taught if you just put your mind to it. As you place God's Word into your mind, it becomes like a seed, and will grow. As you yield your mind to the Holy Spirit of God, His Spirit will take that seed of the Word, and make it bloom right there in your life. That blossom of the truth of God's Word will not pass, but it will change your thinking process, the way that you think and reason, for it will set the standard for how you will look at other people and things that come into your life. So you must continually be as that child, when you read and study His Word, and be that receptive to learn and make it part of you. Matthew 18:4 "Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven." Our Lord Jesus Christ came to this earth in His First Advent as a baby. He came not as royalty, but born in a cave with the livestock. He came, born of a virgin girl, with the government out to kill Him, and to the degree that it would kill every child, just to get Jesus. Are you starting to get the picture? You don't enter God's kingdom as the king, but through the servants door, and the matter of being elevated, depends on the type of servant you become. Being promoted to positions of responsibility depends on your willingness to learn, and follow instruction, and get along with others. It also depends on your faithfulness in the little things, and doing those things in the name of the King [our Heavenly Father]. "Humble" means that our Father gets the credit for what you do, not you, for all good things comes from the Father. The only reason you are in that kingdom, is because His Son paid the price. You came with nothing, you have nothing, and every good morsel that comes your way is credited to where it belongs, our Heavenly Father, in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ. That is how you enter the kingdom of heaven, as a child. You come humble as a child, and ready to learn, and sorry for those things you do wrong. As you learn to give God the praise and glory, in Christ's name, He will promote you to the job He knows you can handle, and that He can depend on you doing right. Matthew 18:5 "And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me." This not only refers to children, but those that are humble before the Lord. Man is not equipped to handle all his problems in this world, and this is directed to those that give their problems to the Heavenly Father, just as a child goes to his earthly father. Jesus is instructing us to receive and handle carefully those new babes in Christ, just as we would handle a child. The child looks to the parent to get the job done, and solve any problem. In his mind, "my daddy can do anything," "my mother can fix anything." You see, you must put yourself in that position concerning God in Heaven. He is able to tend to any matter, and in the way that best fits your need. God has promised us that when we ask in Jesus name, He will not deny you. John 15:7; "If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you." Did you catch the condition Jesus gave before you receive? If ye abide in me; are you living for Him? "and my Word abide in you," What about it, do you study His Word, to have those words in your mind, and heart? When you do things God's way, then He blesses you. God is fair and just. My friend, this is the answer to depression, when you have done all that you can do, then turn it over to the Father to fix. You have to become humble to see that it is beyond you, and it is time to give it over to God. You are the one to make the move, then He will do the rest. Jesus stands at that door and knocks, but the handle to open that door is on the inside of your heart. Jesus will not bust into anyone's business or life, unless you invite Him to do so. When you do this act of letting Him come into your life, then Christianity stops being a form of religious practice, and it becomes life, it becomes the reality of real life and that is life filled with Christ, and directed by His Holy Spirit. Matthew 18:6 "But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were handed about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea." Jesus is saying that if you offend them and accuse them when they are as children in the Lord, and cause them to fall and turn from the Lord; it would have been better for you if you were done away with. When one truly believes the Father, as a child in understanding, and you cause them to fall in your judgmental ways, you will be treated very harshly by the Almighty Father on Judgment day. When you realize what you have done, friend it is time to repent to the Father, and to the babe in Christ. This is not a matter to play games with. Matthew 18:7 "Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!" The troubles of the world will trip up everyone at one time or another, they will come because that is the way the world is and the nature of man. This is directed to those that place temptation in the path of another child of God, that this person would fall. Satan loves it when we take our freedoms that we have in Christ, and place it in the path of that child in the Lord that just can't handle it. Though our conscience gives us certain freedoms, those freedoms can be stumbling blocks in the path of another person, and that offence can become the reason that a child in the Lord, (regardless of his or her age), turn away from Christ. Matthew 18:8 "Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire." God has given us His health laws that show us how to protect our physical bodies. Those health laws tell us what to eat and what not to eat so we can live a healthy life. When you break one of the health laws the punishment is sickness to this flesh body, which could end in the death of this flesh body. Why then would He tell us to mutilate the flesh body for the sake of the soul, when through His laws, He stresses our protection of it. The answer is; He doesn't, and mutilation is not what is talked about here. This is in reference to the protection of that many membered body of Christ. He is talking about those members of the many membered body of Christ, that if you cannot conduct yourself as part of that body of Christ, as one of these children of His kingdom, and you bring offences to those that are, you are to be separated from the main body, while you are offensive. Sometimes God allows troublemakers to become part of a church, to be a thorn to them, and this can be tolerated. However, Jesus is telling us that it is best to just tell them to leave, rather then have them cause others to fall. Matthew 18:9 "And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire." This is directed to those in the church that are to be the watchmen. Those that watch that which is taught is from God's Word, and keeping the eye out for the well being of the church body. It is better to go with less understanding of God's Word, and dig it out for yourselves, then put up with allowing someone to steer the body of Christ into some other path. Little children don't act that way, it would be someone that thinks that they know it all, and trying to add something new to God's Word. Matthew 18:10 "Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say into you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven." When one is as a child before God, regardless of age, and calls on God. God assigns an angel to that person, and each of those angels have the face of of the Heavenly Father. That means that when trouble comes, that angel can instantly call our Heavenly Father, and get His attention to the matter. Jesus is telling us that it is He that is assuring us of this fact, that if you try to bother one of these babes in Christ, it will be brought instantly to God's attention. You will not get away with harming any of Christ's little ones.. You see that this is addressed to God's little ones, and the person that does not believe in God does not have an attending angel. Calling God's attention to the matter is beholding the face of God. When God tends to the matter there will be a correction taking place. Matthew 18:11 "For the son of man is come to save that which was lost." That is the whole purpose for Jesus Christ coming to earth as a baby, to save you. Matthew 18:12 "How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?" Of course the shepherd will do that, for He knows how defenseless that little lamb is to wild animals. He knows that the only protection a sheep has is the shepherd, himself. Our Heavenly Father has that kind of love and compassion for His sheep, and when one has gone astray, He will go after that precious soul, and He will take on all the demonics of this world, to get his lamb back. It really doesn't matter how deep in sin and the habits of this world you have sunk; it really doesn't matter because when you get your eyes focused on Christ, and you call out to God to save you, He will take you right were you are, and make you a new creature. If you are on drugs, or in some crime, or even sunk to the depths of Sodomy, God will save you out of your filthy condition, and open your eyes to see Him. You are the one, though, that makes the choice, and calls out to Him, and He will do the rest. You are the one that has to recognize that you need the help, and repent, and He will save you. God loves His children. God will take the attention from the ninety nine that are serving Him, and focus that attention on the one sinner that is lost. It doesn't take much to get God moving in your direction, just a crack in the door, saying, Father come into my heart, forgive me dear Lord; and He will. Then God will help you control your flesh body, as you get yourself under control. To get off drugs, or alcohol, or change your lifestyle from perversion, Christ will give you the strength to see it through. The Holy Spirit of God will be there with you night and day, and when the going gets tough, He is there by your side, and in your mind to give you comfort. Friend, Christ is not a religion, but a reality with your very soul and mind. When He comes He brings new life, and hope that you can rely on, every moment of the rest of your life. God will change your habits, your goals, and then He will place an angel to watch over you. Matthew 18:13 "And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray." Friend, when you see the light of His Word, and repent and call out to the Father to "save me", there is rejoicing in heaven; and that is where it counts. Though men on this earth hold something against you, and treat you as a second class citizen, God does not. God created your soul, and placed your spirit within you, and there is a eternal value to your soul, and God has set that value to your soul. Whether that soul is destroyed, or committed to an eternal destiny, that is for you to decide. You do not have to prepare yourself to make that decision, but just have sight enough to focus on the cross of Christ, and call out for His forgiveness. He will touch you right where you are. Jesus is telling you here that God will give you special attention that the other saved and grounded in His Word, do not have. God will give you what it takes to see you through. Matthew 18:14 "Even so it is not the will of your Father Which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish." This doesn't mean that one of them won't, because the choice is up to all those with free will, but it is the Father's will that none of them would. We are reminded of this in II Peter 3:9; "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." That means that God has lots of patience, He has been waiting on you, and will continue; however there is a time coming when it will be just to late. Matthew 18:15 "Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother." This is a new lesson, and Jesus is telling us to settle our affairs between each other. Don't allow your problems to become the gossip of the church, or the neighborhood. When problems come up between you and your neighbor, or brother then go to him at once. Settle the problem if it is possible, then you still have him as a friend. Most problems that exist in families and groups exist because of a lack of communication, or the willingness to forgive another. If the brother is in the ministry, or the brother that loves the Lord, he should listen to what you have to say. However, many that say they are in the Lord, refuse to follow the instructions that Christ teaches. When this practice is followed, there will be very few times that it would need to end up in court. Matthew 18:16 "But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one of two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established." On the other hand if that brother will not listen or speak to you, to find some acceptable course, then take two or three witness with you and try to reach some settlement of understanding. In this way you will have witnesses if the matter ever went to court. Matthew 18:17 "And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican." Some people are just to crude to act properly. They are not the same as you, in the Lord, and their center in life are the same as the heathen. Don't cater to them, but treat them at arms length. Don't trust them, or get to close to them. Then, when a matter comes up between you and that person, after making a simple attempt to settle difference, after that person refuses to allow an arbitrator from within the church, go right to legal counsel.. This is Christ teaching on matters between members of the body of Christ. Those outside the body of Christ are not part of this instruction. When this happens you set yourself apart from that person, and if it is your blood brother, you do the same. Don't treat that person as an enemy, but as a brother that you just don't care to be around, until the matter is tended to. Matthew 18:18 "Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." If you are a man or woman of God, and you have the key to heaven, what you bind with that key in heaven is bound here on earth, as well as it is bound in heaven. This is directed to the binding between two or more parties, where they all are of the elect of God, love the Lord, and try to live and abide by the key, or the instructions of God in His Word. This shows you the power that there is in the servants of the living God, one of God's elect. This then is an expansion on Matthew 16:19; "And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." If you have and teach those keys to David, then your angel has God's attention any time you are in need. Matthew 18:19 "Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of My Father Which is in heaven." Many people misread their greed into this verse. There is a condition to the asking, and expecting those requests to be answered. The matter is addressing the disciples, and applies to the disciples of Christ, whether two thousand years ago, or today. This applies to those who disciplines themselves in the Word of God, to learn it and grow skilled in that Word. Two individuals calling themselves Christians, yet desiring not to study God's Word, are not the two in agreement of this verse. They would be the "blind leading the blind", heading for the ditch, as we read in Matthew 15:14. If your agreement is not with one of Christ's disciples, then the promises of this verse do not apply to you. The condition is that, "if any two of you", you being disciples of Christ, agree and ask. The request is with God's work at heart, rather then trouble makers. Matthew 18:20 "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." His name is Jesus Christ, the Messiah, and He is the Living Word of God, made flesh and came and dwelt amongst us. When you are gathered together in the Living Word, and claiming the promises from that Living Word, and having faith in Him, God will be with you by the dwelling of His Holy Spirit. When you are gathered together in His name, it means that you have repented, and are looking to study God's Word more in-depth. Matthew 18:21 "Then came Peter to Him, and said, "Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?" This is Peter suggesting to Jesus that we should forgive our brother seven times. What was Jesus reaction? Matthew 18:22 "Jesus saith unto him, "I say not unto the, until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven." Jesus added to Peter's law, and made it seven times seventy, or four hundred ninety times. Remember that the definition of "brother", is one either of the tribes of Israel, or our family members; and if that brother repents to you, you must forgive him. There is no exceptions to this. This applies to a neighbor also. The neighbor is the person not of Israel, and of another race, or peoples, and believes in Jesus Christ. You will forgive them also, and our patience extends to each of these. To forgive someone requires repentance, and if they don't repent you are not bound to give the forgiveness. In the name of Christ, most all believers will not carry the grudge, but will forgive them in their heart, for the forgiveness will heal the barrier between the two of you, and give peace within your mind. This is only possible by the love that we have in Christ. The forgiveness that is the hardest to give, is the forgiveness the God requires in forgiving ourselves. It is a lot easier to forgive others, but the difficulty comes because of our own vanity and pride, when inside we place ourselves a little higher then the next guy. The ease of forgiveness come with maturity in God's Word. This is why it is important to ask forgiveness, then forgive yourselves to have your prayers answered. Matthew 18:23 "Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants." This is the way it will be in heaven. Matthew 18:24 "And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents." So you can see the amount we are talking about here, one talent is seven hundred and fifty ounces of silver, in our current weights. Now multiply that by ten thousand to get what this servant shorted his master. This is well over a million dollars by our standards, and this is what was owed. Matthew 18:25 "But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made." In other words, there was just no way to meet the obligation, and settle the account. This servant is just no good. Remember that our subject in this parable is forgiveness. This person made not effort to pay any of it, so God sold him and everything that he had. Matthew 18:26 "The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, 'lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.' " When worship takes place, then idolatry is practiced. This person saw that all was lost, and at the point of no return, he submits to the master in idolatry. Because God is the master in this parable, this man was not in idolatry, but is total submission to God, by his commitment. This man is promising to pay back an amount when it is impossible to do so. This man is telling God that he will meet all parts of the obligation, and pay back every penny. God doesn't want us to pay Him back, but to repent, and turn from that way we were in. Matthew 18:27 "Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him and forgave him the debt." That king heard the repentance of the servant, and wrote off the entire amount. That servant didn't owe the master one cent. The master had compassion when he heard of the man's repentance. That is how God deals with His children. Though your sins may be great, and once you repent and worship Him, He forgives all things. Forgiveness is the subject here, and Peter asked how often, and we saw that to be four hundred and ninty times a day. Now as to how much, Jesus is telling us, everything that is owed, once repented. Matthew 18:28 "But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, 'Pay me that thou owest.' " This servant just did not get the message, he was forgiven for over a million bucks, and it was forgiven completely, yet this other servant that owed him just over two dollars in value and he wants to throw his fellow servant in jail over the matter. He is going to take the man's life over two dollars. This is a parable, but it also is an analogy showing the difference between God's forgiveness, and man's forgiveness. Matthew 18:29 "And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.' " This fellowservant is on his knees, just like this other servant was before the king [master]; and did you catch those words? They were the same request for mercy. The servant has repented to this man. Matthew 18:30 "And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt." In our day, this is called a double standard, and is quite common in our legal system. But it is not God's way of doing things. The lesson that Jesus is giving His disciples here, is be very careful what you ask God forgiveness for, For if you will not forgive your fellow man of the same, don't expect it of God. God is fair, and He is just. It is hard to compare the difference between the forgiveness of sin, and the forgiveness of a debt, for only God can forgive sin, yet Jesus is using this to show us just how important it is for His disciples to forgive those that seek it from us. Matthew 18:31 "So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done." Remember that this parable of forgiveness is part of the lessons given before. In verse ten Jesus told us that these young children in the Lord had angels assigned to them in heaven, to report to the face of God. They were to tell all the problems that God's new born in the Lord faced. Now apply that to this verse, this fellowservants was given a hard time and wicked deed by the servant that was forgiven, and the angels went directly to the king, and reported the treatment to Him. This parable is with the king in heaven, and the servants are ones that call themselves Christian. We are not discussing the heathen, but the actions and forgiveness between two servants of the same master, our Heavenly Father. In the world today this is as it also is, for God knows what is going on, and all reveange is the Lords. God has His ways of making all things right. Matthew 18:32 "Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, 'O thou wicked servent, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:" Matthew 18:33 "Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?" Matthew 18:34 "And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him." "The tormentors" in today's terminology is called evil spirits. The torments of the jailers that can make your life miserable today. Matthew 18:35 "So likewise shall My heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses." This is after repentance that you are bound to forgive him. If the person refuses to repent then you are not bound to forgive him. The forgiveness is a condition on the attitude of the one that did the harm, and this is why we see judges of today go much harder of those who refuse to have a repentive heart. God does not require you to have a bleeding heart over one that does you wrong, and then tries to run from it. God set his standards for those call themselves Christians, and the pattern of our lives is spelled out in His Word. When the other person is Christian, and has wronged us, This chapter has set the guidelines of how we are to deal with that person. We are not talking about the unsaved here, but only those that call themselves disciples of Christ. The compassion comes after repentance by the one that did the wrong. When we do it all God's way, then when we ask of Him in prayer, Our Lord will answer our prayer, and we can expect it. The Shepherds Chapel King James Bible with Strongs Dictionary

Matthew Chapter 7 "Sermon on the Mount, Continued." Matthew 7:1 "Judge not that ye be judged." You choose the type of life that you will have by the way that you deal with others. Matthew 7:2 "For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again." This word judgment is better translated "criticized". The same degree that you level on others, is the yardstick that they will us use in their criticism of your actions. What ever you measure [however stingy you are] to others, is the same way they will use in their actions with you. What you give to others is what you will get back yourself. This is God's way of doing things. If you try to take a good man down, then God will see to it that your taken down also. Matthew 7:3 "And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?" A "mote" is a real tiny spot of dust, and in the spiritual analogy used here, it is saying; why do you look at the very smallest sin that is in your brother's life, and you have a huge sin [beam] in your own life. This has a great deal to do with whether you have eyes to see the spiritual insight into God's word. One that has eyes to see, understands the plan of God, and will not be so critical of his brother, but will be out to help his brother. It is human nature to overlook the sin in your own life. Matthew 7:4 "Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, 'Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye;' and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?" One of the greatest sins in the world is to judge someone for their sin, for that makes you the judge taking God's place, and you don't belong there. If you don't have spiritual eyes to see, there is really no way to help the other person. You must first clear your own eye, before you can help your brother. Matthew 7:5 "Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye." No person will except your help, until they are ready to be helped. You can caution them, and plant seeds of the Scriptures, but until that person asks you for help, and is open for your words, what you say just won't take root. Be very patient with those new converts that are in the process of learning. Matthew 7:6 "Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you." This is referring to Proverbs 9: 7; "He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: And he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot." blot - 3971 m'uwm usually muwm- blemish, spot, defect a) used of physical defect used of moral stain If you go out to some stiffed necked drunk, and try to give your pearls of wisdom to him, he is liable to set you back on your rear, and make your nose a blot. When you try to preach to a wicked man, he will mock you for even trying. He doesn't have any sense or knowledge concerning God's Word. Proverbs 9:8; "Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee:" When we criticize a mocker of Scripture, he in turn, turns that scorn back on us. The purpose in God's plan is to convict and make the sinner condemn himself.; to see his own sin, and repent of those sins. This is how it should be: Proverbs 9:9; "Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: Teach a just man, and he will increase in learning." Spend your time where it counts, and the Scriptures are ready to be received. Proverbs 9:10; "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: And the knowledge of the holy is understanding." Applied common sense is what most of the understanding of God'sWord consists of. Matthew 7:7 "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened ." The subject is God's Word, and your eye being able to see, or understand what is written in that Word. This is describing how you gain wisdom, and knowing God and His plan is wisdom. You have to go to that Word, before you can seek, and the knocking is the asking for help by the right sources. It is keeping the Word in true perspective, and rightly dividing it for the message God is relating to us. When you knock on His door, and ask Him, the Holy Spirit of God, will come in and open your eyes of understanding, and He will reveal Himself to you. Matthew 7:8 "For everyone that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh, it shall open." If you ask for understanding and wisdom, you will get it. The level of understanding will be at the level that God sees your ability to understand. God will give you what He wants you to have, and it is His Spirit that will allow you to see the truths. What you see, is what you will be accountable to Him for. This is a promise from God, and it comes from Proverbs 8:17; "I love them that love me; And those that seek me early shall find me." Matthew 7:9 "Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?" This verse can be applied in the physical sense and it is true. We can understand the love between a man and his son. However in the spiritual application, the bread is Jesus Christ, and the eternal life that Christ offers. The "stone" is the stumbling stone, that keeps the son for receiving the bread of life. A stone of stumbling could be many things that the son just could not handle, and could in the long run lead him astray. A freedom in the Lord to you, may be something that if practiced, would destroy your son. Matthew 7:10 "Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?" Again in the spiritual application; the fish is the the symbol for Christ and Christianity, and the serpent is the symbol for Satan. Matthew 7:11 "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father Which is in heaven give good things to them that ask Him?" All mankind knows how to do good things for their children, and care for them. If you know how to take care of your own, think of how much more God will give to His own that ask Him and seek early to do His will. We must ask for wisdom. God said that if you ask, then you will receive, and this isn't foolishness that He is referring to, but the things that are necessary in your journey in life. God will Give you only what you are able to handle, and sometimes that isn't too much. Matthew 7:12 "Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets." Jesus is putting a summary to His sermon, He says that considering all things that you do to other people, and the way you talk to them and act around them, that is the way that they will react to you. If a man moves into a new neighborhood, and asks the neighbor, "How are the people here?" Well the answer would be, "exactly as they were in the neighborhood that you moved from." For those neighbors were only responding to the actions and deeds of the man, and that is just as the new neighbors would. This is also what was taught from the very beginning by the law, and the prophets of old. If you were a trouble maker and selfish there, you will be the same in the new neighborhood. If things are rough, then it is time to knock and seek the wisdom from the Lord, it will change the way you look at people, and the way that they look at you. Jesus is asking us to set our ways as is taught by the law and the prophets. The law is what governs you in the community, and around people, while the prophets instruct us in the ways of the Lord. Matthew 7:13 "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:" We are talking about entering into the gate of the kingdom of God. This is an analogy of entering into a city, and at the entrance of the city the road is very wide, and the more you go into it, the narrower it becomes. Until it becomes a narrow walk at the door leading into your own home. Hopefully Christ's kingdom is your home. However, the key is the phrase, "broad is the way. Remember Jesus said, "I am the way", the way is the path, and Jesus walked that path, and set the examples that we are to follow. Most of the examples that Jesus gave to us are just plain common sense, and it doesn't matter how wide the gate is, for the path is well marked. That path will lead right up to the door. Jesus said in John 10:9; "I am the door: by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture." The term, "go in and out, and find pasture;" is an idiom used for "life in general". We are to follow Christ in all of His teaching, and we will falter in places, and that is why we must repent when we fall, and get right back on track. Jesus tells us in Revelation 3:19; "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. [19] Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." [20] The handle on the door of your heart, or mind is only on the inside. Only you can open that door, for Jesus will not enter your heart unless you invite him in. You open that door by repenting of all your sins in Jesus name, and turning from your sins. Matthew 7:14 "Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that fine it." When a Bible teacher teaches man's traditions, or the system of their church house, the path leads in another direction. In these end times this is very common, sad but true. The path that leads to our Lord Jesus Christ [the door] is narrow, but well marked by the record of His life, and that record is in our Bible. Though these righteous men are well meaning, no man can substitute a way different then is recorded in God's Word. Matthew 7:15 "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves." The clothing of the modern day prophet may look very righteous, and holy, and the sound of his voice like it came direct from God; but listen to what he is saying. Is it the word of God, chapter by chapter, and verse by verse, or is it the social calendar of local social clubs and the words of the well know men in world affairs. Does what this modern day prophet say come from, and bear out what Jesus and the prophets say, or not. Jesus is telling us that they will look like one of His sheep, and dress like they come from Christ's sheepfold, but they are wicked wolves. Many times their ministry is centered around money, or just the vanity of ruling over many people. It is called pride, and with it comes the whitewashing of the Scripture to please the flock's vanity. Sometimes it is even the pension fund that keeps the false prophet in line with false doctrine, or it could be just plain ignorance of God's Word. How then do you know which one to follow? Follow the one that teaches wholly from the Bible, chapter by chapter, and verse by verse; line upon line, and precept upon precept. Check him out, and take notes. Use the Strong's dictionaries and verify what he says. In time you will know whether you can trust him, or not. If you can, pray for him and stand by him. There are many good churches. Matthew 7:16 "Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?" Jesus is now telling us how we can know them. Their fruits are the things they say and the things that they do. Does it conform to Christ's teaching. Notice the spiritual application applied here. Today the grape is used in remembrance of Christ in the communion, while the fig is used to represent both the Kenite (bad fig), or the offspring of Cain, the son of the evil union between Satan and Eve, as well as the true tribe of Judah (good fig). The fig leaf stands for things hidden, as it did when they covered their private parts with fig aprons in the garden of Eden. Do you know the difference? Jesus is telling us very simply, if you want an orange, then don't go to an apple tree. If you want grapes, they are not found on the thorn bush, and figs do not grow on the thistles. If you want God's truth, then you won't go to one of these ravaging wolves. If you want God's Word you go to where God's word is taught, by chapter or by subject. Matthew 7:17 "Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit." If the tree is corrupt, and the Word of God does not come from that tree, then you have problems. It's time to look around for another pastor the teaches the Word. The tree is an analogy for man, and the fruit is the words and actions that come from that man. Matthew 7:18 "A good tree can not bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit." Jesus keeps talking about trees, and this isn't the first time it is mentioned in the Bible. There were two trees in the Garden of Eden that gets our attention. One was the "Tree of life", and the other was the "tree of good and evil". Can you look at those trees and tell the difference today. Those trees were symbolic of men. The "Tree of life" was Christ, and the "tree of good and evil" being Satan. The tree of life, Christ, cannot bring forth evil fruit, if taught correctly. On the other hand, the "tree of good and evil" is Satan. Jesus Christ is asking you, can you tell the difference in the trees? The tree of Life wasn't only for the Garden of Eden, but in Revelation 22:1; Christ the Lamb is the pure river of the water of life, clear as crystal, and proceeding from the throne of God. The tree of Life, Jesus Christ becomes our sustaining life for our soul eternally. Friend, the false evil tree comes first, before the good tree. There is a difference between the trees, and there is also a big difference between the seed of each. The seed of the evil seed are the Kenites. Do you know who they are? Do you know how they will affect you in these latter days? We see in Matthew 24:32 that Jesus commanded us to learn the difference, for if we do not, we will be deceived. That command is direct to you? There are seven churches mentioned in the second and third chapters of Revelation, and there were only two that Christ found no fault with. They were the church of Smyrna and the church of Philadelphia. The fruit of those two churches then should be the pattern of the church that we should follow. There was only one thing that they had in common, and that is that they knew who the Kenites were, those that called themselves Jews, but lied, and were of the synagogue of Satan. They both taught and identified the good fruit and the bad fruit [Kenites]. When a Kenite accepts Jesus Christ, they are no longer Kenites, but sons of the Living God. It is the power of God that can make that change in that man's life. Matthew 7:19 "Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire." Matthew 7:20 "Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them." The only way that we can tell the man's heart is by what comes forth from the person. If one claims to be of Christ, and there is no change in His life, then serious doubt comes. If one is of Christ he will be trying to follow the path that our Lord Jesus Christ is laying down in this Sermon on the Mount. He will demonstrate the traits and character of Christ. Sure, everyone will falter, but he will pick himself up, repent and keep right on the same course. The one thing that will mark him as Christ's, is the love of Christ coming from him. Matthew 7:21 "Not every one that saith unto Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father Which is in heaven." This is a stern warning to those that think they can play church. Many call themselves Christians, they dress right and talk right, but they are not going to heaven. It doesn't matter what you say and your actions before the public, but it takes more then that. You must do the will of God. The will of God is God's plan, and it is written in His Word, the Scriptures. What is that plan? We just read it, and are reading it. It is Jesus instruction as to what you must do. Just going to church and uttering some words doesn't mean that you have salvation. You must do the will of God. That is where repentance comes in, for each time you fall you must repent. Paul stated we must die daily to ourselves, in I Corinthians 15:31. This is done by repentance of the sins we commit in everyday life. Matthew 7:22 "Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? and in Thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works'. Many ministries today are built around their fund raising, they quote Scripture to back every what they say, and even have their healing ministry. They cast out devils like the neighbor's dog, and think that every act they do is for God. They support hospitals, the sick, the poor and the widows, and they say they do all of it in our Lords Name. But they do not the will of My Father which is in heaven. They teach another gospel then the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They teach traditions, and doctrines that are not in the Scripture. Matthew 7:23 "And then will I profess unto them, 'I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity' ." Jesus Christ is saying here, and you had better get this now, when there is time. If you do not follow the path that Jesus Christ is teaching you in this sermon on the mount, Jesus response to you will be, "I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity". This is the generation that better know the difference between God's doctrine and the doctrines of demons. They both sound very good, and they both sound right and true. However, any doctrine that isn't one hundred percent backed by the Word of God is a fake. So the time is here to get down and know what is in the Scriptures. Both Christ and the devil offer peace, and prosperity, however, only Jesus Christ can offer eternal life. The eternal life should be foremost in the doctrine. Why does Jesus not want them? They worship the traditions of Men, and their church system, and they in fact do not even teach God's letter to His children. What they do quote from the Bible is twisted to satisify their own desires. Matthew 7:24 "Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of Mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house up a rock." Jesus is telling each of us that if we are to be His, then we will listen to each thing that He has taught, and then go and put them into practice in our lives. Those instructions will sink into our hearts and minds, and we will be open to the Holy Spirit of God to lead us in our lives. We will strive to be like our Lord and Savior, and pattern our lives after Him. We will learn and practice the love that Christ showed to us, and give that love and kindness to our neighbor. We will learn all about the Kenites, and the laws and commandments of God. We will learn discernment of spirits and the good and bad teachers. We will learn it all; and then we will do it. That "Rock" is Christ Himself. The victors will sing the "song of Moses" in the Millennium age as recorded in Deuteronomy 32. In verses 3, 4; "Because I will publish the name of the Lord: ascribe ye greatness unto you God. He is the Rock, His work is perfect: For all His ways are judgment: just and right is He." Those that love the Lord know the difference between the Rock Christ, and the spotted crooked rock of the devil. This generation will be tested by the little rock, the Antichrist, and many will leave Christ, and run in ignorance to the false Christ. Matthew 7:25 "And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock." When Christ's teachings are part of you, firm in your heart [mind], then when the floods of Satan's lies and deceptions come, and they will very soon, you will see right through them. Matthew 7:26 "And every one that heareth these sayings of Mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:" Many people sit in Church and under the teaching week after week, and their spiritual eyes are closed. Their mind is off on a business deal, or the meal to be served later, instead of accepting Christ's teaching. They then go about their life's work, and completely forget the path that Christ has taught us to follow, and they don't understand why God isn't blessing them. These are the ones that hear Christ's sayings, and do them not. He [she] is the foolish man [woman]. Matthew 7:27 "And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it." The flood that will cover the entire earth is coming very soon, it is the flood of lies and deceptions that Satan, the Antichrist will bring on the entire earth, and many Christians will fall at his feet and worship him in ignorance. They will be taken by Satan because their rapture theory has taught them to do this act. When they do this, the floods of deception will totally wash away every part of a foundation that they thought they had. For in their act of giving allegiance to the Antichrist, they will have given over to Satan any rewards and acts of righteousness they have done, as well as turned their backs on the grace that God has extended to them. Revelation 12:6; "And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days." The woman is the "elect" of God, that are sealed in their minds [foreheads], and they are prepared for the lies, deceptions and evil wonders that is about to happen. In Revelation 12:7 "There was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels." This war is going to be over very soon, and this war is between Satan and the fallen angels, and Michael, and God's children. The false preachers are preparing you for what is coming next. They are teaching you to meet this first Christ at his arrive in their rapture theory, and fly away with him. However, the only place that he is going is to the pit, after his five months stay [Revelation 9:5, 10]. Lets go to the Revelation 12:15; "And the serpent [satan, the Antichrist] cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood." That mighty flood that is cast forth is a flood of lies, deceptions, and supernatural wonders, that will cause all the people of the world to be swept away from their foundations that are built on the sand. Do you know the difference between the coming of the two Messiahs, and which one you will see first? You had better know for your very soul depends upon it. Matthew 7:28 "And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at His doctrine:" Matthew 7:29 "For He taught the as one having authority, and not as the scribes." The statements that came out of Jesus Christ's mouth were absolute, and Christ had power and authority to present them. Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit, which gave understanding to those listeners, and when the Word of God is understood with spiritual eyes open, that Word moves people. There was no doubt in Christ's instructions, and no clouds over what was right or wrong. The difference between the scribes teaching and Christ's teaching is the scribes taught the traditions of men that does not conform with God's Holy Word. They teach what men say, and allow the listener to pick and choose the authority that best fits their needs. The only authority that anyone can use in their teaching is the authority that comes from the Word of God. All other speaking is tradition. When you speak and it comes from the Word of God, then you have authority. Lets close this sermon on the mount with John 1:1-5; "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. [1] The same was in the beginning with God. [2] All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made. [3] In Him was life; and the life was the light of men. [4] And the light shineth in the darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. [5]" My friend, Jesus Christ is the spoken Word, and the written Word, and the darkness that comprehended Christ not is the world. When you are of Christ, that light shines in you, and when you are in the world, it just won't make any sense to you. The Shepherds Chapel

