George Washington’s Prophetic Vision

Joseph F. Dumond

Isa 6:9-12 And He said, Go, and tell this people, You hear indeed, but do not understand; and seeing you see, but do not know. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn back, and be healed. Then I said, Lord, how long? And He answered, Until the cities are wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land laid waste, a desolation, and until Jehovah has moved men far away, and the desolation in the midst of the land is great.
Published: Jun 15, 2012

News Letter 5848-016
25th day of the 3rd month 5848 years after the creation of Adam
The 3rd Month in the Third year of the third Sabbatical Cycle
The Third Sabbatical Cycle of the 119th Jubilee Cycle
The Sabbatical Cycle of Earthquakes Famines, and Pestilences
This is also the end of the Twelfth week of this the Third Tithe Year for the Levite, the alien, the fatherless and the widow Deuteronomy 26:12

 

June 16, 2012

 

Shabbat Shalom Brethren,

If you’re thinking that you would like to see the land of Israel then we urge you to consider joining us on this is the tour for Sukkot. Please go to this URL and read the itinerary and then sign up.

Keep in mind that there may not be very many more opportunities to visit Israel, if The Prophecies of Abraham continue to be accurate.

Last weekend I spent with the Honey and Locust group in Sarnia Ontario. We had an extremely lively Midrash about the book of Numbers and what that meant. Then as I expounded on Sunday on the Heraldry of the Ten so called Lost tribes they small crowd became very excited. There was not hocus pocus and no smoke and mirrors. Just the historical facts laid down in front of them alongside what they already knew about their own family heraldry and they could just plain see it.

Israel identifies herself through her heraldry even to this very day. An exciting presentation indeed. We did have it videoed but I do not know how to get it online.

Honey and Locust is once again hosting me to speak in the Heart of downtown Sarnia, 180 Front Street. North. Phone 519-491-2588

I will be speaking Shabbat June 23rd on Daniel 9:24-27 with an emphasis on the Covenant that Satan has made; what it is; and just how far reaching it is and how it ties right in with the Shabua or Sabbatical cycles that we teach about. Again be ready to be shocked. These three versus will take us the better part of the day, so come prepared.

The Meetings go from 10AM-5PM.

Later this summer a good friend of mine will be coming to the USA and to Canada to speak at a number of assemblies. Stephen Spykerman also is the same person who encouraged and demanded I put the News letter’s about the Prophecies of Abraham into a book way back in 2009.

This year Stephen and I will be co-Hosting with Avi ben Mordechai on our Israel tour for Sukkot.

To help those of you who can go and listen to him I am going to feature an article taken from one of Stephens books about George Washington’s Prophetic Vision. May it be a blessing to you.

 


George Washington’s Prophetic Vision

 

 

In the Library of Congress an account is kept of a vision George Washington had in the winter of 1777 at Valley Forge. It was the low point of the Revolutionary War. The General had lost almost every battle and had been in constant retreat since the beginning of the war. In his vision Washington saw three great perils, (in the form of three military conflicts), taking place on America’s soil. The first being the Revolutionary War of Independence, the second being the Civil War, and the third and the most terrible, being the invasion and conquest of the United States by a great alliance of nations from Europe, Asia and Africa. In all three cases all the differing versions of his vision agree; “we” will be successful in the War of Independence, that after the Civil War “we” will become united, and that even in the third conflict having suffered cataclysmic defeat, “we” will nevertheless ultimately prevail over our enemies, thanks to divine intervention on our side.

In 1859 a 99 year old officer named Anthony Sherman, who had served under General Washington at Valley Forge, related the vision to a reporter, by the name of Wesley Bradshaw. This means that the soldier must have been between 17 to 18 years old when he served under the great General in December 1777. Wesley Bradshaw in turn published Anthony Sherman’s account of Washington’s vision in a newspaper article the same year of 1859 in the NATIONAL TRIBUNE, and it was since reprinted in 1880, 1931 & 1950. It is not without significance and most important for us to note that this vision, which described the Civil War, its cause and its outcome in perfect detail, was published a full two years prior to the outbreak of that war!

In the vision George Washington saw an angelic messenger who addressed him with an authoritative:

“SON OF THE REPUBLIC, LOOK AND LEARN!”

He was then shown in one vast plain all the countries, continents and oceans of the world:

• THE FIRST PERIL

“At that moment I beheld a dark, shadowy being, like an angel floating in mid-air, between Europe and America, dipping water out of the ocean in the hollow of each hand. He sprinkled some upon America with his right hand, while with his left hand he cast some on Europe. Immediately a dark cloud rose from these countries and joined in mid-ocean. For a while it remained stationary, and then moved slowly westward, until it enveloped America in its murky folds. Sharp flashes of lightning passed through it at intervals, and I heard the smothered groans and cries of the American people.”

“A second time the angel dipped water from the ocean, and sprinkled it out as before. The dark cloud was then drawn back to the ocean, in who’s heaving billows it sank from view. A third time I heard the mysterious voice saying, ‘SON OF THE REPUBLIC, LOOK AND LEARN.’ I cast my eyes upon America and beheld villages and towns and cities springing up one after the other until the whole land from the Atlantic to the Pacific was dotted with them.”

Question: How did George Washington know in 1777, when he received his vision, that America would stretch from, ‘the Atlantic to the Pacific,’ that is to say; from ‘Sea to Shining Sea?’ After all, it would be a further 26 years before the Louisiana Purchase took place in 1803 to make any idea of settlement in the west even remotely possible! The first American overland expedition to the Pacific coast led by Lewis and Clark reached the mouth of the Columbia River and the Pacific a few years later in December 1805. It was only after these historic events that Washington’s 1777 vision of the whole land being dotted with villages, towns and cities from the Atlantic to the Pacific could possibly be fulfilled. Hence this part of the vision clearly contained a prophetic statement, which no one person at the time could have ever foreseen. In this we have an indication that Washington’s vision may have been genuine. Or possibly he may have simply mirrored the general Biblically oriented sentiments of the general population of the time.

Consider also what happened immediately after the vision. It was Washington’s darkest hour. His demoralised army was all but defeated and he was losing the war in that bleak and bitter winter of 1777! Up to this point the American Revolutionary army was greatly outnumbered by the superior British forces and the war seemed a lost cause. Yet, having foreseen the Victory in his Vision, Washington claimed victory on that fateful Christmas Day in 1777, [which was around the time of Chanukah]. He conceived a bold plan to attack the 2,500 strong garrison of professional Hessian mercenary troops at Trenton. The password for the daring night time raid was: “Victory or Death.” Having roused his demoralised troops, he won a glorious victory by crossing the Delaware River to rout King George’s German soldiers at Trenton without the loss of a single man. It proved ‘the’ turning point of the war.

The entire battle and a major part of the war were funded by Jews borrowing funds on their good names and thereafter living out the rest of their lives with bitter oppressive debts.

• THE SECOND PERIL

“Again I heard the mysterious voice say, ‘Son of the Republic, the end of the century cometh, look and learn.’”

“At this the dark, shadowy angel turned his face southward, and from Africa I saw an ill-omened spectre approach our land. It flitted slowly over every town and city. The inhabitants presently set themselves in battle array against each other. As I continued looking, I saw a bright angel, on whose brow rested a crown of light, on which was traced the word, “Union,” bearing the American flag, which he placed between the divided nation, and said, ‘Remember ye are brethren.’ Instantly the inhabitants, casting from them their weapons, became friends once more and united around the national standard.”

Note, that this vision mentions an ill-omened spectre connected with Africa! Does this not accurately reflect the contention between the South and the North? The Civil War was all about the abolition of slavery and most of those slaves had been brought in chains to the cotton plantations of the Southern states from Africa.

• THE THIRD PERIL

“And again I heard the mysterious voice saying, Son of the Republic, look and learn.’

At this the dark, shadowy angel placed a trumpet to his mouth and blew three distinct blasts; and taking water from the ocean, he sprinkled it upon Europe, Asia and Africa. Then my eyes beheld a fearful scene: from each of these countries arose thick, black clouds that were joined into one. And throughout this mass there gleamed a dark red light by which I saw hordes of armed men, who moving with the cloud, marched by land and sailed by sea to America, which country was enveloped in the volume of the cloud. And I dimly saw these vast armies devastate the whole country and burn the villages, towns, and cities that I beheld were springing up. As my ears listened to the thundering of the cannon, clashing of swords, and the shouts and cries of millions in mortal combat, I heard again the mysterious voice saying, ‘Son of the Republic, look and learn.’ When the voice had ceased, the dark shadowy angel placed his trumpet once more to his mouth and blew a long fearful blast.

(Superimpose text below onto illustration of nuclear explosion and mushroom cloud!)

It would appear that this third peril to come upon America is an invasion of massive forces coming by land and sea. Those hostile armies numbering multiple millions of men, coming in a great alliance of nations from Europe, Asia, and Africa are apparently able to devastate and destroy the whole country by burning the villages, towns, and cities of the nation. This kind of destruction, accompanied by thick black clouds enveloping the whole country, and accompanied by a mysterious dark red light, brings to mind devastating nuclear warfare being waged on American soil. It sure is a terrifying prospect, yet this is exactly what elements within the EU, Russian, Islamic and Chinese enemies of America are capable of perpetrating. Their hatred is stoked by the green eyed monster of envy. Their resentment of Anglo-Saxon success and global power has been simmering for many decades, even though they have most of the time managed to hide their true attitude behind diplomatic smiles and niceties. America’s awesome military might has deterred them thus far, yet they are prepared to wait for that moment of weakness when America cannot afford to pay for its overwhelming globe girdling forces any more. They can already see the writing on the wall, as they are able to discern that a major global power shift is even now underway. This once in 500 year cycle will shift global power from the English speaking world in the West, (e.g. the gentile sons of Joseph), temporarily to the Gentile non Israelite, [70 nations], powers of the East. The signs are that that time is not too far off now. Their envy and hatred for everything American will ultimately unite them in their combined onslaught. George Washington’s vision implies that the invasion will be successful and that America will be defeated by her enemies on her own soil!

