The Call of Abraham – Part 3 – The Journey DOWN into Egypt –

The Call of Abraham
Part 3

The Journey Continues DOWN INTO Egypt
(Genesis 12:10)

And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was grievous in the land. (Genesis 12:10)

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Abram Went DOWN

     There is a cloud of silence in verse 10 of Genesis Chapter 12. We do not hear the voice of God. We do not hear Abram beseeching God for direction. There is a cloud of silence except for one word, the word DOWN. If we study the word down throughout Scripture, we will find that it brings negativity to man’s soul.

The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good. (Psalm 14:1)
The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God. (Psalm 14:2)
They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one. (Psalm 14:3)

   The word DOWN is a word of separation from God. It is also what God sees when He looks DOWN from on high. As we see in Genesis 11:5 and 7. And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded. (Genesis 11:5) Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech. (Genesis 11:7) In these two verses God came down to JUDGE the children of Ham and the world for they had become one in enmity against the LORD. They had built a tower to worship their own god and not the Creator God of heaven and earth. So, the first time that the word DOWN is recorded it is related to the judgment against evil. The Law of First Mention is once more proven through the word DOWN.

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Abram’s Journey into the Land of Ham

   Now Abram was faced with a famine in the whole land, and it was grievous. What do we get from the word grievous? His herdsmen claimed that there was not enough grass for the herds and flocks. We know the character of Lot for he was also a complainer and not content with his lot. Abram made a logical worldly decision to go DOWN into Egypt to step OUT of the path of FAITH and to rely on the flesh of the world.
   FAITH is to see and believe in the impossible, but Abraham only saw the famine in the land that God had promised to him. Abram could have ventured north or east, but Abram went south, DOWN into Egypt into the land of Ham. Then to add to his own plight, Abram contrived a lie about his wife Sarai, he called her his sister so that the Egyptians would not kill him.

And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said unto Sarai his wife, Behold now, I know that thou art a fair woman to look upon: (Genesis 12:11)
Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee, that they shall say, This is his wife: and they will kill me, but they will save thee alive. (Genesis 12:12)
Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee. (Genesis 12:13)
And it came to pass, that, when Abram was come into Egypt, the Egyptians beheld the woman that she was very fair. (Genesis 12:14)
The princes also of Pharaoh saw her, and commended her before Pharaoh: and the woman was taken into Pharaoh’s house. (Genesis 12:15)

   What do we have so far? Abram went DOWN into Egypt the land of Ham and Abram LIED about Sarai, his wife because of his fear of man. However, the Egyptians received Abram with open arms, the child of FAITH should always be aware of the world’s acceptance, however, Abram at that point was NOT living UP to the path of FAITH. He had entered into the idolatrous land of Ham, yes, there were green fields for his herds and flocks, and yes, everyone was happy.

And he entreated Abram well for her sake: and he had sheep, and oxen, and he asses, and menservants, and maidservants, and she asses, and camels. (Genesis 12:16)

   The herdsmen were content, Lot was content, and Sarai had found favor in the eyes of Pharaoh. Everyone was happy EXCEPT the God of glory, the Creator of ALL things. Abram believed that God was capable of giving him all the land of Canaan, but Abram had doubts that God was able to sustain him in the land of promise. God was stretching the leash of FAITH with Abram. The lesson to be learned here by Abram was that the world is neither a friend nor a sympathizer of the children of FAITH. And be sure . . . your sin will find you out. But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out. (Numbers 32:23)
   The lie of Abram could have cost all in his house, and it could have removed all of his possessions and cost all their lives. However, we see the God of glory BEHIND the curtain of FAITH moving to free Abram from the bondage of Egypt. And the LORD plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai Abram’s wife. (Genesis 12:17) God intervened for the one who He had called OUT of Mesopotamia. This shows that on God’s part, the CALL of God and the gift of FAITH is without repentance. Now, we see, the God of glory pulling tightly on the leash of FAITH. The plagues upon the house of Pharaoh were to expose the lie of Abram and to protect Sarai from the sensual will of Pharaoh for he had taken Sarai into his house, however, God revealed to Pharaoh that the judgment against him and his house was because of Abram’s lie . . . be sure your sin will find you out.
   Again, notice that in all of this, there is NOT one word from Abram beseeching the God of glory. But for His elect’s sake God protected Abram even in disobedience, thus, Abram and all that he had was driven out of Egypt.

And Pharaoh called Abram, and said, What is this that thou hast done unto me? why didst thou not tell me that she was thy wife? (Genesis 12:18)
Why saidst thou, She is my sister? so I might have taken her to me to wife: now therefore behold thy wife, take her, and go thy way. (Genesis 12:19)
And Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him: and they sent him away, and his wife, and all that he had. (Genesis 12:20)

   God will use the world to correct His servants in their walk of FAITH. This is the second time that Abram went into By-Path Meadow. Bunyan described this place where there is no growth for God, and FAITH becomes stale. Living in the world of Egypt, Abram appears to prosper, but his soul was in a dry and thirsty land. Abram had also betrayed the sacred bond between himself and Sarai.

And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. (Genesis 2:23) Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. (Genesis 2:24)

   The Spirit of God disclosed that the union of marriage is a spiritual supernatural act of God . . . they become one flesh. This is how the eyes of God looks upon the man and the woman as one flesh. The eyes of God discern the intents of the heart. This marriage union also represents the union of the new birth in Christ which is inseparable. We become one spirit WITH and IN the Spirit of Christ. Abram’s past decisions caused present and future ramifications for him, for Sarai, and for Lot. This decision to lie about Sarai cost a separation in the lives of Abram and Sarai. The bond of husband and wife (according to the word of God) is a endless path of unity in the natural or SEEN world. The world has no respect for marriage. Marriage is something of convenience as long as the two parties shall love. The not-so-secret cry of the world is husbands love NOT your wives, and wives DO NOT obey your husbands which is totally contrary against the word of God.

Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; (Ephesians 5:20)
Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. (Ephesians 5:21)
Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. (Ephesians 5:22)
For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. (Ephesians 5:23)
Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. (Ephesians 5:24)
Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; (Ephesians 5:25)
That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, (Ephesians 5:26)
That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. (Ephesians 5:27)
So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. (Ephesians 5:28)
For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: (Ephesians 5:29)
For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. (Ephesians 5:30)
For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. (Ephesians 5:31)
This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. (Ephesians 5:32)
Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband. (Ephesians 5:33)

   In Abram we see a love for self, greater than the love for his wife, Sarai. This also applies to the Church where self-preservation is a greater love than the love for Jesus Christ. We see this in the apostle Peter as he denied the Lord three times thinking only of his self-preservation. However, after the Lord’s resurrection, in John Chapter 21, the Lord asked Peter, Lovest thou me more than these?

So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. (John 21:15)
He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. (John 21:16)
He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. (John 21:17)

   Notice that in verse 17, Peter was grieved because he remembered the three times that he had denied the Lord and the evidence of that denial was that the cock crowed, but NOW the cross was behind him so that Lord embraced Peter (as an under shepherd) in the love of God and He instructed Peter to Feed my sheep.
  As we study Peter’s 1st and 2nd epistles, we see that the only viable food for the sheep is the word of God glorifying the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ. Peter warned us that there would be deceivers who would twist the word of God and attempt to blemish the Man Jesus Christ. These are deceivers and need to be called out of their darkness by the children of God for it is evident that as the Pharisees, in the gospel of John in Chapter 8, were children of the devil, the father of lies.

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Abram Went UP

   The lie of Abram could have caused the destruction and death of all that he had, but the mighty Hand of God, the God of glory, turned the heart of Pharaoh and thus, Abram WENT UP OUT of Egypt. All the time that Abram spent in Egypt he looked DOWN. Now, once again, he could look UP to see that city whose Builder and Maker is God. For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. (Hebrews 11:10)
   And Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the south. (Genesis 13:1) Notice how the Holy Spirit inserts the name of Abram’s wife first and then all that he had, and Lot is mentioned last. This is very different from Genesis 12, verse 5 when Abram departed from Haran. And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came. The trip into Egypt had injured Abram’s relationship with his wife, but it also planted a seed in the heart of Lot for the lust of all the things in and of Egypt. The journey going into Canaan lists first Abram, then Sarai his wife, then Lot and lastly, all their substance. The journey going UP out of Egypt lists Abram, his wife (NOT named), all that he had, and LASTLY Lot is mentioned. There is much to learn about relationships through the comparison between Genesis 13:1 and Genesis 12:5.
   We should understand that God is revealing the walk of FAITH of Abram, and He desires that we should see the character of that walk of FAITH. God wants us to see the frailties of the man of faith in the flesh. As Abram went DOWN into Egypt now the Spirit of God discloses that Abram went UP out of Egypt. When the Lord convicted Pharaoh concerning Sarai, Pharaoh made the correct moral decision to send Abram away from his presence. Sometimes the world becomes a mover of our own failures, and this is not a plus in our walk of FAITH. This is the second time that Abram emerges from By-Pass Meadow with more than he had before.
   When Abram came out of Haran into Canaan, we read in Genesis 12:5, And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.
   When Abram came out of Egypt in Genesis 13:1 and 2, And Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the south. (Genesis 13:1) And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold. (Genesis 13:2)
   This is what the world had given to Abram both from Haran and from Egypt, Abram had gained from the world; however, after Genesis 13:2 we see the return to the footprints of FAITH in 13:3 and 4. And he went on his journeys from the south even to Bethel, unto the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Hai; (Genesis 13:3) Unto the place of the altar, which he had made there at the first: and there Abram called on the name of the LORD. (Genesis 13:4)

   Abram returned to the place of the altar. O altar, O altar, at the cross, at the cross. The Christian, the child of FAITH is to always see the cross before him and the world behind him. The value of our redemption is in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ. He spent His riches in redeeming us on the cross. He paid a great price that we through His death are redeemed through the love of the God of glory, the Lord Jesus Christ. Abram returned from the south to Bethel, the house of God. It was there that healing must take place. It is NOT a building, but a spiritual growing, a place for the soul to heal, and return to the altar and to call on the name of the LORD. Again, let us behold that it is an individual healing for only Abram stood before the altar as an individual of FAITH. Unto the place of the altar, which he had made there at the first: and there Abram called on the name of the LORD. (Genesis 13:4) Even with healing, there are scars from unbelief. Scars with Sarai, scars with Lot, and scars with what came out of Egypt WITH Abram (as Hagar), however, God brought Abram BACK to the altar to reflect on the God of glory and the future sacrifice of the Lamb, to reflect that it was the God of glory who brought him out of Mesopotamia to that land of promise. Now Abram, once more, SEES FAITH as the crimson thread leading him through life.

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The Tragic Consequences of Abram’s Journey DOWN into Egypt

   Strife and division were the first calamity that was the result of the journey into Egypt. It was Lot’s herdsmen who strove with Abram’s herdsmen. This strife began at the lowest level and then advanced upward into the camp. Egypt had also penetrated the soul of Lot, and he became possessed with his memories of Egypt. We are reminded of this as Lot looked over the well-watered plains of Jordan. And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar. (Genesis 13:10) The Holy Spirit records Zoar, it means ‘bringing low,’ or ‘bringing down.‘ The heart of Lot still remained in Egypt. Lot NEVER recovered from the trip into Egypt with Abram which was built on the lie of Abram. But Lot had also returned to Bethel, and beheld the altar which Abram had first built, and although Abram called on the name of the God of glory, there was no voice from the man Lot.
   Lot’s heart was still in Zoar and now he divided himself and his herds from Abram and left Bethel ‘the house of God‘ for the pleasures of his eyes. The eyes are the gateway to the heart and mind. Remember the garden in all that it contained, it was Eve who looked, it was the eye that beheld. And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. (Genesis 3:6) The lust of the eyes is extremely powerful, what is seen can ruin a life. Look carefully at Lot and see his end. It was his eyes that beheld the well-watered plain of Jordan, it was the eyes of lust that brought him down to worldly things and pleasures. These vexed his righteous soul.

