Newsletter 18: The Exodus, Continued: “The blood thereof, shall ye not eat”
I took the photograph of the altar and placed it on my scanner, scanning it at a very high resolution. I then magnified the upper right corner of the altar and printed it out. The photo is very grainy, but you can see it at right. When Ron arrived home, I showed it to him and asked him if he had ever seen anything like it before. He stared at it for a while, and he knew exactly what I was talking about, as I will now explain…
These “U” shaped stones are sitting at the end of the “corral”. The only place either of us have ever seen anything even remotely resembling these obviously hand-shaped rocks is near Noah’s Ark, at the ancient house we believe was Noah’s and his family’s. All around the house are fences where we believe he tended the precious cargo of the ark – the animals. And just below the house is a “complex” with a lot of stonework, and a very unique hewn stone, very similar to the one in the photo at right next to the Mt. Sinai altar.
In 1990, when we visited the site of Noah’s house and altar with Marv and Renetta Wilson, we saw another one of these “U” shaped stones just below the giant altar. It had recently been uncovered by some of the men from the village across the road as it apparently had been buried by dirt over the years. But what were these strange rocks?
Before I tell you what we believe they were, I want to mention something. Remember that after the flood, when the entire face of the earth was destroyed, God had given Noah permission to eat the meat of the clean animals. But He had made one very important stipulation:
GEN 9:4
- But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.
This meant that Noah, as well as all of God’s people, were to drain the blood from the animal before it was eaten. We believe the unique “U” shaped hewn stone below Noah’s house was part of the “complex” where the animals that were to be used for food were slaughtered. We have concluded that most probably their heads were placed in the “U” of the hewn stone and their throats then slit. There is one part of this process that I am loathe to mention but I must- their throats would have needed to be slit while the animal was still alive in order for the heart to continue to pump. Once dead, without the heart pumping, the animal would not bleed, at least not enough to completely drain its blood supply.
The “U” shaped hewn stone at Noah’s house has a hole cut in the rock beneath it which extends through the rock downward. I prefer to believe that they knocked the animal unconscious, then placed its head within the “U” shape and slit its throat. The blood poured from (most likely) the jugular vein, down into the bowl-like hole cut in the rock slab beneath it, then down through the smaller hole in the “bowl” into the ground. Or alternately, perhaps they positioned the animal in the “U” shape and then slit its throat.
But this was concerning the animals that they were going to eat- what about the animals they sacrificed? Did they also “bleed” them? As I mentioned, we found a similar stone just below the altar behind Noah’s house, high upon the mountain ridge. I cannot imagine that they would have prepared any animals to eat that far from the house, much less upon such a steep ascent. And prior to the giving of the “sacrificial system” of the Mosaic Law, there is no record that they ate the sacrifices, with the exception of the “Passover lamb” in Egypt. Therefore, because of the presence of this “U” shaped stone near the altar I can only conclude that they did indeed remove the blood from the sacrificial animals- at least, some of them.
Also, around Noah’s altar are a number of “pens” composed of large rocks of a size that would have held 3 or 4 sheep or bullocks. And next to these “pens” are 2 extremely large boulders with chiseled holes in them, positioned in a manner that would allow an animal, such as a sheep or bullock, to be led upon the boulder. The top of these boulders contain a slanted flat area with grooves leading off to the sides. These also appear to be for the purpose of draining the blood from an animal. It also would have allowed it to be collected in a container if the early sacrifices consisted of the patriarch (who acted as the family “priest”) sprinkling the blood or pouring it upon the ground by the altar as they later did.
In summary, the strange hewn rocks next to the altar at Sinai looked exactly like the 2 hewn stones at Noah’s house when I glanced at the photo. When I enlarged the photo to be sure of what I thought I was seeing, I was even more convinced. Then, I read that at the time they offered sacrifices on Moses’ altar just after God spoke the Ten Commandments, the blood WAS collected. The passage in Exodus states:
EXO 24:5
- And he sent young men of the children of Israel, which offered burnt offerings, and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen unto the LORD. 6 And Moses took half of the blood, and put it in basons; and half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar. 7 And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that the LORD hath said will we do, and be obedient. 8 And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which the LORD hath made with you concerning all these words.
The “bleeding stones”, as I will call them, at the Mt. Sinai altar are at the end of the “corral”. After Ron and I carefully considered the situation, we concluded the following- but this is only our theory:
- 1- As the young men approached the altar with their animal to be offered, they laid it within the “bleeding stone”, knocked it unconscious, then slit its throat where it bled to death. As the blood gushed out, it was collected and poured into the “basons” of verse 6, above.