Matthew Chapter 6 "Continuing the Sermon on the Mount; Almsgiving and prayer." To summarize the teaching of the "Sermon on the Mount", Jesus is telling us to be like Him. "Like Father like son", and when we are the elect of God, we become sons of the Living God, and He is Jesus Christ. When we strive to be like our Savior, we will fall short, but that is the time to repent, and keep right on trying. This discourse, or sermon is the pattern, or guide that Jesus expects us to follow as we try to image Christ in our lives. Any human father that loves his child will start teaching his little one from the cradle, right from wrong, and the things that are necessary to exist in this world. As the child grows up, the instructions get more detailed, and with it come maturity. Jesus is taking these babies in His new kingdom, and giving them the most basic instructions, that is expected of them, if they are to mature in God's kingdom. And as Christians, this is why it is important the each of use learn these chapters of Christ's sermon on the Mount. Chapter six is a continuation of Matthew five, that ended with Christ's teaching on His "Law of Love". He is now going to teach us on giving, how to pray, and on fasting. Christ was the living Word, and that is why we must keep in the Word daily. Matthew 6:1 "Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: other-wise ye have no reward of your Father Which is in heaven." The traditions of men have so twisted the meanings and methods of almsgiving, or tithing, that there is much confusion. What we are to do as one of God's elect, is to give as our Heavenly Father has laid out for us, for in giving in this way, God will reward you. If you don't please God, the blessings won't be poured out on you. All of the critical texts read "righteousness", with reference to alms. However this is conjecture, because "alms" is the first subject, and in the Greek "dikaiosune" is "righteousness",and was subsequently substituted for "eleemosune", "alms". Many people want to connect something physically to the teachings of Christ. If you look at this only in the physical sense, then you will miss most of Christ's teachings a great deal of the time. When the time for the offering comes, it is obvious who the ones that give to be seen are, and they make sure that everyone knows the amount, for it creates the image that they want the others to have of them. That image, as the big giver, is their reward, and God will allow them the privilege of an increased ego, of their temporary vanity. That is the only reward that is to be given to them. Upon their death, or the Lord's coming, it is as if they never gave a cent. The intention is what is important, and not the secrecy of the giving. You give because you love the Father, and that it is what is commanded of you through the tithe. For in the long run, As one of God's elect, it isn't yours to give in the first place. The tithe is the Lords, and what is left, is His gift to you as a faithful steward of God's wealth. It is from the heart that the alms are given, and it is given for the spreading of God's Word. The important thing here is the intent in your mind, not the other man's mind. If the government grants a tax advantage by the giving, you should take it. Your tax forms are private documents, and if it is the law of the land, it is permissible within the Scriptures. What is important is that you gave it privately in the first place, with the purpose of serving God. It is not the physical act of giving that is important, but the mental act within your mind that is part of your spiritual life. Matthew 6:2 "Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward." Your giving should be unannounced to the fact of the giving, but made as the spiritual act that is expected of you, as a child of God. "Hypocrites" in the Greek are "play actors"; someone pretending to be something that they are not. Hollywood is full of them, as well and in most churches. They put their mask on, and play the role of Christian, when they are not. Their mask, in this case is their roll of dollar bills thrown into the offering plate. The applause that they receive from their giving is the only reward that they will receive. In the eyes of God, it doesn't matter whether others see the amount or not, but it is your intent of the giving for the sole purpose of expanding God's work. God will judge you on what was in your mind, and that sets your reward eternally. Matthew 6:3 "But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:" You should know by now that this has nothing to do with either your right hand or your left. It is an idiom, which is to say, it is a figure of speech. It is an expression that shows true humility. That is to say, you give it to the Lord privately, knowing that it is going to the work of the Lord in the saving of souls, in the hands of those who are teaching the Word of God. If a church is teaching traditions and doctrines other then what God's Word teaches, how can you be blessed by God, or expect eternal rewards because of your giving. You give where you get your teaching. To make an analogy; When you get your food from Safeway, why would you give to the Thrift way store. However, the work of God is in many ministries, and God may lay on your heart the need to help in another ministry, and that is why our giving is private, because it is only your business, and only you will receive just rewards for your intent of your giving. Matthew 6:4 "That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father Which seeth in secret Himself shall reward thee openly." Again, it is your own private business, and the reason for the giving comes form your love of God, and His dealing with you in your heart. If the intent in your heart, or mind is right, you need not say anything, God can read your heart, and it is He that will assure you of your blessings on earth in this life, and the rewards you receive eternally. When you give God's way, you can expect a blessing from it. Commitments and pledges are public and are set up in a fashion to be a gimmick to force your money from you. Regardless of whether they use the money in building of a structure, or feeding a starving child from Africa. It is a method of public distortion. When you give to be tied in with that purpose, then your reward is that purpose. Man created the purpose, and man will benefit from it. Your benefit is whatever satisfaction you get from seeing that purpose accomplished. Many ministries create their clubs, and give away trinkets to identify you with their cause. That is not of God, and your membership card, and trinket is what you will receive from your gift to them. The thing to remember is that we must do our giving in the ways and places that God has instructed us to give. Telethons, and gimmicks rip people off, by denying them the blessings of the living God. Sounding the trumpet, ring the bell, rush out the chart, quick, quick get your call in; it is all robbing God's people of any blessing of reward. They will give and get nothing for it, but end up on many sucker lists for future harassment. Matthew 6:5 "And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, the they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward." Jesus is telling us that He doesn't want us to pray like those play actors pray. In other words, if they want to be heard in their prayer, that is as far as their prayer is going. Their reward is the vanity that they may have in their mind, that they have some elevated position amongst the men around them. Jesus is telling us not to do such a thing. Matthew 6:6 "But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to the Father which is in secret; and thy Father Which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly." A true man of God, when he is asked by another for prayer, is compelled to give prayer to those in need. This is not sounding the trumpet in open streets, but in concern for one another. When the pastor of the congregation pray before the congregation, he is the shepherd of that flock, and as such, it is his duty to remember, and direct his [her] people in the needs that are before them. This is that pastor's responsibility before God. This verse is not directed to those circumstances. All of the Apostles have done it, Paul and Peter did it, because they were servants of God. And when that servant of God approaches God on behalf of those he is instructing, and the Spirit of God fills those hearts and needs, that gives added credentials to you, that he indeed is a servant of God. In James 5:14, 15; "Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil [olive oil, the oil of God's people] in the name of the Lord: [14] And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him." [15] This is God's instruction for praying over the sick and needy. It is very public. This verse is addressing the individual person, who is one of Christ's', and has needs and thanksgiving to come before the Lord personally, Jesus is tell us that as such, we are to go to our closets, or private place, and there in private pray to the Heavenly Father. Matthew 6:7 "But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking." God is not blind and hard of hearing, in fact He can understand what is on your heart before you do. His Spirit knows what you need, and can utter a prayer before your mind can think it. Most heathen religions use chants, and repetitions that continue for hours, in fact the ancient Sumerian religion of ancient Babylon used beads on a long string, to count the number of prayers to the their god Tammuz. It had the Tammuz cross on the string, -- this relic has been dug up in archaeological digs in the middle east, that pre-date the time of Christ by centuries. It is from this ancient string custom of pagan prayer that the Catholics get the use of their rosary. God is saying that any form of repetition He will not hear, because it is heathen. Matthew 6:8 "Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask Him." We are not to pray like the heathen do, because our God is not stupid, and stop treating Him as such. He knows what you need, and get down and repent in Jesus name, then present your case before Him. Do it His way and He will bless you for it. God knows what you need, and He also knows what you don't need. He also knows when it is right to withhold what we feel is a must, for our own sake. We better thank Him for this. THE LORD'S PRAYER Matthew 6:9 "After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father Which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name. Jesus is telling us that when we pray, do it after this manner. Today we are told that this is the disciple's prayer. Friend, disciple means student, and if you claim to be a Christian, then you are a disciple, for we are a student of God's Word until we leave this flesh body. Even scholars are students of God's Word. Though we do not use the exact words of this prayer, the order and manner is the form that we use. As we pray, Jesus tells us that we should keep each step in mind, as we approach the throne of God. We start, "Our Father..." We identify our heavenly Father, with the respect that He deserves. You believe that He is in heaven, which is admitting that He is supernatural. "Hallowed be thy name," gives honor to His holy name. If you don't believe in the first step, forget about praying, for it will be in vain. Even though you don't say this every time, you have to believe that in your heart. Matthew 6:10 "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." The kingdom is the King and his dominion. Know in your mind that Jesus Christ is the King and this earth is Christ's domain, with Satan being allowed a short reign here. Christ's kingdom is coming to this earth at the seventh trumpet, and then Jesus will reign here on earth, just as He does now in Heaven. If your all wrapped up in the rapture theory, it would be hard for you to relate to this verse. You would be in the wrong vain of thought. You have to be praying for this earth and the people in it, and not some pie in the sky theory. Our focus should be on the return of the King of kings, and His return to this earth, and those of His domain that is set up on the earth, once Satan is driven out. That is the frame of mind that we should have. Matthew 6:11 "Give us this day our daily bread." If you are a student of God's Word, what is the famine for in the end times? It will not be for the bread that we eat, but for the truth of God's Word. The Prophet told us what this bread would be to the last generation. Amos 8:11; "Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine on the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord." Amos 8:12, 13; "And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it. [12] In that day shall the fair virgins and young men faint for thirst." [13] Jesus Christ is our bread, and He is the word of God [John 1:1-4], and that is what we are to pray for. Jesus Christ is what we had better be feeding on daily, to get our strength for the day. Friend, the only way that you will get through to your Heavenly Father is through Jesus Christ, it is only by the name of Jesus that we can approach the throne of God. Matthew 6:12 "And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors." In the manuscripts, "debts" reads, "sins". This is not referring to money, but the sins of ourselves, and the sins of those that sin against us. This is saying, "Forgive me of my sins, and the sins of those that have sinned against me, Father." Matthew 6:13 "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power and the glory, for ever. Amen." Satan and his evil spirits are all around us today, and here we are asking God to protect us from the old tempter. We are asking God to give us discernment to keep each of us from the temptations that the wicked one will bring our way. The phrase, "deliver us from the evil" [one] should be added. Jesus is saying that if you say, "For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever;" you had better believe every word. There had better be no other king, and no other dominion that you have an interest in. Our Lord is a jealous God, and living in the latter days as we are, the real time of testing is coming shortly, and we had better know our Messiah, for the fake. All power is from God, and All glory goes to our Lord Jesus Christ, for without Christ's shed blood on the cross, there is no salvation. All crowns, and rewards go to Him, Amen. Matthew 6:14 "For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you:" Jesus is telling us that if you forgive men of the little things that men do to you, and over look the trouble that someone may cause you, then in turn God will do the same for the troubles that you have caused to Him and others. If you want God to answer your prayers, this is a good place to start. For this to apply to you, there should have been an act that required someone to ask your apology. Matthew 6:15 "But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." Even though a person is a child of God and calls themselves a Christian, they may be just a babe in Christ, and not versed in the Word. This is why we are required by Christ to forgive them, for in innocence they may have not known their wrong against you. Our Heavenly Father will take your short comings to the same degree that you have taken others wrongs against you. You must do this, or God will not forgive you, which means, God will not answer your prayers. Matthew 6:16 "Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward." Now we are talking about fasting, or the giving up food or something in the service to God. Jesus is telling us that when we fast, we should not be like those that call great attention to their fast. They moan, "Oh Lord, how we suffer as Christians for you." The continue with their belly-aching, until they become a pain. What kind of an example are they setting for the non-believer, the run most of the people away. Friend, all their play acting, and attention is all that they are going to get out of their display for attention. That is their reward. Matthew 6:17 "But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;" Is the way to truly fast through self torture? In Isaiah 58:5; "Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the Lord? You had better get the drift and feeling that God is putting into these questions about this kind of a fast. You weeping and carrying on about serving Me, if you can't do it with a smile on your face, and set a good example, don't do it. You put yourself as an salesmen, and then paint yourself up in such a horrible fashion. God is telling them if you can't love Me, and follow Me joyfully, then get out of My sight. You got the picture. Isaiah 58:6; "Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?" God is telling us here the reason for the fast, you fast to show your love for me, your joy in having been chosen. To "loose the bands of wickedness," is to expose the hypocrites for what they are, play actors and not the real thing. To undo the heavy burdens is to take away the dos and don't shackles that the religious organizations have placed on the Christians. Those synagogues of Satan bind the people with rules that God never intended. To truly fast is to cut all those man-made shackles away. God is telling you that your fast should give them eyes to see and ears to hear, that they can be truly free, to fast, and give the Word to others. The reason for the fast is to draw attention to the love of God and the freedom He gives, and not some torture chamber that God has put you in. It is to break every yoke that those religious hypocrites have put you under. The fast is to obtain from using the physical bread, and giving forth the spiritual bread of life. It is a time for teaching the Word to others, and showing them that God's Word releases you from all the burdens that the religious world would bind you to. Your outward expression should be of joy, and happiness in serving God, and if you can't do it God's way, it is better for you that it isn't done. Isaiah 58:7; "Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?" The true bread of Life is Jesus Christ, while "thy house" is God's "House of Israel", and they don't even know why they are, because they are starving for the bread of life. The naked are those that have no righteous acts, when they enter the Millennium age, for they have throne all their rewards at the feet of the Antichrist. Your only garment to be worn in the Millennium age, is made up of your righteous works and acts done while in the flesh body. That is how you clothe the naked, you teach them God's Word, so their ways and deeds conform to the His ways, and then they will have a garment in that Millennium age. "That thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh", is a idiom, a figure of speech that shows others that you are a kind person, and show compassion for others. The fast is done by doing our Lord's work. Matthew 6:18 "That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father Which is in secret: and thy Father, Which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly." When we fast, we become the salesmen for Christ, and that is the time to look sharp. You are to be the representative for the most powerful force in the universe, our Heavenly Father, and that you full effort. No one should be able to even tell that you are in a fast. Jesus is telling us not to put on our Halloween costume, but our Sunday best. It is the time to shave, and shower, and look sharp. The fast is not for others to see your sacrifice, but our Heavenly Father to see the intent of our heart. Then our fast is received and rewarded openly, with blessings that only God can give. Matthew 6:19 "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal." This is how we are to look upon riches, and there is no disgrace on being wealthy, if it is the rewards from the blessings of God. God promised us in His Word that when we follow his Word, and do thing as taught in His Word, then He would reward us openly, and those blessings are for this earth age as well as the next. There is nothing wrong is storing up provisions for the future, and many people today store up to a year, to protect themselves from hard times. Jesus is telling us that storing in excess, for the sake of greed, and that is to become a religious form to you, it is wrong. Are you putting that before God, and your service to Him? Matthew 6:20 "But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:" There is a big difference between wealth by traditions, and wealth by blessings of God. Those riches that you store up in heaven can never be stolen, because there are no thieves there. Part of your wealth when you become a son of the Living God, is the inheritance that comes with your adoption into His family. It is not just things, but in the position, and responsibility that comes with the position. My friend, there is no way that you can out give God, for in the end, when the records of your deeds are accounted for, each will be well rewarded for. The greatest treasure anyone can have, is to know, and be part of our Lord Jesus Christ's kingdom. To know that the bonds of our sins are gone because of the price that Jesus paid on the cross. Eternal life is only possible because of the blood of Jesus Christ, and that is the greatest gift anyone can have. Any one can have that gift, just for the taking, and you receive that gift by your repenting of your sins, in Jesus Name, and believing in Him and turning from those wicked ways to God's way. Matthew 6:21 "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." Your heart is the intellect of your soul, and that is contained in your mind. It is what you think, and what you hold to be dear in your mind. If the making of money, for money's sake is foremost in your efforts, then that is where your heart is. However, if while serving our Lord, He pours the blessings on you, then your treasurers and heart are in the same place, where it belongs. Don't let earthly things get in from of our heavenly Father. Matthew 6:22 "The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light." What is in your mind, is the image of your soul. If Christ is in your mind, the light that comes forth from you, is the spiritual light that only Christ can give. Your whole body will project what is in year hear, and the world will see that. "Single" here is "perfectly clear", and when you are set in your mind the teaching of the Word of God, then what ever you do will reflect your singleness of mind. We have to sustain ourselves while we are in the world, but in our occupation, we practice the principles that Christ is teaching us. Matthew 6:23 "But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness., how great is that darkness." This is given in the spiritual, and if everything in your mind is darkness, and God is left out, the Love of God will not be there. When your mind [heart] thinks continually, only about things of this world, then that is what your whole life is; your dress, deeds, actions, and your thought life all become the ways of the world. Matthew 6:24 "No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other: or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon." "Mammon" is an Aramaic word that means "riches by ill-gotten gain". If you are the richest person in the world, and you earned it by doing things God's way, that is not mammon. However if your gain is from cheating the public, and robbing from the poor, that is mammon. God does bless His own, and you can expect to be blessed when you support His work, tithe, and direct your life in accordance with His Word. Riches then become your "badge of honor." Don't let clown put you on a guilt trip because of the blessings that God has given you. The message that Jesus is giving us is that when we obtain riches, we cannot be of service to both God and the money. One will take priority. If you serve God, then the money will become secondary, but must be used wisely. Matthew 6:25 "Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more then meat, and the body than raiment?" "Therefore", because of this, take no worry of the life that you live in this world. Translate "life", eternal life more then meat. Jesus is telling us to fix in our mind that within our physical body, there is a spiritual body, and that that spiritual body, or our soul is far more important that this temporary body of the flesh. The time is coming very shortly when we will step out of this body of the flesh, and our soul body will seperate and return to the Lord. This will happen either upon our death, or at the sounding of the seventh trumpet. Paul tells up in Corinthians: I Corinthians 15:50; "Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption." This flesh body will not exist when Jesus comes back to earth. Corruption is our flesh body, while incorruption is the soul body. I Corinthians 15:51; "Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed," A mystery is something that is unknown that Paul is going to reveal to us. "All" means all people in the flesh body will be changed, not fly out, but changed into their Soul, incorruptible bodies. The word "sleep", in the text means "die". I Corinthians 15:55; "In a moment in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed." Friend, We are living in the time when we see daily the signs of the end times, and the marking of the last generation is the establishing of the tiny nation of Israel. The one world political beast is a reality, and the ten horns of power, the agencies of the United Nation are here. It is time to get straight in your mind where your priorities are, for when that trumpet sounds, we will all be ushered into the next age, the time when Jesus will come to earth and establish His world kingdom. Physical things just won't matter then, and the only riches you will have are in your righteous acts, that were done as given to the Lord. Your position in that age is determined by your relationship to our Lord, through your repentance for your sins. Matthew 6:26 "Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?" Jesus is telling us, don't worry about our needs, we are to observe how our Father in heaven takes care of even the little birds. Have you noticed how each of the birds have been given the instinct to know what they should do in providing for their needs. Each kind has different needs, and care and yet year after year they survive and are protected. Birds don't sow a crop, neither do they bring in a harvest. If God will do that for each individual bird, think of how much more His concern is for you. God thinks much of His nature and creation, and He thinks that much more about you. We are to follow His commandments, and use common sense that He has given us, He will take good care of us. Matthew 6:27 "Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?" Jesus is asking, which one of you can add one moment to your life, by worrying. In reality it works just the opposite. Matthew 6:28 "And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:" Matthew 6:29 "And yet I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these." Friend, there is only one apparel that you want to be concerned about having on, and that is the "gospel armor", of Ephesians 6:10-20. God will take care of His own. Matthew 6:30 "Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall He not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?" Have you noticed how Jesus is referring to very natural things here; the birds, the flowers, and now the grass, to show us how God takes care of His creation. Jesus is telling us that when God says He will bless you, then He will. Do you have the faith to believe that? Matthew 6:31 "Therefore take no thought, saying, what shall we eat? ' or, what shall we drink? ' or, wherewithal shall we be clothed?" Matthew 6:32 "(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things." The Gentiles have no faith, and they worry about all the things of the world; however you are one of God's children, and He knows what you need, and will provide those things for you. We are to have faith in Him and allow Him to provide for us, then thank God for His provision. Matthew 6:33 "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." When you truly want the kingdom and blessings of God, then it become paramount that we seek the Kingdom of God first. What we do, and say are all directed towards the adding to the kingdom of God, the King of that kingdom is Jesus Christ, and His dominion is obtained through following His will. That will is written in His Word, the Bible. When that will becomes our focus, then God will add all the things necessary for this life. Matthew 6:34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof." Within all of us there is a natural tendency to worry when things just don't go right. We get down, and just start mumbling and talking to our self. This is a lack of faith, and a sign that we have taken our focus off of seeking first the kingdom of God. God is telling us, don't worry about tomorrow, because I am going to allow Satan to send you all the trouble today that you can handle. However, if you have the faith, God will always kick those rocks out of your path, to keep you from stumbling. We can handle the little pebbles, and God will take care of the rest. The Shepherds Chapel

