God Came from Teman

A Vision From the Prophet Habakkuk

The Lord God gave the prophet Habakkuk a vision. “Why doest thou show me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance? For spoiling and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strife and contention (Habakkuk 1:3).” Habakkuk's vision was given unto him for the purpose of sending a message to today's believers, one which loudly confirms that God is sending an army against religion, to destroy it. “The Lord answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that reads it. For the vision is yet for the appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie, though it tarry, wait for it: because it will surely come, it will not tarry (Habakkuk 2:2-3).” Habakkuk saw the army, and the resistance which lies ahead, and he interceded to God on behalf of today's believers, asking God to grant us mercy, and to give believers understanding in the vision. “A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet upon Shigionoth. O Lord, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid: O Lord, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy (Habakkuk 3:1-2).”

In order to show Islamic eminence in the vision, the vision flaunted the names of Teman and Paran. “God came from Teman, and the Holy One from mount Paran. His glory covered the heavens, and the earth was full of his praise (Habakkuk 3:3).” Through this provocative announcement, and other prophecies which include such city names as, Seir, and Edom, God has insured Islam’s place in prophecy: for all of these names are names of cities wherein Ishmael and Esau dwelt, and Ishmael and Esau, were, and are, the forerunners of Islam (Genesis 21:21; 32:3; 36:43; Jeremiah 49:7). “Lord, when thou wentest out of Seir, when thou marchedst out of the field of Edom, the earth trembled, and the heavens dropped, the clouds also dropped water (Judges 5:4).” “The Lord… rose up from Seir unto them; he shined forth from mount Paran, and he came with ten thousands of saints (Deuteronomy 33:2).”

Habakkuk's vision testifies that God will raise up an Islamic leader, and that this leader will come with a resounding chorus of praise. “Earth was full of his praise (Habakkuk 3:3).” There are other prophesies of scripture which corroborate with Habakkuk's vision, including this one from the prophet Isaiah: “Who raised up the righteous man from the east, called him to his foot, gave the nations before him, and made him rule over kings? He gave them as dust to his sword, and as driven stubble to his bow (Isaiah 41:2).”

To discretely advertise that this Islamic leader has spent time studying the scriptures of Jesus Christ, Habakkuk's vision testifies that this man has refrained himself from telling others about the secret source of his power. “His brightness was as the light… and there was the hiding of his power (Habakkuk 3:4).” According to the evidence, this leader is not only from the east, but he is also from the north: which translates that not only is he from the nation of Islam, but this man possesses knowledge which came from the covenant message. “I have raised up one from the north, he shall come: from the rising of the sun shall he call upon my name: he shall come upon princes as mortar, and as the potter treadeth the clay (Isaiah 41:25).”

Other details about this leader are prophesied under the parable name of, Nebuchadnezzar. “I will bring upon Tyrus Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, a king of kings, from the north, with horses… and companies, and much people (Ezekiel 26:7).” This leader will not go unnoticed, for he comes with an impressive number of followers. “He came with ten thousands of saints (Deuteronomy 33:2).”

The glory that comes upon this leader and his army, comes not upon them for their righteousness, but to cause God's glorious voice to be heard. “The Lord shall cause his glorious voice to be heard (Isaiah 30:30).” “All ye, assemble yourselves, and hear… I have called him: I have brought him, and he shall make his way prosperous. Come ye near unto me, hear ye this; I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; from the time that it was, there am I: and now the Lord God, and his spirit, hath sent me (Isaiah 48:14-18).” Habakkuk’s vision is yet another way in which God is revealing his thoughts unto his people, even declaring the righteousness of this prophet, and his radical army: “Thou didst march through the land in indignation, thou didst thresh the heathen in anger. Thou wentest forth for the salvation of thy people, even the salvation of thine anointed (Habakkuk 3:12-13).”

When this radical army of believers hears the covenant message, they will be stirred up, and they will be taking aggressive action for the Lord. They will go forth at Nebuchadnezzar’s feet, and they will take God’s counsel against those places of worship wherein religion is still being practiced and promoted. “Before him went the pestilence, and burning coals went forth at his feet (Habakkuk 3:5).” By all accounts their confrontations will be as fiery as burning coals, yet amid the chaos and confusion God will deliver his people. “At that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book (Daniel 12:1).”

This resolute army will bring God’s wrath against the walls of religion, and their mission will not be finished until Judgment Day. Their mission is to convince every naysayer and every deceived believer to submit themselves to the authority of God’s word. “A great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations… They shall run like mighty men; they shall climb the wall like men of war; and they shall march every one on his ways, and they shall not break their ranks (Joel 2:2; 2:7).” “Thou art my battle axe and weapons of war: for with thee will I break in pieces the nations, and with thee will I destroy kingdoms… I will also break in pieces with thee the shepherd and his flock (Jeremiah 51:20-23).” “The Lord shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executes his word: for the day of the Lord is great and very terrible; and who can abide it (Joel 2:11)?”

To give believers an easy way of collecting the scriptures which pertain exclusively to the righteous members of Nebuchadnezzar’s radical army, they were given the parable name of, the Medes. Their fiery spirit is against Babylon, and they are preparing to destroy it. “The Lord hath raised up the spirit of the kings of the Medes: For his device is against Babylon, to destroy it; because it is the vengeance of the Lord, the vengeance of his temple (Jeremiah 51:11).” Every place wherein the covenant message is either being suppressed, or ignored, is Babylon. “I will stir up the Medes against them… and Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees excellency, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. It shall never be inhabited… neither shall the Arabian pitch tent there; neither shall the shepherds make their fold there (Isaiah 13:17-20).”

The prophet Daniel also supplied valuable information concerning this leader. “In the latter time of their kingdom, when transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up (Daniel 8:23).” The words, “when transgressors are come to full,” are the all-telling words which testify that God has intentionally caused this leader to maintain his silence until after the covenant message was delivered unto everyone in the priesthood. This truth is affirmed by noting that the word "transgressor" can only be applied after the truth of God's word has been made known, and believers have had a chance to either obey it, or willfully disobey. The Hebrew word which was translated into the word “stand” in Daniel’s vision, was translated "stood" in Habakkuk’s vision: “He stood, and measured the earth: he beheld, and drove asunder the nations; and the everlasting mountains were scattered, and the perpetual hills did bow (Habakkuk 3:6).” Because God used this extract same word in these corroborating prophecies, it is surmised that this leader will stand up boldly, and he will openly teach believers the newly revealed truth's of prophecy. He will stand in the Holy Spirit, for he is wise, and he will execute God’s word in accordance with God's will, bringing glory to God the Father.

Executing God's word ultimately means that the covenant message will be broadcast, and that God's people will be delivered from the snares of religion. Nevertheless, unless Nebuchadnezzar’s doctrine includes publicizing the new covenant (which he has been suppressing), then his followers will not be entering into everlasting life (Job 20:5-7). “None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give God a ransom for him (Psalm 49:7).” From henceforth, in order for believers to enter into God's blessings, they must vow to learn of Jesus Christ, and they must keep that vow. This is the new standard, for this is our new covenant (Isaiah 59:19). The times wherein believers could receive an inheritance by the laws of the previous covenants, is expiring, because God is fulfilling his promise to give the world its new covenant, even confirming it with mighty signs and wonders. "I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear me forever (Jeremiah 32:39-40);" "I will make a new covenant for them (Hosea 2:18);" "He hath made the first old... the old is ready to vanish away (Hebrews 8:13)."

“I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction (Habakkuk 3:7).” The parable word "tents" is used in prophecy to represent gathering places wherein believers worship the Lord according to their own desires. Religion's tents are filled with imperfect people. The condition of God's people has worsened because many priests were not spending enough time in God’s word. Thankfully some leaders are changing their ways. Righteous priests are trading in their iniquities for a better understanding of God’s word. “There shall no evil happen to the just (Proverbs 12:21).” Whereas Habakkuk's verse is indicating that the tents of Cushan are in affliction, it is verifying that believers will see the affliction which will come upon places of worship wherein priests have despised God’s messengers, and have continued to promote their own understandings of scripture, because they loved their own policies.

“The curtains of the land of Midian did tremble (Habakkuk 3:7).” The name "Midian" is associated with Islam, and the "curtains" are associated with the holy place. Therefore this portion of the verse is indicating that a trembling will take place within the Mosques of Islam. Nebuchadnezzar will teach the Islamic people the covenant message, and when they hear it, many of them will perceive the terribleness of Islam's religious mistakes, and it will cause them to tremble. But our God is a forgiving God, and he is merciful. “I will cleanse them from all their iniquity, whereby they have sinned against me; and I will pardon all their iniquities, whereby they have sinned, and whereby they have transgressed against me. And it shall be to me a name of joy, a praise and an honor before all the nations of the earth, which shall hear all the good that I do unto them: and they shall fear and tremble for all the goodness and for all the prosperity that I procure unto it (Jeremiah 33:8-9).”

To best understand the army that is coming against religion, it is beneficial to learn the parable of the horse. In prophecy, God likened believers who lack understanding and are trusting in the guidance of their teachers, to horses. “Be not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding (Psalm 32:9).” Horses do not have the Holy Spirit. “Horses are flesh, and not spirit (Isaiah 31:3).” This is largely because believers which are likened to horses either have not heard about this gift, or else they haven't known the truth about how to receive it (Ephesians 1:12-14). Prophecies pertaining to the horse often contain a couple of other parable words which are closely related to the horse: words like, horsemen, and chariots. Therefore before continuing on with the interpretation of the horse, let's take a quick look at the meaning of these words. In prophecy, God used the word "horsemen" to represent priests, or other leaders that are guiding and instructing his people; and he used the word "chariot" to represent leaders which are highly lifted up, well respected, and famous for their religious ways and teachings. “I will overthrow the chariots, and those that ride in them; and the horses and their riders shall come down, every one by the sword of his brother (Haggai 2:22).”

Understanding the parable of the horse is beneficial to the interpretation of this prophecy, because God has depicted Nebuchadnezzar's army as having the appearance of horses, and horsemen. This insinuates that the believers within his army do not have the Holy Spirit. “The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so shall they run (Joel 2:4).” “Every one turned to his course, as a horse rushes into the battle (Jeremiah 8:6).” The good news is that even if believers that are without the Holy Spirit, if they know somewhat of the truth of God’s word, and if they strive to work together in agreement with it, then they are likened to white horses, because God’s sees them as being washed from the stain of their sins. “The armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean (Revelation 19:14).” “In that day shall there be upon the bells of the horses, HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD (Zachariah 14:20).”