●And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; (2nd Peter 2:6)
And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: (2nd Peter 2:7)
(For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;) (2nd Peter 2:8)

   2nd Peter Chapter 2 verses 17-22 is a great history lesson.

● These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever. (2nd Peter 2:17)
For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. (2nd Peter 2:18)
While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. (2nd Peter 2:19)
For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. (2nd Peter 2:20)
For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. (2nd Peter 2:21)
But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire. (2nd Peter 2:22)

   You may not like these words from the Holy Spirit, but nevertheless, His words apply to ALL of mankind. God looks on the heart and He sees ALL the intents of the heart. For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12) Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. (Hebrews 4:13)
   Examine the actions of these two men: Abram and Lot. One had an altar and one did not. One saw the land as a stranger, and the other saw the land as a permanent dwelling place. To one the God of glory had appeared, and to the other God had NOT appeared. One had heard the CALL of God and had received the gift of FAITH, and one DID NOT. One was compassionate in the choice of the land; the other was selfish and hard which led to a barren soul. I have personally known people with millions of dollars and yet they pined waiting for more and wanting more, such was Lot. His selfish lust brought him to a dark cave with NO herds, NOR gold or silver, with NO earthly possessions but with two daughters influenced by Sodom. 
    Abram had no lust for the world nor for the land. He declared to Lot that the whole land was before them, and because of the strife between brethren that this separation took place. Abram gave Lot the choice, if Lot took the left, then Abram would take the right.

And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram’s cattle and the herdmen of Lot’s cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land. (Genesis 13:7)
And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren. (Genesis 13:8)
Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left. (Genesis 13:9)

   Again, it was the eyes that had beheld the well-watered plains of Jordan. The Holy Spirit compared it with the garden of the Lord in Eden. We have two belief systems: one man believes that he has the rights to the land, the other believes that it is a gift from God. One man wants what he perceives to be the best of the world; the other man is satisfied with what God gives. In verse 12, we see two men, one dwelt in the land of Canaan, the other dwelt in one of the cities of the plain and pitched his tent TOWARD Sodom.

Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other. (Genesis 13:11) Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom. (Genesis 13:12)

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PITCHING the TENT TOWARD Sodom

Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom. (Genesis 13:12)
But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly. (Genesis 13:13)

   Lot even lost his tent, a place of independence. He traded his independence for a home in Sodom from a life of grace to the slavery of sin. There is not one word to Lot’s credit concerning the God of glory, we can only say, Be not deceived, God is not mocked. Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. (Galatians 6:7) For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. (Galatians 6:8) 

   In the word of God, through the first book of Genesis, through the first Chapter numbered thirteen, and in the 13th verse the Holy Spirit of God sets the meaning and definition of the number 13. But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly. (Genesis 13:13) Then lastly, we have the word EXCEEDINGLY, they excelled at SIN, they heaped SIN upon SIN. Number 13 is the number of EXCEEDING WICKEDNESS AND SIN.

But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves. (Jude 1:10)
Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core. (Jude 1:11)
These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; (Jude 1:12)
Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever. (Jude 1:13)

   This is Sodom. This is the world that we dwell in today. As a child we are brought into a world of fantasy, a mirage of SIN and LIES under the control of immoral and degenerate individuals. Governments are controlled by deceptive hearts and evil minds. Religions are controlled by evil men and women of greed and corruption far from the God of Abram.

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. (2nd Timothy 3:1)
For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, (2nd Timothy 3:2)
Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, (2nd Timothy 3:3)
Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; (2nd Timothy 3:4)
Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. (2nd Timothy 3:5)
For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, (2nd Timothy 3:6)
Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. (2nd Timothy 3:7)

   Our entire contemporary world is built on Satanic systems with a form a godliness without the power of God. Evil has neither lessened nor diminished, but it has increased. ALL knowledge has been corrupted even the knowledge of God. The knowledge of God has been twisted and turned into lies of the devil. These lies are preached in the place of truth for few KNOW the God of glory, and even fewer KNOW the word of God. As those of FAITH wait for the Lord from heaven, we see the wait shortening because of the sin of the Gentiles for the cup of evil is nearly full.

● For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. (Romans 11:25)
● And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. (Luke 21:24)
● And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. (Revelation 14:15)

   The day or time of the Gentiles is quickly approaching its end . . . the end of Adam. God is gathering His sheep to the rest in the bosom of God. The God of glory who appeared to Abram speaks loud and clear. Man MUST repent and harken to salvation or perish in the eternal fires tormented by their own sin. Sodom and Gomorrah and all the five cities of the plain of Jordan are examples of how quickly the judgment of God can come. Although God is longsuffering to us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and to the knowledge of God, man continues to ignore God’s CALL; much as Lot had ignored the altar of God, and then, as the last speck of sand in the hourglass fell . . . . it was too late. One can have either eternal life or eternal judgment. Man empties all thoughts of God from of his heart and from his mind because enmity against God is within every heart of unrepentant man.

There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: (Luke 16:19)
And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, (Luke 16:20)
And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. (Luke 16:21)
And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; (Luke 16:22)
And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. (Luke 16:23)
And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. (Luke 16:24)
But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. (Luke 16:25)
And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. (Luke 16:26)
Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house: (Luke 16:27)
For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. (Luke 16:28)
Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. (Luke 16:29)
And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. (Luke 16:30)
And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead. (Luke 16:31) CLICK HERE for more about Luke Chapter 16.