Matthew Chapter 5 "Disciples Taught, "The Sermon on the Mount". In Matthew 23 there is an opposite to these blessings, and it is called the "eight woes". To understand one, you must understand the other. Matthew 5:1 "And seeing the multitudes, He went up into a mountain: and when He was set, His disciples came unto Him:" Jesus was now getting away for the multitudes that followed Him in Matthew 4. The ones that He was teaching were His disciples. Matthew 5:2 "And He opened His mouth, and taught them, saying," "Opened His mouth", is an idiom saying that He spoke in the teaching manner. Jesus is now filled with the Holy Spirit of God, and Jesus is now ready to reveal to His Apostles a commentary showing that His teaching is connected with the proclamation of His kingdom. Parts of this address are repeated in His ministry, and as well as the ministry of the Apostles. This address by Jesus became part of the "gospel of the Kingdom", and is given in part in Luke 6, and 7, though many critics claim that there is "discrepancy" between the two, there is not. The later repetitions in Luke were given in "a plain", and after the calling of the twelve Apostles. In Matthew 5, Jesus had called only four Apostles, and the sermon is given on the "Mountain". Modern critics are assuming that the two accounts are identical, and given at the same time, when they are not. Before we give an ear to the critics, remember that they assume the Bible is incorrect from the start. They assume it is by man, and the weight that is given as being from the Holy Spirit, is different then that of a believer. When there is doubt as to the meaning, the error is not in the Word given by God , but in the understanding of that Word by man. Many times we have seen that the translators missed the mark in taking it from one language to another, or even understanding the idioms, and figures of speech of that day. If you're willing to put the time in to Study, with the proper reference, the Spirit of God will lay on your heart the words of His message. Matthew 5:3 ""Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." "Poor in spirit" is in reference to the spirits of this world. There spirit is denying self, and given over to the Holy Spirit of God. Their spirit is part of, and in the kingdom of heaven. Blessed is better translated "happy". From these beatitudes you will become very happy, if your are humble in spirit. Matthew 5:4 "Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted," This "mourning" is not for the "poor-me babies" of the world, who cry over every negative thing that comes their way. This mourning is for the deceived of this age, that mourn when they see their own relatives deceived by heathen doctrines that will lead them astray. They are not mourning for themselves, but for the spiritual loss of those who are around them, and in ignorance are blinded by Satan. Matthew 5:5 "Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth." The "meek" are the "praus" in the Greek; the humble before the Lord. To be humble before the Lord, doesn't mean that you stand by and allow bullies to push you around, but you have reverence before the Lord. You know from where your strength comes. The inheritance for this happiness, is an inheritance and reward which will be given you in the Millennium age. Matthew 5:6 "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled." "Hunger and thirst" is an Hebrew idiom, and it means that you have a "strong desire". You have a strong desire to love the Lord and learn from His Word. I know you do, or you would not be reading this book. It is your mind and soul that will be filled with God's Word, and in turn God's Spirit. That comes by studying His Word. Matthew 5:7 "Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy." The "merciful" are those that have compassion for others. They are not self-centered, but are concerned for the souls of the lost. If you give compassion to others, then you will receive mercy and compassion from our Lord. You set the pace of your own life, as well as the standards, and what is important to you. What you sow in this earth age, you will also reap, and not only in this life, but the next. When you learn to show compassion for others, then you will find pleasure and happiness in this life also. Matthew 5:8 "Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God." Your "Heart" is the intellect our your soul, it is your "mind". When you keep your mind pure, and free from guilt, then you will see God. A pure mind is obtained by flushing out the hateful things of this world, and seeing everything in a clean mind. This gives a new insight of the world and God, and brings you a real happiness. Matthew 5:9 "Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall called the children of God." The peacemakers are the ones making peace, even when they are delivered up before the synagogues of Satan. In the final generation these children [sons and daughters] of God are called the elect of God. Matthew 5:10 "Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." To be persecuted for righteousness sake, is to be persecuted because of your stand for Jesus Christ, and the Word of God. If you are persecuted because you are a trouble maker, there is no righteousness in that, and no happiness either. When you take that stand for Jesus and the Word, then your rewards will come through your blessings in the next age as well as in this life. Matthew 5:11 "Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake." These are the ones that are persecuted because they are Christians, and carry the "name sake" of Jesus Christ. Matthew 5:12 "Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you." In this earth age of the flesh, don't ever weaken, or be discouraged in your teaching or preaching of the truth. In the Companion Bible, that brings forth the Massoretic text writings into the English, there is an Appendix that covers these Beatitudes of Matthew 5, and the eight woes of Matthew 23. The best way to understand each of these; the blessings and the woes, is to see them side by side. The BEATITUDES THE WOES (23:13-33) 1. The kingdom opened to the poor. (v3) 1. The kingdom shut. (v13) (Psalm 40:17) 2. Comfort for mourners (v4). 2. Mourners distressed (v14). (Psalm 119:136) 3. The meek inheriting the earth (5). 3. Fanatics compassing the earth (v15). (Psalm 37:11) 4. Righteous sought by true desire (6). 4. False righteousness sought by (Psalm 42:1,2) lies and moral breakdown (16-22). 5. The Merciful obtaining mercy (7). 5. Mercy "omitted" and "left undone" (Psalm 41:1) (vv23-24). 6. Purity within, and the vision of 6. Purity without, Uncleanness within. God hereafter (v8). (Psalm 24:4) "Blindness" (vv25,26). 7. Peacemakers, the sons of God (9). 7. Hypocrites, and lawlessness (vv27,28) (Psalm 133:1) 8. the persecuted (vv 10-12). 8. The persecutors (vv 29-33). (Psalm 37; 39; and 40) Please note also that these Beatitudes rest on special passages in the Psalms. For every positive there is an negative shown in God's Word. Now we will look at what Jesus says about the law being done away with, by His coming. Matthew 5:13 "Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men." The "salt of the earth" are His disciples, those who study under Him, and those who came when Jesus said, "follow Me". When you repented and turned from your sinful ways, then you also became the salt of the earth. This is an analogy, and Christ is saying that you are the ones that are to save the kingdom of God, to sprinkle the teachings of His Word among His children, and bring the message alive to men of the earth, bringing the preservation of souls. But if you as the salt, lay bare on the earth, exposed to the elements, you lose your savour, and the salt which was once full of flavour and making a difference, is now bland and of no effect, becoming fit not for preserving, but for the recycle pile. This is similar to the leaven in the bread. If you are a true Christian, then when you put a little leaven [truth of God's Word] in the bread [world], the the world around you [which is the bread] will become leavened, or open to the truth. What Jesus then is telling His disciples is that it is them, and all Christians that He is relying on to make the world salted with His Word. This is not talking about being abrasive, but a man or woman of God that knows how to represent our Lord in this world. We are to make a difference in the world that we live in, and if we can't make that difference, then of what use are we to God? To many people, their salt is given through their systematic financial support of a ministry, or as a prayer warrior. There are many avenues that God can use you, if you study His Word, and make yourself available in the ways that you have. Most of the time, the salt is the least of all the ingredients that goes to make up the food that we eat, however if it is left out, it will change the entire taste and success of the cooking. The amount of salt, or added effort given by the Christian, can make a great difference, as Jesus pointed out with the widow's mite. God will use, and bless what you give from the heart, the first fruits of your labor, in His service. From that gift added to that of other tithes of dedicated Christians the Lord will build His kingdom, and each will share in the rewards equally at the close of the age. That is why your salt is important, what you add to the kingdom; it prepares you for service in the Kingdom to come. You give your tithe after the fact, to the place where you are taught. How much more do you know of the Scripture today then ten, twenty or thirty years ago? If the answer is not much, then you are wasting God's money, and His tithe is not producing spiritual food with any flavor - but unpalatable spiritual food. Matthew 5:14 "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid." This is addressed to the "salt" of the earth, the disciples and followers of Christ. The "Light" is the "phos" in the Greek. As long as you have the light of Christ's Word in your heart, people will see it, because it makes you different, when you also are the salt. The salt is what is in you, while the light is what others see coming out of you. When you have that Light of the Word of God, then you are on a solid foundation, and your light becomes the beam that people can and will count on. You are able to help people with counsel and advice in a very simple way. It may be a smile or friendly greeting when needed, but when they know that your words are based on solid truths of God's Word, then those words become an anchor in a raging storm of life. An example of this is when someone around you has just lost a loved one, and they come to you for consolation. By knowing the Scripture on "where the dead are" from I Thessalonians 4, and Ecclesiastes 12:6, 7; you know that to be absent from this body is to be present with the Lord. You can explain this from both Paul and Solomon's writings. This is being a light to the world. Matthew 5:15 "Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house." The key is to study and to have patience. This verse uses a little common sense. You light a candle to give light, that is the purpose of the candle from the beginning. And when you study God's Word then that knowledge is to be shared with others. Sometimes it is shared in a simple way of everyday life, while to others that sharing can go deeper. We are to plant the seeds of the Word wherever we are, and if the interest is to go deeper, then be ready for it, however if there is strong resistance, leave it alone, it is not the time. However, water that seed that you have planted with prayer. The Holy Spirit will make it grow, if it should. When you allow the warmth of Christ's love into your life, that love has to be felt amongst all those around you. You will give comfort to those that come around you when the Scriptures are more then just words, but promises that you count on and build your whole life around. If we left out the seasoning in God's Word, we would be pretty dull. If someone else tries to put the bushel basket over your light, then do all you can to reverse it, and allow your light to burn and the light to get out. Matthew 5:16 "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father Which is in heaven." Why do you let your light so shine before men? That they can see your good works and glorify our heavenly father. That is right, its our good works that must get out, not our faith. Our faith is our actions that are based on our belief, that is sustained by our confidence in God's Holy Word. It is the confidence that we place our hope in, because we trust in God to keep the Word that He has given us through the Prophets. What are your good works? It may be a smile, or the helping of the neighbor when there is a need, or just anything that you can do in the name of the Lord, and with the right attitude. It may even be by the way you help in a ministry, whether singing, ushering, preaching, or just being faithful in your tithe. Whatever your works are, by being faithful in those works, God will reward you well for it. It is to be a light that men can see, for it gives hope in this mixed up world, especially in these end times. In the eternity those works is what your heavenly garment is made up of. Matthew 5:17 "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil." Works has nothing to do with the law. The law is the teacher, or school master to show you how to do good works, while your works is a display that reveals your obedience to that law. Your works shows your discipline from God's Word being carried out in your life. While the attitude you have while doing your works shows your love for Christ in your life. Many teach that when Christ came and went to the cross at Calvary, and shed His blood for us that the law was done away with. Jesus Christ Himself declares here that this is just not so. Jesus declared here that; "think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the Prophets", Christ's purpose for coming to earth, was to complete every last prophecy that came out of the Prophets of old. That included the law, for the law was given for guidance for man, and it is as current today as it was three thousand years ago. God knew that man could not keep the law, and that is why He made the provision for man. When man broke the law, and the barrier came between God and man, and certain rites, ordinances, and rituals [sacrifices] were established by God to bring man back to God. These sacrifices were of the blood of sheep, goats and doves, and were a covering, [called atonement] that satisfied the Lord God for one year. The only permanent sacrifice that could atone for mans sin, was a spotless sacrifice, sinless, and the only one that could do that was God's only Son, Jesus Christ. This was known long before the setting forth of the planets. God's plan was even written in the constellations of the heavens. The moment our Lord Jesus Christ died on that cross, the veil in the Temple was parted. Matthew 27:50, 51; "Jesus, when He had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. [50] And, behold, the veil of the Temple was rent in twain form the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;" [51] My friend, this took place when every last rite, ordinance and sacrificial ritual that required a blood sacrifice of animals, (or part of those blood sacrifices) was done away with, for Jesus Christ's death on the cross fulfilled them all. However, those laws that deal with the governing of our everyday lives, were and are still on the books, and they are what God expects the true man and woman of God to follow. Those laws and commandments should be common knowledge to all mankind, for they are what all civilized law and government is based upon. The ten commandments, as Jesus will discuss later in this chapter, are just acting out plain common sense, and when anyone tells you that you don't have to follow the law because it is dead, and then you violate them, then you will deserve what ever punishment is given for it's violation. Behind that veil [called the holy of holies] in the Temple is where the blood sacrifices were laid on the Altar of God. Only the Levitical priesthood could go into the Holy of Holies, behind the veil, and approach our Heavenly Father. Now our love and belief in Jesus Christ, and His saving works on the cross, is what allows us to approach God, with our repentance for our sin, and the changing of our sinful ways. It is beautiful how our Heavenly Father made the way to Him so easy, but the price was very high, for it took the very life's blood of His Son, Jesus Christ. When you refuse that gift, you are throwing it right back in His face, and you will answer for that at the appointed time. Don't spout off in public that you don't need that law, or they will think you are some sort of anarchist. They will think your a total idiot, for it is the law that sets order in all societies, even the most basic, and heathen even set their laws with God's standards. To become educated in the Word of God, puts you many steps ahead of the education of the world. Because your worldly education allows you to understand the methods of the world; and the Biblical education allows you to know what tomorrow will bring, and understand the mind of mankind-- righteous, and wicked alike. Matthew 5:18 "For verily I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled." This is Jesus teaching what we have just gone over. Not one word that has been written, or Prophesied in the Scriptures will be done away with, not one. The "jot" is the smallest letter in the Hebrew language, and appears like this " ' ", and it is recorded in the original Massoretic text 66,420 times. It is called "yod", and is pronounced "iota". However the jot, like the tittle have no sound where it is used. The "tittle" is an small ornament that is placed over Hebrew letters, so you can tell the difference between the two letters that are very similar in appearance. It has no sound of its own, but eliminates the confusion of identifing Hebrew letters, such as telling the difference between R = resh [ ], and D = deleth [ ]. Jesus has told us that every marking of the original will stay in place, and apply to God's people, until that prophecy has come to pass, or the law has been fulfilled. Many prophecies are already fulfilled, as well as all the blood sacrifices, and ordinances. Some of the law will not be fulfilled until after judgment day, when we enter the eternal age. Then all sin will be done away with, because the tempter, Satan, and all those that followed his ways will be turned to ashes. The health laws are in place to give us a long healthful life, while living in the flesh. To break those laws, is not so much a sin, but results in poor health, and sickness. When anyone tells you the Old Testament is done away with, mark him well, for they could care less about your soul. The Old Testament tells us more of the end times, our generation, then all the New Testament combined. In fact, the most complete record of the Millennium age is given in Ezekiel, the last nine chapters, and the record of events of our generation are given in detail in the minor prophets. The reason the Christian nations are in the dark as to their far past, is that they reject much of the Old Testament, and they have come to believe the lies of the Kenites. "Those that say they are Jews, and lie, and are of the synagogue of Satan." [Revelation 2:9; 3:9] Matthew 5:19 "Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven." The blood ordinances are gone, they were finish when Christ went to the cross, but not one of God's laws has been fulfilled. Jesus is telling His disciples and us that that if we break even the smallest law, we break them all. God holds those that go out and on purpose, breaks any of them, the least of importance in His kingdom. Did you get that? "and shall teach men so." I would think twice before teaching that the law was done away with, or if I did, it is time for repentance for you. The breaking of the law does not make the law bad, but it makes man bad. When the law is broken, then we must follow Christ's first words of instruction, in Matthew 4:17; "Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Until you repent, you will wear your sins. Being a believer does not wash your sins away. But when you repent in Jesus name, they are gone forever. We sin in so many things, daily, and this is why we must repent daily. We must die daily to our sinful nature, that is in conflict with the new nature that God has placed within us when we accept Jesus Christ. Matthew 5:20 "For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven." This is Jesus doing the teaching here, and these Scribes and Pharisees are the ones that sit in the seat of Moses, and claim to be the law givers, yet they are the Kenites. We know that five hundred years prior to this sermon, the Kenites, or sons of Satan virtually took over the duties of the scribes, and the Levitical priesthood allowed it to come to pass. This is recorded in I Chronicles 2:55; "And the families of the scribes which dwelt at Jabez [Jerusalem]; the Tirathites, the Shimeathites, and Suchathites. These are the Kenites that came of Hemath, the father of the house of Rechab." These scribes were in charge, when the House of Judah came our of captivity in Babylon. Most Pharisees were part of the priesthood, and Ezra and Nehemiah tell us that these Kenites, the "Nethinims" had taken over the Levitical priesthood while in Babylon, and took control over the duties of the priests in the Temple. Those duties were teaching the Law, and the ordinances. By the time of Christ's birth, they had five hundred years to perfect their slant to God's laws, and add many of their own. This is why Jesus addressed them in Matthew 23:2, 3; "Saying, "The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat: [teaching the law and judging] All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not." In other words, they are hypocrites, and of their father the devil. The law is important to us, and it is for us to know the law, and do our interpretation with the teachings of Christ, for if ye allow them to interpret it for us, it may cause us to miss out on the Kingdom. Our righteousness must exceed the Scribes and Pharisees for the simple reason that their ways are of their father Satan, the devil, and Satan's ways are not God's ways. God gave us the law in His written Word, and examples with that Word, it is for us to know them, and abide by them. Most of God's laws are natural, and just common sense. Matthew 5:21 "Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:' " Jesus is getting right down to the basic law with us, Then He states the sixth commandment from Exodus 20:13; "thou shalt not kill." This law is taken out of context, and is becoming a lie as presented in the modern world today. We see the good reverends going out to burn the candles at the executions of murders, and displaying their stupidity of God's Word before the world. If they took a little time to understand the true meaning and intent of God's Word, they would know that as it is translated in the King James, it is incorrect. It is a false statement even, for it is incomplete. Lets go to Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, # 7523; "Ratsach, raw-tsakh'; a prime root; to dash to pieces, kill a human being, especially to murder, to put to death, (man) slayer, murder (er). In the Strong's Greek dictionary it is # 5407, "Phoneuo, fon-yoo'-o; from # 5406, to be a murderer (of), kill, do murder, slay." So lets go to # 5406, "Phoneus, fon-yooce' , A murderer, (always a criminal act [at least initial] homicide, 5407 is the term for a public bandit, 5406 is term for murderer." When we go back and read the sixth commandment again, for what it really says, we see a totally different meaning. Christ has just told us that the law hasn't changed. The law doesn't say, "Ye shall not kill", it states "thou shall do no murder, criminal homicide", and that is the criminal intent beforehand to take a man's life. There is a great difference. "And whosoever shall commit criminal homicide murder shall be in danger of the judgment. God's law spells out the righteous way of dealing with murderers, without a just cause, and this is addressed in Numbers 35:17-21, "The revenger of blood himself shall slay the murderer: when he meeteth him, he shall slay him." The revenger is the next of kin, and by this righteous act of killing the murderer on the spot, the community will be free of them, "and others will see and these things will cease happening." When blood is shed, it is the innocent blood that we should be concerned with, not the murderer. Jesus is telling us that if you murder, He will judge you. Matthew 5:22 "But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, 'Raca,' shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, 'Thou fool', shall be in danger of hell fire." There is a difference between the English and the Greek, for the word, "brother". The word "brother" is an Israelite by nation and blood; while a "neighbor" was and Israelite by religion and worship, which is called a "Proselyte". Both are of God, and not heathen, for they are attached as God's people through blood by birth, of drawn into the congregation, in their religion and worship. The word "Raca" in the English, is an expression of showing disgust with a person, when it isn't merited. Jesus tells us that it could get you in trouble with those around you. It is a mild form of slander, as used in Jesus day. The "council" is the Sanhedrin, or courts. The word "fool" as used here, is not as we use it today, but in the Greek "moros", and was always considered a wicked reprobate, lacking all spiritual and divine knowledge and values. They are totally void of all spiritual interest, and given totally to the devil. As you can see this is a great deal different then what "fool" means today. The fool is one that is totally sold out to the world. He is one with no hope of salvation, such as Cain in Genesis 4. When we have a dispute between our brother, God tells us to work it out if possible, and if not, go to council [court today, or a mediator that both trust]. God is telling us not to get Him in the middle of our disputes, by calling each other a fool. In doing so, we have taken God's position as the judge over our brother's soul, and then we have judged him to spiritual death. God is then saying, that the judgment that you place on your brother is what He will place on you. {I hope this is clear to you.} Notice also that Jesus added; "Without a cause", you had no reason in the first place to get angry with you brother [sister]. Matthew 5:23 "Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;" You "gift" is your sacrifice, which is your tithe, or even a love offering. You want to approach God's throne, and there is a problem between you and your brother [sister], and you are the one at fault. Matthew 5:24 "Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift." When you see that you are the cause of the trouble, and you are at the altar with the gift, don't take the gift, but make your apologies to that brother, and then continue with your giving of the gift. You are to make the offer, and whether or not it is accepted, that is his responsibility before the Lord, for you are clear at the throne of God. Just plain common sense will overcome most of Satan's strife against you. First of all, you will know the power that we have in the name of Jesus the Messiah. "Be gone Satan, get out of my life, in the name of Jesus". You can count on God's power being there. Matthew 5:25 "Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison." "The Adversary" is Satan, and he is up there before the throne of God now, accusing each of God's elect, the Christians that have repented for their sins. That adversary is always there day and night. In the Greek, and original text, the word "agree", means to be well minded. To agree is not to submit, but to be smarter then the accuser. When we are in the world, and Satan's territory, we are to be wiser then the serpent [satan]. Those of the world will continue to draw you into their traps, and we are to be wise enough to avoid falling into them. This even looks forward to the time when we are called in before the synagogues of Satan, in the time of the great tribulation [deception]. When that time comes, we are not to plan ahead of time what we will say, for it will be the Holy Spirit that will speak [Mark 13:11]. Though you think you know what to say, The Holy Spirit knows exactly what should be said, and all you have to do is allow yourself to be the Holy Spirit's mouth-piece. When the Antichrist, Satan does appear on earth, as he will shortly, and many will come to you and say excitingly, "the Messiah is here." Jesus is telling you, don't agree with them that he is the Messiah. Matthew 5:26 "Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing." God's Word, and His plan is perfect. Jesus is telling you not to get ahead of that plan. Most prophets in Jeremiah's day thought they could derail God's plan, for the seventy years of captivity in Babylon, and God saw to it that they would be killed because of it. The whole earth is about to enter into a one world order, with a spiritual religious system with the devil at the head, called the Antichrist. That ruler will be Satan, for Revelation 9:11 identifies Satan by both his Greek and Hebrew names, and being the king that will rule over the earth. It is a fact. "And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon." Abaddon and Apollyon in the English means destroyer, and that is Satan's name. Documentation is in Isaiah 16:4, Jeremiah 4:7, Daniel 8:24, 25, and many other verses. As long as the prince of this world is in power in this world, be well minded, be smarter then he is. Do not allow yourselves to give Satan any of God's glory, just be mute. The paying of the "uttermost farthing" is at the sounding of the seventh trumpet, and the return of Christ. You don't give any glory to any man in this flesh age, for at the return of Christ we will all be changed in the twinkling of an eye to our incorruptible and immortal bodies . Matthew 5:27 "Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, "Thou shalt not commit adultery:' " This is part of the law again. It is given in Exodus 35:14, and written down by Moses. The law that was given is a physical guide that was given, however, the entire Scripture uses that relationship of husband to wife; bride to bridegroom, to show God's relationship to Israel, and later, our relationship to Christ. This verse then has a more spiritual relationship then most will apply. Because the relationship "brother" and "neighbor" is given, and is used in the Scripture in reference to Israel, only as was pointed out in verse twenty two, we must apply it as Jesus intended. Jesus is talking to those of His bride, and there are many members that go to make up the bride of Christ. So we will see that the rest of this chapter gets deeper into this relationship between Jesus and his bride, His church. It takes the full body to make up that bride, and the groom is Christ, so if the bride commits adultery, then that bride has taken another groom, a false Messiah, and we know that groom to be Satan, the Antichrist. Matthew 5:28 "But I way unto you, that whosoever looketh on a woman to **** after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart." This word "looketh" is totally different then what is used today in the English. "Looketh" means to gaze with impure desire, it is putting an action of immorality to the looking, and it is called *******. That is a lot different then looking to appreciate the beauty of someone, or an object. Matthew 5:29 "And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell." What are we talking about? We are a many membered body that makes up the body of Christ's bride. There may be a unit of the body that other parts of the body of Christ are propping up, and giving support to. That is easy to understand, for the home church gives the financial and prayer support to the missionaries that they send into the mission field. It may be a member of the church that is causing the the rest of the church trouble, both by morals, financially, or by what ever means. When one member of that body of Christ "the eye", is causing other members to fall, and turn from Christ's teaching. Jesus is saying that it is better to separate yourself from that one member," the eye" then have the rest of the body of Christ be dragged down with him [her]. Let's take this to another level, say there is a member that is a heavy contributor to the local church, and he has brought in doctrines of demons, such as the rapture doctrine; that teaching can spread like wildfire throughout the entire congregation, and upset the very foundation of God's Word. It can set the entire church up to accept the Antichrist as the true Christ. It is time to do some pruning, Jesus is telling us to separate ourselves from that one, not as enemies, but to admonish him as a brother for false teaching. Jesus would never instruct anyone to mame themselves physically, for this is given in the spiritual context, because the punishment is directed to be cast into hell fire, which is the destruction of the soul [spiritual]. Matthew 5:30 "And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of they members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell." This is not aimed at the individual person here, but a individual group, within the main body of Christ. The application is the same though, that is that the group be cut off from the main body of Christ, so that the main body will not fall because of them. The outcome for not doing so would be for the main body to lose its ministry, and the blessings it receives from God. The clue to understanding the parable given here, is the fact that the "elect" is not the bride to-be, but is already married to Christ, That is what Ephesians 1 is all about. They are the wife of the husband , Jesus Christ. That is why it is called "adultery". Matthew 5:31 "It hath been said, 'Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:" This is part of Moses' law, but not necessarily God's law. The law was given because to the hardness of the hearts of the people. It is documented in Deuteronomy 24:1. Matthew 5:32 "But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery." God doesn't want His elect jumping from one religious thought to another, which are not given in His Word. God is jealous for His bride. Whether it be spiritual fornication, or physical adultery, it is sin; but God said we are to seek forgiveness from our brothers and those we love. Jesus also asked each of us that when we sin, to repent, and that sin will be forgiven. There is only one sin that is unforgivable, and you can not commit that sin, until the Antichrist Satan is on earth, and then you refuse to allow the Holy Spirit of God to speak through you. When Christ said He would forgive All our sins, divorce and adultery is included, so is Sodomy, drunkenness, drugs, and any other things that one could commit. Once we have repented, then we are to turn from that sin. When a person has divorced, and repented for that sin to God, in Jesus name, in God's eyes it is over and blotted out; however many in the Church world like to hold it over their head. That is exactly what Satan does as the accuser before the throne of God. That is the mind of Satan. By bringing up a repented sin, you are becoming the judge over your brother, and though God has forgiven the divorcee [sinner], the one pointing the finger and being the judge, has just accepted the punishment for their false accusation. When its repented it's over, and the Kenite, Satanic mind just can't get it through their mind. When you realize that you have done such a thing to a brother in the Lord, it is time to seek forgiveness yourself. Divorce is what the entire book of Hosea is about. God took two wives, two sisters, and they were called the "the House of Israel", and "the House of Judah". God kept the one, Judah, and divorced the other. Once divorced, God could not remarry, until death reconciled them back to Him. When Jesus went to the Cross, those that repent are reconciled back to Christ. However it won't be until the Millennium age that all of Israel, Christian and Jew alike are joined as one, back to Him. That is what Ezekiel 37 is all about, the joining of the two houses in the end. Matthew 5:33 "Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, "Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths" " Jesus is saying that you have heard in the law, concerning purgery, and bearing of false witness. Jesus is telling us that that should we swear an oath to keep to the oath that we swore by, and when you tell someone that you will do something, keep your word. As we see today in many court cases, two false witnesses can void the law. They can over-ride the law. Though the earthly court is voided, God's divine court will still hold you accountable for your words. Matthew 5:34 "But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne" Jesus is telling you to leave His name out of your swearing all together, for He will hold you accountable to what you use His name for. Matthew 5:35 "Nor by the earth; for it is His footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King." "His footstool" means that God has created all things. Jerusalem is the city that God has married, and it will be the place of His Temple, and eternal city. Matthew 5:36 "Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black." These things are natural, and not of your control. Matthew 5:37 "But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay, for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil." All that a man of God need to answer is yes or no. That is all. If you have to start off with an explanation, and swear by something to get someone to take your word, that they don't believe you anyway. You might as well keep your mouth shut. The longer your explanation to what your charged with, the more apt one is to giving an untruth [evil]. That is why the lawyers ask the same thing over and over, eventually they hope to catch an error, and destroy you with your own words. That is the mind of the Kenite, and that is also the mind of Satan. Remember, we are to be wiser then the serpent, the Kenite snakes. In teaching the Word of God, it is best to keep it simple, and absolute. Keep to the subject, and the object that is taught, and make your lesson down to earth, and apply to the student's life. Don't use "I think", but only, "it is written in...." and state what the Bible says. If you don't know, then say I don't know. If you don't know it, and can't admit to it, then don't teach. Matthew 5:38 "Ye have heard that it hath been said, "An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:" Now Jesus gets into the area of retaliation, and revenge. Jesus is quoting here Exodus 21:24. Matthew 5:39 "But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also." The wrong teaching of these verses of revenge turns many away from Christianity. The subject here is the law, and how it applies to God's elect. In this section of revenge, Jesus is saying that if someone loses their temper, when you are talking with them, and hits you on the cheek, forgive him for that action. This has nothing to do with someone hitting you for no reason at all. You don't tolerate that, and that is not what Jesus is talking about here. The defending ones self, is called self defense, and is required by law. Use common sense in dealing with God's law, and the teachings and commandments of Jesus Christ. Matthew 5:40 "And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also." If a man sues you for your outer garment, give him your inner garment also. Matthew 5:41 "And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain." This verse comes from an old Roman custom, that if a soldier found his pack to heavy, he could call on a civilian close at hand to carry his pack up to an mile. This was the law. Jesus is addressing this, and saying that when you are called to do so, to go the extra mile. This can apply to many things today, in the requirement that we as citizens are required to do, Jesus is telling us to don't just do the requirement, but be willing to give a little extra when it is needed. Jesus is asking us to set a good example to those around us, to let our light shine before the men we come in contact with, so that they may see our good works, and our Heavenly Father will get all the glory from our actions. Matthew 5:42 "Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away." This next law, has to do with the law of "Love". Love is the most powerful thing in the world, as far as controlling your family, and getting along with people. If it is genuine, it is the strongest tool in the world. Matthew 5:43 "Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy.' " In this verse, don't forget the explanation of the term "neighbor", from verse twenty two. The neighbor is anyone that is like you in religious belief, or worship, and they are called a "Proselyte". They may be of any race, but they love the Lord, as you and I do. The brother is one born of the natural womb of the family. This law of Love, comes from Leviticus 19:18, and it teaches that the love towards your brother should be the same given towards one that has come into our faith, from another race, or the outside. They are to be treated as you would your brother, with the same love and respect. This law was not directed to the heathen, or your enemy. Matthew 5:44 "But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;" But now Christ is addressing our relationship with respect to those out side our religious worship brotherhood. In all of the better manuscripts that are available to man today, of the ancient writing known today, ""Bless them that curse you" does not exist., Even the Vulgate leaves it out, because it has been added by a copier. This is how the Manuscripts read, Christ is saying; "But I say unto you, Love your enemies, do good to them that hate you and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you." And we should, because they don't know any better, and that is your purpose as a child of the Living God. To pray for them, doesn't mean you let them get away with it, but you pray for their souls. This is a common practice of all Christianity. Matthew 5:45 "That ye may be the children of your Father Which is in heaven: for He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust." To be "children of our Heavenly Father", is what Christianity is all about. As a child of God, He will bless us and protect us while while we follow His ways. The beauty and the goodness is on the earth for all of God's children [mankind] to take advantage of. It rains on the just and the unjust alike. Take this in a spiritual sense, and you have the true understanding of Love. God loves all of His children, and the same offer of salvation to you, is offered even to the Kenite, if they will just see the light of God's salvation, Jesus the Christ, and repent. Many of the teachings today that is given out as being from God, is created in the mind of some preacher, or deacon board. God is love, and He offers freedom through repentance. However, many of the rules and systems that are put on Christians, are nothing more than chains, that bind the believer to that system, and set up levels of acceptance. God's love offers freedom and peace of mind through repentance for what ever sin. God says it is finished, over, go and sin no more. He has blotted it out. When it is remembered in the board meeting, or by the members, that is exactly what the accuser Satan does day and night, and you have then become part of Satan's system. It is no wonder that so many people are afraid to approach a church, they don't want a brand placed on them. The Word of God that is supposed to cut the person from the bonds and shackles of sin, in turn places a greater anchor on them. God is love, and He is fair. God understands a person's mind and the condition and state that he is in. God deals with each person individually. God allows the rain to fall on all people alike. We see that one farmer will prepare his seed bed to accept the rain, and use the water to make his seed develop, and his crops grow. While the farmer next down the road, just throws the seed out, and when the rains come, the water washes the seed, and soil down the river. We are to be careful how we handle people with the Word of God, for we can do much damage in our planting of the seed of the truth of God's Word. Just like the farmer that gives much love and care to detail in the planting of his seed, we also should be wise, in the planting of God's seed in the minds of men [women]. That it will be received and grow to maturity. Matthew 5:46 "For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?" Matthew 5:47 "And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?" Matthew 5:48 "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father Which is in heaven is perfect." When we love those that are of our family, and close to us, Jesus is saying that is what the world does, that is what the world expects of every one. However Jesus is telling us that He expects much more that what the world would give. "Perfect" in the Strong's Greek dictionary is # 5048, "Telioo", and means consecrated, matured and fulfilled (in character)"; and that is how Jesus expects His elect to act. He gives us the standard to use for His elect, and that is acting on the principles of "grace", and in conformity with the laws of the kingdom that He is setting down in this sermon. "Grace" by definition is "unmerited favor". The Grace we receive in Christ is that our sins are forgiven, and the heavy price that is required and paid, is paid with God's own Son, Jesus Christ's blood. The grace we are to give is in our love and compassion to those who don't deserve it. When you are hurt or wronged by another person, it is then the love and kindness shown to the one that wronged you. The world doesn't expect it of you, but Jesus is telling us, the if you are part of His kingdom, and claim to be of Christ, He expects it of you. That love and kindness of Christ is what melts away fear and hatred, and draws that soul to Christ. The Shepherds Chapel

REVELATION Chapter 3 "Revelation to the Seven Churches Continued." Revelation 3:1 "And unto the angel of the church in Sar'-dis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead." Sardis was the ancient capital of Lydia, and as such, attracted merchant and commercial activity from all parts of Asia. Traditions were common and many. The "seven Spirits" mentioned here are those possessed by our Lord Jesus Christ. See the notes on verse 1:4. The "seven stars" are the angels overseeing the seven churches. This church is dead, with no spiritual life left in it. Their religious service has become nothing but a form, a process to be followed, usually within a church system. Revelation 3:2 "Be watchful, and strengthen [stablish] the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect [found no works of thine fulfilled] before God." This church is in trouble with God. They are dead because they are so far from the truth of God's Word that they don't even understand even the simple terms of the Bible. Words such as Passover, salvation, sin, repentance and so on, just don't fit in their Sunday morning sermons. Historically, this church at Sardis was strong in the worship to "Cybele" [the mother of the gods], also called "Ishtar". Do you remember her? Well God despised Ishtar, and many churches today get this heathen worship all mixed up in their Christianity. They call it "Easter", and use it instead of "Passover". This church of Sardis forgot all about "Passover", However the fertility rights of rolling Easter eggs to Ishtar became a sacred and holy thing; something special at Easter. It is one of the tradition practiced today which ties many churches to the church at Sardis. Does this right enter into any church you are aware of? Sexual orgies also took place during the egg rolling times, however today most churches have cleaned up their act, and Christianized their heathen customs and holidays. The Sardis church also practiced Sunday morning sunrise services to honor the rising of the sun, in their sun god worship, also relating to Ishtar practices. By redefining words and acts, this practice has become traditional, so its a way of hanging on to the heathen customs of the past, and soothing our minds to convince ourselves that it is unto the Lord. Its like a Muslim becoming a Christian, and continuing to bow to Mecca, only now he has changed the word "Allah" to "Jesus", and he thinks that it's all okay with God. The church at Sardis never offended anyone, even the Sodomites and those in other strange practices were patronized; so as not to offend anyone who desired to worship with them. The Sardis church believed everyone has the right to worship in their own way. Spiritually, Sardis is dead to the Almighty Father. Do you know of any churches that fit this description of Sardis? Revelation 3:3 "Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon you." Jesus is telling Sardis and any church that is in a pattern to the church of Sardis; to repent and come out of their sin. We are living in the final days and the "hour of temptation" is well under-way. If you remain in a church continuing to practice as Sardis did, you are in trouble when Satan arrives on earth to rule as the Antichrist. Sardis is spiritually brain dead, and God will not revive her. Jesus is giving those in this church a stern warning before it is to late, get out!. Revelation 3:4 "Thou hast a few names even in Sar'-dis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy." Even in this filth trap of a church called "Sardis", God has a few that understand and study His word and follow the truth. If you can make it in a church like Sardis, you have much going for you in the eyes of our Lord. Many through marriage are trapped into remaining in such a church, and God is with them and will bless them. Revelation 3:5 "He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels." When you hold true to God's Word while in Sardis, Jesus said that He will call out your name when you stand before our Heavenly Father, as one of His own. What joy to the believer who overcomes out of Sardis. Your "white garments" are made up of your righteous acts, and thank God for each of these dear souls. Revelation 3:6 "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches." Do you understand that these are the seven types of churches that Jesus is calling your attention to that exist in the latter days? Remember, there are only two of them that our Lord calls His own? The first was the church at Smyrna; the church which knew all about the "Kenites", and were not deceived by them. The second church that our Lord called His own, is the next; the church of Philadelphia. Revelation 3:7 "And to the angel of the church in Phil-a-del-phi-a write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; Jesus Christ has only good words to say about the Philadelphia church. It is important for us to understand this verse. This church of Philadelphia held the "key of David". They knew who the "Kenites" were, thus they were able to understand all truths [hidden manna] of God's Word. That "key of David" allowed them to unlock all doors of deception laid before them by any man, and that includes Satan, or his offspring [the Kenites]. Philadelphia was and is a church of love and charity, and full of understand of all wisdom and truth in God's Word. Philadelphia's faith is made real through her works. Does your church align with the church of Philadelphia? Revelation 3:8 "I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it; for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name." When God opens the door so you can see into His truth, it's a blessing. With just a little strength from God, anything is possible. When you know the truth of God's word, you will never follow any man's tradition that go against the Word of God, or be tempted by the Antichrist, or his system. Revelation 3:9 "Behold, I will make them of the syna-gogue of Sa'-tan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee." Those of the "synagogue of Satan" are the "Kenites", and they have no hold over the Philadelphia church. If they do exist in the Philadelphia church, they are converted and worship right along with them, and love the Lord Jesus Christ also. They are no longer Kenites, but sons and daughter of the living God. The church of Philadelphia will not allow the Kenite mind of deception and confusion to take any hold in their church. They are equal in praise from our Lord Jesus Christ. Both the Smyrna and Philadelphia churches have learned the "parable of the Fig tree", and can identify the good figs from the bad figs. The "bad figs" in the parable, are the Kenites. They are of the synagogue of Satan, "and say they are Jews, but are not". Relating this to today, they put on verbally to be Christians, when in fact they have no faith in Christ, They don't believe in Christ's deity, His virgin birth, His resurrection, and in fact they don't even hold God's word as inspired by God. Remember what Jesus warned us to do in Matthew:24:32" Matthew 24:32 "Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:" Matthew 24:33 "So likewise ye, when ye see all these things. know that it is near, even at the doors." Matthew 24:34 "Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these thing be fulfilled. Matthew 24:35 "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away. Jesus commanded each of us to learn the parable of the fig tree, this was not a option, but a command. This command was given to those living in the latter days, when all these events of the latter days would take place. By knowing the events and those that are causing those things to take place, there can be no confusion to the times and prophecies of those times, so that you would be deceived. All the prophecies of the end times will take place in the life span of one generation. The starting point of that generation was the planting of the shoot in Palestine, of the nation of Jews returning to their homeland. That date would either be may of 1948, when the Balfour agreement was signed at the United Nations, establishing Israel as a Nation, or in 1967 when the Jews took possession of Jerusalem to be their capital city. In any case, we are well into that generation. Within the church, Kenites cause confusion, misinterpretation of God's Word, gossip, and conflicts of all sorts, however the Philadelphia Church would not allow it into their congregation. When it started they dealt with it immediately. Revelation 3:10 "Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation [trial], which shall [that hour that is to] come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth." This is the first day of the Millennium, and all mankind, of every race and nation will bow a Jesus Christ's feet, including the Kenites. All will be so overwhelmed by the events taking place, all will bow on that day to Him. The people in the Philadelphia church knew the order that the two "morning stars" would appear, and waited for the true morning star, Jesus Christ. They held fast in the "hour of temptation", when the people of the entire world were tried and chased after the false star, the Antichrist. Revelation 3:11 "Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown." You will have a special crown if you are able to understand God's Word, and not bow to the Antichrist, nor take his name or his number, or his system. Revelation 3:12 "Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Je-ru'-sa-lem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name." The "pillar" is what supports the church, the true temple. These pillars, or believers, will be what Jesus builds his Millennium kingdom around. Once you overcome in this age, your position in Christ's kingdom is an eternal position that God set aside just for you. You are important where it counts, in God's kingdom. The "new name" is written in Isaiah 62:4, "my delight is in her", that's the new name. "Her" being the bride of Christ. In the Hebrew, her name is "Heph-zi-bah". The name for this new city is called "Beu-lah land". Revelation 3:13 "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches." Now to the next of the seven churches. Revelation 3:14 "And unto the angel of the church of the La-od-i-ce'-ans write; These things saith the A-men, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;" "The beginning of the creation of God", is badly translated. For it should read, "He that begin the creation of God." That identifies Christ, who was with the Father when the creation took place. Christ is God, for there is only one God with three separate offices. Revelation 3:15 "I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot." This church at Laodicea were in the middle of the road. They avoid conflict at all cost, and would pervert God's holy Word rather than be at odds with someone. They are like the fat hog laying in the middle of the troth, that will sop up what ever anyone throws to them. They don't care who, or what enters their church; these good old boys cater to them all, and all their false doctrines. Revelation 3:16 "So then because thou art neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth." These are the ones who will not rock the boat, take sides, or stand on the side of anything. "Nothing" is what they stand for, and "nothing" is what you get from the sermons. As a church, the Laodiceans are just "good for nothing". God finds them detestable and wants these people no where around Him. Revelation 3:17 "Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:" Revelation 3:18 "I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see." These miserable creatures don't even know how wretched they are. They think they are rich by worldly standards, but they are blind to God's Word, and spiritually in poverty. God is telling them that He wants their true love. He wants love that is tried like "gold in the fire", which has all the impurities burned away; and that love will stand clean and pure. God wants you to be rich, but it has to be in God's way. Riches to a righteous man are the blessings of God to a man of God; but other riches are nothing but fools gold. The "eyesalve" of the anointing, is the truths from the pages of God's Word [your Bible]. God wants the church of Laodicea to see and understand His word, then get hot on fire for Him. If your church is as the church of Laodicea, it is time to start a spiritual fire in your church. Revelation 3:19 "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent." Jesus is urging those in this church that want to follow him, to repent, and get into His Word. God will test you, for through your testing you develop patience and your faith grows. From your faith flows your works for the Father. Revelation 3:20 "Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." You and you alone must open the door for Christ to come into your heart, or He will never come in. When you open the door to your heart to Christ, He will enter warmly, and in love. Revelation 3:21 "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne." Just as Jesus ascended to be with the Almighty Father on His throne; As an overcomer, so also will each of us share the throne with our Savior, Jesus Christ. In Christ's Millennium kingdom we will reign as kings and priests with Him. What joy that will be. Ezekiel chapters 40 through 44 tells us of that Millennium kingdom. Revelation 3:22 "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches." Do you have a ear to hear, and understand the message Jesus is passing through John's pen to us? There were only two of the seven churches that met with Christ's approval. They knew the true word of God, and equally important, they knew who the Kenites are, where they came from, and could not be deceived by anyone. The Shepherds Chapel