The vision implies that America will suffer the bitter ashes of defeat! This is serious business! Maybe all Americans, Republicans, and Democrats alike, should look and learn!

Fortunately this is not the whole story, as the vision goes on to relate a most remarkable turn of events:

“Instantly a light as of a thousand suns shone down from above me, and pierced and broke into fragments the dark cloud which enveloped America. At the same moment the angel, upon whose head still shone the word “Union,” and who bore our national flag in one hand and a sword in the other, descended from the heavens, attended by legions of white spirits. These immediately joined the inhabitants of America, who I perceived were well-nigh overcome, but who immediately taking courage again, closed up their broken ranks and renewed the battle.”

Notice, it says they ‘renewed’ the battle which implies that prior to this remarkable divine intervention they had lost the battle and stopped fighting. Their ranks were broken and they were in effect defeated and it took the supernatural intervention of heavenly forces to save America. The vision then continues as follows:

“Again, amid the fearful noise of the conflict, I heard the mysterious voice saying, ‘Son of the Republic, look and learn’.

As the voice ceased, the shadowy angel for the last time dipped water from the ocean and sprinkled it upon America. Instantly the dark cloud rolled back, together with the armies it had brought, leaving the inhabitants of the land victorious.”

“Then once more I beheld the villages, towns, and cities springing up where I had seen them before, while the bright angel, planting the azure standard he had brought in the midst of them, cried with a loud voice, ‘While the stars remain, and the heavens send down dew upon the earth, so long shall the union last.’ And taking from his brow the crown on which was blazoned the word “Union,” he placed it upon the Standard, while the people, kneeling down, said, ‘Amen.’”

The phrase, ‘While the stars remain, and the heavens send down dew upon the earth, so long shall the union last,’ connects with a cast iron prophecy given to Israel in the Book of Jeremiah:

“Thus says the LORD, who gives the sun for a light by day, the ordinances of the moon and the stars for a light by night, who disturbs the sea, and its waves roar, (the LORD of hosts is his name): ‘If those ordinances depart from before Me,’ says the LORD, ‘then the seed of Israel shall also cease from being a nation before Me forever.’” (Jeremiah 31:35-36 – editor’s emphasis).

The SUN, the MOON and the STARS still shine. HEAVEN above, the EARTH beneath and the SEA are still visible realities, and we are still having DAY and NIGHT in their regular order. So, as God has declared that ISRAEL is to continue as a people and a nation as long as these EIGHT heavenly and earthly WITNESSES remain, it follows that ISRAEL, that is to say all twelve tribes, must still be in existence as a people and nation today! The unmistakable message of this book is that America forms a potential part of that nation! In the Book of Genesis we find yet another most important clue which, believe it or not, also points to the United States of America.

“I will make you a GREAT NATION; I will bless you and make your name GREAT; and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Genesis 12:2-3 – editor’s emphasis).

 

George Washington’s third peril account continues with the following words:

“The scene instantly began to fade and dissolve, and I at last saw nothing but the rising, curling vapour I at first beheld. This also disappearing, I found myself once more gazing at the mysterious visitor, who, in the same voice I had heard before, said, ‘Son of the Republic, what you have seen is thus interpreted: Three great perils will come upon the Republic. The most fearful is the third, passing which the whole world united shall not prevail against her. Let every child of the Republic learn to live for his God, his land, and the Union.’”

It would appear from the above interpretation that the invasion forces from Europe, Asia, and Africa represent, ‘the whole world united’. From this we can surmise that the whole world will unite in a final battle and onslaught against America, and that at the end of the day, it is only through Divine intervention that America will be saved. Once again there is a biblical correlation here with the prophesied final battle against Israel and Jerusalem, where the whole world unites in one great final onslaught. To most this will seem too farfetched to have any credibility whatsoever. However, to see the connection between the final battle, where the whole world united comes against America, and the final battle prophesied in the Bible, where the whole world united comes against Israel and Jerusalem, we need to understand and recognise that America is intimately connected to Israel.

• Washington’s Third Peril Vision is in apparent harmony with the prophets of the Bible

It is impossible to fully comprehend the prophetic books of the Bible without understanding that Israel is composed of two separate nations e.g. Israel and Judah. King David, the royal psalmist of Israel, prophesied regarding an end-time event in which the whole world united conspires to do away with, “the whole house of Israel!” According to his prophecy those malign forces plan eradication, so absolute, that the name of Israel may be expunged from the earth. Such hatred is not new to Judah:

“Do not keep silent, O God! Do not hold Your peace, and do not be still, O God! For behold, Your enemies make a tumult; and those who hate You have lifted up their head. They have taken crafty counsel against Your people, and consulted together against Your sheltered ones. They have said, “Come let us cut them off from being a nation, that the name of Israel may be remembered no more” For they have consulted together with one consent; they form a confederacy against You.” (Psalms 83:1-5, emphasis added).

Unfortunately, most Americans, whether they be Bible reading Christians or otherwise, do not realise that the Psalmist is speaking here about all the nations and peoples that make up the generic name Israel. The populations of America, Great Britain and the other English speaking nations such as Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa together form by far the greater part of today’s gentile peoples of Israeli stock. The Scandinavian nations, as well as some of the coastal nations of North Western Europe, the Jewish State of Israel, plus a generous scattering of millions additional Israelites throughout the world complete the nation and are included in the name of Israel, which is composed of all the billion plus descendants of the twelve tribal sons of the Patriarch Jacob. In Genesis 28:14 we are given an indication as to how numerous those Hebrew descendants will be, as it states: “And your seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and you shall break forth to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. And all the clans of the earth shall be blessed in you and your seed.”

King David’s prophecy speaks of a time yet ahead when the enemies of America and the other Hebrew nations will make a great tumult, and when those who hate us will lift up their head. This is the time when they will, as the psalmist puts it, “take crafty counsel against Your people, this means they will form a conspiracy against the U.S. and the other Israelite nations in order to destroy them forever. Their plan is to commit total genocide on our people, so much so that, the name of Israel, (America et al), may be remembered no more! In the part of George Washington’s account referred to as the “Third Peril,” we see the same pattern, as he speaks of, ‘the whole world united,’ coming against the United States.

The record of George Washington’s account finally concludes with the following words:

With these words the vision vanished, and I started from my seat, and I felt that I had seen a vision wherein had been shown me the birth, progress, and destiny of the United States.

 

• The Time of Jacob’s Trouble

Just before his death Moses addressed the whole assembly of Israel with a particular warning about the evil that would befall them in the, latter days, (speaking of our time). This punishment would come to them because of their wicked conduct. Moses called heaven and earth to witness against Israel, (e.g. including America), as he prophesied:

“For I know that after my death you will become utterly corrupt, and turn aside from the way I have commanded you. And evil will befall you in the latter days, because you will do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke Him to anger through the work of your hands.” (Deuteronomy 31:29, emphasis added).

The evil which is to befall Israel in the latter days is summarized elsewhere in the Bible as, the “time of Jacob’s trouble”. The Prophet Jeremiah refers to this unprecedented, ‘time of Jacob’s trouble,’ as follows:

“For thus says the LORD: ‘We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace. Ask now, and see, whether a man is ever in labor with child? So why do I see every man with his hands on his loins like a woman in labor, and all the faces turned pale? Alas! For that day is great, so that none is like it; and it is the time of Jacob’s trouble, but he shall be saved out of it.” (Jeremiah 30:5-7, editor’s emphasis).

Notice that Jacob, (e.g. the twelve tribal sons of Israel), may have to undergo a terrible time of unprecedented trouble from which he will, presumably after the nation has learned its lesson, be saved. We see exactly the same pattern in George Washington’s vision of the Third Peril, as through Divine intervention the battle is won, leaving the inhabitants of the land victorious. Thus we can discern a close connection between George Washington’s account of the Third Peril on the one hand, and Jeremiah’s prophecy of the Time of Jacob’s Trouble on the other. At this point it must be granted however, that Washington’s probable familiarity with the prophecies of the Bible and with the book of Jeremiah in particular, may have influenced him in the formulation of his vision.

Jeremiah describes Israel’s end-time deliverance as follows: “For it shall come to pass in that day, Says the LORD of hosts, ‘That I will break the yoke from your neck, and will burst your bonds; Foreigners shall no more enslave them’”. (Jeremiah 30:8, editor’s emphasis).

This is speaking about a yoke around the neck and bonds around the wrists, which implies deliverance from enslavement and captivity by foreigners. The promise in the above passage that, ‘foreigners shall no longer enslave them,’ clearly implies that enslavement by foreigners is the prospect that lies ahead of the nation. In case you wonder why this calamity is to come to the United States, the Prophet Jeremiah spells it out very clearly, as the people in his day asked the very same question:

“And it shall be, when you show this people, (U.S. citizens, as well as the other gentile Israelite nations), all these words, and they say to you, ‘Why has the LORD pronounced all this great disaster against us? Or what is our iniquity? Or what is our sin that we have committed against the LORD our God?’ (Jeremiah 16:10, editor’s emphasis).

