As a Christian one thing I look for in presidents is to see if their actions line up with the Bible or are against it.  For eight years I watched Obama constantly do things and enact laws which went against the Bible, Christians, and God Himself as well as the Constitution.  Trump on the other hand has been very pro-Christian with his wife even reading the Lord’s Prayer at a rally.

President Trump is having much opposition to his proposed border wall.  Opposition to it has sprung up from many people and organizations.  I have never seen so much resistance to a president in my life.  While it is amazing, it is not unprecedented.  In the Bible, Nehemiah ran into the same trouble.

But it so happened, when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, that he was furious and very indignant, and mocked the Jews.   And he spoke before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, "What are these feeble Jews doing?  Will they fortify themselves? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they complete it in a day? Will they revive the stones from the heaps of rubbish--stones that are burned?”  Now Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and he said, “Whatever they build, if even a fox goes up on it, he will break down their stone wall.”  (Neh. 4:1-3 NKJV).

Like in Nehemiah’s time, it is shocking to comprehend all the vitriol, hate, and secret conspiracies that have risen against Trump to hinder him.  Sanballat was one of the main men opposing Nehemiah.  According to The Exhaustive Dictionary of Bible Names, his name means,

Hate in disguise; the enemy is secret.  Chaldean: A hidden branch.  Hatred (or throne) in secret.

Obama promised to help Trump make a smooth transition into the presidency.  We now know he was acting with “hate in disguise” and plotting the whole time with his insiders to do all he could to wreck havoc.  We also now know a “hidden branch” still loyal to Obama is still in government agencies , and the Hillary camp is working in secret to oppose Trump.  The meaning “throne in secret” is particularly interesting in view of what we know of rich globalists, who secretly want to rule the world (such as Soros) and are plotting against Trump and even paying people to protest against him.  Just the meaning of the oppressor  Sanballat’s name has amazing relevance to what is happening in our nation today.

In Neh. 2:10, the Scriptures call Sanballat the “Horonite.”  The same above dictionary says this means,

“Grievous; vexatious.”

As I write this, witches across the country are planning on vexing Trump and his supporters with a “hex” with their witchcraft.  Besides pedophiles, sexual perverts, abortionists, and violent rioters, the liberals also have witches and Satanists on their side!

Another of Nehemiah’s protestors was Tobiah the Ammonite.  While his name is not revealing like Sanballat’s (it can mean “the Lord is good”), where he came from reveals who his God was.  He was an Ammonite from Ammon.  This city-state was founded by Lot’s daughters getting him drunk and having sex with him.  In other words it was founded by incest and sexual perversion.  Ammon’s God was Moloch, to whom they sacrificed children in the fire.  This is another parallel to the liberals who oppose Trump.  Many want sexual perversions of all kinds to be made legal such as pedophilia, allowing men in girls’ restrooms without question, and sacrificing children through abortion.  It seems Trump’s oppressors are coming from the same place as Tobiah!  

Tobiah the Ammonite said about the wall,

Now Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and he said, “Whatever they build, if even a fox goes up on it, he will break down their stone wall” (Neh.  4:3 NKJV).

Many, including Mexicans, have mocked Trump’s wall saying it would be ineffective.  

Another of the people opposing Nehemiah were the Ashdodites.  These were people from the Philistine city of Ashdod.  According to The Exhaustive Dictionary of Bible Names, some of the possible meanings of “Ashdod” are,

“powerful: only used in a bad sense to oppress; to spoil; to act violently.  A friend to fire.”

We have seen rioters from the left act violently by assaulting many of Trump’s supporters and setting fire to cars and buildings, including at Berkley University.  They do these things while claiming to be the party of tolerance and love, accusing conservatives of hate.

Why did Nehemiah want to build the wall?  He wanted to build it for protection and to keep enemies out.  He wanted to build a wall for the welfare of his own people and nation,

“When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard about it, it was very displeasing to them that someone had come to seek the welfare of the sons of Israel” (Neh. 2:10 NKJV).

Trump has repeatedly stated that the reason he wants to build the wall, as well as everything else he is doing, is for the safety of the people and nation of the U.S.  A leader of a nation should be doing things in the best interest of his nation and people as a priority before other nations.  This is Biblical in spite of what some misguided Christian leaders say.  They point out that it is Christian to help refugees and migrants, etc.  This is true, but the U.S. already takes in more immigrants than any other nation.  Trump and his followers just want to do it lawfully.  Some reading this may think walls are only found in the Old Testament.  I would point out that the city at the end of Ezekiel, which is still in the future since it has not been built yet, had a thick wall around it.  Also at the end of the book of Revelation, we read of the city of God having a wall around it.

Like Trump, the enemies of Nehemiah spread “fake news” about him,

Then Sanballat sent his servant to me as before, the fifth time, with an open letter in his hand.  In it was written:  It is reported among the nations, and Geshem says, that you and the Jews plan to rebel; therefore, according to these rumors, you are rebuilding the wall, that you may be their king.  And you have also appointed prophets to proclaim concerning you at Jerusalem, saying, "There is a king in Judah!" Now these matters will be reported to the king.  So come, therefore, and let us consult together (Neh. 6:5-7 NKJV).

Part of the fake news the enemies of the Jews were spreading about Nehemiah was that he was planning on making himself king.  I just read that Mika on “Morning Joe” on MSMBC is already insinuating that Trump is trying to become a “dictator.”  Some things never change—like the tactics of the devil.

The Scriptures treat as being naive and defenseless cities that have no walls.  

“Thus says the Lord God:  ‘On that day it shall come to pass that thoughts will arise in your mind, and you will make an evil plan:   You will say, “I will go up against a land of unwalled villages; I will go to a peaceful people, who dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates”—to take plunder and to take booty, to stretch out your hand against the waste places that are again inhabited, and against a people gathered from the nations, who have acquired livestock and goods, who dwell in the midst of the land”’ (Ezek. 38:10-12 NKJV).  
 
The Bibles also compares a city without walls to a man who has no control over his own spirit,

Whoever has no rule over his own spirit
 Is like a city broken down, without walls (Prov. 25:28 NKJV).    

God actually called walls “salvation” through Isaiah,

Violence shall no longer be heard in your land,
Neither wasting nor destruction within your borders;
But you shall call your walls Salvation,
And your gates Praise (Isa. 60:18 NKJV).

The Hebrew word for “salvation” in this passage is yeshua, the Hebrew word for “Jesus.”  Yet some Christian leaders are against Trump’s wall saying it is not “Christian.”  This passage is prophetically calling Jesus a “wall.”

Obama burned the gates of the U.S. with fire, so to speak, by championing Soros’ NWO vision of an “open society” without borders or walls.  However, before he moved into his new mansion in D.C., he had a wall erected around it and added security measures!  What a hypocrite!  Many of the rich elites, who advocate a nation without borders or walls themselves, have walls around their own properties.

After Nehemiah built the wall and Israel was no longer overrun by aliens, they had a spiritual revival.  Trump has been very pro-Christian, and Hillary would have passed even more laws against Christians.  I am concerned that many Christians will only see the battle between Trump and the left as only a political war and not a spiritual war.  The battle lines are becoming clearer.  With groups like Satanists on the side of the left and against Trump, it should be clear what side we should be on and pray for him.  Besides a political battle for the sovereignty of our nation, we are in a war for the spiritual life of the U.S.  Building a wall is one of the most practical, as well as Biblical, things we can do.

In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah:
"We have a strong city;
God will appoint salvation for walls and bulwarks.
Open the gates,
That the righteous nation which keeps the truth may enter in” (Isa. 26:1-2 NKJV).

I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem;
They shall never hold their peace day or night.
You who make mention of the Lord, do not keep silent,
And give Him no rest till He establishes
And till He makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth.
(Isa. 62:6-7 NKJV).

As the verse says, the toes—partly of iron and partly of clay—represented strength and weakness.  Some commentators over the centuries have said the iron and clay also represent differing ideologies.  I think this is a valid application.  It seems all governments have had at least two different ideologies or parties with various issues being grouped in each one.

We can clearly see this at work in our own country.  In spite of his efforts, George Washington feared party politics would develop in the U.S.; and it didn’t take long to manifest.  Before he even left office two parties had developed.  Back then they were called the Federalists and the Democrats.  The Federalists were led by Alexander Hamilton, and the Democrats were led by Thomas Jefferson.  The tension between these two top advisers to poor George no doubt caused him to grind his wooden teeth at night—one reason he never smiled.  Today, the Democrats of the 1700s, who favored individual and state rights, would be considered Republicans; and the Federalists, who wanted bigger government, would be called Democrats.

We can also see strengths and weaknesses in both parties as well as strength and weaknesses in having two parties.  We can trace some biblical principles to both parties.  We can also see having two parties provides a check and balance system.  In our iron and clay parties we can also see one party is clearly more biblical and the other more evil.  The Democratic party of the U.S. actually voted to remove God from its platform a few years ago; and the last Democratic president, Obama, openly criticized the Bible and Christians.  In the new Republican president, Trump, we can clearly see an agenda to favor the Bible and Christians.  

The pendulum swings back and forth.  While thinking of writing this blog, I heard an interview of Robert Redford speaking of the Sundance Film Festival say,

“The idea is that presidents come and go. The pendulum swings back and forth…so we don’t occupy ourselves with politics.”

I wondered how he knew what I was thinking of writing about.

Under Obama the pendulum could hardly swing any further left, and so now it has again begun to swing right.  This seems to me a type of check and balance system that God Himself has put into governments to keep them from going in one extreme for too long–although “long” is a relative time term in God’s usage.  Even communistic Russia, after being devastated by that ideology is now moving more toward the right.  Currently in most of Europe, the pendulum is beginning to swing right after being left and being left devastated in many ways I might add.  As I said, one side always seems to be more biblical than the other.   Jesus said concerning the judgment of nations that the goats would be on the left and the sheep on the right.