   As Sodom was the place of exceeding great sin, they had gone beyond where God had given them up. But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly. (Genesis 13:13) All five cities of the plains had been controlled and corrupted by Sodom and the city of Gomorrah. The name Sodom means ‘fettered’ or ‘bound.’ The exceeding sins of Sodom were the ropes of death. Gomorrah means ‘bondage.’ In the book of Romans in the New Testament, it is SIN that brings forth death, and in Romans 8:2 we discover The Law of Sin and Death that was given to the first man: Adam. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. It was Adam who brought sin into the world, and through his sin condemned all of mankind to SIN. Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (Romans 5:12).
  Through the two twin sister cities of Sodom and Gomorrah the remaining cities of the plains were held in bondage, much as the world powers today. These world powers appear to be divided, but behind the scenes the satanic force of the devil keeps the people in bondage to this massive world systems of governments. All governments of man, by man and for man are guilty of enslaving their people. Of course, they will never admit to this, and most of the people also refuse to admit to their bondage. With Lot we saw how easily the city of Sodom vexed his righteous soul. It was what he SAW and HEARD. This is our world today, the vexing world under the power of Satan deceptively moving to control what is SEEN and what is HEARD. The world by no way plays fair.
   The governments of EVIL SEDITIOUS men have built their foundations on falsely called ‘freedom.’ However, this so-called freedom is actually a system of CREDIT DEBT BONDAGE purposely created to keep citizens permanently strapped to government treasuries. Although their whip maybe a pen or a computer keyboard, many citizens have been imprisoned for protesting against Satanic acts, illegal decrees and mandates. An example could be Tiananmen Square, BUT in the U.S.A., January 6th was a blight on our entire government system when it was the GOVERNMENT that PLANNED, INSTIGATED an INSURRECTION against the people. Even now, by the silence of the government, we do not know if there are still American citizens illegally imprisoned and locked in dark federal prison holes. We should see the true character of the ungodly world around us, and herald Christ as loudly as we can while we still have a voice of grace and truth. Grace without truth is as a hollow log, it has no value, and truth without grace is a condemner and not a Savior.
   To see the five cities of the plains in true light one only has to go to the dark city streets of the world to see the men of Sodom contaminating the world with their putrid sin. God uses the 13th Chapter of the book of Genesis to expose such evil. This 13th Chapter and the number 13 relate to us both evil and wickedness and in the 13th verse of the 13th Chapter we see men of Sodom sinning EXCEEDINGLY without restraint.

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GRACE surrounded by Evil is Set Free by TRUTH

    In Chapter 14 of Genesis the Lord gives us the number of cities: five, and their names and the names of their kings. That these made war with Bera king of Sodom, and with Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, and Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela, which is Zoar. (Genesis 14:2) These are the cities of the plain of Jordan which we will discuss in the 14th Chapter. These five cities and their populace were ALL evil in the sight of the Lord. Although the number five is the number of grace, these five cities had gone beyond the grace of God in their wickedness. The number five, the number of grace was surrounded by evil. The number four is the number of the present evil world and the world to come, the number six is the number of wicked man, it is the man of the earth who is judged in Genesis Chapter 6 and it will be the men of the earth who will be judged in the 6th Chapter in the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ.
   Both the 13th Chapter of Genesis and the 13th Chapter of Revelation expose the total wickedness of mankind in his EXCEEDING and profound sin. In the 13th Chapter of Revelation, the man of Satan is identified with the number of 666. This reveals the power and the continuity of the Holy Scriptures. God in His foreknowledge had already determined that the 6th Chapter of Genesis would be linked to the 6th Chapter of Revelation and that the 13th Chapter of Genesis would also be linked to the total iniquity of world power under the man of sin.
  Through the number 5 (five)  grace and truth comes between two powers of evil. The unbelieving  world desires that we should believe THEIR theory of unlimited grace. This (GRACE) is TRUE on God’s part, but it does NOT apply to the men of Sodom and their evil. When God GIVES THEM UP there is NO room for grace. Those in Genesis 14 had their opportunity for grace long before the Canaanite was in the land, and grace can only come by TRUTH. And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. (John 1:16) For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. (John 1:17)

Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left. (Genesis 13:9)
And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar. (Genesis 13:10)
Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other. (Genesis 13:11)

   In verse 9, the number of finality, it is the last single digit and it is a digit of separation. The question is asked by Abraham to Lot, Is not the whole land before thee? Is this not the proverbial line drawn in the sand? Choose you this day whom ye will serve? This reverberates throughout the Scriptures. Joshua gave the nation of Israel a chose in Joshua 24:15 and 16.

And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. (Joshua 24:15) And the people answered and said, God forbid that we should forsake the LORD, to serve other gods; (Joshua 24:16)

   Notice the people’s response for their hearts betrayed them. Moses had also given them a chose BEFORE they entered into the land. Moses also drew the line into the sand. Then we have Elijah on mount Carmel giving the nation of Israel another opportunity to repent, and the people repeated, the Lord He is God, yet once more, their hearts betrayed them. All throughout the book of Judges we read how Israel strayed away from God.

And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim: (Judges 2:11)
And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and forgat the LORD their God, and served Baalim and the groves. (Judges 3:7)
And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD, when Ehud was dead. (Judges 4:1)
And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD: and the LORD delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years. (Judges 6:1)

   The entire world is in conflict at this moment. There is upheaval in Europe. There is upheaval in the Middle East. There is upheaval in the United States and in Canada. There is an undeclared proxy WAR against Russia by the western nations as they openly state their intent to go to WAR. They are marching in the streets of Europe, and in the United States because of the evil and wicked hearts of their leaders.
   The question was asked by Abraham, Is not the whole land before thee? Go to the left, or go to the right, mankind has been deceived by what the world calls the ‘good life, the life of ease, the comfortable life, the worry free life,’ all the well-watered plains and the gleaming lights of the five cities. Not only was Lot entrapped by the green fields of the plains, but he pitched his tent TOWARD the city of Sodom, which was the worst of all the five cities of the plain. To find the very root of the number 13, we should return to Genesis Chapter 3 AND verse 13 .And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.
   In Chapter 3, the old serpent, the devil, is introduced in the first verse. In the 13th verse the serpent usurped God’s power over the woman and beguiled her. In this deception we have the FIRST trespass against God. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. (1st Timothy 2:14)
   It was up to Adam to deal with Eve’s error and disobedience since Adam was the Federal Head over the earth, yet, instead, Adam joined her in her trespass against God and partook of the fruit of the tree and thus, he brought sin into the world. Sin is as an incurable disease that is in every person at birth, and there is NO remedy except FAITH in the Lord Jesus Christ. Only grace and truth can overcome the fatal disease of sin. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:2) Through the decision of Lot, the spark of light that was in him grew dimmer and dimmer. He vexed his righteous soul in the midst of Sodom. The Christian is exhorted by God to let their light in Jesus Christ shine INTO the world. The world intends to REMOVE your light by REMOVING the light of Christ from your world.