It is a basic human trait always to want to justify oneself. Note, that our ancient Israelite forefathers in Jeremiah’s day were just as oblivious of their utter degeneracy as the average citizen of the United States today. Jeremiah’s answer to them is just as relevant for us as it was for them, because it came directly from YHVH, the Sovereign of the Universe:

‘Because your fathers have forsaken Me,’ says the LORD; ‘they have walked after other gods and have served them and worshipped them, and have forsaken Me and not kept My law (Torah). ‘And you have done worse than your fathers, (ancestors), for behold, each one follows the dictates of his own evil heart, so that no one listens to Me. ‘Therefore I will cast you out of this land into a land that you do not know, neither you nor your fathers; and there you shall serve other gods day and night, where I will not show you favour.’ (Jeremiah 16:10-13, editor’s emphasis).

The Prophet, speaking in the context of Israel in today’s environment and society then goes on to say the following:

“For My eyes are on all their ways; they are not hidden from My face, nor is their iniquity hidden from My eyes. And first I will repay double for their iniquity and their sin, because they have defiled My land; they have filled My inheritance with the carcasses of their detestable and abominable idols.” (Jer.16:17-18).

Moses, in his famous discourse on the blessings and curses listed in Deuteronomy chapters 28 & 29, explains that the curses come as a direct consequence of wilful disobedience to the voice of the LORD their God. He especially reproaches Israel for not serving the, “Lord your God,” with joy and gladness of heart, for all the abundance of everything they have received at the hands of their Creator. The Americans have come to refer to their country as, ‘God’s own country.’ The expression does appear to hold a grain of truth, as never in the history of man has a country been so singularly blessed. John Winthrop, one of the Puritan founders of the Massachusetts Bay Company in 1630, first coined the phrase of America as a, “city on a hill,” set apart from other nations.

No nation on the earth has received greater blessings than the United States of America. It is also true that Americans especially have taken their God given superabundance for granted. Moses prophesies that the abundance of everything and all the blessings will be removed one by one. Clearly, ever since the trauma of 9/11, the Katrina disaster and the recent catastrophic implosion of the economy, the signs are there for all to see that the blessings are being turned into curses. Never before has there been such universal hatred for the United States.

Moses has laid down what is in prospect for America, (see Leviticus chapter 26). After a time of continuing terrorism, devastating droughts, monumental earthquakes, pestilential pandemics and dreadful famines, the ultimate sanction for Israel’s, (e.g. including America’s), disobedience comes into effect. This can be summed up as catastrophic defeat at the hands of military invasion forces, followed by enslavement and deportation by foreign troops who know no mercy. This same pattern was set in ancient times, when in three separate invasions by the Assyrian Empire, the kingdom of Israel was expunged. The people were deported to territories within Assyria. This is the future prospect that awaits America! Canada will not escape, as it too will suffer the same fate! It ties in perfectly with George Washington’s dream of the ‘Third Peril’. Furthermore, it also connects with the prophecy about, the Time of Jacob’s Trouble, the timing of which lies just ahead of us. Moses expressed it as follows:

“Therefore you shall serve your enemies, whom the Lord your God will send against you, in hunger, in thirst, in nakedness, and in need of everything; and he will put a yoke of iron on your neck until He has destroyed you. The Lord will bring a nation against you from afar, from the ends of the earth, as swift as the eagle flies, a nation whose language you will not understand, “a nation of fierce countenance, which does not respect the elderly nor show favour to the young.” (Deuteronomy 28:48-50).

The Prophet Jeremiah points out how the pride of Israel will inevitably lead to his captivity. In the passage below we discern the sadness in the heart of the LORD God of Israel at the prideful refusal of His people, the flock of Israel, to give heed to His warnings:

“Hear and give ear. Do not be proud, for the LORD has spoken. Give glory to the LORD your God before He causes darkness, and before your feet stumble on the dark mountains, and while you are looking for light, He turns it into the shadow of death and makes it dense darkness. But if you will not hear it, My soul will weep in secret for your pride; my eyes will weep bitterly and run down with tears, because the LORDS flock has been taken captive.” (Jeremiah 13:15-17, editor’s emphasis).

This ‘Time of Jacob’s Trouble’ in Hebrew is called, ‘Ha Tekufa haTsorat Yacov,’ pictures the darkest hour of Israel’s entire history. The truth is that both Israel and Judah face this same ghastly prospect in the near future, as Jeremiah points out that Divine help is on the way:

“Thus says the LORD of Hosts, “The sons of Israel are oppressed, and the sons of Judah as well; And all who took them captive have held them fast, they have refused to let them go.” (Jeremiah 50:33, NASB).

The point here is that in all of their history since their dramatic Exodus from Egypt, those two nations, Israel and Judah, have never been in captivity together. Jeremiah thus describes a yet future event when both Israel and Judah will be in captivity again.

”Do not fear, O My servant Jacob, and do not be dismayed, O Israel! For behold, I will save you from afar, and your offspring from the land of their captivity; Jacob shall return, have rest and be at ease; no one shall make him afraid.” (Jeremiah 46:27).

”I will bring back the captives of My people Israel!” (Amos 9:14a).

”For behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, ‘that I will bring back from captivity My people Israel and Judah,’ says the LORD”. (Jeremiah 30:3a, editor’s emphasis).

This is speaking here of a release from captivity through Divine intervention for both Israel and Judah, which brings the, ‘Time of Jacob’s Trouble,’ ultimately to a happy end. At this point we need to realise a stark truth!

If G-d, [YHVH], Kel Shadkai, the Almighty God of Israel, is to bring us, ‘BACK’ FROM CAPTIVITY, we must first of all, GO ‘INTO’ CAPTIVITY! This implies that prior to this we need to be defeated in war! It implies the countries where the Hebrew sons of Jacob are presently located, (including the territory of the U.S.A. and Canada), will be conquered.

Captivity, Egypt, and Exile are of course terms that are subjective and relative. If one feels the pain and learns the necessary lessons easily then the tiniest amount of an Egypt, [exile, confinement, or suffering], will suffice for the educational goals sought! Nevertheless, going by the history of the Bible, the evidence is not all encouraging! The children of Israel, are frequently being described in its pages as an exceptionally stiff-necked people, (Exodus 32:9; Deut. 9:6; 2Chron. 30:8), who most of the time chose the way of disobedience and rebellion to God. The refusal of ancient Israel to repent ultimately, after multiple and repeated warnings, led to military conquest by foreign armies, exile and slavery. All the signs are that things will be no different in our time. We also need to be aware that prophecy is almost always a repetition of the past. What has happened in the past will happen again in the future. King Solomon expresses this principle with his usual eloquence:

“That which has been is what will be, that which is done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes 1:9).

Any objective student of history will have observed the veracity of Solomon’s remarks, in that history teaches that mankind does not learn from history, as every successive generation tends to make the same mistakes as the one that preceded them.

On the positive side, the words of Jeremiah: “I will bring back from captivity My people Israel and Judah,’ says the LORD,” indicates that all the descendants of Jacob, the Lost House of Israel, as well as the House of Judah, will ultimately experience a Divine rescue of monumental proportion. The prophet Isaiah emphasizes that this Divine deliverance is the second time that all the tribes of Israel are to be rescued from the clutches of their oppressors. The first time was when the Almighty Creator, delivered the Israelites through mighty miracles from their bondage in Egypt. The second time comes around after ALL of Israel has once again gone into captivity. Notice Isaiah’s comment on this prophetic event:

“It shall come to pass in that day that the LORD shall set His hand again “THE SECOND TIME” to recover the remnant of His people who are left, from Assyria and Egypt.” (Isaiah 11:11, editor’s emphasis). Notice, that Assyria and Egypt in this instance are symbolic terms denoting captivity and confinement.

Remember, the ‘first time’ was the Exodus from Egypt! In the First Exodus from Egypt ‘All’ of Israel, plus a mixed multitude, escaped from their Egyptian bondage. Notice, that in the Second Exodus to come, only a remnant of His people, (the people of Israel and Judah), will be recovered. This means that the vast majority of Israel’s populations are likely to perish through famine, pestilence, and the sword in the prophesied, “Time of Jacob’s Trouble!” Only a remnant will be left! The Prophet Isaiah emphasizes this point no less than four times in a previous statement:

And it shall come to pass in that day that the remnant of Israel, And such as have escaped of the house of Jacob, Will never again depend on him who defeated them, But will depend on the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, in truth. The remnant will return, the remnant of Jacob, To the Mighty God. For though your people, O Israel, be as the sand of the sea, A remnant will return; the destruction decreed shall overflow with righteousness. For the Lord GOD of Hosts Will make a determined end In the midst of all the land.” (Isaiah 10:20-23, editor’s emphasis).

This truly is an awesome prophecy which is set to impact the life of every citizen of America, as the prophecies of the Bible never fail. Notice that God Himself has decreed the destruction to come. Isaiah states that YHVH TSVA’KOT, (The LORD GOD of Hosts), will make a determined end in the midst of all the land. This again ties in with George Washington’s Vision, as he witnessed the destruction of all of America, as the vision goes: “And I dimly saw these vast armies devastate the whole country and burn the villages, towns, and cities that I beheld were springing up.”

This aspect of George Washington’s dream is approximately in line with Hosea, as Washington mimics a prophecy that has a similar fate for the United States, Great Britain and her Commonwealth daughters:

“The pride of Israel testifies to his face; Therefore Israel and Ephraim stumble in their iniquity; Judah also stumbles with them. Ephraim shall be desolate in the day of rebuke; Among the tribes of Israel I make known what is sure.” (Hosea 5:5 & 9).

Hosea was the final prophet to Israel before the northern kingdom fell in approximately 722 B.C.E. He prophesied that Ephraim, (the generic name for the 10 tribes of Israel), would be punished and that they would end up in the land of Egypt. [e.g. the land of captivity].

“They return, but not to the Most High; They are like a treacherous bow. Their princes shall fall by the sword for the cursings of their tongue. This shall be their derision on the land of Egypt.” (Hosea 7:16).