“When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory.  All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats.  And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left” (Matt. 25:31-33 NKJV).

The minions of the New World Order have chosen the goat ideology of the left.  We do not know how far or how long the pendulum will swing right.  This, however, we do know:  It will eventually swing back very far left into goat territory for three and one-half years.  It looked like the NWO was almost far enough left to implement their goals until God played and sounded His surprise Trump.

While Daniel’s vision of the statue has been applied to nations, it could be applied to individuals as well.  We all have some iron and clay in our feet that cause us to be unbalanced in all areas.  We have a war going in inside of us with the flesh against the Spirit,  

 for the flesh doth desire contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit contrary to the flesh, and these are opposed one to another, that the things that ye may will--these ye may not do (Gal. 5:17 YLT).

The only person who was ever perfectly balanced was Jesus Christ.  The more we become like Him, the more balanced and stronger we will be.  

Also James said speaking of two opposing views in Christians, the iron mixed with clay making his feet “unstable,”

But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.  For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;  he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways (James 1:6-8 NKJV).

The New Word Order planners don’t seem to understand that there can never be a permanent one-global nation while doing away with all the sovereign nations.  They just don’t get that iron does not mix with clay.  One reason they want to eliminate borders and throw the gates of all nations open to anyone is to destroy national sovereignty to create a giant one-world government.  We already see the results of this in Europe with immigrants from many Muslim nations going into European nations assaulting people and raping women and causing other crimes to spike.  It has thrown many nations into chaos.  The two differing ideologies are not blending well.  

Sweden is the most liberal nation in Europe and has taken in the most refugees.  Thousands of Swedish women have been raped by them.  I saw one article on rape in Sweden that predicted 1 out of every 4 women would be raped!  There are areas where migrants have settled that the police will not enter because they are so dangerous.  Sweden has done more than any other nation for these migrants by giving them homes, jobs, money and just about anything else they could want.  A reporter and film maker, Ami Horrowitz, went to Sweden to film some of the gangs and interview people.  He was beaten by a gang when he tried to film them.  When Horrowitz interviewed women there, he asked them if the migrants were to blame for all the crimes and rapes they commit.  These Swedish women—so brainwashed by liberalism—blamed it on their nation not helping them enough!  The NWO propaganda machine has done its job well in Sweden!  He interviewed police who said they were afraid to do much because they would be called “racists.”  We think political correctness is bad in America!  As hard as Sweden is trying, they just can’t seem to mix that iron with the clay.  However, they are in total denial about it.  I don’t need to say anything about Germany and France since their migrant problems have been in the news so much.

The statue Nebuchadnezzar saw in his dream represented empires.  The feet made of iron and clay represent an empire of the end times—apparently the NWO empire according to many end-time teachers, books, and commentaries.  Here is how Daniel interpreted the statue:

“This is the dream. Now we will tell the interpretation of it before the king.  You, O king, are a king of kings.  For the God of heaven has given you a kingdom, power, strength, and glory;  and wherever the children of men dwell, or the beasts of the field and the birds of the heaven, He has given them into your hand, and has made you ruler over them all--you are this head of gold.  But after you shall arise another kingdom inferior to yours; then another, a third kingdom of bronze, which shall rule over all the earth.  And the fourth kingdom shall be as strong as iron, inasmuch as iron breaks in pieces and shatters everything; and like iron that crushes, that kingdom will break in pieces and crush all the others.  Whereas you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter's clay and partly of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; yet the strength of the iron shall be in it, just as you saw the iron mixed with ceramic clay.  And as the toes of the feet were partly of iron and partly of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly fragile.  As you saw iron mixed with ceramic clay, they will mingle with the seed of men; but they will not adhere to one another, just as iron does not mix with clay.  And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.  Inasmuch as you saw that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold--the great God has made known to the king what will come to pass after this.  The dream is certain, and its interpretation is sure” (Dan. 2:36-45 NKJV).

I think this interpretation of the fourth kingdom could be applied to the U.S. today.  However, I believe with many others that its ultimate fulfillment will be in a one-world government.  I have read that they have already divided the world into ten regions to be ruled by ten “kings” (the ten toes).  

We know from the book of Revelation that this kingdom will only last for three and a half years.  So even though the servants of Satan have been working on this plan for decades if not centuries, it is doomed to failure from the beginning because of the mixture of iron and clay—even as Hitler claimed he would have a thousand-year Reich, but it lasted only 12 years.

The kingdom Jesus set up is the stone that will smash all of the other kingdoms in the end as Daniel says.  We see a biblical picture of this when David, representing the kingdom of God, throws the stone and knocks down the giant Goliath.  The ideology that Jesus taught will ultimately prevail—particularly during that three-and-a-half-year reign of the anti-christ.  The kingdom of Jesus will last a thousand years and beyond to eternity.  The contrasts between the two kingdoms will be so clear at that point–as well as the conclusions that each lead to–many will give up on the beast ideology and embrace Christianity.  So many of the Christians will be walking in such supernatural power that they will be a great witness and help to undermine the kingdom of darkness.  Ultimately light will overcome darkness, love will overcome hate, and Jesus will stop the devil.  If the NWO proponents would only read Revelation, they would know everything they have worked for will last only three and a half years before getting terribly beaten, humiliated, and condemned for eternity in the lake of fire.  Somehow they thought they could mix iron with clay.

In one of the greatest bits of irony and tyrannical duplicity in the last eight years, Obama—of all people—signed into law the new “Ministry of Truth!”  While everyone was busy preparing for the holidays on Friday night, the serial liar quietly signed the NDAA 2017, the Disinformation and Propaganda Act, or as others call it the “Ministry of Truth.”  It was buried deep inside a defense bill.

He did this right on the heels of Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s press conference on his “Cold Case Posse” conclusion of the several-year investigation of Obama’s so-called birth certificate.  Sheriff Joe’s chief investigator explained that he gave copies of the birth certificate to two independent professional companies in Hawaii and Italy.  They each came to the same conclusion without contact with each other—that it was a forgery.  They came up with nine points of forgery on the certificate.  They even found the birth certificate from which they copied and pasted information.  Obama and this administration are the king and minions of “fake news.”  You can see the video proving forgery on link #1 below.  

Why would Obama and his backers spend millions of dollars on lawyers to hide all of his past?  His birth certificate and country of birth is just one reason.  Another reason is that Obama is a homosexual; and the muscular, 5-ft.-11 Michelle is a man.  Some things sex hormones can’t change, such as an adam’s apple.  This is one of the greatest deceptions on the people of the U.S. since its founding.  To see a video showing scientific proof that Michelle is a man see link #2.

Another major “fake news” story is that Obama is a Christian.  See links #3 and 4 to see Obama himself saying he is a Muslim and mocking the Bible, which he claims is “outdated.”  Christians do not mock the Bible or say it is outdated.

Yes, the man who signed into law an act against so-called “fake news” is himself the greatest fraud and fake news story in eight years and maybe even since the founding of the U.S.  The mainstream media, who knew about these things and covered them up, is just as much a ministry of disinformation and propaganda as Nazi Germany’s Joseph Goebbels was in Hitler’s time.  However, even though all of this is “fake news” on an enormous scale, it is not what I am talking about when I speak of “the real fake news.”

The “real fake news” has to do with the real Truth.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6 NKJV).

To begin with, truth is not first a concept, but rather it is first a person—Jesus Christ.  Anything that goes against Him, His Word, His kingdom, and His character is a lie.  That makes about 90% of everything coming out of the T.V. and internet “fake news.”  Plenty of T.V. Christian shows and Christian web sites promote “fake news” through their fake teachings.  Many of them are promoting themselves and their ministries instead of exalting the Lord Jesus.  How many “great” ministers call their ministries and the land it is on after their own names?

Their inner thought is that their houses will last forever, their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands after their own names (Ps. 49:11 NKJV).

By naming the ministries after themselves, they are promoting their own kingdoms and not the kingdom of God—fake good news.  This is not to say every ministry named after oneself is false. However, many do it to exalt themselves.  They may even be preaching a lot of truth, but the underlying motive is to gain fame and wealth for themselves instead of glorifying the Lord Jesus.  Many Christians cannot tell the difference, so they aid and abet these people building their own kingdoms in their own names.  We need to use the Word of God to discern who we listen to,

For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.  And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account (Heb. 4:12-13 NKJV).

Someone can even preach from the Word of God and it still be fake good news because it is devoid of the Spirit.  Paul said,

Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life (2 Cor. 3:5-6 NKJV).

The very Word of God can bring death if it is not anointed with the Holy Spirit.  God has linked the character of the messenger with the message.  A bad messenger brings fake news, but a good messenger brings good news.  This was well understood in Old Testament times.

And while he was still speaking, Jonathan son of Abiathar the priest arrived. “Come in,” Adonijah said to him, “for you are a good man.  You must have good news” (1 Kings 1:42 NLT).

Paul said of his disciples,

You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men; clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart (2 Cor. 3:2-3 NKJV).

The Bible also says that a curse enters into the house of everyone who swears falsely,

Then I turned and raised my eyes, and saw there a flying scroll.  And he said to me, “What do you see?” So I answered, “I see a flying scroll. Its length is twenty cubits and its width ten cubits.” Then he said to me, “This is the curse that goes out over the face of the whole earth: ‘Every thief shall be expelled,’ according to this side of the scroll; and, ‘Every perjurer shall be expelled,’ according to that side of it. I will send out the curse,” says the Lord of hosts; “It shall enter the house of the thief and the house of the one who swears falsely by My name. It shall remain in the midst of his house and consume it, with its timber and stones” (Zech. 5:1-4 NKJV).

The Bible says all liars will go to hell,

“But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death” (Rev. 21:8 NKJV).

