But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you . . .

Posted: April 20, 2011 in America, End Times, Shared Thoughts, Study!
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 And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.  But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for My name’s sake.  And it shall turn to you for a testimony. (Luke 21:11-13)

 For years I have frequently been told when reasoning with other “believers” I have met here in America how they don’t worry about the end times, because “We’re not going to be here anyway.” It has become painfully evident that there is this unscriptural confidence within the lukewarm church of America  that they are not going to have to suffer for their faith or go through much “tribulation,” because, as they quickly affirm, “God hasn’t appointed us for wrath.”

Sadly, that quote they use is improperly used out its context. The wrath which we are not appointed to is that which contrasts with the salvation of the Saints, damnation, eternal punishment and alienation from God. It is therefore my desire to stir up and awaken as many as possible who name the Name of Christ that they might be properly prepared and armored for the battle which believers have been forewarn they will have to endure.

 1Thessolonians 5:6 – Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.  7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.  8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.  9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,  10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.  11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

Now I would like to stress that this post is not a debate about the rapture or when. It is about what God’s word says, these things will befall those who love the Lord Jesus Christ and are therefore followers of Him. Because of my concern for “believers” in America I have submitted a congested review of most of the New Testament scriptures that address this persecution, tribulation, and trials which Jesus Christ said would befall His people.

Acts 5:40 – And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.

May the Holy Spirit speak expressively to you –

 Matthew 5:10 – Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  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.  12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

Matthew 10:16 – Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.  17 But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; 18 And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for My sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.  19 But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.  20 For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.  21 And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.  22 And ye shall be hated of all men for My name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.  23 But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.  24 The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.  25 It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the Master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of His household?  26 Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.  27 What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.  28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear Him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Matthew 10:34 – Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.  35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.  36 And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.  37 He that loveth father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.  38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after Me, is not worthy of Me.  39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for My sake shall find it.

Matthew 23:29 – Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous,  30 And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.  31 Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets.  32 Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.  33 Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?  34 Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:  35 That upon you may come all the righteous bloodshed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.

Mark 13:9 – But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them.  10 And the gospel must first be published among all nations.  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.  12 Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death.  13 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

Luke 6:22 – Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake.  23 Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.

Luke 21:11 – And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.  12 But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for My name’s sake.  13 And it shall turn to you for a testimony.  14 Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer:  15 For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.  16 And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.  17 And ye shall be hated of all men for My name’s sake.  18 But there shall not an hair of your head perish.  19 In your patience possess ye your souls.

John 15:18 – If the world hate you, ye know that it hated Me before it hated you.  19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.  20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept My saying, they will keep yours also.  21 But all these things will they do unto you for My name’s sake, because they know not Him that sent Me.

John 16:33 – These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

John 17:14 – I have given them Thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.  15 I pray not that Thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that Thou shouldest keep them from the evil.  16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

Acts 7:52 – Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers.

Acts 14:22 – Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

Acts 28:17 – And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together: and when they were come together, he said unto them, Men and brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people, or customs of our fathers, yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.  18 Who, when they had examined me, would have let me go, because there was no cause of death in me.  19 But when the Jews spake against it, I was constrained to appeal unto Caesar; not that I had ought to accuse my nation of.  20 For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see you, and to speak with you: because that for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.  21 And they said unto him, We neither received letters out of Judaea concerning thee, neither any of the brethren that came shewed or spake any harm of thee.  22 But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against.

Romans 5:3 – And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

Romans 8:16 – The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:  17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.  18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

 Romans 8:35 – Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?  36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.  37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.  38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,  39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1Corinthians 4:9 – For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.  10 We are fools for Christ’s sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised.  11 Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling place;  12 And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:  13 Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.

1Corinthians 15:30 – And why stand we in jeopardy every hour?  31 I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.  32 If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for tomorrow we die.  33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.  34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.

2Corinthians 1:3 – Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;  4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.  5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.  6 And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.  7 And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.  8 For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:  9 But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:  10 Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;  11 Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf.

