Blessed are Those Who Know the Joyful Sound

The Prophecy of the Lioness

Four years ago I posted something that God would call: a lying message. My prayer was that my mistake would not cause God’s people to stop studying the evidence of end times. God caused me to know that his people needed time, in order to get a remnant of people from every nation caught up together in this new understanding. He recently caused me to discover a prophecy which shows evidence of these things. It’s a prophecy about a lioness. “Keep silence before me, O islands; and let the people renew their strength (Isaiah 41:1).” “The Lord alone shall be exalted in that day (Isaiah 2:11).” “The woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days (Revelation 12:6).” “When I call unto them, they stand up together (Isaiah 48:13).” “When he was strong, the great horn was broken; and for it came up four notable ones toward the four winds of heaven (Daniel 8:8).” (The four winds of heaven are Islam, Judaism, Christianity, and the priesthood.) 

The prophecy of the lioness suggests that the religious authorities who were privy to the covenant message, would seek to destroy it: but God planted in the heart of the Islamic nation. These are God’s ways: unto his firstborn, the Christian nation, first; then afterwards, unto those who are hungry to know the truth (Romans 1:16). Most religious leaders prefer to leave their end time beliefs just the way they are, but God has prepared a better way. “Ephraim is my firstborn (Jeremiah 31:9).” “The children of Ephraim... turned back in the day of battle... They kept not the covenant of God, and refused to walk in his law (Psalm 78:9-10).” “He chose not the tribe of Ephraim (Psalm 78:67).” “Ephraim shall bring forth his children to the murderer (Hosea 9:13).” “I taught Ephraim also to go, taking them by their arms; but they knew not that I healed them... The sword shall abide on his cities, and consume his branches, and devour them, because of their own counsels (Hosea 11:3-6).” “She brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne (Revelation 12:5).” “Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife (Isaiah 54:1).”

To get perfect understanding from the prophecies of scripture, there must be meaning brought to the prophecy through the parable words. So let’s begin by looking at some of the words which are used in this prophecy. In addition to giving birth, a lioness hunts for food, and is responsible for raising and nurturing her young. She teaches her cubs the skills which are necessary for survival, such as hunting techniques and social behaviors. The parable word “lioness” represents someone who teaches people how to receive new life, by causing them to understand the way of salvation. But a true lioness will continue to search for meat, and provide deeper understanding of God’s word for her friends, striving to insure their growth in the knowledge of the Lord. “What is thy mother? A lioness (Ezekiel 19:2).” “My son, keep thy father’s commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother... for the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and the reproofs of instruction are the way of life (Proverbs 6:20; 6:23).”

The “pit” is a spiritual condition of the soul: it is being in a state of death and darkness. This word only pertains to believers who have experienced the Holy Spirit: because those who have never known the Holy Spirit dwell in the “grave.” The hope of everyone who has either fallen into the pit, or is lying in the grave, is the day star; which is the light; the Holy Spirit; the presence of God in the soul of a believer. The Holy Spirit is given to believers for guidance, as well as for assurance of salvation. God will withdraw his presence from a person, if they elect to ignore his voice, and choose to transgress against his word. Therein is the pit: It’s when a soul turns away from God, and is returned to the state of spiritual death and darkness. “Take not your Holy Spirit from me (Psalm 51:11).” “Keep back thy servant from presumptuous sins... Then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression (Psalm 19:13).” “There is a sin unto death (1John 5:16).” “Seek him that... turneth the shadow of death into the morning, and maketh the day dark with night (Amos 5:8).” “We have a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts (2Peter 1:19).” “His going forth is prepared as the morning (Hosea 6:3).” 

Because people are not hearing the truth of end times, many of them have already descended into the pit. “That day shall not come, except there come a falling away first (2Thessalonians 2:3).” “There shall be a great forsaking in the midst of the land. But yet in it shall be a tenth, and it shall return (Isaiah 6:12-13).” “They shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables (2Timothy 4:4).” “They regard not the work of the Lord, neither consider the operation of his hands. Therefore my people are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge... Their multitude it dried up with thirst. Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it (Isaiah 5:12-14).”

One of the greatest praises of end times is that God has devised a way to bring light unto those who have never known it. “Our bones are scattered at the grave’s mouth... but my eyes are unto thee, O God the Lord: in thee is my trust; leave not my soul destitute (Psalm 141:7-8).” “Son of man, can these bones live? ...Thus saith the Lord God... Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live... And ye shall know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves, and shall have put my spirit in you, and ye shall live (from Ezekiel 37:3-14).” “It shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh (Joel 2:28).”  