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. (Matthew 5:14) Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. (Matthew 5:15) Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 5:16)

   The true light of the Church and its testimony has dimmed. The Church has chosen the five cities of the plain INSTEAD of the holy city, the heavenly Jerusalem. Their lights have dimmed, and their souls have been vexed, they have lost sight of the city of God which Abraham constantly had before him. But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city. (Hebrews 11:16)
   Abram looked up to the heavenlies, while Lot looked down at the pleasant fruit of the fields of the earth. Lot was satisfied with the evil of the cities, yet, Abraham was satisfied with that of the heavenly. It is Christ who is our Light, and we, the children of God, are a heavenly people both NOW and FOREVER.
   The darkness of sin completely enveloped Sodom for God had GIVEN THEM UP to the very sin that destroyed them. One of the saddest parts of Lot’s life when in dwelt in Sodom was that his entire family had NO light . . . there was no light in his wife or in his children. By his journey of self, he condemned all that he had and condemned his family and his descendants. Moab and Amon became antagonists against the seed of Abraham. A
   ALL began from the lust of the eyes, as Lot looked over the well-watered and green fields of the plain of Jordan. Once Lot departed from Abraham there was no communication with Abraham. The past love of Lot’s uncle watching over him was forgotten because of sin. Abram was called of God and apparently knew of the wickedness of Sodom and its twin evil city, Gomorrah for we see that Abram REMAINED separated from that evil . . . and the Canaanite was in the land. Remember that there had been a curse placed on Cain and that curse had never been rescinded. And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground. (Genesis 4:10) And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother’s blood from thy hand; (Genesis 4:11) There had been a curse placed upon Canaan, and that curse has never been removed. And he said, Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren. (Genesis 9:25) By the Holy Spirit of God disclosing that the Canaanite was in the land reveals the rebellion of Canaan to overthrow his servitude and to become a conqueror over his brethren and ALL others.

● Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1)
● While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. (2nd Corinthians 4:18)
● (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) (2nd Corinthians 5:7)

THE INVISIBLE

● For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, [even] his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: (Romans 1:20)
● Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: (Colossians 1:15)
● For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether [they be] thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: (Colossians 1:16)
● Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, [be] honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen. (1st Timothy 1:17)
● By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. (Hebrews 11:27)

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The Journey and Path of FAITH

   Faith opens the eye to the invisible, however, sin closes the eyes in darkness. In the Slough of Despond, the slough of sin, one slowly sinks in the quicksand of that sin, and finally, one sinks below its surface in death for both the wages and the payment of sin is DEATH. When you labor in sin, you will pay the interest which is DEATH.

   All around Lot (his family, his goods and possession, his herds that he was so concerned about) ALL vanished in Sodom. The well-watered plain, the green meadows were already in Lot’s heart when he left Egypt, for Egypt had taken a bite out of the soul of Lot. The Lord makes sure that we understand this connection by adding the city of Zoar in Egypt in Genesis 13:10. And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it [was] well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, [even] as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.
   We also have to deal with the lie of Abraham. When Abraham went into Egypt to avoid famine there was no communication with the Lord. Abraham did not seek counsel from the Lord, and then he told the lie concerning Sarai, his wife. Lot watched and heard his uncle, thus, we, as children of God, should remain on the path of FAITH.
   In Genesis Chapter 6 we not only have the destruction of mankind, but the destruction of God’s green earth. The sin of man was so great that the Lord repented that he had made man for man had corrupted ALL that was upon the earth. All through Scripture, even though the man of grace, Noah found GRACE in the eyes of the Lord. As we read in Genesis 6:3, God announced that His Spirit will not always strive with man. God has His limits of goodness and grace as we see in 2nd Thessalonians. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. As the Spirit of God ministers to the world today, He reproves them of their wickedness, but He also gives them opportunity to repent and to come to the knowledge of salvation IN Jesus Christ.
   In Romans Chapter 1, we not only see the past history of God GIVING THEM UP, but we also see the future of all of mankind, of those who REFUSE to repent. As God GAVE THEM UP, He will also GIVE THEM OVER to a mind of insanity, a reprobate mind.

●For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: (Romans1:26)
● And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient. (Romans1:28)

   We see what mankind today has become through so called ”higher education.’ Mankind has been driven insane as the root of education has been corrupted. What is the root of education? The root of true education is the knowledge of God. God is willing to teach, to reform societies, to redeem man from sin, that which is lost God is able to find. God is the possessor of ALL hope for mankind. He is the possessor of all FAITH for mankind. The Lord Jesus paid a great price for YOUR soul. In Isaiah 53, we read that He offered HIS OWN SOUL as a sacrifice to restore the souls of man. The Lord Jesus was the GREATEST heavenly MAN to ever walk the earth, and yet, in all that He did for man, He was scoffed, He was beaten, He was tormented by the crowd, and yet out of LOVE He finished the work of the cross for the redemption of mankind. At His weakest physical point, He did not mutter, nor did He whisper, but He SHOUTED the words, It is finished. Now in those same words, we have the greatest MAN in heaven sitting upon the throne of GRACE to make intercession for us. What more can be said then that He has been made higher than the heavens.