2Corinthians 4:8 – We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;  9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;  10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.  11 For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.  12 So then death worketh in us, but life in you.  13  We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;  14 Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.  15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.  16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.  17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;  18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

2Corinthians 6:4 – But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,  5 In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;  6 By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,  7 By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,  8 By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true;  9 As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;  10 As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

2Corinthians 7:4 – Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.

2Corinthians 11:23 – Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.  24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.  25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;  26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;  27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.  28 Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.  29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?  30 If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.

2Corinthians 12:5 – Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.

2Corinthians 12:9 – And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.  10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

Galatians 4:29 – But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.

Galatians  5:11 – And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased.

Galatians 6:12 – As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.

Galatians 6:17 – From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.

Ephesians 6:10 – Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.  11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.  12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.  13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.  14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;  15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;  16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.  17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:  18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.

Philippians 1:29 – For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for His sake;  30 Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.

Philippians 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, 9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. 12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

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:

I Thessalonians 1:6 – And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost.

I Thessalonians 2:1 – For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain:  2 But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention.

I Thessalonians 2:14 – For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews:  15 Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men:  16 Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.

I Thessalonians 3:3 – That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto. 4 For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know.  5 For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain.  6 But now when Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to  see us, as we also to see you:  7 Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith:  8 For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord.

2 Thessalonians 1:3 – We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;  4 So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:  5 Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:  6 Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;  7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels. 

2 Timothy 1:8 – Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;

2 Timothy 1:12 – For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day.

2 Timothy 2:8 – Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:  9 Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.  10 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.  11 It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with Him, we shall also live with Him:  12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him: if we deny Him, He also will deny us.

2 Timothy 3:1 – This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

2 Timothy 3:10 – But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, 11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.  12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

Hebrews 10:32 – But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions;  33 Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used.  34 For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.

Hebrews 11:25 – Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; 26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.  27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing Him who is invisible.

Hebrews 11:35 – Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:  36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:  37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;  38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. 

Hebrews 12:1 – Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,  2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.  3 For consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

Hebrews 13:3 – Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.

Hebrews 13:12 – Wherefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.  13 Let us go forth therefore unto Him without the camp, bearing His reproach.  14 For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.

James 1:12 – Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him.

James 2:6 – But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats? 7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?

James 5:1 – Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.  2 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten.  3 Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.  4 Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.  5 Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter.  6 Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you.  7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.

1Peter 1:6 – Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:  7 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 honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:  8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:  9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

1Peter 2:19 – For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.  20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.  21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps.

1Peter 3:14 – But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;  15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:  16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.  17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.

1Peter 4:12 – 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.

1Peter 5:8 – 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.

1John 3:10 – 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.

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.  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.

Revelation  6:9 – And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:  10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?  11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow-servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

Revelation  7:13 – And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?  14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.  15 Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple: and He that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.  16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.  17 For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

Revelation  12:11 – And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

Revelation  13:6 – And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.  7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.  8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.  9 If any man have an ear, let him hear.

Revelation  17:6 – And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.

Revelation  18:24 – And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.

Revelation  20:4  -And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

Having gone through the above verses, I was compelled to add these two from Daniel –

 Daniel 7:21 – I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; 22 Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.

Daniel 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.

I leave you with the Apostle Peter’s exhortation to the church –

 2Peter 3:10 – But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.  11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,  12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?  13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.  14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of Him in peace, without spot, and blameless.  15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;  16 As also in all his epistles, 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.  17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.  18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and forever. Amen.


. . . and instead, they found religion

Posted: April 16, 2011 in Coffee House, Devotionals, Shared Thoughts
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We need to be careful what we overcome.

. . . because of the angels.

Posted: April 9, 2011 in End Times, Shared Thoughts, Study!
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Capture

For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head . . . because of the angels.

In the last few decades there has risen much confusion around this particular verse, as well as the whole of the subject matter being addressed here by Paul to the Corinthians. All the same, this verse is part of God’s Holy Word and is intended to be both informative and instructive, though tucked neatly away here in a very illuminating passage of scriptures.

