Theophobic

1 Corinthians 6:2

2012-02-11T21:01:00.001-05:00

1 Corinthians 6:2

Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?

1. Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world?

a. In the Gospel of Matthew Jesus gives us an interesting revelation when it is compared with what the Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians.

1). Matthew 12:38-42 Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.

But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:

For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.

The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.

2). The revelation is clear from comparing these verses. The people of Nineveh who repented from Jonah’s message are in heaven and not only that, the Queen of Sheba also will be in heaven because Paul writes in this verse that the saints will judge the world.

1 Thessalonians 1:1

2012-02-07T06:38:00.002-05:00

1 Thessalonians 1:1

Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

1. “Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians…”

a. These three, Paul, Silvanus (Silas), and Timotheus (Timothy) ministered at Thessalonica together, during Paul’s second missionary tour. In verse one we see Paul’s authorship of the epistle.

1). Acts 15:40, 41 And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God.

And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.

2). Acts 16:1-3 Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek:

Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium.

Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek.

3) Acts 17:1 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews:

b. From the testimony in Acts 17:1-10 it appears that Paul stayed in Thessalonica at least three weeks and fled the city by night.

Acts 17:1-10 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews:

And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,

Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.

And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.

But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.

And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;

Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus.

And they troubled the people and the rulers of the city, when they heard these things.

And when they had taken security of Jason, and of the other, they let them go.

And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.

c. Even though Paul and his team were only in Thessalonica three weeks, the new born church at Philippi sent two offerings to Paul.

1). Philippians 4:15, 16 Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.

For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity.

1 Thessalonians 5:23

2012-02-05T07:33:00.003-05:00

1 Thessalonians 5:23

And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1. “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly…”

a. sanctify [37 * hagiazo][Thayer: to render or acknowledge, or to be venerable or hallow, to separate from profane things and dedicate to God, consecrate things to God, to purify, to cleanse externally, to purify by expiation: free from the guilt of sin, to purify internally by renewing of the soul.]

b. wholly [3651 * holoteles][Thayer: perfect, complete in all respects.][Zodhiates: all or the whole entirely.]

1). The sanctifying process is for the internal and the external, the whole man and woman, but it begins with the new birth, the born again experience. The inside must be cleansed first before the outside.

a). Matthew 23:25, 26 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.

Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.

2. “...and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved…”

a. Man is a three fold being. He is a spirit, he has a soul and he lives in a body

b. The soul and spirit are not the same because they can be divided:

1). Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is quick and powerful, and sharper than any twoegded sword, piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit,…”

c. The heart is the spirit of man: this is a general rule in Scripture, it is not absolute.

1). Romans 2:29 “…circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit…”

d. Paul used the terms “I” and “my spirit” interchangeably:

1). 1 Corinthians 14:14 “For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.”

2). The spirit is the real me.

e. Man’s Three Dimensions.

1). Spirit: The part of man which deals with the spiritual, the part of man that knows God.

a). God is a Spirit.

(1). John 4:24 “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and truth.

b). Man is a spirit because we were created in the likeness and image of God.

(1). Genesis 1:26 “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness:…”

(2). Genesis 1:27 “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him…”

c). The inner man, the real me is my spirit.

(1). Ephesians 3:16 That he would grant you, according to the righes of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;

(2). 2 Corinthians 4:16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

d). The Bible says when we are born again we become new creations, our spirits are recreated by the Holy Ghost.

(1). 2 Corinthians 5:17 Amplified Bible. “Therefore if any person in [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come!”

(2). Titus 3:5 “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.”

(a). regeneration (3824 * palinggenesia; palin-again; genesis-generation) Again birth; born again: John 3:3, 7.

2). Soul: The dimension of man which deals in the mental, man’s intellect, the will and personality, the part that reasons and thinks.

a). The mind is the door to our spirits.

(1). 2 Corinthians 4:3, 4 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

b). James wrote in his epistle that the word of God can save our soul.

(1). James 1:21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

(a). James was not referring to our salvation at the born again experience, because our salvation is by grace through faith, it is not of works, Ephesians 2:8, 9.

c). James was referring to what Paul meant when he wrote of “the renewing of your mind”.

(1). Romans 12:2 “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind,…”

(2). The “renewing of your mind” or “to save your soul” is only accomplished by doing the word, by being obedient to what it says to do.

d). We are required to discipline our thought life, to bring our thoughts into harmony or agreement with what God’s word says.