REVELATION Chapter 2 "Revelation to the Seven Churches" Most churches of today don't realize that at the sounding of the seventh trumpet and Jesus Christ's return, all of the churches will still be right here on earth. This was pointed out in the first chapter. The churches John saw, the "seven candlesticks", were right here on earth on the "Day of the Lord". On that "Day of the Lord" the entire tribulation is over, finished, and the churches [candlesticks] are still on the earth. Friend, if your looking for a "Rapture", for someone to fly you out of here before Satan comes to earth in his role as the Antichrist, as many churches teach; it means you will have already worshipped the Antichrist at the time this vision of John. It means that you have taken Satan's name, and that you have also taken his number; it means you have been deceived. This is why it is important that you should study all of God's Word, and not listen to the traditions of men that go against the Word of God. It will save you great deal of embarrassment when you stand before your Heavenly Father on "The Day of the Lord". Don't be ignorant of God's Word. Revelation 2:1 "Unto the angel of the church of Eph'-e-sus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;" This letter is written to the church of Ephesus. Here, the promises of blessings are not given to the church itself; but only to those few overcomers that are within it. These stars are the angels over each of these churches, and the "golden candlesticks" are the seven churches. This was established in the first chapter. Jesus told John to write to the church at Ephesus first. The message is to Christians in all churches of these end times, and now especially to those who have doctrines and works that match that of the Ephesus Church. Revelation 2:2 "I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars [false]." Christ continues speaking to the Church of Ephesus, and all churches with like doctrine and works. Jesus recognizes the good traits of this church and it's people, including the fact that this church even tests their members according to their fruits of their works and words. This church even has pinpointed the liars, or hypocrites that live and worship amongst them. Revelation 2:3 "And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted." This sounds like a pretty good church. They are trying; they have patience, they can't stand evil around them, and they are strong of the Lord. Revelation 2:4 "Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love." Now what is the "first love"? If you love and are a follower of Almighty God, that isn't to difficult to understand. The first covenant is God, and Christ is "the living Word". There are many who have left Christ, and have gone to forms of godliness, but in doing so, they deny the power thereof [of God]. Remember, these are the seven types of Churches in the world that exist on "the Day of the Lord", or the Lord's day. That day is the day the seventh trumpet sounds, and our Lord Jesus Christ returns. Does your church preach and believe in the "Virgin birth of Christ"? How about the death, and resurrection, and the ascension into heaven of Jesus Christ? Does your church believe that the only way to the Heavenly Father is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ? How about all those stories and parables in the Bible; how is your church teaching them? This is what tell you if your church has left it's first love. To deny Jesus' virgin birth, His death and resurrection, and ascension into heaven, is to deny that Jesus Christ is our Savior. Many ministers today simply do not believe that the Bible is anything but a storybook. Their sermons are about everything sweet and lovely, but not of God's love and justice. Many of these pastors are locked into the traditions of their denominations that they learned in their seminary, and to sway from that could mean loss of job, and more important to many of these preachers, their pensions or livelihood. But for whatever their reason, the truths of God's holy Word has taken the back seat to their systems traditions. Revelation 2:5 "Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent." There are many churches that never study from the Old Testament. They leave their members in total ignorance and open to the deceptions that are coming upon us, that are increasing by the day. Jesus is warning this Church of Ephesus to repent, and get back into all of God's Word. Christ is the center of the entire Word of God, and He is the first love of all your study. God is threatening that if you do not get back to your first love, He will tare your church up. If that candlestick representation your church and it will be gone. What again was this church doing that was so wrong? They strayed from Christ and His teachings, and in their believing in the Word of God. The focus of their worship was not Christ, but worldly matters. If you have strayed, repent and get back on track. Revelation 2:6 "But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nic-o-la-i'-tanes, which I also hate." There are no written records of the Nicolaitanes, however this type are appearing in churches now, at the end of this earth age. They are hateful and disruptive people towards God. In Strong's Greek dictionary, their number is #3531, "Kebarah", and here we are referred to #3527. When we go there we see these people are called, "Kabar; to accumulate in large number, an abundance; to multiply." The church at Pergamos also practiced this. The Dixon Bible Dictionary said of the "Nicolaitanes", "They had become established in the Churches of Ephesus and Pergamos; and taught that it was the right and liberty of Christians to eat meat offered to idols, and indulge in other forms of heathenism." In modern day churches, most are taking in heathen forms of religious practices in their worship, and accepting heathen traditions as being from God. Doctrine and deeds which are contrary to God's Word are allowed and even promoted. This should cause you to draw attention to Romans 11:7, where Paul said, "Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded." This is speaking to the time of our generation, and that obtainable thing that is the wisdom and knowledge within all of God's Word. Included are all prophecies, and the understanding that the Antichrist comes first. This one world system spreading now over the earth will drag all religious orders to it, including Christian churches. The Nicolaitanes will try to convience the churches of the type of Ephesus and Pergamos to join them. And they will accept the heathen customs and traditions that fit into this godless "one world system", that has already been formed. Revelation 2:7 "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God." The "Tree of Life" is Jesus Christ, and if you are an overcomer against these godless practices and doctrines, you will partake in Christ's Millennium Kingdom. This is discussed fully in chapter twenty two. You will either be in this "paradise of God" as an overcomer, or after judgment you will be sent to the lake of fire. Your church system could lead you there. Revelation 2:8 "And unto the angel of the church in Smyr'-na write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive [lived again];" Here is the second church Jesus told John to write about. It is the church of Smyrna, and all those churches of today which are like it. This is one of the churches God is very pleased with. If your church is not like Smyrna, then you could be in trouble. The key to the church of Smyrna's form of worship is that they took and understood the entire Word of God. Remember from the first chapter; "He that is first [first earth age], and the last [eternal] is our Lord Jesus Christ". "The Alpha and Omega" is one of the names for Jesus Christ, and it is He that is speaking to John. "Which was dead, and is alive;" is another description of Jesus. Jesus Christ's flesh body was crucified and dead, and in three days Jesus came alive to conquer death. Jesus is the Messiah. Revelation 2:9 "I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, [but thou art rich] and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan." This tribulation is the tribulation of the Antichrist. Remember, John is in the Spirit, and on the "day of the Lord", or "the Lord's Day", which is the last day of this earth age. The seventh trumpet is about to sound. We are living in that generation and this writing is to you and I in our generation. Smyrna was poor in earthly standards, but rich in knowledge and understanding. This Smyrna church knew God's Word, and stood upon their understanding of it. The Church of Smyrna had strength through the Word of God. The Smyrna Church knew the blasphemy of certain people that crept into Smyrna's congregation. These blasphemous people claimed to be of the tribe of Judah, or of the land of Judah, referring to their commitment to God. However, they are "Kenites", and imposters, and are of "the synagogues of Satan". To the Christian, our bodies are the temples of the Holy Spirit of God. The synagogues were, and still are the subsitute for doing it God's way. It became the, "instead of the temple of God", when they came to worship. Those of the synagogues of Satan were the cause for the changes made in worship in Jesus day, and they are the same ones who are causing many churches to worship and follow other ways today. Do you know who these Kenites are? Do you know what they do, or where they came from? The Smyrna Church did. Jesus is saying here, if the ability to identify and know these people of Satan is not taught in your church, He is not happy with you. Jesus said your rich if you understand the seed line of Satan. That understanding of the Kenites is the "Key of David", the truth. In Mark 13, Jesus makes it very clear, there is a tribulation coming; and that tribulation is a deception of the truth. While some Christians will be very ashamed, others that are not ashamed will be delivered up before these synagogues of Satan, and then the Holy Spirit will speak through them, as He did on the Pentecost Day. We read of this in Acts 2. Peter identified this in Acts 2:14-21, as that spoken of by Joel the prophet. [Joel 2:28-32]; This was a sample of how it will be in these end times. Friend, we are living in the end times. This "synagogue of Satan" is very active today, and putting up quite a deception before the churches of today, to draw them into their godless, "one world system", which is preparing the way for their father Satan's arrival as the Antichrist. The Church of Smyrna and those churches of like doctrine, know who these Kenites are, and God will bless them for this knowledge. Revelation 2:10 "Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.." When you know exactly what the deceptions of these Kenites are and from the rest of Revelation, you how these Kenites are working. The purpose is how to identify them, and then you will have nothing to fear from them. God will protect you, for the entire tribulation is nothing but smoke and mirrors. It's deceptions, tricks, and all sorts of supernatural wonders given by God to Satan [the Antichrist]. The Antichrist and his children, the Kenites, will use those powers to deceive you into worshipping Satan in ignorance as the true Christ. When you know who Satan is, and that he comes to the earth before Jesus Christ comes, you simply can not be tricked by Satan or his children. These Kenites are Satan's children through the womb of Eve. The child born from that sexual union was "Cain", and all the offspring of Cain, to this generation are called the "Kenites". Though you are unaware of this, rest assured that the Kenites know all about themselves. This race of Kenites have copied and mimic what ever group they happen to enter. I Chronicles 2:55 "And the families of the scribes which dwelt in Jabez [Jerusalem], the Tirathites, the Shimeathites, the Suchathites. These are the Kenites that came of Hemath, the father of the house of Rechab." These scribes were the Sopherites that set out to write the "Textual Criticism" called the "Sopherim". Their purpose was to rewrite the Word of God, and teach is as their traditions, to replace the teaching of the Massorah of the Levitical priesthood. This is why they sought to kill Jesus from the day of the start of his ministry, Jesus knew the difference. Notice also that they are of the house of Rechab, of the lineage of Cain, not of the house of Israel, they came from the land of Hemath, of the location of the Kenites. I Chronicles 2:55 gives us the time that the Kenites took over the duties of the scribes, or keeping safe the true meaning of God's Word, and because of this we have a Massorah Text. Whereby if anything is added to, or taken away from God's Word, it would stand out. These Kenites dominated the priestly duties of the Levites also, when the Jews came out of Babylon. This is quite obvious by Ezra's writing, in Ezra 2:43-65. It is this band of Kenites that sat in the seat of Moses, that Jesus referred to constantly through His ministry in the Gospels. The nature of the Kenites is exactly as their father Satan is, thus when you understand how Satan infiltrates, and uses and twists the Word of God to deceive and confuse, you can see how these people will infiltrate your church, and lead you into their father's camp. We are told in Mark 13:11 that when you go against them, they will cause you to give an answer why you will not follow them. There is a reason you are not to think ahead at this time of what you will say, but to let the Holy Spirit to speak through you. That is because these people are wordsmiths, they know how to take words you say and twist meanings to accommodate themselves. Satan and his kids know the Word of God, and be assured that they have been in a position to distort it for thousands of years. Don't make plans to fight the Antichrist, for you will lose. Instead, study to prepare yourself to know about him, and what he will do. He will do exactly what God will give him authority to do, and nothing more. When we keep our eyes on Jesus Christ and know we will not see Him in this flesh body each of us have, then the hardest step is out of the way. For whoever claims to be Christ, simply cannot be, for you will see Him in your flesh body. We see also in Mark 13:11, the total time of tribulation for the saints and faithful is for ten [10] days. To those who hold fast to the Lord for those ten days, God's reward to His elect [those that know the truth and remain true to Christ] is "the crown of Life", that is eternal life. This earth age is about over, and our minds should be set, and looking to the day of our Lord's return. The only two that are assured of losing their lives in the Antichrist's tribulation are the two witnesses. Their death marks the last three and an half days of this earth age. Then Christ will return. This is recorded in Revelation 11 and we will study it in detail. Remember that the Church at Smyrna is still on earth when all this takes place. No so-called "rapture" has occurred; However, all those who are looking for the rapture will have already served the Antichrist, and taken his name and his number. Revelation 2:11 "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death." Here we see that beautiful saying again. Those in the church of Ephesus, except for the overcomers, are going to have their church [candlestick] smashed; However, those in the Church of Smyrna are getting ready to receive the "crown of life", eternal life. Those who receive this reward will not see the second death, the death of the soul. Revelation 2:12 "And to the angel of the church in Per'-ga-mos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;" "Per'-ga-mos" is the type of another church existing in these latter days; compare it now to your Church. The reference to the "sharp sword with two edges", is because Jesus Christ is preparing to do some cutting on some dead wood. A pruning is going to take place. He is going to discipline the Pergamos church. Revelation 2:13 "I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Sa'-tan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein An'-ti-pas was my faithful martyr [my witness, my faithful one], who was slain among you where Sa'-tan dwelleth." The Pergamos Church is a very high-minded church. This church had a special high authoritative person they called "savior" [not Christ], and this church believed that you had to go through him, and please him to be saved and approach the Heavenly Father. The symbol of this "savior" was the serpent. This is because of his identification being related back to Ancient Babylonian worship. He was a follower of the serpent [satan], even though the things he did and said appeared to be good. Pergamos still carries the true name of Christ, with a strong faith. The time is fixed for us when this church claims to be Christ, but takes an identification with the "seat of Satan". "Antipas" in the Greek, is "Anti-father", or "Antichrist" in the spiritual sense. We are observing this Church of Pergamos in John's vision that takes place "on the Lord's day". This is looking back on the final days of this earth age. As we will see in Revelation 12:7, Satan is now in heaven as our accuser, until the time when Michael casts him, and his fallen angels to the earth. The actual time of "Antipas" or Satan's coming is set in Revelation 9:1, when the fifth angel sounds the fifth trumpet. These events will be covered in detail in those chapters. Satan is God's servant, just as Nebuchadnezzar was God's servant in Ancient Babylon. The seat of Satan will be in Jerusalem, and that is where he will dwell. Satan, the Antichrist, will dwell and live in Jerusalem, just as you expect the True Christ to come and reign. That is why we are told in Matthew 24, and Mark 13, that when you see him there, you had better get out of Judea [the nation of Israel today]. Revelation 2:14 "But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the dactrine of Ba'-laam, who taught Ba'-lic to cast a stumbling block before the children of Is'-ra-el, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication." God has something against this Church at Pergamos, and all the churches like it. What is "Balaam", and just what is the "fornication" that they are involved with? We are talking about religious activities, and spiritual matters here. This "fornication" is a spiritual act. "Balaam" was a teacher who taught for money. He was so stupid that he couldn't hear when God talked directly to him. In fact he didn't even realize the difference when the *** he was riding spoke to him. This old boy still can't catch on, because all he can think of is preaching, and collecting his money for that teaching. Where and how does money come into your church with respect to the Word of God? Is their a constant plea for money? When sermons are built around money, and programs are created for the purpose of generating, then ultimately they are building your spiritual relationship to what you give [they get]. Then your church is comparable to the Church at Pergamos. Your preacher becomes a spiritual beggar at the pulpit. The tithe is the Lord's, but the purpose of the church, and it's pastor, is to teach the Word of God. A pledge is not a tithe, because the tithe is a tenth of what God has placed in your hands that belongs to Him. When your pastor takes your full tenth, are you getting the full Word of God, or just spiritual crumbs from him?. Scraps from the table of the Lord does not prepare anyone to stand against the "wiles of the devil". Revelation 2:15 "So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nic-o-la-i'-tanes, which thing I hate [in like manner]." If you can't understand the importance of knowing the Kenites, you will worship Baal, and be subject to their salesmanship, as they peddle their distortions of God's Word. These Nicolaitanes are the same ones that plagued the church of Ephesus. There are very few churches today who teach as the Church at Smyrna taught. Revelation 2:16 "Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth." If you have money as the center of your life, and place it over the study of God's Word; Jesus is telling you to repent. Revelation 2:17 "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden man'-na, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knowth saving he that receiveth it." "Manna" is angel food for the spiritual body, it is what God fed the children of Israel while they were in the wilderness. The "manna" of today is the spiritual truth within the Word of God that feeds your spiritual body and mind. The "white stone" is a stone of victory, it is given to God's elect who are the overcomers. They overcame the deceit of the Antichrist, and the Kenites. If you have an ear to hear, you will understand what the spirit is trying to teach you. This instruction is given for us by Jesus, with John doing the writing. Christ spoke in parables while on earth, so that many, including the Kenites, would not understand. Then Jesus gave the keys to understanding them to His disciples so His teaching would not be a mystery to them. After Jesus spoke in parables, His disciples asked him why He spoke in parables. Matthew 13:11 "He answered and said unto them, "Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given." Matthew 13:12 "For whosoever hath, to him shall it be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath." Matthew 13:13 "Therefore speak I to them in parable: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand." Their is a reason for their not understanding, God did not want them to understand for a purpose. These Kenite people are the negative part of the entire plan of God, and it was for their own protection. Matthew 13:14 "And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Exaias, which saith, `By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:" Matthew 13:15 "For this people's heart [mind] is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them." Just as the Key was the understanding that Satan had sexual relations with Eve, and bore the son Cain [not of Adam]. Cain's offspring [children] have plagued God's children throughout this entire earth age. They are not Jews, or for the tribe of Judah, but have taken over, and assumed the duties of the priests and the scribes. These are the hidden ones who do the dirty work, killed the prophets and Christ, and they will call themselves by whatever name suits their mission. They lie, deceive and confuse wherever they are. When the Jews came out of Babylon over half of all those returning to Jerusalem to build the temple and reestablish worship, over half of their number were the Nethinims [those given to service], but not of the Levitical priesthood. Ezra 8:15 "And I gathered them together to the river that runneth to Ahava; and there abode we in tents three days: and I viewed the People, and the priests, and found there none of the sons of Levi." Here over four hundred years before Christ, and the Levitical priesthood had been taken over by these Kenite Nethinims, for Ezra found not one of the sons of Levi were present with them returning to Jerusalem. Today these Kenites control the four hidden dynasties [will be discussed later], and those dynasties are education, economy [commerce, trade and banking], religion, and politics. These people are the final authority in the "New World Order", [the United Nations], with it's 10 major world controlling agencies. Our national leaders have sold you and America to them, so you see we are now into the fourth seal and most Christians don't even know it. This will be discussed later in this book in detail. The sons of Satan through Cain, are identified in Strong's Greek Dictionary, #7014, "Qayin, kah'-yin; Kajin, the name of the first child, also a place in Palestine, and of an oriental tribe, Cain, Kenite." Today these Kenites are setting up the one world system, changing doctrine within churches, confusing the truth of God's Word through their well placed "higher critics", and laying the platform for your acceptance of their father, Satan, to be your God. When a Kenite comes to the saving knowledge of Christ and repents, they are no longer a Kenite, but a son of the Living God, Jesus Christ. The word "stone" in verse 17 is #5586 In Strong's Greek dictionary. It means; "a pebble worn smooth in counting." This is also part of Revelation 13, where we are told "to count the number of the beast." That number of the beast is the number of man. The word "count" is not like counting numbers 1, 2, 3, and so on; but comes from an outdated Greek word "Stigma". In the Greek, Strong's #5585, "Psephizo, psay-fid-zo; from 5586; to use pebbles in enumeration, to compute, to count". Strong's #5586, "Psephos, psay'-fos; a pebble [as worn smooth in handling],i.e., to use as a counter or ballot, a verdict of acquittal or ticket of admission; by vote-stone". The Kenites use their skills in controlling the majority, in determining right or wrong, who is in power, and the bases of their world system through the United Nations. This is exactly how we are going to lose national sovereignty, and be brought under control of this satanic system, at the ballot box, by the polls, and through the Demotrcratic process of the numbering of the people. In the "Song of Moses" , in Deuteronomy 32:30-31 it is clear that Satan is presented as a "rock", or stone. To the overcomers that are aware that; "this rock is not like our Rock", where most Christians do not know the difference between the two rocks. The Church of Pergamos did not know the difference. Though in the English the words "stone", and "count" are far apart, however in the Greek they were not. They have the same prime root meaning. So by giving the number 666, that number has the same root meaning as counting and identifying stones, or rocks. The whole idea of taking a number, like the branding on ones body of a tattoo and have it commit you to Satan is out-right ignorance. For by force, anyone can be branded, and as such, not one child of God loses his or salvation. This will be discussed in detail in a later chapter. Jesus is telling John that the Key to being acceptable to Him, is when you are able to know the difference between the two rocks; the true Rock being Christ, and the fake rock is the Antichrist. We are to be able to count those pebbles [666], and know those fakes [the Kenites]. The Kenites will deceive you if you lack the "hidden manna", the truths in God's Word. Revelation 2:18 "And unto the angel of the church in Thy-a-ti'-ra write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine [burnished] brass;" Jesus is introducing John now to the "Church in "Thy-a-ti'-ra". Revelation 2:19 "I know thy works, and charity [love], and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works, and the last to be more than the first." This sounds like a good group of people, only their works are a lot stronger then their charity. God is commending them for their works. The problem here is also that at Thyatira is ignorant of who the Kenites are. Their works do not cover up their lack of knowledge of God's Word. Revelation 2:20 "Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jez'-e-bel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols." This is not the "Jezebel" of the Old Testament, but it is the one taking hold of most churches today. This "Jezebel" is the Harlot of Revelation 17. It is the people, churches and system that will whore after the Antichrist. This Jezebel church, "calleth herself a prophetess" [not a harlot], and tries to answer all your spiritual problems, as she drags you into her whoredoms. Friend, the Church of Thyatira will teach you all sorts of things that sound good, and just like a whore, she will work over your emotions. She will seduce you into all forms of heathen customs and religious practices and acts of fornication and idolatry. This fits many churches in America and around the world today. With their works of love, charity, service, patience, and faith; they are totally unprotected against the spiritual war Satan is placing upon them. They are allowing themselves to be herded into Satan's camp. The true bride of Christ in no way will allow herself to be compromised as this Church of Thyatira and these kinds of churches are. The bride of Christ knows her husband [Christ] and looks forward to His return. Revelation 2:21 "And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not." Thyatira doesn't repent because she has sold herself to emotion, and false doctrine. The "Kenites" have convinced her that she is going to fly away before the destruction comes. Revelation 2:22 "Behold, I will cast her into bed, and them that commit adultery with her unto great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds." This is the tribulation of the Antichrist. The tribulation of the Antichrist is the only subject of Matthew 24, Mark, 13, and Luke 21. They are the most detailed prophecies concerning the time prior to the return of Christ, and our gathering back to Him. You, as an individual can be an overcomer, regardless of what your local church body does. This great falling away that will happen just prior to our Lord's return is called the great "Apostacy". This is because when the Antichrist arrives on earth, many Christians will believe that the Antichrist is the true Christ, and will follow and worship the Antichrist in ignorance. At that moment, they have been "seduced" by him. Revelation 2:23 "And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works." Once you have bound yourself over to the Antichrist, God's grace by faith is not extended to you. Matthew 24:19 and Mark 13:17 gives us this warning; "But woe to them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days." "Suck" is a term used here, "to give your works". This is to nurture along the works of the Antichrist. Once you have done that, your in trouble with our Heavenly Father. Revelation 2:24 "But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thy-a-ti'-ra, as many as have not this doctrine [teaching], and which have not known the depths [deep things] of Sa'-tan, as they speak, I will put upon you none other burden." This is addressed to those who have not taken part in the Antichrist's deception. It is to those who are within the Church of Thyatira, or one like it, but have not joined in her Jezebel practice. These saints are not, and will not be judged with the others, nor held accountable for the actions of them. Jesus Christ will see that you are protected against all fiery darts of deception in Satan's spiritual warfare, if you only arm yourself with the spiritual armor. This is an individual thing, because the Church simply can not save anyone, for through Jesus Christ we are cleansed of our sins. Revelation 2:25 "But that which ye have already hold fast till I come." Revelation 2:26 "And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power [authority] over the nations:" Notice here that it does NOT say, keep my faith to the end. It says, "Keep my works to the end". It is quite common to hear, "All you need is to have faith". Friend, that will not be sufficient in these latter days, while Satan is on earth ruling as the Antichrist. "Faith" is of value to us in this end generation, for by faith we generate our actions into studying God's Word, and gain understanding and wisdom from the Scriptures, which in turn builds our confidence in Jesus Christ. The more wisdom we have from the Scriptures, the more passion we have to work and serve God. You simply cannot have faith, without a commitment to serve Jesus Christ. Revelation 2:27 "And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father." The word "rule" is better translated in the Greek, "Shepherd". The Shepherd looks out for his sheep, and the "rod of Iron" is a scepter of iron. If your Church is similar to this Church of Thyatira, consider it as " a bowl made of potter", with Christ taking His rod of iron and smashing it to pieces. It won't have a chance on the "the day of the Lord", at His return. All the instructions that Jesus Christ carries out on that day comes directly from the Heavenly Father. All judgments of God are given in love. Our Heavenly Father doesn't like it when these shepherds prophecy that God said something, when it isn't written in his book. Their false words are lies, and they are Jezebel liar prophets. He hates it, see verse 15. Revelation 2:28 "And I will give him the morning star." There are two morning stars, and the first star to come in these end days will be the Antichrist. Isaiah 14:12; "How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lu-ci-fer [day star], Thy son of the morning! How art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!" How many teachers have been tricked into believing this is Christ? Once God has sealed His "elect" and the 144,000 in their minds, the rest of mankind will be given over to Satan, the morning star. see Revelation 9:1-5. Revelation 2:29 "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches." Do you have an ear to hear what Christ is saying to the Churches? Where does your church stand for and teach? The Shepherds Chapel

THE EPISTLE OF PAUL THE APOSTLE TO THE COLOSSIANS Chapter 1 "Paul's Solicitude, Paul's Concern." The book of Colossians has a marked resemblance to the book of Ephesians, for both give a great deal of doctrine. We will see Paul's insistence upon the reality of our union with Christ, as having died and risen again in Him and the necessity for "Holding fast the Head". Paul's teaching in Colossians is that if we are alive in Christ we are dead to the flesh, and all the ritual that comes with the world. Dead people just don't need ceremonialism. Of course this is speaking in a spiritual sense, and Paul is trying to explain the law in relationship to Christ's ministry. We will see the role of Savior that Christ played, whereby in his death, Christ became those things that were fulfilled of the law. This is not saying that the rituals themselves were bad, but they were types, whereby we could understand the real thing when it is here. When our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ walked on the earth He was fulfilling those things of the law, and not necessarily doing away of the law. What we are going to be addressing are the ordinances and ceremonies that are no longer in effect, because the blood of Christ and His death and resurrection fulfilled the obligations of doing them. It now is to the point, that to deal in the ceremonies that Christ did away with, is blasphemous. However today when they do their ceremonies, they are done in ignorance. When you accept Jesus Christ as your Savior through repentance by faith in His blood, you need to get into the Word and understand the difference between the law, statutes, rituals, and ceremonies under the law. Today most people like to lump all of the law into one unit, and that just will not due. The law itself was not changed, but the ordinances and statutes that deal with ritual, and the ceremonies of blood sacrifices were fulfilled in the blood of Jesus Christ. Colossians 1:1 "Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother," Paul did not volunteer to be an apostle of Jesus Christ, for at the time he was killing people for being Christians. Paul was on the road to Damascus, and his free will was to enslave Christians and kill them. It was by the will, or plan of God that caused Paul to be an apostle. Before Paul was converted he was zealous for the old law, and after his conversion he put forth the save degree of zeal for the preaching for Christ. Timotheus is the Greek form of Timothy, who was a convert of Paul's. Colossians 1:2 "To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." This is the salutation to the "saints" are the set aside ones, that are called the elect which are at Colosse. Colossians 1:3 "We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you," Paul had started many churches in his ministry, and he looked upon each church as his spiritual children. He loved and prayed for each of these churches. Colossians 1:4 "Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints," Love is the most powerful thing in the world, for it needs no protection. True love is always faithful and loyal to those it is directed toward. Colossians 1:5 "For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;" In other words, you have been that way since you first heard the Word preached, and the rewards that are laid up in heaven for you. To many, when they first here the Word of God preached it's an emotional trip, and a few days later they are cold to the Word. This was not so with the Colossians. The reason that the falling away comes, is that what they hear the second time is not necessary the same gospel that was preached the first time. The first hearing of the gospel is exciting, when you hear the freedom that you have in Christ; and when that person goes back to get the details, they usually are fed all sorts of traditions and side trip stories that have nothing to do with the gospel of Christ, and this trash by these one verse Pastors become repugnant to them. At first they think they are free from the bonds of this world, only to find that some preacher now wants to place them under the restrictions of the law. No wonder they turn from it. This is why when a person first accepts the Lord, there is a hunger that can only be filled by the Word of God, as it should be taught chapter by chapter and verse by verse. It should be explained exactly what each verse means. Colossians 1:6 "Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and know the grace of God in truth:" When the Word of God is taught throughout all the world it brings forth fruit. People will be saved when they hear of the freedom that we have in Christ. It should be taught exactly as Christ taught it, line by line and verse by verse. This is where the "parable of the leaven" comes in. When you take a little truth of the Word of God, and put it into a crowd of many people, that little amount of God's Word will spread throughout the entire group. It will leaven the whole lump. When people hear of God love, His grace and unmerited favor, they will respond. Colossians 1:7 "As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ;" Epaphras helped found and now teaches in that church at Colosse. Colossians 1:8 "Who also declared unto us your love in the spirit." Once a church gets into the deep meaning and study of God's Word, it always produces love in the Spirit. People become concerned for each other, and the entire plan of God that lets you know that in Christ all men and women are your brothers and sisters. Some times that love has to get a little tough, when discipline is required to bring a unruly brother back into the fellowship of the church. If you truly love that person, you know that you will have to correct that fallen brother before fellowship can be restored. We are to correct our enemies as well as our brother in the Lord, and sometimes just a word or two can correct the brother, where as it may take a war to correct a heathen nation that tries to defile one of God's Christian nations. Colossians 1:9 "For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;" We are to desire to be filled the knowledge of God's Will, and that Will is God's plan that we call the Scriptures, from cover to cover. Within that plan tells us why we are here in this earth age of the flesh, and what our purpose is in life. God has a reason for putting you in that flesh body, during this age in time. Within that knowledge and wisdom of His Word is the understanding of all three earth ages, of which we are in the second age. This second age of the flesh is now coming to a close. All wisdom and understanding that you acquire comes from God, and is revealed by the Holy Spirit. Spiritual understanding means that you not only understand the flesh body and its need and wants, but that you understand the existence of your very soul and spirit that lives within your flesh body. When you are converted and transformed into a believer, you can see the side of your nature that is spiritual which is unseen, that you did not see before. The Holy Spirit will open your eyes to that spiritual side. However we are to be cautious of any minister or teacher that would say, "all you have to do is believe and have faith." They then would tell you that parts of the Scriptures are not to be understood by the Christian. This is especially done with reference to the Book of Revelation, and parts of the Old Testament. They show their ignorance when the very books they want to exclude are the books that prepare you for the coming of the "instead of Christ" who is Satan playing the role of "the Antichrist". The very word "Revelation" is to "reveal" or make known the mysteries of the close of this earth age of the flesh. The entire word of God is God's plan for you and I to read and know. It is the wisdom that the Spirit of God revealed to all those that believe, and by faith live in these flesh bodies. Colossians 1:10 "That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;" Without that understanding and wisdom that comes from God's Word, and revealed by His Spirit, you will not be able to walk worthy, pleasing the Lord. Anyone that says that He is a Christian and does no work for God is worthless. If you say that you are a Christian, then your reason for existence should be the working for the eternal kingdom of Jesus Christ. The only thing of this flesh age that matters in that kingdom is your works, and when there is no works for our Lord, what in the world do you think your rewards will be for? When we see others in trouble and in pain over the loss of a loved one, we are to tell them where the dead are, that is part of doing work for the Father. Any time you clarify the truth from God's Word to anyone, you are doing the work for our Lord. Friend, your works are your reward. Your works are the only thing that you can take with you. Revelation 14:13 "And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, "Write, 'Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.' " Every time you read God's Word, you will gain more knowledge from that book then when you read it before. Colossians 1:11 "Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;" The power of God will strengthen you, and while we are living in the flesh we will need that strength. Without the knowledge of God's Word, and even with it at times, it is very difficult to be patient with joy. Always know and understand that God has a plan and you fit into that plan. When you try to force God's plan to move ahead of God's schedule you could find yourself in trouble. We are to let God be in control, while we fulfill our purpose which is to serve Him. Let's use the time and opportunities that He gives us to work for Him in witnessing and service, and allow the Holy Spirit of God do His work through each of us. We should find joy knowing that more souls are being saved every day He has allowed us to continue in His work. Colossians 1:12 "Giving thanks unto the Father, Which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:" All good things come from God, even the air you breathe. Don't ever forget to give thanks to Him for all your blessings. When you come to the saving knowledge of Christ, it is God that made you fit ["meet"] to come to the understanding of the truth. You could only become partakers of God's inheritance after God has made those changes within your soul. Many people have lived a very wicked life, and then in the latter years of their life, their gilt will not allow themselves to turn it all over to the Lord. When a person sees the wickedness in his live, and by faith in Jesus Christ repents to the Father in Jesus name; by the Blood of Christ, that person is forgiven of all, every last sin that he has committed. Now, it is by faith in Christ that you can go on with a clear conscience, and know that those sins are completely forgiven before the heavenly Father. However he will lose, if he allows the devil and his realm to keep throwing those sins back in his face, without rebuking them for it. That is the victory and freedom that we have in Christ, and part of our inheritance in the kingdom of God. We all know that the flesh is not worthy of any part of the kingdom of God, but within your flesh is a beautiful soul that was created by God, and made fit to take part in the inheritance. Friend, our heavenly Father owns everything, and when you repent, you are a partaker in that inheritance of God. If you will participate, have faith, and not worry, and do His work, He will add all things unto you. This is part of your inheritance, and you can have it today. Only our heavenly Father know the real glory that awaits each of His children. The awards will not be all equal in heaven, for what you wear, and your responsibility are determined on your righteous acts while in the flesh. Revelation 19 deals with this in detail. When Christ forgives you, you become fit, and he doesn't want to hear about those forgiven sins any more. If you truly believe, and have faith, you know that they no longer exist. Colossians 1:13 "Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son;" The power of darkness is Satan, and when we by faith believe in Jesus Christ, and repent of our sins, we are removed from the darkness, and placed in His kingdom. It is the seducing or carrying away of your soul and spirit to be changed from within our being. To be translated does not require another to intercede on your behalf, but the change takes place instantly where ever you are at the time you come to the faith and saving knowledge and repentance in Jesus name. The thing that takes place within you is real, and it is not necessary for it to be a public demonstration. God can change you when ever He pleases. Colossians 1:14 "In Whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins:" "Redemption" means to reclaim something that belong to you. When you repent for you sins in the name of Jesus, you are saying that you have the faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and you accept that for the covering or forgiveness for all your sins. God then reaches down and reclaims you as one of His sons, and heirs to His kingdom. Some people don't know what dangerous water they tread upon, when they repent of a sin, and remain on their gilt trip. When you are in the flesh you will fall short from time to time, and when you fall short and repent, that sin is forgiven, so forget it and thank the Lord for His love and care. Jesus Christ's blood is able to bring about the redemption, and wash away that sin and forgive it, and it just doesn't exist anymore. However you use that sin as an experience to remember not to do it again. But when you bring that sin up again and commit gilt to yourself once you have repented, you are saying in your own mind that Christ's blood is not able to forgive sin, and you are denouncing the very faith you claim to have. You then are like a old dog going back to dig up an old dirty filthy bone, and gnawing on it over and over. Remember back in Hebrews 6:4 - 6? It is blasphemy against God. Hebrews 6:4 "For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost," Hebrews 6:5 "And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come." Hebrews 6:6 "If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put Him to an open shame." When Christ saves, there is no such thing as being "resaved", when you sin after being saved, you have to repent. Christ is able to do the saving, and He does it only one time, and when you sin again you repent in Jesus' name and you are back in good standing before the Father, if you truly repented. Don't blame yourself as far as old sins are concerned, for Christ is able to forgive, and blot them out and you become perfect before God. It is a direct insult to God for you to hang on to any sin and carry the gilt of that sin after you have repented. Colossians 1:15 "Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:" This is saying that Christ existed before God ever created any creature. Christ existed in the exact image of the invisible God, which means that when we have seen the Son, we have seen the Father. Why? He is the Father. He is playing that office as Savior when He came in that first advent as the sacrificial Lamb. That is the part that He played in His overall Plan. Jesus said in John 10:30, "I and My Father are one." Colossians 1:16 "For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him:" By the Son were all things created, and through His Spirit. That includes everything; it includes everything visible and invisible. Did you get that? every thing was created by God for one purpose, to give God pleasure. How long has it been since you have given God any pleasure because that is what you were created for? One of the greatest ways to displeasure God is to follow the traditions of men that make void the Word of God, instead of following the entire plan of God concerning His plan of Salvation. This verse of Colossians is backed up in Revelation 4, and here we see John describing God's throne as he saw it in heaven. Revelation 4:1 "After this I looked, and behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me, which said, "Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter." This door is not on earth where the seven churches of Revelation 2 and 3 are, but in heaven. And it was John who was on the isle of Patmos having this vision, that was carried into heaven and through that door. Most churches today now teach that it was the church that went through the door, and this is their reason for accepting their evil rapture doctrine, which gives them the illusion that somehow they will escape the time of the Antichrist, which Jesus has pointedly said they will go through, if they are living on the earth during the final generation. This event happened "on the Day of the Lord" as we are told in Revelation 1:10; and that day is the final day of this flesh age. It is not referring to a Saturday or Sunday, but the day is when the sounding of the seventh and final trumpet, after all the other trumpets and seals have happened, including the one world reign of the Antichrist, who is Satan. There is no church in this verse going anywhere. There is only John being transported in the spirit from his place in the isle of Patmos, through that heavenly gate to stand before the very throne of God. Revelation 4:2 "And immediately I was in the Spirit: and behold, a throne was set in heaven, and One sat on the throne." This is John that is in the spirit, standing and looking upon our Heavenly Father who is sitting upon this throne. Revelation 4:3 "And He That sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald." God's throne is described here in Revelation 4, how his glory was as that prism or rainbow of colors that were all around the throne. The jasper stone and the sardine stone are the last and the first stones that are on the breast plate of the priest. John sees the last stones first because it will be the last to pass through this earth age, that are to be the first to see with their eyes these events transpire. Whereby they can see and understand our Father's will and wish. Anytime light shines through a prism you can see a rainbow of many colors. The rainbow is the description of the radiance of the Glory of God. This is brought out in Revelation 10:1 when the rainbow is worn as a crown of glory by Jesus Christ on His return to earth at the seventh trumpet. It represents the full glory and full pattern of the Godhead. Now to see the worthiness of our Lord Jesus Christ lets go to the last verse in Revelation 4. Revelation 4:11 "Thou art worthy, O lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created." This is what these voices of the four beasts, and the twenty four elders in heaven before the throne of God were saying. They recognized that all glory is of God, and belongs to Him. Our God is the God of the Universe, for it is through the power and authority of God that it was all created. My friend, the only reason that you were created and even exist is for the sole pleasure of God. Today the Devil and his Kenites have so twisted the minds of people that they now thing that their self is the sole purpose of their existence, and "I" is the the focus of their entire thought. When Satan fell in that first earth age one third of all of God's Children sinned and followed Satan. They became separated from God, and we can see how much God loved his children when we understand His plan. God loved His creation man so much that He gave His own Son to redeem His children from their sins. When God created you, He created you for one purpose, to give Him pleasure. You give God pleasure by telling Him you love him, just as you would love and respect your earthly father. He is a type of our heavenly father, our true parent. You give God pleasure by loving Him and assisting in His plan. Those that do not love Him will perish, and God doesn't want that to happen. Jesus Christ is our "kinsman redeemer", and kinsman means relation. When you become a Christian, you become a kinsman in a family sense to Christ, and part of his family. Kinsman Redeemer is a legal term that means the nearest of kin can speak on your behalf when something happens to you. He is also the one that pays your bills to free up the legal obligation of your estate. In this case, sin is the debt and death is your obligation or price to be paid. Christ has paid that debt on the cross with His own blood, and He claimed you as His kinsman. The authority for Christ to act as your kinsman redeemer is that your name is written in the Lamb's book of life, which is His record of His family. This is done when you do it His way. Colossians 1:17 "And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist." Friend, you and I owe God everything we have, for without Him you wouldn't even exist. Colossians 1:18 "And he is the Head of the body, the church: Who is the beginning, the Firstborn from the dead; that in all things He might have the preeminence." God is the boss, the Lord Jesus Christ is the head of the body of Christ which includes every soul that calls themselves a Christian, and by faith has repented of their sins. Christ under the Father, is a head of the church. Jesus Christ was the first one that overcame the death of these flesh bodies, and He is the only one over the body of Christ. He paid the price and to Him is all the glory and honor and praise that we can give. As far as the flesh is concerned, Christ was dead and in the tomb, and the first born in the flesh. He was the first perfect person that lived in the flesh, and He became the sacrificial Lamb for one and all times. Paul writes in another letter about the dead in another book [letter], and from this they have created their rapture doctrine, only this has nothing to do with the living. I Thessalonians 4:13 "But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope." "Them which are asleep" is talking about those that have died in their flesh bodies. This has nothing to do with the living, but Paul is answering the Christians as to were their loved ones are, when the pass away, and are buried in the ground. "Those that have no hope" are the heathen that believe that there is no soul to man; that is why there is great sorrow when their loved ones die. Paul is saying don't you be like those heathen, for you do have hope. I Thessalonians 4:14 "For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him." Do you believe that Jesus died and rose again? If you don't believe that, I don't know why you would ever call yourself a Christian. Why will Jesus bring those that have died back with Him? Because at death of the flesh body they have gone instantly to be with the Father that created that soul. This is recorded in Ecclesiastes 12:7 "Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God Who gave it." God is a God of the living, not of the dead. When the flesh goes back to the dust elements that it is made of, your soul goes back instantly to our Heavenly Father. Your flesh body will go back to the minerals, and elements from the plants and soil that sustains it from what you eat. Within that physical body is a beautiful spiritual body that returns instantly before the throne of God. Each of those souls that believe this are coming again with Jesus Christ at the appointed time. It is in that spiritual body that those that have died will return with Him. I Thessalonians 4:15 "For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord, shall not prevent them which are asleep. This is not man speaking, but by the Word of God. It doesn't take too much intelligence to figure out that if someone died, and his soul went instantly to be with the Father, those living in the flesh simply cannot prevent that soul from returning before they go to the Father. The dead physically are already there with Him in their spiritual bodies. We just read where it is written in Ecclesiastes 12:7, To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. I Thessalonians 4:16 "For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:" This is the last day of the flesh age, and the sounding of the seventh and last trumpet when Christ returns, and as we saw above, all those souls that have died in their flesh bodies, and returned to the Lord are now returning with him for the Millennium kingdom. I Thessalonians 4:17 "Then we which are alive, and remain, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." Paul discusses in I Corinthians 15:50-54 that at that moment of the sounding of the last trumpet, all flesh bodies will be discarded, and we will be changed instantly to our new incorruptible bodies, saint and sinner alike. When this change comes we will all be in our new breath of life body, our bodies that we will live in for the thousand year Millennium age, where there will be no death or sickness. Colossians 1:19 "For it pleased the Father that in Him should all fulness dwell;" It pleased the Father that the total of the complete Godhead was in Jesus Christ. The Father turned it over to His Son. He allowed that office of the Godhead to handle that in as much as the name Jesus translated back to the Hebrew, means "God's Savior". It includes both positions. After being the only one in the flesh that was perfect, He was dale to defeat sin itself, when repentance is bought in faith by those that believe upon Him. The totality of the Divine Godhead was placed in Jesus. Colossians 1:20 "And, having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself; by Him, I say whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven." It is by the blood of Jesus Christ that all those that have repented are reconciled, or brought back from the position of sin caused by Satan's overthrow. Christ reconciled us from our sins of both that first earth age, as well as this age of the flesh, when we repent. Remember that there was four thousand years that man lived on the earth in the flesh before Jesus came to die on the cross. There were many souls that lived and died during that period of time that were not under the dispensation of grace that we enjoy in our lifetime. Each of those souls lived under the law, whereby when they broke one, they broke them all. Yes, you could get a priest to pray and sacrifice for you, but even the priest himself had to sacrifice for his sins. Our Heavenly Father is fair in all things. As soon as Christ died on the cross, He made this salvation available, both on earth and in heaven. I Peter 3:18 "For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the Just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: Christ made one sacrifice for all times, He was the Just and we are the unjust. Christ suffered and was put to death in the flesh only, but He was made alive by the Holy Spirit. I Peter 3:19 "By which also He went and preached unto the spirits in prison," Human beings are not spirits, but your spirit is the intellect of your soul. Jesus went back to preach to all those spirits that had once lived in the flesh body, and had died in the flesh. I Peter 3:20 "Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water." These souls just did not make it, they were sinful in their ignorance. Jesus preached to these many souls that lived all the way back to the beginning of this flesh age. Lets skip on to I Peter 4:5. I Peter 4:5 "Who shall give account to Him That is ready to judge the quick and the dead." This is referring to those in the spiritual bodies, and the judging is of the living [quick] and the dead [spiritually dead]. I Peter 4:6 "For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit." The gospel was also preached to those that are dead, flesh dead, and this happened when Jesus was crucified and in the tomb. Those souls were in that place of waiting for the time when that judgment will take place. God is giving those souls that were flesh dead the same opportunity as those that were alive after Christ paid the price on the cross, that are living in the flesh and can repent and have forgiveness by their faith. "But live according to God in the spirit" means that they are living according to God's plan, they are in paradise and waiting for judgment. Any time you don't grasp a part of God's plan, and God seems unfair, you just don't understand that part of the Word of God. The problem is with your understanding, not with God, for God is always fair. Colossians 1:21 "And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath He reconciled" You were alienated and enemies of God by your sin and wicked works became reconciled by Him when you by faith repented and believed on Him. The qualifications for salvation are given in John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." You must believe on Jesus Christ in order to receive salvation and be reconciled back to God. In the manuscripts the word "everlasting" is "eternal", meaning there is no skip in the life of the soul, from the day that it was created back in the first earth age to the far stretches of eternity future. We are to follow the examples set forth by Christ, such as baptism and so on, but the main qualifier is that you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of the Almighty God and that He died for your sins. You must accept that by faith, and act upon that in your life. Colossians 1:22 "In the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreprovable in His sight:" It is Christ that will present you to the Father as one of His, completely forgiven of all your sins and wickedness. Christ's perfection, through the death of His flesh, will take all sin from you, and leave you perfect in the sight of the Heavenly Father. Colossians 1:23 "If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven, whereof I Paul am made a minister;" Don't let some preacher of other doctrine pull you away from what is written in God's Word. The condition on being saved is to continue in the faith in Jesus Christ. Faith is the substance your hope, which is the deed to your inheritance into the kingdom of God. It gives you a deed in hand of all the promises that God has made to you, as written down in His Word. That deed is as real as the deed that you hold on your home that you live in. Colossians 1:24 "Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for His body's sake, which is the church." Paul was beaten, stoned, whipped many times and even brought to the point of death for the sake of preaching of the gospel. Paul is stating that he is taking those beatings joyfully for it is for the sake of the body of Christ, and the saving of souls. Colossians 1:25 "Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;" God was called to be a minister by Jesus Christ Himself, and given a mission to preach the entire Word of God. Paul preached even to the mysteries that are know by so few Christians even today. Paul was a preacher to both the Gentile, the kings, and to the house of Israel, those ten tribes that were scattered by the Assyrians 722 B.C., and scattered over the face of the earth today. The word "dispensation" is the "stewardship" that we have when we are serving Him. Colossians 1:26 "Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to His saints," The mystery that Paul revealed was directed to all of God's saints, those elect that are sealed with the word of God. Many will see the salvation of Jesus Christ, but they are blind to the mystery that Paul reveals to the elect. That mystery is deep, but yet quite simple, it is all tied up in love. One third of God's children fell away from Him in that first earth age, and rather then kill one third of His children, God destroyed that first earth age, instead. Because of His love for His children. Today most people just don't want to take the time for our Heavenly Father, and back then that was probably the save thought that was given to God. So rather then destroying the soul of his children then, He created this earth age of the flesh; that each of those souls would be born of woman, and that is why He made women. All souls come from God, but each soul must pass through this earth age one time, and one time only in the flesh. Each soul would be born innocent, with the ability to love and choose, whether it would be of God, or of Satan and his ways. The choice is yours for it is an individual thing, for no one can control your choice in the matter. God will not interfere with that process, for love is one thing that must come from within the individual. God will reveal to you what He desires of you, but you must make up your mind as to which way you will go. Your love for God is the only thing that you can give to Him that matters, for without your love anything you offer to Him is unacceptable. Revelation 4:6 tells us of four creatures [beasts] that were created to sit around the throne of God, and they were full of knowledge and understanding, but they did not have the opportunity of making a choice. The position was to sit at the throne and praise god continually. These creatures are called "zoon" in the Greek, while in Ezekiel 1:5-14 these same creatures are called the "zoa" in the Hebrew. These creatures do not have the right to choose anything, for they were created to do a certain service for God, and they will never receive any inheritance like you and I will receive as sons and daughters of the living God. You have the right to choose to be in God's family as a joint heir with Christ in His kingdom. That choice comes from the spirit or the intellect of your soul to love God, and it must come from within you, and you alone. It cannot be forced or it is not real love. Our Fathers mystery is the simplicity of this plan of salvation that he offers to each of His created children, when they will love Him. II Peter 3:9 "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." God's will, or wish will not be force on anyone, but those that do not make the choice to follow Him will perish in the lake of fire after the day of judgment. Colossians 1:27 "To whom God would make know what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:" Christ in you through the Holy Spirit is our hope in Glory. Colossians 1:28 "Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:" Friend, in Christ is the only way that you can become perfect and that is when you repent of your sins and have the forgiveness that comes only from God. Colossians 1:29 "Whereunto I also labour, striving according to His working, which worketh in me mightily." Though Paul was on the road to Damascus to bind Christians, when that light of Jesus Christ hit Paul and magnified within him, Paul was change to a new working of labor. Through the touching of the Holy Spirit of God, Paul became a minister for God, and wrote much of the New Testament that we get our guidance today. Paul knew the pain that we would suffer, for he was beaten and stoned for his teaching of the gospel, yet he knew the joy that it would bring in the end. Paul knew how it worked both ways, for before his conversion he was the one giving the stripes, and throwing the rocks. Then as he went forth preaching the word, he knew what striving it would take in doing the work for our Lord and savior, Jesus Christ. The Shepherds Chapel