God's children need living water, in other words, they need to know how they can receive the Holy Spirit, and enter into everlasting life. Horses are believers which have not heard, or known how to do this. “They are destroyed from morning to evening: they perish for ever without any regarding it (Job 4:20).” God commands the people who have learned the truth about what needs to be done in order to receive eternal life, to share their knowledge with those who have not heard. “Speak, ye that ride on white asses, ye that sit in judgment and walk by the way. They are delivered from the noise of archers in the places of drawing water, there shall they rehearse the righteous acts of the Lord, even righteous acts toward the inhabitants of his villages in Israel: then shall the people go down to the gates (Judges 5:11).” To best understand the insinuated meaning of this verse, note that the parable word “gates” refers to point at which knowledge opens a believer's understanding, and it allows them to enter immediately into everlasting life. When leaders teach the people the newly revealed truths of prophecy, not only will they be delivering their own souls, but they will also be delivering the souls of the people. “For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever (Psalm 49:8).” It is impossible to leave Jesus Christ of the equation, for he is, "The door of the sheep (John 10:7).”

“Was the Lord displeased against the rivers? Was thine anger against the rivers? Was thy wrath against the sea, that thou didst ride upon thine horses and thy chariots of salvation (Habakkuk 3:8)?” This verse is begging the question, Why is God bringing forth this army? Who is his wrath really against? Is it against his people? Or is it against religion? Religion undoubtedly did cause God grief, for it contained mistakes which deceived his people, but God scripted a plan to clean up religion's mistakes. Unfortunately, despite hearing the covenant message, there are priests and leaders which would rather flee far off from the Lord than confess their own religious mistakes before the congregation. “Ye said, No; for we will flee upon horses; therefore shall ye flee: and, We will ride upon the swift; therefore shall they that pursue you be swift (Isaiah 30:16).” God's wrath is kindled against those priests which are attempting to flee. “Thus saith the Lord… which bringeth forth the chariot and the horse, the army and the power; they shall lie down together, they shall not rise: they are extinct, they are quenched as tow (Isaiah 43:16-17).”

“Thy bow was made quite naked, according to the oaths of the tribes, even thy word (Habakkuk 3:9).” There is a bow purposed against the day of God's wrath, which is why David bade the prophets: “Teach the children of Judah the use of the bow (2Samuel 1:18).” God’s parable use of the word, bow, depicts the way in which men bend the truth of God's word, so that it works to their own advantage. If a person is shown the truth of God’s word, and if that person forgoes prayer, choosing rather to search the scriptures to find verses which can be used against it, then that person is likened to a deceitful bow. “They tempted and provoked the most high God, and kept not his testimonies: but turned back and dealt unfaithfully like their fathers: they were turned aside like a deceitful bow (Psalm 78:56-57).”

Scripture likens Ephraim to the deceitful bow: Ephraim is a parable name representing Christianity, for Christianity is God’s first begotten of the dead. “Ephraim is my firstborn (Jeremiah 31:9).” “Ephraim is like a silly dove… Woe to them! For they have fled from me… they have spoken lies against me… They return, but not to the most High: they are like a deceitful bow: their princes shall fall by the sword for the rage of their tongue (Hosea 7:11-16).” “They bend their tongues like their bow for lies: but they are not valiant for the truth upon the earth; for they proceed from evil to evil, they know not me, saith the Lord (Jeremiah 9:3).”

God is sending a bow against the deceived believers of Christianity. His radical army has drawn out its bow, and it is bent against the archers of religion. “Against him that bendeth let the archer bend his bow (Jeremiah 51:3).” “If he turn not, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready (Psalm 7:12).” “Call together the archers against Babylon: all ye that bend the bow, camp against it round about; let none thereof escape: recompense her according to her work; according to all that she hath done, do unto her: for she hath been proud against the Lord, against the Holy One of Israel (Jeremiah 50:29).” “A people shall come from the north… They shall hold of the bow and the lance: they are cruel, and will not show mercy: their voice shall roar like the sea, and they shall ride upon horses, every one put in array, like a man to the battle, against thee, O daughter of Babylon (Jeremiah 50:41-42).”

Truly the word "bow" reveals that the overly zealous army, as well as the believers whom they are confronting, are both making doctrinal mistakes in this battle. That being said, take another look at the verse: “Thy bow was made quite naked, according to the oaths of the tribes, even thy word (Habakkuk 3:9).” The word "naked" depicts the state of having your shame uncovered. Mentioning the "oaths of the tribes" is as mentioning the oaths and vows which have kept God’s people separated into the religions. These are the oaths which shall not stand (Amos 2:15). “Your agreement with hell shall not stand (Isaiah 28:18).” “In that day will I make a covenant for them… and I will break the bow and the sword and the battle out of the earth, and will make them lie down safely (Hosea 2:18).” Zion is reserved for believers that accept and trust in God's new covenant, but receiving and trusting in the instruction of the covenant message is also highly beneficial, because having a good understanding of prophecy is what it takes to break apart the oaths of the tribes, and those deceitful bows of steel. “He teaches my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms (Psalm 18:34).” “His dwelling place is Zion. There he brake the arrows of the bow, the shield, and the sword, and the battle (Psalm 76:2-3).” “I will not trust in my bow, neither will my sword save me (Psalm 44:6).”

“Thou didst cleave the earth with rivers (Habakkuk 3:9).” This declaration is confirming the effectiveness of Nebuchadnezzar and his army as they break apart the foundations of religion: they will cause the truth of God's word to flow out of God's house, like a river. “I will bring… Nebuchadnezzar… with horses… and much people… He shall set his engines of war against thy walls… thy walls shall shake at the noise of the horsemen… when he shall enter into thy gates, as men enter into a city wherein is made a breach (Ezekiel 26:7-10).” Nebuchadnezzar and his army will cry out truths against the laws and teachings which kept Judaism, Christianity, and the Islamic faith, in there places for centuries. “By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop the dew (Proverbs 3:20).” “Will ye not tremble at my presence (Jeremiah 5:22)?” 

In order to interpret Habakkuk's next verse, consider the parable meanings of the words: sun, moon, mountains and deep. The word, mountain, pertains to religion, and people with like-minded religious beliefs, because religious persons get high and lifted up in their prideful understanding of what God requires of those that want to be called by his name. The parable words, sun and moon, depict religious leaders, because they reflect and shine the light of truth into a dark world. The word, deep, attests to acquiring an understanding of prophecy, and being able to better interpret those strong scripture verses which formed the foundational laws of religion. “The mountains saw thee, and they trembled: the overflowing of the water passed by: the deep uttered his voice, and lifted up his hands on high. The sun and moon stood still in their habitation: at the light of thine arrows they went, and at the shining of thy glittering spear (Habakkuk 3:10-11).” These verses prophesy the reactions of God's people, and the amazement of priests as they stand and watch God’s powerful army suddenly appear before them, and pass them by. “At that day… the priests shall be astonished, and the prophets shall wonder (Jeremiah 4:9).” God's unconventional army will cause the eyes of the blind to be opened, and ears of the deaf to hear. “At the noise of the taking of Babylon the earth is moved, and the cry is heard among the nations (Jeremiah 50:46).” “Behold, waters rise up out of the north, and shall be an overflowing flood, and shall overflow the land and all that is therein; the city, and them that dwell therein: then men shall cry, and the inhabitants of the land shall howl (Jeremiah 47:2).”

“Thou woundedst the head out of the house of the wicked, by discovering the foundation unto the neck (Habakkuk 3:13).” This verse is pondering the terrible works of the Lord: for God himself will pour out the curse, and he will wound the pride of every priest that refused to hear his message, or who disobeyed his instructions. “When thou with rebukes dost correct a man for iniquity, thou makest his beauty to consume away like a moth (Psalm 39:11).” “Behold, I make a covenant: before all thy people I will do marvels, such as have not been done in all the earth… and all the people among which thou art shall see the work of the Lord: for it is a terrible thing that I will do (Exodus 34:10).” “I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is their any that can deliver out of my hand (Deuteronomy 32:39).”

“Thou didst strike through with his staves the head of his villages: they came out as a whirlwind to scatter me: their rejoicing was to devour the poor secretly (Habakkuk 3:14).” In prophecy, the word "staff" is used to represent equipping oneself with a strong scripture verse for the purpose of hurling it at others to silence their teachings. Staves are strong scripture verses: these verses, or staves are also referred to as our staves of bread. “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).” So the afore mentioned verse from Habakkuk's vision is insinuating that if priests come out to hurl staves at the covenant message, then they will be struck by God’s staves. Note that the Assyrian is depicted as having a staff in his hand: “My people that dwellest in Zion, be not afraid of the Assyrian: he shall… lift up his staff against thee (Isaiah 10:24).” However the staff that is in the hand of the Assyrian's adversaries, is stronger. “O Assyrian, the rod of my anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation (Isaiah 10:5).” “By his understanding he smiteth through the proud (Job 26:12).”  

“Ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars (Matthew 24:6).” God's has a purpose for causing the rumors of wars to be heard in the land, and Habakkuk’s vision exposes that purpose. “When I heard, my belly trembled; my lips quivered at the voice… and I trembled in myself, that I might rest in the day of trouble: when he cometh up unto the people, he will invade them with his troops (Habakkuk 3:16).” "Rumors of wars" will cause fears, and this kind of fear is a godly fear which will cause hearing priests to get prepared. “Howl ye; for the day of the Lord is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty. Therefore shall all hands be faint, and every man’s heart shall melt: And they shall be afraid: pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall be in pain as a woman that travaileth (Isaiah 13:6-7).” “Before their face the people shall be much pained (Joel 2:6).”

“Rottenness entered into my bones (Habakkuk 3:16).” These words were pulled from the afore mentioned verse to draw attention to the parable words "rottenness" and "bones". “I will be… unto the house of Judah as rottenness (Hosea 5:12).” The punishment for those priests which did hear the covenant message but continued to stand upon their own religious beliefs, is that they will have to endure the filthiness of their own congregations. Evidence of this is found in the parable word "bones." “These bones are the whole house of Israel (Ezekiel 37:11).” The parable word "bones" was used in prophecy to depict the spiritual condition of spiritually dead believers. “I will scatter your bones round about your altars (Ezekiel 6:5).” “Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! …Their root shall be rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away the law of the Lord of hosts, and despised the word of Holy One of Israel (Isaiah 5:21; 5:24).” "The seed is rotten under their clods (Joel 1:17)."

“Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labor of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation (Habakkuk 3:17-18).” These words applaud God’s omnipotent ability to fulfill his word. God prophesied that he would equip the priesthood first: “The Lord shall save the tents of Judah first (Zechariah 12:7).” He prophesied that the people would have seven years to confirm the covenant message with many of their religious leaders, “He shall confirm the covenant with many for one week (Daniel 9:27).” He prophesied that during that allotted seven year time frame, the people would continue to maintain their understanding and religious beliefs, as usual. “As the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For… they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered into the ark (Matthew 24:37-38).” These three prophecies, are, in effect, fulfilled, and yet another prophecy is being fulfilled which should be counted among them. This Prophecy identifies that during the seven years of confirming the new covenant, the efforts of faithful priests would seemingly be unproductive. “The heaven over you is stayed from dew, and the earth is stayed from her fruit (Haggai 1:10).” Every faithful priest has been waiting for the rain. Rain has everything to do with hearing the revealed truths of prophecy being taught in the pulpit. “If you walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments and do them; Then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit (Leviticus 26:3-4).” “But if you will not hearken unto me… your strength shall be spent in vain: for your land shall not yield her increase, neither shall the trees of the land yield their fruits (Leviticus 26:14; 26:20).” 

The prophet Joel affirmed that "rain," as well as repentance, plays an important roll in taking away the northern army. “Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep… let them say, Spare the people, O Lord… Then will the Lord be jealous for his land, and pity his people. Yea, the Lord will answer... I will remove far off from you the northern army… Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the Lord will do great things. Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field: for the pastures of the wilderness do spring, for the tree beareth her fruit, the fig tree and the vine do yield their strength. Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month (Joel 2:17-23).”

“The Lord God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet (Habakkuk 3:19).” According to scripture, people often speak with their feet (Proverbs 6:13). In other words, where believers take God's message says as much about their hearts, as what they actually say. “Their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood (Proverbs 1:16).” “Ponder the paths of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established (Proverb 4:26).” The Hebrew word which was translated into the word "feet" was also translated in ways which illustrate that when believers share their messages with others, those who take their understandings and messages forth, become as their feet. The easiest way to prove the intended meaning of the word "feet" is to look up the verses wherein that very same Hebrew word which was translated in the word "feet" was translated into the word "follow" (Exodus 11:8; Judges 8:5; 1Kings 20:10). In each instance the word "follow" was included in the phrase, “the people that follow.”  

The word "hind" conjures up images of a beautiful animal that flees away in quiet haste. In saying, “he will make my feet like hinds’ feet,” the implication is that when a priest confesses truths of revealed prophecy before his congregation, then his congregation will rise up, and they will be as his feet: They will go forth and spread news of the covenant message, and they will bring forth new converts. “The voice of the Lord maketh the hinds to calve (Psalm 29:9).” “Rejoice with the wife of thy youth. Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe (Proverbs 5:18-19).”

“He will make me to walk upon mine high places (Habakkuk 3:19).” The word, walk, suggests that the horses have been released from their burdens. That same word which was translated, walk, was also translated into the word, tread. Examples of places wherein this Hebrew word was translated, tread, include: “Thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee; and thou shalt tread upon their high places (Deuteronomy 33:29).” “Every place whereon the soles of your feet shall tread shall be yours… for the Lord your God shall lay the fear of you and the dread of you upon all the land that ye shall tread upon, as he hath said unto you (Deuteronomy 11:24-25).” By testifying that, “He will make me to walk upon mine high places,” God is insinuating that the armies of salvation will be caused to turn around and tread upon their own deceived people. “I will remove far off from you the northern army, and will drive him into a land barren and desolate, with his face toward the east sea, and his hinder part toward the utmost sea, and his stink shall come up, and his ill savor shall come up, because he hath done great things (Joel 2:20).”

“To the chief singer on my stringed instruments (Habakkuk 3:19).” This verse which was placed at the end of Habakkuk’s vision, is turning everything backwards. It suggests that this vision which was written about Nebuchadnezzar and his army, was actually written for Nebuchadnezzar and his army. “I am the Lord thy God which teachest thee to profit, which leadest thee by the way that thou shouldest go (Isaiah 48:17).” This chief leader is a chosen vessel of God, for God chose him to bring news of the new covenant against the religiously deceived. “The Lord was ready to save me: therefore we will sing my songs to the stringed instruments all the days of our life in the house of the Lord (Isaiah 38:20).”

In conclusion: Although this part of the message is not from the book of Habakkuk, it is a prophetic message of instruction for Nebuchadnezzar. “Concerning Kedar, and concerning the kingdoms of Hazor, which Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon shall smite, thus saith the Lord; Arise ye, go up to Kedar, and spoil the men of the east (Jeremiah 49:28).” The Lord has instructed Nebuchadnezzar to bring the newly revealed truths of prophecy against his own people: Kedar was Ishmael’s son (Genesis 25:13). Why is God making this request? Because he intends to deliver those Muslims which have been crying out to him for deliverance. Kedar is prophesied to be a city which is burdened by liars that hate peace. “Deliver my soul, O Lord, from lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue… Woe is me, that I sojourn in Meshech, that I dwell in the tents of Kedar! My soul hath long dwelt with him that hateth peace. I am for peace: but when they speak, they are for war (Psalm 120:2-7).”

Nebuchadnezzar is being asked to smite with his tongue the leaders that are lying to his people, so that he spoils their resting places. In other words, go, and convince these leaders to hear the covenant message before God pours the consuming affliction upon them, and their people. Religion has spoiled God’s tabernacles, therefore God intends to spoil those places of worship which have disregarded his messengers. “The spoiler shall come upon every city, and no city shall escape… Give wings unto Moab, that it may flee and get away (Jeremiah 48:8).” “My people, go ye out of the midst of her, and deliver every man his soul from the fierce anger of the Lord (Jeremiah 51:45).”

Hazor is that other city that Nebuchadnezzar is prophesied to smite (Jeremiah 49:28). The name, Hazor, was used in prophecy to represent the mindset of priests which are using their tongues to cause believers to fight against the covenant message. This interpretation is revealed through the pattern of the city’s history. Hazor was a city whose king sent messages to gather the kings of other nations to go out to battle against Joshua and Israel, when they were preparing to enter into the promised land. Hazor was the only city that Israel burned with fire, and Joshua smote her king (Joshua 11:1-13). Other biblical references to the city of Hazor indicate that her kings were oppressors (Judges 4:2-3); and that Assyrians had taken control of the city (2Kings 15:29). These findings suggest that those who are dwelling in spiritual city of Hazor, have already heard the newly revealed truths of prophecy: however, they despise God's word, and are preparing to fight against it.

“Hazor shall be a dwelling for dragons, and a desolation for ever: there shall no man abide there, nor any son of man dwell in it (Jeremiah 49:33).” This verse is evidence and proof that every priest of the Islamic faith which has heard the covenant message, and is fighting against it, is dwelling in Hazor. There is coming a day in the which God will pour out the afflicting pestilence, and all of the priests that are dwelling in the spiritual city of Hazor, will all be consumed together. Therefore the most pressing issue that Nebuchadnezzar is facing, is to convince Islam's hearing priests to obey God's message. Affliction will be poured out upon every priest that Nebuchadnezzar and his followers, are unable to convince. “Behold, a noise of the bruit is come, and a great commotion out of the north country, to make the cities of Judah desolate, and a den of dragons (Jeremiah 10:23).”

O Lucifer, Son of the Morning

The apostle Paul prophesied the two end time signs which will undoubtedly cause believers to know that the day of God’s wrath is at hand: one is a certain falling away, the other is an unveiling of the son of perdition. “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition (2Thessalonians 2:3)." This message seeks to examine who the son of perdition is, for once the identity of this man has been revealed, then the “falling away” is made clear. The son of perdition is also referred to as, Lucifer, however, since the prophecy concerning Lucifer is written in Hebrew, and the prophecy concerning the son of perdition is written in Greek, proof as to whether or not these two accounts are prophesying truths about the same person, must be discerned. Before examining these two prophecies, understand that whenever a leader of God's people fails to surrender unto the authority of God's word, it is reported that the leader is trying to save the world by his own power, and God likens it to setting up oneself to be a god (Psalm 82). A patten denouncing this unscrupulous behavior is written in the book of Job wherein God reprimands Job, asking him to gird up his loins like a man, and explain how he intends to save the world (Job chapter 40).

Remember that our objective is to find out if the account of Lucifer agrees with the account of son of perdition. The reason for trying to prove that these two accounts are indeed testifying truths about the same person, is because Paul implied that discovering the identity of the son of perdition is an end time sign, and additional understanding concerning this end time sign is tucked away in an old testament account, of Lucifer. Note that both of these accounts insist that a certain leader will be reigning over God's people, and that this leader will not surrender himself unto the authority of God's word; and both of these accounts identify that this leader will be taken out of the way. 

“The son of perdition; who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. Remember… that I told you these things… only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way (2Thessalonians 2:3-7).”

“O Lucifer, son of the morning! How art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God… I will be like the most High, Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man… that opened not the house of his prisoners (Isaiah 14:12-17)?” Other conquests that Lucifer is credited with, include: making earth to tremble, shaking the kingdoms, and destroying the religions. “They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms; That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof (Isaiah 14:16-17)?”

Lucifer has been reigning over God's people in accordance with God’s word, for the word of God testifies that, if, and when God's people disregarded his ways and broke his covenant, that God would set his face against them, and he would cause their enemies to reign over them (Leviticus 26:14-17). Even people who are trusting in the new covenant are not exempt from this law of punishment and correction. To best understand these things, it is necessary to understand the parable meaning of the word, rod. In prophecy the word, rod, was used to represent leaders lifting up their voices and guiding God's people in the way that they want them to believe. See how this understanding gives new meaning to a promise which was made against David. “I have found David… His seed will I make to endure for ever… If his children forsake my law… then I will visit their transgression with the rod (Psalm 89:20-32).” That very same promise of punishment was testified again for a second time, only this time the evidence clearly indicates that the rod is of men: “If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men (2Samuel 7:14).” Lucifer's mighty voice is the rod that has been reigning over God's people. “He shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth (Isaiah 11:4).”

Lucifer's message condones religion's divisive denominational practices. His voice of authority is based upon God's word (Isaiah 14:6). “He hath laid my vine waste, and barked my fig tree: he hath made it clean bare, and cast it away; the branches thereof are made white (Joel 1:7).” Upon hearing Lucifer's message, righteous priests discerned that their own religiously motivated speeches were based upon shameful motives. In other words, God used Lucifer's message to bring down the loftiness of many deceived leaders, for they were glorifying the idea that salvation was based upon whether or not a person had certain religious beliefs. The strong guidance of Lucifer's message was primarily based upon truths that Lucifer had learned from the covenant message: Lucifer's mistake is that he is withholding the controversial parts of the covenant message, for he is still respecting a law from the Christian religion. Therefore God has withdrawn his presence from Lucifer, and he is without the Holy Spirit. “Thy pomp is brought down to the grave, and the noise of thy viols… How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations (Isaiah 14:11-12)!”