(1). 2 Corinthians 10:4, 5 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

e). The most important aspect of a man’s soul is his free will.

(1). Matthew 16:24-26 “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the

whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”

(2). To deny myself in order to follow Christ, or to not deny myself in order to save my life is a product of my free will. It is the only part of my soul that I can lose.

f). In Luke 16:23-31 the rich man that was cast into hell, still had all his mental abilities, including his memory. What he lost forever was his ability to choose. He no longer had a free will.

3). Body: The part of man that deals with the physical realm, the house we live in.

a). Our body is the house we live in, our earth suit.

(1). 2 Corinthians 5:1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

b). We have the responsibility with the help of God, to bring our bodies into subjection to the word of God.

(1). 1 Corinthians 9:27 “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.”

(2). Romans 12:1 “I beseech you therefore brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”

3. “…be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

a. preserved [5083 * tereo][Thayer: to attend to carefully, take care of, to guard, metaphorically to keep one in the state in which he is, to observe

to reserve: to undergo something.]

b. blameless [274 * amemptos; from amemptos; a-negative; memphomai-to find fault]] [Zodhiates: Blameless.

c. This same Greek word is used in a passage from Philippians that best illustrates a key component in the preservation process, obedience.

1). Philippians 2:12-15 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Do all things without murmurings and disputings:

That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

2). In these verses we can see the obedience process. It is God that works within us the desire and the ability to do his good pleasure, then we do it without murmurings and disputing and the blamelessness follows.

a). murmurings [1112 * goggysmos][Thayer: a murmur, murmuring, muttering, a secret debate,

a secret displeasure not openly avowed.]

b). disputing [1261 * dialogismos; dia-through, suggesting separation; logismos-a reasoning][Thayer: the thinking of a man deliberating with himself, a thought, inward reasoning, purpose, design, a deliberating, questioning about what is true, hesitation, doubting, disputing, arguing.]

3). The murmurings and disputing all take place in the mind and thought life, the soulish part of man. These inward reasonings, secret debates, the doubting, the wrong deliberating is what will hinder or stop completely not only our obedience but also the preservation that God wants to complete in our relationship with Him. The battle begins in the mind, we must discipline our thoughts.

d. Steps To Development

1). Meditate God’s word.

a). Joshua 1:8 “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”

2). Be doers of the word.

a). James 1:22-25 “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man, beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdest himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.”

Habakkuk 1:4

2012-02-04T07:38:00.003-05:00

Habakkuk 1:4

Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth.

1. “Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth…”

a. Wherever the law is slacked you can be sure that wicked people and wickedness is going to be praised.

1). Proverbs 28:4 They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law contend with them.

2. “…for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth.”

a. compass [3803 * kathar][ Gesenius: to surround

to surround, to surround, encircle.]

b. The reason for the reality of the law being slackened and judgment is not being handed down is “the wicked doth compass about the reighteous”. I am reminded of a Scripture in Psalms that I believe sheds more light on this situation.

1). Psalm 12:8 The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted.

a). The point in this verse is that when vile men are exalted, especially in leadership, it is a sign that they are surrounded by wicked people.

Micah 5:2

2012-02-04T06:29:00.001-05:00

Micah 5:2

But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

1. “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel…”

a. This is a prophetic utterance that declares the Messiah will come out of Bethleham and fulfilled of course in the birth of Jesus.

1). Matthew 2:1-6 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,

Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.

And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,

And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.

2). It is interesting here that all of the Jewish leaders in Israel knew that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem citing the Scripture in Micah. The twist in this of course comes after the family came back from Egypt, fully intending to move back to Bethlehem where they lived before fleeing into Egypt, Joseph was warned in a dream to go back to Nazareth, Mary’s home town.

a). Matthew 2:19-23 But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,

Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child's life.

And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel.

But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee:

And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.

3). This move back to Nazareth would throw a monkey wrench in the thinking of the Jewish leaders causing them to doubt whether Jesus was the Messiah. A powerful example of this is shown in the gospel of John, when Jesus was in Jerusalem at the Feast Tabernacles.

a). John 7:37-43 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.

He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, Of a truth this is the Prophet.

Others said, This is the Christ. But some said, Shall Christ come out of Galilee?

Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was?

So there was a division among the people because of him.