Many, especially in the media and politics but also in the church, take fake news and lying much too lightly.  Nevertheless, God is purifying a people.  In the end God is going to have at least 144,000 messengers who do not lie.

Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father's name written on their foreheads. . . .  And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne of God (Rev. 14:1, 5 NKJV).

Only those whose words have been purified are even invited to the marriage feast of the Lamb.  It is said about them that they are the true words of God.  

“And he saith to me, ‘Write: Happy are they who to the supper of the marriage of the Lamb have been called;' and he saith to me, ‘These are the true words of God’” (Rev. 19:9 YLT).

The Greek word for “words” here is logoi from logos.  I realize most take this to mean that the words of verse 19 are the “true words of God.”  However, if that was meaning, it would imply the rest of the book was not.  Jesus was the Logos of God; those who get sanctified become the logoi of God even as He was the firstborn of many brethren.  

This has been a little study on how important it is to speak the truth even as the world speaks lies more and more eagerly.  Possibly the greatest fake news story ever was the following:

Now while they were going, behold, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all the things that had happened.  When they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, saying, “Tell them, ‘His disciples came at night and stole Him away while we slept.’  And if this comes to the governor's ears, we will appease him and make you secure.”  So they took the money and did as they were instructed; and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day (Matt. 28:11-15 NKJV).

The Jewish leaders payed the soldiers to lie about the resurrection.  Many still believe the fake news of the devil and don’t believe Jesus really was the Son of God or resurrected from the dead.  Just as those Sadducees and Pharisees thought they could get away with fake news and lies, so many today think they will never be judged for their lies.  That in itself is “fake news.”


Link #1 Videos on Sheriff Joe’s investigation
http://www.wnd.com/2016/12/fake-obama-birth-certificate-was-inside-job/

Link #2 Michelle is a man
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvuulZPbfBg

Link #3 Obama mocks the Bible
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pq4Qq3NuXtk

Link #4 Obama admits he is a Muslim
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBJihJBePcs

Link #5 Obama says he is not an American
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEXf9lJ9yts

Link #6 Michelle says Kenya is Obama’s home country
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBJihJBePcs

Praise the Lord, the evil witch Hillary did not become our president.  Instead a revolution of sorts has taken place in America just as many of us thought God had given up on this nation.  His mercies are new every morning!  Under Obama the globalist were in charge of the U.S., and he was their puppet implementing their agenda—which was in a nutshell to destroy this nation, economically, socially, culturally, morally and just about every other way.  Persecution of Christians would have greatly increased under Jezebel Hillary.  I thank God He has spared us again.

Now that there has been a revolution in politics and Christians have a little more room to breathe here for a while, it is time to use this opportunity to start a revolution in the church!  After all, it is because of lukewarmness in the church that Obama became president and Hillary almost did.  By God’s grace He has given us another chance.  We must use it to clean up the church as Trump drains the swamp in government.

As we have had money- and power-hungry politicians and globalists using the American people to further their own agenda, we have many money- and power-hungry leaders in the church using the sheep for their own benefit.  Will that swamp ever get drained?  Someday.  Unfortunately, most sheep cannot even discern the motives of their leaders.  But besides hirelings the church has too many other problems to even begin to list.  We don’t have to; we just need to concentrate on the two most important things.  

Jesus said the two greatest things were to love God with all your heart and love your brother as yourself.  It is time for the church to turn back to its First Love and for Christians to grow to maturity instead of constantly needing to be spoon-fed by pastors.  If we would just do these two greatest things, everything else would work out.  No church doctrine is right without putting those things first.  The church of Brotherly Love (Philadelphia) was promised they would escape the tribulation.  Have we become a church of brotherly love?  

Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth (Rev. 3:10 NKJV).
        
In most of the churches I have attended I have seen little perseverance in brotherly love.  Most Christians get offended at the least little things.  I have also seen many cases where needy people, who could not even pay their rent, not being helped by their other “brothers” and “sisters.”

If we really loved Jesus, we would keep watch for His coming.  Usually “keeping watch” is used as a metaphor in Scriptures and actually means to prepare ourselves for the Bridegroom.  I have often heard preachers say there is nothing we have to do since Christ paid it all.  Those people will be like the foolish virgins, who didn’t have enough oil.  Evidently He didn’t purchase enough oil for them because they were told to go out and buy more!

“And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’  But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’  And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut” (Matt. 25:8-10 NKJV).

They got left behind in the rapture because they didn’t buy enough oil for themselves!  Jesus ends this parable by saying,

Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming (Matt. 25:13 NKJV).

In this parable keeping watch means having enough oil in your lamp.  Oil is a type of spirit;  therefore, there is something that we have to do to make sure we have “bought” enough oil.  Jesus didn’t buy it all; we have to “buy” some of it!

He also says,

“Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready” (Rev. 19:7 NKJV).

Here it says that the bride “made herself ready.”  Obviously, Jesus didn’t do it all for the bride—there is something the bride has to do.  

James says to “purify yourselves,”

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded (James 4:8 NKJV).

Jesus didn’t totally purify our hearts or James would not have said “purify your hearts.”  
Paul said to “examine yourselves,” “test yourselves,” and “know yoursleves” to make sure you are not disqualified.

Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?--unless indeed you are disqualified.  But I trust that you will know that we are not disqualified (2 Cor. 13:5-6 NKJV).

All these things are “keeping watch” for the Bridegroom, to show Him you love Him.

Paul also said,

But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth (Col. 3:8 NKJV).

We could go on and on with things the bride herself needs to do to get ready and show her love for the Groom, yet I have so often heard from preachers that Jesus did it all and paid it all for us.

Yes, He paid it all for our initial salvation, but there is much left for us to do to prove our love to Him.  Just because you are saved does not qualify you to go in the rapture or to be his “bride.”  He has already proven His love towards us.

We need a revolution in our love for the Lord.  We all love what God can do for us, but do we really love Him?  Most men would not marry a woman who was in love with all he could do for her but not in love with him.  I find it interesting that so many lukewarm Christians think they are going to be raptured out of the world before the Great Tribulation while the Scriptures themselves tell us we need to make ourselves ready for that time when He comes as a thief in the night.  He is coming ONLY for a bride that is in love with Him.  This is why Jesus admonished his disciples to be ready when He returns FROM THE WEDDING—because He knew most would miss it!

“Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning; and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, when he will return from the wedding, that when he comes and knocks they may open to him immediately” (Luke 12:35-36 NKJV).

“Therefore be zealous and repent.  Behold, I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.  To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.  He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches” (Rev. 3:19-22 NKJV).

Notice here that In Luke 12 He is telling the disciples who missed the wedding to be ready when He comes back and knocks.  Then to the lukewarm Laodicean Church He says He is knocking.  The Laodicean Church obviously missed the wedding!  

Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.  Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place–unless you repent (Rev. 2:4-5 NKJV).

The Nephilim-Part Two

In part one of this series, I presented some definitions of Hebrew words found in Gen. 6:1-4 and what the Encyclopedia Judaica had so say on the Nephilim.  I concluded by presenting the controversy that it is not even certain that the “sons of God” in the passage are the same as the Nephilim as many so confidently assert.  I also provided a biblical definition of the phrase “sons of God,” found in Rom. 8:14, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God” (NKJV).  Also, it seems the Bible provides a definition of the word “Nephilim” in Num. 13:33,

“There also we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak are part of the Nephilim); and we became like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.”  

Here, the Nephilim are clearly being related to giants and also related to the sons of Anak, who was a human.  We are told in Josh. 21:11 that Arba was the father of Anak and that he was a man in Jos. 14:15, “And the name of Hebron formerly was Kirjath Arba (Arba was the greatest man among the Anakim) (Josh 14:15 NKJV).  The Heb. word for “man” in this passage is adam.

I will start this article by presenting what the Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible and The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia have to say on this and end with what the book of Enoch and the book of Jasher have to say about them.

    “NEPHILIM.   The word occurs in the Heb. Bible only in Genesis 6:4 and Numbers 13:33, tr. In KJV as “giants,” as found in the LXX.  The modern revision have transliterated the Heb. Word.  Etymological derivation of the word from the naphal root does not lead to satisfactory solutions.  
        There are hints in the OT that great physical stature is implied in the word “nephilim.”  Numbers 13:32 says the Nephilim were of the “great stature,” and connects their descent with the Anakim.  Deuteronomy 2:21 compares yet another pre-Israelite people, the Rephaim, with the Anakim in physical stature.
        “The idea that the Nephilim sprang from cohabitation of angels and mortal does not fit other Biblical indications.  Angels do not have sexual functions (Luke 20:34, 35).  This interpretation is possible only if one puts the Scripture on a level with Gr. Mythology were anthropomorphic polytheism makes possible unions between gods and men.
        “. . . The Nephilim may be regarded as wither contemporary with the marriages of Genesis 6:4, or the product of the marriages. . . .” [Bold mine.]   (Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible, Vol. 4, p. 406.)    

This Bible encyclopedia brings out the controversy of the Nephilim being the same as the “sons of God” or just contemporary with them, as also does the ISBE,

        “NEPHILIM [Heb. n’pilim (Gen. 6:4; Nu. 13:330)], AV GIANTS.  The etymology of n’pilim is uncertain.  The following explanations have been advanced with mixed reception.  First, it may derive from the niphal of the verb pala, meaning “be extraordinary,” i.e., “extraordinary men.”  Second, it may derive from the verb napal, “fall,” in one of the following senses: (1) the “fallen ones” – from heaven, i.e., supernatural beings; (2) morally “fallen men”; (3) “those who fall upon,” in the sense of invaders or hostile, violent men; (4) “those who fell by” the sword (cf. Ezk. 32:20f.); (5) “unnaturally begotten men”; or bastards (cf.nepel, “abortion” or “miscarriage”).  None of these satisfies all scholars, and some consider n’pilim an unexplainable relic from an ancient, now-forgotten language.  Contextual information is unfortunately limited to two enigmatic passages.”
        “. . . Genesis 6:1-4, while meaningful to the original recipients, has become obscure with the passing of time.  It is impossible to be certain whether the Nephilim were the same as the “mighty men” (gibborim) at the end of v. 4 or a separate group that overlapped chronologically.” [Bold mine.] (International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Vol.3, pp.518-519.)