- 2- The person making the offering then picked up the lifeless body of their offering and entered the “corral”.
- 3- One at a time, they presented their sacrifice to Aaron and Moses who, depending upon whether it was a “peace offering” or a “burnt offering”, administered the sacrifice on the altar.
- 4- After the person had presented their animal, they then turned and walked towards the other “doorway” along the corridor on the other side of the dividing wall.
- 5- He then left the altar complex.
One final note- it would be impossible for a man to carry a full grown bull or even a very large sheep. The lambs offered for sacrifice were to be “of the first year” (Exo 12:5, 29:38, Lev 9:3). The bullock was “young” (Exo 29:1, Lev 4:3, 4:14, 16:3). I mention this only in case some may not be familiar with the fact that they offered young animals which they could easily carry after they were killed.
Ron found an intact marble section with Archaic Hebrew writing on it which he discreetly buried. He knew he wouldn’t be allowed to remove it, and he feared if it was seen by the Saudis, they would destroy it. To our knowledge, this piece remains buried and it is doubtful if he will ever get to retrieve it. Ron believes this “shrine” was erected by King Solomon at the same time he erected the columns on each side of the Aqaba shore at the crossing site. The bedouins working with them said the marble “temple” (shrine) had been dismantled years earlier and the marble used in the construction of a mosque in Hagl (the town where Ron was imprisoned in 1984). They also mentioned something about “Suleyman” (the Turkish “Suleyman the Magnificent” of the 1500s), but Ron thinks they may have meant “Solomon”.
“Twelve Pillars According to the Twelve Tribes of Israel”
- And Moses wrote all the words of the LORD, and rose up early in the morning, and builded an altar under the hill, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel.
In ancient times, a stone was many times erected as a memorial of a contract or covenant. The first Biblical example is that of Jacob the morning after he had seen the “ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven”:
GEN 28:12
- … and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. 13 And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed; 14 And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. 15 And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of. 16 And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not. 17 And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven. 18 And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it. 19 And he called the name of that place Bethel: but the name of that city was called Luz at the first. 20 And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, 21 So that I come again to my father’s house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God: 22 And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God’s house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.
When the children of Israel covenanted with God to be His people and to keep His Laws after He spoke His Ten Commandments, this was in essence a contract:
EXO 24:3
- And Moses came and told the people all the words of the LORD, and all the judgments: and all the people answered with one voice, and said, All the words which the LORD hath said will we do.
They had collectively made a vow. The next morning, Moses built the altar and erected the pillars. The pillars were a memorial of the contract. Twelve were erected to signify that the contract was with each of the twelve tribes.
Looking down from a plateau just above the altar, about 200 yards to the left are several extremely large boulders setting in a line. We believe these are the remains of those 12 pillars. In this area of millions of rocks, it’s difficult to be precise, but it appears that there are 4 at the original location (one is fallen), while there are 7 or 8 boulders of the same general size lying scattered in the “holy precinct”. It is quite logical to expect that over the years, some may have toppled due to seismic activity or any number of reasons. These “rocks” should be termed “boulders” because of their large size estimated to be at least 20 to 30 feet along their longest side.
- And I took your sin, the calf which ye had made, and burnt it with fire, and stamped it, and ground it very small, even until it was as small as dust: and I cast the dust thereof into the brook that descended out of the mount.
Though the Bible speaks a great deal about Moses striking the rock and bringing forth water at Rephidim and Kadesh Barnea, this is the only specific reference to a stream or “brook” that came from Mt. Sinai, and there is no mention that he struck the rock there. Today, there is no “brook”, or stream in the region, much less in this area. In fact, Saudi Arabia has no river at all, however, there is an awesome amount of evidence at Jebel el Lawz of not only a “brook” coming from the mountain, but of a very elaborate water supply system, complete with a lake and wells.
I earlier mentioned that at one time Ron had thought the double-walled “columns” they had found at the site in 1985 may have been the “bounds” set by Moses. Yet, he had questioned this identification simply because they looked like wells. When we had access to abundant photos and videos of the site, we saw that they were indeed wells.
The great multitude had just come from Egypt, a country very dependent on the ability to divert water into reservoirs and canals. And it makes perfect sense to think that they employed that technology at the place that would be their home for almost a year. There were at least a million people (conservative estimate) encamped at Mt. Sinai, probably closer to 2 -3 million (about the size of the 3rd or 4th largest city in the U.S.) They had flocks and herds. They needed water and a LOT of it every day.