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The Path of FAITH and the PROMISE

   The apostle Paul not only gave us many revelations in his epistles, but he also gave himself through deeply felt emotions from his heart, soul and spirit. When reflecting on the cross, he revealed that he died with Christ, and his heart he cried out, He loved me and gave Himself for me. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20) We, as Christians, should seek to have the same searching heart within as the apostle Paul living by the FAITH of the Son of God, living because HE LIVES WITHIN us.
    As the cross is before us today, and the world behind us, so was the cloud that led Israel by day through the desert and wilderness. Every Israelite could see that cloud, and because of its size it cooled the desert sand that surrounded them. The cloud was a shield from the burning sun, and as darkness fell, God provided a fire by night for light and for warmth. God gave light to the entire camp so that they would NOT walk in darkness. The light encircled them to keep and to protect God’s beloved nation. With this supernatural light, the enemies of Israel never attacked by night.
   As we look back on Abraham, he also was a partaker of the Light. Abraham was CALLED by the God of glory. The word glory was mentioned for a specific reason. And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran. (Acts 7:2) Abram saw that same glory that Peter, James and John saw while on the holy mount. As FAITH moved Abram his faith began with the revelation of the God of glory appearing to him. FAITH begins with God not with man. I will write it again, Abram was not looking for God THAT day, but the eyes of the LORD were looking for Abram. In God’s order the CALL is simultaneous with FAITH.
   The waters of FAITH removes the clay from the eyes of the heart, mind and soul. As the Lord Jesus explained the movement of the Spirit of God to Nicodemus in John Chapter 3, verse 8, so Abram experienced the movement of the Spirit of God while he was yet in Mesopotamia. Abram also SAW the visible manifestation of the God of glory . . . the Lord Jesus Himself was there. Yet, in John 3:8, Nicodemus answered with the words, How can these things be. (John 3:9) Nicodemus could not see that the Lord of glory was there beside him. Nicodemus could not believe that the glory of God was before him was in the face of the Lord Jesus Christ. Nicodemus called Jesus, Master and He was a Teacher sent from God, yet Nicodemus believed Him NOT. He was shown the things of the earth by a Teacher sent from God, yet, Nicodemus received Him NOT.

Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? (John 3:9)
Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? (John 3:10)
Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. (John 3:11)
If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? (John 3:12)
And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. (John 3:13)

   The Lord revealed the GODHEAD in verse 11 through the word WE three times. Then He drew it all together and used the word of UNITY . . . OUR. We have this revelation in our Bible today, and STILL, many refuse to believe this verse. If that was not enough, then the Lord revealed His Omnipresence in verse 13. He takes us to heaven while PRESENT on earth. He unveils that there are NO boundaries of His presence since He FILLS ALL in ALL.

● For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; (Colossians 1:19)
● For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. (Colossians 2:9)
● Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. (Ephesians 1:23)
● He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) (Ephesians 4:10)
● Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. (Hebrews 4:13)

   While He is in heaven, the Lord’s omnipresence is with us today for His Spirit is sent by God the Father into every heart of EVERY believer. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. (Galatians 4:6)
   The evil of this world will deny everything concerning the Son of God, for instance, it was the Lord Jesus who revealed His own glory to Abram. The children of God, today, KNOW the heavenly things that are revealed in the book of Hebrews, yet, you will be surprised how the knowledge of the book of Hebrews, in the heart, also gives CONFIDENCE to the revelation of Jesus Christ. Although the books have an earthly distance, the Spirit of God builds the heart of FAITH in the book of Hebrews so that we can digest the meat within this book of The Revelation of Jesus Christ which is the LAST revelation in the book of God.
   We should listen to the Spirit of God for the Spirit of God teaches us that the word of God IS SECURE in the embodiment of the Lord Jesus Christ for HIS name and life is EMBODIED in the name written, the WORD of God. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. (Revelation 19:13) This is a tribute to the One who is mighty to save. Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. (Isaiah 63:1) This SAME Jesus was manifested in the flesh to bring salvation to man, and to obey the will of His Father. The glory of God, the mighty to save, took on the form of a servant to bring God’s love to man, to reveal a heavenly MAN without the frailties of sin, and fulfill the righteousness of God manifested in the flesh. What man could not do, God sending His Son in the likeness of sinful flesh CONQUERED the entire realm of darkness and sin to give us LIGHT and LIFE in HIMSELF. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: (Romans 8:3) That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (Romans 8:4)
   Christ was the SON of the Father’s love who was sent to the vineyard meek and lowly to give HIMSELF as a ransom for sin. This He did in full payment on the cross of Calvary. Now, back to Abram . . . .
     Abram stood and watched as Lot descended DOWN into the well-watered plain of Jordan. Lot and his herds departed FROM Abram, and the conflict between the two was over, and thus, God reaffirmed His promise to Abram.

And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: (Genesis 13:14)
For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. (Genesis 13:15)
And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered. (Genesis 13:16)
Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee. (Genesis 13:17)
Then Abram removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and built there an altar unto the LORD. (Genesis 13:18)

    When contention ceased, and peace returned, then God SPOKE. When contention between brethren exists, it blocks the voice of the Spirit.
    Now peace can be made in two ways: first, Lot could have submitted himself TO Abram in grace, and they could have bonded IN that grace, thus, making peace. Secondly, when the contention cannot be resolved, then a biblical separation becomes necessary. This frees the Spirit and thus the spirit of contention ceases.
   Through Genesis 13, the differences between these two men became obvious. With Abram the Lord once again revealed Himself and SPOKE to Abram. There was no heavenly communication with Lot, disclosing that Lot was in the wrong. It was the choice of Lot to set his feet upon a dark and slippery path for later we find Lot pitching his tent TOWARD to the most wicked city ever recorded in the history of man: the city of Sodom.
   Abram, the man who was CALLED by the God of glory, once again hears the voice and the presence of God which is confirmed in verse 18. There is also the second altar of Abram . . . O altar, O altar.
   We should see through the eyes of the Spirit that this last verse in Chapter 13 is preparing us for what will come in Chapter 14. The Lord had confirmed His promise to Abram in the words Lift up now thine eyes, so that Abram would be able to understand the heavenly things. Abram believed that he had received the greater promise while Lot believed that he had taken the better part. One acted by FAITH and the other acted by the will of the flesh. Abram had listened to the voice and will of God and had chosen the better part. The Lord said to Abram look from the place where thou art to the north, to the south, to the east and to the west for all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.  This was a GREAT promise given to Abram THEN, and it is STILL a GREAT PROMISE to the seed of Abram today.

