Category Archives: God’s Rule

Psalm 46, A Synopsis of Revelation, 3 of 9

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“There is a river, the streams of which
make the city of God glad,

“The holy place of the tents of the Most High. ”
Psa 46:5

Psalm 87 speaks of Zion as the city of God

“2 Yahweh loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.
3 Glorious things are spoken about you, city of God.”
Psa 87:2-3

Mount Zion is in essence “capital hill” in Jerusalem. There it was that Solomon’s temple was built to the Lord. There the kings palaces were built. Plainly many passages speak of Jerusalem as God’s city. For instance,

“Blessed be Yahweh from Zion,
Who dwells at Jerusalem.
Praise Yah!”
Psa 135:21

But there is something unsettling about this!

Because you see, Jerusalem is built on a mountain top! There are no major rivers on mountain tops. In fact Jerusalem was so water poor that it was big news when a tunnel was built to a spring outside the walls of Jerusalem. So a “a river, the streams of which make the city of God glad”? Of what could that be speaking?

But of course there are two Jerusalems

Paul also writes of these things.

“25 For this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and answers to the Jerusalem that exists now, for she is in bondage with her children. 26 But the Jerusalem that is above is free, which is the mother of us all.”
Gal 4:25-26

So there is a Jerusalem “that exists now,” a Jerusalem below if you will, of this physical world, which is compared to a Jerusalem which is “above.” Jerusalem below is mentioned in Isaiah chapter 1. Isaiah speaks of “the daughter of Zion” being isolated in Isa 1:8. Then Isaiah addresses the rulers and people of what we might call Jerusalem “below.”

“Hear the word of Yahweh, you rulers of Sodom!
Listen to the law of our God, you people of Gomorrah!”
Isa 1:10

But Isaiah is not speaking of the actual Sodom and Gomorrah, but of Israel and Judah. There are many passages in both the Old and New Testament that address either Jerusalem below, or Jerusalem above. Matthew writes of some coming out of the tombs at Jesus death, and says,

“and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection, they entered into the holy city and appeared to many. ”
Mtt 27:53

And yes, once again Jerusalem will again become “the holy city.”

After the end of this universe, and it has passed away with a roar (2Pe 3:10-12), then we see coming down out of heaven a new Jerusalem.

“1 I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth have passed away, and the sea is no more. 2 I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, …”
Rev 21:1-2

And there is a river there!

“He showed me a river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb,”
Rev 22:1

So there is indeed river which makes glad the city of God.

Scriptures are from the World English Bible (WEB), a copyright free revision of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901

Psalm 46, A Synopsis of Revelation, 2 of 9

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So if “God is our refuge … A very present help in trouble,” Psa 46:1

“Therefore we won’t be afraid,
THOUGH THE EARTH CHANGES,

“Though the mountains are shaken into the heart of the seas;”
Psa 46:2

Such will of course happen, and it is mentioned of those final times of this earth in passage after passage. In a section of Revelation which mentions those powers at work during the Christian Age, it talks about the end of this universe this way.

“12 I saw when he opened the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake. The sun became black as sackcloth made of hair, and the whole moon became as blood. 13 The stars of the sky fell to the earth, like a fig tree dropping its unripe figs when it is shaken by a great wind. 14 The sky was removed like a scroll when it is rolled up. Every mountain and island were moved out of their places.”
Rev 6:12-14

The powers of the heavens being shaken

is mentioned in almost every description of the end. In a parallel description in Isaiah 24 it says,

“19 The earth is utterly broken, the earth is torn apart, the earth is shaken violently. 20 The earth shall stagger like a drunken man, and shall sway back and forth like a hammock; and the disobedience of it shall be heavy on it, and it shall fall, and not rise again.”
Isa 24:19-20

Of course there are huge changes that have already happened. There has a indeed been an ice age, and world wide flood for which there is abundant evidence. Moses mentions,

“To Eber were born two sons. The name of the one was Peleg, for in his days was the earth divided. His brother’s name was Joktan.”
Gen 10:25

This is speaking of the third millennium BC. Clearly huge disasters come near the end “on the throne of the beast,” Rev 16:10. Something like an asteroid falls into the ocean (“a great burning mountain”), and the sea turns to “blood” and a third of the ships at sea are sunk, and a third of the fish in the sea die, Rev 8:8-9.

Psalm 46 mentions the waters of the sea roaring.