In order to successfully navigate the prophecies of Lucifer, it is necessary for believers to understand the parable meanings of the words, death, and sleep. In prophecy, spiritual death occurs if believers transgress against God’s word. In other words, in the day that a follower of Jesus Christ makes a deliberate and conscious decision to do something that is sinful in God’s eyes, God withdraws his Holy Spirit from them, and they die spiritually. God's word declares that transgressors are as dead men, saying that they dwell in hell. “We are in desolate places as dead men (Isaiah 59:10).” “The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead (Proverbs 21:16).” Lucifer is a Christian leader who has been deliberately telling lies, therefore he is transgressing against God, and he is spiritually dead.

God sees a difference between believers that are spiritually dead because of transgression, and those who have fallen asleep. Sleepers are believers which have read the scriptures, and they have some understanding of end times, however they have stopped studying God's word to know what the sealed prophetic message should really mean. Sleepers may enjoy hearing someone speak about end times, or they may like to read books about these things, but they are not studying the scriptures for the purpose of increasing their own end time understanding. Priests that have fallen sleep are easily offended if anyone dares to try and show them something new pertaining to prophecy. “Should ye not hear the words which the Lord hath cried by the former prophets (Zechariah 7:7)?” 

Sleeping is iniquity, because iniquity means that believers are making the same mistakes that their forefathers made. “They are turned back to the iniquities of their forefathers, which refused to hear my words (Jeremiah 11:10).” “The Lord cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity (Isaiah 26:21).” Because sleepers dwell in iniquity, scripture says that they lie in their graves. “O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves… and you shall know that I am Lord, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and have brought you up out of your graves, and shall put my spirit in you, and you shall live: then shall you know that I the Lord have spoken it, and preformed it (Ezekiel 37:12-14).” 

Once a believer has fallen asleep, only God can raise him up again. “As the waters fail from the sea, and the flood decayeth and drieth up: So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of sleep (Job 14:11-12).” Sleeping is credited with quieting the earth, because everyone who has fallen asleep is not interested in finding out the truths which were reserved for end times: They lie down in their own understandings, which are primarily the understandings of their predecessors. “All the kings of the nations, even all of them, lie in glory, everyone in his own house (Isaiah 14:18).” “We have walked to and fro through the earth, and, behold, all the earth sitteth still, and is at rest… O Lord… How long wilt thou not have mercy on Jerusalem? …Thus saith the Lord of hosts; I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy. And I am very sore displeased with the heathen that are at ease (Zechariah 1:11-15).”

There amid the prophecies of Lucifer, God published the news that Lucifer has lain himself down among those who are either spiritually dead, or asleep. “Since thou art laid down, no feller is come up against us. Hell from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming: it stirreth up the dead for thee, even the chief ones of the earth: it hath raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations (Isaiah 14:8-9).” Lucifer’s ruin came about because he allowed his own lies to keep him from serving the Lord with a pure heart, and with a clean conscience. “Who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul to vanity, nor sworn deceitfully (Psalm 24:3-4).”

“Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name (Psalm 142:7).” When Lucifer does the Lord's will, then all of his iniquities and transgressions will be forgiven him, and he will receive the power of the Holy Spirit (Ezekiel 18:22). But in order for this to happen, Lucifer must forsake the counsel of his fellows. “Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness (Proverbs 25:5).” 

Lucifer’s message was as a filthy rag before the Lord's eyes, because it contained lies. Therefore God is calling upon Lucifer to destroy his own teachings. “Prepare slaughter for his children for the iniquity of their fathers; that they do not rise, nor possess the land, nor fill the face of the world with cities (Isaiah 14:21).” When Lucifer makes his decision to obey God, then God will cast him out of the grave, and he will be given a new name. "Lucifer... thou art cast out of thy grave like an abominable BRANCH (Isaiah 14:19)." "Behold the man whose name is THE BRANCH: and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the Lord: Even he shall build the temple of the Lord; and he shall bear the glory, and he shall sit and rule upon his throne: and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both (Zechariah 6:12-13).” “Thus saith the Lord… to him whom man despiseth, to him whom the nation abhorreth, to a servant of rulers, Kings shall see and arise, princes also shall worship, because of the Lord that is faithful, and the Holy One of Israel, and he shall choose thee (Isaiah 49:7).”

“I will raise unto David a righteous BRANCH (Jeremiah 23:5).” “There shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a BRANCH shall grow out of his roots: And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord… He shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked (Isaiah 11:1-4).” “Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever (Isaiah 9:7).” Witnessing the Branch’s righteous actions will cause many of his followers to rise up from their graves. “Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in the dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead (Isaiah 26:19).”

“Their slain shall also be cast out, and their stink shall come up out of their carcasses (Isaiah 34:3).” Rewards are forthcoming for believers that will listen to the Branch's messages, for his messages cooperate with God’s word. These rewards are not based upon anyone's prior deeds, nor upon prior accomplishments. These rewards are given for the purpose of causing others to understand the revealed truths of prophecy, and for testimonies. They will convince the naysayers that they must cooperate with God's message. “I will save you from all your uncleannesses: I will call for the corn, and will increase it, and lay no famine upon you. And I will multiply the fruit of the tree, and the increase of the field, that ye shall receive no more reproach of famine among the heathen. Then shall ye remember your own evil ways, and your doings that were not good, and shall loathe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and for your abominations. Not for your sakes do I this, saith the Lord God, be it known unto you: be ashamed and confounded for your own ways, O house of Israel (Ezekiel 36:29-32).” 

“My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distill as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as showers upon the grass (Deuteronomy 32:2).” Lucifer was purposed to walk before the Lord, to prepare the way for the new covenant. Lucifer's doctrine is what God referred to as, the former, or in other words, the first rain, while the Branch's doctrine is the latter rain. “He hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month (Joel 2:23).” “I will give you the rain of your land in his due season, the first rain and the latter rain (Deuteronomy 11:14).” “Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and you turn aside… then the Lord’s wrath be kindled against you, and he shut up heaven, that there be no rain (Deuteronomy 11:16-17).”

Logically, the covenant message is the Lord’s latter rain. “His going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth (Hosea 6:3).” “He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth (Psalm 72:6).” “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 created it (Isaiah 45:8).” Who is better equipped to deliver the covenant message than "The Branch" and those whom he hath influenced and taught, for these are the people that have been following after the covenant message. “He shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain (2Samuel 23:4).” 

“My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips (Psalm 89:34).” End time curses and the punishments of correction will certainly come upon men, but before these judgments happen, seven years were required to allow time for hearing priests to prepare themselves, as well as their congregations. “Declare this in the house of Jacob, and publish it in Judah… Hear this, O foolish people, and without understanding; which have eyes, and see not; which have ears, and hear not… This people have a revolting and a rebellious heart; they are revolted and gone. Neither say they in their heart, Let us now fear the Lord our God, that giveth rain, both the former and the latter, in his season: he reserveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest (Jeremiah 5:20-24).” Because God waited for seven years before pouring out the prophesied curse, some priests have already fallen away from the Lord, for they ceased from following after the newly revealed truths of prophecy. “Thou hast played the harlot… Therefore the showers have been withholden, and there hath been no latter rain; and thou hast a whore’s forehead, thou refusedst to be ashamed (Jeremiah 3:1-3).” But every priest that listened to Lucifer's message, and studied and prayed, and gave up some of their religious ways, will receive the rewards of righteousness. “Unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings (Malachi 4:2).” “The seed shall be prosperous; the vine shall give her fruit, and the ground shall give her increase, and the heavens shall give their dew; and I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these things. And it shall come to pass, that… I will save you, and ye shall be a blessing: fear not, but let your hands be strong (Zechariah 8:12-13).”

In conclusion: This lesson provides evidence and proof that the son of perdition, and Lucifer are just two other prophesied names that apply to the man that is best known by the parable name of, the Assyrian. And now that the identity of the son of perdition has been revealed, the other sign, the "falling away," is made apparent. The "falling away" which is discernible as an end time sign, is that of God's people falling away from the traditional practices of their religion, in order to follow after the Lord, and accept the new and better way that God has prepared for his children. “The former things are passed away… I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful (Revelation 21:4-5).” In other words, the "falling away" that is prophesied as an end time sign, isn't just about the people that are turning away from God, and failing to do his will, but it's also about the changes in traditional religious teachings that are occurring because leaders have heard some of the newly revealed truths of prophecy, and they are changing their ways. They are falling away from the rules of traditional religion, and it is a noticeable sign. Therefore rejoice exceedingly, for by evidencing these two prophesied end time signs, believers can know, with certainty, that the kingdom of God is at hand! "'Be ye glad and rejoice forever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy (Isaiah 65:18).""And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll: and all their host shall fall down (Isaiah 34:4)." 

Rejoicing in the Covenant of Abraham

It started as a promise that God made with Abraham saying that if Abraham would obey him and would walk in his ways, then he would make his covenant with Abraham, and would multiply his seed exceedingly. “I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect, and I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly (Genesis 17:1-2).” This promise required Abraham to depend upon God to show him how to be perfect. Abraham walked together with God for many years before receiving his promise. “After he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise (Hebrews 6:15).”

Evidence as to when the covenant was sworn unto Abraham was recorded in the book of Genesis, and it was eluded to in the book of Hebrews: “By myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son… that in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; and in thy seed shall all the nations of earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice (Genesis 22:16-18).” On the day that Abraham withheld not his son from God, God rejoiced exceedingly in Abraham’s obedience, and on that day the Lord performed his promise, and he swore a covenant to Abraham! “For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he swore by himself, saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee (Hebrews 6:13-14).”

Abraham’s reward for trusting God was a heritage of blessings and promises that were laid up for those who would serve the God of Abraham. The details of God’s plan are scattered, but God appointed verses which lead us into understanding. “Which covenant he made with Abraham, and his oath unto Isaac; and confirmed the same to Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant (Psalm 105:9-10).” Believers can discern from these words that Abraham’s inheritance was recorded as an oath, and in a law, and in another covenant.

True understanding must begin by believing God. When God promised the covenant, he said that he would establish it with Abraham, and also with his seed (Genesis 17:7). God informed Abraham, that Sarah would bear him a son. Although Abraham tried to defer to his existing son whom God had already blessed with promises (Genesis 16:10-11), God, for his own purposes, said that his covenant would be established with Isaac. “As for Ishmael, I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly… but my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year (Genesis 17:20-21).”

The blessings of Abraham’s reward were first published in a law that was scribed by Moses. “Moses commanded us a law, even the inheritance of the congregation of Jacob (Deuteronomy 33:4).” Jacob’s name was intentionally used to conceal the whereabouts of this law. “He confirmed the same to Jacob for a law (Psalm 105:10).” God routinely used the parable name "Jacob" to refer to believers who had been shown the truth of his word, and this is why Jacob’s name was ascribed to the law. “He sheweth his word unto Jacob (Psalm 147:19).”