Since it is part of God’s Word that never changes, believers today are still obliged to give the utmost prayerful consideration as to its application to their lives. So as lights in the midst of a dark and blind world, they may properly “adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things” that they say and do, to give the glory and honor due to the Blessed Name of our Glorious Savior Jesus Christ.

Nonetheless, for a variety of reasons “believers” nowadays simply choose to ignore Paul’s two hundred and ninety-eight instructive words, (counted in the King James prior to verse sixteen) and imprudently conclude “we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.” In so doing, they treat Paul’s instruction here as completely irrelevant to them, as if it was written without reason, a complete waste of time and parchment.

Nevertheless, up until the last 40-50 years the majority of “the churches of God” did keep the custom of women wearing head coverings to some degree. This shows that most believers in today’s Church have lost the very attribute for which Paul was praising the Corinthian church in the first place, “I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.

So, what was Paul saying, “we have no such custom, neither the churches of God?” Well, what was the beginning of that verse?

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It’s Easter again, what exactly happened at the tomb?

Posted: April 2, 2011 in Shared Thoughts, Study!
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Trips to the Tomb

I have posted this before, but since it is Easter this coming Sunday I figured it would be a good repost for those who may have missed it. I hope it blesses you.

For centuries there has been much confusion when people try to reason the different accounts of Jesus’ resurrection as recorded by the apostles. The fact that they all seem to have a different story to tell does not help. Perhaps, a good way to consider their seemingly different reports is to view them like transparent overlays, similar to the one’s we have seen in books showing the skeleton, then the nerves and blood vessels, organs, muscular and finally the skin and hair.

The Gospels, similarly, are each reporting different events which had taken place around a major singular occurrence, the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The fact is that these different events are recorded in God’s word and are therefore true. Perhaps the answer to the confusion is to consider that there were multiple trips made to the tomb.

The best way to determine the possible order of these trips to the tomb is to consider the different details that have been given about the time of day and light of the sun. Was the sun going down or coming up? These questions are actually quite easy to answer. However, we must remember that the Sabbath, like all the other biblical days, began and ended with sundown, see Gen. 1:5, 8, 13, 19, 23, 31 and Lev. 23:32.

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Free market or trade falls into sinkhole?

Posted: March 31, 2011 in End Times, Shared Thoughts, Uncategorized, Wake Up!
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Ok, so the title is meant to grab your attention, I will explain how I came up with it  shortly. What really happened was a local woman fell into a sinkhole. Normally I would let this go by since sinkholes in Florida are not rare, especially around where I live. However, when someone stands in their own back yard and the ground opens up under them and swallows them  . . . well, that a bit more of an attention getter.

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Obama advisor calls for a military invasion of Israel

Posted: March 26, 2011 in America, End Times, Prophecy
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“Samantha Power is the Special Assistant to President Obama.  She has his ear and advises him on foreign policy, amongst other things.  In a video newly discovered, she states that the United States should spend “billions” on a “new” Palestinian state, while putting troops on the ground to support that effort.”

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Nothing more to gain . . .

Posted: March 26, 2011 in Uncategorized
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The West has seduced the world with our lawless democracy of “self government” claiming the right to govern ourselves and live however we wish. Now all these fractions rising up in the Middle East crying out for “freedom” to govern their own selves are only going to find they are headed from bad to worse. It was this lie that allow sinned to enter the garden in the first place.

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Understanding God’s Anger

Posted: March 26, 2011 in Coffee House, Shared Thoughts, Uncategorized
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It has been said by some that “the God of the Old Testament was an angry God.” Now that creates a need for clarity because God never changes. That He is the same yesterday, today and forever is in fact the teaching of scriptures, but they also state that God is indeed angry with the wicked everyday (Psm 7:11), because they have made themselves to be His enemies. His word also clearly tells us that to become friends with world is to willfully engage in war with Him.