Above we’ve included a photograph of the “holy” area at the foot of the mountain. It is unmarked. Below we’ve included this same photo WITH markings to point out the features present. If anything should be obstructed in the marked photos, refer back to the unmarked one.
I’ve filled in the area of the lake and the stream coming from the mountain with gray. Another stream fed into the lake on the far right, out of view in the above photo. The black “dots” mark the general location of the stone wells. To the far left is another row of wells though their location can’t be seen in this photo. A guard shack and fence were erected after Ron showed the site to the Saudis and convinced them of its authenticity, and the guard shack’s position is marked in the photo below.
The biggest question was “Why would they have gone to so much trouble to make the “columns” hollow with double walls if their sole purpose was to serve as a barrier”? A solid structure would have been much easier to construct and more durable. They were hollow for another reason.
Also, why were they buried in the earth? If enough debris had fallen over the years to cover them, why were there so many other ancient structures and remains in the immediate vicinity that we NOT covered at all? There is only one answer – they were wells.
They measure several of these and they were all approximately 18 foot in diameter. They completely dug out one along the bank of the lake and it rested on bedrock at 22 feet.
The wells are buried in earthen embankments along much of the perimeter of the lake and their tops are not much higher than the lake level. Water seeks its level, so the water would rise in the wells.
There is also a line of wells beyond the guard shack and they are not adjacent to the lake- they are several hundred feet away. The fact that they are located so far from the lake means that they wouldn’t naturally fill up with water. This suggests strongly that a system was employed to divert some of the water to these wells. The multitude had been living in Egypt, a country which had great technical knowledge for building canals and diverting water. It would not have been a great undertaking for them to divert water to these wells. I believe if ever excavated, those wells beyond the guard shack would be found to be connected to some type of pipe or underground water diversion. But for now, it’s just theory. And it is very possible that there are other wells that we aren’t aware of.
After all, this encampment was home to a population of people roughly equal to the 4th or 5th largest cities in the United States. Now that we can see this very elaborate lake and well system, it makes perfect sense. They not only needed water for themselves, but they had many, many flocks which had to be watered. Which leads us to the next question: “Did the animals drink directly out of the lake”?
GEN 29:2
- And he looked, and behold a well in the field, and, lo, there were three flocks of sheep lying by it; for out of that well they watered the flocks: and a great stone was upon the well’s mouth. 3 And thither were all the flocks gathered: and they rolled the stone from the well’s mouth, and watered the sheep, and put the stone again upon the well’s mouth in his place.
Moses’ father-in-law’s flock were watered by his daughters who withdrew water from a well and poured it into troughs:
EXO 2:16
- Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters: and they came and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father’s flock.
- And he set the rods which he had pilled before the flocks in the gutters in the watering troughs when the flocks came to drink, that they should conceive when they came to drink.
Also, along the left border of the mountain are crumbled walls which begin at the lake and follow the edge of the mountain all the way to the line of pillars. There don’t appear to have been any walls on the mountain edge opposite the guard shack, but it probably was secure with the walls along the lake. There’s no entrance into the “holy precinct” from that side. The only entry, even today, is through the strip of land between the mountain and the lake by the guard shack- see the bottom photo below.
EXO 24:9
- Then went up Moses, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel: 10 And they saw the God of Israel: and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his clearness. 11 And upon the nobles of the children of Israel he laid not his hand: also they saw God, and did eat and drink.
We have had people ask if there is sapphire on the top of Mt. Sinai. There isn’t – it is black as coal. Note the Scripture – it doesn’t say the ground was sapphire, it say that “under His feet” was “as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone”. This is the same as saying “it looked something like…”. Also, remember that Ezekiel, too, saw God in vision:
EZE 10:1
- Then I looked, and, behold, in the firmament that was above the head of the cherubims there appeared over them as it were a sapphire stone, as the appearance of the likeness of a throne. 2 And he spake unto the man clothed with linen, and said, Go in between the wheels, even under the cherub, and fill thine hand with coals of fire from between the cherubims, and scatter them over the city. And he went in in my sight.
EXO 24:12
- And the LORD said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount, and be there: and I will give thee tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written; that thou mayest teach them. 13 And Moses rose up, and his minister Joshua: and Moses went up into the mount of God. 14 And he said unto the elders, Tarry ye here for us, until we come again unto you: and, behold, Aaron and Hur are with you: if any man have any matters to do, let him come unto them.