4). I can’t help but think that surely somebody did a little deeper bit of questioning and found out that although Jesus lived in Nazareth for most of his life, he was born in Bethlehem and lived there a short time after he was born.

2. “…whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.”

a. From the eternal past, from everlasting, this is the description given to the one who is to be ruler in Israel, the Christ Jesus. The description clearly says He has existed from eternity past, from everlasting. This description is also only given to Almighty God.

1). Psalm 90:1, 2 Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations.

Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.

Amos 8:11

2012-02-03T05:24:00.002-05:00

Amos 8:11

Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD:

a. Amos prophesied in the reigns of Uzziah, King of Judah and Jereboam II, King of Israel, c. 786-746 B.C. When this prophetic utterance was fulfilled is unknown.

1. “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land… but of hearing the words of the LORD:”

a. hearing [8085 * shama][Strong: to hear intelligently, often with the implication of attention, obedience…attentively, call, consider, diligently discern, give ear, (cause to, make to,) hear, hearken, be obedient.

b. Although this is referring to ancient Israel, a spiritual condition similar to what is referred to here as a “famine of hearing the words of the Lord”, can plague contemporary Christianity. Today in America we can find the word of God just about anywhere in libraries or bookstores. On the internet there are tens of thousands of sites that can help a believer or an unbeliever find just about anything they need about the word of God.

c. Isaiah 6:9, 10 And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not.

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 heart, and convert, and be healed.

1). This passage in Isaiah is speaking of a spiritual condition that anyone can fall into if they are not watchful. This same passage was quoted twice in the New Testament, once by Jesus .

a). Matthew 13:10-15 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?

He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.

For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.

Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:

For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

(1). gross [3975 * pachyno] [Thayer: thick, to grow fat, to make stupid, to render the soul dull or callous.]

(2). dull [917 * bareos][Thayer: heavily, with difficulty.]

(3). Jesus said of these people “their eyes they have closed”, they brought their own condition on themselves.

2). Paul also quoted this passage.

a). Acts 28:25-27 And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers,

Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive:

For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

d. Dull of hearing, a condition spoken of by Jesus and Paul is a characteristic of being spiritually asleep.

1). Romans 11:7-10 What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded

(According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.

And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumbling block, and a recompence unto them:

Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.

2). This condition is similar to drunkenness and produces spiritual ignorance.

a). Isaiah 29:9, 10 Stay yourselves, and wonder; cry ye out, and cry: they are drunken, but not with wine; they stagger, but not with strong drink.

For the LORD hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered.

3). This drunken sleepy spiritual condition will be comfortable in a sinful life, full of spiritual ignorance. It is no wonder the Apostle Paul commanded the Corinthians to wake up and stop sinning!

a). 1 Corinthians 15:34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.

b). The Greek word for “awake” is “eknepo” [1594] and it means “primarily to return to one’s senses from drunkenness, to become sober.” It is no wonder then that Peter in his first epistle exhorts us three times to “be sober”. (1 Peter 1:13; 1 Peter 4:7; 1 Peter 5:8.) Where does it all begin? It begins when we are hearers of the only and not doers, of not walking in the light that has been revealed to us. The writer of Hebrews addressed this in his epistle.

a. Hebrews 5:10, 11 Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.

Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.

1). These Christians were spiritually lazy, not studying or meditating the word and not being doers of the Word.

2). Amplified Bible: Concerning this we have much to say which is hard to explain, since you have become dull in your [spiritual] hearing and sluggish [even slothful in achieving spiritual insight].

b. Hebrews 5:12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.

1). These were not innocent new born Christian babies, these had “become such as have need of milk”. It occurred because of their being “dull of hearing”, of not being doers of the word but hearers only, of not walking in the light revealed to them, of walking in disobedience.

c. Hebrews 5:13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.

1). The theme of eating and digesting the Word as a symbol of obedience to the Word is common in Scripture and this is but one example. The writer of Hebrews is saying those who only use milk or only drink the milk of the word are babies.

2). One of the requirements for growth in the Body of Christ is spiritual nourishment from the Scriptures.

a). 1 Peter 2:1-3 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,

As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

b). 1 Timothy 4:1-6 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.

For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:

For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.

d. Hebrews 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

1). use [1838 * hexis][Thayer: a habit whether of body or mind, a power acquired by custom, practice, use.][skill as a result of practice.]