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If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

Posted: March 15, 2011 in Deity of Jesus Christ, Devotionals, Study!
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I Corinthians 15:20-28

Here is a passage of scripture which many people quickly read through and think they “got it,” but never really slow down and take time to verify what they think is “obvious,” concerning what Paul was saying here. The very succinct nature of the passage alone demands further investigation into the depths of Paul’s meaning and intent. Simply consider how Paul takes us all the way from Christ rising from the dead and being the “firstfruit of them that slept,” then covers the redemptive plan of God from the consequences of Adam’s sin which brought death upon all men, to the very conclusion of God’s plan for all things – when God will be “all in all.” That’s a whole lot to cover in just nine verses.

I Corinthians 15:20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.
24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.
25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
27 For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him.
28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.

Most believers fail to stop and marvel how so much theology has been so efficiently congested into just nine short verses. For most simply read straight through them thinking “OK, yep, I got it. seems perfectly clear to me.” However, with such a vast expanse of time and information being addressed, it appears obvious to me that Paul was merely doing a quick connection and summarization of several key tenets of the Christian faith; points which he obviously expounded upon when he was there in person teaching the Corinthians, reasoning with them Old Testament scriptures in greater depth, and only makes allusion to here.

Therefore it would be prudent of us to humbly ask God’s Spirit for enlightenment that today we too may grasp the magnificent gravity of these words by trying to expand them and gaze into the depth and riches of God’s plan and promises for His people. My hope is for this post to be an encouragement to the readers to invest time to carefully look at each verse and search with me the scriptures Paul had, whereby he would have proved to them their current understanding this passage and his other teachings/epistles as well. Read the rest of this entry »

God Is No Respecter Of Persons

Posted: March 14, 2011 in Uncategorized
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A call to the church to stay out of Egypt and Sodom. Be faithful, have faith. Serve God because He is God.

Acts 10:34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, “Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons.”

Where two or three are gathered together in My name . . .

Posted: March 10, 2011 in Devotionals, Shared Thoughts
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Matthew 18:19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

A brother and I were praying for another when he quoted parts of these verses in his prayer. It got me to thinking about how these two verses are possibly the ones I hear taken out of context most when praying with others. Each verse seems to have their own catch phrases that tend to be quoted by young or untrained believers. Even believers who appear mature and seasoned are still only repeating without evaluating what they’ve heard from some preacher, trying to “claim” the promises of God. However, I need to ask, is that really Jesus’ intent here? Was He merely trying to teach us the formula of what and how things need to be done so we can then successfully claim His promises and get our prayers answered?

So, wen I hear people misused verse 19, it is actually quite troublesome to me, because they really believe that by getting me or another to stand in agreement with them that they’re more likely to have their prayer answered. This flawed understanding literally keeps these believers in a position of trying to perfect the way they do things so they can have faith for their prayers… rather than simply praying because of faith.

Sadly, I am absolutely certain there are many Christians out there who cannot even understand what I just said. Because they been taught things incorrectly, they are left believing “faith” is something they must somehow muster up to compel God to move on their behalf, or even to hear their prayers.

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Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment.

Posted: March 8, 2011 in Devotionals, Shared Thoughts, Uncategorized, Wake Up!
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The other night I was busy working on some studies and took a break to check a few other things, email, read the latest news online and then decided to dropped by my Facebook page real quick. I really don’t use it too much; it is more of just a way to stay in casual touch with a few friends and my sons . . .  and also to shamelessly promote Gates of the City. While I was there I saw that one of my friends I met via my sons had a post that looked like a typical nonsensical YouTube link.

Now, I love this young friend and speak frequently with them, sometimes with private messages over personal things trying to encourage them. I am thankful the Lord has placed quite a fondness in my heart for this individual and therefore I usually pay attention to their status and posts. But this time the post seemed a bit odd for them, the title actually seemed to indicate mischief on the part of whoever made the link. However, since this was my young  friend, I figured I would click it to see why they posted it. All it did was change the page a bit as the picture of the link got a little bigger as YouTube links normally do, but that was it. Apparently it wasn’t a video, or if it was it certainly didn’t work. So I just clicked back, read down my FB page real quick and went back to working on other stuff.