Directly above the altar is a “plateau” that is quite large. On the plateau are 2 rocky “knolls” which can be seen in the photo. “Knoll” is perhaps not the proper description for them since they are perhaps 75 feet tall. The “U”shape to the right of the knolls is where our friends were able to view the entire “sacred precinct” and photograph it.
Viewing these “knolls” from the lake in front of the “holy precinct”, we can see that the one on the right has 2 giant boulders on its top with a tree between them. Below this is a cave, which may be the cave Elijah stayed in when he fled there to escape the wrath of Jezebel:
1KI 19:8
- And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God. 9 and he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?
God again called Moses to come up into the mount, and Joshua went up with him. He told the elders to wait there for him, and that Aaron and Hur were “in charge”:
EXO 24:13
- And Moses rose up, and his minister Joshua: and Moses went up into the mount of God. 14 And he said unto the elders, Tarry ye here for us, until we come again unto you: and, behold, Aaron and Hur are with you: if any man have any matters to do, let him come unto them.
They went up into the mount, probably again to the plateau:
EXO 24:16
- And the glory of the LORD abode upon mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days: and the seventh day he called unto Moses out of the midst of the cloud. 17 And the sight of the glory of the LORD was like devouring fire on the top of the mount in the eyes of the children of Israel. 18 And Moses went into the midst of the cloud, and gat him up into the mount: and Moses was in the mount forty days and forty nights.
In the next photo, you can see the plateau in the center of the picture; the “sacred precinct” is just over the “U” next to the 2 knolls. The “glory of the Lord… in the midst of the cloud” rested on the very top of the mountain, charring it completely. Our friends were standing on the blackened top when they took this photo- the high, black pointed peak rises to the right.
While Joshua waited for Moses on the plateau, God gave Moses the directions for building Him a sanctuary:
EXO 25:8
- And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them. 9 According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.
And then,
EXO 31:18
- And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God.
EXO 32:7
- And the LORD said unto Moses, Go, get thee down; for thy people, which thou broughtest out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves: 8 They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them: they have made them a molten calf, and have worshipped it, and have sacrificed thereunto, and said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which have brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
God’s anger was so great that He told Moses He was going to destroy them and “begin again”, calling Himself a “new” people of the family of Moses:
EXO 32:9
- And the LORD said unto Moses, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people: 10 Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation.
But Moses pleaded with God for his people:
EXO 32:11
- And Moses besought the LORD his God, and said, LORD, why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people, which thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power, and with a mighty hand? 12 Wherefore should the Egyptians speak, and say, For mischief did he bring them out, to slay them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth? Turn from thy fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against thy people. 13 Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou swarest by thine own self, and saidst unto them, I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken of will I give unto your seed, and they shall inherit it for ever.
Moses was a figure of Christ – a mediator who pleaded for the wicked, fallen race, even when God had offered to make of him a great nation.
EXO 32:14
- And the LORD repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people.
Moses then started down the mountain:
EXO 32:15
- …and the two tables of the testimony were in his hand: the tables were written on both their sides; on the one side and on the other were they written. 16 And the tables were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, graven upon the tables.
When he got to the plateau, Joshua had heard the noise far below, in the camp:
EXO 32:17
- …he said unto Moses, There is a noise of war in the camp. 18 And he [Moses] said, It is not the voice of them that shout for mastery, neither is it the voice of them that cry for being overcome: but the noise of them that sing do I hear. 19 And it came to pass, as soon as he came nigh unto the camp, that he saw the calf, and the dancing: and Moses’ anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of his hands, and brake them beneath the mount.
In the photo below, in the center of the “U” of the plateau, you can see a line extending from a hill. At the left end of this line of rocks, is the “altar to the golden calf. Many of these photos have been taken with high powered lenses, and though it may look relatively close, the golden calf altar is about 3 km. from the altar in the “holy precinct”.
I do not believe there is a human being alive who can imagine how Moses felt, seeing that altar, and the people dancing and singing, sacrificing to a statue of gold – after he had just left the Presence of God.
EXO 32:20
- And he took the calf which they had made, and burnt it in the fire, and ground it to powder, and strawed it upon the water, and made the children of Israel drink of it.
In 1985, Ron stood upon some of the boulders of that altar. As he looked at it, still wet with the early morning dew which puddled in a rather large, smooth indentation on the top of one of the largest stones, something caught his eye. The puddle of water looked red, almost like blood- but it wasn’t blood. It was gold, ground gold, down in the very pores of the rock. Moses had ground the golden calf to powder on the top of the altar.