Leaders who are preaching a false message have dug a pit for their followers: for iniquity is a web of deception that can cause entire congregations to dwell in the pit of darkness. Therefore the leaders who have ignored God’s word, and have continued to teach a doctrine of deception and lies, will loose the Holy Spirt. “They have digged a pit for my soul (Jeremiah 18:20).” “Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein (Proverbs 26:27).” “The captive exile hasteneth that he may be loosed, and that he should not die in the pit (Isaiah 51:14).” “I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offense, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early (Hosea 5:15).” “Their webs shall not become garments... their works are works of iniquity (Isaiah 59:6).” “Take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord God; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty (Ezekiel 28:12).” “If ye will not hear it, my soul shall weep in secret places for your pride; and mine eye shall weep sore, and run down with tears, because the Lord’s flock is carried away captive (Jeremiah 13:17).” “Tophet is ordained of old; yea, for the king it is prepared; he hath made it deep and large: the pile thereof is fire and much wood; the breath of the Lord, like a stream of brimstone, doth kindle it (Isaiah 30:33).”

The words, “rod, staff, and scepter” are all used to represent the verses of scripture upon which the religious authority’s have founded their power: they wield these words around as if they were the ultimate supreme truth. Scepters justify religion, and seemingly give its followers permission to simply ignore the rest of scripture. “Thou hast broken... the rod of his oppressor (Isaiah 9:4).” “When the land sinneth against me by trespassing grievously, then will I stretch out mine hand upon it, and will break the staff of the bread thereof (Ezekiel 14:13).” “O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, the staff in their hand is mine indignation (Isaiah 10:5).” “If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men (2Samuel 7:14).” “Violence is risen up into a rod of wickedness: none of them shall remain, nor of their multitude (Ezekiel 7:11).” “The calamity of Moab is near to come... all ye that are about him... say, How is the strong staff broken, and the beautiful rod? (Jeremiah 48:16-17).” “The rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous (Psalm 125:3).” “The scepter of Egypt shall depart away (Zechariah 10:11).”  

The parable word “fire” is an indignation that is purposed for purification: whereas the parable word “flame” is purposed for utter destruction. The parable word “devour” has to do with educating believers in such a way that they are forever removed from their past religious beliefs. Some people will be devoured by leaders who will teach them the truth of end times, while others, such as the rebellious, and the stubborn, will be devoured by false teachers, and in the confusion of God’s judgments. “Their faces shall be as flames (Isaiah 13:8).” “Who maketh... his minsters a flaming fire (Psalm 104:4).” “In that day will I make the governors of Judah like a hearth of fire among the wood... and they shall devour all the people round about, on the right hand and on the left (Zechariah 12:6).” “The house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau for stubble, and they shall kindle in them, and devour them; and there shall not be any remaining in the house of Esau; for the Lord hath spoken it (Obadiah 18).” “A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them (Joel 2:3).” “Wickedness burneth as the fire: it shall devour the briers and thorns (Isaiah 9:18).” “They are quenched as the fire of thorns (Psalm 118:12).”

In the parable of the lioness, there are chains shackling the young men. These are bindings which have been placed upon their souls, because of oaths which they have sworn before God: even oaths which are contrary to his ways. People who have either sworn these oaths, or have put their hand in with those who are swearing them, are guilty of it as soon as they learn the truth of God’s word. What should be done? According to God’s word, when they know the truth, they should confess their sin and warn everyone that is involved. Then they should bring an offering and come before the Lord. Do not make a false oath: which is an oath of expedience that you don’t intend to keep. Everyone who has sworn an oath, is commanded by God to fulfill the words of the oath which he has sworn. “If a soul sin, and hear the voice of swearing, and is a witness, whether he hath seen or known of it; if he do not utter it, then he shall bear his iniquity (Leviticus 5:1)” “It shall be, when he shall be guilty in one of these things, that he shall confess that he hath sinned in that thing: and he shall bring his trespass offering unto the Lord (Leviticus 5:5-6).” “If a man vow a vow unto the Lord, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do all that proceedeth out of his mouth (Numbers 30:2).” 