2). senses [145 * aistheterion][Thayer: faculty of the mind for perceiving, understanding, judging.]

3). exercised [1128 * gymnazo][Thayer: to exercise naked (in a palaestra or school of athletics), to exercise vigorously, in any way, either the body or the mind.]

4). discern [1253 * diakrisis; ][Thayer:a distinguishing, discerning, judging.]

5). Looking at the Greek definitions it is clear that those Believers who practice walking in obedience to the word of God are those who have their spiritual senses sharpened which in turn enables a discernment which is not experienced by those who are spiritual lazy. As a result, in the lives of lazy Christians there is going to be a famine of hearing the word of the Lord. Jesus said, “To him who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

Joel 3:2

2012-01-31T05:46:00.002-05:00

Joel 3:2

I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land.

1. “I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat…”

a. This is the battle of Armageddon that will occur at the Second Coming of Christ. It is mentioned further in verses 9-17.

1). Joel 3:9-17 Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles; Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up:

Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruninghooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong.

Assemble yourselves, and come, all ye heathen, and gather yourselves together round about: thither cause thy mighty ones to come down, O LORD.

Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about.

Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great.

Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.

The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining.

The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.

So shall ye know that I am the LORD your God dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any more.

2). A comparative passage speaking of the “sickle” and the harvesting of the earth given in Revelation.

a). Revelation 14:17-20 And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle.

And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe.

And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.

And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.

2. “…and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel…”

a. plead [8199 * shaphat][Gesenius: to judge, govern, vindicate, punish.]

b. This is the same Hebrew word used with punishment.

1). Isaiah 66:15, 16 For, behold, the LORD will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire.

For by fire and by his sword will the LORD plead with all flesh: and the slain of the LORD shall be many.

3. “…whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land.”

a. Because He is in Covenant with Israel, He considers the land He gave to Israel, His land. Almighty God is furious with the dividing up of His land and giving it to the heathen, Hamas, the Palestinians, or the Syrians. [See Blog notes on Zephaniah 3:8, January 16, 2012.]

1). Ezekiel 36:5 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Surely in the fire of my jealousy have I spoken against the residue of the heathen, and against all Idumea, which have appointed my land into their possession with the joy of all their heart, with despiteful minds, to cast it out for a prey.

Hosea 4:6

2012-01-30T06:43:00.001-05:00

Hosea 4:6

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.

1. “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee…”

a. Believers are destroyed because of their ignorance and they are also led into captivity.

1). Isaiah 5:13 Therefore my people are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge: and their honourable men are famished, and their multitude dried up with thirst.

b. Rejecting the knowledge of God will result in individual, family, and cultural corruption.

1). Roman 1:28-32 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,

Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

Daniel 12:2

2012-01-30T05:22:00.003-05:00

Daniel 12:2

And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

1. “And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake…”

a. John 5:28, 29 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,

And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

1). The term here referring to sleep is speaking of their physical bodies only, it is a figure of speech referring to death in general. Under the Old Covenant when someone died their bodies went into the earth, but their spirit and soul went to the nether parts of the earth. The righteous dead were taken to Abraham’s bosom while the unrighteous dead went to hell. See Luke 16:19-31. After the sacrifice of Christ and his blood was placed on the mercy seat in heaven, only then could the righteous dead go to heaven. When Christ ascended to heaven, he took those to heaven who were awaiting the coming Messiah in Abraham’s bosom. Now of course, when a believer in Jesus dies they immediately go to heaven.

a). 2 Corinthians 5:6-8 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:

(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

b). Philippians 1:21-23 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not.

For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:

2. “…some to everlasting life…”

a. Job 19:25-27 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:

And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:

Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.

1). Some scholars believe that Job is the oldest book in the Bible and if that’s true then the belief of a redeemer and a bodily resurrection after death is just as old. Here Job clearly says so.

3. “…and some to shame and everlasting contempt.”

a. All of Ezekiel 32:17-32 is speaking of the nations that opposed God and they all ended up in hell and the shame they will wear all eternity along with their torment. Ezekiel 32:25 is a good example.

1). Ezekiel 32:25 They have set her a bed in the midst of the slain with all her multitude: her graves are round about him: all of them uncircumcised, slain by the sword: though their terror was caused in the land of the living, yet have they borne their shame with them that go down to the pit: he is put in the midst of them that be slain.