Ephesians 6 "Your Spiritual Armor" This is a doctrinal chapter, which teaches us how to live and react in our community; in our homes, and at our work place. This is the spiritual dress, or armor that prepares us to face any and all spiritual battles we will face. Ephesians 6:1 "Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right." Their is also the right of the child to question their parents, for this is part of the learning process that takes their minds to maturity. Though the child may question mom and dad, the final authority is the parent's decision. Take the time to listen and understand them, then they will want to obey you. "In the Lord" is important, for the motivation of response comes from within the child, and through training and teaching biblical principles at the earliest ages, the desire to obey will become part of their conscience. Then throughout their entire life that childhood instruction will give them something to stand upon. This also forms trust and love between the child and the parent. Ephesians 6:2 "Honor thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise)," This is the "first commandment" directed to the child. When the parents are in an depraved condition, as a Christian we can be more generous and patient; for many times the parent may need help and treatment. If we cannot give the help needed to our parent, the best thing to do is to seek help for them. This chapter is directed to the Christian, and is part of a Christian's spiritual armor. As we saw in Chapter 5, our obedience to the Lord is as part of the many membered body of Christ. This position compels us to honor all of the Lord's commandments. All family members must be willing to keep the entire family focused on God's word. To honor your parents includes the desire to help them. Ephesinas 6:3 "That they may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth." When the family follows the principles of our Lord, from the Bible, there is a lot less stress and problems for all family members, both physically and mentally. There should be peace in your home, for it is your refuse place away from the world. It is the place of healing, and love in the home is part of the healing process. Ephesians 6:4 "And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." "The nurture and admonition" is teaching the child to use simple common sense, and this must be applied to the child with discipline and love for the Lord. This gives them the foundation to reason out an alternate course for when the times get hard in their lives. When the times get tough; both the child, and the family should be flexible enough to overcome the stressful times, by switching to an alternate plan. When there is a dead-lock between the child and the parent, where neither will give in; that is where the love and discipline "in the Lord", will prepare both the child and the parent to accept an alternate plan in the later years. The child's final authority must be the parents decision; However, in the child's adulthood, common sense will then allow a decision based upon Christian principles. The parameters, or boundaries for discernment of right and wrong; good or bad, and and other choices, are set by the training in God's word, and as such become the conscience of the child. Teach your children in the ways of the Lord, and explain why it is important for them to learn these principles. Ephesians 6:5 "Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;" Obedience given with "fear and trembling" is given with commitment and trust to your employer. It is given in the manner that Jesus Christ gave while on earth. For through you, they see the body of Christ on earth. When you speak, your words can be trusted, and in public, your actions must reflect a good light on both the employer, and the service he gives. This is just good common sense. We are a slave to Christ, and we are also committed to our employer. This commitment requires productivity that makes us valuable to him, and not a drain to his business. Do the work you enjoy, and be committed to that work. Ephesians 6:6 "Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;" When we serve our employer in the duties of our job, we should have the same singleness of mind to please him as we do in pleasing our Lord. For where ever we are, and what ever position we are in, as a member of the body of Christ, we are to reflect Jesus Christ in us. When the heart is right, our mind and attitudes will also be right. Then through our words and actions on the job, we can be a productive worker. This verse is aimed at the Christian worker in the workplace. Remember, the purpose is to please Christ; and in striving to live the principles in His word, this will please our boss also. Ephesians 6:7 "With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:" We should always take pride in what we do, and not become sloppy in our work habits. Get in the right frame of mind, and well focused on what we are doing. Strive continually for perfection. As we do our work for our Lord, God can control and change the mind of our employer, to make the workplace better for each of the workers. God will intercede for you when you but try. When the going gets tough and too hard, then it is time to reevaluate what you are doing. Is it time to make some changes in your mind and attitudes. Ephesians 6:8 "Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free." To God, it dosen't make any difference what position you are in; bond or free, boss or employee, but what is important is how you do what you do, and the manner you do it in. Our rewards in our eternal life do reflect our service to Christ in this life. Our purpose and duty is to serve God in the place we are in, and in the manner we are instructed to, through the word of God [the Bible]. Our wages in this life are measured in dollars, but in the next life, they are given in position and status [service] to be used by the Almighty Father himself. Ephesians 6:9 "And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with Him." God doesn't care if you are on the top or even owner of the business; for when you claim to be part of the body of Christ, a Christian, then the same principles that apply to the worker, apply to you also. To the degree you judge and treat your workers, that also is how God looks upon you. You are an equal slave to Christ, as the lowest Christian worker working for you. The commitments are the same to Christ, as is that of your workers. Your representation of Christ in your life before the world, and in the workplace, should be in the same manner. The preparation of your mind and attitudes toward others, and your position, are also in like manner as every other Christian working for you. You are all part of the same body of Christ, and each Christian is filling the particular position that God feels you can handle. However, we will all be accountable to God, and before Him for the way we represented Him, and for our actions done in this earth age. Discipline sets the line in family, and the workplace, and it governs how well each of your employees will get along with each other, and also the commitment they will have towards you and the business. Make that line open for two way conversation, yet certain parts cannot be crossed. Ephesians 6:10 "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might." Natural instinct is the using of common sense. We must allow our own natural instincts and common sense to override that which is false. When we arm ourselves in the word of God, we should grow up to have the strength and power to set the direction or our own lives. We should be able to know truth from false teaching, false doctrine, and false information. To "be strong in the Lord", means to be sure in your mind of the Lord. Our strength in the Lord comes from the things we can do in the authority of Jesus Christ's name. God's might is where all our power comes from. God cares, and gives those who call on His name the strength needed to see us through any difficulty. Ephesians 6:11 "Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." Luke 11:22; "But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils." Jesus is telling us that before we put on our armor to go into battle against the enemy [satan], we are to scout out the enemy to see the strength of his [satan's] forces. How many troupes he has, what he is armed with, and what he intends to use against us. Then we can come back and take an inventory of our strength, to see how well we will be able to stand against him. When there are overwhelming odds against us, we are to send an ambassador to talk peace; for this pulling of a delay will buy time for us. We are in the end times and in a fierce spiritual battle. Have you scouted the enemy? Do you know who the enemy is, and who his forces are made up from? It is Satan, his evil spirits, and his offspring on the earth, the "Kenites". God is giving these evil forces authority to exercise, and bring about the fulfillment of His plan for these latter days. Shortly, Michael will cast Satan out of heaven [Revelation 12:7], and he will be on the earth in person ruling as the Antichrist. When the spirit of Antichrist rules, God will also give His elect the Spirit and power of the Holy Spirit; which will have power to subdue all evil spirits. In Luke 10:18, Jesus said; "We have the power over all our enemies", and Satan is our enemy. Now is the time that we had better be preparing ourselves; to know what is going to transpire, and what we must have to use against Satan, and all his forces. We must know him and all his names; the Antichrist, the serpent, the king of Tyre, the devil, and all of his other names, which will alert us to his actions. The "wiles of the devil" refers to the lies, tricks, and deceitfulness he and his offspring [the Kenites] may use to bring down Christians. The "whole armour" is all the protection necessary to stand against those lies and deception. Your entire body has to be protected against Satan, or he will out wit you, and you will not stand. The point is, that you put on the "whole armour", all of it, to stand against Satan, the Antichrist. Ephesians 6:12 "For we wrestle not against flesh ad blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." This battle we are going to fight against is not "flesh and blood", it is not people you see and hear, but it is against hidden and deceitful spiritual powers. Satan is the prince of darkness, and spiritually he controls the minds and actions of not only rulers of this earth, but all evil spirits in the heavenlies. These are the angelic beings in a fallen state. Are you prepared mentally to do battle with Them? This battle is not with guns and swords, but with words and doctrines; with concepts and ideas, and these are the "fiery darts" that Satan will conduct his warfare against you with. Daniel 8:23 will give us a view of what this ruler of darkness is like. "And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up." This king in the "latter time" is Satan, the Antichrist; he is the "king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences". In the Hebrew text it means that Satan is "skilled in dissimulation" of the truth of God's word. Satan knows all of God's word, and as such, he is the father of lies and deception. He will twist and turn the truth a little here and a little there, to make it an outright lie. Satan is the Antichrist on earth, and we must never forget it. Daniel 8:24 "And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power; and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practice, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy People." He will take away so much of Christianity, and cause so much deception through false doctrines [such as the rapture doctrine] that all those without their full [whole] armor on, will be deceived. He comes "in" [to this earth] with the promise of peace and prosperity; with false hopes and a promise to fulfill your every wish, if you will but follow him. Daniel 8:25 "And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand." Satan's "policy" is the way he fights, which is his method of operation. The "craft to prosper in his hand", refers to his ability that God will give him to do many miracles and wonders. Revelation 13 tells us how he will use this deceit to trick the whole world, except for God's elect, those with the seal of God {knowledge} in their minds. "He shall magnify himself in his heart", is covered in II Thessalonians 2:4; "Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the Temple of God, shewing [calling] himself that he is God." This is the "Abomination of desolation [by the desolator]" spoken of in Daniel 9:27, and by Jesus in Matthew 24:15. "By peace" is Satan's secret weapon, for peace is the most powerful weapon used against God's people in this final generation. It is dismantling the mind of the Christian church and disarming our nation today. In the end Satan will be "broken without hand", because it will be by the tow edged sword which comes from the mouth of Jesus Christ. The same sword that spoke and worlds were formed, and the stars were put in their places. However, we must not underestimate Satan's power to deceive, and his miracles, and cries for peace, peace, peace. Europe has moved to unity, and by treaty, and the Americas are also brought together. But the binding force for the world politically is the United Nations, with it's many dominating agencies. World peace is at the door step, and with it comes the sounding of the "fifth trumpet of Revelation 9:1. At the fall of this world political system, comes the rise of a world religious order, which will cause the world nations to bow to the coming ruler, the Antichrist. Even the Christian world will bow to this religious leader, the Antichrist, as their Messiah. One worldism is so close, that it could become fact at any time. Ephesians 6:13 "Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God that ye may be able to with stand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand." We will stand against Satan, and all his forces. The "evil day" is just before the Lord's return, and on that day we had better be prepared to stand and face Satan, with our full armor on. Ephesians 6:14 "Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;" Your "girt" is your belt. That is what holds up your pants, and our spiritual "belt" is the truth of God's word; all of it. Like the belt, it also holds you together, and keeps you from going flying off in all directions. If you know what to expect you will not stray off into Satan's camp in ignorance. Our "breastplate of righteousness" is our justification, or authority for everything we say or do. That is the Word of God. It will protect you, but only if you are able to think for yourself, and the wisdom to direct our thinking can only come from God. Without that truth in your mind, you are spiritually naked, and defenseless against any spiritual battle. The world today is Biblically illiterate. Ephesians 6:15 "And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;" This is the kind of shoes that we all must have on. There is only one true peace, and that comes from Jesus Christ. The "gospel of peace" is the "good news of God's full plan". Your feet are used to walk with and get you around, while the shoes are for the protection of your feet. So we had better have the "gospel armor" on so when we move in these final days, we know exactly where to walk, and what to expect. There are no secrets for these days, as to how Satan's forces will move; for it is all written in God's Word [our Bible]. When we see the signs of the end times that are upon us, we had better understand what Satan will do; and then know what we had better do about it. Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 13 all tell us in detail what we are to do in that day. These are all part of our spiritual shoes, that will guide our feet to where they ought to take us. Ephesians 6:16 "Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked." Paul is telling us that this is the most important armor; "above all". When we put on our "shield of faith" we can quench [or snuff out] all of Satan's fiery darts. There is absolutely nothing Satan can send against you mentally, if you are filled with the seal of the living God. God even went far beyond that when He gave to Satan the keys of authority for his tribulation rule. God said in Revelation 9:4 "And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thin, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads." That seal of God is the Scriptures; all of it, and it had better be stored in your mind [that's your "forehead"]. The "shield" is our faith, or the certain knowledge that we know that when Satan comes against us, we will automatically be given the moves we are to take to shield ourselves form him. Whatever comes our way will be snuffed out today, tomorrow, and right into Christ's Millennium age. Your faith is not only your belief, but your acting on that belief; which is sustained by your confidence that God will perform that what He said He will do. All things will come to pass exactly as He said it would in His Word. Ephesians 6:17 "And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:" The "sword of the spirit" is the "Word of God". Revelation 1:16 tells us that the sword is a two edged sword that destroys all of Satan's lies and deceptions. It is the Word of God, from the mouth of God, and written for us in the Bible. Our head is the most vulnerable part of our body; Therefore our salvation had better be secure and sure in our mind. Our "salvation" is the most sure thing we can have, for it is Christ that does the saving, and it comes through our belief in Jesus Christ, and His work on the cross: His death and resurrection. All this was done by Him to pay the price for each and every sin that we have done. However, those sins are only forgiven by Him through our repentance to God, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Then our sins are all blotted out from the view of the Father, and we are accepted into His family. We become the sons [daughters] of God, and joint heirs with Christ in God's kingdom. Ephesians 6:18 "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints," Make sure that it is your spirit that is guiding your prayer, and not your flesh. Look out for each other, and keep other Christians warm in the Spirit. Make intercessory prayers for each other, and give support and backing to your Christian Brethren. Ask God for all the tools to fight your spiritual battles, and He will even lay on your heart and mind the burden for your Christian brethren. Ephesians 6:19 "And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel," The "mystery of the gospel" was stated in Ephesians 1:4. "I chose you before the foundations of this world", that was the "overthrow of Satan" in the first earth age. If you proved yourself worthy then, you will prove yourself worthy in this earth age. Romans 8 documents this and gives us a second witness to this, as to how you were chosen, or predestined. The sword is very powerful, and can even divide the soul from the spirit. The spirit is the intellect in which the souls thinks. The word of God in our minds will allow us to speak boldly of God's word, for then we need not run from anyone. Not only will the word keep your soul body in line, but it will also straighten out your flesh body. It will show you how you are to control you flesh. Ephesians 6:20 "For which I am an ambassador in bonds; that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak." Paul is speaking, and commanding that you and I should speak the truths of God's Word, that we be direct and forthright. That we be bold in what we say and speak with authority. We can do that when we have the whole armor on. Your faith will allow you to speak boldly, and with confidence. Ephesians 6:21 "But that ye also may know my affairs, and how I do, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things:" Paul is telling the Ephesians that "Tychicus" is coming to Ephesis, and he will explain this letter in detail to them. Ephesians 6:22 "Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that ye might know our affairs, and that he might comfort your hearts." When we understand the word of God, and prepare our minds and hearts to be servants of Christ, it is very comforting. Ephesians 6:23 "Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." Ephesians 6:24 "Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen." The Shepherds Chapel

Ephesians 5 "The family Unit; Christ and His Bride, the Church." God knows our likes and dislikes, and He knows what makes our body function, because He created it. God's word then is the instruction manual for those interested in knowing all parts of how to maintain it, and keep it functioning. When we study the Scriptures we gain the wisdom to keep ourselves functioning at our best, both physically and mentally; for the only true wisdom is of God. Ephesians 5:1 "Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;" We are to be imitators [followers] of God. in the last chapter, God told us to mature in the word, as Christians. The word "perfect" in the Greek [verse 4:13] is "mature"; to be complete and fully grown as an adult. Here in this verse we are to be children, with respect to God our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ. Though we be adults in maturity, we are to be as children before our Lord. Thus, as children we become imitators of our Father, giving Him our respect and obedience, and the love that is binding between the child and his [her] Father. Little children will believe whatever the Father states, and it's faith in the Father is 100 percent. Ephesians 5:2 "And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour." "Love" is a binding force that keeps us going in both good and bad times. Remember back in verse 3:17, "That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith, that ye be rooted and grounded in love." That means at the core root of your being and nature you are grounded in love. Love is the soil in which your soul is rooted. Your love is the "sweet-smelling" offerings and sacrifices; and with out your love, He will not accept any of your offerings and sacrifices. When you demonstrate your love for Him, He will give His blessings to you. It is automatic, and from it we do have peace of mind. Ephesians 5:3 "But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;" Ephesians 5:4 "Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks." We can't allow ourselves to be drawn into the place where these things can be even associated with us. This doesn't mean that we become an old stuffed shirt; but rather all that we say and do should reflect our love for Christ. This word "jesting" is better translated from the Greek text "vulgar" [ribaldry, in the Greek]. We can find humor in many things, only vulgarity is not one of them. When we are happy and in a peace of mind, we should have a sense of humor. Ephesians 5:5 "For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God." There is no room in Christ's kingdom for anyone that worships and idol, or someone other then God. The "whoremonger" is so tied up in lustful things, that these sins are all he can think about day and night. He lives for it; and yet, through repentance, and belief in Jesus Christ, even this person can be saved, and brought into the kingdom of God God will gladly forgive, when we have a repentive heart. Our "inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God" is the position we will have as joint-heirs with Jesus Christ in God's eternal kingdom. Ephesians 5:6 "Let no man deceive you with vain words; for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience." "Vain words" are "empty words", or words with no value to them. Remember in Ephesians 2:2 who these "Children of disobedience" are? "Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world [this flesh age], according to the prince of the power of the air [satan, the spirit [satan's spirit] that now worketh in the children of disobedience." These sons are in the Greek text "huios", a son or male having reference to physical origin and nature, including that of a relationship to his father. "They", are the progeny of their father Satan, by birth. "They" are called "Kenites" and are named after their father "Cain", who came through the sexual union between Satan [the serpent] and Eve in the "garden of Eden", as recorded in Genesis 3:, and also referred to by Paul in II Corinthians 11:3, "But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ". To understand the "beguiling of Eve" by Satan [the serpent], let's go to Strong's Greek numbered dictionary # 1818. # 1818, "Exapatao; from 1537 and 538; to seduce wholly:-beguiled, deceive. Then in # 1537 of Strong's numbered Greek dictionary; "Ek; or ex; a prime prep, denoting origin (the point whence motion or action proceeds, from out of, or the cause of.) Then in # 538, "Aparche, is the act to cheat, or delude." So we see what happened in the "Garden of Eden" was the sex act between mother Eve, being wholly seduced sexually by the serpent Satan. To find out the result we go to Genesis 4:, and in that chapter, we see at totally different set of generations that we have from Adams in either Genesis 5, or Luke 3:23-38. However, we can see how Satan deceives by the naming of all the offspring generations similar to that of Seths, the true on of Adam. Abel was murdered without offspring, by his twin brother "Cain". Now to identify the origin to the "Kenites", as being that of the offspring of father "Cain", we must go to Strong's Hebrew numbered Dictionary, # 7014, and 7017. In #7014; "Quyin, Kah-yin; the same as 7013; Kajin, the name of the first child, also of a place in Pal., and of an Oriental tribe:-Cain, Kenite (s)." Then in # 7017 we read; "Qeyniy, Kay-nee; or Qiyniy (1 Chronicles 2:55), Kee-nee, patron. from #7014; a Kenite or member of the tribe of Kajin:-Kenite." These "Kenites" are the "children of disobedience", and we will always have these kenites around, for they are part of God's plan for this age. When we stray from God, by any means, even in our watching of TV, these Kenites will fill that void, and try to lead us into disobedience against our Heavenly Father. They will set our minds to their standards created by their father, Satan, and encourage you on as you walk with them. It is time to wake up. These "children of disobedience" have grown close in their love of religion, and through religion they will lead and deceive the entire world very shortly. They understand that through their twisting and perverted interpretations, these Kenites are making the entire Christian world ready to accept their father [the Antichrist] as the true Messiah. In ignorance of God's word it will come to pass. Know this: Christianity is not a religion [religious form], it is a reality. Be careful when you are around these "children of disobedience." Ephesians 5:7 "Be not ye therefore partakers with them." We are compelled to stay away from them; and come out from amongst them. As a Christian you are to seek out those with like understanding and faith that you have; and act the way that Paul, through Jesus Christ, has instructed us to act, in serving our Heavenly Father. We are to try to please God in all that we do, and our friends should be like-minded. Ephesians 5:8 "For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light," Christ is our light, and as we follow His ways, we reflect His light to the world. We do make a difference in this wicked world, as we become that candle of Christ's hope, standing in the darkness of this wicked world. Even a single candle will break the darkness of an entire room. God"s Word is the truth, and no darkness [wickedness] can stand before it. Our eyes mirror our souls, and when our soul is filled with God's love, and His Word, you will make a difference. This verse eight is directed to the "Children of light". Ephesians 5:9 "(For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)" In the original text, "spirit" is given as "light". We are the "children of light", for we are not "in" the light, but by being in Christ and in God's Spirit, we are the light. That light is in our souls and spirits, and as such, any "light" given off will, or should produce fruit by the light from within us. That fruit is formed in us as we continue to study and mature in God's holy Word. Ephesians 5:10 "Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord:" Ephesians 5:11 "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them." Paul is repeating here what he said in Romans 12:1; "I Beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable [spiritual] service." We are to prove ourselves to be an acceptable service unto God. To be "acceptable" in the Greek text is "euarestos", and it means to be "well pleasing". Paul repeats this over in many other verses, such as in Philippians 4:18, Colossians 3:20, Titus 2:9, Hebrews 13:21, and so on. If you claim to be Jesus Christ's, then it is your duty to be pleasing to Him, and we can only do that by following His Word. When we reprove a brother in the Lord, by having "no fellowship" with him, it is to be in love and for the correction of the wayward "unfruitful" brother. This is not a pleasant thing to do, but it must be done to establish a firm standard, which comes from God's Word. Ephesians 5:12 "For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret." Who are "them"? They are the "children of disobedience". What they do in secret, those offspring of "Cain" [Kenites], is the work of their father Satan. The word "secret", or "kruphe" in the Greek text, is to "hide within", and to conceal their outward activity. In this final generation we know their activity is preparing the way for the acceptance of Satan, the Antichrist [their father]. The time of Satan's arrival is coming very soon, and then he will reign over the one world religious system, which will arise out of their one world political system. The only way this agenda of theirs is going forth is through secrecy, and their total control of their four hidden dynasties. Those dynasties are economics [commerce, banking, industry and so on], education, politics and religion. Much of the Kenite's work today deals with the tearing apart of the moral fiber of the schools, homes, community, and even in the Christian churches. This is accomplished through hidden methods, while the Christians sleep in their prosperity, and contentment. Ephesians 5:13 "But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light." Through the Scriptures, the Bible, all prophecy can be made known. Their secrets and Satanic dealings are all written before they occur, and as we become aware of what their mission is; then their goals that they set to achieve will not become traps for us. They can only do what God allows them to do, and God has written in His word exactly what they will do. Their secrets are only secret to those outside of God's holy Word. All truth brings an end to lies, and through the light of understanding, we have the "hope" of Jesus Christ. We know through God's Word what tomorrow will bring, as well as the end of this earth age, and throughout eternity. Ephesians 5:14 "Wherefore He saith, "Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light." "Awake thou that sleepest" is referring to those that are spiritually dead. Christ is telling those that are spiritually dead, to come out of their sins and spiritual wickedness. There is only one way that they can come out of the darkness, and that is by hearing the "Word of God". When we participate in any form of getting the word out; and in the conversion of souls, then God has a special reward for each of us. The "light" is the understanding given to us from the Scriptures [bible], and it leads the sinner to repentance, and gives the Christian spiritual growth. Ephesians 5:15 "See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise," All wisdom, or common sense, comes from our Heavenly Father. It governs our thought and actions, which allows us to become wiser than the serpent. The more we study our Bibles, the easier our life's path becomes. Ephesians 5:16 "Redeeming the time, because the days are evil." Our duty is to make every day and each hour of each day count for the Lord. We are to be careful with our time, and use it to lead others to Christ. We do that by the way we live our lives, and the spiritual words of encouragement that we give to others. Satan will use our idle time for his use, if we are not on guard. We should always take time to share God's word with others; but of equal importance, we should study to be prepared to give the right answers to their questions. If you don't know the answer to their question, take the time to look up the facts in your Bible, or in one of the tools of the Bible [like the concordance, and numbered Hebrew and Greek dictionaries], and on that authority your words will be trusted. Ephesians 5:17 "Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is." The "will" of our Heavenly Father is His natural plan. That plan is written in our Bibles, as well as everything that God has done. He has told us in advance, and revealed all the mysteries of all ages through the revelations He has given to His Prophets and Apostles. If we but study His word, then the wisdom of the ages, written in that Word, will be passed on to us. Even Jesus Christ's suffering on the cross should have been no surprise to anyone, for every detail of that event is recorded in Psalm 22, and Isaiah 53, as well as many other passages. God's Word always comes to pass exactly as it is written. That word is written to you. Ephesians 5:18 "And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the spirit;" When you drink any alcohol in excess, it leaves your mind's door open to the acceptance of all sorts of spirits, which are not of God. When we have Christ in and with us, the Holy Spirit is also within us, and when we saturate our souls with God's Spirit, the temptation of drunkenness will be gone. As we study God's Word, His Spirit will reveal His will to our understanding. God's will is His plan, and there are rules for those who desire to stay within God's plan, or "will" for their lives. Those who exist in an drunken state of mind make a mockery of God's will, for they allow satanic spirits to take control of their mind, soul and mouth. Ephesians 5:19 "Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;" This is the direction we need to take to stay in God's Spirit, and be useful to both God and ourselves. Singing and praising God can only pick up our minds and souls. This keeps us in a very healthy state of mind. We are suppose to be happy. The "Psalm" [Psalmos in the Greek] is to give spiritual uplift, while spiritual songs [Pneumatikos] are songs of praise and thanksgiving. Ephesians 5:20 "Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;" We give thanks to the Father, because He is in control; and from Him all blessings that we have are given. Don't snub the Father. "In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ"; is the only way we can ever approach the Heavenly Father. Ephesians 5:21 "Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God." We are to submit ourselves in reverence to our Heavenly Father. To submit is to become part of the body of Christ, and as a member of that body, we subject our will to the fulfilling of God's will. This means to be reasonable in our submitting to each other for the promotion of the Gospel. Our reasoning comes from our common sense, which is where our discernment of all matters comes from. When we are able to discern between the spirits, that discernment comes only because the spirit of our soul is given over to God's Holy Spirit. It is from this that each Christian gives "reverence" [fear] to God. Ephesians 5:22 "Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord." From verse twenty two, we enter into an analogy, and this analogy sets a marriage, to help us relate to Christ and His Church. This analogy sets the same relationship, rules, and submission between Christ and His bride [the Church], as that of the husband and his wife. Don't use this verse to pick on your husband or wife, but rather to draw yourself closer together, and to the Lord. This will give us a better understanding of our Lord's feeling toward us, and the commitment He gives to us, and that we are to give back to Him. Ephesians 5:23 "For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the Head of the church: and He is the Saviour of the body." Remember in verse 3:15 where it said; "of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named." The "wives" or bride of Christ includes the "whole family" of God, both those alive in their physical bodies, and those that have passed on to be with the Lord. One of the greatest blessings God could give a Christian, is a Christian mate. The caring husband, and the tenderness of his loving wife is the binding force Paul is using to show us the bond that Christ has for His bride, the Church. When the wife submits to the husband she is to give reasonable support to him. Here we have the analogy again between the positions within the marriage of husband and wife, and Christ and His Church [His bride]. Have you ever presented a stumbling block in the path of your husband or wife that would drive him or her away from Christ? We see that Jesus Christ, without one complaint, allowed Himself to be crucified for the salvation of His bride, you and I in His Church. This is the most complete commitment anyone can make for their mate, and it demonstrates in full how the Christian husband's responsibility to his wife should be, as he fulfills his role as head of his wife. Ephesians 5:24 "Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing." "In everything" in the Greek text means a full commitment. For two people [Christians] to be called mates, they must be fully committed. The difference in functional responsibilities between the husband and wife, does not apply and inequality of spiritual status. The Spiritual status of the woman in the end times will be of equal importance to the man, and this is because the circumcision of this age of grace is of the heart [Romans 3:30-31]. Man and Woman, Jew and Gentile; we are part of the bride of Christ through our justification [circumcision] by faith in Jesus Christ. That grace is given equally to a man or woman, and in these final days of this earth age, both will be delivered up to give account of themselves. and as they speak, it will not be them speaking, but rather the Holy Spirit putting the words in their mouths, and speaking through them [Mark 13:11]. We see in Joel 2:28; "And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and daughters shall prophecy...". In these end times both men and women have the power of the gifts of God. Women are not excluded from spiritual gifts. So we can realize the mutual binding relationship between Christ and His whole Church, men and women alike, and that of the husband to his wife. Ephesians 5:25 "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it;" There can be no greater love, then to lay down your life for another. Ephesians 5:26 "That He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word," This is another analogy; "washing it with the Word". This is not referring to baptism, for this is the washing of your mind with "the Word of God". The Word of God will cleanse you and bring you under God's wisdom, and thus will convict men and women alike of their sin. As you stay in Christ and the Scriptures, you wash your soul daily as that instruction leads us into repentance. Ephesians 5:27 "That He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish." Upon repentance you become spotless and without blemish. That is why Jesus Christ paid the price; so all of our sins would be placed on Him, and our souls would become holy and without blemish. At Christ's return at the last trumpet, many will be found "with child" [Matthew 24:19], which is also an analogy of an unfaithful bride to her future husband. Those people with child, will be part of the Antichrist's bride, and they will be taken out of season. This is why we are to be "washed in the Word", so we will know the times, and the seasons; as well as the events surrounding the coming of the Antichrist [at the fifth trumpet]. We can know the difference between the two trumpets [the fifth and the seventh] and we will not be deceived. We will see how important our spiritual armor of God is in the next chapter; and the "water" [words] of God that are washing over us and preparing us to stand against Satan's fiery spiritual darts [attacks]. Ephesians 5:28 "So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself." Ephesians 5:29 "For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:" This is a beautiful relationship, the love affair between a Christian man and his wife. That close knit bond nourishes and grows into a unit of one. This is exactly how Jesus Christ feels toward His bride, the Church, for He so loved us that He willingly submitted Himself to the shame and suffering of the cross. It is time to "wash" our family in the word and prepare them with the discernment of God's Word. Ephesians 5:30 "For we are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones." This oneness form into a single body. Ephesians 5:31 "For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh." Ephesians 5:32 "This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church." The idea of this being a mystery, is only a mystery to those who haven't understood that this chapter is about Christ's relationship to His Church. Just as sure as a man will love and protect his wife, and even his own body; Our Lord Jesus Christ will love and protect His bride. Christ will protect you, for you are part of that body of Christ, called the Church. This is not a blind hope, but it is reality. Christ's love and caring for you is as close as any man or woman who cares for their spouse. Ephesians 5:33 "Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence he husband." "Reverence" means to "endear" to love. The word used in the Greek text is "pheobo", and as it is used here, it means to "love". The Shepherds Chapel