The lioness brought up the Assyrians first, and then she raised up the Babylonians. Because of false teachings, and binding oaths, all of her followers have either turned back to the hope of the Christian religion, or to the supremacy beliefs of the Islamic nation. Nevertheless, God prepared a place for the lioness, and both she and her message are still alive, and are firmly planted. Every leader who has ignored God’s end time message, is an oppressor: for they are keeping God’s people in the prison houses of a grave, and they are causing others to fall into the pit. “Thy prophets... have not discovered thine iniquity (Lamentation 2:14).” “In vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men (Matthew 15:9).” “I will feed them with wormwood, and make them drink the water of gall: for from the prophets of Jerusalem is profaneness gone forth into all the land (Jeremiah 23:15).” “O house of David, thus saith the Lord; Execute judgment in the morning, and deliver him that is spoiled out of the hand of the oppressor, lest my fury go out like fire, and burn that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings (Jeremiah 21:12).” 

Now we are ready to master the parable of the lioness: “What is thy mother? A lioness: she lay down among lions, she nourished her whelps among young lions. And she brought up one of her whelps: it became a young lion, and it learned to catch prey; it devoured men. The nations also heard of him; and he was taken in their pit, and they brought him with chains unto the land of Egypt. Now when she saw that she had waited, and her hope was lost, then she took another of her whelps, and made him a young lion... He became a young lion, and learned to catch prey, and devoured men. And he knew their desolate palaces, and he laid waste their cities... Then the nations set against him on every side from the provinces, and spread their net over him: and he was taken in their pit. And they put him in ward in chains, and brought him to the king of Babylon: they brought him into holds, that his voice should no more be heard upon the mountains of Israel. Thy mother is like a vine in thy blood, planted by the waters: she was fruitful and full of branches by reason of many waters... But she was plucked up in fury, she was cast down to the ground, and the east wind dried up her fruit... And now she is planted in the wilderness, in a dry and thirsty ground. And a fire is gone out of a rod of her branches, which hath devoured her fruit, so that she hath no strong rod to be a scepter to rule. This is a lamentation, and shall be for a lamentation (from Ezekiel chapter nineteen).”

The words “a fire is gone out,” signify that the Lord’s fury has already begun to burn: it is burning within leaders who were offended by the truth of God’s word: and they are cleaning up their ways. “He poured upon him the fury of his anger, and the strength of battle: and it hath set him on fire round about, yet he knew it not: and it burned him, yet he laid in not to heart (Isaiah 42:25).” “A fire is kindled in mine anger, and shall burn unto the lowest hell, and shall consume the earth with her increase, and set on fire to the foundations of the mountains (Deuteronomy 32:22).” “How long, Lord? Wilt thou hide thyself for ever? Shall thy wrath burn like fire? (Psalm 89:46).” “Wherefore when I came, was there no man? When I called, was there none to answer? (Isaiah 50:2).” “I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear (Isaiah 45:23).” 

The words “wilderness” and “dry and thirsty ground” confess that even the lioness herself is in Babylon: Babylon is where every one who has heard of the covenant message, and has failed to take action in accordance with it, will be taken. Babylon is a spiritual condition: for the people within it lack confidence in God’s ability to fulfill his newly revealed understanding of end time prophecy. Babylon is the city that is destined for destruction. Believers are commanded to flee out the midst of Babylon: this is done by acknowledging God’s end time message: tell them that God has been saving faithful believers of every religion, from the beginning; and that he has reserved this understanding for end times. Furthermore, proclaim the new covenant: for this is the standard by which salvation will be established for ever. God commanded us not only to hear his voice,  but also to do his commands (Deuteronomy 6:3). Don’t ignore the floods of evidence concerning these things: “Be in pain, and labor to bring forth, O daughter of Zion, like a woman in travail: for now shalt thou go forth out of the city, and thou shalt dwell in the field, and thou shalt go even to Babylon; there shalt thou be delivered (Micah 4:10).” “One shall be called, the city of destruction (Isaiah 19:18).” “Flee out of the midst of Babylon, and deliver every man his soul: be not cut off in her iniquity; for it is the time of the Lord’s vengeance; he will render unto her a recompense (Jeremiah 51:6).” 

“If thine heart turn away, so thou wilt not hear... I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish (Deuteronomy 30:17-18).” “Gird yourselves, and lament, ye priests: howl, ye ministers of the altar... for the meat offering and the drink offering is withholden from the house of your God (Joel 1:13).” “I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of the hearing of the words of the Lord (Amos 8:11).” “How is Babylon become an astonishment among the nations?... Her cities are a desolation, a dry land, and a wilderness (Jeremiah 51:41-43).” “The hindermost of the nations shall be a wilderness, a dry land, and a desert... every one that goeth by Babylon shall be astonished, and hiss at all her plagues (Jeremiah 50:12-13).” “And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms... shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. It shall never be inhabited (Isaiah 13:19-22).”  