There was enough evidence to know that this was most likely the altar to the golden calf- it had 12 groups of petroglyphs of cows and bulls, all drawn in the Egyptian style. The archaeologist from Rhiyad University who came a few days later, stated that there was no other site in Saudi Arabia in which this style of Egyptian petroglyph was found. In fact, he was more excited about the altar than anything else they found at the mountain. It was enough evidence for the Saudi government to declare it a protected archaeological site and enclose it with a 12 foot fence.
It has 9 cows, 4 with their horns depicted like the Apis bull on the golden calf altar; 5 with their horns curved forward. One is being carried by a man, as if it perhaps fell in a crevice or got caught in some brush. There’s a number of goats with long horns; a camel, a sheep, several animals that look like dogs (which were probably used for herding cattle); one that looks like a wolf; a man with a bow and arrow, who appears to be aiming at the “wolf”, a snake, and 2 figures that look like cats.
The designs on the cattle are pure Egyptian. And the presence of dogs and cats is really no surprise- they are frequently depicted in the walls scenes of ancient Egyptian tombs. One of the petroglyphs on the golden calf altar has a cat standing on the back of a cow- cats were sacred in Egypt, representing the cat-headed goddess, Bast.
PSA 89:34
- My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.
Romans 15:4
- “For whatsoever things were written aforetimes were written for our LEARNING, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
Learning from Scripture -“rightly dividing the word of truth”-. (2 Tim. 2:15) is especially important to us who live at a time in history when thousands of “voices” are shouting to get our attention, insisting that this or that “smooth thing” is truth. 1 Thes 5:3 tells us
- ” For when they shall say, peace and safety: then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.!
The Bible nowhere predicts smooth sailing for the faithful followers of God.
2 Tim 3:12
- tells us ; ” Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”
This is not a popular idea! Truth seldom is! God has entrusted us with His last (show and tell) warning message. We have no choice but to tell it like it is.
“Will God chastise His bride?” has become the rallying cry for those who want us to join them in believing their “no tribulation” doctrine.
Zach. 13:7-9
- informs us; “And it shall come to pass saith the lord of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the SHEEP (BELIEVERS) shall be scattered and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones. And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the lord, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left there in. And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The Lord is my God.
1 Pet. 1:7
- states.”That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.
Rev. 21:27
- “And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
It appears to me that those who have, or will, die before the Lord comes, who were committing sins of ignorance though striving to serve God and calling upon Him for forgiveness and cleansing in the Name of Jesus, will be saved. However, those who are alive to see the Lord’s coming must be “without spot or wrinkle ” (sin) or they will suffer the same fate as the “man of sin” spoken of in 2 Thes. 2:8
- “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.”
There are two texts that indicate this:
Acts 10:24
- “Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons.” and
Acts 17:30
- ” And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
Another revealing text says:
Mat. 7:21,22
- ” Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me ye that work iniquity.”
Mal. 3:6
- says “I AM THE LORD I CHANGE NOT.”
James 1:17 says “EVERY GOOD GIFT AND EVERY PERFECT GIFT IS FROM ABOVE, AND COMETH DOWN FROM THE FATHER OF LIGHTS, WITH WHOM IS NO VARIABLENESS, NEITHER SHADOW OF TURNING.”
HEB. 13:8 says, ” JESUS CHRIST THE SAME YESTERDAY, AND TO DAY, AND FOREVER.”
PSA. 89:34 says, “MY COVENANT WILL I NOT BREAK, NOR ALTER THE THING THAT HAS GONE OUT OF MY LIPS.”
God has made it abundantly clear that NOTHING HE HAS EVER SAID IS EVER CHANGED, THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS!
In the ninth century B.C., Jeroboam had taken the ten northern tribes of Israel from Rehoboam, the son of Solomon. He set up two golden calves, one in Bethel in the south of his kingdom and one in Dan in the north of his kingdom. He instructed his subjects to worship these instead of traveling to Jerusalem to participate in the worship of God. He placed vile and corrupt men in the offices of priest and led the people away from the true God. He was offering incense upon the altar in Bethel when a “man of God delivered a prophecy against him and the altar”. The entire drama is recorded in 1Kings 13:1-32.
The king didn’t like the prophecy and ordered the arrest of the man of God. The king’s arm was withered and restored by the power of God. Knowing not to fight against the power of God, he invited the prophet to his house for food, water and refreshment. The prophet responded:
1KI 13:8
- … If thou wilt give me half thine house, I will not go in with thee, neither will I eat bread nor drink water in this place: The man of God headed back to Judah by a different way than he had came to Bethel because God had instructed him to do so.