The law that Moses published, lists the many benefits that believers will inherit because of Abraham’s faithfulness. However, this law has a stipulation: To inherit the blessings, believers must walk in God’s commandments, and do them. “If ye walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments, and do them; then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit… I will give peace in the land, and ye shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid: and I will rid evil beasts out of the land, neither shall the sword go through your land. And you shall chase your enemies, and they shall fall before you by the sword… For I will have respect unto you, and make you fruitful, and multiply you, and establish my covenant with you… and I will walk among you, and will be your God, and you shall be my people (Leviticus 26:3-12).” A host of judgments are also recorded in the law. These judgments are as correcting sentences which God promised to bring upon believers that are not yielding unto his commandments, and that are breaking his covenant. But God, in his infinite wisdom, concluded the law by publishing a way that his banished children could be restored, and forgiven. Read more about this law, and about the commandments written therein, in the book of Leviticus, chapter twenty six.

“God, willing more abundantly to show the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath (Hebrews 6:17).” As Israel stood at the gates of her promised land, she entered into God's covenant, but Israel also stood there to be a witness as God swore an oath unto all of Abraham’s seed. “Ye stand this day all of you before the Lord your God… that thou shouldest enter into a covenant with the Lord thy God, and into his oath, which the Lord thy God maketh with thee this day… Neither with you only do I make this covenant and this oath; but with him that standeth here with us this day before the Lord God, and also with him that is not here with us this day (Deuteronomy 29:10-15).”

The covenant and the oath which were sworn unto Israel on that day, are inseparable. This means that the words of Israel’s covenant, pertain to all of Abraham’s seed. “He confirmed the same to Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant (Psalm 105:10).” Like the law that was scribed by Moses, the covenant declares the many blessings that will come upon the believers who diligently serve the God of Abraham. “It shall come to pass, if thou hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that… all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee… and all people of the earth shall see that thou art called by the name of the Lord; and they shall be afraid of thee (Deuteronomy 28:1-10).” “God shall keep unto thee the covenant and the mercy which he swore unto thy fathers: And he will love thee, and bless thee, and will multiply thee… Thou shalt be blessed above all people… And the Lord will take away from thee all sickness, and will put none of the evil diseases of Egypt, which thou knowest, upon thee; but will lay them upon all them that hate thee (Deuteronomy 7:12-15).” Also like the law that was given through Moses, the covenant listed the curses which will come upon believers that are not listening to the Lord's commandments, and doing them. To summarize the relevance of these things, the Lord has given his people the promises of blessings and cursings, twice; therefore the things which are written in the law, and again in the covenant, will happen, because God has established them.

There are many blessings listed in the covenant, and all of them are inherited promises which will come upon, and overtake those believers who have listened to the words of Abraham’s covenant, and done them (Deuteronomy 6:1). “Only the Lord had a delight in thy fathers to love them, and he chose their seed after them, even you above all the people, as it is this day (Deuteronomy 10:15).”

“But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee (Deuteronomy 28:15).” Likewise, promised curses are prophesied to come upon those believers who are not listening to the words of Abraham's covenant, and doing them: until they are destroyed, and until their high fenced walls come down. “Moreover all these curses shall come upon thee, and shall pursue thee, and overtake thee, till thou be destroyed; because thou hearkenedst not unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which he commanded thee: and they shall be upon thee for a sign and for a wonder (Deuteronomy 28:45-46).” “And he shall besiege thee in all thy gates, until thy high and fenced walls come down, wherein thou trustedst (Deuteronomy 28:52).”

Hearing alone is not the answer: God's people must do the commandments of the Lord, that is the answer. Even faithful believers that have done great things for the Lord will be among the casualties of the curse, if they don't take action. “It shall come to pass, when he heareth the words of this curse, that he bless himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace, though I walk in the imagination of my heart… The Lord shall not spare him, but then the anger of the Lord and his jealousy shall smoke against that man, and all the curses that are written in this book shall lie upon him, and the Lord shall blot out his name from under heaven (Deuteronomy 29:19-20).”

God is implementing change, which means that believers need to pay attention: we have not yet entered into our inheritance. “Ye shall not do after all the things that we do here this day, every man whatsoever is right in his own eyes. For ye are not as yet come to the rest and to the inheritance, which the Lord your God giveth you (Deuteronomy 12:8-9).” Within the words of the covenant that was sworn unto Abraham's seed, God informed his people that they are to be listening for a prophet. “I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I command him. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him (Deuteronomy 18:18-19).” Through the voice of a prophet God will show his people what will happen during end times, and through the voices of his messengers, including the prophets, the Lord will lead his people safely through the changes that lie ahead. When the pestilence does occur, it will confirm God's word, and it will bring glory unto his servants the prophets. It is imperative to understand that blessings, or cursings will come upon all of God's people, and these rewards will be based upon whether or not believers have listened to God's voice: God's voice will be heard through his servants the prophets, as well as through his messengers.

End times are about God fulfilling the scriptures and delivering the truths of his promises, especially that prophesied end time promise to set up his everlasting kingdom upon earth (Daniel 2:44). In order to accomplish these things, the curse will overtake believers that are not yielding to the authority of God’s repeated commandment to listen diligently to his covenant, and do it. “Cursed be the man that obeyeth not the words of his covenant, which I commanded your fathers in the day I brought them forth out of the land of Egypt… saying, Obey my voice, and do them, according to all which I command you: so you shall be my people, and I will be your God: That I may perform the oath which I have sworn unto your fathers, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey (Jeremiah 11:3-5).”

“When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the Lord thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice; (For the Lord thy God is a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he swore unto them (Deuteronomy 4:30-31).” Pray that God  will reveal the truths of prophecy and end times unto your soul, and when he does, then stand upon your understanding of God's word, for God will protect and deliver you. “If thou shalt say in thine heart, These nations are more than I; how can I dispossess them? Thou shalt not be afraid of them: but shalt remember what the Lord thy God did unto Pharaoh, and unto all Egypt… So shall the Lord thy God do unto all the people of whom thou art afraid (Deuteronomy 7:17-19).”

“The Lord God of your fathers make you a thousand times so many as ye are, and bless you, as he hath promised you (Deuteronomy 1:11)!” In the covenant of Abraham, God promised his people that they will possess the gates of their enemies (Genesis 22:17). Consider the implication: the words "possessing the gates of his enemies," imply that God's people will be able to show others how to enter into the Lord's presence. And God's other promise to Abraham, the one to bless and multiply, testifies that if God's people will give out his message to others, even the newly revealed truths of prophecy, then the blessings of Abraham's promise will come upon them: for God will do a work in the hearts of the hearers, and he will bring them into understanding and agreement with his people. “In blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies… because thou obeyed my voice (Genesis 22:17-18).”

“And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed (Genesis 22:18; 26:4).” God pledged this very special promise unto Abraham, and then again to Isaac. Therefore it is an established promise, because if God promises something twice, it has been established forever (Genesis 41:32). God said to Isaac, “Sojourn in this land… and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father; And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws (Genesis 26:3-5).” This was God’s oath unto Isaac, and these are the words of the everlasting covenant which God established through Isaac. “Thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant (Genesis 17:19).”

The oath that God swore unto Abraham, and then again unto Isaac, did two things: First of all, it made promise that all nations which serve the God of Abraham, would be blessed in Jesus Christ. Proof of this is evidenced in the verse: “Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to thy seeds, as to many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect (Galatians 3:16-17).” This verse testifies that the law of blessing and cursings which Moses commanded to Israel, cannot disavow the blessings of promise which are in Christ Jesus, because God established those promises by first swearing them unto Abraham, and then again unto Isaac. The second thing which God's oath of promise that was sworn unto Abraham and Isaac did, was that it confirmed that Messiah would come through the lineage of Isaac.  

Believers today are facing a decision of what to do when they discover these long neglected truths of scripture. We have a pattern concerning what to do, and that pattern is recorded in the life of King Josiah. In the days of King Josiah, an all but forgotten book of the covenant was found. Through its discovery Josiah learned that Judah’s priests had broken God’s covenant. He rent his clothes. Written within the words of the covenant was God's commandment for priests to read the words of that covenant in the ears of all Israel every seven years. God charged them with this commandment, saying that it would cause their children, and the strangers within their gates to hear the covenant, and thereby they would learn to fear him and would observe to do all the words of the law. Despite the many repeated warnings that wrath and cursers would overtake all persons who broke covenant, the priesthood had grown complacent in executing God's word. They had, in essence, forsaken God. “They will forsake me, and break my covenant which I have made with them. Then my anger shall be kindled against them in that day, and I will forsake them, and they shall be devoured, and many evils shall befall them. (From Deuteronomy 31:10-17).”

Josiah immediately called on priests to pray for him, and for Judah, and for all the people; and Josiah prayed. Josiah's humbled response pleased the Lord. “Because thine heart was tender, and thou hast humbled thyself before the Lord, when thou heardest what I spake against this place… and has rent thy clothes, and wept before me; I also have heard thee (2Kings 22:19).” Believers need to have that same humbled spirit that Josiah had, and they need to cry out to God for the souls that have been damaged by religion's mistakes, and by the complacency of God's people. As in Josiah’s case, God will not turn away his wrath, but he will have mercy upon those who humbly bow themselves, and obey him. “Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep… and let them say, Spare the people, O Lord… Then will the Lord be jealous for his land, and pity his people (Joel 2:17-18).”

Josiah’s jealousy continued to burn for the Lord, and he gathered all Judah and read the covenant in their ears. Then he made a covenant with the Lord, to walk after him and to keep his commandments, and to perform the words of His covenant, and Josiah caused all the people to stand to the words of the covenant. Then he commanded the high priest to bring out of the temple all the items of falsehood, and he burned those items without the temple. He put down Judah’s idolatrous priests, and he broke down their altars. Josiah defiled and burned holy places of false gods, and slew their priests. Afterwards, Josiah kept a Passover unto the Lord. Pondering all this is important because Josiah was zealously taking these action and doing these things: to perform the words of the covenant (2Kings 23:24; Deuteronomy 7:24-26; 12:2-4).

“Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe to do it; that it may be well with thee, and that you may increase mightily, as the Lord God of thy fathers hath promised thee (Deuteronomy 6:3).” Believers today should not fear cleaning up religion's mistakes, for God is with us. “Be strong and of good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee (Deuteronomy 31:6).” “Lay hold upon the hope set before us: which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast (Hebrews 6:18-19).” “Be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises (Hebrews 6:12).”