2). Revelation 20:11-15 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Daniel 12:1

2012-01-30T04:40:00.000-05:00

Daniel 12:1

And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.

1. “And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people…”

a. Michael is the angelic prince of Israel. There are other angelic princes that stand with their respective nations.

1). Daniel 10:13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.

2). Daniel 10:20 Then said he, Knowest thou wherefore I come unto thee? and now will I return to fight with the prince of Persia: and when I am gone forth, lo, the prince of Grecia shall come.

2. “…and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.”

a. This is the time of Jacob’s trouble also known as the great tribulation.

1). Jeremiah 30:4-8 And these are the words that the LORD spake concerning Israel and concerning Judah.

For thus saith the LORD; We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace.

Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child? wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness?

Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.

For it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, that I will break his yoke from off thy neck, and will burst thy bonds, and strangers shall no more serve themselves of him:

2). Matthew 24:15-22 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)

Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:

Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:

Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.

And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!

But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:

For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.

Daniel 10:21

2012-01-30T04:38:00.002-05:00

Daniel 10:21

But I will shew thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth: and there is none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael your prince.

1. “…and there is none that holdeth with me in these things…”

a. This is a possible link to the passage in 2 Thessalonians that mentions a hindrance to the unveiling of the anti-Christ.

1). 2 Thessalonians 2:6, 7 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.

For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.

2). Different theories are the anti-Christ will be revealed when the Church is removed or the Holy Spirit is removed.

Zephaniah 3:14

2012-01-29T18:34:00.001-05:00

Zephaniah 3:14

Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem.

1. “Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel…”

a. sing [7442 * ranan][Gesenius: to overcome, to be overcome, to cry out, shout for joy, give a ringing cry, to give a ringing cry (in joy, exaltation, distress), to cry aloud (in summons, exhortation of wisdom), to give a ringing cry (in joy, exultation, praise, ringing cry, singing out (passive),to cause to ring or sing out (for joy), rejoicing (participle).]

b. shout [7321 * ruwa’][Gesenius: to shout, raise a sound, cry out, give a blast, to shout a war-cry or alarm of battle, to sound a signal for war or march, to shout in triumph (over enemies), to shout in applause, to shout (with religious impulse), to cry out in distress.]

c. Both of these terms describe a singing and shouting at the top of your lungs. The reason is because as the context shows, the Messiah is in their midst in the Millennial Reign.

1). Isaiah 12:6 Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.

2). Zechariah 2:10, 11 Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the LORD.

And many nations shall be joined to the LORD in that day, and shall be my people: and I will dwell in the midst of thee, and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto thee.

Ephesians 6:14

2012-01-26T06:39:00.000-05:00

Ephesians 6:14

Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

1. “Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth…”

a. loins [3751 * osphys][Thayer: the hip (loin)][Vine: the seat of generative power, in Ephesians 6:14, [of]bracing up oneself so as to maintain perfect sincerity and reality as the counteractive in Christian character against hypocrisy and falsehood.]

b. girt about [4024 * perizonnymi][Thayer: to fasten garments with a girdle or belt, to gird one's self, metaphorically with truth as a girdle, to equip one's self with knowledge of the truth.]

c. truth [225 * aletheia][Vine: objectively, signifying "the reality lying at the basis of an appearance; the manifested, veritable essence of a matter", especially of Christian doctrine…where "the truth of the Gospel" denotes the "true" teaching of the Gospel, in contrast to perversions of it…]

d. The truth is the Word of God

1). John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

2). We are to wrap the truth of the Gospel around us as we live our daily lives.

2. “…and having on the breastplate of righteousness.”

a. breastplate [2382 * thorax][Thayer: the breast, the part of the body from the neck to the navel, where the ribs end, a breastplate or corset consisting of two parts and protecting the body on both sides from the neck to the middle.]

b. righteousness [1343 * dikaiosyne][Zodhiates: Justice, righteousness…In the N.T. righteousness is a religious concept. It is righteousness according to divine standard, conformity to the will and nature of God Himself. In the N.T. the character of God is presented as absolute moral perfection.]

c. God’s moral perfection, God’s righteousness is the standard that God requires, but we don’t measure up and outside of Christ we can’t, but by receiving eternal life in Christ by the born again experience, we receive God’s righteousness.

1). Romans 3:19-26 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;

Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

2). 2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

d. Because we have received the righteousness of God we are not sinners saved by grace, we are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. The Scriptures call the believer in Christ saints.