All was going well; God’s power had been displayed, none doubted the power of God or that this prophet was truly a man of God. He had resisted a “reward” offered by one whom he knew to be an enemy of God. Now comes one who claims to be a prophet:
1KI 13:18
- He said unto him, I am a prophet also as thou art; and an angel spake unto me by the word of the LORD, saying, Bring him back with thee into thine house, that he may eat bread and drink water. But he lied unto him. [The Lord had NOT said this- the man was a “false prophet”].) But, the man of God took his word and went back with him and 19… did eat bread in his house, and drank water. 20 And it came to pass, as they sat at the table, that the word of the LORD came unto the prophet that brought him back: 21 And he cried unto the man of God that came from Judah, saying, Thus saith the LORD, Forasmuch as thou hast disobeyed the mouth of the LORD, and hast not kept the commandment which the LORD thy God commanded thee, 22 But camest back, and hast eaten bread and drunk water in the place, of the which the Lord did say to thee, Eat no bread, and drink no water; thy carcass shall not come unto the sepulchre of thy fathers. 23 And it came to pass, after he had eaten bread, and after he had drunk, that he saddled for him the ass, to wit, for the prophet whom he had brought back. 24 And when he was gone, a lion met him by the way, and slew him: and his carcass was cast in the way, and the ass stood by it, the lion also stood by the carcass.
The “man of God” disobeyed God and paid with his mortal life and probably with his eternal life. Only God knows about his eternal life. Yet, the Bible calls him “a man of God”. He disobeyed once, and he never had the chance to disobey again.
GAL.3:17-19
- says; “And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect. For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave to Abraham by promise. Wherefore then serveth the law? it was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator..”
If Paul was speaking of the Ten Commandments, God’s reason for adding it could not have been ” because of transgressions” (Rom 4:15) because “the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.” (1 John 3:4). “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.” In simple terms, there would have been no such thing as “sin” or “transgression” if God’s Law had not already existed. The “law” Paul spoke of was “added” because the people WERE continually breaking God’s Law.
ROM.5:13,14
- says; (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is NO LAW. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.”
Paul was referring to the sacrificial law and not to the TEN COMMANDMENTS about which it was said of Abraham; “because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.” Paul clearly states that the law he was speaking of “came four hundred and thirty years after” God gave the promise to Abrahan because he “kept my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.” Abraham kept God’s Law. But the “sacrificial and levitical law, or the Mosaic Law, wasn’t even in existence at that time. What “law” could Abraham have kept except God’s Great Law.
Rev 22:13,14
- says; “Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.”
Rev. 21:27 says; ” And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”
We have read ” sin is the transgression of the Law.” And ” ..the wages (results) of sin is death.”
Conditions in New Jerusalem and on the earth made new (restored) prove that only those that “do His commandments” will be there.
Rev 21:1-8
- says; “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God. 4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and THERE SHALL BE NO MORE DEATH, NEITHER SORROW , NOR CRYING, NEITHER SHALL THERE BE ANY MORE PAIN: for the former things are passed away. 5 And He that sat upon the throne said; Behold I make all things new, And He said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. 6 And He said unto me, It is done, I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. 7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and SORCERERS ( PSYCHICS), and idolaters(ONE WHO PLACES ANY THING OR ANYONE AHEAD OF THEIR DUTY TO GOD), and all LIARS, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”
Isa. 11:9
- They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.
God wanted to do this for ancient Israel “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how oft would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and YE WOULD NOT! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate”. God was not able to do for ancient Israel many of the things that He wanted to do, because they refused to “keep My laws and My statues”. However, He will do all these things for “the nations of them which are saved.”(Rev. 21:24.)
Isa. 65:21-25 speaks of our experience in the renewed earth.
ISA 65:21
- And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. 22 They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. 23 They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them. 24 And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear. 25 The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent’s meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD.
Among all the numberless hosts of the “nations of them which are saved”, THERE IS NOT ONE WHO IS WILLING TO OR CAPABLE OF CAUSING SORROW OR PAIN.
Friends, Christ does not wave a magic wand over His professed followers at His second coming. If He did, He would be obliged to wave it over every one, satan included.
ACT 10:34
- Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
THE ONLY WAY WE WILL BE AMONG THE INHABITANTS OF THE NEW JERUSALEM AND THE NEW EARTH IS TO ASK OUR HEAVENLY FATHER IN THE NAME AND BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST (MESSIAH) TO FORGIVE OUR SINS AND TO CLEANSE US FROM SINFUL THOUGHTS AND ACTIONS!