Within minutes of going back to work I get a YIM from my friend Rhonda who shares this blog with telling me I may have a virus on my FB page. Naturally I am a bit surprise and ask her what she means, to which she asks me if I clicked “like” on a link called such and such. Now, upon re-reading the title with it removed from my other friend’s name next to it, it now appears a great deal more mischievous than before, provoking an embarrassment as now on my FB page  it reads that “William Males ‘likes’ this link.” I asked Rhonda why people create these things, what is the purpose, what are they gaining? She simply said something about it’s a type of cyber graffiti, just getting their handiwork across the web on as many “walls” as possible, because there is some sort of a ping back where they keep score I guess. I am so thankful God has given me such higher goals to press forward to.

However, being computer savvy enough to create a good impression of being capable, yet still ignorant to all the aspects web life and warfare, I asked how to eliminate this distasteful thing from my wall and name since it doesn’t respond to my feeble efforts to delete it. Rhonda patiently explained the process where I had to change the password in order to delete it. Well, it’s gone, but the whole experience really troubled me on a few levels.

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Believe Not In Vain

Posted: March 5, 2011 in Coffee House
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After many other’s shared at the Coffee House what the Lord had been placing upon their hearts, I stopped and prayed and asked the Lord to help me bring it altogether and then reasoned the Gospel, pleading for the Church to become the men and women of God they for which they were saved.

I doubt many will believe it . . . though a man declares it unto you.

Posted: March 3, 2011 in America, End Times, Prophecy, Wake Up!
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Hab 1:5 Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvelously: for I will work a work in your days, which ye will not believe, though it be told you.

The above verse is a response of God to Habakkuk the prophet when he cry out to the Lord wondering when He would move in judgment against the wicked.

Hab 1:2 O LORD, how long shall I cry, and Thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto Thee of violence, and Thou wilt not save! 3 Why dost Thou shew me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance? for spoiling and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strife and contention.

Habakkuk felt as if it was taking forever for God to move against the wicked and to come and save His people. Listen Church, God knows the fate of His people are secure, for they have entrusted their lives unto Him, however for the wicked, their judgment is final and eternal. Therefore the Lord is longsuffering and allowing His goodness to be known in that His judgments and wrath tarries because once it is unleashed the consequences are eternal. It is simple and true, God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

But people are slow to believe, especially when there are so many deceivers and false “ministers of righteousness” keeping the foolish from repenting and embracing truth, false witnesses who are anointed and sent by that fallen angel of light. As true as it was back in the Garden of Eden, false doctrines of devil are sent to stir up pride and covetousness, misdirect simpletons and to cause procrastination in the hearts of the foolish. Such truth has been witnessed by all the prophets and seen in the religious leaders in Jesus’ days. Look around and you can see it is still abounding everywhere.

Nonetheless, God’s love, mercy and grace cause His wrath to tarry as long as possible, extending the opportunity for all to repent and live – before His judgment becomes final. If only people had ears to hear and eyes to see, because God sends sign after sign and warning after warning. But because of their hard hearts loving darkness rather than light, they cannot see and foolishly cast the words of God behind them and run with their itchy ears to eagerly embrace those who prophesy lies unto them. That is why many years after Habakkuk’s days Paul utters once again his words to the Jews warning them of the judgment and destruction that God was about to visit upon them again. Arrogantly they would not listen this time either.

Ac 13:41 Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you.

Well, it’s been just a little over 26 years ago since one day when I left a job early and headed for home. On the way I pulled over at convenient  place to fish for a bit with a friend who worked for me. After a while, feeling heavy in my heart I went back to the truck. Sitting there in the passenger side of the truck praying, I grabbed a Bible and randomly flipped it open to Jeremiah 26. While reading the verses  there was a strong conviction that this was somehow applicable to my own country, the church within her and for me too. I prayed, closed the Bible and went home to my family to finish up the day.