1). 1 Corinthians 1:2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:

2). Romans 1:7 To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

3). 2 Corinthians 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia:

4). Ephesians 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:

e. We have been given the righteousness of God and God expects us to wear it as a breastplate. Calling ourselves sinners saved by grace is an insult to God.

Ephesians 1:14

2012-01-25T06:20:00.003-05:00

Ephesians 1:14

Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

1. “Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession…”

a. earnest [728 * arrabon][Thayer: an earnest, money which in purchases is given as a pledge or down payment that the full amount will subsequently be paid.]

1). Wikipedia: An earnest payment (sometimes called earnest money or simply earnest, or alternatively a good-faith deposit) is a deposit towards the purchase of real estate or publicly tendered government contract made by a buyer or registered contractor to demonstrate that he/she is serious (earnest) about wanting to complete the purchase.

2). Almighty God, demonstrating that He is serious about our redemption gives the earnest of the Holy Ghost.

b. inheritance [2817 * kleronomia][Thayer: an inheritance, property received (or to be received) by inheritance, what is given to one as a possession, the eternal blessedness of the consummated kingdom of God which is to be expected after the visible return of Christ, the share which an individual will have in that eternal blessedness.]

c. Three times in Ephesians 1 the Apostle Paul declares we have been given an inheritance in Christ. Here in verse 14, but also in Ephesians 1:11 and Ephesians 1:18. Our inheritance in Christ is everything the New Testament says we have. It is an inheritance we have to receive by faith after we receive a revelation and Paul prayed that we would get a revelation of our inheritance.

1). Ephesians 1:15-18 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,

Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;

That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:

The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

2). The “revelation” Paul is referring to is the rhema word of faith we initially get, and on which we stand, and build on to receive our inheritance, what the New Testament says is ours.

a). Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

b). word [4487 * rhema][Thayer: that which is or has been uttered by the living voice, thing spoken, word.][Vine: The signifigance of rhema is exampliphied in the injunction to take “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,” Ephesians 6:17; here the reference is not to the whole Bible as such, but to the individual Scripture which the Spirit brings to our remembrance for use in time of need, a prerequisite being the regular storing of the mind with Scripture.]

c). This Spirit is the Third Person of the Godhead, who has also been given as the down payment in our redemption to show us God is serious about our redemption. Hallelujah!

d. The Gospel and the inheritance included is what Paul was called to preach by Christ on the road to Damascus.

1). Acts 26:15-18 And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.

But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;

Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,

To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

Isaiah 14:11

2012-01-23T05:43:00.000-05:00

Isaiah 14:11

Thy pomp is brought down to the grave, and the noise of thy viols: the worm is spread under thee, and the worms cover thee.

1. “Thy pomp is brought down to the grave, and the noise of thy viols…”

a. Isaiah 14:11 not only ties music to Lucifer, it ties music to the fall of Lucifer. The Hebrew definitions reveal this.

1). pomp [1347 * ga’own][Strong: arrogancy, excellency(-lent), majesty, pomp, pride, proud, swelling.]

2). grave [7585 * she’owl][ Gesenius: sheol, underworld, grave, hell, pit, the underworld, Sheol - the OT designation for the abode of the dead.]

3). noise [1998 * hemyah] [Strong: from 1993; sound:--noise.] [Gesenius: sound of musical instruments.]

4). viols [5035 * nebel] [Strong: from 5034; a skin-bag for liquids (from collapsing when empty); hence, a vase (as similar in shape when full); also a lyre (as having a body of like form):--bottle, pitcher, psaltery, vessel, viol.]

b. Looking at the Hebrew definitions we can see that not only was his pride, arrogancy and majesty brought down to hell, but also his music. Isaiah 14:9-15 is a companion passage to Ezekiel 28:11-19 in that it speaks about the fall of Lucifer. Notice in particular what the prophet writes in the first part of Ezekiel 28:18.

1). “Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffick…”

2). The RSV reads, “in the unrighteousness of your trade “; while the NIV reads, “dishonest trade”; The NKJV reads, “the iniquity of your trading”; In the word “traffic” I can’t help but call to mind the use of the word in present day America when someone is arrested for selling drugs, it is referred to as “drug trafficking”, spreading and selling your goods. Here it is used about the rebellion of Lucifer. We must remember that one third of the angels fell with Lucifer, which means that he convinced those angels to follow his ungodly lead. He trafficked his rebellion among them and one of the ways he did it was through the noise of thy viols, his music. This is why “the noise of thy viols” was brought down to hell along with his majesty, arrogancy and pride.