“Though the waters of it roar and are troubled,
Though the mountains tremble with their swelling.”
Psa 46:2

That would clearly be a climate change issue.

“25 There will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars; and on the earth anxiety of nations, in perplexity for the roaring of the sea and the waves; 26 men fainting for fear, and for expectation of the things which are coming on the world: for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.”
Lk 21:25-26

However Jesus mentions these things, not as something to fear, rather as signs of approaching deliverance of God chosen ones.

“But when these things begin to happen, look up, and lift up your heads, because your redemption is near.”

Surely these things are nothing to fear if our redemption is near.

Scriptures are from the World English Bible (WEB), a copyright free revision of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901

Psalm 46, A Synopsis of Revelation, 1 of 9

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“For the Chief Musician. By the sons of Korah. According to Alamoth.” This is the introduction our psalm. The sons of Korah were Levites who were charged with part of temple care and services.

“God is our refuge and strength,

“A very present help in trouble.”
Psa 46:1

If you wanted to pick a key theme of psalms, and Revelation, and indeed all of Scripture, is that God is a very real help when men are in trouble. This is an incredible assertion to many men of all ages, for sure including Bible times. The wicked say of such things,

“They say, “How does God know?
Is there knowledge in the Most High?””
Psa 73:11

The wicked trust none of these things. They trust in their own preparations, their lands, their money, their swords.

Even so, yes! We will have problems.

God disciplines and punishes both men and nations. Elihu talks about climate change for correction or for love.

“11 Yes, he loads the thick cloud with moisture.
He spreads abroad the cloud of his lightning.
12 It is turned round about by his guidance,
That they may do whatever he commands them
On the surface of the habitable world,
13 Whether it is for correction, or for his land,
Or for loving kindness, that he causes it to come.”
Job 37:11-13

We are told,

“It is for discipline that you endure. God deals with you as with children, …” Heb 12:7

Further,

“For our light affliction, which is for the moment, works for us more and more exceedingly an eternal weight of glory;”
2Cor 4:17

Clearly though, not all have discipline / chastisement.

“But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.” Heb 12.8 KJV

Even death is not permanent for those God loves

Of the babies that Herod the Great had murdered in an attempt to kill the Christ, the prophet says,

“16 Thus says Yahweh: Refrain your voice from weeping, and your eyes from tears; for your work shall be rewarded, says Yahweh; and they shall come again from the land of the enemy. 17 There is hope for your latter end, says Yahweh; and your children shall come again to their own border.” Jer 31:16-17

God promises,

… “I will in no way leave you, neither will I in any way forsake you.”
Heb 13:5

Or as Jesus promises,

… “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, though he die, yet will he live.” Jn 11:25

God will speedily answer calls to Him

“7 Won’t God avenge his chosen ones, who are crying out to him day and night, … ? 8 I tell you that he will avenge them quickly. …”
Lk 18:7-8

If we will turn to Him in true repentance, the Lord will turn the hardships away. It is only when we harden our hearts and will never turn, that punishments become relentless. Just as it is in the book of Revelation of those final times of our universe.

Unless otherwise noted, Scriptures are from the World English Bible (WEB), a copyright free revision of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901

KJV is the King James Version, 1611.

The Jews, Tragedy and Glory to Come, 3 of 3

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Both the Old Testament and the New Testament testify
everywhere to the sins of the Jews

Moses laid it out.

“32 For their vine is of the vine of Sodom,
Of the fields of Gomorrah:
Their grapes are grapes of gall,
Their clusters are bitter:
33 Their wine is the poison of serpents,
The cruel venom of asps.”
Deut 32:32-33

A later Jewish prophet also noted,

“14 … the Jews; 15 Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men:”
1Thes 2:14-15 KJV

All of this will turn around during a time of great stress

One day the Jews will wake up! It all be in a time of severe stress on the Jews worldwide. Also it seems this will be preceded by severe persecution of Christians worldwide. This is discussed at length in Jewish Chronicles, available from your bookseller.

“When you are in oppression, and all these things are come on you, in the latter days you shall return to Yahweh your God, and listen to his voice:”
Deut 4:30

The KJV incorrectly translates this as a conditional promise, but it is an UNFULFILLED statement of what WILL BE! The next one is unambiguous even in the KJV.

“Yahweh your God will circumcise your heart, and the heart of your seed, to love Yahweh your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, that you may live.”
Deut 30:6

There will be a dramatic spiritual turnaround for the Jews, which will result in a dramatic flourishing of Christianity both in Israel and all around the world.