It seems to me a no-brainer that the Bible would not mention the Nephilim in the same passage with the “sons of God” marrying the daughters of men just because they were contemporaneous with them.  There must be some connection even if they are not the same.

Next are some excerpts from fragments of the book of Enoch in the Dead Sea Scrolls (14:25-15:12) about the fallen angels cohabiting with the daughters of men.  In this vision Enoch was called up to the throne of God and the Lord began to speak to him,

         “And the Lord called me with his own mouth and said to me, ‘Come near to me, Enoch, and to my holy Word.’  And he lifted me up and brought me near to the gate, but I (continued) to look down with my face.  
        15  But he raised me up and said to me with his voice, ‘Enoch.’  I (then) heard, ‘Do not fear, Enoch, righteous man, scribe of righteousness; come near to me and hear my voice.  
    And tell the Watchers of heaven on whose behalf you have been sent to intercede: “Is it meet (for you) that you intercede on behalf of man, and not man on your behalf.  For what reason have you abandoned the high, holy, and eternal heaven; and slept with women and defiled yourselves with the daughters of the people, taking wives, acting like the children of the earth, and begetting giant sons?  Surely you, you [used to be] holy, spiritual, the living ones, [possessing] eternal life, but (now) you have defiled yourselves with women, and with the blood of the flesh of begotten children, you have lusted with the blood of the people, like them producing blood and flesh, (which) die and perish.  On that account, I have given you wives in order that (seeds) might be sown upon them and children born by them, so that the deeds that are done upon the earth will not be withheld from you.”  Indeed you formerly you were spiritual, (having) eternal life, and immortal in all the generations of the world.  That is why (formerly) I did not make wives for you, for the dwelling of the spiritual beings of heaven is heaven.’
        “But now the giants who are born from the (union of) the spirits and the flesh shall be called evil spirits upon the earth, because their dwelling shall be upon the earth and inside the earth.  Evil spirits have come out of their bodies.  Because from the day that they were created from the holy ones they became the Watchers; their first origin is the spiritual foundation.  They will become evil upon the earth and shall be called evil spirits.  The dwelling of the spiritual beings of heaven is heaven, but the dwelling of the spirits of the earth, which are born upon the earth, is in the earth.  The spirits of the giants oppress each other, they will corrupt, fall, be excited, and fall upon the earth, and cause sorrow.  They eat no food, nor become thirsty, nor find obstacles.  And these spirits shall rise up against the children of the people and against the women, because they have proceeded from (from them).”  (From: The Old Testament Pseudepigrapha, edited by James H. Charlesworth, Doubleday, New York, 1983, Vol. 1, pp. 21-22.)

    The book of Jude, when he actually says he was quoting from the book of Enoch, was speaking of evil men and false brothers who go to church—although he had previously mentioned angels who did not keep their “proper domain,”

But I want to remind you, though you once knew this, that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe.  And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day; as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in a similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.  Likewise also these dreamers defile the flesh, reject authority, and speak evil of dignitaries.  Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!”  But these speak evil of whatever they do not know; and whatever they know naturally, like brute beasts, in these things they corrupt themselves.  Woe to them!  For they have gone in the way of Cain, have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit, and perished in the rebellion of Korah.  These are spots in your love feasts, while they feast with you without fear, serving only themselves. They are clouds without water, carried about by the winds; late autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, pulled up by the roots; raging waves of the sea, foaming up their own shame; wandering stars for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.  Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints, to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him” (Jude 1:5-15 NKJV).

    The book of Jasher (which the Bible mentions twice) has much to say about Enoch.  It says he became a righteous king upon the earth before the flood and reigned for over 200 years.  We really have no way of knowing if any of the so-called book of Enoch today was actually written by him.  Professor Charlesworth, says the book of Enoch is a composite written by many people over many years.  He gives as a date for the section I quoted as the early pre-Maccabean period, which is from 333-175 B.C.  I will now quote what the book of Jasher has to say about the “sons of God” marrying the daughters of men, which maybe the oldest source we have.  

        And the child grew up and was weaned, and he went in the ways of his father Methuselah, perfect and upright with God.  And all the sons of men departed from the ways of the Lord in those days as they multiplied upon the face of the earth with the sons and daughters, and they taught one another their evil practices, and they continued sinning against the Lord.  And every man made unto himself a god, and they corrupted the earth, and the earth was filled with violence.  And their judges and rulers went to the daughters of men and took their wives by force from their husbands according to their choice, and the sons of men took from the cattle of th earth, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air, and taught the mixture of animals of one species with the other in order therewith to provoke the Lord; and God saw the whole earth and it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted its ways upon earth, and all men and all animals.  And the Lord said, I will blot out man that I created from the face of the earth, yea from man to the birds of the air, together with the cattle and beasts that are in the field, for I repent that I made them.  (The Book of Jasher, translated by Albinus Alcuin [800 A.D.], Pub. 2000 in English, The Book Tree, Escondido, CA.)

Here, those who the Bible calls the “sons of God” are called “rulers and judges.”  They were the rulers and judges of the time who became corrupt and began to take other men’s wives as they chose and began to treat the people violently.  It is also interesting that it mentions that they began to crossbreed different kinds of animals.  

The word for “God” in the phrase in Gen. 6 for “sons of God” is Elohim.  This word is at times used to refer to false gods, and it is also used for human judges and rulers such as in the following  Psalm where Asaph is comparing the faulty judging of men with the just judging of God.

A Psalm of Asaph.
God stands in the congregation of the mighty;
He judges among the gods.
How long will you judge unjustly,
And show partiality to the wicked?
Selah
Defend the poor and fatherless;
Do justice to the afflicted and needy.
Deliver the poor and needy;
Free them from the hand of the wicked.
They do not know, nor do they understand;
They walk about in darkness;
All the foundations of the earth are unstable.
I said, "You are gods,
And all of you are children of the Most High.
But you shall die like men,
And fall like one of the princes."
Arise, O God, judge the earth;
For You shall inherit all nations
(Ps. 82:1-8 NKJV).

Notice he calls these human judges “gods,” or elohim in the Hebrew, just as the book of Jasher, instead of calling the them “sons of god,” called them “rulers and judges.”  Jesus, of course, quoted this verse in referring to God calling men “gods.”

Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your law, ‘I said, “You are gods” ‘?  If He called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken), do you say of Him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’?”  (John 10:34-36 NKJV).

Another place a judge is called an elohim is in 2 Samuel when Saul went to a medium, and she brought up the judge Samuel,

Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up unto thee? And he said, Bring me up Samuel.  And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice: and the woman spake to Saul, saying, Why hast thou deceived me?  for thou art Saul. And the king said unto her, Be not afraid: for what sawest thou?  And the woman said unto Saul, I saw gods ascending out of the earth.  And he said unto her, What form is he of?  And she said,  An old man cometh up; and he is covered with a mantle.  And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he stooped with his face to the ground, and bowed himself (1 Sam. 28:11-14 KJV).  

The word “gods” here is always in the plural, even when referring to the One True God and referring to only one God or man.

So we have established that the word “gods” can refer to mere men who were judges and rulers, giving more credence to what the ancient book of Jasher says about these “gods” marrying the daughters of men.

We still have a long way to go, however, to find out–if they were mere men–why they produced giants.  We will keep on researching and seeking the Holy Spirit on these things in upcoming blogs.  I am a firm believer in not just researching alone, but also seeking the Holy Spirit on any Scriptural matter.  If I don’t get any revelation from the Spirit on these things, I will never know for sure.  But the Bible tells us the Holy Spirit will lead us into all truth concerning biblical doctrine.
    
 

I will bring to a conclusion my findings on the Nephilim in this blog.  I said in Part One of this series that I also wanted to examine what governments are reportedly doing with DNA of Nephilim.  I have not done that research yet and don’t know when I will get to it since I now have more pressing subjects on my heart that I want to write about.  However, there is no doubt that governments are experimenting with human and animal DNA.  

I recently heard a teaching on the Nephilim by a popular teacher.  He was teaching the usual thing about the “sons of God” being angels marrying human women and having children by them.  To support that position he stated that the Hebrew word for perfect in the phrase “Noah was perfect in his generation” referred to him and his family not being tainted by the DNA of fallen angels.  He also stated that the Greek word in the passage in Jude referring to the fallen angels as leaving their first place meant that they took on human form and mated with women.  However, like most he made no attempt to deal with the Scriptures that contradict this position.  I will begin by looking at these Hebrew and Greek words.

The Hebrew word for “perfect” used in the passage in Gen. 6:9 is tamiym, “This is the genealogy of Noah. Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations.  Noah walked with God.”  It is used about 40 of its 91 times to refer to sacrificial animals “without blemish” in a physical sense.  The above mentioned teacher said it was only used in a physical sense.  However, it is also translated several other words in a moral sense such as in Ps. 119:1, Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord! (NKJV).  This is not referring to untainted DNA, but to moral righteousness.  It is often translated as “upright” such as in Ps. 15:2, He who walks uprightly, and works righteousness, and speaks the truth in his heart (NKJV).  It is also translated several times as “perfect” in the sense of righteousness, "You shall be blameless before the Lord your God" (Deut 18:13 NKJV).  In fact, it is translated upright or blameless in a moral sense a couple dozen times.  While I like some of this man’s teachings, he is misleading in stating it only refers to physical perfection—must less meaning untainted by fallen angel’s DNA!