3). See notes on Ezekiel 28:11-19 for further Scriptural links between Lucifer and music.

2. “…the worm is spread under thee, and the worms cover thee.”

a. worm [7415 * rimmah][Strong: a maggot (as rapidly bred), literally or figuratively:--worm.]

b. worms [8438 * towla’][Strong: worm, scarlet stuff, crimson, the female 'coccus ilicis', the dye made from the dried body of the female of the worm "coccus ilicis", maggot, grub.]

c. The punishment awaiting the king of Babylon and or Lucifer is to be covered completely in maggots crawling all over him. There is a companion passage in the gospel of Mark that needs to be listed here.

1). Mark 9:42-48 And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.

And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:

Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:

Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire:

Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

2). In the natural world, flies lay their eggs in rotting flesh and as the eggs grow into maggots they eat the rotting flesh. Here the maggots will crawl on top and underneath and will feed on the flesh of the victim. Just as the rich man in hell experienced thirst and torment in fiery flame, these will experience the pain of the maggots feeding on them.

a). Luke 16:24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

Isaiah 14:9

2012-01-22T09:23:00.002-05:00

Isaiah 14:9

Isaiah 14:9-15 Hell from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming: it stirreth up the dead for thee, even all the chief ones of the earth; it hath raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations.

a. This is a fascinating passage that begs to be looked at in depth.

1. “Hell from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming…”

a. Although the NIV refers to this as “the grave”, the context of the whole passage clearly shows this is the underworld, the place of departed spirits. This study will bear this out.

1). Hell [7585 * shĕ'owl][Gesenius: sheol, underworld, grave, hell, pit, the underworld, Sheol - the OT designation for the abode of the dead.]

2). [NASB] “Sheol from beneath is excited over you to meet you when you come…”

3). [RSV] “Sheol beneath is stirred up to meet you when you come, it rouses the shades to greet you…”

4). [Young’s Literal Translation] “Sheol beneath hath been troubled at thee, To meet thy coming in…”

b. Some scholars teach this is the King of Babylon that the text is referring to, and of course Scripture clearly shows it.

1). Isaiah 14:4 That thou shalt take up this proverb against the king of Babylon, and say, How hath the oppressor ceased! the golden city ceased!

c. As the Scripture reveals though, that yes it is talking about the king of Babylon, it is also talking about and to the spirit behind the king of Babylon and in this case it is Lucifer, the devil.

1). Isaiah 14:12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!

a). Both will end up in hell.

d. moved [7264 * ragaz][Gesenius: tremble, quake, rage, quiver, be agitated, be excited, be perturbed, to quake, be disquieted, be excited, be perturbed, to cause to quake, disquiet, enrage, disturb, to excite oneself.]

1). Along with a probable earthquake, the regions of the dammed quaking and trembling, there is accompanying it a host of negative emotions, rage, anger, agitation, in preparation for the king of Babylon and or Lucifer to enter. The instances in Scripture where the curtain of death is pulled back for us to see behind it is not frequent, but we are seeing one here. There is another in the New

Testament in the book of Luke where Jesus gives us the account of a beggar and a rich man. The beggar dies and goes to Abraham’s Bosom or Paradise while the rich man ends up in hell, in the very place that is the subject of Isaiah. In Luke’s gospel, the rich man after realizing his condition is hopeless pleads with Abraham to send someone to his father’s house to warn his five brothers not to come to hell.

a). Luke 16:27-31 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:

For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.

Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.

And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.

And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

b). The Life & Teachings of Christ, Gordon Lindsay: “Thus we see that [the rich man] had a memory. That memory brought him no consolation but only remorse and horror. In his present state of distress, he could visualize the time when his five brethren would join him in hades. They (having possibly shared his estate) were now engaged in doing what he had done during his lifetime. They were eating, drinking, and making merry—congratulating themselves on their good fortune. ..Since it was too late to ameliorate his own unhappy situation, his request now was that Lazarus be sent to his brethren to warn them against sharing his fate. Strange indeed is the fact that even some Christians have little interest in evangelizing the lost. But that desire is dominant in the place least expected—in hades, the abode of the lost!

c). Gordon Lindsay goes on to say it is the “fearful anticipation…of meeting those whom they have influenced for evil in their lifetime” that drove the rich man to plead for someone to warn his brothers. Perhaps this is the energy fueling hell to be “moved” not only with an earthquake but also with a host of negative emotions to meet the king of Babylon and or the devil.

