Prophecy From the Book of Proverbs

The prophecy of king Lemuel is beneficial end time instruction. “The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him. What, my son? And what, the son of my womb? And what, the son of my vows (Proverbs 31:1-2)?” The word "mother" insinuates that Lemuel's understanding came forth from someone who was not a priest, but a helper of the church. The words “my son” confirm that Lemuel's prophecy is directed at priests. The words “the son of my vows” confirm that God remembers those promises that he made with his people. The words “the son of my womb” suggest that this prophecy is instruction for priests that are in God, for God is in them causing them to grow in their knowledge and understanding of his word. “Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauty of holiness from the womb of morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth (Psalm 110:3).”

“Give not thy strength to women (Proverbs 31:3).” This verse is warning and commanding priests that they are not to let their elders, nor any other church officials, have control over what is said in the pulpit. Priests are to put their confidence in the Lord, and do his bidding. “The Lord God is my strength (Habakkuk 3:19).” “The Lord spake thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people (Isaiah 8:11).” “There is no king saved by the multitude of an host (Psalm 33:16).”

The second part of this verse, reads, “Nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings (Proverbs 31:3).” This part of the verse is warning and commanding priests that they are not rely upon the mighty teachings of others, nor upon their own vain thoughts while they are leading God's people through end times. “Trust not in lying words (Jeremiah 7:8).” Be vigilant, and study the scriptures! Scripture is God’s voice, and if priests are not willing to hear God’s voice, then God will not hear them when they cry. “When you spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when you make many prayers, I will not hear (Isaiah 1:15).” Just as our forefathers were deceived by their teachers, so today's leaders are being deceived by the widely accepted interpretations of prophecy that are popular today. “Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God (Matthew 22:29).” Study the scriptures for the intentional purpose of truly understanding end times, and God will show you what he is doing. “Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it (Isaiah 43:19)?” “Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see (Isaiah 42:18).” Prayerfully studying the scriptures is the remedy for spiritual blindness. “In that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity (Isaiah 29:18).”

For the next few verses of Lemule’s prophecy, it is necessary to understand God’s parable use of the words, water, wine, and strong drink. In prophecy the words water, wine, and strong drink, are parable words which refer to teachings that were prepared for the purpose of quenching a believer’s thirst for understanding prophecy. The word, water, represents all the teachings which came about because one believer prayerfully studied the scriptures. The word, wine, represents prophetic teachings which came about because one believer, or a group of believers, incorporated their understandings of scripture with their religious beliefs, or else with other popular and acceptable teachings of prophecy. In other words, wine teachings are always teachings which have been built upon another man's work. “Wisdom… hath mingled her wine (Proverbs 9:2).” Strong drink is like wine, in that it is a concoction of several people’s understandings which have been mixed together, but strong drink is prepared for the purpose of causing believers to perceive their own contribution to the deception and confusion of God’s people. “Strong drink shall be bitter to them that drink it (Isaiah 24:9).”

God values those who work to prepare drinks for his people, and he blesses the preparers, as well as those who partake in the fruits of their understandings. “Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake and thine often infirmities (1Timothy 5:23).” To help God solidify his views on the matter, Jesus Christ took an actual cup of wine, and turned it into parable before the eyes of all his followers: Jesus made the communion cup represent blood. “Jesus took the cup… saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me (1Corinthians 11:25).” The parable of the communion cup pertains not only to Jesus, but also to every believer that has sacrificially worked to prepare end time understanding for God's people. God sees their efforts as if the preparers had poured a little of their own blood into the cup, and offered it unto his people to quench their thirst for knowledge and understanding.

“In the day of our king the princes have made him sick with bottles of wine (Hosea 7:5).” However there is a downside to wine: wine is responsible for causing confusion, because lies and errs have gotten mixed into the cup. “They have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; The priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment (Isaiah 28:7).” “Mine heart within me is broken because of the prophets; all my bones shake; I am like a drunken man, and like a man whom wine hath overcome, because of the Lord, and because of the word of his holiness (Jeremiah 23:9).”