The great time of stress will evidently
begin with severe worldwide
persecution of Christians!

This is too big a topic to condense into a short article, but it does seem to indicate the persecution of Christians precedes the assault on Israel, but is dealt with in “Jewish Chronicles.”

The Jewish survivors of this great time of stress, will build
Israel into a mighty worldwide power

“In that day, Yahweh’s branch will be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land will be the beauty and glory of the survivors of Israel.”
Isa 4:2

They will preach the gospel of Jesus Christ among the nations.

“… I will send such as escape of them to the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, who draw the bow, to Tubal and Javan, to the isles afar off, who have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the nations.”
Isa 66:19

There are many other passages to quote.

Here is the promise, written about 1400 BC

“40 If they confess their iniquity, and the iniquity of their fathers, in their trespass which they trespassed against me, and also that, because they walked contrary to me, 41 … if then their uncircumcised heart is humbled, and they then accept the punishment of their iniquity; 42 then I will remember my covenant with Jacob; and also my covenant with Isaac, and also my covenant with Abraham; and I will remember the land.” Lev 26:40-42

Only the truth will make the Jews … or you and me … free!

New and better days are coming for the Jews, all in their Messiah, Rabbi Jesus of Nazareth.

Unless otherwise noted, Scriptures are from the World English Bible (WEB), a copyright free revision of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901

KJV is the King James Version, 1611.

The Jews, Tragedy and Glory to Come, 2 of 3

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When the Messiah came, He fulfilled all the Old Testament prophecies of His first coming. That included betrayal by a friend (Psalms 55 and 69), a judicial murder (Isaiah 53), and death by crucifixion (Psalm 22), and many other things which the reader search out and see for himself.

At first the common people among the Jews enthusiastically accepted the Messiah, but their leadership opposed Him, and arranged His murder, exactly as predicted in the Old Testament. They then worked ruthlessly to suppress Christianity, and anyone involved. Some believed in their Messiah, but the majority were intimidated into submission … even to this day.

Then other paths to worldly power were pursued

Still wanting that worldly preeminence that was promised them, but unwilling walk in righteousness and truth, many Jews turned to dark deeds for preeminence and power. That included the occult, revolutions, and oppressing and exploiting those gullible goyim the people of the nations whenever they felt they could get by with it.

Then the Jews met with a series of cataclysmic
judgments from God

As with most nations in history, many judgements for the sins of peoples come in smaller setbacks and desolations. Beyond such things, three huge disasters are spoken of for the Jews. Two have already happened, and one is yet to come.

The first was the destruction of Judah
and Jerusalem in 586 BC

After centuries of patient warning being sent to them through God’s servants the prophets, God finally brought the hammer down. First the northern kingdom of Israel was conquered and deported in 722 BC, never to return to their land.

“Yahweh rejected all the seed of Israel, and afflicted them, and delivered them into the hand of spoilers, until he had cast them out of his sight.”
2Kgs 17:20

All of which had been predicted by God’s prophets, whom the people and ruler had rejected. Then came total desolation and deportation of Judah and Jerusalem in 586 BC, after multiple rejected opportunities to turn around.

The second great desolation was the
fall of Jerusalem in 70 AD

Jewish Chronicles tells the story of how the Jews transitioned from Moses’ Law to religions of their own making, and the disastrous results this has had. Available from your bookseller.

Zechariah forecast these things, Zech 10:9-10. Also Rabbi Jesus warned,

“20 But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is at hand. 21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let those who are in the midst of her depart. Let those who are in the country not enter therein. 22 For these are days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.”
Lk 21:20-22

Jesus further predicted in 30 AD,

“They will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled down by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.”
Lke 21:24

Which is exactly what has happened over the last two thousand years. Still unwilling to accept these answers, the disastrous second century AD Bar-Cochba revolts only dug their hole deeper.

Why did this happen?

“… because you didn’t know the time of your visitation.”
Lk 19:44

They had plenty of evidence. But they just didn’t want to believe and follow.

The third tragedy is yet to come.

Scriptures are from the World English Bible (WEB), a copyright free revision
of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901

The Jews, Tragedy and Glory to Come, 1 of 3

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They were to be the preeminent nation of the earth

“Yahweh will make you the head, and not the tail; and you shall be above only, and you shall not be beneath; if you shall listen to the commandments of Yahweh your God, which I command you this day, to observe and to do them,”
Deut 28:13

It is a great tragedy. The Jews have been unwilling as a group, to listen to their own Lord and God, the One whose name in the Old Testament was Yahweh. When the Lord built them up in Egypt, and delivered them from slavery by many mighty acts, as is recorded in the book of Exodus, even then they were unwilling to give up their own will for God’s will.