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The Hatred of the Gentile World

   God UPHOLDS the seed of Abram throughout the Gentile world TODAY. The nations of the world DO NOT WANT Israel to exist, but the Eternal Sovereign God still honors His promise to Abram. Although Jacob and his sons (Israel) are disobedient, God STILL has a remnant of Israel who He protects and nourishes throughout the entire world. As the Gentile world is turned upside down with the Nazification of Ukraine and Europe, there is an open and visible HATRED for both JEWS and those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. The major players of Europe are ALL anti-Christ and rising out of the dust and ashes of Berlin we see the horns of the Fourth Reich. This is all taking place before our eyes, and the worldwide hatred for the Jews is an obvious sign that the END of world history is near.
  In the United States, we have a liberal Democrat party openly united but privately disjointed while also at the same time hiding in their closet as a Marxist/UniParty/of-Democrats-and-Republicans fostering HATRED while speaking love. They show their love by burning cities, rioting, destroying property, tearing down historical monuments, financially backing and protecting a corrupt Judicial system and overthrowing elections. The Democrats protected by their propaganda machine of falsely so-called ‘News’ attempted to assassinate President Trump when he was a candidate for President. There have been many other failed attempts and plots paid for by the Marxist Uniparty through stolen tax money.  Hatred abounds in this nation, HATRED for Jews, HATRED for Christians, HATRED for righteousness, HATRED for purity. HATRED for God’s truth and grace.
   We see these haters of God in the spirits of man in these end times. We are on the verge of the entire world being cast into chaos. The hourglass is almost empty to set the stage for the man of sin, the Beast and his false prophet. Consider the next few words and mull over them for this is very true today: democracy has overthrown itself through the sin of its people, and ALL the intellectual thought cannot put THIS Humpty-Dumpty back together again. (Note: The United States is NOT a Democratic form of government, it is a Constitutional Republic.) 
     The Western world will diminish in power, in influence, in monetary and in military preeminence. It is over for the Western world, which HAS to come, for the man of sin will rise out of the Eastern world. God has been more than patient with the Gentile world. He has sent His prophets and His servants continually to change the path of evil to righteousness and the Gentile world has rejected God and His Christ at every step. They will NOT repent. Everything in the world around us is in opposition to the will of God. The heart of the world is in Sodom. Political Rome and religious Rome is burning in the flames of their own sin of Sodom. The Western and Eastern world of political and religious greed are also consumed in the sin of Sodom and so the world dances on in madness EXCEEDINGLY.

    Man is about to face the same ruin as Lot when he, through fear, dwelt in a mountain CAVE. And Lot went up out of Zoar, and dwelt in the mountain, and his two daughters with him; for he feared to dwell in Zoar: and he dwelt in a cave, he and his two daughters. (Genesis 19:30)
    Isaiah prophesied of a future apocalyptic event that will end the Age of Man’s Kingdom and the Age of the Kingdom of Christ on the earth will begin, called the Millennial Kingdom. And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth. (Isaiah 2:19) At the Lord’s coming mankind will seek refuge from the wrath of God’s Christ in the CAVES of the earth. This prophecy of Isaiah is seen in its fulfillment in The Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ. And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; (Revelation 6:15) And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: (Revelation 6:16) As Lot (through FEAR) sought refuge in a mountain CAVE so man (at the Lord’s visible second appearance) will also seek refuge in the mountain DENS and CAVES.
       Back to the PROMISES of God . . . . But Abram looked to the north, to the south, to the east and to the west, this is all the global positions. This promise has no end, and we see the far-reaching dominance of the seed of Abram, when Christ, the Messiah will set up His millennial kingdom and the whole world will be in servitude to His kingdom of grace and truth.
    As our sight is limited, so too, as Abram looked, he could only see the present, but he believed the future. For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. These last two words of verse 15, for ever, are secure in heaven, for ONLY the Creator of all things could make that promise. The Lord expanded His promise in Chapters 15 thru 17, which we will later look at in the life of Abraham.
    In verse 17 of Chapter 13, Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee. Abram had to walk through the land to CLAIM His promise. The children of God today have to walk uprightly through the world CLAIMING our heavenly promises that we are strangers and foreigners in this ungodly world. We, the children of God, are aliens in the world. We have no continuing city, for ALL our promises ARE heavenly and NOT of the world. The inheritance of saints is HEIRSHIP as SONS of God. (Hebrews 12 and Romans 8) This leaves us as travelers through time and space.
     Although we have no continuing city, we have a tent of grace and truth looking FOR and FORWARD to OUR city whose Builder and Maker is God. A heavenly city where the Lamb is the Light thereof, and where grace and truth abounds in the sons of righteousness given by the SON of righteousness, who is the HEIR of ALL things, the Lord Jesus Christ.
    And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered. (Genesis 13:16) God will make the seed of Abram numerous as the dust of the earth, therefore, God’s promise to Abram’ seed extends their existence into the whole world. Do you see God working behind the scenes? Since the fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of Herod’s temple, God has moved Abram’s seed into the nations of the world. They exist and live in nations that hate and persecute them and attempt to annihilate them. EVERY Gentile nation in some way has persecuted or regulated the life of the Jews. But the God of the promise WILL NOT be hindered, He is preserving the seed of Abram behind the veil of history to be revealed one day in the glory of the millennial kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ. All these promises were given in opposition to the Canaanite that was still in the land.