1JO 1:9
- If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
HEB 10:26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, 27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. 28 He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: 29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
EPH 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.
HEB 5:7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; 8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; 9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; …
HEB 12:5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: 6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
1PE 4:3 For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: 4 Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you: 5 Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead. 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. 7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. 8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. 9 Use hospitality one to another without grudging. 10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. 12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. 14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters. 16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. 17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? 18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? 19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator. 5:1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: 2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; 3 Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. 5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. 6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. 10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. 11 To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
EXO 33:20 And he [God] said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.
NOTHING HAS CHANGED! It is truly said of all of us:
ISA 64:6
- But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
It is also truly said of all those who will survive the coming of the Lord in the VERY NEAR FUTURE;
1JO 3:2
- Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. 4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. 5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. 6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. 7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. 8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. 9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. 10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. 11 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 12 Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous. 13 Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you. 14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. 15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. 16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? 18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
1JO 2:3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. 6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
MAT 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. 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? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
It is made clear that those who’s names are written in the Lamb’s book of life fall into two categories:
(1) Those who died while doing the best they knew: LUK 16:10 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. ACT 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
(2) Those who are alive upon the earth at His 2nd coming and are perfect like Him: 1JO 3:2 … but we know that, when he shall appear,we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
Therefore when we learn God’s truth, we must also begin “doing” it then. If we put off doing His will, we are lost. If we wish to do His will, He will “cleanse us from all unrighteousness”.
- Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. 11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. 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 Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.
There are many more texts that give us the same message:
REV 14:5 And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.
REV 14:6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, 7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. 8 And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. 9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, 10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
REV 18:1 And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. 2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. 3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. 4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
- Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
“…the hour of temptation which shall come upon all the world,” THE QUESTION IN MOST BELIEVERS MINDS IS; HOW LONG DOES THIS ” HOUR OF TEMPTATION ” LAST?
ROM 15:4
- For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
AMO 3:7 Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.
These texts tell us that the answer we seek is in the bible (GOD’S WORD) ORIGINAL KING JAMES VERSION!
ISA 1:24
- Therefore saith the Lord, the LORD of hosts, the mighty One of Israel, Ah, I will ease me of mine adversaries, and avenge me of mine enemies: 25 And I will turn my hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy dross, and take away all thy tin:
All those who, through loyalty and appreciation of what God has done through His Son on our behalf, are at this time praying the prayer of David “A man after My own heart”:
PSA 51:6
- Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. 7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow…. 9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. 11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. 12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. 13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
Daniel speaks of this time:
DAN 11:35
- And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed.
Others comment on this time:
MAL 3:3 And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness. 4 Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the LORD, as in the days of old, and as in former years. 5 And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts. 6 For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.
MAT 3:12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.
2PE 2:6 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;
JUD 1:7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
2TI 2:21
- If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work. HEB 9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
You and I will be purged from our sins, or purged from among God’s redeemed. But;
PSA 103:13
- Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. 14 For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.
ISA 22:14 And it was revealed in mine ears by the LORD of hosts, Surely this iniquity shall not be purged from you till ye die, saith the Lord GOD of hosts.
JUD 1:22 And of some have compassion, making a difference: 23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. 24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, 25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
LIKE EVERY THING ELSE THE LORD HAS DONE, IS NOW DOING, AND WILL DO, THIS REFINING PROCESS WILL LAST UNTIL HIS PURPOSE IS ACCOMPLISHED. In line with the statement that God will reveal His intentions before they are carried out and that His intentions are revealed in His word, there is much we can learn by rightly dividing the word of truth.
ROM 15:4
- For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
1CO 10:11
We therefore expect that the final purging of the saints will involve a period of forty days. The popular theories on the “tribulation” makes it a period of years, yet these texts assure us that God will accomplish His work of “cleansing us of all unrighteousness” as gently as possible:
ISA 40:11
- He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.
1CO 10:13
However, as He proclaimed to Moses when Moses asked to see His glory, He will not “clear the guilty”.
EXO 34:6
- And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, 7 Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.
1- GEN 31:22
- And it was told Laban on the third day that Jacob was fled. 23 And he took his brethren with him, and pursued after him seven days’ journey; and they overtook him in the mount Gilead…. 31 And Jacob answered and said to Laban, Because I was afraid: for I said, Peradventure thou wouldest take by force thy daughters from me.