In conclusion: Priests that work to advance their congregation's understanding of the covenant message, will be blessed: "He that puts his trust in me shall possess the land, and shall inherit my holy mountain (Isaiah 57:13)." God will pour his Holy Spirit upon them, and he will pour blessings upon their congregations. “Fear not, O Jacob, my servant; and thou Jesurun, whom I have chosen… I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring (Isaiah 44:3).” The perversions and mistakes of religion will be corrected, and God will bring peace unto his people. “To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant; the oath which he swore to our father Abraham, that he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life (Luke 1:72-75).” These things will happen because of the faithfulness of God, and because of the faithfulness of all God's people throughout the ages. “If ye diligently hearken unto me, saith the Lord… then this city shall remain for ever (Jeremiah 17: 24-25).” 

Understanding the Similitudes

The Way of Holiness

God gave believers, similitudes: he likened people to fowls and beasts. “We roar all like bears, and mourn sore like doves (Isaiah 59:11).” To get benefits from the similitudes, begin by understanding that God has stretched a line over Jerusalem, a line which fulfills prophecy. "A measuring line shall yet go forth (Jeremiah 31:39)." This line separates the believers, who, upon hearing the covenant message, paid attention to its warnings and made some changes to their religious beliefs, from believers that either disregarded or rejected the message, and made no changes. “I will stretch over Jerusalem the line of Samaria (2Kings 21:13).” This line is God's mandate for avoiding the afflicting pestilence, because God's word testifies that it shall not return void (Isaiah 55:11). “The Lord… hath stretched out a line, he hath not withdrawn his hand from destroying (Lamentations 2:8).” 

The believers that have turned from some of their past religious beliefs, are likened to birds. "How say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain (Psalm 11:1)?" And those that have disregarded God's messengers, are likened to the beasts of the earth. Incidentally, no fowl, nor any beast, will enter into the everlasting kingdom, because the similitudes pertain exclusively to believers that are misrepresenting, misinterpreting, and misunderstanding God's word. “There is a path which no fowl knoweth (Job 28:7).” “An highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness… No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast… but the redeemed shall walk there (Isaiah 35:9-10).”

“Thou makest darkness, and it is night: wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep forth (Psalm 104:20).” To interpret a similitude, start by looking up a beast’s, or a fowl’s name in a bible concordance. Study all the passages of scripture wherein that name was used. Find out all you can about the beast, things like where it dwells, or what it’s doing that provokes God. Then, to gain better understanding, look up words which pertain exclusively to that particular fowl, or beast. Something to keep in mind during your investigation, is that God has determined to turn the offenses of offenders back upon their own heads. For example, if you’re going to roar at believers like a lion, then a lion is going to roar back at you. In this way judgment causes the offenders to internalize the ramifications of their errs. The similitudes are beneficial in that they help to shed light on God's corrections, for every one that is working against God's word will be corrected, and some will be punished.

The satyrs: According to the prophecies of Isaiah, satyrs ‘shall dance’ and they ‘shall cry to their fellows’ from Babylon (Isaiah 13:19-21; 34:14). These two crucial points are key to the interpretation of the parable word, satyr. Another key to the interpretation of this word, is knowing the parable meaning of the word, Babylon. Babylon's name in prophecy, pertains to believers that hear the newly revealed truths of prophecy, and ignore them. Everyone in Babylon is without the Holy Spirit. “The land thereof shall become burning pitch (Isaiah 34:9).” “It shall never be inhabited (Isaiah 13:20).” Babylon is where satyr's reside, wherefore the similitude of the satyr pertains to priests which heard, and have rejected the revealed truths of prophecy. They hardened their hearts, and kept their traditional beliefs. These priests will dance in Babylon because they will escape the pestilence, however, since they are disregarding God's messengers, God will not hear their prayers. “Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard (Proverbs 21:13).” God's punishment against satyrs is that they will be discomfited by the noisome pestilence until they confess their mistakes, turn from them, and cry out the truths of revealed prophecy unto their fellow believers (Psalm 30:6-12). “They put the branch to their nose. Therefore will I also deal in fury: mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity: and though they cry in mine ears with a loud voice, yet will I not hear them (Ezekiel 8:17-18).”

Similitudes transcend religion, and they apply to believers of every faith. The similitude of the satyr is a good place to prove this. The Hebrew word which was translated, satyr, was also translated into the word, rough, as well as the word, hairy. Places of scripture wherein the word was translated, rough, and hairy, verify that there are Christian priests, as well as Islamic priests, which are likened to satyrs. Consult your bibles to find the evidences (Genesis 27:11; Daniel 8:21).

The Hebrew word which was translated, satyr, was also translated into the word, goat. This fact deepens our understanding of the satyr. “The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats (Psalm 104:18).” God gave satyrs a temporary refuge from the pestilence, and that refuge is in their teachers. “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help (Psalm 121:1).” “Knowest thou the time when the wild goats of the rock bring forth (Job 39:1)?” The wild goats (satyrs) will bring forth truth when their teachers are broken. “Is not my word… like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces (Jeremiah 23:29)?” “Thou shalt have goats’ milk enough for thy food, and for the food of thy household (Proverbs 27:27).”

The leopards: God likened elders, as well as others who are responsible for protecting the principles of the faith, to leopards. Leopard's fiercely correct anyone who deviates from the church’s doctrine. The problem with leopards is that they are great intimidators. "A leopard shall watch over their cities: every one that goeth out thence shall be torn in pieces (Jeremiah 5:6)." God will send leopards to come against these great intimidators. "As a leopard by the way will I observe them (Hosea 13:7)."

In the thirteenth chapter of the book of Jeremiah, God counseled priests concerning their leopards. The counsel began by Jeremiah performing an act which illustrates what will happen unto those priests that hide the truth of his word for too long: like an unprofitable girdle, their sanctuaries will be spoiled, and they will be rendered unprofitable to the Lord. After making the illustration, God rendered a warning which calls upon priests to give him glory before the darkness comes, because on the day of Salvation if priests still haven’t dealt with their leopards, then leopards will attack their places of worship, and their flocks will be scattered. “I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation… Their horses also are swifter than leopards (Habakkuk 1:6-8).” Intimidation is no excuse for disobedience. “Lift up your eyes, and behold them that come from the north; where is the flock that was given thee, thy beautiful flock? What wilt thou say when he shall punish thee? For thou hast taught them to be captains, and as chief over thee: shall not sorrows take thee, as a woman in travail (Jeremiah 13:20-23)?”

The lion: Lions are strong, valiant, and fearless believers. “The righteous are as bold as a lion (Proverbs 28:1).” The scriptures liken both priests and congregations, to lions. “Judah is a lion’s whelp… he crouched as an old lion; who shall rouse him up (Genesis 49:9)?” “How goodly are thy… tabernacles, O Israel… He crouched, he lay down as a lion, and as a great lion: who shall stir him up (Numbers 24:5; 24:9)?” God gives the lion his understanding. “The young lions… seek their meat from God (Psalm 104:21).” Predictably, lions require much meat, which is why God gave his people the prophets. “Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion? Or fill the appetite of the young lion (Job 38:39-40)?” The trouble with allowing prophets to have control over the lion's meat, is that there are unwise prophets which are teaching things that disagree with God's end time message. As a result, their followers, the priests, are ignorant and misinformed concerning the covenant message, and these ignorant and misinformed priests will look upon the revealed truths of prophecy as a threat against God's people, and they will cry out messages against it. “I have forsaken mine house, I have left my heritage… My heritage is unto me as a lion in the forest; it crieth out against me: therefore have I hated it… and no man layeth it to heart (Jeremiah 12:7-11).”

When these lionlike priests cry out their warnings, their congregations will be stirred up. “Behold, the people shall rise up as a great lion, and lift himself up as a young lion (Numbers 23:24).” And even though God's messengers will do everything in their power to try and divert this attack, the fearless lions will not heed their warnings. “Like as the lion and the young lion roaring on his prey, when a multitude of shepherds is called forth against him, he will not be afraid of their voice, nor abase himself for the noise of them (Isaiah 31:4).” “In that day they shall roar against them like the roaring of the sea: and if one look unto the land, behold darkness and sorrow, and the light is darkened in the heavens above (Isaiah 5:30).”

To protect the righteous, God himself will roar against the lions with a mighty pestilence. “The Lord shall go forth as a mighty man… he shall cry, yea, roar; he shall prevail against his enemies (Isaiah 42:13).” “I will devour them like a lion (Hosea 13:8).” “The great day of the Lord… hasteneth greatly, even the voice of the day of the Lord: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly (Zephaniah 1:14).”

The woeful lamentations of a lion are published in the thirty eighth chapter of the book of Psalms: “Thine arrows stick fast in me… There is no soundness in my flesh… For mine iniquities are gone over my head… My wounds stink and are corrupt because of my foolishness… I have roared by the reason of the disquietness of my heart… My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore… But I, as a deaf man, heard not; and I was as a dumb man that opened not his mouth. Thus I was as a man that heareth not, and in whose mouth are no reproofs… I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin. But my enemies are lively, and they are strong: they that hate me wrongfully are multiplied… Forsake me not, O Lord: O my God, be not far from me (From Psalm 38).”

The bears: “The day of the Lord is… as if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him (Amos 5:18-19).” Those who are likened to bears are believers that continued to practice religion, even after witnessing the pestilence. Bears think of conversion as being optional. “They said, There is no hope: but we will walk after our own devices… Who hath heard such things: the virgin of Israel hath done a very horrible thing (Jeremiah 18:12-13).” Bears are against change, and they will roar against everyone, including members of their own congregations, if they desert their religion and go to worship in places that are teaching the covenant message. “They be as chafed in their minds, as a bear robbed of her whelps (2Samuel 17:8).”

“I will meet them as a bear that is bereaved her whelps, and will rend the caul of their heart (Hosea 13:6-8).” Because they have roared against God’s messengers, evil messengers will roar back at them; and because they have turned their backs upon God, God will turn his back upon them. The consequence of their defiance is that roaring members of their own congregations will prevent them from altering their course before Judgment Day. 

A lamentation expressing the bear’s misery is written in the book of Lamentations: “I am a man that hath seen affliction by the rod of his wrath… surely against me is he turned… he compassed me about with gall and travail. He hath set me in dark places, as they that be dead of old. He hath hedged me about, that I cannot get out: he hath made my chain heavy. Also when I cry and shout, he shutteth out my prayer… he was unto me a bear lying in wait… He hath turned aside my ways and pulled me in pieces… thou hast removed my soul far off from peace… Remembering my affliction and my misery… my soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me (from Lamentations chapter three).”