Consider the words: Thy mother is like a vine in thy blood (Ezekiel 19:10). Babylon is the bloody city, and those that are within it, are guilty of innocent blood. The reproach of religion is causing innocent people to be killed every day: yet, Babylon remains silent: and because there is knowledge of the truth, it will be held accountable. “Woe to the bloody city... whose scum is not gone out of it (Ezekiel 24:6).” “If thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand (Ezekiel 33:8).” “The iniquity of the house of Israel, and Judah is exceedingly great, and the land is full of blood, and the city full of perverseness: for they say, The Lord hath forsaken the earth, and the Lord seeth not (Ezekiel 9:9).” 

Innocent blood is also brought upon people who try to kill his prophets, or silence his messengers. “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou the killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee (Matthew 23:37).” “Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm Psalm (105:15).” “Woe unto him that saith unto his father, What begettest thou? Or to the woman, What hast thou brought forth? (Isaiah 45:10).” “Woe is me... a man of strife and a man of contention to the whole earth! ...every one of them doth curse me (Jeremiah 15:10).” “Know ye for certain, that if ye put me to death, ye shall surely bring innocent blood upon yourselves, and upon this city, and upon the inhabitants thereof: for of a truth the Lord hath sent me unto you (Jeremiah 26:15).”

If believers choose to listen to God’s voice, and set their hearts to keep his commands, then end times will be a rejoicing. “Teach me thy way, O Lord; I will walk in thy truth (Psalm 86:11).” “Go ye forth of Babylon, flee ye from the Chaldeans, with a voice of singing declare ye, tell this, utter it even to the end of the earth; say ye, The Lord hath redeemed his servant Jacob (Isaiah 48:20).” “Ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands (Isaiah 55:12).” 

Blessed are Those Who Know the Joyful Sound 

Mount Zion is God’s throne; and it is his dwelling place; and it is the mountain at the height of Israel. But before believers can thoroughly appreciate the unshackled magnificence of Mount Zion, they must consider God’s parable use of the words “mountains and hills.” The words “mountains and hills,” are used to represent the innumerable masses of like-minded people who unite together as one in their religious beliefs. Every mountain, and every hill has its own opinion of how salvation works: whereas upon Mount Zion the whole world will unite together as one, for they will agree upon the one way in which God’s plan of salvation will work for everyone. “Truly in vain is salvation hoped for from the hills, and from the multitude of mountains: truly in the Lord our God is the salvation of Israel (Jeremiah 3:23).” “It shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth a law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem (Isaiah 2:2-3).” 

“In mine holy mountain, in the mountain at the height of Israel, saith the Lord God, there shall all the house of Israel, all of them in the land, serve me: there will I accept them, and there will I require your offerings (Ezekiel 20:40).” “A stone, smote the image upon his feet.. and brake them to pieces... and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth (Daniel 2:34-35).” “In the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left for other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever (Daniel 2:44).”

“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! ...as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore (Psalm 133:1-3).” “In Salem also is his tabernacle, and his dwelling place in Zion. There brake he the arrows of the bow, the shield, and the sword, and the battle (Psalm 76:2-3).” “I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of the Lord of hosts... Behold, I will save my people from the east country, and from the west country; and I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in truth, and in righteousness (Zechariah 8:3; 8:7-8).” “Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the Lord. And many nations shall be joined to the Lord in that day, and shall be my people: and I will dwell in the midst of thee, and thou shalt know that the Lord of hosts hath sent me unto thee (Zechariah 2:10-11).” 

For the purpose of establishing Mount Zion, we have been given a new covenant. David’s name was attached to this covenant, because God first swore the blessings unto David. As part of his inheritance, God swore that one day he would build David a sure house: David was strong in faith, and he believed God. Mount Zion is that sure house, for it is being built upon the sure mercies of David. David’s name gives us a way of pulling together all of the information and promises of the new covenant. “I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant (Psalm 89:3).” “My covenant shall stand fast with him (Psalm 89:28).” “David the son of Jesse said... He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God. And he shall be as the light of the morning... Although my house be not so with God; yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure: for this is all my salvation, and all my desire, although he make it not to grow (2Samuel 23:1-5).”