Ephesians 4 "Exhortation to Unity" Ephesians 4:1 "I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called," What is your "vocation"? "Vocation" in the Greek text means, "your calling". That activity that has been selected just for you. Though the world considers vocation something that each individual makes for himself (herself), when you become a Christian, of the Lord Jesus Christ, we become bound, as a prisoner, to do the will of the one that bound us. This refers back to the "secret" given in the third chapter. Paul is saying, because of the great love that God grace me, and my love for Him, I am a prisoner. I am captured, and can only do what God's will directs for my life. Everyone on this earth has a vocation, or God would not have brought them here. God gives gifts to each of us and that is to fulfill our vocation, or "calling", to the job He would have us do. God's gifts are given according to your ability to use them, and according to our faith in Him, to follow up and develop these gifts. When a person uses those gifts for the Lord, then God's gifts allow that person to exceed far beyond what they thought they could do. To some people, they have told themselves they don't have the capacity to do certain things; They have set their own limits, but when Jesus Christ touches them, they spring to life. It is a wonderful then to be captured by the "Love of God". Ephesians 4:2 "With all lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering, forbearing one another in love;" We should use our gifts, to the glory of God, in all "lowliness", which is in "humility of mind". The gifts are not ours, for we are prisoners to Jesus Christ, and as such, they belong to Him. We use those gifts in meekness, not in a swaying mind, but as one using his power of authority in boldness. We do all this, bearing with the other saints; working together as a body unit, and all of us being grounded and rooted in the "Love of God" that called us. Ephesians 4:3 "Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." "Endeavoring" in the Greek test, means "to keep studying", and not give up; being joined together through our spirit that is being bonded with God's Spirit, "the Holy Spirit". It is only when this bond takes place that we that we can have true peace of mind. Ephesians 4:4 "There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;" As we saw in verse 1:4, we are called to a deeper level of service, and this is because of what happened in the first earth age. However, In Christ, we are all called into a body with many parts to that body. Paul also talks of this unity of one in Romans 12:4-5. We are all part of this one spirit that has the hope within each of us, when we are in Jesus Christ. That "hope" is our salvation, our eternal life, and in that hope comes our responsibility and commitment to use the gifts God gave us, to do that service for Him, in the place or state that He has put us in. Ephesians 4:5 "One Lord, one faith, one baptism," The Church doesn't baptize you, the "Holy Spirit of God " baptizes you. It is the joining of your spirit with God's Holy Spirit. If the only reason you get baptized is to join a Church, then you are baptized for the wrong reason. When you falter as a Christian, then you need to repent of those sins, and you will immediately be back in the fellowship with the Heavenly Father. Our repentance is always given in Jesus Christ's name, for Jesus paid the full price on the cross for the remission of those sins. Then when you are brought back from that sinful condition, you do not need to be re-baptized again. For baptism is necessary only once. However, "repentance" is a daily process, for our sin nature of the flesh body will continually cause us to fall short of God's will. We are baptized into the belief that Jesus was born of a virgin: That He lived a perfect life; that He was crucified; buried, and on the third day came out of that tomb alive. Our baptism is because Jesus Christ overcame death, and that He ascended into Heaven, where He now sits as our defender before the very Throne of God. This is the "gospel of Jesus Christ", it is the "good news" that is our mission to declare, and when your are baptized, you are making a profession of faith, or commitment to both God and man that you agree with this statement. This confession is only done once. Our "faith" then is in God's whole word, and promises. Ephesians 4:6 "One God and Father of all, Who is above all, and through all, and in you all." This is the one thing we should never forget, for God made everything, including you; He controls everything, and nothing happens without God's consent Ephesians 4:7 "But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ." You should never have a problem with another person's gift, for if you have the faith to know we are all of the same body of Christ, then you should take pleasure in the fact that he is using that gift to the glory of God, and to the body you belong to. Envy just doesn't belong here, for it is not of God, nor of the body of Christ. Our prayer and support to that brother is what is needed, on his (her) behalf. When he (she) is using the gift to fulfill that part of the body (of Christ) that Christ has need of. It is possible that you have the same gift; but whatever gifts God gives to you, you are responsible for the way that you use your gifts. When you use that gift, then develop it, and bring it to completion for the glory of God. "The measure of the gift" is the ability you have to use that gift, and they do vary for each person. It is God that determines what we can or cannot handle, but we are to try and give it our best effort. When any man sets a standard or measure of what all must reach, is not of God, but of the devil. It is in, and through God's wonderful grace that we receive these abilities [gifts] and they are placed within each person, because God [in His infinite wisdom] knows the limits of you and I, and each Christian. Be comfortable with what ever gifts you have, and never play "one-ups-man-ship" with God's gifts. All gifts are given for edifying the body of Christ. Ephesians 4:8 "Wherefore He saith, "When He ascended up on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men." This is a quotation from Psalm 68:18. The psalmist was more complete then that, though. Psalm 68:18; "Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for [among] the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell among them." Gifts were not given for the individual, but for all men (and women). Ephesians 4:9 "(Now that He ascended, what is it but that He also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?" Christ has gone back to the Heavenly Father, but first He descended in humility to those in the grave; to those that were without hope, and brought them out with Him. Ephesians 4:10 "He That descended is the same also That ascended up far above all heavens, that He might fill all things.)" When Jesus Christ descended to help those souls in the grave, then ascended with them to the Father; He "fill all things", or fulfilled all things [prophesied] written by the prophets. When we are "born again", as stated in John's gospel, we are "born from above", as stated in the Greek text. It is our soul that came from above, that entered into the embryo within our mother's womb, and that soul is what is born again. That birth is an eternal birth, with a new life. However, this old flesh body will continue to age and decay, for it's life is limited in time, and is bound to corruption [decay of aging]. The fight and conflict we all have is between the flesh body, and the living soul body, and it is our spirit that controls both of these bodies. When our spirit is led by the Holy Spirit, we are in fellowship with God; However, when our spirit is acting on its own, then this flesh body wins out, and we sin. Once we repent, then our spirit yields to the will of God's spirit, those sins are forgiven, and we are brought back into God's fellowship. What a beautiful plan of God! Ephesians 4:11 "And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;" Each of these gifts are for a specific purpose. The "evangelist" gives a more stirring message to jar the sinner into repentance; while the "pastor" is to nourish the flock, and give strength and guidance for their daily lives. The "teacher" is to present the very application [or meaning] in the terms the Christian can understand. In many cases the pastors are the teachers. The problem today is that many of the pastors-teachers are ignorant of God's Word, and the flock is not fed with the proper nourishment of God's Word; they are starving sheep. Ephesians 4:12 "For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:" The goal for each Christian, regardless of where God has placed you, and what the gifts are that He has given you, is that they are all given for the perfecting of the saints, and the edifying of the body [believers] of Christ. Ephesians 4:13 "Till we all come in the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:" The word "perfect" here is referred to in the Greek text as "completeness". It is when one is being fully grown into a mature Christian. You will not be perfect as Christ, but by studying and receiving nourishment from His Word, you will mature as a Christian. When the full body of Christ matures in their knowledge and understanding of God's Word, their faith will bind them into unity. Then acting as a single body [unit], the fullness, or in the Greek, "pleroma" [completeness] of what Jesus Christ's work, and His victory over death, can be given to others. If our purpose of ministry is in anything other than the preaching, and lifting up of Christ, then it is in vain. The Word of God, His knowledge matures us, and without His Word, we stay spiritual babies. Ephesians 4:14 "That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;" "Tossed to and fro" means that you listen to to many different teachers, each teaching something different. You get into a state of mind where you don't know what to believe, for their words are not God's Words. They do not come from the Scriptures, nor have the authority of God. Their teachings are man's traditions. Most of the church world today molds their doctrines, and teaching to fit their personal agenda. For some it is money, others it become their fame, or power, and this even grows into vanity for membership growth. They will preach, teach, and even play their games to draw you into the group. Paul is warning you and I to look out for this tribe of fakes, or you will be sucked into them, and deceived. Their churches have become businesses, with a mortgage. An example of this is the church that claims "December" as the worst month of the year for giving. This is a lie, for the tax records prove it is "the best month of the year for giving", as stated by the IRS. This is a form of what Paul is saying, "sleight of men, and cunning craftiness." When a church uses this method, run from them, for if they do this, they also pervert the Word of God. Root yourself in the Word. Ephesians 4:15 "But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, Which is the Head, even Christ:" To "grow up", you "mature", and become as an adult in the Word. You learn to be mature in Christ, in love: and this love can also include correction. For when it is given in the love of Christ, it shows that you really care. If in this loving care for another, they return to Christ in their life, then you have made a difference in the kingdom of God, and you pleased our Heavenly Father. Ephesians 4:16 "From Whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love." When the many membered body [of Christ] fit together in a perfect fit, working together as a unit of one, then each member or person, will do his part in the ministry. To build up, edify, and all other parts of the body of Christ are joined together. The love we have for Christ is reflected in the way and manner of love we give to each other. When this love exists there is no room for strife and envy, jealousy and hatred, but an enthusiastic and energetic body of Christ that is on a mission. Ephesians 4:17 "This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind," Vanity is emptiness, and is without lasting purpose. The heathen have nothing on their minds of eternal importance. It is void of all spiritual matters. this "vanity" caters only to their flesh body, and not the condition of their soul, for their spiritual eyes are blind to spiritual things, and remains in a depraved state. In this state of mind they don't even know how to help themselves spiritually, except for a member of the body of Christ showing them, through the Scriptures. Ephesians 4:18 "Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them because of the blindness of their heart:" Many people today are so starved for love and attention that they are destroyed when they don't get it. A Christian, studying the Bible in depth knows that there is no need for this depression to enter their lives. They know of God's love for them, and their duties in the work and the preparation of their minds needed to do the mission God has for them. There is no time to feel sorry for themselves. We know we are in the final generation of this earth age, and we must all strive to be ready to go against all spiritual darts of evil, that Satan [the Antichrist] can throw our way. This also includes prayer and communication with the Lord for not only ourselves, but others. Ephesians 4:19 "Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness." Their hearts are hardened against their own selves. The flesh body is so greedy thinking of itself that it won't provide even one morsel of spiritual food for the inner [soul] man. When the mind is hidden in darkness, there is no hope; but when even one candle, or seed of understanding, comes into that blackened mind, then "hope" springs forth, and the soul will be fed. New life then comes into the inner man and his [her] mind. This is why we plant the seeds of the gospel; so that they will spark into life and grow, and bear fruit for God's kingdom. Ephesians 4:20 "But ye have not so learned Christ; You were not taught this by Christ. Ephesians 4:21 "If so be that ye have heard Him, and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus:" In reality you can see and feel the touch of God in your life. Christ became a living person to you, and not just a force, or thing unassociated to your life. He is part of you, and your decisions that you make every day of your life. Ephesians 4:22 "That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;" "Former conversation" is the old flesh man; and at your conversion the truth of God's Word will change your conversation, because it changes your mind, and everything that is important to you. Ephesians 4:23 "And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;" God's Word will change your thought process, thus changing how you look at things and what you do and say. You are what you think about. Feed your spiritual body so that it will control your physical. Ephesians 4:24 "And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." The "new man" that we are to put on, or become is the new nature of our soul and spirit. This "new nature" of our soul is to take control over out whole being, soul and spirit; as well as our physical body. This command by Paul to the Christian, is given after the Christian has repented, and is saved; Thus in the Greek text, "after God is created", should read, "because God was being formed [our new nature] in righteousness and true holiness". We don't become righteous and holy, but imitate that which Jesus Christ is. Our perfection before God is not because of us, but by what Jesus Christ did. Ephesians 4:25 "Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another." We are to speak peace and truth with our neighbor. When we get out of step with the Lord, and wonder what and how we can get back in step with the Lord, Zechariah 8:16 tells us what we are to do. Zechariah 8:16 "These are the things that ye shall do; Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates:" Let every person know that at your home, and where ever you go, that people know you speak only truth. When we do fall, then we repent for those words. The closer we get to God in His Word, the more we will understand God's ways, and then they become our ways. God's ways and nature are perfect. The biggest problem most people have is in striving to perfect their ways. Ephesians 4:26 "Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:" Ephesians 4:27 "Neither give place to the devil." The word "angry" should not be used here; it is referring to "righteous indignation". This is a kin to anger, but Paul is telling us that when we become upset over something do to "righteous indignation", don't let it turn into a sin. There is a danger in that action. When the anger comes, tend to it immediately, in that same day. There is nothing wrong with "righteous indignation", for this is a normal reaction of our "new nature" in Jesus Christ, and the study of the Scriptures. Yet, we are to keep it always under control, for Satan will use it against us, to drag us into sin. Ephesians 4:28 "Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth." There is no reason to steal anything. What you gain by stealing does not give you a pride of ownership, because it is not yours. You can rest assured that God will punish you for that act. However there is a wealth to gain by working with your hands. The things that you do have will give you satisfaction and peace of mind. Then as you give to the Lord, your tithe will be an acceptable sacrifice to God. God is saying, if you will work and help yourself, I'll even see to it that you will have enough to help someone else, who is needy. Trust Him for it. Ephesians 4:29 "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers." When we speak, we should weigh our words and watch what we say. The word "corrupt" in the Greek text is "putrid" words. Our conversation should be to "edify", or build up those around us, so that by our words, and conversation others will be drawn to Jesus Christ. Do others get a lift after being in your presence, and listening to what you say to them? Ephesians 4:30 ""And grieve not the holy Spirit of God whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption." Don't disappoint your Father. The Holy Spirit of God wants to use you, and speak through you, as it is written in Mark 13:11. Remember back in Ephesians 1:13? We were chosen before the foundation of the world, and adopted as God's children for His good pleasure; then "sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise". That sealing by God sets us aside, and is a gift of our inheritance from God to each of His children. All children of God, saved by the blood of Jesus Christ, have been sealed unto the day of redemption". That day is coming shortly, for it is the day Jesus Christ returns to earth, and sets up His millennium age kingdom. Ephesians 4:31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:" There is no excuse for any Christian to practice any of these actions. Each of these; bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor [uproar], and evil speaking cause descent, and are not of the Holy Spirit. These are not acts of "righteous Indignation", which is of God. We should strive to always keep ourselves under control. Ephesians 4:32 "And be kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." "Tenderhearted" is showing compassion. We are to show compassion for others in the same manner that Jesus Christ showed unto us in his sacrifice on the cross, which then God extended to you and I through His grace. He forgave you for all you have done, and now you are to forgive your brothers in like manner. Get rid of those signs of stubbornness; for they are all of malice, and from Satan. This chapter was about maturity in Jesus Christ. The mature Christian can over-look things that the man of the world can not. When you become part of Christ's many membered body, God expects us to be different, and act different, and even talk different then that which is accepted by the men of the world. This is part of our armor in these end times. There is one Lord, one faith, one body, and one Spirit: and we are called in one hope of our calling. That calling we will see in the next chapter. The Shepherds Chapel

Ephesians 3 "Doctrine of Our Standing Before God." Ephesians 3:1 "For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles," Paul is reminding us that as he is writing this letter, he is a prisoner in jail, because he preaches the gospel to the Gentiles. Ephesians 3:2 "If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward." Ephesians 3:3 "How that by revelation He made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words," Ephesians 3:4 "Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)" The above three verses are a statement which must be given together, for they make a certain statement. Paul is referring us back to the letter of Romans, and verses found in Romans 16:25-26. Let's go to it. Romans 16:25 "Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began [hath been kept in silence through times eternal]," Romans 16:26 "But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:" How do we acquire "obedience of faith"? This even sounds like a mystery. "Faith" is what you "Hope for". The "mystery" is that once you understand the truths of God's holy Word, by all the Prophets, their is no way that your faith could waver. Once you have the understanding of God's Word, you become committed in your mind and then give obedience to Jesus Christ. This "dispensation of Grace" Paul is telling us about in Ephesians 3:2, is a period of time or "dispensation" when the Almighty Father gives something freely to one person, because someone else paid the full price for it. "Grace", in this verse comes from the Greek word "Charis", and by definition means; "free, and undeserved favor; a noun". Grace is not mentioned in Matthew or Mark, because this dispensation started when Jesus Christ went to the cross at Calvary, and shed His blood. That is the price that was paid, and it was paid in full for all of the sins of those who believe upon His name and repent for their sins. It is a gift, and because it is a gift, we have the right to accept it, or refuse His gift. This "Grace of God" which concerns both you and I, is not a grace pertaining to some far off heavenly kingdom, but to us living on this earth, and today reaching out and taking it. When we take it, we are automatically adopted into the body of Christ, and become part God's family. This is the "mystery of God's saving plan", for all people, in all times, that will take this gift, and place their hope in Jesus Christ. That mystery also has to do with the three world ages, that still remains a mystery to most people today. We discussed that first earth age in the Ephesians 1, and it is also in Romans 8. This mystery is part of the "key of David", which "opens the doors, and no man can close", of Revelation 3:7. When you study His word, God will reveal it to you through the very Word itself. The revelation, or revealing of God's mystery of the ages, will give purpose to your life. For once you understand God's plan, and see just why you exist, and how Jesus Christ's death pertains to you, your eternal soul; your "obedience of faith" will not be shaken. Your spiritual eyes will be opened, and you will see you are somebody important. Your a child of the living God. Ephesians 3:5 "Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men," The apostles are of the New Covenant [Testament], while the Prophets are of the Old Testament. Paul is telling us that the truth of this entire earth age is given in both the Old and the New Testaments. This mystery was not a mystery in either period of time. All was foretold in the Old Testament, and revealed through Apostles also later. Ephesians 3:6 "That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ by the gospel:" From the earliest of times, only the children of the promise [God's promise to Abraham] had access to the inner court of God. The altar of God is in His Temple, and the Gentiles were forbidden, by God to enter. When Christ died on the cross, that partition to the inner court, separating Jew from Gentile, and giving direct access to our Heavenly Father, came down. We read in Matthew 27:50-51; "Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost [spirit]. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;" At the moment of Jesus death, when He "gave up the ghost", the way and access was made for Jew and Gentile alike. We see in Revelation 21:24 where people of all nations, 'Ethnos" in the Greek, will present themselves in the new eternal city of God. They have all become saved, and received eternal life the same way. Through the belief, and acceptance of Jesus Christ, and His blood shed on the cross. Ephesians 3:7 "Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of His power." Paul at one time considered himself to be the worst of all sinners. The persecutor of Christians, and even killing many of them, including Stephen [in Acts 7]. Paul says it was a "gift of His [God's] grace" that could take a sinner like this, and make a minister out of Him. The power of God changed that man's heart and mind. Paul is then saying, if Gods power can change my heart and mind; He can change yours. When you have done all you can do to change a friend, or family member that is on the wrong course; you must turn to prayer, and give them over to the power of God. God answers prayer, when it is with His will. Ephesians 3:8 "Unto me, who am less then the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;" Paul did not think to much of himself; as far as his comparison with other Christians. Paul is saying that the grace from God that was given to him, he did not deserve. Christ's riches are unsearchable, and those riches that Christ will give to you are untraceable. God will send blessings and protection to His own, as we put our faith and trust in Him. The riches may not be money, but in many other ways. Those gifts He gives you are in teaching, or understanding His Word; other gifts are in witnessing, comfort to the sick, and your music and other skills. God's gifts are priceless, and when we possess any of them, we are commanded to use it for the glory of God. Ephesians 3:9 "And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, Who created all things by Jesus Christ:" This, "And", gives a great deal more than what you may read into this verse. It goes all the way back to the very foundation of this earth [world] age, and the mystery of God's working to bring about this earth [flesh] age. For this entire earth age we now live in, is all part of God's plan in making a way back to Himself, for those children that fell in the the first earth age. God's plan of salvation is the escape hatch to avoid God's final judgment on Satan and his followers. In the beginning this mystery was there, and in Ephesians 2 we discussed a great deal of this mystery; How that Satan, and his literal sons, would become an active part in this earth age. Jesus even taught that this hidden mystery, was hidden from the foundations of this earth age. He taught about the physical offspring of the devil [the Kenites}. This is the teachings of Jesus Christ. The "parable of the sower and the parable of the tares" are all tied together; and then explained. Then when you understand these two parables, the "parable of the fig tree" opens right up to you. Jesus compels us to learn it, and when you do, the whole Bible will make sense, and open a whole new understanding of end time Bible prophecy. In Matthew 13: Christ had just finished teaching the "parable of the sower and tares", and His disciples asked Him why he spoke in parables. In verse 11; "He answered and said unto them, because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not." We are now going to find out who the mysteries are hidden from. Jesus is telling them that this is not a parable, but that He is explaining one. Matthew 13:34 "All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them:" Matthew 13:35 "That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world." This is the reason for all parables. Jesus is quoting from Psalm 78, here. The word "foundations" here is the same that we studied in Ephesians 1:4. It means "the overthrow by Satan"; when he rebelled against God, in the first earth age. It was then that one third of all God's created souls followed Satan in rebellion. There are things that are kept secret since Satan was defeated, and that first earth age was destroyed. This flesh earth age is the results of what happened in that first age. When a baby is born, God does not create new souls for each new baby born, but they are the souls from that first earth age. Each soul must go through this flesh age one time and no more then once. "It is appointed unto man once to die [in the flesh], then judgment." Hebrews 9:27 This is what Genesis 6 is all about. The "sons of God" are angels, or these created beings of God, and they had refused to come to earth through the womb of a woman. This has nothing to do with reincarnation, for you are incarnate only once in the flesh body. One time through this earth age only. Matthew 13:26 "Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field." Matthew 13:37 "He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;" Jesus is explaining it to His disciples. If you are His disciple, then it is for you also. "Disciple" means student, and comes from the word discipline. The seed in the verse are God's people, and the one that soweth, or made them was God's Word, Jesus Christ, who is the "Son of man". Matthew 13:38 "The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;" The field is where tis parable took place, and that field is this world [earth age]. That is this "Cosmos", or flesh age we now live in. Jesus then defines the difference in origins between God's children [not seed], and the literal physical offspring of Satan [who is the devil. The Greek word here for seed is "sperma", and that makes it real clear what we are talking about. Remember, Jesus is not teaching in a parable here; but He is explaining one, where a analogy was used. Matthew 13:39 "The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels." This is the root of the mystery that is being explained. The "enemy" that "sowed the seed" [sperma] of the tares is the devil. This "evil seed" is from Satan [the devil], and in this world age [flesh age]. All these tares came from the sexual union between Satan and Eve, which produced the "Kenites father "Cain". The offspring of "Cain" are also the offspring "the devil", as Jesus just explained to us. This is a separate race of people called "Kenites". Let there be no mistake who sowed the evil seed; it was the devil. This is the mystery of Ephesians 3:9, and it was taught even from the beginning of the Scriptures. The mystery is what happened in the "Garden of Eden"; and when we know and understand this mystery, then we can dig deeper into the Word of God, and know from where the source of all evil comes. These tares [Kenites] are among us today, and will be amongst us until God's appointed time. Ephesians 3:10 "To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God," The "principalities" are the rulers, not just of this earth, but "angelic beings" also. This means that Satan himself, and his fallen angels, as well as Satan's children [Kenites] are , or "might be known by the Church". The church is the body of Christ, and if you know and understand who is in Satan's realm, then you have the "wisdom of God". This is Paul's intent in writing this letter to the Ephesians. So that they and you can identify all of Satan's forces, both on earth, [the Kenites], and his angels when they arrive on earth at the sounding of the fifth trumpet [Revelation 9:1-10]. The true "wisdom of God" is to know our Heavenly Father, and His love and fairness towards each of us. Ephesians 3:11 "According to the eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:" The "eternal purpose" of God, is that Jesus Christ would come to earth, and become the sacrifice once and for all. All those souls who seek Christ, repent, and come under the blood of Jesus Christ are part of God's "eternal purpose", and are given eternal life. Ephesians 3:12 "In Whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of Him." In other words, when Christ was in the tomb, and gave up the ghost to the Father; at that time the vail to the holy of Holies was rent in two, and all God's children can now come boldly to the Father, in Jesus Christ's name. We now all have direct access to the throne of God; not through some priest, but boldly, and with confidence we can talk to our Heavenly Father. Ephesians 3:13 "Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory." Remember, Chapter 3 started with Paul saying, "I am in prison for you". Paul is giving them reassurance that it is for the glory of Christ he was there, and that should encourage, not discourage them in their work for the Lord. Paul is encouraging them to take heart and allow God to work in and through them. Ephesians 3:14 "For this cause I bow my knew unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ," This great plan of God is no longer a mystery for it is revealed to us through Paul. When Paul, as we ought to, thought of God's awesome plan, is is the time to fall to our knees and thank Him for His great love and mercy. Ephesians 3:15 "Of Whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named," The word "family" in the Greek is "patra". It is the family of God's children. They each have become "kin" to each other. all of them, both on earth, and in heaven are one family. This is part of God's great mystery. Ephesians 3:16 "That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His spirit in the inner man;" What is this inner man? It is not this flesh man, but your spiritual [soul] body. There is no such thing as a handicapped inner body, physically speaking, for it is whole, complete and beautiful. The inner soul can have all the riches and strength that you soul and spirit need to overcome any obstacle. In Matthew 18:10, it is written that each of His children have their angel in heaven watching over us, and at a time of need, that angel has the ear of the throne of God, on our behalf. When you think it is all lost, and no one cares; God cares, and as do countless other prayer warriors. Many of these prayer warriors give intercessory prayers for souls they will never meet in this earth age, yet they have a burden for your soul and well being. Even while you may be deep in sin, our God loves you, and is waiting for you to repent, and come to Him. You are never alone for God is a person, and not a uncaring force off in space, as some like to teach. We are made in His image, and He understands each of us. When God's spirit enters your "inner man", He can change your entire life. He can give you "peace of mind," and understanding as you continue in His Word, and gain spiritual knowledge. Paul makes it clear that the Holy Spirit is the power of God, and if we call upon God, and allow that Holy Spirit to lead us, we can bring to full use those gifts God has given each of us. It is our individual faith in God, and Jesus Christ that will bring it to completion. Ephesians 3:17 "That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love," This is to say that "Christ will be at home in your heart". We are all imperfect in many ways, but as long as we have that faith that His spirit is in us, it supports our beliefs, and gives us the motivation and confidence to sustain us in our daily walk with God. He will do exactly as He has promised in His word. "Being rooted and grounded in love"; is the most powerful force that exist on earth. Love is the soil the our life is grounded in. When that soil is good, and strong, then our whole life and faith can become deeply rooted and strong during times of testing. Ephesians 3:18 "May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;" Ephesians 3:19 "And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God." It is only by the grace of God, and the work of God's Holy Spirit that we can ever understand and comprehend the full extent of the love of God. The love of God is shown in all things, in the heavens as well as on the earth. However, most of all, it is through His love for each of us, and the promises we have, that we can count on His love . It is the faith we have in God's eternal "love" that gives us our "love" for those around us, which gives us the desire that all people will come to know the love of God. No man can have the full understanding of the love God must have had to allow His Son to die on the cross, so He [God] could bring you and I to Himself. The "Love of Christ" is the commitment of Christ to His Father, and to you and I, and also to every detail in God's Holy Word. Ephesians 3:20 "Now unto Him That is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us," This is in all things that we could ever dream, or hope for, as to the power of God's love. We can never come to the full understanding of that love of us, His child, except that His love for us allows it. This is a very powerful Scripture, as we try to understand God's love for us. Ephesians 3:21 "Unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen." Jesus Christ is the "glory" of His Church, His "called out ones". We call them Christians, and we can see Christ's glory in all the ages, as we discussed before. This earth age is the plan of God, which draws God's children back to Him, because of what happened in that first earth age. God's holiness and glory has always been, and will never end, even in the continuance of eternity. In that love, no man can fully understand, but it becomes the power and roots that the hope for our lives is grounded in. Amen.