The boar: “Thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt… and the boar out of the wood doth waste it (Psalm 80: 8, 80:13).” The similitude of the boar depicts a highly influential spiritual leader who teaches and promotes messages which cause his followers to remain spiritually dead. In order to reach this conclusion, note that the Hebrew word which was translated, boar, was also translated into the word, swine. It is also necessary to know what is meant by the parable words: eating flesh. When a prophet promotes a new message, and believers accept and receive that message, then God likens it to eating that prophet's flesh. By gathering the scriptures which pertain to the boar, and understanding what is meant by the words "eating flesh," believers can perceive two things: that everyone who is following after this famous and renown prophet, is spiritually dead; and that all of his followers will be consumed together on Judgment Day. “I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts… Which remain among the graves, and lodge in the monuments, which eat swine’s flesh and broth of abominable things is in their vessels (Isaiah 65:2-4).” “They that sanctify themselves… behind one tree in the midst, eating swine’s flesh… shall be consumed together (Isaiah 66:17).”

The fox: God likened our unwise prophets, to foxes in the desert. The desert is a place wherein water is scarce, so stipulating that foxes are dwelling in the desert, implies that they are not spending much time in God’s word. Consequently, desert dwellers are going to have a hard time trying to understand the revealed truths of prophecy. “O Israel, thy prophets are like foxes in the deserts (Ezekiel 13:4).”

God had the prophet Ezekiel prophesy a message against the foxes. “Son of man, prophesy against the prophets… say unto them… Because you have spoken vanity, and seen lies, therefore, behold, I am against you, saith the Lord (Ezekiel 13;2; 13:8).” End times will come suddenly upon God's people, and it will be especially hard on believers that are unprepared: Prophets should be interceding to God on behalf of the church, and praying that their influences are not deceiving his people. The church needs conversion, and prophets are relied upon for its guidance. “Ye have not gone up into the gaps, neither made up the hedge for the house of Israel to stand in the battle in the day of the Lord (Ezekiel 13:5).” In order to discern the terribleness of their offense, consider the parable word "walls."  In prophecy, this word pertains to those scripture verses which are presented as laws, for the purpose of protecting, maintaining, and propagating a religion. Some prophets are still working to reinforce these laws, whereas God is purposing to break down our walls, and destroy religion. The prophets that are provoking God in this fashion will be destroyed in that day, along with the religious laws that they are working to reinforce. “I will break down the wall that you daubed with untempered mortar… and it shall fall, and ye shall be consumed in the midst thereof (Ezekiel 13:14).”

“Take counsel together, and it shall come to naught; speak the word, and it shall not stand: for God is with us (Isaiah 8:10).” “The Lord… confirmeth the word of his servant, and performeth the counsel of his messengers (Isaiah 44:25-26).” Every prophet should be studying God’s word, for the day is coming in the which they will need to confess the mistakes of their previously held end time understandings. These confessions are necessary, because every believer must be convinced and persuaded to abandon their current end time beliefs. So be wise, and turn to God, and teach God's people the truth. “I will accomplish my wrath upon... the prophets of Israel which prophesy concerning Jerusalem, which see visions of peace for her, and there is no peace (Ezekiel 13:16).” Hearing testimonies about their mistaken messages will encourage God's people to be converted, so they can avoid punishment. “If thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday: And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought… and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not (Isaiah 58:10-11).”

The wild ass: Wild asses are congregations which have been set free from the laws of scripture. “Who hath sent out the wild ass free (Job 39:5)?” They dwell in corrupt places where scripture is neglected, and transgression is thriving (Job 24:5). “Upon the land of my people shall come up thorns and briers… a joy of wild asses (Isaiah 32:13-14).” When affliction is poured upon their priests, wild asses will be unable to discern the truth. They will elect to hire new teachers, and their selections will be persons without the Holy Spirit,  for they will only hire priests which teach the messages that they want to hear (2Timothy 4:3). “They are gone up to Assyria, a wild ass alone by himself: Ephraim hath hired lovers (Hosea 8:9).”

Wild asses have forgotten God. “I planted thee a noble vine, wholly a right seed: how then art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto me? …Know what thou hast done: thou art a swift dromedary traversing her ways: a wild ass used to the wilderness, that snuffs up the wind at her pleasure (Jeremiah 2:21-24).” Even when the noisome pestilence comes against these believers, they will not alter their beliefs, for God has lifted his hand, and he has sworn against them. Wild asses have mistreated their priests, as well as their fellow believers, and God has testified that they will bear their shame (Ezekiel 36:7). “All they that seek her will not weary themselves; in her month they shall find her (Jeremiah 2:24).”

The wild bull: “Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me (Psalm 22:12).” Wild bulls are naive offenders that have been persuaded to take vengeance for the Lord, by coming against the places of assembly that are still practicing religion. “Who is this that cometh from Edom… travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save (Isaiah 63:1)?” The Lord has loudly protested against their attack, saying that he alone is the avenger. “I have trodden the winepress alone… I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury… The day of vengeance is in mine heart… and I will tread down the people in mine anger… and I will bring down their strength to the earth (Isaiah 63:3-6).”

God will intervene in the wild bulls attack by pouring affliction upon them. “Because that Edom hath dealt against the house of Judah by taking vengeance, and hath greatly offended… I will also stretch out mine hand upon Edom, and will cut off man and beast from it (Ezekiel 25:12-13).” Wild bulls are unaware of their grievance: they are acting in good faith, but their leaders have given them bad counsel. “There is one come out of thee, that imagines evil against the Lord, a wicked counselor (Nahum 1:11).” Proof that the uncensored truth of the covenant message was withheld from the wild bulls, is evidenced through the word, faint:  “In that day shall the fair virgins and young men faint for thirst (Amos 8:13).” “Thy sons have fainted, they lie at the head of all the streets, as a wild bull in a net... Hear now this, thou afflicted, and drunken, but not with wine (Isaiah 51:20-21).” God’s response to the calamity of the wild bull's attack is to declare that he has removed their cup, meaning that this pestilence is a way for God to get their attention, and prevent from further sinning against him.

“The wolf and lamb shall feed together (Isaiah 65:25).” Every believer within the congregation who is trusting in the laws of their teachers for their salvation, is likened to a wolf. Wolves are easily offended, and their temperament is fierce. Their harsh verbal attacks, are as a punishment. “He pours contempt upon princes, and weakens the strength of the mighty (Job 12:21).” Their fierce confrontations are referred to as, breaking the bones. “Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice (Psalm 51:8).” The solution for diverting a pack of wolves, is to cause them to perish. This happens, if, or when the covenant message is preached before the congregation by the lips of their very own priest. “The land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it (Numbers 35:33).” “They perish at the rebuke of thy countenance (Psalm 80:16).” “They shall perish… As a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed (Psalm 102:26).”

Wolves have three starring roles in religion’s demise: First, they will be monitoring priests who elect to teach false doctrines despite God's signs and warnings, and they will prevent them from altering their course. Second, their fierce strength will be evidenced within the armies of believers that confront the places of worship wherein religion is still being promoted. “Israel is a scattered sheep... Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon hath broken his bones (Jeremiah 50:17).” Third, wolves will turn against every priest or prophet that is responsible for causing believers to suffer the affliction of Judgment Day. “Her judges are evening wolves; they gnaw not the bones till the morrow (Zephaniah 3:3).” “Jacob… shall eat up the nations his enemies, and shall break their bones (Numbers 24:8).”

Because their fierce temperament is transgression, wolves do not have the Holy Spirit. God will send all the curses that are written in the scriptures upon wolves to try and correct them before Judgment Day. “Every sickness, and every plague, which is written in the book of this law, them will the Lord bring upon thee (Deuteronomy 28:61).” “The Lord shall send upon thee cursing, vexation, and rebuke… until thou be destroyed, and until thou perish quickly; because of the wickedness of thy doings, whereby thou hast forsaken me (Deuteronomy 28:20).” Every believer that fails to keep the instructions of God's word, will be consumed together on Judgment Day. “The Lord shall make the pestilence cleave unto thee… He shall smite thee with consumption, and with fever… and with extreme burning, and with the sword (Deuteronomy 28:21-22).” “I will… consume thy filthiness out of thee. And thou shalt take thine inheritance in thyself in the sight of the heathen, and thou shalt know I am the Lord (Ezekiel 22:15-16).”

The dragon: The distinction which sets dragons apart, is their access to the pulpit. Dragons are arrogant and prideful priests and prophets which despise hearing correction, hate God's messengers, and refuse to receive God's instructions. “Behold, I am against thee, Pharaoh king of Egypt, the great dragon that lieth in the midst of his river, which hath said, My river is mine own, I made it for myself (Ezekiel 29:3).” Dragons esteem God's messengers to be nothing more than troubling, annoying irritations. Nevertheless, messengers are provoking dragons to study God's word, so they are strengthening themselves. Therefore despite their pride, and regardless of their mistakes, dragons are working to purify their congregations. “They have belied the Lord, and said, It is not he; neither shall evil come upon us… Because ye speak this word, behold, I will make my words in thy mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall devour them (Jeremiah 5:12-14).” Dragons dwell in Babylon where they are without the Holy Spirit. “Babylon shall become heaps, a dwelling place for dragons (Jeremiah 51:37).”

“The beasts of the field shall honor me, the dragons and the owls: because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen (Isaiah 43:20).” Dragons will need to quickly study and find out the truths of revealed prophecy, and put away their religious errs. “In the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes (Isaiah 35:7).” Dragons that fail to do this will be afflicted, and they will become an abhorrence to all flesh: nevertheless, their affliction will be a living testimony of the truth of God’s word. “Thou didst divide the sea by thy strength: thou brakest the heads of the dragons in the waters. Thou brakest the heads of leviathan in pieces, and gavest him to be meat to the people inhabiting the wilderness (Psalm 74:13-14).”

“I will make Jerusalem heaps, and a den of dragons; and I will make the cities of Judah desolate, without an inhabitant. Who is a wise man, that may understand this? (Jeremiah 9:11-12).” That which is left of religion after believing priests flee away from their past mistakes, scripture likens to a prideful and rebellious den of dragons. God has also likened Nebuchadnezzar to a dragon. Nebuchadrezzar is against the places of worship that are practicing and promoting religion, therefore he will surely come against their leaders; so in effect, this battle will pit dragon against dragon. “Behold, the noise of the bruit is come, and a great commotion out of the north country, to make the cities of Judah desolate, and a den of dragons (Jeremiah 10:22).” “Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon hath devoured me, he hath crushed me, he hath made me an empty vessel, he hath swallowed me up like a dragon, he hath filled his belly with my delicates, he hath cast me out (Jeremiah 51:34).”

The fowls: “Oh that I had wings like a dove! For then would I fly away, and be at rest… I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest (Psalm 55:6-8).” The similitudes about fowls pertain to believers that hear the revealed truths of prophecy, and they perceive religion's fallibility. Believers that are likened to fowls, take action, and they begin to turn from some of their past beliefs. The loudest message learned from studying the similitudes of the fowls, is that even when a believer knows the truth about end times, there still remains certain things which must be done in order to escape God's wrath, as well as the destruction of Judgment Day (Ezekiel 20:40). Just knowing the truth does not equate to agreeing with God. “Can two walk together, except they be agreed (Amos 3:3)?”