The new covenant is Jesus’ voice telling his followers to: Take my yoke upon you and learn of me (Matthew 11:29). This means that everyone who wishes to be counted among God’s children, will need to read the New Testament. This covenant is the rock of end times; it is the marriage vow of the lamb; and it is the reason we have gathered to the throne of New Jerusalem. “At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the Lord; and all nations shall be gathered unto it, to the name of the Lord, to Jerusalem: neither shall they walk anymore after the imagination of their evil heart (Jeremiah 3:17).” “Thy land shall be married (Isaiah 62:4).” “I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband (Revelation 21:2).” “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the marriage of the lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready (Revelation 19:7).” “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne (Revelation 3:21).”  

There are strong assurances granted in the new covenant, and God has sworn them unto everyone who loves and keeps this covenant with their whole heart. These assurances are listed in the eighty ninth Psalm, and God established their relevance in the one hundred and thirty second Psalm. God promised to anoint us, to make us his firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth. These next few promises are foundational: for they are the sure mercies of David, and by them the new covenant will be established. God swore to keep us safe from the afflictions of our enemies, and to beat down our foes, and to plague those who hate us: and above all else, he promised that he would be merciful unto us. Not to be remiss, God also swore that he would bring punishments upon even the followers of this covenant, if ever they failed to keep his commandments, and elected to disregard his word. “If his children forsake my law, and walk not in my judgments; if they break my statutes, and keep not my commandments; then I will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes (Psalm 89:30-32).” “My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips (Psalm 89:34).”

Our God is not a respecter of persons: therefore Christians will not be given preferential treatment.  “A sword is sharpened... and it is furbished, to give it into the hand of the slayer... It contemneth the rod of my son, as every tree... Because it is a trial... I have set the point of the sword against all their gates, that their heart may faint, and their ruins be multiplied. Ah! It is made bright, it is wrapped up for the slaughter (Ezekiel 21:9-15).” “What is the vine tree more than any tree? ...Behold, it is cast into the fire for fuel... Therefore thus saith the Lord God; As the vine tree among the trees of the forest, which I have given to the fire for fuel, so will I give the inhabitants of Jerusalem (Ezekiel 15:2-6).” 

God concluded the swearing of these promises by confirming what people must do in order to inherit them: “The Lord hath sworn in truth unto David; he will not turn from it... If thy children will keep my covenant and my testimony that I shall teach them, their children shall also sit upon thy throne for evermore. For the Lord hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation. This is my rest for ever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it. I will abundantly bless her provision: I will satisfy her poor with bread. I will also clothe her priests with salvation: and her saints shall shout aloud for joy (Psalm 132:11-16).” 

The sure mercies of David are established for ever: which means they can never be changed. Therefore believers can stand strong and proclaim the good news, without fear or reservation, knowing that God will have their backs. “Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David (Isaiah:55:3).” “I lay in Zion for a sure foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation (Isaiah 28:16).” “It shall be, if thou wilt hearken unto all I command thee, and wilt walk in my ways, and do that is right in my sight, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as David my servant did; that I will be with thee, and will build thee a sure house, as I built for David, and will give Israel unto thee (1Kings 11:38).” “Ye shall not go out with haste, nor go by flight: for the Lord will go before you; and the God of Israel will be your rereward (Isaiah 52:12).” “In that day shall the Lord defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem (Zechariah 12:7).” “I will make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it (Zechariah 12:3).”

Some of the testimonies which Moses recorded, teach us how God will react if people come against his prophets, or if they fail to keep his commandments. Remember Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, men unto whom God had revealed himself, even men that were anointed for the priesthood: they chose to disregard a command of God, and a fire went out from the Lord and devoured them (Exodus 28:4; 30:9; Leviticus 10:1-2). Remember Korah, the Levite, who worked in the service of the Lord, and Dathan and Abiram, who failed to come before the Lord: how these three sought to bring down Moses and Aaron’s authority, and the earth opened her mouth and swallowed them up. Afterwards a fire from the Lord went out and burned up the two hundred and fifty souls who had stood with them (Numbers chapter 16). Consider Miriam, Moses’ own sister, who spoke against Moses, and became leprous and was shut out of the camp for a week (Numbers 12:1-15). Don’t let these evidences escape your attention: learn from them. “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry (1Samuel 15:23).”  