Ephesians 2 "Objects of Paul's Ministry." Ephesians 2:1 "And you hath He quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;" "Quickened" means "made alive spiritually". Any time someone is in this flesh body, and without Christ, they will sin. That is the way of the world. Ephesians 2:2 "Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:" "Ye" are all those not called, and predestined in that first earth age, discussed in Verses 1:4, 13. The "world" is this "Cosmos" or world age; and the "prince of the power of the air" is Satan. The "Children of disobedience" are not only the Kenites [the offspring of Satan through their father "Cain"], but all those who hate or deny Christ. However, "children" used in the Greek text here is "Hebraism", not disobedient children, but "physical sons of Satan". It is also in an adoptive sense, those who allow Satan to parent them, and do the work of Satan. These "sons of disobedience" are the same persons as the tares of Matthew 13, that Jesus spoke about. In fact Jesus stated that if you don't understand the parable of the sower and the tares, you will not understand any of His parables. That means, by Jesus' explanation, that after that good seed was sown, in the night [secret] the evil one [satan] came and sowed his seed also. Both the good seed and the bad seed looked about the same, and grew up together; However, at harvest time, the tares were poisonous and had to be separated. Then in Matthew 13:35-41 Jesus explains to His disciples this parable. The good seed were placed in the field [world] by God. These seed are people. Satan [who is the devil or evil one] planted the tares, or evil seed through Eve, and the final product of that union [sexual] was "Cain". The "Kenites" are the physical offspring of Cain. This is identified in Strong's Hebrew Dictionary #7014, and #7017. Thus Paul's reference to them in Ephesians 2:2 as the "Children of disobedience". This second verse is talking about walking in the world with these sons of Cain, the Kenites, and allowing them to lead you. They control the perversions, lies, and deceit controlling through this evil "spirit" of Satan [the prince of the power of the air.] Ephesians 2:3 "Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others." Here Paul points out that all, even Paul was born in the flesh, and converted out of it. When you are in the flesh, your drives, your mind, and even your nature was to fill all the desires and drives of the flesh. Paul is saying, your nature was even as the "Kenites", the offspring of Satan; until the Holy Spirit touched you and opened your mind, and you were incapable of understanding spiritual matters. Then the Holy Spirit replaced your evil drives with righteousness. Your work for God is essential to fulfill the acts of righteousness for God. Ephesians 2:4 "But God, Who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us," We can understand a parents love for their children and grandchildren; However, God's love is far beyond the human mind. A love so great that our Father, allowed His Son to be degraded to the fleshly form; then to suffer the insult and pain, as well as the degradation, and die. He did all this just so you and I would have that choice to choose Jesus Christ, and receive the gift, absolutely free that our eternal Father offers to each of us. If you can start to understand that love, then you will have a glimpse of the mercy He is showing to you and I. This is a personal thing, for in the eternity, you will either be part of God's plan, and have accepted God's mercy; or friend, you just will not exist in any form, not even in the memory of your loved ones. Ephesians 2:5 "Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)" God's great love and mercy so loved us, even when we were dead to His true Spirit; God still loved us. When He had no reason to, or we had any value to Him, He still loved His own so much that He sent His own Son, Jesus Christ to "quicken us", and make us alive and give our soul a new eternal life. This is exactly how a parent reaches out to his son [daughter], regardless how troubled the child is, or even when that child knows right from wrong. Why? Because that parent loves and corrects his child in the ways he knows are right. Our Heavenly Father reaches out also in like manner to His children, because His love is constant towards us. Ephesians 2:6 "And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:" At your conversion, Christ had already prepared the way so that when Jesus Christ went to the right hand of the Father, you were given the connection right to the throne of God. Our connection is through the working of the Holy Spirit of God working in and through each of God's children. That, my friend, is clout in the highest place. Remember back in verse 1:18 where it said; When you believe in Christ, He will give you the understanding of the hope [salvation] that we have in Christ. You become part of Jesus Christ's inheritance, given by the Father, when you become an active part of God's plan of salvation. Ephesians 2:7 "That in the ages to come He might shew the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus:" This is to say; "in the world age to come"; in the millennium age and on into eternity ; the Heavenly Father is going to give His children riches far beyond your mind could ever imagine. Friend, this love, riches, and kindness you are in fact going to receive, is going to happen only because of what Jesus Christ did on the cross for you, and I. Have you thanked Him for that grace. Grace is God's riches at Christ's expense. It's a gift. Our purpose is to worship and love God the creator; the Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 2:8 "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:" Grace is the source, and faith is the means by which we obtain the grace of God. It is through our faith that we believe. Faith is the action that causes us to do what we do, and comes by our acting on our belief. That action we take, because of our belief, is sustained by our confidence in God, that when we do what we are asked to do, He will fulfill His promises to us. Faith needs a focal point to activate, and Jesus Christ and the Word of God is that focal point. With God's promises, and teachings in our mind, we have the firm foundation to act upon. Faith is not stagnate, it is action. We do not act blindly, but our actions are based on a solid foundation: the Word of God. The "confidence" we have has no hesitation, for because of God's commitment to us, through His Word, we in turn have that same sure commitment to our "faith" in God. That faith in God then takes us to God's "grace", His unmerited favor, and forgiveness to each of us. Even though we fall short. Ephesians 2:9 "Not of works, lest any man should boast." Many people take this verse and say "works will not save you". That is true. It is God's grace that brings about salvation. By yourself, you simply are not able to do anything to earn God's salvation from sin, and it's penalty. This Ephesians 2 stresses, as Christians, we are fellow servants, and workers in Christ, and that our works will not save us, salvation just doesn't come that way. It is God that gives us all that we have, such as the gift of teaching, or as prayer warriors, or singing, or even laboring and planting seeds of God's word in the minds of others. Even being helpful with the "kind attitude" and a smile to lift others, is a gift. What ever that gift might be, we can't take credit for it, for all the credit and glory goes to the Father, and to His Word, our Lord Jesus Christ. If you don't belief that, why would you spend any time in His work, or even call yourself a Christian. For, to you, your faith would be in a dead man. So any works you perform are all part of God's overall plan, and what ever gifts and works you do must fit into that plan. You do the works because you are saved, and not to be saved. Get it? Then in performing those works, God rewards His children for being faithful. As we do our work, it is the Holy Spirit that directs and develops our working gifts that they can be used effectively. Ephesians 2:10 "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." There are those who say; "grace is all I need". The warning to us, is to stay clear of them. Their "faith" is dead, as there is no action in their belief, and definitely no confidence in the work or words of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is not pleased with "lazy Christians". He doesn't have much use for their unfruitfulness. "Workmanship" means God's "handiwork". God made each of us for a purpose, and that purpose is to do good works. This isn't something that happened overnight, but God "before ordained", before you were even conceived, God had plans for your good works to be used in His overall plan. Ephesians 2:11 "Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;" In the time prior to Christ's death on the cross, there was no hope for the uncircumcised. Those of the circumcision were those of the "whole house of Israel", all the tribes or offspring of Jacob. When Christ died on the cross, the veil at the "holy of holies" in the Temple was rent [split] in two, and all peoples and races in the world, Jew and Gentile alike were offered God's gift of salvation. The door is open to you today. The other side of this is the fact that many of the Israelites, scattered in 722 B.C. by the Assyrians, were lost, and didn't even know they were Israel, with the promises God gave to Abraham. Now, thousands of years later, their offspring are just as lost as their forefathers. The only trace these ten tribes have of their past is the fact they call themselves "Caucasians", after the event of escaping captivity through the Caucasus mountains, and migrating to the west under many different names. Today these offspring of Israel even call themselves "Gentile", and they attribute the name Caucasian to be a race, instead of the recording of an event. Ephesians 2:12 "That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world." Until Jesus Christ died on the cross, that is exactly how we were. That was the purpose of Christ's death, He went immediately to those who were prisoners in the grave, who had no hope, or any way to free themselves. There He preached the same message of salvation to them that we now have today, and salvation was made available all the way back to Noah. Ephesians 2:13 "But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ." If anyone should love Jesus Christ, it would be the Gentiles in the flesh. Now through the blood of Jesus Christ we can all enter into that heavenly place. Ephesians 2:14 "For he is our peace, Who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;" The partition in the old Temple separated the Israelites [Jews] from the Gentile. At Christ's death on the cross, the earth shook, and the vial in the Temple was split in two, as recorded in Matthew 27:51. All barriers came down that blocked any person from approaching God through His Son, Jesus Christ. That wall of separation, separated the outer court from the inner court, and a Gentile could not walk past that wall. God's approach was through the holy of Holies, in the inner court, and the forgiveness of sins was only possible through the blood sacrifices offered there. When Jesus shed His blood, all the blood sacrifices ended. Jesus Christ was the only sacrifice necessary to cover all sin, both then and now. Jesus is now the Temple, and when we are in Christ we become part of that body of Christ, or Temple. Ephesians 2:15 "Having abolished in His flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in Himself of twain one new man, so making peace;" In other words; there is only one temple, one family, one way through Jesus Christ. If you think it means "the law doesn't matter anymore", your wrong. The key to the understanding of this verse is stated," contained in ordinances". There is a difference between "the law", and "ordinances within the law". This verse is directed to the ordinances of "blood sacrifice", also called "the daily sacrifices" that are within the law. These blood sacrifices are not required anymore. ever, because Jesus Christ's blood sacrificed on the cross satisfied completely that part of the law, before our Heavenly Father. Jesus was, and is the perfect sacrifice. See Hebrews 10. Ephesians 2:16 "And that He might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:" All that believe and follow Christ now have this access to their creator. Ephesians 2:17 "And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh." Jesus preached His message to all flesh, Israelite and Gentile alike. Paul's ministry was directed wholly to the Gentile nations, and the lost "House of Israel", not the Jews [Acts 9:15]. Ephesians 2:18 "For through Him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father." This "one Spirit" is the "Holy Spirit", through Jesus Christ. Ephesians 2:19 "Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God;" Because of Jesus Christ's shed blood, we are fellow citizens in Christ's kingdom, His body, with all the other saints. Ephesians 2:20 "And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone;" The Apostles are those of the New Testament; while the Prophets were the teachers in the Old Testament. Jesus Christ is the foundation, and the "fit Temple" for all of God's children who seek after Him, in any age. The "Chief corner stone" is the stone which all dimensions of the entire structure are measured to, and now in the Temple of God, Christ is that "chief corner stone". When we partition to the Father now, we must ask in the name of Jesus Christ, for there is none other. Ephesians 2:21 "In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy Temple in the Lord:" In both the Old and New Testament Christ is named the center of the structure, the cap-stone of the Temple. The Temple of today is in two parts; one is false, and one is true. The "false temple" will be built shortly in Jerusalem, and it will be from that temple that Satan will rule as the Antichrist, over his world religious system. The way many Christians are taught today, when the Antichrist sits there they will actually believe and worship him as Jesus Christ. However, the Antichrist is a fake and a counterfeit. When Jesus Christ came out of the tomb, He became our "True Temple", and His word is that Temple "fitly framed together". You need no other Temple than Jesus Christ, and in the Millennium age another Temple will be constructed from where Christ will rule and teach the world. If your part of Christ's Temple in this flesh age, then your work, salvation, and very mind will fit into the Temple of Christ, through your study, and following His Word. Ephesians 2:22 "In Whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. This building is a spiritual building, or Temple; and as we fit into the Christ's Temple, we also become part of another habitation; that being of the plan of God the Father. It is through God's Spirit that we are led to the positions and work we are to fulfill. How well do you fit with the Word of God?

Ephesians is the second of Paul's text-books of doctrinal instruction for the believers in our present dispensation or age. The book of Romans told us all the truths concerning the standing of the sinner in Christ, as having died and risen with Him. Ephesians, now brings us beyond Romans, in that the sinner not only died and rose again in Christ, but now in God's sight and purpose, is seated with Christ in the heavenlies. THE EPISTLE OF PAUL THE APOSTLE TO THE Ephesians 1 Ephesians is the second of Paul's text-books of doctrinal instruction for the believers in our present dispensation or age. The book of Romans told us all the truths concerning the standing of the sinner in Christ, as having died and risen with Him. Ephesians, now brings us beyond Romans, in that the sinner not only died and rose again in Christ, but now in God's sight and purpose, is seated with Christ in the heavenlies. Where Romans ends with a reference to the revelation to the "mystery", Ephesians takes that "revelation of a mystery", and reveals that mystery to us. The book of Ephesians has it's foundation in the first eight chapters of Romans. This "mystery", or "great secret" that Paul is to reveal, for this age or dispensation only, is called the "dispensation of Grace". The secret was that all "individual sinners amongst Jew and Greek alike, are called the "called out ones". Upon repentance, all these converts are formed into "the body of Christ", also referred to as "His Church". Once that sinner enters into the "body of Christ", they all become a member or part of that one body, for there is neither Jew nor Gentile in that body; but Christian. The purpose of Christ's Church exists to "praise the glory of God's grace throughout all eternity", to be the future rulers and priests in God's eternal kingdom. This is the secret kept from before the foundations of this earth age. This earth age is a preparation time for Christians to learn through God's word the will of God, and to get ourselves ready for service in His will or plan. We become prepared by what Paul calls, "putting on the whole armor of God". That "armor of God" is the only protection that the Christian that lives in this final generation of this earth age, can ever expect to stand against Satan, and resist taking the Antichrist's name, number and mark. If we accept any part of the Antichrist's system, or his deceptions, we are making ourselves useless to our Heavenly Father's service; for then we will have ceased allowing the Holy Spirit of God to speak through us; when we shall be "delivered up before the synagogues of Satan", as spoken of in Mark 13:11. Ephesians 1:1 "Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus; and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:" The word "apostle" in the Greek means "one sent by God". Paul was called by Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus, when he was struck down and blinded. This was the will of God that this should be done. This book of Ephesians is not for everyone, but "to the saints, and those faithful to Christ Jesus". The "saints" are the "set aside ones", or also called "God's elect". The book of Ephesians covers a long period of time; the entire period of Grace, including our time of preparation, getting us ready for the spiritual battles all of God's elect will face during the Antichrist's [satan's] reign on earth, with the rest of his demonic forces. Ephesians 1:2 "Grace be to you and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ." Once you are called, you will never be satisfied again with the traditions of men. Grace and peace are two of the gifts given to His elect when they turn from their sins, to "God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ." Ephesians 1:3 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:" Why? Because Christ, upon His resurrection went to the right hand of the Father. Now we have a mediator sitting there at the right hand of God the Father. That throne is the center of all power, and is the giver of all spiritual blessings. The "blessing in heavenly places" refers to more then you and I living in this present earth age. As II Peter 3 points out, there are three earth ages, and three Heaven ages. Verses five and six are talking about the age that was; before this earth "became" a ruin, as spoken of in Genesis 1:2. That heaven and earth are past; and it is because of what happened in that age, that we are all living in the flesh in this earth age. II Peter 3:7 tells us this earth age now, which is the second one, will perish following the day of judgment, at the end of this age, and a new heaven and a new earth will then be established. The third earth age is eternal. This understanding of the three earth ages have to be understood before you can understand the fourth verse of Ephesians. Ephesians 1:4 "According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love:" What does it mean to be "chosen"? It means that there are certain people that God chosen in the first earth age, to do a task for Him in this flesh earth age. This is not reincarnation, for it is appointed for each of us to go through this earth age, the flesh earth age, once and only once. We read; "...It is appointed unto men once to die [in the flesh], but after this the judgment." Hebrews 9:27 This appointing and choosing took place before the foundation of this earth age; the second earth age [cosmos] that we now live in. "Without blame" refers to the fact that God intercedes in certain peoples lives. Certain people have free will, while certain others are of God's election, however, God doesn't play favorites. Christ died for the sins of all who will repent; the chosen, and the free-will. All must repent for sins they commit, and love the Lord Jesus Christ, to have the hope of His glory. "Before the foundation of the world", [cosmos in the Greek, meaning world or earth age.] The "foundation" in the Greek text, is the verb for, "the overthrow". This refers to something that happened in that first earth age, before the overthrow of Satan and his angels that followed him. When Satan fell [war against God], one third of all angelic beings [God's children] followed Satan. Then during that war, there were some who fought against Satan, and those who did, God calls "His Chosen". They took a stand, and were overcomers in that first earth age. Have you ever wondered why you do the things that you do, at times. It's just like you have a destiny. You have always felt their is more to life, and this world, then what you have been taught. Paul addresses this in Romans 8:27. In verse twenty six it says that there are times in your life when the Holy Spirit makes intercession for you because you don't even know what to pray for. "And he that searcheth the heart knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God." Romans 8:27 These saints are "the set-aside ones", or "the chosen". God has a overall plan, and a purpose in that plan just for you. That purpose is to bring back His children to Him; after that overthrow, and in this earth age. Why would God intercede in a person's life, without them even asking? When your free-will goes against God's purpose for your life, God will intercede. When Paul's "free will" was to destroy all Christians, God's will was to take this highly educated man, and use Paul as the instrument for Him. Paul used to same drive to destroy Christians, that he used later to convert people, after his conversion. We read that the Lord said; "...For He is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and Kings, and children of Israel:" Acts 9:15 Ephesians 1:5 "Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will," "Predestined" means "from a prior time", or "required to do a certain thing" in the Greek text. You have a choice of loving God, or loving Satan. God will not interfere with your free will choice to chose Him or Satan. However, that person that proved himself during the overthrow of Satan, were "justified", or earned the right to be called "saints", from that first earth age. Each soul comes from God, and enters an embryo at conception. This is why Jeremiah was a chosen one. "Before I formed thee in the belly I know thee; and before thou comest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet of nations." Jeremiah 1:5 "Sanctified" thee, is to "set aside, or apart for a purpose". Sins still have to be repented, and the price to pay for them still had to be made. To the predestined, and fore chosen, God can make life so miserable to those out of His will that they will repent. God has a perfect will, and God is always fair. "And we know that all things work together for good, to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28 This verse is directed to a certain people, with a condition attached. This applies to "them who are called according to His purpose." "His purpose" is called God's plan, and God's overall plan is the offering of Salvation to all. That plan includes the teaching of God's Word; to plant seeds to convict; to live our life for Him; and to go and speak where God leads you. God will use you as it pleases Him. "For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren." Romans 8:29 God knew you, and what you were in that first earth age; and then [in that first earth age] God prearranged our destiny for this age. That destiny is to make us conform, or be like His Son, Jesus Christ. Though Jesus is the first fruits to overcome death, there are many that have that victory over death, through Christ's death and resurrection. "Moreover whom He did predestinate, them He also called: and whom He called: He also justified: and whom He justified, them He also glorified." Romans 8:30 "Justified" means "judged" in the Greek text; God judged them there in that first earth age, and that is why God can and does intercede in the chosen's ones lives. The justified are the priests of the Zadok in the millennium age of Ezekiel 40, for the word Zadok comes from the Hebrew word meaning "the just". Certain of God's children stood against Satan in the first earth age, and those that did stand, and did not follow Satan; God judged [justified], and He "chose" them then to be used in His eternal plan. Through God's perfect plan, God "predestined", and "ordained" each of them to His purpose to be used in this flesh age. Each of these will also be used in the Millennium age as priests, or called the "Zadok". When you become a Christian, and God has given you a working over, He is trying to wake you up. God is calling out a people, His people, the "Elect-chosen, and predestined" to stand against the Antichrist [satan] in this final generation. "What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?" Romans 8:31 "What things"? The things mentioned in verses 27-30. The knowledge that God has judged the overcomers, and chose them for the purpose of fulfilling His plan; then predestined those overcomers to a service, not only in this flesh age, but the millennium age to come. They will be the priests [Zadok] then. Let's return now to Ephesians, now that we have the background of predestination explained by Paul, in Romans. We were predestined to be the adopted children of God, by what Jesus Christ did on the cross. This is exactly what God's plan [His will] is designed to do. Being in the flesh body, we all will fall short, however, through repentance we are drawn back to Him, and into God's will for us. Ephesians 1:6 "To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the Beloved:" The "Beloved" is Christ, the firstfruit, and first born to the Heavenly kingdom of God. Ephesians 1:7 "In Whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace," Ephesians 1:8 "Wherein He hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;" "Prudence" is insight. God has given us "redemption", or forgiveness from all our sin's, through Jesus Christ's death on the cross, and His shed blood. The grace God now gives us, opens our minds, and through His Spirit, we are given the "wisdom" and "insight" to understand all the mysteries, and hidden wisdom that the rest of the world calls foolishness. God has given you the gift of wisdom, insight, understanding, and the ability to use common sense. This is all part of our gospel armor, necessary for these end times. Ephesians 1:9 "Having made known unto us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He hath purposed in Himself;" The "mystery of His will", is that which we just studied from Romans 8:27-31. That mystery is the fact that God does have a plan, and certain overcomers of the first earth age were then predestined, and ordained for God's service in this earth age, and also in the Millennium age to come. It is God who allows this to happen, and purposed it within Himself. Peter gave Paul credentials as he wrote in II Peter 3:15, that the wisdom the Peter revealed was first written by Paul. That wisdom is concerning the three earth ages, whereby the chosen were prejudged, and purposed by God to be of service in this earth age, and the next. Then in II Peter 3:16 Peter says; "As also in all his [Paul's] epistles [letters], speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned, and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction." Those that God has called, are given the will to learn, and the wisdom and insight to understand; where as the unlearned and unstable in the Lord, just don't get it. They just don't have the eyes to see, nor ears to hear and understand the deeper meanings. Ephesians 1:10 "That in the dispensation of the fulness of times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in Him:" What dispensation? The dispensation from both the first age, and the present earth age; right up to the time of Jesus Christ's return. That is called the "fullness of time". In the fullness of time all of God's people will be gathered back to Jesus Christ. And we will all, both those saints in heaven now, and those who will live to see Jesus Christ's return at the seventh trumpet, will be drawn and gathered to Christ. Has God called you to Him? Ephesians 1:11 "In Whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of Him Who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will:" With out God's intercession, Paul would not have been the leader in the Church that he was. When Paul changed from working against God to working for God; He remained the same strength of character; bold and willing to stand against any man, even kings. Paul's mission changed from killing Christians to making Christians. The "inheritance" that we obtain, is in the predestined plan of God. The inheritance is to the chosen, those who were overcomers, and God judged [justified] them then, and predestined them to His service in this age. The inheritance is being the Zadok in the Millennium, and that inheritance is our eternal life. What your full inheritance is will be according to God's predestined plan for you, and how you work to fulfill your part of that service. God is in control, and He controls His election [the elect]. It comforts me to know God is in control, even as the one world system comes into force, and Antichrist's rule will soon be total. God set the limits of his powers, and the God even shortened the time that Satan will have to rule. However, their rule has no power over God's elect, because every last one of God's chosen will see right through Satan's tricks and deceit. Ephesians 1:12 "That we should be to the praise of His glory, who first trusted in Christ." To be God's elect does not mean your better than all others; it means you going to do God's work. God has a rich inheritance for all those who are faithful to His work. "We", used in this verse, and those prior, are those who are predestined in the first earth age. Our goal and glory should all be to glorify our Lord Jesus Christ, in all the work we do in our flesh age, for God. Ephesians 1:13 "In Whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in Whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise," The "ye" in this verse, are those who heard God's word and believed. They are not the predestined ones. When they believed, God sealed each of them with His Holy Spirit "of promise". That promise is the inheritance of eternal life. There is no difference between the inheritance of the predestined soul, and the soul that heard the Gospel of Christ, then believed and repented. However, there is a difference in the positions that the elect will hold in the Millennium temple. Ezekiel 44 describes the difference in the inheritance; it is in the area of ownership with respects to land, and the location to the throne of Jesus Christ. The "Zadok" simply will not be given land, because they do not need it. They will all be in the priestly services of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 1:14 "Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of His glory." "The earnest" is a pledge from God to us. "Our inheritance" is the gift from God to you and I, the Christians, of the "new nature" [our new spirit], and this is a pledge also from God for future gifts in the same kind. It is a total commitment which can not be broken, thus making this inheritance different from any other pledge ordinarily given. The pledge in earnest is the same as the term "sealing". It is a legal term. God is creating His contract with us, the Christian, and God will fulfill that pledge, or covenant. The sealing of God's covenant is by giving to us His Spirit to dwell within us, and those other gifts He may also give to us. Our "earnest money", so to speak, is to fulfill our part of the agreement, and our part is to repent and believe in His Son, Jesus Christ; who is the actual one who paid the price to fulfill God's contract between Him and us. We reap the inheritance, while Jesus Christ paid the price, and gets all the glory for it. Ephesians 1:15 "Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints," In other words, Paul is saying that he heard how all the Ephesian Saints became Christians. Ephesians 1:16 "Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;" Paul is like a father to them; this Church was built on Paul's work. Paul was close to them, and with a continuous tie to them. Ephesians 1:17 "That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him:" Paul's prayer for the Ephesians, was that the almighty Father would give to them the spirit of wisdom and revelation. Paul wanted all of them to understand all levels of wisdom of all three ages, and exactly what their inheritance included. When you know and understand your inheritance; it becomes precious and valuable to you. That wisdom and revelation can only come to you by the Spirit of God; the Holy Spirit. This "foreknowledge" of God, is the knowledge of what went on prior to this present earth [flesh] age. This we discussed in verses four through eleven. Review, and pray God will clear our minds, to fully understand Paul's teaching. Ephesians 1:18 "The eyes of your understanding being enlightened, that ye may know what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints," "Israel" [all the tribes] will be God's inheritance [the peculiar treasure of Exodus 19:5] on this earth. That time is at the acceptance of Jesus Christ by them. The Church is the body of Jesus Christ, and this body is Christ's inheritance in heaven. At the seventh trumpet, the entire inheritance of Christ [the Church] will dwell with Jesus Christ right here on earth. Paul is praying that you, as part of that body, or inheritance, will know the hope and riches we do have as being part of Christ's inheritance in His kingdom. If God has called you through His Spirit, and a light comes on, don't resist Him. In that calling there is eternal hope, riches, and eternal peace. Ephesians 1:19 "And what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power," You must close the eyes of the flesh, to open the eyes of the Spirit. The two simply cannot be compared. It is from the Father that we get the desire even to seek after Him. God's "power" is His help given to us. Paul is telling us, it is only by God's mighty power, or special help, given to only His own that we are able to comprehend God's mighty acts. Most of the world looks at God's work in the Bible as a series of fairy-tales, and unbelievable stories. Ephesians 1:20 "Which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places," Do you know why? Ephesians 1:21 "Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:" Get a hold of that, friend; By Christ being placed at the right hand of the Father, Jesus Christ has power over all kings and nations, and dominions, and persons in this world age, and the next. When Jesus Christ completed His work on the cross, and arose out of the tomb, God placed Him over all ---everything. Through Jesus Christ we have the power over all also, including Satan [the Antichrist], because God gave it to you. So assume the power! The authority for that authority is given to us through God's Word, but we must claim it. Ephesians 1:22 "And hath put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be the Head over all things to the church," Why the Church? Ephesians 1:23 "Which is His body, the fulness of Him That filleth all in all." Jesus Christ's true church is not a building, and it is not a denomination; but it is made up of all the true believers, with God's Holy Spirit in there hearts and minds. In Acts 2 we read of the beginning of this body of believers, who when they spoke, every one heard and understood in their own language and even in their local dialect. That body of Christ of true believers has grown, and in these last days, we are told by Joel, and Jesus in Mark 13, that it will happen again just as on the day of Pentecost. Acts 2:6,7 tell us that when the true spirit speaks, there is no confusion, "because every man heard them speak in his own language". In the Greek text, "dialektos", or as we say dialect. This is why everyone was "amazed and marvelled". That is right, right down to the very town and neighborhood they came from, and were born in. I simply haven't heard of that happening yet, but it will happen soon. The evidence of the Holy Spirit is this tongue. It is those, with the foreknowledge of what happened before, and those sons and daughters within the body of Christ that will perform at the appointed time, as it is written in Mark 13:11. Denominationalism has nothing to do with Christ's true body, but it is made up of those with the revelation, truth, wisdom, and the seal [knowledge] of the Living God. The Shepherds Chapel

156. "SIX DAYS BEFORE THE PASSOVER" (John 12:1). We are furnished by Scripture with certain facts and fixed points which, taken together, enable us (1) to determine the events which filled up the days of "the last week" of our Lord's life on earth; (2) to fix the day of His crucifixion; and (3) to ascertain the duration of the time He remained in the tomb. The difficulties connected with these three have arisen (1) from not having noted these fixed points; (2) from the fact of Gentiles' not having been conversant with the law concerning the three great feasts of the LORD; and (3) from not having reckoned the days as commencing (some six hours before our own) and running from sunset to sunset, instead of from midnight to midnight. To remove these difficulties, we must note :-- I. That the first day of each of the three feasts, Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles, was "a holy convocation", a "sabbath" on which no servile work was to be done. See Lev. 23:7, 24, 35. Cp. Ex. 12:16. "That Sabbath" and the "high day" of John 19:31, was the "holy convocation", the first day of the feast, which quite overshadowed the ordinary weekly sabbath. It was called by the Jews Yom tov ( = Good day), and this is the greeting on that day throughout Jewry down to the present time. This great sabbath, having been mistaken from the earliest times for the weekly sabbath, has led to all the confusion. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- II. This has naturally caused the further difficulty as to the Lord's statement that "even as Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights, so shall the Son of man be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights" (Matt. 12:40). Now, while it is quite correct to speak according to Hebrew idiom of "three days" or "three years", while they are only parts of three days or three years, yet that idiom does not apply in a case like this, where "three nights" are mentioned in addition to "three days". It will be noted that the Lord not only definitely states this, but repeats the full phraseology, so that we may not mistake it. See the subject fully discussed in Ap. 144. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- III. We have therefore the following facts furnished for our sure guidance : 1. The "high day" of John 19:31 was the first day of the feast. 2. The "first day of the feast" was on the 15th day of Nisan. 3. The 15th day of Nisan, commenced at sunset on what we should call the 14th. 4. "Six days before the passover" (John 12:1) takes us back to the 9th day of Nisan. 5. "After two days is the passover" (Matt. 26:2. Mark 14:1) takes us to the 13th day of Nisan. 6. "The first day of the week", the day of the resurrection (Matt. 28:1, &c.), was from our Saturday sunset to our Sunday sunset. This fixes the days of the week, just as the above fix the days of the month, for: 7. Reckoning back from this, "three days and three nights" (Matt. 12:40), we arrive at the day of the burial, which must have been before sunset, on the 14th of Nisan; i.e. before our Wednesday sunset. 8. This makes the sixth day before the passover (the 9th day of Nisan) to be our Thursday sunset to Friday sunset. Therefore Wednesday, Nisan 14th (commencing on the Tuesday at sunset), was "the preparation day", on which the crucifixion took place : for all four Gospels definitely say that this was the day on which the Lord was buried (before our Wednesday sunset), "because it was the preparation [day]" the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, "for that sabbath day was a high day", and, therefore, not the ordinary seventh day, or weekly sabbath. See John 19:31 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- IV. It follows, therefore, that the Lord being crucified on "the preparation day" could not have eaten of the Passover lamb, which was not slain until the evening of the 14th of Nisan (i.e. afternoon). On that day the daily sacrifice was killed at the 6th hour (noon) and offered about the 7th hour (1 p.m.). The killing of the Passover lambs began directly afterwards. Thus it is clear, that if the killing of the Passover lambs did not commence until about four hours after our Lord had been hanging upon the Cross, and would not have been concluded at the ninth hour (3 p.m.) when "He gave up the ghost;" -- no "Passover lamb" could have been eaten at the "last supper" on the previous evening. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- V. With these facts before us, we are now in a position to fill in the several days of the Lord's last week with the events recorded in the Gospels. By noting that the Lord returned to Bethany (or to the Mount of Olives) each night of that week, we are able to determine both the several days and the events that took place in them. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- THE SIXTH DAY BEFORE THE PASSOVER, THE 9TH DAY OF NISAN. (Our Thursday sunset to Friday sunset) MATTHEW. MARK. LUKE. JOHN. The Lord approaches Jerusalem from Jericho ............. 19:1-10 He passes our Thursday night at the house of Zacchaeus 19:5 And delivers the Parable of the Pounds 19:11-27 He proceeds toward Jerusalem 19:28 He sends two disciples (apenanti) for an "***" and a "colt" (two animals) 21:1-7 And makes His first entry from Bethphage (not Bethany) (Ap. 153) 21:8, 9 He is unexpected, and they ask "Who is this?" 21:10, 11 He cleanses the Temple 21:12-16 He returns to Bethany 21:17 12:1 THE FIFTH DAY BEFORE THE PASSOVER, THE 10TH DAY OF NISAN. (Our Friday sunset to Saturday sunset.) The Lord passes the Sabbath at Bethany; and after sunset (on our Saturday), the first of three suppers was made, probably at the house of Lazarus, in Bethany (Ap. 157) ............. .............. ................. 12:2 At this supper the first of two anointings took place (Ap. 158) 12:3-11 THE FOURTH DAY BEFORE THE PASSOVER, THE 11TH DAY OF NISAN. (Our Saturday sunset to Sunday sunset), the Gentile "Palm Sunday". The second, or triumphal entry into Jerusalem. He sends two disciples (katenanti) for a colt (one animal). See Ap. 153 ............... 11:1-7 19:29-35 12:12- The Lord starts from Bethany (not Bethphage) and is met by multitudes from Jerusalem (Ap. 153). 1:8-10 19:36-40 12:12-19 He weeps over the city. 19:41-44 He enters the Temple, looks around. 11:11- And Returns to Bethany. 11:11 THE THIRD DAY BEFORE THE PASSOVER, THE 12TH DAY OF NISAN (Our Sunday sunset to Monday sunset). In the morning (our Monday a.m.) the Lord returns to Jerusalem. 21:18 11:12 The Fig-tree cursed. 21:19-22 11:13, 14 The Temple. Further cleansing. 11:15-17 19:45, 46 In the Temple. Further teaching. "Certain Greeks". 19:47- 12:20-50 Opposition of Rulers. 11:18 19:-47, 48 He goes out of the city (probably to Bethany; see Luke 21:37, 38, below). 11:19 THE SECOND DAY BEFORE THE PASSOVER, THE 13TH DAY OF NISAN. (Our Monday sunset to Tuesday sunset). In the morning (our Tuesday a.m.) on the way to Jerusalem, the question of the disciples about the Fig Tree. 11:20-26 ............. In Jerusalem again; and in the Temple. 21:23-27 11:27-33 20:1-8 In Jerusalem teaching in Parables; and questions. 21:28-23:39 12:1-44 20:9-21:4 The first great prophecy, in the Temple (Ap. 155). 21:5-36 (Parenthetical statement as to the Lord's custom during this week). 21:37, 38 The second great prophecy, on the Mount of Olives. 24:1-51 13:1-37 The second great prophecy, continued (Ap. 155). 25:1-46 "After two days is the Passover". 26:1-5 14:1, 2 He returns to Bethany, and is present at the second supper in the house of Simon the leper. The second Anointing. See Ap. 157 and 158. 26:6-13 14:3-9 THE DAY BEFORE THE PASSOVER -- THE 14TH DAY OF NISAN -- "THE PREPARATION DAY" -- THE DAY OF THE CRUCIFIXION. (Our Tuesday sunset to Wednesday sunset). The plot of Judas Iscariot to betray the Lord. 26:14-16 14:10, 11 22:1-6 The "preparation" for the last supper (*1). 26:17-19 14:12-16 22:7-13 "The even was come" (our Tuesday after sunset) when the plot for the betrayal was ripe for execution. 26:20 14:17 The last supper, commencing with the washing of the feet. 13:1-20 The announcement of the betrayal, &c. 26:21-25 14:18-21 13:21-30 The supper eaten, the "New Covenant" made (Jer. 31:31). The lamb abolished, bread and wine substituted. 26:26-29 14:22-25 22:14-23 The first prophecy of Peter's denials (Ap. 160). 13:31-38 The strife; who should be the greatest, &c. 22:24-30 The second prophecy of Peter's denials (Ap. 160). 22:31-34 The final appeal to His first commission (Luke 9:3). 22:35-38 The last discourse to the eleven, followed by His prayer. 14:1-17:26 They go to Gethsemane. 26:30-35 14:26-29 22:39 18:1 The third prophecy of Peter's denials (Ap. 160). 14:30, 31 The agony in the garden. 26:36-46 14:32-42 22:40-46 The apprehension of the Lord (Ap. 165). 26:47-56 14:43-50 22:47-54 18:2-11 The escape of Lazarus (see notes on Mark 14:51, 52). 14:51, 52 The trials: continued throughout our Tuesday night. 26:57-27:31 14:53-15:19 22:54-23:25 18:12-19:13 About the sixth hour (our Tuesday midnight) Pilate said "Behold your King". 19:14, 15 Led away to be crucified. 27:31-34 15:20-23 23:26-31 19:16, 17 And "led with Him" two "malefactors" (kakourgoi) (Ap. 164). 23:32, 33 19:18 Discussion with Pilate about the Inscriptions (Ap. 168). 19:19-22 The dividing of the garments. 27:35-37 15:24 23:34 19:23, 24 "It was the third hour, and they crucified Him" (our 9 a.m. Wednesday). 15:25, 26 "Then were there two robbers" (lestai) crucified with Him" (Ap. 164). 27:38 15:27, 28 The revilings of the rulers, both "robbers", and one "malefactor". 27:39-44 15:29-32 23:35-43 The Lord's mother and John. 19:25, 27 "The sixth hour" (our Wednesday noon) and the darkness (Ap. 165). 27:45-49 15:33 23:44, 45 "The ninth hour" (our Wednesday 3 p.m.) and the expiring cry (Ap. 165). 27:50 15:34-37 23:46 19:28-30 Subsequent events 27:51-56 15:38-41 23:47-49 19:31-37 Buried in haste before sunset (our Wednesday about 6 p.m.), before the "high day" (the first day of the Feast began), our Wednesday sunset. 27:57-66 15:42-47 23:50-56 19:38-42 "THE FIRST DAY OF THE FEAST" - "THE HIGH DAY" (Yom tov) - THE 15TH DAY OF NISAN. (Our Wednesday sunset to Thursday sunset.) THE FIRST NIGHT AND FIRST DAY IN THE TOMB. THE SECOND DAY OF THE FEAST - THE 16TH DAY OF NISAN. (Our Thursday sunset to Friday sunset.) THE SECOND NIGHT AND SECOND DAY IN THE TOMB. THE THIRD DAY OF THE FEAST - "THE (WEEKLY) SABBATH" - THE 17TH DAY OF NISAN (Our Friday sunset to Saturday sunset.) THE THIRD NIGHT AND THIRD DAY IN THE TOMB. "THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK" - THE 18TH DAY OF NISAN (Our Saturday sunset : "the third day" of Matt. 16:21, &c.; not the third day of the Feast.) Thus the Resurrection of the Lord took place at our Saturday sunset or thereabouts on "the third day"; cp. "after three days" (Matt. 27:63. Mark 8:31.). 28:1-10 16:1-18 24:1-49 20:1-23 [For the sequence of events connected with and following the Resurrection, see Ap. 166.] It will be seen from the above that we have neither power nor authority to alter or shift any day or date; or to change the order or position of any of the events recorded in the Holy Writ. Each day is marked by a return to Bethany during the last week (up to the Preparation Day); and each day is filled with the recorded events. It follows, therefore, that the Lord was crucified on our Wednesday; was buried on that day before sunset; and remained "three days and three nights" in the tomb, as foretold by Him in Matt. 12:40; rising from the dead on "the third day", "the first day of the week". The fixed days and dates, at either end, hold the whole period as in a vice, and place the whole subject on a sure foundation. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (*1) The words in Mark 14:12 and Luke 22:7 refer to "the first day of unleavened bread", which was the 14th day of Nisan, and therefore "the preparation day". That is why the Lord goes on to tell the two disciples to go and make preparation for the Passover. The Shepherds Chapel