Notice, the first time the Northern Kingdom of Israel was taken into captivity the defeated Israelites were taken as captive slaves to Assyria not Egypt! It seems therefore that in this second captivity the tribes of Israel may be taken to a different destination. Nevertheless, in Hebrew thought ‘Egypt’ is associated with captivity!

“Now He will remember their iniquity and punish their sins. They shall return to Egypt.” (Hosea 8:13b).

Once again, Egypt signifies captivity!

“They shall not dwell in the Lord’s land, But Ephraim shall return to Egypt, And eat unclean things in Assyria.” (Hosea 9:3).

‘Ephraim, (e.g. the house of Israel including the United States), shall return to Egypt’. This can only mean a return to captivity and bondage similar to that experienced by ancient Israel. It would take the scourge of the Ten Plagues upon their Egyptian captors to bring about their release under Moses in the famous Exodus.

Many of the prophets of the Bible have frequently emphasized that at the end of the age Israel will once again go into captivity. As America is connected to Israel this means that all the inhabitants of the United States need to face this most sobering prospect. Surely, this is unthinkable! When we look with today’s eyes at America’s present total world-wide military dominance as she holds sway as the world’s only superpower, this may seem an utterly ridiculous suggestion. Nevertheless, even now the handwriting is on the wall, as the whole U.S. power edifice is already crumbling under the weight of mega-mountains of debt. In fact, as most of the world knows, she is dependent upon her enemies to keep herself afloat.

• “It’s the economy – stupid!”

Do you remember President Clinton’s election slogan? “It’s the economy – stupid!” The Roman Empire fell because her economy collapsed. The British Empire fell for a lack of money after her heroic exertions in the Second World War. More recently, the Communist Soviet Empire fell because her economy could not support its cumbersome structures anymore. The collapse of this Godless Giant was so abrupt that it took the whole world by surprise. At the time no one believed it could happen! America’s unprecedented power is right now on the brink of going the same way. The ‘inconvenient truth’ for the American economy is the staggering mind-boggling size of the national debt. Total economic collapse is the immediate prospect staring the U.S. in the face. Beyond this, Israel, (which includes America), is destined to go into the most savagely brutal captivity! The Prophet Jeremiah refers to a Divine rescue mission, as the GOD of Israel has promised to save His people from afar:

“But do not fear, O My servant Jacob, And do not be dismayed, O Israel! For behold, I will save you from afar, and your offspring from the land of their captivity; Jacob shall return, have rest and be at ease, no one shall make him afraid. Do not fear, O Jacob My servant,” says the LORD, “For I am with you; For I will make a complete end of all the nations To which I have driven you, But I will not make a complete end of you. I will rightly correct you, For I will not leave you wholly unpunished.” (Jeremiah 46:27-28, editor’s emphasis).

• The Second Exodus

The remnant of Israel is saved through a great Exodus. In fact, just as the prophet Isaiah prophesied that, the LORD shall set His hand again the second time to recover the remnant of His people who are left. (Isaiah 11:11), the Bible also states there will be a SECOND EXODUS!

“But I will gather the remnant of My flock out of all the countries where I have driven them, and bring them back to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase. I will set shepherds over them who will feed them; and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, nor shall they be lacking,” says the LORD. (Jeremiah 23:3-4).

This is speaking of the Second Exodus, which much like the First Exodus from Egypt will be accompanied by trials, by signs, by wonders, and by war. This is when the GOD of Israel, shall save His people with a mighty hand, and an outstretched arm, and by great terrors. He brought them into the wilderness then and He is set to have them undergo the same terrifying experience again in this Second Exodus. The Prophet Ezekiel explains the scenario in vivid detail:

“As I live,” says the LORD GOD, “surely with a mighty hand, with an outstretched arm, and with fury poured out, I will rule over you. “I will bring you out from the peoples and gather you out from the countries where you are scattered, with a mighty hand, with an outstretched arm, and with fury poured out. “And I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples, and there I will plead My case with you face to face. “Just as I pleaded My case with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will plead My case with you,” says the LORD GOD. “I will make you pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant. I will purge the rebels from among you, and those who transgress against Me; I will bring them out of the country where they dwell, but they shall not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the LORD”. (Ezekiel 20:33-38, emphasis added).

Just as YHVH, the LORD GOD of Israel, addressed His chosen people, the children of Israel, at Mount Sinai in ancient times, the remnant of Israel of our day will have to undergo a similar experience after their great escape from captivity. We have already seen that this epic event is preceded by a climactic time of unspeakable trauma described in the Scriptures as the, ‘Time of Jacob’s Trouble. Sadly, most Christians do not see themselves as part of Israel. This is correct for most are included in the category of 70 nations, which is the Torah’s way of describing the majority of humanity. They feel that their inclusion to Abraham Etc. is based solely on their faith, and that such faith makes them ‘spiritual’ Israelites, but that it has nothing to do with genealogy. For this reason Christians have generally taken this term known as the, ‘Time of Jacob’s Trouble,’ to mean that this will be a time of unprecedented trouble for the Jews alone. However, such an attitude betrays their insincerity or ignorance at best. At worst some of them are merely anti-Semites or hateful Amalekites in sheep’s’ clothing. For if they have anything whatsoever to do with spiritual Israel then that necessitates a compelling obligation to help their historic, original and eternal brother Judah. The vast majority of the people who comprise the Ten Tribes of Israel among the 70 nations have never made a genealogical connection between themselves and the patriarch Jacob. They have failed to recognize that, whenever the Bible speaks about Jacob, it is referring to Jacob as a collective name for all the twelve tribal sons of the great patriarch, whose name was changed to Israel. As the 10 tribes, who in ancient times seceded from the kingdom of Judah, are today generally to be found in the mainly Christian areas of the world, one can be sure that this ghastly tribulation which the Scriptures refer to as the, ‘Time of Jacob’s Trouble,’ is meant for lost gentile 10 tribes of Israel, as much as it is for the Jews hidden within them, as well as for the clearly identified Jewish people. This time of catastrophic calamity is also mentioned in Matthew 24 as a time of, ‘Great Tribulation,’ such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no nor ever shall be.” “And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elects sake those days will be shortened.” (Matthew 24:21-22, emphasis added). Things will be so bad, that unless God Himself intervenes supernaturally, no flesh, (animal or human), will survive! In the time preceding these calamitous days, many Christians, especially those who have put their trust in the spurious doctrine of a pre-tribulation rapture, will have their faith, such as it is, ruptured and shipwrecked on the rocks of adversity.

• A Miraculous Deliverance

The ‘remnant’ of Israelite survivors is destined to be rescued through Divine intervention. The effect of their unimaginable ordeal in captivity will have greatly humbled and chastened them, and many will be numb with shock, as they are led out of their bondage in the Second Exodus. These survivors will be traumatized by war and devastated by hunger and disease. According to the prophet Jeremiah they will not be able to hold things together, as overcome with emotion, they will not be able to stop weeping as they come:

“In those days and in that time,” says the Lord, “The children of Israel shall come, they and the children of Judah together; With continual weeping they shall come, and seek the LORD their God. They shall ask the way to Zion, with their faces toward it, saying, ‘Come and let us join ourselves to the LORD in a perpetual covenant that will not be forgotten. (Jeremiah 50:4-5, emphasis added).

The Prophet emphasizes once more the great majesty of this epic event which is in prospect for those shattered and shell-shocked survivors of the Time of Jacob’s Trouble. The remnant of Israel will come with tears and with weeping and in desperate need of comfort:

’O LORD, save Your people, the remnant of Israel!’ “Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the ends of the earth, among them the blind and the lame, the woman with child and the one who labours with child, together; A great throng shall return there, They shall come with weeping, And with supplications I will lead them. I will cause them to walk by rivers of waters, In a straight way in which they shall not stumble; For I am a Father to Israel, And Ephraim is My firstborn. “Hear the word of the LORD, O Nations, And declare it in the isles afar off, and say, ‘He who scattered Israel will gather him, And keep him as a shepherd does his flock.’ For the LORD has redeemed Jacob, And ransomed him from the hand of one stronger than he.” (Jeremiah 31:7b-11, emphasis added).

Even though the prophets of Israel speak about a mere ‘remnant’ coming out of the tribulations of ‘Jacob’s Trouble,’ the prophet Jeremiah nevertheless especially emphasizes that this Second Exodus is on a vastly greater scale than the three and a half million Israelites, including the mixed multitude of peoples who attached themselves to Israel, who escaped from Egyptian bondage. The Second Exodus will totally eclipse the First Exodus, as it will be on a far greater scale, possibly involving numbers even in excess of 100 million descendants of Jacob. It will be on such a large scale that by comparison the First Exodus will pale into insignificance. The Prophet Jeremiah once again spells out the situation for us:

“Therefore, behold, the days are coming,” says the LORD, “that they shall no longer say, ‘As the LORD lives who brought up the children of Israel from the land of Egypt, ’but, as the LORD lives who brought up and led the descendants of the house of Israel from the north country and from all the countries where I had driven them.’ And they shall dwell in their own land.” (Jeremiah 23:7-8).

This Second Exodus when, the LORD shall set His hand again the second time to recover the remnant of His people, will be so great that no one will even remember the First Exodus (from Egypt) anymore. What can the above passage refer to, except the calling back to the Land of Promise of millions upon millions of people from the lost Ten Tribes emerging out of Christian background with plenty of lost Jews together with them. One thing is certain; the Bible speaks in this same context of the Messiah who will execute judgment and righteousness in the earth, and He will bring back both houses of Israel. Notice the words of Jeremiah:

“In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell safely; Now this is His Name by which He shall be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS, (YHVH TZIDKENU).” (Jeremiah 23:6, emphasis added).