“It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink: lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted (Proverbs 31:4-5).” This verse is meant to cause priests to perceive that, in accordance with God’s word, they are to stop drinking and selling wine and strong drinks. Our wine teachings are causing God’s people to disregard truths that are needed for end times. “They were filled, and their heart was exalted; therefore have they forgotten me (Hosea 13:6).” Wine teachings are full of unsubstantiated and false claims that need to be removed from circulation: even those teachings which were enhanced by the covenant message. “Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart (Hosea 4:11).” “Awake, ye drunkards, and weep; and howl, all ye drinkers of wine, because of the new wine, for it is cut off from your mouth (Joel 1:5).”

Our wine teachings have been mingled with the mistaken philosophies of religion, and with the thoughts of men's hearts. Every preparer that compromised their end time teaching by mixing it with lies, does not want to be responsible for perverting the judgment of any of the afflicted. Misrepresenting prophecy can have serious ramifications: False teachings can offend persons of other faiths and cause them to fall away from the Lord; and false teachings can distract or delay believers from finding out the truths which are necessary for their deliverance; and false teachings can embolden oppressors and cause them to feel justified in their mistreat of others. 

“Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink (Isaiah 5:22).” Continuing to support and promote untrue and unsubstantiated end time claims, helps strengthen the arms of religion. “Ye are they that forsake the Lord, that forget my holy mountain, that prepare a table for that troop, and that furnish the drink offering unto that number (Isaiah 65:11).” Be wise and heed the warnings, and avoid having to be punished and corrected by the Lord. Those who refuse to follow this instruction are creating confusion. “They have caused Egypt to err in every good work thereof, as a drunken man staggers in his vomit (Isaiah 19:14).” God will cause those who create confusion to stay confused by their own teachings, until he performs the thing that is appointed for them. “I will feed them that oppress thee with their own flesh; and they shall be drunken with their own blood, as with sweet wine (Isaiah 49:26).” “I will make drunk her princes, and her wise men, and her captains, and her rulers, and her mighty men: and they shall sleep a perpetual sleep, and not wake, saith the King, whose name is the Lord of hosts (Jeremiah 51:57).”

“Thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures (Psalm 36:8).” During end times God is bringing forth new understandings, therefore every believing priest, and every hearing priest will need to drink from the pure doctrine of God's word. “The Lord hath sworn by his right hand, and by the arm of his strength, Surely I will no more give thy corn to be meat for thine enemies; and the sons of the stranger shall not drink thy wine, for which thou hast labored: But they that have gathered it shall eat of it, and praise the Lord; and they that have brought it together shall drink it in the courts of my holiness (Isaiah 62:8-9).”

Before proceeding on to the next verse, it is necessary to note that when a priest drinks from the waters of the covenant message, if he takes that message to heart, then he will thoroughly mix it in with his own God inspired understandings of scripture, and the result will once again be wine. “They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive as corn, and grow as the vine: the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon (Hosea 14:7).” “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that… the mountains shall drop sweet wine, and all the hills shall melt (Amos 9:13).”

“Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts. Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more (Proverbs 31:6-7).” This verse from Lemuel's prophecy is instructing hearing priests to give their understandings of prophecy to priests which were taken in God's afflicting pestilence. “Consider mine affliction, and deliver me: for I do not forget thy law (Psalm 119:153).” Priests that suffer affliction have already been humbled, so by showing them the newly revealed truths of prophecy, their joy will be increased, for knowledge will allow them to repent of their mistakes, and they can make their changes. “They shall perish… as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed (Psalm 102 26).”

“Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction (Proverbs 31:8).” This verse is instructing hearing priests to warn those priests who are continuing to misrepresent God’s word: let them know that everyone who is still practing religion on Judgment Day, will be destroyed (Ezekiel 39:28). “Hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me (Ezekiel 3:17).” Priests are God’s messengers, and they have been shown the truth of God’s word so that they can warn the deceived (Malachi 2:7). “And it shall come to pass in that day, that the great trumpet shall be blown, and they shall come which were ready to perish in the land of Assyria, and the outcasts in the land of Egypt, and shall worship the Lord in the holy mount at Jerusalem (Isaiah 27:13).”

“Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy (Proverbs 31:9).” Before believers can thoroughly understand this instruction, they must understand God’s parable use of the words, poor, and needy. The word, poor, is used in prophecy to represent believers, including priests, which have the Holy Spirit, but they are not able discern the hidden meanings of prophesy because they were, and are, blinded by their religious beliefs. These believers will be of quick understanding when God sends his messengers to them. “What hath the poor, that knoweth to walk before the living (Ecclesiastes 6:8)?” “The Lord hath founded Zion, and the poor of his people shall trust in it (Isaiah 14:32).” The word "needy" pertains to believers who walk by faith, but these believers walk in religions that reject the teachings of Jesus Christ, therefore the needy have not received the Holy Spirit. “The needy shall not alway be forgotten: the expectation of the poor shall not perish for ever (Psalm 9:18).”

Also, before believers can fully understand Lemuel's next instruction, it is necessary for them to know how God’s saints are going to judge the world. “Do you not know that the saints shall judge the world (1Corinthians 6:2)?” Believers will judge deceived offenders that have been taken in the snares of religion. This kind of judging has to do with helping others to either avoid, or recover themselves from the pestilences and judgments of God's wrath. Righteous judgment is done by impartially assessing the mistakes that believers are making against God's word, then showing the offenders the truths of scripture, so that these believers can recover cover themselves, and enter into God’s blessings. Wherefore people cannot judge righteously, unless, or until, they are equipped with the truths that will allow them to make godly assessments: for then, and only then will they that be able to correctly judge between the meek and the belligerent, and the renown as well as anyone else that is not cooperating with God’s word. “Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbor (Leviticus 19:15).”

Now once again hear the words of Lemule’s prophecy: “Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy (Proverbs 31:9).” The first part of this verse is instructing hearing priests to speak those truths which are necessary for the deliverance of offenders. The second part of this verse has to do with interceding to God on behalf of the religiously deceived, however this instruction involves more than just prayerful intercession. This instruction is motivating priests to consider the persons which are being bullied by the unsympathetic and noisome pestilences. “I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted (Psalm 140:12).” “Who is blind as he that is perfect, and blind as the Lord’s servant (Isaiah 42:19).” Deceived persons are sometimes victims of sincere religious convictions, and hearing priests that understand the covenant message are to help deliver them. “He shall deliver the island of the innocent: and it is delivered by the pureness of thine hands (Job 22:30).” “The righteous considers the cause of the poor: but the wicked regard not to know it (Proverbs 29:7).” “Blessed is he that considers the poor: the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble (Psalm 41:1).” “Whoso stops his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard (Proverbs 21:13).”

Having righteous judgment must include judging persons that hold positions of authority over God's people, which many of today's believers are failing to do. “Among my people are found wicked men… They are waxen fat, they shine: they overpass the deeds of the wicked: they judge not the cause, the cause of the fatherless, yet they prosper: and the right of the needy do they not judge (Jeremiah 5:28).” An example of someone who is possibly not being judged, is an elder. “Wilt thou judge them, son of man, wilt thou judge them? Cause them to know the abominations of their fathers (Ezekiel 20:4).” In scripture, the parable  word "fathers" refers to former leaders that led and influenced God's people. Today's hearing believers are to show their authorities the abominations of the forefathers which were recorded in scripture. In effect, if a believer shows an authority the scriptures and points out the pattern of their forefathers' sins, then they are judging them, for by studying the pattern of our forefathers' mistakes, our authorities can avoid making those same mistakes. Offenses which were recorded against the fathers include that of not returning to God's word when God began to move, and do a new thing: instead the fathers rejected knowledge and mocked God’s messengers. “They rebelled against me, and would not hearken unto me (Ezekiel 20:8).” Today's authorities have this pattern to study so that they can avoid making the same mistake, but some of them will refuse to consider it. “Ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when fear cometh (Proverbs 1:25-26).”