Prophets need to pay serious attention to the warnings of God’s word. “Son of man, prophecy against the prophets of Israel that prophesy, and say thou unto them that prophesy out of their own hearts, Hear ye the word of the Lord; Thus saith the Lord God; Woe unto the foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing! ...Have ye not seen a vain vision, and have ye not spoken a lying divination, whereas ye say, The Lord saith it; albeit I have not spoken? Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Because ye have spoken vanity, and seen lies, therefore, behold, I am against you, saith the Lord God. And mine hand shall be upon the prophets that see vanity, and that divine lies: they shall not be in the assembly of my people... Because, even because they have seduced my people (Ezekiel 13:1-10).”  

Divination essentially means that someone has conceived a message that deviates from the truth of God’s word. “There shall not be found among you any one that... useth divination (Deuteronomy 18:10).” “Thus saith the Lord concerning the prophets that make my people err... night shall be... dark unto you, that ye shall not divine; and the sun shall go down over the prophets, and the day shall be dark over them. Then shall the seers be ashamed, and the diviners confounded: yea, they shall all cover their lips; for there is no answer of God (Micah 3:5-7).” 

There is a prophecy which provides evidence concerning a decision that Islamic leaders who are aware of the covenant message, are facing: It begins with the words, Appoint thee two ways. The prophecy uses the words “Rabbath” and “Ammonites.” Ammon is the parable name which is given to Muslims who have fought against the land of Israel for the sole purpose of taking possession of their land: even committing horrific acts of violence. Rabbath, (whose name was also translated Rabbah), is the name which is given to the remnant of the children in Ammon who will understand God’s end time message, perfectly. “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will cause the alarm of war to be heard in Rabbah of the Ammonites (Jeremiah 49:2).” “For three transgressions of the children of Ammon, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have ripped up the women with child of Gilead, that they might enlarge their border (Amos 1:13).” “Cry, ye daughters of Rabbah, gird you with sackcloth... for their king shall go into captivity, and his priests and princes together (Jeremiah 49:3).” “The land shall tremble and sorrow: for every purpose of the Lord shall be preformed against Babylon, to make the land of Babylon a desolation without an inhabitant (Jeremiah 51:29).”

“I have heard the reproach of Moab, and the revilings of the children of Ammon, whereby they have reproached my people, and magnified themselves against their border. Therefore as I live, saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, Surely Moab shall be as Sodom, and the children of Ammon as Gomorrah, even the breeding of nettles, and satlpits, and perpetual desolation: the residue of my people shall spoil them, and the remnant of my people shall possess them. This shall they have for their pride, because they have reproached and magnified themselves against the people of the Lord of hosts. The Lord will be terrible unto them: for he will famish all the gods of the earth; and men shall worship him, every one from his place (Zephaniah 2:8-11).” 

Consider their choice: Islamic leaders can either follow the counsel of their own diviners, or they can follow the counsel and instruction of God’s word. But is there a difference? You bet there is: “Appoint thee two ways, that the sword of the king of Babylon may come: both twain shall come forth out of one land: choose thou a place, choose it at the head of the way to the city. Appoint a way, that the sword may come to Rabbath of the Ammonites, and to Judah in Jerusalem the defensed. For the king of Babylon stood at the parting of the way, at the head of two ways, to use divination: he made his arrows bright, he consulted with images, he looked in the liver. At his right hand was the Divination for Jerusalem, to appoint captains, to open the mouth in the slaughter, to lift up the voice with shouting, to appoint battering rams against the gates, to cast a mount, and to build a fort. And it shall be unto them as a false Divination in their sight, to them that have sworn oaths; but he will call to remembrance the iniquity, that they may be taken. Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Because ye have made your iniquity to be remembered, in that your transgressions are discovered, so that in all your doings your sins do appear; because, I say, that ye are come to remembrance, ye shall be taken with the hand. And thou, profane wicked prince of Israel, whose day is come, when iniquity shall have an end, Thus saith the Lord God. Remove the diadem, and take off the crown: this shall not be the same (Ezekiel 21:19-26).” “For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire (Isaiah 9:5).”

This battle is about defeating religion once and for all, and this army is poised to do it. Therefore this army will be judged by the content of their hearts; and every evil intent of every wicked heart shall turned back upon their own heads. This is the sworn testimony of God Almighty: even unto people on both sides of this battle. “Mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity, but I will recompense their way upon their head (Ezekiel 9:10).” As for the oaths which they have sworn: “This is the thing which the Lord hath commanded. If a man vow a vow unto the Lord, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth (Numbers 30:1-2).” 