After dinner and taking care of other evening obligations I grabbed a house Bible, went to the couch for some quiet time and flipped it open. One more I found myself in the same exact chapter, two different times, same day, two different Bibles, both opening to same place. Never before had that happen to me, never again afterwards. For the second time the Lord was convicting me that the time would come when His bride and watchmen in this country would have to stand up and “diminish not a word” of the judgment God was going to bring forth upon America. The very thought terrorized me then and as it does today as well, but not as much as my fear of the judgments which are righteous and true of my holy Father.

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Water Pots of Stone

Posted: February 28, 2011 in Devotionals, Shared Thoughts, Study!
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John 2:1 And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: 2 And both Jesus was called, and His disciples, to the marriage. 3 And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine. 4 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come. 5 His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever He saith unto you, do it. 6 And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece. 7 Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. 8 And He saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it. 9 When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom, 10 And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now. 11 This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth His glory; and His disciples believed on Him.

Years ago I was reading these verses about Jesus’ first miracle when I came to verse 6 and it just seemed to jump out at me.

“And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece.”

For many years I had simply read through the passage, simply retaining how Jesus had turned water into wine, which without a doubt was truly a significant event. But I had failed to take notice of was what water it was that Jesus turned into wine, and the purpose for why it was there. Suddenly, every aspect of the event was suddenly more significant than I had previously appreciated. Everything from the location, the marriage, and all the steps involved in the miracle seemed filled with meaning. Hopefully, I will be able to share these things with you, details that require reflection if one is to truly appreciate all Jesus did with this “beginning of miracles,” when he began to “manifest forth His glory” at the wedding in Cana of Galilee.

This water was there because of the traditions of the Jews. It wasn’t there for consumption, rather for religious purification. See the Jews had taken a prophetic truth and turned it into a vain tradition. It was their opinion that nothing was truly cleansed unless it had been washed in “living water.” What that means is simply that the water needed to be in motion, such as a moving river, spring, or simply the pouring of water over their hands as they washed, thus allowing the impurities to be washed away. For to bathe in a basin would be washing hands in stagnant which would simply hold the impurities, leaving you merely washing in dirty water, consequently it was required to be living, or flowing water.

2 Kings 3:11b . . . Here is Elisha the son of Shaphat, which poured water on the hands of Elijah.

Consider also the imagery of the following verses as well–

Leviticus 14:5 And the priest shall command that one of the birds be killed in an earthen vessel over running water: 6 As for the living bird, he shall take it, and the cedar wood, and the scarlet, and the hyssop, and shall dip them and the living bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the running water: 7 And he shall sprinkle upon him that is to be cleansed from the leprosy seven times, and shall pronounce him clean, and shall let the living bird loose into the open field.

What tremendous prophetic action, one bird being washed in living water and the blood of another and then being set free to live. Another great example would be the design and function of the brazen laver which I hope to have time to write about soon. Now these were true prophetic things which God ordained to symbolize aspects of the Gospel, but they were never to become the object of faith or the confidence of men. Let’s look at an account in Mark –

Mr 7:2 And when they saw some of His disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault. 3 For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders. 4 And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables. 5 Then the Pharisees and scribes asked Him, “Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?”

Now it needs to be clarified that the Pharisees were not simply speaking of washing some things for the sake of physical cleanliness, they doing all these things in order to declare their spiritual pureness. Their confidence had drifted so far from what God had originally intended, that they were now actually accusing Jesus and His disciples of sin for they had eating “with unwashen hands.”

Listen to Jesus’ reply to them –

Mark 7:6 He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. 7 Howbeit in vain do they worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. 8 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. 9 And He said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.

Jesus turned the accusation around and used it to address their sins in the light of God’s word, then publicly calls them hypocrites. Look at His list of their sins here:

  1. Hypocrites
  2. Lip service only, no true heart worship.
  3. Vain and dead religious worship established only upon men’s tradition.
  4. Rejection of God words by laying (casting) it aside to do their own little religious performance.