But if no one shares the truth of revealed prophecy with the authorities, then how will these believers know to walk in agreement with the instructions of God's word? “Yea, there is none that sheweth, yea, there is none that declareth, yea, there is none that heareth your words (Isaiah 41:26).” During end times God is going to move in an unprecedented way, for he is going to fulfill the promises which were made to his people: and earth will receive its new covenant (Psalm 25:14). God’s people have a right to know how they can avoid the wrath, and the pestilences of these times. “If thou forebear to deliver them… If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? …And shall not he render to every man according to his works (Proverbs 24:11-12)?” God is calling on every believer who is hearing this message to judge their authorities by showing them the revealed truths of prophecy. “Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king’s son… He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor (Psalm 72:1; 72:4).” 

Converting and turning from our previously held beliefs, is not optional. Every false teacher that is peddling religious lies in the day of God’s wrath, will be consumed by the power of God’s wrath. “His watchmen are blind; they are all ignorant they are shepherds that cannot understand… Come ye, say they, I will fetch wine, and we will fill ourselves with strong drink; and tomorrow shall be as this day, and much more abundant (Isaiah 56:10-12).” “Who hath woe? Who hath sorrow? Who hath contentions? Who hath babbling? Who hath wounds without cause? Who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine (Proverbs 23:29-30).” “You cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils (1Corinthians 10:21).” “I will number you to the sword, and ye shall all bow down to the slaughter: because when I called, ye did not answer; when I spake, ye did not hear; but did evil before my eyes, and did choose that wherein I delighted not (Isaiah 65:12).”

At the conclusion of Lemule’s prophecy is the parable of the virtuous woman. This parable concerns God’s quest for his bride; for the lamb’s wife; for those believers that desire New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:9-10). “Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies (Proverbs 31:10).” At first glance the virtuous woman appears to be very righteous, however this woman represents imperfect believers which are still in need of correction. It is written that this woman is married to an earthly husband who sits in the gates: this implies that God's people are sometimes more faithful in serving their priest, then they are in serving the Lord. “Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land (Proverbs 31:23).” “Thy maker is thine husband; the Lord of hosts is his name (Isaiah 54:5).”

This woman is credited with working to create clothing, which implies that she is working to fashion together truths which prompt righteous actions in others (Psalm 132:9); but this woman has compromised her works by selling them, whereas God’s word says that believers are not to sell the truth. “Buy the truth, and sell it not (Proverbs 23:23).” “She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivers girdles unto the merchant (Proverbs 31:24).” This imperfect bride is also credited with making herself “coverings of tapestry,” which is a word that was used elsewhere in scripture to envision the fabric that a whore uses to impress men. “I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry (Proverbs 7:16).” “She maketh herself coverings of tapestry (Proverbs 31:22).”

There is no question that this woman is performing righteous acts, but there is evidence which confirms that she knows the truth of the covenant message, and she is allowing her household to remain uninformed: The woman’s clothing is purple and silk, whereas her household is clothed in scarlet. Purple is the color of cloth which was used to signify that the sacrifices upon the altar had been burnt up. “They shall take away the ashes from the altar, and spread a purple cloth thereon (Numbers 4:13).” This insinuates that the woman’s previous works have been rendered ineffective. The word purple also insinuates that this woman has not whole heartedly obeyed God’s word, for if she had, then she would be arrayed in white. Purple and silk and scarlet are among Babylon’s amenities. “Babylon, that mighty city! For in one hour thy judgment is come…No man buyeth their merchandise any more: The merchandise of… purple, and silk, and scarlet (Revelation 18:10-12).”