The eagle. “Enlarge thy baldness as the eagle (Micah 1:16).” The word 'baldness' credits the believers that are likened to eagles, with repentance. In other words, a repentant heart sets the eagle apart. “I will bring sackcloth upon all loins, and baldness upon every head (Amos 8:10).” Eagles have perceived region's mistakes, and they are sorry. Eagles reside somewhere between the iniquities of their past, and the advancement of the covenant message. “She dwelleth and abideth on the rock, upon the crag of the rock, and the strong place (Job 39:28).”

“Doth the eagle mount up at thy command, and make her nest on high (Job 39:27)?” Eagles have obtained knowledge, but knowledge puffeths up (1Corinthians 8:1). The problem with eagles is that they have allowed their pride to cause them to forget charity, which means that they lack compassion, patience and love. “He shall come as an eagle against the house of the Lord (Hosea 8:1).” “Lo, I will raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter hasty nation… they shall fly as the eagle that hastened to eat (Habakkuk 1:6; 1:8).” Eagles will help the humbled, but they fail miserably at lavishing grace and mercy upon the deceived (2Timothy 2:24-26). “It shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe to do all his commandments… The Lord shall bring a nation against thee from far… as swift as the eagle flieth; a nation whose tongue thou shalt not understand (Deuteronomy 28:15; 28:49).” “Our persecutors are swifter than the eagles (Lamentation 4:19).”

In the seventeenth chapter of the book of Ezekiel there is a parable written which speaks about two mighty eagles. In the parable God informs believers that there are two prideful eagles which covenanted together in an agreement which comes against the new covenant, as well as its message. It is written that God will recompense their wickedness, and he will punish their followers. “Thus saith the Lord God; As I live, surely mine oath that he hath despised, and my covenant that he hath broken, even it will I recompense upon his own head… and all his fugitives with all his bands shall fall by the sword, and they that remain shall be scattered toward all winds: and ye shall know that I the Lord have spoken it (Ezekiel 17:19-21).” “Thy terribleness hath deceived thee, and the pride of thine heart, O thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock… though thou shouldest make thy nest as high as the eagle, I will bring thee down from thence, saith the Lord (Jeremiah 49:16).”

The owl: Scripture reveals that owls dwell in Babylon (Isaiah 13:19-21). “The land thereof shall become burning pitch… the owl and the raven shall dwell in it: and he shall stretch out upon it the line of confusion, and the stones of emptiness (Isaiah 34:9-11).” Owls have neglected scripture, “I am like an owl of the desert (Psalm 102:6).” Despite warnings to the contrary, those being likened to owls are believers who are naively accepting and believing the messages of their teachers. “Beware of false prophets (Matthew 7:15).” “Trust ye not in a friend, put ye not confidence in a guide (Micah 7:5).”

Pertinent to the owl, is the Assyrian’s teachings. The name Assyrian was used in prophecy to represent religious leaders who have heard the covenant message, and although they adopted some of its wisdom, they trashed its fundamental message. Owls have adopted the Assyrian’s theology. “The Assyrian was a cedar in Lebanon with fair branches… The waters made him great… all the fowls of heaven made their nests in his boughs… thus saith the Lord… I have driven him out for his wickedness… Upon his ruin shall all the fowls of heaven remain (from Ezekiel chapter 31).” Owls, as well as many of the other fowls of heaven, have put their confidence in the Assyrian.

One particular owl of scripture is referred to as the great owl. The great owl represents churches which are gathering their congregations together under the Assyrian’s message. Key to the interpretation of the great owl is in knowing that the female gender represents the workers of the church, especially those who are doing the work of running its day by day operation. “There shall the great owl make her nest, and lay, and hatch, and gather under her shadow (Isaiah 34:15).” The great owl has nested, along with her teacher, in the pit of Babylon: “Assure is there and all her company: his graves are about him: all of them slain, fallen by the sword (Ezekiel 32:22).” Owls will eventually believe the truths of revealed prophecy, because the noisome pestilence will be plaguing them until they do so: no matter how much they pray unto the Lord and mourn for their persecutions, this time God is requiring every believer to be in agreement with his word (Ezekiel 21:26-27). “I will make…a mourning as the owls. For her wound in incurable (Micah 1:8-9).”

The raven: A verse in Song of Solomon draws attention to the ravens; it speaks of their black color, and their locks (Song of Solomon 5:11). Being black in color associates the ravens with repentance; but the word, locks, eludes to their failure to believe the truth, and to open themselves up to the Holy Spirit. Ravens are believers that are privy to the covenant message, and they are diligently watching for its execution, however they still haven’t read the words of Jesus Christ. “They shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it (Amos 8:12).” “He sent forth a raven, which went forth to and fro, until the waters were dried up from off the earth (Genesis 8:7).” The weary ravens still haven't discovered the power of God's new covenant: “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me (Matthew 11:29).” Studying the message of Jesus Christ is not optional. When ravens finally relent and study Jesus' message, then they will receive a powerful witness, and they will be used by God to help feed his people. "Thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed there (1Kings 17:4)."

The cormorant and bittern: Those who are likened to the cormorant and bittern, are priests which converted and made changes to their beliefs after they endured the correcting pestilence which was poured upon them. “He will stretch his hand against the north, and destroy Assyria; and will make Nineveh a desolation… Both the cormorant and the bittern shall lodge in the upper lintels of it; their voice shall sing in the windows (Zephaniah 2:13-14).” In light of their sorrows, the cormorant and bittern are singing out the newly revealed prophecy as best they can, and thereby they will be used by God to help deliver his people. “The cormorant and the bittern shall posses it (Isaiah 34:11).”

The hawk is noticeably missing from the roll call of Babylon. This allows that hawks have already received the Holy Spirit (Isaiah 34:14-15; Zephaniah 2:14). Priests which are already making changes, and which are delivering God's warnings unto other leaders, are those that are likened to hawks. “Doth the hawk fly by thy wisdom, and stretch her wings toward the south (Job 39:26)?” God imparted wisdom unto the hawks, however these leaders still haven't confessed the newly revealed truths of prophecy before their congregation, as they need to do. “Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding (Proverbs 9:6).” “To depart from evil is understanding (Job 28:28).”

In prophecy, God consistently applied the word "south" in ways that eluded to the priesthood. He had Ezekiel prophesy a message unto the priesthood by turning his face towards the south, saying: “Son of man, set thy face toward the south, and drop thy word toward the south, and prophesy against the forest of the south field; Say to the forest of the south, Hear the word of the Lord… Behold, I will kindle a fire in thee, and it shall devour every green tree in thee, and every dry tree: the flaming flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north shall be burned therein. And all flesh shall see that I the Lord have kindled it: it shall not be quenched (Ezekiel 20:46-48).” Setting Ezekiel’s face towards the south, as well as the depiction of hawks flying toward the south, are both signs that God is speaking to the priesthood. To paraphrase Ezekiel's message, God is testifying unto all priests that these new teachings which are cleaning up today's religions, are being kindled by him, and that this fire won’t be stopped until it consumes all the filthiness of every believer, which includes the filthiness of every priest. 

The vulture: A vulture’s nature is to eat dead carcasses. Those that are likened to vultures are those which have taken up an evil cry against religion, and they are aggressively condemning everyone that is practicing it. Priests that are leading vultures are mistakenly believing, and giving off the impression that religion is utterly contemptible, but God inhabited religion, furthermore he required it, so he will defend its innocent victims. “Israel was holiness unto the Lord, and the firstfruits of his increase: all that devour him shall offend; evil shall come upon them, saith the Lord (Jeremiah 2:3).”

“There is a path… which the vulture’s eye hath not seen (Job 28:7).” Vultures have not understood that in order for God's word to be fulfilled, it was necessary to have the Jewish, Islamic, and Christian faiths. Albeit God has the ability to redirect his people through prophecy, which was written for the purpose of reserving certain truths for discovery, and revelation during end times. Another mistake that vultures are making, is that they are not grasping the reason why God fashioned the words, "HOLINESS TO THE LORD" upon Aaron's forehead (Exodus 28:36-38). In effect, God was testifying to the world that he watches over all of the unintentional mistakes of his priesthood, and he protects them. Certain leaders do not have respect for these two truths, so they are ignoring them, and they are not informing their followers. Consequently they are causing their followers to dwell in Babylon. All vultures will all be consumed together on Judgment Day. “There shall the vultures also be gathered, everyone with her mate. Seek ye out the book of the Lord, and read: no one of these fail, none shall want her mate: for my mouth it hath commanded, and his spirit it hath gathered them (Isaiah 34:15-16).”

Dogs are in a separate category all their own. “I will appoint over them four kinds, saith the Lord: the sword to slay, and the dogs to tear, and the fowls of heaven, and the beasts of earth, to devour and destroy (Jeremiah 15:3).” Every believer that partook in religion, but fell away from God's house before receiving salvation, is likened to a dog (Psalm 59:5-6). When dogs hear the teachings of the covenant message, they will return to the places of worship which taught them to accept the rules of religion, as a dog returns to his vomit. They will wag their head at those priests which try to promote a new message. “I became a reproach unto them: when they looked upon me they shaked their heads (Psalm 109: 25).” These offended believers will lie and curse, and they will use words of hatred against the priest, as well as other believers that are converting, even quoting scriptures against them. “They belch out with their mouth: swords are in their lips (Psalm 59:7).” In effect, dogs will be tearing at the people that taught them to trust in vanity.

A dog’s tearing is not only a punishment, but it’s a trail, for religion's mistaken beliefs  had discouraged the hearts of these people: the prejudiced mistaken counsel of religious persons had caused them to stop attending regular worship service. Those who are attacked by dogs must humble themselves and patiently find a way to encourage these people to go in the way of holiness. It won't be easy, for dogs are against hypocrisy, and they will remind converted believers of their former sayings and interpretations of God's word. “Unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth? Seeing thou hatest instruction, and castest my words behind thee. When thou sawest a thief, then thou consented with him, and hast been partaker with adulterers. Thou givest thy mouth to evil, and thy tongue frameth deceit (Psalm 50:16-19).”

Despite thoughts to the contrary, dogs are better off than those who refuse to hear the covenant message, for dogs are teachable. “For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion (Ecclesiastes 9:4).” Dogs will be delivered into the everlasting kingdom by the charitable and faithful sayings of their teachers. “Deliver my soul from the wicked, which is thy sword: From men which are thy hand, O Lord, from men of the world, which have their portion in this life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure (Psalm 17:13-14).”