Jesus openly exposed how what was once founded upon the oracles of God, they had corrupted and thus reduced to a powerless, man centered religion. In their vain confidence they were now guilty of taking the Lord’s name in vain, by proclaiming to be the holy people of God, yet all the while casting His words away from them. If you really stop and think about it, this is really not too different from many “Christians” nowadays that likewise are professing to be followers of God. Regardless of all their talk about God and being the children of Abraham, God’s chosen people, they were no longer pursuing God or even trying to draw closer to Him. Therefore, Jesus rebukes them as those who’s “hearts are far from Me.”

Scripture warns us how the heart tends to be much like our eyes; it too tends to focus on one thing primarily.

Matthew 6:19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 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: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. 22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. 23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!

With hearts turned away from the Lord, they were only dedicated to themselves. No longer seeking God’s Kingdom or glory. Forgetting the things afar off, they became nearsighted, their were only concern was serving their own selves, and building each other up in their own eyes. No longer mindful of eternal treasures in heaven, their focus was reduced to whatever they could get now through their religious traditions, and so they caused the light that was within them, of which they boasted great confidence in as elevated teachers of the law, to become nothing more than a great blinding darkness. Such is the end of all prideful and covetous men who think they see clearly.

Matthew 6:10 For Moses said, Honor thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death: 11 But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free. 12 And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother; 13 Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.

They had fallen so far from the righteous precept of true faith working by love, they were now making void the fifth commandment.

Exodus 20:12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

For Paul stated, “If any provide not for his own, and especially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.” For now instead of encouraging men that they ought to be providing for their own family and aging parents, these greedy hypocrites actually created a religious way to excuse their followers from their godly obligations; thus permitting them to selfishly use their wealth for themselves as long as sufficient gifts were being made, and was ultimately going to be left to these blind guides.

But now, as the Apostle John said, the fullness of time has come and Jesus begins His ministry at the celebration of the greatest prophetic sacrament between a man and a woman, a wedding feast in Cana. For through marriage, husbands and wives are given what was denied to the angels, the privilege and responsibility to adorn the Gospel of God our Savor. For marriage is a holy covenant and union design to represent God’s ultimate plan for those who love Him. As husbands take unto themselves their own wives to love, provide for and to protect as weaker vessels, they reflect to the world how Christ so loved His church. Wives likewise by loving and submitting to their own husbands, present what the church should unto Christ, taking the name of thereof unto themselves not in vain. For more on this please read “Why God made us Males and Female.”

After their arrival at the wedding Jesus asked for wine and was told by His mother that there was none. Mary then turns and gives directions which have become known as “The Gospel according to Mary” unto the servants, “Whatsoever He says, do.” Jesus has them fill the water pots to the brim and then turns the water unto wine, now there is no ceremonial water whereby others could now wash their hands to partake of the festivities of the wedding. Jesus literally took this Pharisaic vain tradition of purification and brought it to an abrupt prophetic end.

What fabulous prophetic imagery! A wedding, union with Christ, wine, our atonement, a celebration, the marriage supper of the Lamb, all being put forth gloriously at the beginning of Jesus’ miracles and ministry. However, what is also sadly prophetic was the action at Christ’s crucifixion where they took and gave unto Him vinegar on the cross.

John 19:28 After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. 29 Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth. 30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

This wasn’t just vinegar, as one might readily think of vinegar off the store shelf. This was soured wine which was permitted to turn into vinegar and was past the stage of being “good wine” such as was served at the wedding of Cana. This was neglected wine. Note the description given in Numbers-

Numbers 6:3 He shall separate himself from wine and strong drink, and shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of strong drink, neither shall he drink any liquor of grapes, nor eat moist grapes, or dried.