The clear implication to take from this is that both houses of Israel; e.g. Judah and Israel have had to suffer together in the period know as the, “Time of Jacob’s Trouble.” The Prophet Zechariah also emphasizes that both houses of Israel will be rescued at this time:

“I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph, I will bring them back, because I have mercy on them. They shall be as though I had not cast them aside; For I am the LORD their God, and I will hear them. I will whistle for them and gather them, for I will redeem them; and they shall increase as they once increased.” (Zechariah 10:6 & 8, emphasis added).

Remember, the ‘house of Joseph,’ here is speaking primarily about the western European and English speaking peoples. Jeremiah again confirms the prophecy regarding this Second Exodus as follows:

“Therefore, behold, the days are coming,” says the LORD, “that it shall no more be said, ‘the LORD lives who brought up the children of Israel from the land of Egypt,’ “but, ‘The LORD lives who brought up the children of Israel from the land of the north and from all the lands where He had driven them.’ For I will bring them back into their land which I gave to their fathers. “Behold, I will send for many fishermen,” says the LORD, “and afterward I will send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain and every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks.” (Jeremiah 16:14-16).

What can it mean but the re-gathering of all the survivors of both houses of Israel? What can it mean except the rescue and re-gathering of all lost Tribes which contain evolving Christians and captive lost Jews who have come through the great tribulation during that awesome time known as the Time of Jacob’s Trouble?

In this same end-time context, the prophet Ezekiel also relates the glorious return of the captives of Jacob and the whole house of Israel. He emphasizes that this event will only occur after they have born their shame and repented for their rank unfaithfulness:

“Therefore thus says the LORD GOD: ‘Now I will bring back the captives of Jacob, and have mercy on the whole house of Israel; and I will be jealous for My holy name – ‘after they have born their shame, and all their unfaithfulness in which they were unfaithful to Me, when they dwelt safely in their own land and no one made them afraid. ‘When I have brought them back from the peoples and gathered them out of their enemies’ lands, and I am hallowed in them in the sight of many nations, ‘then shall they know that I am the LORD their God, who sent them into captivity among the nations, but also brought them back to their land, and left none of them captive any longer.’” (Ezekiel 39:25-28, emphasis added).

Notice, that the final verse in the above passage makes it quite clear that it was God’s will that His rebellious and unfaithful people go into captivity. This means that the end-time captivity of the Israel nations is destined to occur by His express design. It also shows that it is His intent to deliver His chosen people, once they have been purged of their rebellious nature. The good news is that they will be released from their captivity and delivered out of the hands of their enemies.

• Bible Confirms Israel’s land is from Sea to Shining Sea

The prophet Joel speaks about a monumental deliverance coming to both houses of Israel at the conclusion of the Time of Jacob’s Trouble, when the enemies of Israel will meet with the wrath of the Holy One of Israel. In the text there is a hidden message which can only apply to the United States of America.

“But I will remove far from you the northern army, and will drive him away into a barren land, with his face towards the eastern sea and his back towards the western sea; His stench will come up, and his foul odour will rise, because he has done monstrous things.” (Joel 2:20,emphasis added).

This Scripture implies that the Israel of the end-time will have a land mass that stretches from an eastern sea right up to a western sea. This cannot possibly apply to the State of Israel we see in the Middle East today, as the present day Jewish state has neither an eastern nor a western sea. The United States of America however fits the bill perfectly as its land mass is wedged between the Pacific Ocean in the East and the Atlantic Ocean in the West, thus the prophet Joel is in effect describing the geography of the U.S.A. The United States has long been known as a land ‘from sea to shining sea’, as immortalized in the famous song, ‘AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL’. The refrain of this song repeatedly encapsulates the extraordinary blessing God has bestowed upon the United States, as is emphasized in the third line of each of its stanzas, as well as in its final verse:

America! America! God shed His grace on thee,
America! America! God mend thine every flaw,
America! America! May God thy gold refine,
America! America! God shed His grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood, from sea to shining sea!

The prophet Joel goes on to speak about the great rescue through Divine intervention, as God judges the nations who have so cruelly enslaved and tormented His people Israel:

“For behold, in those days and at that time, when I bring back the captives of Judah and Jerusalem, I will also gather all nations, and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; And will enter into judgment with them there. On account of My people, My heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations; They have also divided My land.” (Joel 3:1-2, emphasis added).

Notice, how seriously God views who have divided His land! Most people will be familiar with those famous words of the prophet Isaiah which are immortalized on the statue in front of the General Assembly building of the United Nations in New York:

“They shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.” (Isaiah 2:4).

These words speak of a time when there will be universal peace on the earth, which by definition can only be realised after Divine Rule has been established on the earth, when all nations will be subject to the King Messiah of Israel. Isaiah makes this very clear in the preceding verse:

“For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.” (Isaiah 2:3)

• Prepare for War!

Universal peace will only be established through divine intervention into the affairs of man. The timing for this will be the supernatural rescue from the captivity and bondage of both houses of Israel, through the agency of a Second Exodus. The prophet Joel informs us by neatly reversing Isaiah’s famous words, as he prophesies that this divine deliverance will be accompanied by terrible war.

Proclaim this among the nations: ”PREPARE FOR WAR!
Wake up the mighty men, let all men of war draw near, let them come up. Beat your ploughshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears;

Let the weak say, ‘I am strong.’ Assemble and come, all you nations, and gather together all around. Cause your mighty ones to go down there, O LORD. “Let the nations be wakened, and come up to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; for there I will sit to judge all the surrounding nations.

Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! The sun and the moon will grow dark, and the stars will diminish their brightness. The LORD also will roar from Zion, and utter His voice from Jerusalem; The heavens and the earth will shake; but the LORD will be a shelter for His people, and the strength of the children of Israel. “So you shall know that I am the LORD your God, dwelling in Zion My holy mountain. Then Jerusalem shall be holy, and no aliens shall ever pass through her again”.
(Joel 3:9-12 & 16-17, emphasis added).

• The Battle of Armageddon

This final showdown between the rebellious Gentile nations of this world and their Creator, the Holy One of Israel, will revolve around the issue of Israel. This monumental confrontation will take place after the remnants of Judah and Israel have been brought out of their captivity in the Second Exodus. The Valley of Jehoshaphat, also known as the Kidron Valley, is situated between Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives. This Valley of Decision might also be referred to as the Valley of the Threshold, as it is situated at the threshold where the First as well as the Second Holy Temple once stood. The great end of the age conflagration referred to in the Scriptures is called the battle of Armageddon. This epic battle is also referred to in the book of Revelation. And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon.” (Rev. 16:16).

As all the armies of the Gentile nations of the world converge on Jerusalem, they are joined by a colossal army numbering 200 million from the Far East to take part in this final battle to prevent the establishment of the Messianic United Kingdom of Greater Israel.

“Now the number of the army of the horsemen was two hundred million; I heard the number of them. By these three plagues a third of mankind was killed – by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone which came out of their mouths.” (Revelation 9:16 & 18, emphasis added).

The casualties generated by this global conflict will bring great loss. This final battle, which represents Satan’s last gasp attempt to prevent the rule of Mashiach Ben David, Israel’s Messianic King, is accompanied by the most terrible earthquake.

“Then the LORD will go forth and fight against those nations, as He fights in the day of battle. And on that day His feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives, which faces Jerusalem on the east. And the Mount of Olives shall be split in two, from east to west; half of the mountain shall move toward the north and half of it toward the south. Then you, (Israelites,) shall flee through My mountain valley. Yes you shall flee. Thus the LORD my God will come and all the saints with you. And the LORD shall be King over all the earth. In that day it shall be – “The LORD is one,” and His name one. (Zechariah 14:3-5 & 9).

According to all Jewish Torah sources anything and everything terrible mentioned by the Torah is only there to wake UP AND WARN PEOPLE TO BE GOOD TO EACH OTHER AND RETURN TO G-D. If people do so then the tough love approach can be avoided. Nevertheless, it must be said that neither Judah, nor Israel’s record in this regard is terribly encouraging. Anyone reading the Book of Judges or the Prophets, would have to conclude that history shows the very opposite is The case, as almost invariably the people simply will not listen, and that regretfully in most cases repentance only came after severe chastisement.

• The NT confirms conclusion of the Third Peril vision

Notice that, the LORD God is coming with all His saints, to fight against the enemies of His people Israel. The Book of Revelation provides the most eloquent confirmation of this final and most conclusive battle around Jerusalem, which will lead to the restoration of the whole House of Israel.

“Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed in a robe, (Talit), dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.” (Revelation 19:11-16, emphasis added).

The NT speaks of, the armies of heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, which is an allegorical reference to, ‘the Saints of the Most High’, also known as, ‘the elect of God.’ The one who is variously called, ‘Faithful and True,’ and, ‘the Word of God,’ is none other than the Messiah of Israel.

George Washington according to his account appears to have witnessed the same event on that fateful day as he relates the conclusion of the Third Peril, when he saw:

“Instantly a light as of a thousand suns shone down from above me, and pierced and broke into fragments the dark cloud which enveloped America. At the same moment the angel, upon whose head still shone the word, “Union,” and who bore our national flag in one hand and a sword in the other, descended from the heavens, attended by legions of white spirits.

The angel Washington dreamed about was none other than the Messiah of Israel, whereas the legions of white spirits are his way of expressing that heavenly army of Saints that are to accompany their Messianic King. After this General Washington dreamed the following:

“Then once more I beheld the villages, towns, and cities springing up where I had seen them before, while the bright angel, planting the azure standard he had brought in the midst of them, cried with a loud voice, ‘While the stars remain, and the heavens send down dew upon the earth, so long shall the union last.’ And taking from his brow the crown on which was blazoned the word “Union,” he placed it upon the Standard, while the people, kneeling down, said, ‘Amen.’”