2- DEU 16:2
- Thou shalt therefore sacrifice the passover unto the LORD thy God, of the flock and the herd, in the place which the LORD shall choose to place his name there 3 Thou shalt eat no leavened bread with it; seven days shalt thou eat unleavened bread therewith, even the bread of affliction; for thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt in haste: that thou mayest remember the day when thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt all the days of thy life.
There is another period of time mentioned in regards to the end:
REV 3:10
- Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. 11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. 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 Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.
1PE 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:.
(In prophetic time, 1 day = 1 year; thus, 1 hour = 1/24 of a year, or 15 days based on a 360 day year.)
CHRIST, Who is our example, was tested by God forty days and nights and tempted by satan. (Mat 4:2; Mark 1:3; Luke 4:2.) Noah, Moses, Elijah, Jonah, Israel and their spies, Jonah, and Saul and his army challenged by Goliath, were tried and were at risk for forty days. Christ and the newly resurrected saints ( Mat. 27:52,53) continued on earth for forty days after His and their resurrection before ascending to heaven:
ACT 1:3
- To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:
EPH 4:8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
GEN 7:4 For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living substance that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the earth.
Imagine what a good time the people outside the ark had ridiculing Noah during the seven days he and his family were shut in with all the animals before it rained!
Job suffered from the boils for seven days before he was delivered from satan’s cruelty (Job 2:13). Jacob fled from Laban seven days (Gen. 31:23). The Israelite slaves ate the ” bread of haste” seven days under threat of Pharaoh:
DEU 16:3
- Thou shalt eat no leavened bread with it; seven days shalt thou eat unleavened bread therewith, even the bread of affliction; for thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt in haste: that thou mayest remember the day when thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt all the days of thy life.
Considering all the above references, it appears likely to me that from the date that “the commandments of men” (the mark of the beast), which conflict with the Commandments of God, become the law of the land, there may well be a period of forty days during which God will purify His people before He delivers them from Satan’s power. Of the total of forty days, the first twenty five will be comparatively mild persecution. The last fifteen (one hour of prophetic time) may grow increasingly harsh. Those who insist on keeping God’s Ten Commandments and refuse “to worship the beast or his image or to receive his mark in their foreheads or in their hand” will not be allowed “to buy or sell” (disenfranchised) for the first eight of this last fifteen days. Then a death penalty may be passed on the thirty third day that is set to take effect on the fortieth day; however, the wicked will anticipate this law and God’s people will be sought “unto death” by the wicked for seven days.
However, at that time, “probation” will already will closed and God will not allow any harm to come to His people. I expect this to be the most likely scenario, but I WILL NOT GIVE UP AND QUIT SHOULD ACTUAL EVENTS PROVE TO BE OTHERWISE. This is my belief of a probable scenario based on other similar Biblical experiences of God’s people.
As for the FALSE PROPHETS who preach that the saved will not experience any tribulation, I present this THUS SAITH THE LORD;
2TI 3:12
- Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; 15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. 4:1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
We are encouraging every one to become a part of the small group who are aware that all things are in the hands of God, and that He will allow all evil men and women to fully manifest their evil characters.
LUK 8:17 For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad. They also realize that God will take vengeance upon all evil doers.
ROM 12:19
- Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. In addition to these God has directed us to carry the gospel throughout the earth.
MAT 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. He has promised to pay us “whatsoever is right”.
MAT 20:4 And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way.
This small group is dedicating themselves to the service of the Lord; not in word only as many do; but in deed. Their prayer is that God will help them to learn, remember, and be able to share in a humble caring manner, every thing God wants them to be able to share with the lost.
Most of us have been praying for and raising money for the brave and self sacrificing men and women who have left the comforts of home and family and have gone out into primitive areas of the earth to bring the gospel of salvation to those who have been taught to worship their ancestors, animals, snakes, the sun (millions of Japanese worshiped the ” sun emperor” until their nation was conquered and this man forced to renounce his faked divinity). Billions are still worshiping the same things today and if we are honest we realize that had we been raised as they were and taught what they were taught, we would be worshiping as they do! People were and are still being born and dying much faster than they are being reached by the gospel.
Many Christians are convinced that Christ will return to this earth in the near future.
REV 18:1
- And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. 2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. 3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. 4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. 5 For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities. These verses tell us that the entire earth’s population will be warned to separate themselves from the apostate religions of the world, and to begin keeping the commandments of God, and following the testimony of Jesus Christ.
REV 12:17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ….22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. 15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
We are told that we will be like Jesus when He comes. This will require our willingness to ask for and allow God to effect the appropriate changes in our lives.