This giving of the sour wine vinegar to Jesus was a witness against those who demanded His crucifixion, showing they had rejected His Gospel of the Kingdom simply because it threaten their own. They neglecting His gift of prophetic purification, they gave it back to Him soured by their rejection of both Him and His words, choosing rather to cling to their own vain traditions. They were doing just as Jesus said , filling up the measure of their fathers.

Matthew 23:25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. 26 Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. 27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. 28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. 29 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous, 30 And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets. 31 Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets. 32 Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers. 33 Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?

Yet this “vinegar” was given to Jesus, “That the scripture might be fulfilled.” That scripture is found in Psalm 69 –

Psalm 69:19 Thou hast known my reproach, and my shame, and my dishonour: mine adversaries are all before thee. 20 Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none. 21 They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.

Sometimes we fail to dwell upon the severity of God’s righteous judgment, tending to only want to see His mercy and forgiveness. However, we must consider the whole council of God, for only by knowing the terror of the Lord can we hope to successfully labor to persuade men to repent. God is not mocked, each will all reap what they have sown . . . and so therefore the judgment was prophetically pronounced upon those who crucified Him.

Psalm 69:22 Let their table become a snare before them: and that which should have been for their welfare, let it become a trap. 23 Let their eyes be darkened, that they see not; and make their loins continually to shake. 24 Pour out thine indignation upon them, and let thy wrathful anger take hold of them. 25 Let their habitation be desolate; and let none dwell in their tents. 26 For they persecute him whom thou hast smitten; and they talk to the grief of those whom thou hast wounded. 27 Add iniquity unto their iniquity: and let them not come into thy righteousness. 28 Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.

Some have taken these following words of Jesus as being directed to the people and the Jewish rulers, as a relieving them of their guilt and not laying their sin to their account.

Luke 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

But these religious hypocrites were not ignorant in their actions, they knew full well what they did and why –

John 3:2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.

John 12:42 Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: 43 For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

We too need to vigilant to guard our own hearts, lest these reproofs of scriptures should ever find application against us–

Ro 2:19 And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness, 20 An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law. 21 Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? 22 Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege? 23 Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God?

No, these religious leaders were not being forgiven, they were being held accountable with their names being “blotted out of the book of the living, and not left written in with the righteous. For one cannot partake of Christ and then go on continuing to willfully sin against Him. That is not to deny we all will have moments of failure due to the violence of sudden temptation, or because we are ignorant of God’s perfect will. But confession and repentence upon understanding our sin assures us God’s mercy of forgiveness if we will so humble ourselves before our Savor. But we must never forget, judgment always begins in the house of the Lord and everything that can be shaken will be shaken.

So then, just who was Jesus praying for? Who was it that didn’t really understand what they were doing when they cast lots for His garments and nailed Him to the cross? Well, listen to the scriptures-

1 Corinthians 2:6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: 7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: 8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

Blessed are those of us who have come to the same understanding of the Roman centurion who stood by Christ side and so confessed after all he had witnessed –

Mr 15:37 And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost. 38 And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom. 39 And when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God.

What rich lessons we can learn through the beginning of Jesus’ ministry and His first miracle. The condemnation and discarding of vain traditions contrasted with the witness of of a promised wedding feast to which all have been bidden to come. All made possible through an abounding source of purification in the blood of our atonement which ripped wide open the veil into the Holy of Holies. Now, all the redeemed can come boldly before the Throne of Grace to petition and worship the Savor in spirit and truth.

No, He did not come merely to cleanse the outside of this earthen vessel of ours. He came to purify us from within with the washing of the water of His word and to cleanse us from our sins in His blood. Therefore, it is possible now for our Holy God to come and dwell in us, filling us with His Spirit, and impart the power of His seed of life whereby we are born again, His word.

1 Peter 1:13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: 15 But as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. 17 And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: 18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, 21 Who by Him do believe in God, that raised Him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. 22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: 23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. 24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: 25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

Like Jesus’ disciples, let us too truly “believe on Him” and drink freely of this new wine and rejoice in the God of our salvation. Blessed be the name of our Lord Jesus.

Live for the King.
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