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The GLORY of Christ Revealed on the Holy Mount

   The apostle Paul through revelations that he received on the mount relates all this information concerning the FAITH of those of the ancient world that we do not get in other books of the Bible. We see so much through the Spirit of God in what is revealed in Hebrews Chapter 11, the Chapter of FAITH.
   Of all the apostles’ Paul seems to be the most traveled, as God directed him throughout most of Asia Minor, Macedonia, Rome, to Syria on the Damascus Road and Jerusalem and his first trip into Arabia to Mount Sinai where he ascended into the third heaven. Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus. (Galatians 1:17) Although Paul did not describe his trip into Arabia in detail, we can compare Elijah’s trip into Arabia to Mount Sinai. To confirm that Paul went to Mount Sinai read Galatians 4:25. For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. We can connect the holy Mount Sinai to Peter’s testimony in 2nd Peter 1:16-18.

For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. (2nd Peter 1:16)
For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. (2nd Peter 1:17)
And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. (2nd Peter 1:18)

   Peter (as an eyewitness to the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ) informs us that he along with James and John were on the holy mount, which is synonymous with Mount Sinai. It was at the foot of Mount Sinai where Moses saw the burning bush. It was there that Moses was informed that this was a holy mount. This is the holy mount of God. This was where Moses received past revelations, present revelations and future revelations from God Almighty. The past revelations was the book of Genesis. Present revelations was the giving of The Law and the ordinances, and the design and construction of the Tabernacle and the responsibility of the children of Israel of a holy and righteous God. Moses also gave us the characteristics of a future Israel even to the point that one day they would have a Prophet like unto himself. This was fulfilled in the Lord Jesus Christ who is Prophet, Priest and King.

    As we consider this holy mount, it is only in these surroundings that Christ revealed His glory. Now, Moses and Elijah, Peter, James and John were with the Lord on the holy mountain when He revealed His glory to them. There are those who believe that the Lord of glory, the Creator of all things could NOT change His visible appearance in His glory and thus, consequently they also CANNOT believe that He could teleport the three men to Arabia to Mount Sinai, which is confirmed in 2nd Peter 1:16-18.
   All four gospels testify to this event as Christ revealed His glory on the holy mount. The full description of the revelation of His glory is in the first three gospels related to us by the Spirit of God, for those who penned the first three gospels were NOT with the Lord at His revealing. And yet, the Spirit of God gives us an accurate account of His marvelous transfiguration from the Man Christ Jesus to the LORD of all glory. Many say that John did not reveal the transfiguration of the Lord, yet, in the first Chapter of the gospel of John, he disclosed that we beheld his glory.

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)

   This is what you should consider as you read the gospel of John. John also saw the LORD of glory first on the holy mount, and later in the book of The Revelation of Jesus Christ, John’s life was fulfilled in the MANY visions that he was given of the LORD of glory. It was God the Father, as Peter declared, who revealed the glory of the Son of God. We are dealing with the SUPERNATURAL so that when Abram was in Mesopotamia, Abram saw the SAME GLORY OF GOD IN JESUS CHRIST. Mere man cannot handle the eternality of the Son of God that He took on the form of His manifestation when He created the heavens and the earth. It was CHRIST who spoke the worlds into existence. It was CHRIST who formed man into His image, and placed man into the garden of God. If we return to Mount Sinai and the transfiguration of the Lord Jesus Christ, we could say that it was the day of His revealing the SUPERNATURAL GLORY that was always within Him.
  It is interesting that we have six personalities revealed on mount Sinai. This is important because six is the number of man. Christ as the Son of man was present AS the Son of man, and then His glory was revealed by God the Father, This is my beloved Son, hear ye Him. Now the words from the Father from heaven discloses the Eternal SONSHIP of the Lord Jesus Christ. Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds. (Hebrews 1:2) There were three men from heaven: Moses, Elijah and the Son of man; and there were three men from the earth: Peter, James and John. However, we also should consider Paul. Paul stated that he was born out of due time, and that his life was to fill up the sufferings of the Lord Jesus Christ.

● And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. (1st Corinthians 15:8)
● Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church: (Colossians 1:24)
● That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; (Philippians 3:10)

   If one counts all that Paul endured, he truly suffered for His Savior the Lord Jesus Christ. However, he was never downcast through those sufferings for he also saw the joy that was set before him and wore his sufferings as a badge of honor in his ministry. Paul received far reaching revelations concerning the Church, the New Covenant, the End Times and of the translation of the saints. John only can be compared as he received the Revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul is unique as the seventh man on Mount Sinai . . . God saw it and it was good. From Mount Sinai, Paul ascended up into the third heaven.
   As we read Chapter 11 of the book of Hebrews, a lot of what is NOT recorded in the Old Testament IS given to us by the revelations that Paul received. From the 11th Chapter of Hebrews, we understand that ALL those of FAITH . . . ALL had a personal experience with the God of glory, the Lord Jesus Christ. When Moses received the revelations which are contained in the book of Genesis, they were NOT his thoughts. The very words were directed by God. They were the thoughts of GOD, as an ACCURATE history in the words dictated to Moses. When God revealed Himself to Abram and spoke, it was the voice of God, the same voice that had created ALL things. It was God’s thoughts that were later recorded by Moses.
   This book of miracles was given by the Great Miracle Provider to a sinful world in a sinful kingdom. A king of England, James, made a decree to assemble men together who had within them the Spirit of God, and God went further, for it was time for complete light to shine all over the world. God gave us a book of miracles when He assembled together men of like mind, the mind of Christ.
   The Spirit of God gave one word at a time, examined by the mind of the God of glory; then line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little, and there a little, to make sure that the word of God was inerrant by the POWER of the Holy Spirit of God. This was the true recovery of the word of God. This Bible that is known by the name of an earthly king relates to us the fullness of the GLORY of the KING of ALL AGES, the Lord Jesus Christ. The words that we hold in our hands are the mirror image of the WORD of God that is settled in heaven forever.

LAMED. For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven. (Psalm 119:89)

Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts. (Jeremiah 15:16)

Amen and Selah.

© Copyright – Michael Haigh
Published on June  17,  2025 @ 2:40  PM (EST).
Article may be used, but not for gain. Freely ye have received, freely give.
All Scripture references are from the King James Bible. (KJB)