One can only surmise, in the context of the knowledge that America is a gentile former part of Israel, that George Washington in his vision was given a foretaste of the, ‘Union of Jacob’. This is speaking of the restoration of the whole house of Israel. It speaks about the restoration of the Tabernacle of David! (Amos 9:11). A time when, after three thousand years of separation, the house of Judah and the house of Israel come together into one United Kingdom of Israel. It is the ultimate union of all the tribal sons of Jacob into one nation under God. It also represents the final fulfilment of the covenant of the Creator of Heaven and Earth, made with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the Hebrew patriarchs of Israel. This is about the ultimate family reunion when all the tribal sons of Jacob become reconciled to each other and reunite into one Kingdom. This is what the so-called Gospel of the Kingdom is really about! A union that is to last forever! In his words, this union will be in place for as long as, ‘the stars remain, and the heavens send down dew upon the earth’.

EXTRACT FROM: “AMERICA’S THIRD PERIL – A Prophesy who’s Time has come!” From an as yet unpublished Manuscript by: Stephen J Spykerman – Copyright – Mount Ephraim Publishing

 


Triennial Torah Cycle

We continue this weekend with our regular Triennial Torah Reading

Num 6       Job 11-14      Hebrews 5-6

 

The Nazirite Vow (Numbers 6)

We usually think only of men as Nazirites, as John the Baptist apparently was (compare Luke 1:15). But, surprisingly, women too could take the vow of a Nazirite (Numbers 6:2). However, in the case of the woman, her husband or father could disallow the vow and God would not hold her to it (30:5). Nazirites neither drank wine or strong drink, and stayed away from grapes altogether for the duration of the vow. They were to let their hair grow long, and bring special offerings to the tabernacle. The vow was for a set time, at the end of which they were to be purified for seven days (compare 6:9; Acts 21:27), cut their hair and burn it, and partake of certain offerings, including unleavened bread and oil. When the vow was fulfilled they could, once again, drink wine and eat grapes. The vow was usually voluntarily taken for the purpose of making a special request of God, to give thanks to God, or to dedicate themselves to some other such purpose. There are biblical examples of the vow being a lifelong one (Judges 13:5). A vow was often made in thanksgiving to God; it was not something to replace weakness of character in the sense of someone needing the vow and its visibility to others in order to be kept in line with God’s way.

Incidentally, we should not confuse the words Nazirite and Nazarene. The word Nazirite comes from the root nazir, meaning to “separate” or “keep away from,” while Nazarene denotes a resident of Nazareth. Confusing the words, some have argued that Jesus Christ was under a Nazirite vow, and they employ this reasoning to argue for Him having had long hair. But Jesus was not a Nazirite, for He drank wine (Matthew 11:18-19) and on at least one occasion touched a dead body (Luke 8:51-54). And thus, He would not have had long hair (compare 1 Corinthians 11:14). The apostle Paul actually did take a Nazirite vow, not cutting his hair until the vow’s completion (Acts 18:18). And he later paid for and shared in the purification rites of four others completing a Nazirite vow (Acts 21:23-27).

Interestingly, since “Nazirite” means “separated one,” Christ and all Christians are Nazirites in a spiritual sense—our lives being consecrated to God. The Nazirite vow is one of a number of Old Testament actions or rites that can be viewed as parallels to the Christian’s commitment to God at baptism.

Priestly Blessing (Numbers 6)

“In 1979 the Israeli archaeologist Gabriel Barkay was excavating some ancient burial caves overlooking the Hinnom Valley, just to the south-west of the Old City of Jerusalem, when to his surprise he found one that was undisturbed. It contained the bones of at least ninety-five people, some with pottery, arrowheads, pieces of gold and silver jewellery buried alongside them. But Barkay’s most spectacular find in this cave was a pair of small cylindrical scrolls made of pure silver. Although insignificant-looking when first found, the largest no more than 4 inches long, they were both found to bear eighteen lines of Palaeo-Hebrew script when unrolled, including the words:
“May Yahweh bless you and keep you
“May Yahweh cause his face to shine upon you and grant you peace.
“As palaeographic specialists are generally agreed, the date when these words were incised on the scrolls can be no later than the 7th century BC, i.e. the time of [the prophet] Jeremiah. Since they are none other than the ‘priestly blessing’ of Numbers 6:24-26, still used in both Jewish and Christian liturgies, they are by far the oldest portion of Biblical text yet discovered” (Ian Wilson, The Bible Is History, 1999, p. 173).

This discovery was a major blow to those scholars and other Bible critics who claim that the books of Moses were actually not written until the Hellenistic period in the third century B.C.

“God Exacts From You Less Than Your Iniquity Deserves” (Job 11)

Zophar the Naamathite is even more tactless and insensitive than Bildad. Obviously incensed at what Job has said, seeing it as a mockery of the truth, Zophar decides he needs to really “let Job have it.” And why not? For in Zophar’s misapplied theology, Job must be one of the greatest sinners ever.

In verse 4, Zophar seems to exaggerate what Job has said about his innocence, as the book does not record Job as having said that his doctrine—that is, his teaching—is pure. However, it may be that Job has said or implied this in the past and now Zophar sees it all as utter pretense and hypocrisy.

In fact, Zophar remarks that if God were to give testimony, it would reveal Job to be a worse sinner than even his suffering demonstrates. The New International Version translates the end of verse 6 as “Know this: God has even forgotten some of your sin.” The Expositor’s Bible Commentary says that it reads literally as “God has forgotten for you some of your sin” and that it could, according to an Aramaic reading, mean “God has made (allowed) you to forget” (footnote on verse 6). The point Zophar is making is that Job doesn’t know how sinful he really is—that he deserves worse punishment than he is receiving. Perhaps the implication is that Job deserves to die and it is only God’s mercy that preserves him.

The irony here is that there is some truth in what Zophar is saying. All of us deserve death for even the smallest of sinful thoughts and attitudes we have ever had. God is under no obligation to keep us from the worst pain and suffering. It is through God’s mercy that humanity is not destroyed for its constant sin. And it is through His grace that His servants are preserved despite their stumbling. Job will actually discover at the end of the book that his own righteousness is nowhere close to what God truly requires to have a relationship with Him. Yet Zophar means none of this. He views Job’s suffering as punishment for major sins in his life, yet with God mercifully pulling some punches.

The Nelson Study Bible notes on verses 7-9: “When Zophar interrogates Job about the impossibility of comprehending the deep things of God, he employs for search out the same term Job used to describe God’s wonders as beyond ‘finding out’ (9:10). Thus Zophar may be trying to turn Job’s words against him by saying that Job’s actions are inconsistent with his theology. Since these verses anticipate portions of the Lord’s speeches [later in the book] (see 38:16-18, 34-38), Zophar’s doctrine is correct, but the application is wrong. Biblical truth misapplied perverts the intent of the Scriptures and misleads. [Moreover] sound doctrine without love does not please the Lord.”

Zophar is harshly accusatory of Job. The statement in verse 11 regarding God knowing deceitful men is no doubt meant to imply that Job was such a person—either that he was intentionally hiding his sin or that, in the deceitfulness of his heart, he was not admitting his sin to himself. And “as a retort to Job’s rhetorical question (6:5) in which he compared his own cries to the braying of the ‘wild donkey,’ Zophar employs what may be a proverbial statement about the wild donkey…[possibly] implying that Job’s ’empty talk’ indicates that he is empty headed ([Job 11] vv. 3, 12)” (note on verses 10-12).

As The Bible Reader’s Companion explains in its summary of chapters 11-14, here is the solution Zophar gives in his irrelevant sermonizing: “The paraphrase: ‘Be devoted to the Lord. Pray. Stop sinning. Then everything will be fine ([Job 11] vv. 13-16). What a dagger in the heart of a man who has been devoted to God, but is suffering anyway! And what pain Zophar’s description of divine blessing must have caused (vv. 17-20). This is exactly what Job’s life was like—and all has been lost, in spite of the fact that Job is not at fault!”

 

“I Desire to Reason With God…You Are All Worthless Physicians” (Job 12:1-13:19)

Job responds to his friends with cutting sarcasm: “No doubt you are the people [i.e., the right people to go to for all the answers], and wisdom will die with you” (verse 2)—as if all the wisdom in the world were concentrated in these three men. Job is essentially saying, “So you think you know it all.” He follows this by noting that he knows as much as them. In fact, he points out that what they have been saying is common knowledge (verse 3).

Yet again Job points out that in accusing him the truths they are relating are being misapplied—as he is innocent (verse 4). In contrast to their ideas, the wicked often prosper—despite the fact that all life is in God’s hand, as the whole creation could teach them (verses 5-10). This was another stab at the notion that they “knew it all” when it came to God. The fact is, they were ignoring what was obvious.

Job points out in verses 11-12 that people learn from what they hear and experience, gaining a measure of wisdom over the course of a lifetime. But real wisdom and strength, he explains in verse 13, lies with God. The arrogance of man, he goes on to show, is brought to nothing by the sovereign God who can do whatever He wants (verses 14-25). It is just foolishness for anyone to try to pin down and understand everything that God is up to in His dealings with mankind.

Rather than deal anymore with his friends, Job would much rather take his case directly to God (13:3). The friends have proven themselves “worthless physicians”—failing to diagnose the real problem—and even “forgers of lies” with their unjust accusations against him (verse 4). It would be better for them to cease from their grandiose speeches and just listen (verse 5).