The Greek words in question which he said and others teach mean angels taking on the form of human flesh so they can impregnate women is found in Jude 6, And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day (NKJV).  The English words are “domain” and “abode.”  The word for domain is arche and can mean “rule,” “origin,” or “beginning”
and is most likely referring to the fact that the fallen angels left their high position they had in the beginning as angels of God.  The word for “abode” is oiketerion and means “a dwelling place” or “habitation” and is referring to the fact they left their heavenly dwelling place because of their sin.  To hyper-extend this verse to mean they became humans to co-habitat with women is quite a stretch besides contradicting several verses I have already mentioned in Parts One and Two such as the following:

Jesus Himself said angels do not marry (Luke 12:34-36).

Paul gave the definition of “sons of God” as those who are led by the Spirit (Rom. 8:14).

The writer of Hebrews said God never called an angel a “son.” (Heb. 1:5).
 
Hebrews said angels are “spirits” not flesh (Heb. 1:14).

Besides these Greek words, some teachers erroneously misinterpret verses 6 and 7 in Jude.

6 And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day; 7 as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in a similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire (NKJV).

Verse 7 says “as Sodom and Gomorrah . . . in a similar manner to these having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh.”  These teachers have broken basic grammatical rules by interpreting “these” to mean that the angels also went after strange flesh as Sodom and Gomorrah.  They can only do this by ignoring the basic rule of antecedents.  According to this rule, a pronoun refers back to the last noun it is replacing.  In other words, when verse 7 says “in a similar manner to these,” “these” refers not to angels, but rather to “the cities” around Sodom and Gomorrah that did similar sins in going after strange flesh.  Besides being a basic grammatical rule, it is also common sense for the pronoun to refer back to the last noun it is replacing; or else no one would ever know which antecedent is being substituted by a pronoun.

The “as” at the beginning of verse 7 is referring to the similar judgment that came on Sodom and Gomorrah (not the same type of sins) as that of the angels being reserved for everlasting fire.  For this is the main topic in this passage.  Jude is listing three examples of groups that came under judgment and condemnation for their sins.  

Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.  For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ (Jude 1:3-4 NKJV).

First, he lists the Israelites who rebelled in the desert; second, the angels who rebelled; and third; Sodom and Gomorrah with their sexual sins.  His point is that all three groups came under judgment, not that all three groups had the same sins.  That is why he ended his list by saying these groups “are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.”

I have found in researching this controversial subject that those who uphold that angels had sex with women, have violated several of the most rudimentary rules for interpreting Scripture.  Some of these include mis-translating the Hebrew or Greek words; throwing out basic rules of grammar; exalting extra-biblical works above the Bible; not examining passages in their context; ignoring what the Living Word, Jesus Himself, said; not even bothering to find biblical definitions of controversial words or phrases; not seeking to allow the Bible to interpret itself; and other things.  Some of the people teaching on this subject should not even be Bible teachers.

When it comes to the ancient sources I have already cited, it comes down to which one you want to believe: the book of Jasher, which the Bible mentions twice; or the book of Enoch, from which Jude quoted when speaking of the judgment of the wicked.  I have already shown that Professor Charlesworth, an expert on the pseudepigraphia writings, said the book of Enoch has been written by many authors over centuries.  Today we have no way of knowing what the original book of Enoch said.  The same could be said of the book of Jasher.  Now we have two ancient books that the Bible mentions that contradict each other.  I choose to go with the book of Jasher since its comments on the “sons of God marrying the daughters of men” do not contradict other Scriptures like the book of Enoch does.

I will now address the issue of these marriages between the “sons of God marrying the daughters of men” producing giants.  First, let me say that to just look at this passage in a physical sense is to totally miss the point of why it is in the Scriptures.  A good Bible expositor will show how the Old Testament types relate to our spiritual lives as Christians like the writers of the New Testament did.

It is no surprise to me that ancient rulers and judges (as the book of Jasher calls them) marrying daughters of men produced giants.  For in ancient times rulers were often big or tall people already.  We can see this in Scripture itself.  When Israel wanted a king, God gave them what they wanted: Saul, who was a head taller than anyone else.  Naturally big people can produce even bigger people.  All my life at many jobs and workplaces I have seen tall and big men advance quickly into leadership positions while the average person had to work harder to go up the ladder.  If you were unfortunate enough to be shorter that average, you really had to work hard to advance.  Thus the phrase was coined, “The Napoleon Complex.”  We have seen how many almost worship tall people such as NBA players.  It is a common fact that many tall people (giants) get in leadership positions–for everyone else already has to look up to them!

The fact that the marriages between the sons of God and daughters of men produced giants is quite natural.  When the originally righteous rulers, “sons of God,” lessened their morals and began to marry ungodly daughters of men because of beauty instead of character, sin became more prevalent.  Along with it came sickness that could cause even bigger people and mutations. Thus, we are told Goliath’s brother had six toes and fingers.  A genetic mutation does not equal mixing the race of humans with angels.

However, all this misses the spiritual lesson as I said.  Bigger people means they had more FLESH!  In the New Testament “flesh” usually represents carnality and sin.  When our “son of God” (spirit) co-mingles with a daughter of man (soul), it produces giants of flesh and trouble in our lives.  This is the lesson we are to take from the passage in Gen. 6.  

We have a great lesson of this later in the book of Genesis as the Bible interprets itself.  Abraham was a son of God who co-habituated with a daughter of man–Hagar, an Egyptian.  What did that produce?  Ishmael, who became a problem for Abraham’s household.  The Muslim nations even today have become a giant of a problem with Islam waging war against Christians and others.  As Paul said,

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.  For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.  Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.  So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.  But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you (Rom. 8:5-9 NKJV).

and futher,

Therefore, brethren, we are debtors--not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.  For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.  For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God (Rom.8:12-14 NKJV).

Did you catch that last phrase, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God,” not fallen angels.  After the righteous ruler Enoch died in the Old Testament (Jasher says he ruled the earth for 140 years), the righteous sons of God began marrying carnal women; and their children became increasingly evil.  Some of the rulers became evil giants of flesh and corrupted those under their rule.  God had to destroy the world with the flood to rid it of the evil,  but then it began to happen again (no surprise there).  Finally God raised up the nation of Israel to destroy the giants of flesh.  These types, we are told, were all examples for us today.

Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted.  And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.” Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell; nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer.  Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall (1 Cor. 10:6-12 NKJV).

Notice at the end of this passage, Paul says, “to him who thinks he stands to take heed lest he fall.”  Remember the probable meaning of the word Nephilim is “fallen ones.”  Rather than being concerned about the Nephilim in the end-times, we need to be wary of our own flesh!


                       

One of the primary aims for my blog is to present controversial biblical teachings and try to shed some light on them.  In this study I want to present both sides of the age old question, “Who were the Nephilim?”  Wikipedia presents only some of the controversy,

The nature of the nephilim is complicated by the ambiguity of Genesis 6:4, which leaves it unclear whether they are the "sons of God" or their offspring who are the “mighty men of old, men of renown”.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nephilim

The greater controversy is:  “Are the Nephilim fallen angelic beings who cohabited with the “daughters of men,” or are they mighty men who lived at the same time as the Nephilim?”  

We will examine the text of Gen. 6 going into the Hebrew from several top Hebrew lexicons and examine the ancient original sources of both sides of the controversy and see what this doctrine has evolved into in modern times and what is said in modern commentaries about it.

I will present the material from both sides so that you can make your own decision about which side is right.  I will also admit to you up front that I have not yet come to a conclusion on the matter.  I keep on hearing about the Nephilim and even that various governments are using ancient DNA of the Nephilim and mixing it with human DNA to create disposable super soldiers, so I decided to do my own study on it and share it with the readers of my blog.  Hopefully, we will both learn something in the process.  I will begin by presenting the passage and the pertinent Hebrew words and what one authoritative source has to say on it, the Encyclopedia Judaica.

Here is the passage:

Gen. 6:1 Now it came about, when men began to multiply on the face of the land, and daughters were born to them,
Gen. 6:2  that the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves, whomever they chose.
Gen. 6:3  Then the LORD said, "My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, because he also is flesh; nevertheless his days shall be one hundred and twenty years."
Gen. 6:4  The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men, and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown.
Gen. 6:5  Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
Gen. 6:6  The LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart (NASB).

Num. 13:33 is the only other place where the word “Nephilim” is found,

“There also we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak are part of the Nephilim); and we became like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.” (NASB)

Some Bible versions simply translate the word “Nephilim” as giants although the etymology of the word is itself uncertain.  According to one of the most authoritative Hebrew lexicons, Theological Dictionary of the Old Testament, the word is derived from naphal, which means “to fall.”  Thus Nephilim has the idea of “fallen ones” and does not in itself mean “giants” if they are right.  Nevertheless, the above verse seems to show the Israelites used the word to refer to giants.  TDOT says about the Nephilim,

     “The Nephilim (Gen. 6:4; Nu. 13:33) should be interpreted analogously.  The noun seems to embody the notion, so characteristic of ancient Israel, that something gigantic, something exalted, must necessarily fall” Vol. IX, p. 497.

We will look at other possibilities of the meaning of this word from other Hebrew lexicons and commentaries in future blogs.

TDOT’s definition brings up this question:  From what have they fallen?  Many believe they are the fallen angels who followed Lucifer and were cast down from heaven.  Or are they once righteous “sons of God” who have fallen morally by marrying women based on beauty rather than moral character?  Those who believe they are fallen angels often use Jude (quoting from the book of Enoch) in defense of their belief,

And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day (Jude 1:6 NKJV).