2. “…it stirreth up the dead for thee, even all the chief ones of the earth…

a. stirreth [5782 * `uwr][Gesenius: to rouse oneself, awake, awaken, incite, to be roused, to stir up, to be excited, be triumphant, to act in an aroused manner]

b. dead [7496 * rapha’][Gesenius: ghosts of the dead, shades, spirits]

c. chief [6260 * ‘attuwd][Gesenius: ram, he-goat, chief one.][AMG: A masculine noun indicating a goat, a male goat, a leader. It refers to a strong animal of the flock, a ram, he goat. It is used figuratively, therefore of a leader or people of strong character.]

d. The different translations reflect these definitions.

1). [NIV] “…it rouses the spirits of the departed to greet you— all those who were leaders in the world…”

2). [ASV] “…it stirreth up the dead for thee, even all the chief ones of the earth…”

3). [Young’s Literal Translation: “It is waking up for thee Rephaim, All chiefs ones of earth…”

4). [Darby] “…stirring up the dead for thee, all the he-goats of the earth…”

e. The fact that these are the spirits of the dead that are being stirred up proves that this is hell. In Ezekiel we get another glimpse of the dead suffering in their judgment, surely these are among those who are being stirred up.

1). Ezekiel 32:17-30 It came to pass also in the twelfth year, in the fifteenth day of the month, that the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

Son of man, wail for the multitude of Egypt, and cast them down, even her, and the daughters of the famous nations, unto the nether parts of the earth, with them that go down into the pit.

Whom dost thou pass in beauty? go down, and be thou laid with the uncircumcised.

They shall fall in the midst of them that are slain by the sword: she is delivered to the sword: draw her and all her multitudes.

The strong among the mighty shall speak to him out of the midst of hell with them that help him: they are gone down, they lie uncircumcised, slain by the sword.

Asshur is there and all her company: his graves are about him: all of them slain, fallen by the sword:

Whose graves are set in the sides of the pit, and her company is round about her grave: all of them slain, fallen by the sword, which caused terror in the land of the living.

There is Elam and all her multitude round about her grave, all of them slain, fallen by the sword, which are gone down uncircumcised into the nether parts of the earth, which caused their terror in the land of the living; yet have they borne their shame with them that go down to the pit.

They have set her a bed in the midst of the slain with all her multitude: her graves are round about him: all of them uncircumcised, slain by the sword: though their terror was caused in the land of the living, yet have they borne their shame with them that go down to the pit: he is put in the midst of them that be slain.

There is Meshech, Tubal, and all her multitude: her graves are round about him: all of them uncircumcised, slain by the sword, though they caused their terror in the land of the living.

And they shall not lie with the mighty that are fallen of the uncircumcised, which are gone down to hell with their weapons of war: and they have laid their swords under their heads, but their iniquities shall be upon their bones, though they were the terror of the mighty in the land of the living.

Yea, thou shalt be broken in the midst of the uncircumcised, and shalt lie with them that are slain with the sword.

There is Edom, her kings, and all her princes, which with their might are laid by them that were slain by the sword: they shall lie with the uncircumcised, and with them that go down to the pit.

There be the princes of the north, all of them, and all the Zidonians, which are gone down with the slain; with their terror they are ashamed of their might; and they lie uncircumcised with them that be slain by the sword, and bear their shame with them that go down to the pit.

3. “…it hath raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations.”

a. raised [6965 * quwm][Gesenius: to rise, arise, stand, rise up, stand up.]

b. thrones [3678 * kicce’][Gesenius: seat (of honour), throne, seat, stool, royal dignity, authority, power (fig.)]

c. What an intriguing sight, the spirits of dead wicked kings stand up off of their thrones, to meet the king of Babylon and or Lucifer. They have been roused from their torments by the knowledge of their arrival. The other translations are interesting.

1). [NLT] “…The spirits of world leaders and mighty kings long dead stand up to see you.”

2). [RSV] “…it raises from their thrones all who were kings of the nations.”