Job points out that their mouths were going to get them into trouble. In their rush to defend God, they were basically bearing false witness against Job (verses 7-8). They were not even being honest in their defense of God, as they ignored evidence that ran counter to their beliefs about Him. Job says that God would ultimately rebuke them for that—as indeed He will at the end of the book. This passage is remarkable on two counts. First, it shows that even if people put on a great display of piety in standing for God’s integrity, God will not accept this unless it is heartfelt, deeply considered and in keeping with His overall ways. Second, we see here that despite Job’s struggle to understand what God is doing in the world and in his own situation, he still trusts in God’s flawless character and justice. This is why he believes he can ultimately find resolution with God.

“Job was so sure he would be vindicated that he repeated his desire for a hearing before God (vv. 13-19). He viewed this boldness on his part as one of the evidences that what they said about him was not true. If Job were a hypocrite, would he be willing to put his life in jeopardy in this way (v. 16)? Such a man would not dare come before God” (Expositor’s Bible Commentary, note on verses 1-27).

“If a Man Dies, Shall He Live Again?” (Job 13:20-14:22)

In Job 13:20, Job launches into His appeal to God. He asks two things: (1) that God would stop terrifying him with unrelenting suffering (verse 21) and (2) that God would stop hiding Himself and reveal the specific charges He has against him (verses 22-24).

In verse 26, Job mentions the iniquities of his youth—showing that his life has not been completely sinless. But have not these been forgiven since he committed to a relationship with God? Yet his early period of waywardness is the only thing Job can think of that could merit what is now happening to him.

In verse 28 through 14:6, Job sinks back into despair, uttering a poem on the plight of man, agreeing with Eliphaz’s assessment that a person is born for trouble and viewing himself as the premier example of that. In verses 7-12, which may be a continuation of the poem, Job implies that life is better for a tree than a person—because at least a tree cut down can sprout again while death marks the end for a human being, at least until far in the future.

This refocuses Job’s thoughts for a moment on the future resurrection, which he clearly believes in. He asks that God would bring him the relief of the grave until His wrath is past—that God would then call him forth at the appointed time. “To capture the force of Job’s meaning of halipati, [‘my change’ or] ‘my renewal’ [NIV]), we must note that the same root is used in v. 7 concerning the tree. There the NIV [and NKJV] translated it ‘sprout.’ A basic meaning is ‘to have succession.’ In this verse Job is speaking of succession after death, not the healing of his body in this life” (Expositor’s Bible Commentary, footnote on verse 14). The Greek Septuagint translates this as a word meaning “rebirth.”

But Job’s flicker of hope is short-lived here. As the remainder of chapter 14 shows: “Job knew that eventually God would cover all his offenses and long for him as the beneficent Creator who delights in those he made. But despite his faith in God’s power over death, Job was convinced that God would not even allow him the exquisite release of death…. The waters of suffering continue to erode till his bright hope was a dim memory (v. 19) and nothing mattered anymore but the pain of his body and the continual mourning of his soul (v. 22)” (note on 13:28-14:22). In this world, it appears that he, along with the rest of mankind, has no hope and no future.

Yet through all this, Job who was suffering inconceivable distress, still did not curse God’s name. We can only begin to grasp the mental strain Job endured during his time of suffering.

Hebrews Chapter 5

1 For every high priest taken from among men is appointed on behalf of men in matters relating to Elohim, to offer both gifts and offerings for sins,

We cannot understand this first verse if we do not understand the meaning in depth of the sacrificial system put into place by our Elohim at Mt Sinai. The apostle Shaul is a Pharisee and he writes with assumption that we understand the History of Israel. Therefore, it is advised that we KNOW the Torah by the time we are reading his writings. If we don’t, it is impossible to understand what Shaul is saying. We can guess at it, but this way is ill advised. The church has been doing this for centuries and look how astray it has gone. The Father established at Levitical Priesthood at Mt Sinai to mediate between a Holy God and His people. Without mediation, the unclean flesh would be absolutely annihilated and burned with heat from our Pure and Holy Creator. This literally happened to some of the children in the Torah before they truly understood this character and attribute of the God that delivered them from slavery in Egypt.

Once the gift or offering was brought to the priest, a covering was established so that the created could now approach the Creator, and live. This process becomes ever more complex during Yom HaKippurim, or Day of Atonements, when even the High Priest had to atone for his own sin to be able to enter into the Holy of Holies, the presence of the One True Holy God, and live.

2 being able to have a measure of feeling for those not knowing and being led astray, since he himself is also surrounded by weakness.
The Aramaic to English New Testament reveals that this phrase “being able to have a measure of feeling” is simply the phrase “and he can humble himself.” It is on this Day of Atonement, when every High Priest comes face to face with the reality that he himself is also subject to missing the mark, or sin. Throughout the year, maybe there was a moment of weakness or something that happened in his life to prove to him he was also human and subject to the weakness of the flesh. In this way, if he was an honest person, he would have to humble himself and sympathize with his people concerning their weakness, ignorance, and getting off the path. This was the Levitical priesthood, the Tribe chosen by God to serve Him as mediators. Of course by the time of Messiah, the priesthood and High Priest had become almost entirely political, but that is not how it was when our Father established it.

3 And on account of this he has to offer for sins – as for the people, so also for himself.
4 And no one obtains this esteem for himself, but he who is called by Elohim, even as Aharon also was.
Regardless of whether or not corrupt and ignorant men, in their vanity, changed the establishment of the Creator in matters of the priesthood and the office of the High Priest – The instruction and covenant of God remains. That is with the Tribe of Levi and the Levitical Priesthood. No man could take this honor for himself, it is only bestowed by Elohim.
5 So also the Messiah did not extol Himself to become High Priest, but it was He who said to Him, “You are My Son, today I have brought You forth.”
No man can take this honor for himself, it is only bestowed by Elohim. Here is the proof:

Why do the gentiles (nations) rage, and the peoples meditate emptiness? The sovereigns of the earth take their stand, and the rulers take counsel together, against God and against His Messiah, and say, “Let us tear apart Their bonds, and throw away Their ropes from us.” He who is sitting in the heavens laughs, God mocks at them. Then He speaks to them in His wrath, and troubles them in His rage, saying, “But I, I have set My Sovereign on Tsiyon, My set-apart mountain.” ”I inscribe for a law: God has said to Me, ‘Your are My Son, Today I have brought You forth. ‘Ask of Me, and I make the gentiles Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth Your possession. ‘Break them with a rod of iron, Dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.’” Psalms 2:1-9
6 As He also says in another place, “You are a priest forever according to the order of Malkitsedeq,”

Yah said to my Master, “Sit at My right hand, until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.” YHWH sends Your mighty scepter out of Tsiyon. Rule in the midst of Your enemies! Your people volunteer in the day of Your might, In the splendours of set-apartness! From the womb, from the morning, You have the dew of Your youth! YHWH has sworn and does not relent, “You are a priest forever according to the order of Malkitsedeq.” Psalms 110:1-4
7 who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and petitions with strong crying and tears to Him who was able to save him from death, and was heard because of His reverent fear,

From the AENT, Likewise, when He was clothed in flesh, he offered fervent prayers and pleadings with intense anxious tears, to him who was able to revive him from death; and he was heard. There is no mention of the emotion of fear here. 8 though being a Son, He learned obedience by what He suffered. He understood what it meant and does mean to hearken unto the voice of Elohim! 9 And having been perfected, He became the Causer of everlasting deliverance to all those obeying Him, 10 having been designated by Elohim a High Priest “according to the order of Malkitsedeq,” 11 concerning whom we have much to say, and hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12 For indeed, although by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first elements of the Words of Elohim. And you have become such as need milk and not solid food.

13 For everyone partaking of milk is inexperienced in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. 14 But solid food is for the mature whose senses have been trained by practice to discern both good and evil. It is well known that it is the babies and infants who drink milk, and as they grow and mature, they are able to eat meat and solid food. So Shaul is using an analogy here – one of beginning and growing – a process of increasing. In this case he is speaking about the “word of righteousness.” So we should ask ourselves, “what is the ‘word of righteousness’ ?” The only righteous One is the Father, therefore His Word is the Word of Righteousness. His Word is Torah – Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy. We are told in John that Messiah is the Word made flesh, therefore His life is also the Word of Righteousness. He walked a perfect Torah obedient life.

Milk – the call of God to follow Him, the realization of what He did for you on the stake at Calvary, His blood covering your sin – these are the milk of young babes in belief of Messiah Yeshua.

Meat – The teaching and instructions of the Torah of God. Being able to recognize: clean from unclean, set – apart from common, holy from profane, truth from tradition. These are things that take work, study, love, desire on your part to know about a Holy and Set – Apart God.

Isaiah 28:9-10 Whom would He (Elohim) teach knowledge? And whom would He make to understand the message? Those weaned from milk, those taken from the breasts! For it is: command upon command, command upon command, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little. The prophet Isaiah clearly tells us that God has a certain types of people He will teach and make understand His message: Those weaned from milk……..Get into the Torah!!!

 

Hebrews Chapter 6

Because Chapter 6 begins with a “Therefore,” we need to go back to the last part of Chapter 5 just to make sure I know what the “therefore” is therefore. verse 12 – 14 of Chapter 5, Rabbi Shaul was talking about milk and solid food.

For indeed, although by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first elements of the Words of Elohim. And you have become such as need milk and not solid food. For everyone partaking of milk is inexperienced in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food is for the mature whose senses have been trained by practice to discern both good and evil.

So what are the first elements of the Word of Elohim? The word elements can also be principles or fundamentals the basic things that make up something greater. Well, common sense would tell us that the first principles of God are the first writings of His Word: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. There is nothing much more important in a believer’s walk than having a solid footing in the principles of God. He lays out His principles to Moses for all of His people forever. Those who do not work at getting solid footing in the principles of Elohim – instead of maturing unto evermore increasing sanctification – become as babes and Paul (Shaul) even says “inexperienced” in the word of righteousness.