The phrase “did not keep their proper domain” is interpreted by the book of Enoch and others as marrying humans.  We will look at what the book of Enoch has to say in another article.  The detractors from this theory see other verses in the New Testament that go against this such as Hebrews 1:5-6:

For to which of the angels did He ever say:  “You are My Son, Today I have begotten You”?  And again: “I will be to Him a Father, And He shall be to Me a Son”?  But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says:  “Let all the angels of God worship Him” (Heb. 1:5-6 NKJV).

Although verse five is a rhetorical question, it seems to be saying that God never called an angel a “son.”

Those who believe this also quote Jesus himself,

“The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage.  But those who are counted worthy to attain that age, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage; nor can they die anymore, for they are equal to the angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection (Luke 20:34-36 NKJV).

This passage seems to be implying that the angels do not or cannot marry.  Jesus is also making a distinction between the sons of God and angels here.  Furthermore, Paul gives us a definition of “sons of God” in Romans,

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God (Rom. 8:14 NKJV).  

The biblical definition of “sons of God” is “Those led by the Spirit of God.”  This is certainly not the definition of a fallen angel.  When trying to figure out the truth of a biblical teaching, many fail to search for a definition in the Bible itself.  The importance of trying to find a biblical definition of a word or phrase cannot be over emphasized.  It should be one of the first things we do when testing a doctrine.  In all of the commentaries and articles I have read on the Nephilim being the “sons of God,” I have never seen any of them offer the biblical definition of “sons of God.”

These are some of the Scriptures that have kept me from swallowing whole the doctrine of the fallen angels marrying daughters of men without chewing on it.  However, I do find some of the arguments from that camp compelling; and like I said, I have not yet come to a conclusion on it.  I have no doubt that giants lived on the earth before and after the flood.  I am just not convinced they were offspring of fallen angels, but I’m still searching for the truth on the issue.  The Bible presents no evidence that Goliath was the offspring of a fallen angel and woman, but it does say his brother had six fingers and toes–a clear sign of genetic mutation that happens in mere humans.

Let’s read the passage again,

Gen. 6:1  Now it came about, when men began to multiply on the face of the land, and daughters were born to them,
Gen. 6:2  that the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves, whomever they chose.
Gen. 6:3  Then the LORD said, "My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, because he also is flesh; nevertheless his days shall be one hundred and twenty years."
Gen. 6:4  The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men, and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown.

Verse 4 can and has been interpreted as the Nephilim being different than the “sons of God.”  While many take the Nephilim as being the same as the “sons of God,” others see this passage as saying that they lived on the earth at the same time that the sons of God lived on the earth, before and after the flood.  So here is another controversy:  Are the Nephilim the same as the “sons of God?”   

The Hebrew word for “mighty men” is the word gibbor.  According to the Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament, this word means,

    “Mighty, strong, valiant, mighty man. (RSV often translates “warrior.”) The heroes or champions among the armed forces.”

It is in fact derived from one of the Hebrew words for “man,” geber.  TWOT says about this word,

    “As distinct from such more general words for man as adam, ish, enosh, etc., this word specifically relates to a male at the height of his powers.  As such it depicts humanity at its most competent and capable level.”

Let us also not miss that fact that the text tells us these gibborim or “mighty men” are called “men of renown” opposed to “angels of renown” or even “Nephilim of renown.” The Hebrew word for men in this phrase is ish–a very common word for “man” in the Hebrew and never used of an angel.  The Hebrew word for “renown” here is shem, “name.”

Now from the Encyclopedia Judaica,

    “NEPHILIM, a race of giants said to have dwelt in pre-Israelite Canaan (Num. 13:33).  Genesis 6:1-2 relates that the ‘sons of gods,’ i.e., divine or angelic beings, took mortal wives; verse 4 continues, ‘it was then and later too, that the Nephilim appeared [lit. were] on the earth–when the divine beings cohabited with the daughters of men, who bore them offspring.  They were the heroes [Heb. gibborim] of old, the men of renown.’  This could mean that the Nephilim were contemporaneous, but not identical with the offspring of divine beings and earthly women, who were called gibborim.  The above translation, however, follows an ancient tradition in equating the Nephilim and the gibborim as offspring of the union of angels and mortal.”

    It would appear that this was the general interpretation of the Nephilim and sons of God by the Jews.  However, as the article goes on to explain, this was not the only interpretation of the Jews.

    “. . . As this dualistic myth does not appear in the apoclalypeses of Baruch and Esdras nor in the aggadah of the talmudic period, it was apparently rejected as incompatible with Jewish monotheism.  The “sons of God” are explained in the Targum to Genesis and the Midrash (Gen. R. 26:5) [these are Jewish commentaries on Scripture, note mine] as young aristocrats who married the daughters of commoners.”  

    “. . . In post-talmudic literature (cf. Rashi, Yoma 67b) the long-suppressed myth came to the surface again.  The Palestinian Targum gives the orthodox rendering of Genesis 6:1, but translates verse 4 as: ‘Shamhazzai and Uzziel fell from heaven and were on earth in those days’ –identifying the Nephilim as the fallen angels rather than their children.  The same identification is found in late Midrash, which calls the fallen angels Uzza and Uzziel; another passage in the same document say the Nephilim were descendants of Cain (Aggadat Bereshit, ed. S. Buber, introd., p. 38).  [Here we see a clear cut case of Jews differing from other Jews in the same commentary, note mine.] The Zohar (1:58a) also identifies the Nephilim with the fallen angels.  The standard medieval Bible commentators generally followed the classical aggadah in rejecting the mythological interpretation and asserting that the marriges in Genesis 6 were human.  Some variant opinions about the “sons of God” are offered–e.g., that their distinction was not only social, but physical and even moral, and that the offspring were called Nephilim because they “fell short” of their fathers in these respects (Nahmanides, Abrabanel; see also Anak).” Vol. 12, 962-963, 1972 edition.

This article shows that the Jewish people had many differing views on the Nephilim over the centuries and never had a unified interpretation of them.  Therefore, it is somewhat surprising to me that many are so dogmatic when it comes to asserting their belief on the Nephilim.    One thing this blog shows is that whatever the Nephilim were, it is not even certain they were the  same as the “sons of God”; and it seems even improbable they were.

I answered the phone and my friend told me the SUV her children and my son were in was demolished and upside down.  She didn’t know the status on anyone.  I had to wait for about an hour for them to get to the crash site to find out if my son was dead or alive.  

He had flown to AZ to visit good friends of the family, who had moved out there to go to a missionary school.  Their sons, with whom my son grew up, had also moved out there. They were on the way to take him to see the Grand Canyon.  His friend, his friend’s pregnant wife, their three small children and his friend’s sister were in the Yukon.  It began to rain, then sleet, and the road became slippery.  The girl who was driving lost control and hit the medium going the speed limit at 75 mi. per hour.  The vehicle flipped six times.  My son, Isaac, was sleeping in the cargo area.  He was ejected from the back.  

I later found out Isaac had a broken vertebra in his back, a broken collar bone, and six broken ribs.  The girl driving had broken some bones in her neck and finger.  The rest made it out with just scratches and bruises.  I called my pastor for prayer and then began to call others.

As I was sitting in my chair that night praying and meditating on everything, many thoughts came to mind.  One was that I told our 25-year-old son that he was our only child so don’t take any chances at the Canyon.  I had heard of people taking selfies and falling over the edge.  We also prayed protection over him before
I was tempted to ask the “why” question, but I knew better.  The “why” question over something like that never gets answered.  Of course, I knew the devil had tried to kill them—that was obvious.  My son and the girl driving were the two most spiritual people in the vehicle, and they were the only two who got serious injuries.  The girl driving had just gotten out of missionary school.  

A comforting thought came to me while I was praying—his skeletal system had done its job.  It protected everything it was supposed to.  Although he had a broken bone in his back, the spinal cord was not damaged.  Although he had a broken collar bone, his lungs and heart were protected.  Although he had six broken ribs, no internal organs were hurt.  I wondered what may have happened if we had not prayed for his protection before he left.  I was very thankful to not only have my only child still alive but with only broken bones that would heal in time.

The first night in the hospital they operated on his back.  The second day they operated on his collar bone.  By the third day he was not taking anything for pain.  On the fourth day both him and the girl walked out of the hospital.  Such a speedy recovery can only be attributed to all the prayers for them—especially since he had no pain.  They gave him a bottle of pain pills when he left, and he hasn’t taken any.  He only had tightness in his back if he sat too long and some pain the first couple of weeks breathing into the machine because of the broken ribs.

He went for a follow-up appointment with the orthopedic doctor in VA three weeks later.  They took x-rays of his ribs and the doctor did not believe they were ever broken.  However, we talked with the ER doctor the night of the accident, and she told us he went through a CT scan and that he had six broken ribs.  They had him breathing into a machine because of it.  Apparently God supernaturally healed his ribs within three weeks—bones normally take at least six weeks to heal.
Also we were originally told recovery from the back surgery would take 6 months to a year.  Now doctors are saying 3 months, and all doctors and nurses express surprise that he is not experiencing enough pain to take pain meds.  And now at least 95% mobility is expected.  He is certainly recovering quicker and better than the normal recovery.

My son and the girl had a great attitude about it from the beginning.  The girl is a singer.  She was unconscious; but when she came to at the ER, she began to sing praises to God.  Isaac overheard the ER doctor and a nurse talking saying something like, “I have never seen a group so positive.”  And the nurse answered, “Yeah, and this is the worse day of their lives!”  The ER doctor later called us and praised Isaac for being so nice and polite.   His attitude was that God was going to bring good out of it as the Scriptures say.  

As I said, there is no question in my mind that the devil was behind this accident; and he tried to kill everyone in the SUV.  All the adults were Christians.  However, I am equally convinced that God allowed it to happen.  Since I study the Bible a lot, many theological questions came to mind.  I don’t believe the devil can just bring evil against Christians without God allowing it in His wisdom.  As Graham Cooke says, “God allowed in His wisdom what He could have prevented by His power.”  We may never know the answer to the “why” questions concerning things like that.  However, we can know that God will bring good out of it for those who love Him.