If you love the Lord God and will seek to serve him, then hear what God’s word is saying, and seek to fulfill it with your whole heart. God will use the sword of his word to strike through Christian leaders who have disconnected themselves from his end time message, for they have not sought the Lord in this matter (Deuteronomy 13:12-18). “Thou didst strike through with his staves the head of his villages: they came out as a whirlwind to scatter me (Habakkuk 3:14).” “It shall come to pass at that time, that I will search Jerusalem with candles, and punish the men that are settled on their lees: that say in their heart, The Lord will not do good, neither will he do evil (Zephaniah 1:12).” “Woe to them that are at ease in Zion... Ye that put far away the evil day, and cause the seat of violence to come near (Amos 6:1-3).” “Because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth (Revelation 3:16)” “My sword shall be bathed in heaven: behold, it shall come down upon Idumea, and upon the people of my curse (Isaiah 34:5).” “Cursed be the man that obeyeth not the words of his covenant, which I commanded your fathers... saying, Obey my voice, and do them, according to all which I command you (Jeremiah 11:3-4).”

“O Lord, though our iniquities testify against us, do thou it for thy name’s sake (Jeremiah 14:7).” “I will profane my sanctuary, the excellency of your strength (Ezekiel 24:21).” “For from the prophets of Jerusalem is profaneness gone forth into all the land (Jeremiah 23:15).” “The voice thereof shall go like a serpent; for they shall march with an army, and come against her with axes, as hewers of wood (Jeremiah 46:22).” “He shall set engines of war against thy walls, and with his axes he shall break down thy towers (Ezekiel 26:9).” “Put yourselves in array against Babylon round about: all ye that bend the bow, shoot at her, spare no arrows: for she hath sinned against the Lord. Shout against her round about: she hath given her hand: her foundations are fallen, her walls are thrown down: for it is the vengeance of the Lord: take vengeance upon her; as she hath done, do unto her (Jeremiah 50:14-15).” “Stormy wind fulfilling his word (Psalm 148:8).” 

This battle is won by keeping God’s word within yourselves, and go forward in thy righteousness, seeking to fulfill it. “Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O most mighty... And in thy majesty ride prosperously because of truth and meekness and righteousness; and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things (Psalm 45:3-4).” “He shall let go my captives, not for price nor reward (Isaiah 45:13).” “Behold, I will stir up the Medes against them, which shall not regard silver; and as for gold, they shall not delight in it. Their bows shall dash the young men to pieces... And Babylon... shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah (Isaiah 13:17-19).” 

Take every precaution to prepare your heart for this battle, because God’s word testifies that wicked thoughts will cause trouble for many people within this army. “Let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbor; and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate, saith the Lord (Zechariah 8:17).” “They come all for violence (Habakkuk 1:9).” “When thou shalt cease to spoil, thou shalt be spoiled (Isaiah 33:1).” “They said in their hearts, Let us destroy them together: they have burned up all the synagogues of God in the land (Psalm 74:8).” “Him that loveth violence his soul hateth (Psalm 11:5).” “Because the enemy hath said against you, Aha, even the ancient high places are ours in possession... I have lifted up mine hand, Surely the heathen that are about you, they shall bear their shame (Ezekiel 36:2-7).” “I will render unto Babylon and to all the inhabitants of Chaldea all their evil that they have done in Zion in your sight, saith the Lord. Behold, I am against thee, O destroying mountain... which destroyest all the earth: and I will stretch out mine hand upon thee... and will make thee a burnt mountain (Jeremiah 51:24).”

A city named Tyrus, is one of the target cities. Tyrus is the parable name which was given to Christian leaders who were told the truth of end times, but they rejected it, and elected to work against God’s word (Psalm 83:7; Ezekiel 17:4). According to the evidence against Tyrus, these leaders love the investment they have in their merchandise, more than they love God’s plan for end times. “Take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him... Thou wast upon the holy mountain of God... perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created; till iniquity was found in thee (Ezekiel 28:12-15).” “Say unto the prince of Tyrus... By thy great wisdom and by thy traffic hast thou increased thy riches, and thine heart is lifted up because of thy riches... Therefore I will bring strangers upon thee, the terrible of the nations: and they shall draw their swords against the beauty of thy wisdom, and they shall defile thy brightness. They shall bring thee down to the pit, and... thou shalt die the deaths of the uncircumcised by the hand of strangers: for I have spoke it, saith the Lord (from Ezekiel 28:2-10).” 