Wow – discerning good and evil. He might as well said life and death! Having senses “trained by practice.” When we train for something, or practice for something – that sounds like some action being taken. So being able to discern good from evil takes not only having a solid foundation in the principles of Elohim (the Torah), but putting those principles into action. We should know the instructions of YHWH, we are to practice them, and train our flesh to do them. Then, we are able to discern good from evil. Just as Moses said: These commands are life to you.

In further study, the words Shaul is using here – words like milk, skillful, experienced, craftsmen, wise, learned, mature, etc – he is harkening us back to the Torah. Specifically I would like to bring Exodus Chapter 35 into focus. In Exodus chapter 35, Moses has called a gathering, an assembly of all the people and instructs them again on keeping the Sabbath. On down a bit in the chapter to Exodus 35 and verse 10 And let all the wise-hearted among you come and make all that God has commanded:

Mosheh is very specific here: Who is going to make ALL that God has commanded? The wise-hearted, the same people who Shaul is writing about in Hebrews 5 that are mature in their senses: But solid food is for the mature whose senses have been trained by practice to discern both good and evil. The word for “wise” as used by Moses in Exodus 35:10, those who will “make ALL that God has commanded” (speaking of His Tabernacle) is the Hebrew word chakam (khaw-kawm’). This word means: intelligent, skillful, artful. I believe when Shaul says “mature in senses” he is saying “wise-hearted.”

 

Ok, now – Chapter 6

1 Therefore let us leave the basics of the Word of the Messiah, and continue on to its perfection. Or will you again lay another foundation for the repentance which is from dead words and for the faith in Elohim
Did you see that? Shaul tells us that the foundation of repentance from dead works is the beginning words or principles of God, The Principles of Torah. There is only one foundation for repentance – and that is leaving “dead works” and turning to Father’s Ways. True repentance is teshuva, a return. When I return from the place where I have been – doing dead works, serving other idols taught to me by society, family, and friends, to His Word in the Beginning, then and only then can I move on to maturity (perfection). How many times must one be saved again? And in fact, can we be continually saved? Are we not saved once and for all? How many times did the Children of Israel and mixed multitude leave Egypt? I believe it was only once! Let us move on from our salvation unto sanctification. We are out of Egypt – let us move into the Promised land!

Dead works are those things that are not in harmony with God’s instructions. Keeping His Sabbaths, His appointments, His Feasts, His principles are in harmony. There is no profit in being in servitude to untruths and traditions made up from man. They have no meaning, they do not profit us unto eternal things. As our Brother Jeremiah the prophet is trying to tell us:
O Yah, my strength and my stronghold and my refuge, in the day of distress the nations shall come to you from the ends of the earth and say, “Our fathers have inherited only falsehood, futility, and there is no value in them.” Jeremiah 16:19

The holidays and traditions that all of Christianity observes today did not originate with Holy One of Israel. He has a serious and everlasting purpose for everything He tells us to do. If we are not doing them, we are foolish, babes on milk, and not wise-hearted and not useful, skillful craftsmen. We will not be assembling the Tabernacle of David ‘in that day.’

So we first return to our Father from where we have been-(make teshuvah), grow wise in learning the foundation (His Torah), the Word in the Beginning (Messiah), then move on to completeness, perfection, and usefulness in His Kingdom.

2 And for the doctrine of immersion, and for the laying on of a hand and for the resurrection from the dead, and for the eternal judgment? The phrase “everlasting judgment simply means the time of the decision of our Holy Creator that is eternal for us. Judgment, for those cleaving to God, Israel, Bride of Messiah, Keepers of His Torah – is to be read as “deliverance”.

3 And this we shall do, if Elohim indeed permits.

If Elohim permits. Permits – is the Greek word epitrepo. It is made up of two words: epi and trape, meaning turn over or transfer. So, back to the notion of being wise-hearted and skillful, being able to do ALL that God has commanded us – we shall do, if God turns over to us or transfers to us – His attributes and power. Just like previously noted in Exodus, only the wise-hearted will be trusted to do these things. It can be no other way. Father just cannot trust these all important matters to babes. This is not unjust of Father – you would not trust babies with your most important matters either. We do not even let our teenagers drive our cars – why? They are not wise or skillful, or experienced. And yet, we think the Holy One should love us enough to trust us with His eternal matters when we are not mature or wise – this is a recipe for disaster. This, I believe is one reason there is so much strife and contention in the body.

4 But they who have once descended to immersion and have tasted the gift from heaven and have received the Set-apart Spirit 5 and have tasted the good Word of Elohim and the power of the world to come, 6 cannot again sin and a second time be renewed to repentance; or a second time execute him on a stake and insult the Son of Elohim. Hebrews 10:26-31 (which we will study in a later post) helps us understand this and also going to Torah in Deuteronomy 15.

“For if we sin purposely after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a slaughter [offering] for sins, but some fearsome anticipation of judgment, and a fierce fire which is about to consume the opponents. Anyone who has disregarded the Torah of Mosheh dies without compassion on the witness of two or three witnesses. How much worse punishment do you think shall he deserve who has trampled the Son of Elohim underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was set apart as common, and insulted the Spirit of favor? For we know Him who has said, “Vengeance is Mine, I shall repay, says Yah. And Again, “God shall judge His people.” It is fearsome to fall into the hands of the living Elohim. Hebrews 10:26-31

“And it shall be forgiven all the congregation of the children of Yisra’el and the stranger who sojourns in their midst, because all the people did it by mistake. And if a being sins by mistake, then he shall bring a female goat a year old as a sin offering. And the priest shall make atonement of the being who strays by mistake, when he sins by mistake before God, to make atonement for him, and it shall be forgiven him. For him who does [whatever] by mistake there is one Torah, both for him who is native among the children of Yisra’el and for the stranger who sojourns in their midst.”

“But the being who does [whatever] defiantly, whether he is native or a stranger, he reviles God, and that being shall be cut off from among his people. Because he has despised the word of God, and has broken His command, that being shall certainly be cut off, his crookedness is upon him.” Deuteronomy (Bemidbar) 15:26-31

And directly following this particular instruction, we are given a story of a man found gathering sticks on the seventh day Sabbath day of rest, and of his punishment. Coincidence? No such thing with Elohim. Some definitions for verses 4, 5, & 6:
tasted – eat, taste, experience heavenly gift – an offering (sacrifice) from above.
become partakers of the Set apart Spirit – this phrase has marriage language written all over it. Become can mean “married to”, partakers can mean “partner”, Set-apart Spirit of course is Messiah Himself in the form of a breath.
So we could say “become partakers of the Set apart Spirit” or “married to our husband Messiah.”
tasted the Good Word of Elohim – tasted again is “experienced, eaten (reminds me of the Tree of Life, His Torah)”, Word of Elohim: “an utterance, command”. God spoke the Torah to Moses and Moses wrote them down for all of creation. Our Messiah spoke the same words as His Father.

“Because I spoke not from Myself, but the Father who sent Me has given Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak.” John 12:49 is just one example of several. “and the powers of the world to come” – mighty, wonderful, miraculous work of the age (time period) which is the intention and plan of God and is the expectation of all of His people. 7 For ground that is drinking the rain often falling on it, and is bearing plants fit for those by whom it is tilled, receives blessing from Elohim, 8 but if it brings forth thorns and thistles, it is rejected and near to being cursed, and ends up by being burned.

The rain is the Spirit of Elohim, we are the ground. Just like the real ground outside our door, when it rains from the sky, that drain is taken in by all the ground it hits. Are we bearing plants, fit for Elohim, or bringing forth thorns and thistles? Elohim rejects thorns and thistles – He has given that ground His Spirit! And that ground is bringing forth something He cannot use, and just a little more and He shall curse that ground and that ground will end up being burned like chaff. This is the person who has received the light of the Messiah, and yet blatantly chooses to not follow the walk of His Instructions, His Torah: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy.

9 But, concerning you, my Brothers, we are persuaded better things, and things pertaining to life, although we speak in this way. Sounds like here, Shaul was trying to uplift again, these believers. 10 For Elohim is not unrighteous to forget your works and your charity which you have shown in His Name, in that you have ministered and do minister to the Set Apart believers. 11 And we desire that each one of you may show this same activity for the completion of your hope, even to the end: 12 in order that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through belief and patience inherit the promises.

Verse 12 has been cleaned up a bit. The word seen here as sluggish, faint, slothful, lazy – is a derivative of the word illegitimate or bastard. That is, let us not become as one who is Fatherless. This is also supported by the next part of verse 12 in that he tells us what “to be” instead. Let us be as those who have an inheritance (Abraham and his seed), and do as they did in their lives as we have recorded for us in Scripture of their faith and patience.

13 For Elohim, having promised Abraham, since He could swear by no one greater, swore by Himself, Let us remember that Elohim caused Abraham to fall asleep and He Himself ONLY passed through the blood covenant. The Holy Almighty Creator swore by Himself! 14 saying, “Truly, blessing I shall bless you, and increasing I shall increase you.” 15 And so, after being patient, he obtained the promise. 16 For men swear by one greater than themselves: and in every controversy that occurs among them, the sure termination of it is by an oath.

17 Therefore, Elohim, being abundantly willing to show to the heirs of the promise that His promising was irreversible, bound it up in an oath; 18 so that, by two things which cannot endure alteration, and in which Elohim cannot deceive we, who have earnestly looked for refuge in him, might have great consolation and might hold fast the hope promised to us; 19 which is to us as an anchor that retains our soul so that it stays fixed; and it enters into that within the veil 20 where God has previously entered for us and has become a Priest forever, according to the order of Malkitsedeq.

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