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose (Rom. 8:28 NKJV).

We can already see some good that has come out of it.  In fact, my son has made up a list of about 10 good things so far.  One of the good things I see that has come out of it is that Isaac always had bad posture, and I used to get on him constantly about it.  As he got older, he would get angry with me if I mentioned it; so I just stopped.  Now he is wearing a back brace to help keep his back straight while it heals.  One of the first things he said to me after the operation is, “Now I have to keep my back straight.”  The doctor expected him to regain at least  90% mobility in his back.  I wonder how much he would have lost had he continued with the bad posture.  

I find it interesting how often God personally takes credit for evil in spite of some who seem to be embarrassed by such Scriptures.  Although He does not personally do the evil, He nevertheless often takes credit for it such as in the following verses:

I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things (Isaiah 45:7 KJV).

He does not shy away from the fact that He created darkness and evil.  The Hebrew word for “evil” here is ra, the main Hebrew word for “evil.”  Then seemingly speaking of the devil He says,

“Behold, I have created the blacksmith who blows the coals in the fire, who brings forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the spoiler to destroy” (Isa. 54:16).

Astonishingly, in the next verse he says no misfortunes occur unless He causes it!

Shall a trumpet be blown in the city and the people not be alarmed and afraid?  Shall misfortune or evil occur [as punishment] and the Lord has not caused it? (Amos 3:6 AMP).

Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds.  I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts (Rev. 2:22-23 NKJV).

We know from the book of Job that although Satan attacked Job, God allowed it.  So I believe nothing bad can happen to a believer unless God allows it for some reason or reasons unknown to us.  This gives me some comfort in times of personal tragedy instead of believing the devil can just randomly do whatever he wants in our lives.

In our case we got a warning sign.  The Lord often speaks to us through signs.  However, signs need to be interpreted, and often we don’t know what God is saying through them until it comes to pass.  

I was a founder of a Messianic Jewish congregation in Rich. VA and served there in leadership for seven years even though I am not Jewish.  I learned a lot about Jewish traditions.  One was that when a boy was born, some Jewish parents would plant a tree.  Then, when the boy got married, they would use branches from the tree for huppah poles (wedding canopy).  I did this when Isaac was born, and we have gotten signs from that tree previously concerning him.  A couple weeks before he went to Arizona, his tree fell over.  The first thing I thought was, “This does not look like a good sign.”  A friend and I pushed the tree up and tied it with three ropes to hold it straight.  I knew some roots broke, and I did not know if it would survive or not.  It did survive.

So it seems like God was speaking to us in advance about this, as He often does; but it was not enough information for us to know what it was about or to prevent him from going on the trip.  So what was the sign for?  Maybe we needed to pray about the sign much more than we did.  I really don’t know.  Nevertheless, after the fact we took some comfort in knowing that God knew about what was going to happen in advance and that He is in control.  Now, like the three ropes I have holding the tree straight, he is wearing a back brace with three points of contact to help keep his back straight.  

I got another sign shortly before the accident.  I broke a plastic fitting on a drawer and had to glue it.  It ran along a spine track in the middle of the top of the drawer, and the fitting was like a vertebra that wrapped along the spine.  I fused it back together with glue as his back was fused together with rods and screws.  These things are mysteries to me—why God chose to speak about these things through signs but not clear enough for any understanding until after the fact.  If you have any ideas on any of these things, please leave comments on this blog.

As for us, we are very thankful knowing we have in a sense received Isaac back from the dead.  We are also convinced that God is good, and good  is going to come out of this for our family and the other family involved.  

The northern tribes of Israel was already in a downhill slide when Ahab and Jezebel came to power.  Jeroboam had set up the golden calves to worship in Bethel and Dan after the kingdom split into separate nations.  Jezebel was the princess daughter of the Sidonian king and high priest of Baal worship.  Now Jezebel was installing Baal and Ashtoreth worship as the official religion of the northern kingdom and waging a war to wipe out all the true prophets of Yahweh.  All the prophets of Yahweh had converted to Baal or else they were in hiding.  This was an all-out assault on the true God and religion of Israel.  

Baal worship was essentially the worship of prosperity.  Baal was the Storm god and also the fertility god of cattle, flocks and crops.  In ancient Israel rain, good crops, along with flocks and herds determined wealth.  The religion had the added bonus of Ashtoreth worship, who was often depicted as the consort of Baal.  Ashtoreth was the fertility and sex goddess associated with the planet Venus.  Ashtoreth worship included shrine prostitutes (both male and female), who patriotically sold their services in honor of the goddess and helped to support the priestcraft.   The religion sanctioned immorality, adultery, and prostitution—crimes punishable by death under the Mosaic law; but it was very attractive to the lust of the flesh.

God wants his people to prosper but not worship prosperity itself as even many T.V. preachers seem to be doing.  When you see politicians, businessmen, movie stars and even Christians doing anything they can to get money, it is Baal worship.  Usually, the immorality of Ashtoreth worship is not far behind.  After this came the god of Molech in Israel to whom children were offered up as sacrifice.  Immorality has a way of producing the inconvenience of  children.   

The goddess Ashtoreth went by many different names in the ancient Middle East.  In Babylon she went by the name Astor or Esther.  From these names and religions we get our Easter    and its celebration of fertility with bunnies and eggs.  

The northern kingdom of Israel went astray from Yahweh worship as soon as it split from Judah.  It never had one good king according to the Bible.  The southern kingdom of Judah, since they had the temple and priesthood and five or six good kings, continued to worship Yahweh for a longer period.  This changed when Jehoshaphat, a good king, made the mistake of making an alliance with Ahab and took Jezebel’s daughter—a chip off the ole block—for his son’s wife.  Her name was Athaliah (Yahweh oppresses).  Then, in essence, both kingdoms had their Jezebels.  

Although we don’t know the motives for Jehoshaphat doing this, we can guess a few.  One was constant wars with Aram (Syria) right next to the northern kingdom.  For Ahab it was a political alliance against his neighbor.  Also the Assyrian empire was on the prowl wanting to gain the trade routes and treasures in Israel.  They were the terrorists of the day, who ruthlessly tortured their conquered victims.  Typically, after a besieged city collapsed they would skin the king and his officials alive, impale people on posts, cut off hands and feet, etc.  Jehoshaphat would have certainly wanted an ally between Assyria and his kingdom.  Nevertheless, it proved to be a great mistake marrying his son to Jezebel’s daughter.  Athaliah, like her mother, introduced Baal worship in the southern kingdom as soon as she could and even killed all her grandchildren to usurp the throne herself.  So one wicked woman ultimately took down both the northern and southern kingdoms of God’s nation.

We can be glad that we do not have a corrupt Jezebel and Ahab in power in our country, who would do anything for money and power (Baal worship), promote immorality (Ashtoreth worship), and support killing babies (Molech worship).  

What I find interesting in the story of the kings of Israel is that God reserved his greatest prophets for their time of greatest apostasy.  Right in the midst of the wicked reign of Ahab and Jezebel, while she was trying to wipe out all the prophets of God, Elijah comes on the scene seemingly out of nowhere and without introduction.  

Even Elijah’s name was in conflict with Jezebel.  His name means “My God is Yahweh.”  The very name of Elijah was a challenge to Jezebel’s agenda.  I am sure Jezebel did not calculate Elijah into her wicked plans.  On top of that, we find out that God reserved for himself 7,000 other prophets who had not bowed to Baal.  Elijah is actually commissioned to anoint Jehu to wipe out all the descendants of Ahab and Jezebel, which he passes on to Elisha.  

Could we have a repeat in the end-times of an Ahab-and-Jezebel-type couple come to power in the world scene?  Where could such a corrupt couple be found?  One thing we can say for sure is that Jesus Himself said Elijah would come in the end-times to “restore all things.”  

If Elijah is going to come—and the Scriptures cannot be broken—will a wicked woman come to power during the same time period in some high level office?  Only if the nature of Scriptures are prophetic could there be a similar repeat of history.  If this does come to pass, it is comforting to know God has reserved his best prophets for last.  If He reserved 7,000 in ancient Israel, maybe he has reserved 70,000 prophets in the spirit of Elijah for the end-times.  

Elijah made one mistake that may have cost him his commission: he ran from Jezebel all the way back to Sinai.  While he was there, God told him to anoint Elisha to take his place.  It is imperative for the end-time prophets in the spirit of Elijah to understand what running back to Sinai represents.  For when Elijah got there, the Lord asked him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”  

Sinai represents Pentecost.  Many who have believed in Pentecost and the baptism of the Holy Spirit have called it the “Full Gospel.”  Seemingly they were unaware that three more feasts occur after Pentecost: the Feast of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement, and the Feast of Tabernacles.  Therefore, in no way is Pentecost the “Full Gospel”; it is only the halfway point.  Elijah should have been running forward to the Feast of Tabernacles instead of backwards to Pentecost.  That is why God asked him, “What are you doing here [back in Pentecost], Elijah?”  

Pentecost is wonderful for those of us who have experienced its power and anointing.  In fact it was so wonderful many ministers from the 50s and 60s built large ministries around it and never moved on from that feast.  God wants us to keep moving forward to Tabernacles.  

The dirty little secret no one ever told them about Pentecost is that to move on to Tabernacle power and anointing—which is far greater—you have to let go of Pentecost and go into a much deeper season of dying to self and seclusion and become a nobody.  Who wants to do that when they are making so much money and fame with Pentecostal power?  The anser is—those who know there is greater power, anointing and glory in Tabernacles.  

Jesus sent his disciples out with a taste of Pentecostal power,

So they went out and preached that people should repent.  And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick, and healed them (Mark 6:12-13).

Then they came back and told Jesus all the great things they did.