“Behold, I will bring upon Tyrus Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, a king of kings, from the north, with horses, and with chariots... and much people... and he shall make a fort against thee, and cast a mount against thee... and they shall make a spoil of thy riches, and a prey of thy merchandise: and they shall break down thy walls, and destroy thy pleasant houses... Thus saith the Lord God to Tyrus; Shall not the isles shake at the sound of thy fall, when the wounded cry, when the slaughter is made in the midst of thee... Then all the princes of the sea shall come down from their thrones... they shall  sit upon the ground, and shall tremble at every moment, and be astonished at thee. And they shall take up a lamentation for thee, and say to thee, How art thou destroyed, that wast inhabited of seafaring men, the renown city (Ezekiel 26:7-17).”

Moab is another target city. This name represents Islamic leaders who were given the truth of end times: they planted it in the Islamic nation; but after it began to grow, Moab’s mind changed and he purposed to destroy it by divining lies (Psalm 83:2-8; Habakkuk 1:11). “We have heard of the pride of Moab... but it shall not be so; his lies shall not so effect it... O vine of Sibmah, I will weep for thee... The spoiler is fallen upon thy summer fruits...  And joy and gladness is taken from the plentiful field, and from the land of Moab (Jeremiah 48:29-33).” “It grew and became a spreading vine... Shall he not pull up the roots thereof, and cut off the fruit thereof, that it wither? ...It shall wither in all the leaves of her spring... Yea, behold, being planted, shall it prosper? Shall it not utterly wither, when the east wind toucheth it? (Ezekiel 17:6-9).” “The east wind dried up her fruit (Ezekiel 19:12).” “Moab shall be destroyed from being a people, because he hath magnified himself against the Lord (Jeremiah 48:42).” “Give wings unto Moab, that it may flee and get away: for the cities thereof shall be desolate, without any to dwell therein. Cursed be he that doeth the work of the Lord deceitfully, and cursed be he that keepeth back his sword from blood (Jeremiah 48:9-10).”

“Do according to all I have commanded thee. A sound of battle is in the land, and of great destruction. How is the hammer of the whole earth cut asunder and broken! How is Babylon become a desolation among the nations! I have laid a snare for thee, and thou art also taken, O Babylon, and thou wast not aware: thou art found, and also caught, because thou hast striven against the Lord. The Lord hath opened his armory, and hath brought forth the weapons of his indignation: for this is the work of the Lord God of hosts in the land of the Chaldeans (Jeremiah 50:21-25).” “Prepare ye war against her... Arise, and let us go by night, and let us destroy her palaces. For thus hath the Lord of hosts said, Hew ye down trees, and cast a mount against Jerusalem: this is the city to be visited; she is wholly oppression in the midst of her. As a fountain casteth out her waters, so she casts out her wickedness... Be thou instructed, O Jerusalem, lest my soul depart from thee; lest I make thee desolate, a land not inhabited (Jeremiah 6:4-8).” 

The prophet Ezekiel delivered a message which will strengthen those who choose to set their hearts to serve the Lord, in accordance with his word. God is merciful, and he is rewarder of righteousness. “If the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die. All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live. Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord God: and not that he should return from his ways, and live? But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in the sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die. Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel; Is not my way equal? Are not your ways unequal? ...Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord God. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin (Ezekiel 18:21-30.)”

God will judge entire nations based upon whether or not they elected to heed his warnings. “At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it; If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them. And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it; if it do evil in my sight, that it obey not my voice, then I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them. Now therefore go to, speak to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the Lord; Behold, I frame evil against you, and devise a devise against you: return ye now every one from his evil way, and make your ways and your doings good (Jeremiah 18:7-11).” “If they diligently learn the ways of my people, to swear by my name... Then shall they be built in the midst of my people. But if they will not obey, I will utterly pluck up and destroy that nation (Jeremiah 12:16-17).” 

In conclusion: Repent, seek to do God’s will, call upon the Lord God with your whole heart, and rely mightily upon the scriptures to show you the way forward. “Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together; I the Lord have created it (Isaiah 45:8).” “They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by rivers of waters in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble: for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn (Jeremiah 31:9).” “Behold, therein shall be left a remnant that shall be brought forth... and ye shall see their way and their doings: and ye shall be comforted concerning the evil that I have brought upon Jerusalem, even concerning all that I have brought upon it. And they shall comfort you, when ye see their ways and their doings: and ye shall know that I have not done without cause all that I have done in it, saith the Lord God (Ezekiel 14:22-23).”