Jesus knew what was going to happen to us in the latter days, this generation. He knew that God's children would still be doing what they were doing when he was teaching in the temple. He knew thay weren't going to find out what happened in the first earth age. How Satan drew a third of God's children (stars) away, from him and they started worshiping Satan, They were all in their spiritual bodies, then. They don't know that they were there, also, They don't know that Satan wanted to sit on the Throne himself, and not be a cherbum, any more, His job was to cover the mercy seat, and he felt he was to good for that. Revelation 12:1 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: ( The woman is Mother Eve, the moon is Satan, the twelve stars are the twelve tribes of Israel.) (2) And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. (She was to give birth to Jesus Christ) (3) And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. ( This is Satan waiting to destroy Jesus). (4) And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. (5) And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne. (Jesus came , died on the cross, was ressurected, and now sits at the right hand of God.) We need to find out what happened in the Garden of Eden, in order to understand what Satan did there, before we can understand who Jesus was talking to in John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him, When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. Who was the FIRST murder? CAIN! Cain slew Able didn't he? Adam was not the type of father who was full of evil. Look at how many times Jesus has warned us about the "TARES"!!!! Jesus is definetly tellin us something. Matthew 13:25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed "tares" among the wheat, and went his way. Matthew 13:26 But the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the "tares". Matthew 13:27 So the servents of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it "tares"? Matthew 13:29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the "tares, ye root up also the wheat with them, Matthew 13:30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn. Matthew 13:36 Then Jesus sent the multifude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the "tares" of the field. Matthew 13:38 The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the "tares are the children of the wicked one; We need to know who the wicked one is, and we need to find out who is the Father of Cain. Genesis Chapter3:1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? (He's asking her a question with a question, He's slick) Remember God told this to Adam, NOT Eve. (2) And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: (3) But the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. (Where did she get (TOUCH) from? What is she lookiing at? Check out where he was, he was in the midst of the Garden. God never mentioned to Adam about a tree, in the midst of the Garden. Don't forget God uses symbology sometimes when he's telling us something, The tree is the symbology of a man. Have you ever drew a tree with arms, and the roots where the legs? (4) And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: (he's slick) (5) For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. (6) And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her: and he did eat. (She's not looking at a tree She's looking at Satan, that old dragon, the devil, the serpent, DEFACTO, He is there in the Garden looking at her and seducing her!! Not only that, Adam participated in the act also, Uh Oh! I guess we know what the "thereof" is. (7) And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves to gether, and made themselves aprons. (They didn't cover their mouths, they covered their private parts, there was no apple involved in this at all. As a matter of fact, the word apple is not even in Chapter 3. The traditions of man, will mislead you, if you listen to him.) (Remember when Jesus told us to learn the parable of the Fig Tree? They were in the Fig Grove.) Now God has looked for them, and they were hiding, from him, and they tell him they hid because they were naked. He wants to know how they know. Adam puts it on God for giving him the women, and then he put's it on Eve, because she gave it to him. (13) And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat. (know what beguiled means in the Greek, seduced, she was wholly seduced, A Strong's Concordance Dictionary, will help you out with the Hebrew and Greek definitions. You can find it on the Web. (14) And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: (God told him that he would be lower than a snakes belly, Have you ever met any one like that? He would be nothing but the scum of the earth, Have you ever watched a snake when he's after his prey? (15) And I will put enmity betwen thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. (Wait a minute, Did God say "thy seed," satan's seed, and the woman's seed. Is he telling us that Eve has concieved, a child by Satan? (16) Unto the woman he said, I will greatly myltiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. (Yes God has confirmed it , "thy conception", Eve has concieved, and she hasn't known Adam yet. Now we have to go to Chapter 4) Genesis 4:1 And Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD. (2) And she again bare his brother Abel. And Able was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. (Now let's look at this, Eve gave birth to twins, NOT maternal twins, but paternal twins, they had different fathers. Ask any doctor about this and they will confirm it for you, Can a woman have twins by two different men). Lucifer, that old devil, the serpent , the snake, the wicked one, is the Father of Cain!!! Eve did not have sex with a snake, she was seduced by Satan himself. He was standing in the middle of the Garden, looking at her, and beguiling her, If you look up Adam's geneaology, you will not find Cain listed as his son start in verse 25 of this book. The Father of Cain is Satan. The "tares" are the children of Cain. The name of the "tares", are Kenites, the offspring of Cain. Do they exist today? Yes they do, They are in control of the four hidden dynasties, Religion, Politics, Education, Finances, in the book of Revelation. They claim to be from the tribe of Judah, but they are not. See what Jesus has to say about them, when tells us about the Church of Smyrna, and the Church of Philadelphia. He makes it clear about who they are hiding behind, The Jews, they are not of the tribe of Judah, they are the sons and daughters of the Satan, Cain. See The Shepherds Chapel

Jesus was spoken of in the book of Psalms by David in chapter 8. We know that David was the father of Jesus, because Jesus came through the seed of David. Our Father told us about the comming of Jesus, 1000 years before he was born. Psalms 8:4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? (5) For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and has crowned him with glory and honour. (6) Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: We are told again, by Paul, in the book of Hebrews 2:7, Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands: (9) But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for th suffering of death, crwoned with glory and honour; that he by grace of God should taste of death for every man Jesus wasn't given any special treatment, he knew what was going to happen, and he was hurt because he knew what was in the cup of God's wrath. Luke 22:42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. (43) And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. (44) And being in agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. Jesus had warned them over and over again what was going to happen in the latter days. In our days, the generation of the fig tree. The people didn't accept him then, because they thought he was there to become their King. He was letting them know that he was there to defeat death, (Satan), and that he was going to return. But in the meantime , there was going to be a lot of things that had to happen before he came back. He was not only teaching to them, he was also teaching us, telling us what to be aware of the times, watch and pray, because all these things are comming to pass just like he said. We need to know what the Church of Smyrna, and the church of Philadelphia, is teaching, and follow their teachings. If you know who the Kenites are, and you have the key of David, then you are among God's Elect, because they are the ones who will not be fooled by the Anti-christ, when he comes and sit in Jerusalem, along with his fallen angels. Jesus knew that a lot of God's children were going to be a part of the apostasy, (falling away from Christ), and following the ant-christ, when he comes. A great majority of them who believe in the "RAPTURE THEORY", are going to be satan's biggest followers. Why? because they listened to the traditions of men. and not Our Father's word. Satan is on the first white horse in Revelation 6:2, And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer. (Satan is going to have a good time fooling God's children, because they didn't read that he was to come first). Paul warns us in , 2Thessalonians 2.1 Now we becheech you brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, (Christ is coming here, we are not going to be flying awaying, There is no Rapture!) (2) That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. (3) Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; (Satan, the son of perdition, is going to be sitting in Jerusalem pretending to be Jesus, and a lot of people are going to be following him, that's the falling away). (4) Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. (5) Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? (6) And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed, in his time. (7) For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. (Michael is going to kick him and his fallen angels out of heaven). They are going to be here on earth for five months. Deceiving as many people as they can with their false doctrines. (8) And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming, (All right!!! This is when Jesus comes as KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS !!!! All will be changed into spiritual bodies, the good, the bad, and the ugly (smile) The Shepherds Chapel

Jesus knew that it was time for him to be crucified, because he was to become our PASSOVER. He knew that Satan was going to enter Judas surnamed Iscariot, in order for Judas to betray him. He had already made arrangements for the killing of the passover lamb, (Luke 22:11) And ye shall say unto the goodman of the house, The Master saith unto thee, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples? His disciples did as he said, (14) And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him. (15) And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you BEFORE I SUFFER. (16) For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God (Notice they are called (apostles). They have graduated from disciples, to apostles. Jesus tells them that this must be done in order for him to return, at the second advent. Which will take place during our generation. Those of us who are on this earth right now will witness his second comming, but there are things that must take place before he comes. He's not only talking to his apostles about praying, he's also talking to us! (40) And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation. (He's telling us to pray, because of what's in the cup.) (41) And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, (He was not too far from them, he was just a stone's cast away). (42) Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine will, be done. Jesus knew he had to be crucified, in order to defeat death, (meaning Satan), he was here to save God's children from eternal death. He had to put all of their sins on that cross with him, in order for them to have salvation. He was so hurt for God's children, because they didn't understand what was in the cup. He knew they weren't reading his Fathers word in the LAST GENERATION. He was praying that there would be another way to do this. DO YOU KNOW WHAT IS IN THAT CUP? DO YOU KNOW THAT WHAT'S IN THAT CUP IS FOR THIS GENERATION. THE END TIMES? THE LAST GENERATION TO BE ON THIS EARTH? THAT GENERATION IS US, WE ARE THE GENERATION OF THE FIG TREE!!. WE BECAME THAT GENERATION, WHEN ISRAEL BECAME A NATION IN 1948. If you are one of GOD'S ELECT, you don't have to worry about entering into temptation. God's Elect know what's in that cup. They have eyes to see, and ears to hear . ARE YOU ONE OF GOD'S ELECT? All you have to do is read your Father's word, and don't listen to the TRADITIONS OF MEN. If you believe in the RAPTURE THEORY, then you need to pray to your Father, and ask him to show you the truth about this BIG LIE. The word "Rapture" is not in the Bible. Do you know where it came from? In the year 1830, a woman named Margaret McDonald was ill, and had dreams about the comming of Jesus, she shared this with numerous people, and they in their desperation for something exciting to add to their beliefs, took her stories, and ran away with them. Preachers during that time were no different from preachers now. They are always looking for a new way to worship, if it brings in the money, then it's a sure thing. From the year 1830 to the year 2005, is (175) years. Man has been preaching, and teaching that false comming of Christ, and people have been eating it up, because they were too lazy to open the Bible and read for themselves, what our Father really has to say. If you would like to read about it for yourself, and recieve your Father's blessing for taking the time out to see how Satan has been deceiving God's children for so many years. Then this is the proof you need. THE INCREDIBLE COVER-UP Exposing the Origins of Rapture Theories Dave MacPherson Foreword by Dr. James McKeever. Omega Publications P.O Box 4130 Medford, Oregon 97501 ISBN #0-93160-806-6 The Price is 8.99. Our Father enjoys it when his children, take the time to find out about what he said, and what he didn't say. Let's read what Jesus said in, Matthew 26:39, And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. (40) And he cometh unto the desiciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? (Are you one of his disciples, are you watching, for that one hour? Did you know that, that (one hour) for us, is the five months that Satan is going to be here on earth? SEE: Revelation 9:5 And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man. (Torment means to decieve). Are you gong to be taken in by Satan's lies, and believe that he is truly Jesus, when he comes and try to make you think he is here to take you away. DON'T BE DECIEVED BY HIS LIES! Revelation 9:10 And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months. He's telling us again, be aware of Satan and his fallen angels, when they come to this earth. Did you know that Michael is the one who is going to kick him and his buddies out of heaven? (41) Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is wiling, but the flesh is weak. Matthew 26:42 He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done. Matthew 26:44 And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. Jesus wanted to drink from the cup himself, he knew we had been warned by "Daniel" the "prophet". Jesus warned us about Satan in, Matthew 24:15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) Do you understand? Do you understand that Satan, the ant-christ, the dragon, the serpent, the devil, must come first , and sit in Jerusalem pretending to be Jesus. He is going to look like Jesus, act like Jesus, talk like Jesus, but he will be nothing but a FAKE! Jesus told us in Mark 13:14, But ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the moutains: Want to know what Daniel was talkingabout? Read the book of Daniel, and pay attention to Nebcuchadnezzar, what he does, and how he is brought down to size. Also pay attention to the three in the burning furnace, they are a type of God's Elect. Our Father is letting us know that everything that happened in the past is, is happening again in this generation. Have you heard that there's nothing new under the sun? Then check out Ecclesiates 1:14, The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. Don't try to go to Jerusalem, We are going to see this on every televison station, on the internet, every means of communication that we have, Satan and his cronies are going to be on it, telling you to just believe in them, everything is going to be ok. They are going to give you anything you want, anything, you need. All you have to is worship him. Take a look at all the religions, denominations, false teachers, false preachers, and false churches, we have all over this world. All the people who don't know the real truth about him today, are going to worship him (Satan). Why? Because they have been listening to the Traditions of Men! If you are one of God's the disiciiples, or God's Elect, who are studying with the church of (Smyrna), and the church of (Philadelphia), then you don't have to worry about the hour of temptation, (the five months). Did you know that God's Elect are going to be given the opportunity, to be delivered up before death, (Satan), to testify against him? We are not to premeditate, what we are going to say, because the Holy Spirit is going to be speaking for us just like it was on the day of Pentecost. This is what Jesus told us in Mark, You'll understand better, if you read the whole chapter of Mark. Mark 13:11 But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost. If you want know what happened on that day, you must read ACTS CHAPTER 2!!! Remember what Joel the prophet said? You must read the book of (JOEL). Joel is also telling us about, the offspring of Cain, yes Cains's children, The Kenites. iF YOU WANT TO KNOW, IF YOU ARE ONE OF GOD'S ELECT? See: The Shepherds Chapel

The children of Judah, were under Persian rule, after being taken into captivity by Nebuchadneezar, the king of babylon. (Remember where Daniel was?) Nehemiah means (consolation of the Lord). Son fo Hachaliah, and from the tribe of Judah. Nehemiah was at Shushan, in the high office as the cupbearer of King Artaxerxes Longimanus. From 445 to 433 B.C., (12 years.) Certain Jews came from Judea, and gave Nehemiah a deplorable account of the state of Jerusalem. Nehemiah knew this was God's most favorite place in the world, and he understood that the reason why the children of Israel, were sent into captivity, was because of disobedience to God. God sent ten tribes to the North. The tribe of Judah and Benjamin remained near, and in Jerusalem. The king and his wife loved Nehemiah, because he was loyal, and he was chosen to drink from the kings cup, before the king drank out of it. You had to be in pretty goood standings with the king, in order to be in that position. God saw to it that Nehemiah was in that position. God is always in control. Nehemiah's prayer was history, and prophecy, his prayer is also for us today. Israel became a nation again, in 1948, and the same things that where going on then, is still going on now! The wall in the latter days is God's wall, being built up around his children today. Take a look around you, is God's wall around us in the nations today? Are we proud to say that we are Christians? with out being embarrased, made fun of, ridiculed, and just simply ignored? We are letting the word "God" be taken out of schools, the church's are teaching anything but God's word, being a Christian has become a bad word. Christianity, has become a taboo. We are having to have, more respect, for other religions, and not our own. God is not pleased with his children at all. This time when he rebuilds Jerusalem, we are not going to be in flesh bodies, we will be in spiritual bodies. But first he is going to let Satan himself, come and deceive as many of these so-called christians, as he can. NEHEMIAH'S PRAYER IS FOR THIS GENERATION, THE GENERATION OF THE FIG TREE!! Take a look at who was giving Nehemiah, such a hard time! Sanballat, and Tobiah, we still have the same type of people today giving God's children, a hard time. They are in the four hidden dynasties, of today, Religion, Politics, Finance, and Education. We know that today, it's the Kenites, (the sons of Cain), who are behind all of the turmoil. Jesus warned us about the tares in Matthew chapter 13. The Kenites are the Tares! Matthew 13:34, All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them: (You have to be one of God's Elect to understand what Jesus is talking about). Are you one of God's Elect? Do you have eyes to see? or ears to hear? Or are you going to stick with the traditions of men? (35) That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world. (You must know what happened in the very beginning, how satan has been at work trying to take over the God's throne, he drew a 1/3 of God's children away from God, and (God destroyed the FIRST earth age)that old serpent tried to destroy the seed line, through which Jesus, would come, by seducing Eve in the garden, and producing Cain, then he sent his fallen angels to mix with the daughter's of Adam, and produced Giants, God brought about the flood of Noah to get rid of them, then Satan continued to try to pollute the seed line by trying ever trick he could to decieve God's children. Remember how he tried to take JOB? He wasn't afraid to tempt Jesus in the wilderness. He just wants to win a loosing battle. He knows he has been condemed to death, he could care less about your soul or mine. The minute we rebuke him, he goes to work. He uses his children to bring about his work, along with his evil spirit! BE ALERT! Satan and his children, the Kenites are still at work! Jesus is telling us to pay attention! (36) Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came to him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field. (37) He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; (38) The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; (The Kenites). Cain's offspring! (39) The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. (40) As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. Nehemiah is praying for this generation. because a lot of God's children, don't know who the kenites are, they don't study God's word. They just listen to what man says. God is trying to reach his children, but they are not listening, to him. This is what Nehemiah had to say them. Nehemiah 2:18 Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king's words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work. (19) But Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said, What is this thing that ye do? will ye rebel against the king? (20) Then answered I them, and said unto them, The God of heaven, he will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build: but ye have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem. Our Father is calling a people to stand against the firey darts of satan, are you one of them? Will you fight against Satan and his fallen angels, against his children, the Kenites? The enemy was in God's house trying to run things, and Nehemiah had to straghten them out! He prayed to God, and God said this is what I want , I'm behind you 100%.

Daniel, had been shown what was going to happen in this generation, the latter days, which is now. It is history to us, but, it is also prophesy. Solomon told us in the book of Ecclesiastes 1:9, What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun. Paul reminded us in, 1 Corinthians 10:6, Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not **** after evil things, as they also lusted. He tells us again, in verse (11), Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. God is telling us to watch!, stop reading his words as if it just history, what your'e reading is going to happen again. Only this time the real King of Bablylon, is the Anti-christ himself. Satan. He is going to be sitting in Jerusalem pretending to be Jesus, and deceiveing the whole world, the only ones he will not fool is God's Elect. Daniel's vision in chapter 8, for this generation, was so much like what he was going through, he became puzzled, and then when he was shown what was going to happen after it came to pass in this generation, He couldn't eat or sleep. In chapter 8:10, And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them. (This is Satan and his fallen angels comming down to earth, and taking over). (11) Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his santuary was cast down. (People are going to stop waiting for The Real Jesus, because Satan is going to have them thinking he is Jesus. (12) And an host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practised, and prospered. (He is going to have a host of people following him People are going to be transgressing God's law, Thou shall have no other gods before me.) Not only is he going to have the fallen angels, helping him, he is also going to have the Kenites, (the offspring of Cain), Yes, that old Serpent in the garden, was Cains father, and Cain has children, called the Kenites, here on earth, controlling the four hidden dynasties, religion, politics, finance, and education, remember the (four beast?) We all know that Eve did not eat an apple in the garden, right? (13) Then I heard one sain speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saing which spake, How long shallbe the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot. (Daniel is asking them, long is this going to go on?, How long is it going to be until Christ comes and trodden the devil and his no good gang, under foot. (Remember what God said to the serpent, in Genesis, chapter 3:15, And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shall bruise his heel.) Christ is comming to bruise Satan's head! Let's get back to Daniel and see how long! (14) And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed. How many days is that? 5 months-five months!! Jesus told us, in Matthew 24:22, And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. He tells us again, in Mark 13:20, And except that the Lord had shortened those day, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days. Even in 1 Timothy 2:10, Timothy mentions the elects. Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. John, tells in Revelation 9:5, And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man. Do you know how a scorpion eats his food? He injects his poision in to the the victims body, and the body rots from the insid out, he then sucks the inside out of the body, and eats it. God is telling us that Satan is going to inject his poision into your mind, with lies, and sweet talk, giving you anything you want, and melting your mind to the point , that you are going to believe he is the Real Jesus. John, tells us again in Revelation 9:10, And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months. Now back to Daniel! (15) And it came to pass, when I, even I Daniel, had seen the vision, and sought for the meaning, then, behold there stood before me as the appearance of a man. (16) And I heard a man's voice between the banks of Ulai, which called, and said Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision. (The angel is going to tell Daniel the same thing, only he is going to tell it to him with another example.) In chapters (17 - 26), he is confirming Daniel's vision. But he tell's him to close the book because the time is not yet, (26) And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told is true wherefore shut thou up the vision; for it shall be for many days. Those many days are now, in this generation! Daniel's book is open. Are you one of God's Elect? Do you have eyes to see and ears to hear? That's why Daniel became sick, and couldn't eat, he saw us doing the same things, that was happening then, we weren't listening to what God had warned us about. He used Pharoah, Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar's grandson, Belshazzar, Alaxander , all of these men were examples of the anti-christ, God was letting us know by letting it happen over and over again, that this is how the latter days are going to go down. Only this time, it is going to be Satan himself. DANIEL'S PRAYER WAS FOR US!!!!!! HE HAD SEEN WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN IN THIS GENERATION. THE GENERATION OF THE FIG TREE! ISRAEL BECAME A NATION ON MAY 15, 1948. What year were you born! Daniel Chapter 9:3, And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes: (4) And I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him and to them that keep his commandments; (5) We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgements: (6) Neither have we hearkened unto thy servants the prophets, which spake in thy name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land. (7) O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto thee, but unto us confusion of faces, as at this day; to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and unto all Israel, that are near, and that are far off, through all the countries wither thou hast driven them, because of their trespass that they have trepassed against thee. (8) O Lord, to us belongeth confusion of face, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against thee. From verses (9 -20), Daniel continues to pray for our sins, and for God to not let this thing happen, So in verse 21, he get's an answer from Gabriel himself, Gabriel tells him in 22 that he has come to give him skill and understanding. In verse 23 he tells Daniel that his prayer was heard from the moment he had spoken, Daniel had waited for 70 days to hear from the LORD, Gabriel tells him how much he is loved and begins to tell him about hte vision, he had. In verses 24 - 27, he confirms Daniel's vision again. Yes it's true Daniel, this is what's going to happen. Daniel really wants God's children to read, and listen to their Father's word The Shepherds Chapel

The book of "Daniel" is an overlay of the book of "Revelation". Daniel saw what was going to happen to "The generation of the Fig Tree". We became that generation, when Israel became a nation on May 15, 1948. (See Mark 13.) Christ told us to learn "The Parable of the Fig Tree". WE ARE THE FINAL GENERATION!! Daniel means, God is my Judge, or Judge of God. "Dan" is judge and "El" is Hebrew for "God". (See Strong's Concordance #1841). All of Daniel's prophecy was given when the tribe of Judah,"Jews", where in captivity in Babylon. Daniel saw the "FINALE GENERATION", (meaning us today) going into another captivity to the end time King of Babylon, which today is "CONFUSION" whom he is warning us, that is to say, The anti-christ himself, Satan. Whatever Nebuchadnezzar do, the anti-christ is going to do things similar to that. Daniel 1 (1) In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalm, and besieged it. (This was in the year 497 B.C., Daniel was 16 years old) (2) And the LORD gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god. ( God, says this in Jeremiah 27:6, about Nebuchadnezzar, "And now I have given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant; and the beasts of the field have I given him".)Why did God do this? Because,Jechoniah, made a covenant with king Nebuchadnezzer, and he broke it. Then he (Jeconiah), went to Egypt, to get them to fight against king Nebuchanezzer, and God didn't like it. God uses whomsoever he wishes to, to get his job done. Just Like he is going to use Satan, the anti-christ in the latter days to see who will follow Satan or who will follow God. From the looks of it, there are going to be a lot of those who believe in 'THE RAPTURE THEORY"trying to get to Jerusalem, when Satan is there pretending to be Jesus. God has given him and his fallen angels (5), fives months, to deceive as many as they can, before the "TRUE CHRIST" comes. (3) And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king's seed, and of the princes; (4) Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding in science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king's palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans. Nebuchanezzar loved knowledge, and he wanted the best of the flock from Judah, to attend school, because Babylon was the capital of learning and law, for the world. They needed to be able to speak the language, and be able to handle Nebuchednezzar's business. The four of them were to eat what the king ate, and drink the wine he drank. They were to be taken care of, for three years, and then be brought before the king. The prince of the eunuchs gave them new names, (Daniel was Belteshazzar), (Hananiah was Shadrach), (Mishael was Meshach), and (Azariah was Abednego). Daniel asked, asked not to be fed what the king ordered them to eat, because he didn't want to defile himself, instead he asked for pulse to eat and water to drink for ten days. (they were unblemished when they came, and they wanted to remain that way). (17) As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. (18) Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. (19) And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king. (20) And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm. ( This is NOT the type of people that Satan is going to be looking for when he comes, and sits in Jerusalem, for that five months, These type of people are called 'GOD'S ELECT', in the latter days.) Are you one of God's Elect?, do you know what God's overall plan is? This is why Daniel was praying for the children of Israel, and all the nations, God was showing Daniel just how it was going to happen to us today. Are you one of the 7,000 who will not bow a knee to Satan? (Seven means spiritual completeness). Or has man got you believing in the RAPTURE THEORY? No one is going to be flying away. Daniel is telling us not to listen to the Traditions of Men. (See Ezekiel, 13:20, God speaking) Wherefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against your pillows, wherewith ye there hunt the souls to make them fly, and I will tear them from your arms, and will let the souls go, even the souls that ye hunt to make them fly.) Now you know if God has said it, it is definetly true. NO ONE IS GOING TO FLY UP OUT OF HERE!! Daniel 2 (1) And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, wherewith his spirit was troubled, and his sleep brake from him. (2) Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and Chaldeans, for to shew the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king. (These are the types of people Satan is going to be looking for when he comes and sit in Jerusalem for the five months. All the false teachers, the false preachers, drug dealers, fortune tellers, those who can't pay their bills, need a new house? a new car?, He's going to put a chicken in every pot, if you worship him. All of the religions of the world, are going to believe he is their god. This is not going to happen to God's Elect, they are going to be just like Daniel and his friends. They know who he really is and they are not going to be deceived, by Satan and his cronies. We know he's going to be here to steal all the souls he can, because he wants them to go to the pit with him! I pray that you are not one of the ones who will be deceived by him. (13) And the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain; and they sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain. (17) Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions: (18) That they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with rest of the wise men of Babylon. (19) Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven. (This is what we all should do when we don't understand something, go to your Father in heaven. Ask him to tell you the secret, ask him to open your eyes, and your ears, give you wisdom and understanding, to know what his plan is for the last generation. He's going to show Daniel and we are going to see what it is he's telling us also. Keep in mind that whatever happened in Daniel's time is going to happen to this last generation. You have to study all of Daniel to understand his reason for praying the way he did. Daniel was seeing what was going to happen to us, "The Generation of the Fig Tree", in the latter days. Chapter 1- Daniel's Captivity and Learning Chapter 2- Dream of Nebuchadnezzar Chapter 3- Daniel's Companions in the Fiery Furnace Chapter 4- A Great Tree Chapter 5- The Final Doom Chapter 6- The Lion's Den Chapter 7- Blueprint for the Book of Revelation Chapter 8- The Vision of the Two Beast Chapter 9- The Desolation of Jerusalem Chapter 10- Vision of the Spiritual War-Latter Days Chapter 11- The Kings of the Future Chapter 12- The Sealing of the Book until the Ends Times The End Times are now, and Daniel's Book is wide open, It has been "UNSEALED" !!!! The Shepherds's Chapel

The reason we flee from God, is because we don't know what his plan is. We listen to the Traditions of Man, and are mislead, we have gone to church all of our lives, just to hear one or two verses, from the preacher, and then wait for him, or her to tell us a story about his or her life. We are told over and over again, that all we have to do is get saved, love Jesus, love one another, and then get ready to fly out of here. Don't forget to pay the church your tithes, then go home, still ignorant to God's word. Some of feeling worst than they did before they went to church. Jesus told us through John, in the book of Revelation, what it was that we are to be aware of. He saw only two churches, that were teaching HIS WORD. Neither, of the two churches were teaching that we are going to be "RAPTURED UP" out of here. We have been told that for so many generations by man, that WE DON'T EVEN BOTHER TO CHECK OT WHAT MAN IS TELLING US. We have the bad habit of saying if the PREACHER said it, it must be true. Take a look around you, look at all the so called PREACHERS, TEACHERS,and SCHOLARS of today. We don't have any prophets or prophetess, walking on this earth todayl All of our prophets are in the Bible. This is what God told (Ezekiel) the PROPHET to propehsy against. Ezekiel 13:(1) And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying , (2) Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel that prophesy, and say thou unto them that prophesy out of their own hearts, Hear ye the word of the LORD; (3) Thus saith the Lord God; Woe unto the foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing! The preachers and teachers tell you what theythink, God does not like it! (4) O Israel, thy prophets are like the foxes in the deserts: Do you know who the foxes are?, (The Kenites!) He's not just talkng to the land of Israel, he's talking to the children of Israel. Do you know where they are today? They are among all the Chrisrian Nations of today, U.S., CANADA, GREAT BRITAIN, these are just a few of the nations, they are all over the world, have you been paying attention to what's happing to the christians, around the world? And yet we have all of these false prophets, TEACHERS, PREACHERS, telling us you don't have to understand the book of Revelation, your'e not going to be here, God is against that lie! (5) Ye have not gone up into the gaps, neither made up the hedge for the house of Israel to stand in the battle in the day of the LORD. He's telling them that they have not prepared his children, for the comming of the Anti-christ, The Son of Perdition, the devil, satan, that old dragon, He is the one on THE FIRST WHITE HORSE, in the book of Revelation. He is going to sit in Jerusalem, pretending to be Jesus, for 5 months. God has warned us in the OLD TESTAMENT, about what shall come to pass. This is going to happen on the LORDS DAY. In this generation, The generation of the Fig Tree! (6) They have seen vanity and lying divination, saying, The LORD saith: and the LORD hath not sent them: and they have made others to hope that they would confirm the word. He's telling them that they are in pulpits telling people that GOD said this, and GOD said that, when God didn't even send them. Then, they have you to confirm what they said, by saying AMEN, and we, out of our ignorance of God's word agree with preacher, and say amen! (7) Have ye not seen a vain vision, and have ye not spoken a lying divination, whereas ye say, The LORD saith it; albeit I have not spoken?. (He's telling you that he (God) did not say it, nor did he tell the preacher to say it.)The preacher, or teacher, came up with a couple verses, and told you what he thinks, all in the name of the church.) (8) Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because ye have spoken vanity, and seen lies, therefore, behold I am against you, saith the Lord GOD. (9) And mine hand shall be upon the prophets that see vanity, and that divine lies: they shall not be in the assembly of my people, neither shall they be written in the writing of the house of Israel, neither shall they enter into the land of Israel; and ye shall know that I am the Lord GOD. ( They will not enter into the Kingdom of God, because they mislead his children, with their lies.) (10) Because, even because they have seduced my people, saying, Peace; and there was no peace; and one built up a wall, and , lo, others daubed it with untempered morter. (Youv'e got people in the church supporting your lies.) (17) Likewise, thou son of man, set thy face against the daughters of thy people, which prophesy out of their own heart; and prophesy thou against them, (18) And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe to the women that sew pillows to all armholes, and kerchiefs upon the head of every stature to hunt souls! Will ye hunt the souls of my people, and will ye save the souls alive that come unto you? (Youv'e got your arms out, telling people that all they have to do is believe you, because you are the only way to God. The preachers, and teachers, are telling his children that they have a special relationship with God, all you have to do is believe them, and they can get you saved. You can speak to God yourselves, and he will hear you. (Only God can save souls.) (19) Will ye pollute me among my people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, to slay the souls that should not die, and to save the souls alive that should not live, by your lying to my people that hear your lies? (God knows all souls, he knows who followed satan in the first earth age, and he knows who is going to folow him in this earth age. Your'e just doing it for a piece of bread, (money), and your'e polluting my name, in what is supposed to be his house.) (20) Wherefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against your pillows, wherewith ye there hunt the souls to make them fly, and I will tear them from your arms, and will let the souls go, even the souls that ye hunt to make them fly. The preachers, and teachers, are telling my people that they are going to fly up out of here, and it is a big lie. There are things that his people have to do, and see, before Christ returns, They must know that Satan is on the FIRST WHITE HORSE, he is comming to deceive as many peopl as he can, along with his fallen angels. When Michael kicks them out of Heaven. God tells us in. Revelation 12:12, Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them, Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. Satan has (5 months!!!) In the book of Matthew we see why the time was shortened, by Jesus Christ. Matthew 24:22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. (Do you know who the elect are?) Mark 13:20 And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days. (Are you one of God's Elect?, do you know God's overall plan? Do you know what you are supposed to do while satan, the snake, the devil, the beast, the anti-christ, the son of perdition, the dragon, the one on the FIRST WHITE HORSE, is here on this earth. He is going to be in Jerusalem pretending to be here to love you, and give you anthing you want , just as long as you follow him, and his false, prophets, (the fallen angels, along with the KENITES. Every television station, every radio station, everbody on the Internet, all cable companies, all satellite disk, every body with a telephone, people with walkie talkies, what ever means of communication you have, SATAN, is going to be using it, because he's going to make sure that everybody on this planet will see his show. (Do you know who the TWO WITNESSES are)? And do you know who is going to be deceived, those who believe in the so called, "RAPTURE THEORY". They are going to think Satan is The Real Jesus Christ, and Satan is going to make them think he is here to Rapture them up out of here. Don't be deceived by the traditions of man. Listen to your Father's word, he is not pleased with what MAN is teaching. Do you know who the KENITES are? The children of Cain, the offspring, of Cain. If you are a member of the church of Smyrna, or the church of Philadelphia, then you are one of GOD'S ELECT! You know what the kenites are doing. We are not to worship Satan, nor take anything from him, because God is in control, he will supply us with whatever we need. During the 5 months, that Satan is here on this earth. If you have eyes to see, and ears to hear, fleeing from God will be the last thing on yyour mind! Do you follow God's word, or do you follow man's word.? If you follow God's word, then you don't have a problem, with Fleeing from God!!! You have no problem with praying to him.(Prayer is communicating with him), finding out what he's talking about. When you do that he'll open your eyes, and open your ears, so you can do his will. When you know his will, you pay attention to how his plan is comming to pass. Let's stay in our Father's word everyday, and learn what it is we are supposed to be doing. The Shepherds Chapel