Then the apostles gathered to Jesus and told Him all things, both what they had done and what they had taught (Mark 6:30).

Jesus did not tell them to keep up the good work, instead He told them,

“Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while” (Mark 6:31).

Pentecost has its purpose; but if you stay in it, you will never advance to Tabernacles.  Sinai and Pentecost has all the excitement and noise of great Holy Spirit winds, earthquake prophecies, and purifying fire.

Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire (1 Kings 19:11-12).

However, Tabernacles requires that you draw close enough to the Lord that you can hear Him  whisper.

. . . and after the fire a still small voice.  So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave.  Suddenly a voice came to him, and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”  (1 Kings 19:12-13).

Fortunately for Elijah he did move on to Tabernacles.  How do I know?  Because the Israelites prayed for rain during the Feast of Tabernacles, and Elijah prayed for rain to break the drought and it came.  Then the Lord took him up because he had finished his course.  

And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.  And it shall be that whichever of the families of the earth do not come up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, on them there will be no rain (Zech. 14:16-17).

Do you want to be used of the Lord to bring the end-time rain?  Then you need to move on from Pentecost to Tabernacles.  Today Sinai is just a burned-out mountain of yesterday’s glory.  If you are going to be part of the company of Elijahs who restore all things, you need to spend enough time alone seeking God and His word to find out the pattern of exactly how He wants to restore all things.  Instead of running around Sinai like a chicken with its head cut off, you need to enter into the rest of Tabernacles.  When you are flowing in the glory of Pentecost, it is difficult to leave it and go into seclusion.  I’m sure the disciples were shocked that Jesus didn’t send them right back out there after having so much success, but maybe He knew a few things we have a difficult time understanding.  Of course, all these things have to be done under the Lord’s instructions and in His timing, not ours.  But sometimes the ministry of Pentecost is so loud we have difficulty hearing His voice.

Have you wasted all of your seclusion time running after fame and money?  Some may not have enough time left to qualify for Tabernacles.  I have a question for some of you prophets out there:  What are you still doing in Pentecost, Elijah?

It says in the book of Ephesians,

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this [present] darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) places (Eph. 6:12 AMP).    

The world is dark and is becoming increasingly darker till we reach the stygian spiritual darkness of the devil’s diabolical delight.  As I observe the church in the U. S., it is amazing to me how unprepared and uninformed it seems to be for what is coming.  I remember reading a book about the communist takeover of China in the 50's.  One of the most popular messages being preached at the time was about a pre-tribulation rapture where the people would be spared all the coming trials and persecution.  Then the communist took over and millions were killed, tortured, starved, persecuted and oppressed.  They got just the opposite of that for which they had been prepared.  Many were left disillusioned, angry with God, and angry with those preachers who told them they would escape all the horrors they went through.  Many of them fell away from the faith because of the false hope they were given by preachers.  I have read that one of the requirements for a minister in the underground church in China now is that they have spent time in prison for their faith.  I see the church in the U.S. being prepared in a similar way for what is coming that China was prepared for the Communist takeover.

Shortly after I started working on this blog on the coming darkness, the Supreme Court Justice Anthony Scalia died.  The Supreme Court justices had been somewhat divided with four conservatives, four liberals and one that could swing either way.  Of course, they did not always vote according to expectations, such as when the so-called conservative  Roberts sided with the liberals to force the yoke of Obama “Care” on the people, whether they wanted it or not.  Now that Scalia is gone, we can expect the Supreme Court to vote increasingly liberal and away from the principles of the Bible.  Scalia will be replaced by another liberal, and they will vote in darker and darker laws.  In the future, when historians look back upon Scalia’s death, they will see a marked increase in evil laws.  

According to the ancient book of Jasher (which the Bible mentions twice), one reason Sodom became so evil was because of their judges.  Back then the judges created laws instead of just interpreting them, just as our judges are increasingly trying to do.  Sodom’s judges actually made wicked and sinful laws and forced everyone to follow them.  We may think this is something that could not happen in our day, but all we have to do is look at Nazi Germany to see where evil laws were passed and backed up by unjust judges protecting wicked laws instead of the people.  We can look at our own laws and see evil laws have been passed by the courts such as abortion on demand.  If they will legislate the killing of babies, what would they not pass?  In Biblical days, the people of Israel degenerated into sacrificing children to the god of Molech in the fire.  The idol was usually made out of bronze and had the face of a calf and arms like a man stretched out to receive the baby.  The belly was hollowed out for the fire.  Today, people just take them to the abortion clinic and give them to the outstretched arms of “doctors” in bloody white coats.  The belly of the mother becomes the belly of the god of Molech while the baby is the screaming  sacrifice.

Why do we even desire the day of the Lord the Prophet asks,
    
Woe to you who desire the day of the Lord!  Why would you want the day of the Lord?  It is darkness and not light; It is as if a man fled from a lion and a bear met him, or went into the house and leaned with his hand against the wall and a serpent bit him.  Shall not the day of the Lord be darkness, not light?  Even very dark with no brightness in it? (Amos 5:18 AMP).

Many in the church are not prepared for the coming darkness because they live worldly lives.  Some, however, are preparing and sanctifying themselves so they can be used by God during the coming darkness.  Darkness is coming on the world, but light is coming to God’s people.  We are called to be lights in the darkness.  The darker it gets, the brighter our lights can shine.  The time of darkness is the time of rising for God’s faithful saints and glory for the church.

Arise, shine;
For your light has come!
And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.
For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth,
And deep darkness the people;
But the Lord will arise over you,
And His glory will be seen upon you.
The Gentiles shall come to your light,
And kings to the brightness of your rising.
(Isaiah 60:1-3).

Yes, darkness is coming; however, believers are children of light.

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.  Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.  And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.  For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret.  But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light.  Therefore He says:  “Awake, you who sleep, arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light” (Eph. 5:8-14).

God wants an army of people, filled with His word and His Spirit, who will shine in the darkness.  The people of the world are going to be in confusion and fear with all that is coming in the end-times.  As the Scriptures say, “men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth” (Luke 21:26).  The church will have great opportunities to reach out with guidance and salvation for many.  It is the time for the great end-time harvest.  Are you preparing yourself and getting filled with the word and the Spirit for the coming darkness?

Just before the dawn is the darkest.  The Morning Star is coming.  The greatest darkness is the best indicator that the sun is about to rise.  

“Watchman, what is left of the night? Watchman, what is left of the night?”  The watchman replies, “Morning is coming, but also the night (Isa. 21:11b-12a NIV).

During the darkness we are called to be like stars,

Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever (Dan. 12:3).  

Another theme about darkness that runs throughout the Bible is that God dwells in the darkness.  Here are a few of the Scriptures that indicate this,  

So the people stood afar off, but Moses drew near the thick darkness where God was (Ex. 20:21).

He made darkness canopies around Him, dark waters and thick clouds of the skies.  From the brightness before Him coals of fire were kindled (2 Sam. 22:12-13).

He made darkness His secret place; His canopy around Him was dark waters and thick clouds of the skies.  From the brightness before Him, His thick clouds passed with hailstones and coals of fire (Ps. 18:11-12).

Clouds and darkness surround Him; Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne.  A fire goes before Him, and burns up His enemies round about (Ps. 97:2-3).    

One reason God is surrounded by darkness is that He is a consuming fire, and fire produces dark clouds of smoke.  However, brightness and light are associated with Him, which all of these verses reveal.  His presence sparks “coals of fire.”  This could be revival fire like the flames that came upon the heads of those in the upper room at Pentecost.  Hidden inside of the darkness is fire that sets people aglow like it did Moses when he went into the dark cloud,

And whenever the children of Israel saw the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses' face shone, then Moses would put the veil on his face again, until he went in to speak with Him (Ex. 34:35).

I once had a three-day visitation from God, and during that time I went to visit my step-brother. He didn’t know about the visitation; but when I came in, he stared at me and exclaimed, “Your face is glowing!”  With Moses, this is a natural sign for the spiritual light inside of a believer when they spend time with God.  The spiritual light we are supposed to display is the fruit of the Spirit—especially love.  

The three-day visitation I had was a taste of the power and anointing that is coming on God’s end-time army.  During this visitation, I could hear the Father’s voice directly (a terrifying experience at first).  I had supernatural energy, supernatural wisdom and supernatural strength.  I saw visions continuously, and I saw things in the spirit realm.  I did not even need to eat or sleep during the three days because the Spirit totally sustained me.  You can read more about this experience in my book The Breastplate of the High Priest.

However, this end-time power and anointing is only for those who have sought the Lord with all their hearts and gotten themselves sanctified and prepared through His Word.  It will not be for the casual self-seeking Christians.  I teach that sanctification is like trying to beat a rhinoceros to death with a straw; the sin nature is tough.  We can’t do this on our own, but we can seek and pray for God’s grace to complete it.  

Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord (Heb. 12:14 NASB).        

For most of us, it will take decades or our whole lives.  We don’t have time to waste seeking the things of this world and watching T.V. 20 hours a week.

Once I experienced a taste of the power that is coming to God’s end-time army, I knew it was worth sacrificing whatever it took to become part of it—money, reputation, friends, time, things of this world—whatever.   I am not saying I have qualified yet or gotten totally sanctified —decades after that experience— but I keep pressing into Him that I might be part of that elite, end-time army of light.  I have also observed over the years that most Christians are not preparing, nor are they willing to sacrifice much to be in God’s end-time army because they are seeking this world and the things of it.    

If we get sanctified and filled with the Spirit of Jesus then,

If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me and the night shall be [the only] light about me, even the darkness hides nothing from You, but the night shines as the day; the darkness and the light are both alike to You (Ps. 139:11-12 AMP).

Even the darkness shall be as light for those who have prepared for it.  For the rest of the world— including many Christians—this coming darkness will be terrifying.