Another incriminating aspect which is gleaned from the virtuous woman parable, is found in the verse, “She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff (Proverbs 31:19).” This verse is crediting the woman with being able to spin God’s word anyway she pleases. However, there are very real answers in her hands, answers which can, and which will make a difference; even to the religious authorities that have been silencing the covenant message, for they are the distaff. The Hebrew word which was translated “distaff” in this verse, was also translated “part” and it was used repeatedly in the book of Nehemiah to depict repairing “part” of the fallen walls of Jerusalem. This insinuates that God has been using the silencing power of the religiously deceived authorities to accomplish his word, and confirm the covenant message with many for seven years. In other words, the noncompliant attitudes of the religious dictates were a necessary part of God’s plan. Wherefore, even the silencing authorities will need a good dose of honest correction. “Fear thou not; for I am with thee... I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness (Isaiah 41:10).” The sum of the matter is that this woman has the power to do virtuously, and it is in her hands. “Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised. Give her the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates (Proverbs 31:30-31).”

“She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness (Proverbs 31:27).” This verse was pulled out of the parable of the virtuous women to give believers one final message to consider: there is a parable which compliments Lemeul's prophesies concerning wine, and that is the parable of the word "bread." Bread represents teachings which supply God’s people with the day by day nourishment that is necessary for their strength, and for their perseverance in the Lord. Bread differs from drink offerings in that drink offerings are specifically purposed to quench the believer’s thirst for understanding the hidden things of prophecy.

Both bread and the drink offerings are essential for the health of God’s people. “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeded out of the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4).” As in the case of wine teachings, bread teachings have a likelihood of being defiled by the misunderstandings of men. “Thou shalt bake it with dung that cometh out of man, in their sight… Thus shall the children of Israel eat their defiled bread (Ezekiel 4:12-13).” “Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee (Malachi 1:7)?”

God has given mankind an incorruptible bread. “The unleavened bread of sincerity and truth (1Corinthians 5:8).” Unleavened bread represents teachings which have not been defiled by religion, for religion contains inaccurate laws that misrepresent God's word. God refers to these laws as our leaven. "Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees (Matthew 16:6)." "Leaven" is responsible for persuading believers to reject certain truths which come straight out of God's word. 

Consider the manna: Manna was an unleavened bread that came down from heaven. “This is the thing which the Lord commandeth, Fill an omer of it to be kept for your generations; that they may see the bread wherewith I have fed you in the wilderness, when I brought you forth from the land of Egypt (Exodus 16:32).” God had Moses lift up an omer of manna to cause believers to understand and see that Israel partook in two kinds of unleavened bread in the wilderness. Not only did she eat manna, but Israel also partook in a pure doctrine of bread which she had not known, and which came down from God the Father. “He fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee to know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord (Deuteronomy 8:3).”

Like the ancient prophets, Jesus Christ gave mankind an unleavened bread which came down from God the Father. “This is the bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eats this bread shall live for ever (John 6:58).” Jesus' doctrine is an unleavened bread that contains greater promises than those promises which came down through other prophets. Partaking in Jesus’ teachings allows believers to receive the Holy Spirit, and to experience eternal life while they are yet alive on earth. “I am the bread of life (John 6:48).” This means that believers who abstain from partaking in Jesus’ teachings are missing out on a tremendous blessing which God supplies exclusively through those teachings (John 14:23-26). “I have led you forty years in the wilderness… You have not eaten bread, neither have ye drunk wine or strong drink: that ye might know that I am the Lord (Deuteronomy 29:5-6).” This verse is suggesting that God allowed Jewish and Islamic believers to abstain from eating of any of Jesus' doctrine, so that they might know that he is the Lord.

“The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread (1Corinthians 10:16-17).” This verse is identifying that all believers who serve the God of Abraham are partaking in one continuous doctrine of unleavened bread which came down from God the Father. Therefore, despite our religious differences, and regardless of our misunderstandings and misrepresentations of scripture, every believer that serves the God of Abraham has his part of the body of Christ, whether he believes it, or not (Romans 3:3). Consider this information very carefully. Whereas this message is revealing the truth about bread, it is also serving notice unto all believers, but especially priests: every believer who hears these messages is required to bring unleavened bread to God’s table. “Command the children of Israel, and say unto them, My offering, and my bread for my sacrifices made by fire, for a sweet savor unto me, shall ye observe to offer unto me in their due season (Numbers 28:2).” “Ye shall serve the Lord your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and take away sickness from the midst of thee (Exodus 23:25)."

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).”