Moses spoke of the Jews of his generation

This is from the Song of Moses which he spoke to the entire assembly.

Jewish Chronicles details and analyses Israel’s slide into other spirits, witchcraft, and magic. Indeed, the fountainhead of most modern witchcraft and magic is from Jewish books: the notorious “Kabbalah” which is discussed at length about how these teachings compare with Scripture, both Old Testament and New Testament. Available from your bookseller.

“5 They have dealt corruptly with him, they are not his children, it is their blemish;
They are a perverse and crooked generation.
6 Do you thus requite Yahweh,
Foolish people and unwise?
Isn’t he your father who has bought you?
He has made you, and established you.”
Deut 32:5-6

Again Moses spoke of these things.

“He said, I will hide my face from them,
I will see what their end shall be:
For they are a very perverse generation,
Children in whom is no faithfulness.”
Deut 32:20

Moses had already made it clear that the worse was yet to come for the Jews.

“For I know your rebellion, and your stiff neck: behold, while I am yet alive with you this day, you have been rebellious against Yahweh; and how much more after my death?”
Deut 31:27

Then began a descent into seeking other gods and other spirits. This is a side of Judaism which has never entirely gone away, and influences much of their behavior, even to this day.

God says He has tried to change them

Seven centuries later, Isaiah comments on their sidetracks into the occult.

“2 I have spread out my hands all the day to a rebellious people, who walk in a way that is not good, after their own thoughts; 3 a people who provoke me to my face continually, sacrificing in gardens, and burning incense on bricks; 4 who sit among the graves, and lodge in the secret places; who eat pig’s flesh, and broth of abominable things is in their vessels; 5 who say, Stand by yourself, don’t come near to me, for I am holier than you. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burns all the day.”
Isa 65:2-5

Then they tried to turn their obedience into
human tradition rule keeping

And they put their human rules above God’s rules.

Then when their Lord and Messiah came,
they murdered Him.

He wept for them.

“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, that kills the prophets, and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, like a hen gathers her own brood under her wings, and you refused!”
Lk 13:34

This situation will last indefinitely. However,

Only the truth will make the Jews free, Jn 8:32

Scriptures are from the World English Bible (WEB), a copyright free revision
of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901

Prophecy Practice: Out of Egypt, 15 of 15

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And the grand Exodus occurs … from this world itself!

The beast is able force the entire world to worship him as god, except for a few Christians. Evidently many Christians also worship the beast. Many also are killed or imprisoned. But also there is

Once more in the wilderness, just like ancient Israel!

Many Christians also seek refuge from the beast by fleeing into the wilderness!

“The woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that there they may nourish her one thousand two hundred sixty days.”
Rev 12:6

So many are protected in the wilderness during the entire reign of the beast, in “a place prepared by God,” Rev 12:6; and away “from the face of the serpent,” Rev 12:14.

It is true that they try to pursue them in the wilderness, and it is daunting to think of such pursuit thinking of modern imaging techniques. But it says,

“15 The serpent spewed water out of his mouth after the woman like a river, that he might cause her to be carried away by the stream. 16 The earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the river which the dragon spewed out of his mouth.”
Rev 12:15-16

So even the earth will help the righteous in those terrible last days.

It will be terrible times on ALL men, not just Christians. Even Jesus, though, asks,

“… Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”
Lk 18:8

Then will come the greatest Exodus of all time.

There will all sort of signs on the earth and in the heavens. Notice carefully, we will NOT know the day or the hour, but we will know when it is near.

“But you, brothers, aren’t in darkness, that the day should overtake you like a thief.”
1Thes 5:4

Jesus says,

“25 There WILL be SIGNS in the sun, moon, and stars; and on the earth anxiety of nations, in perplexity for the roaring of the sea and the waves; 26 men fainting for fear, and for expectation of the things which are coming on the world: for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.”
Lk 21:25-26

Again Jesus says,

“But when these things begin to happen, look up, and lift up your heads, because your redemption is near.”
Lk 21:28

That is clearly not written of the 70 AD destruction of Jerusalem. That did NOT bring redemption near for either Jews, or gentiles, or Christians. It only fits the end of this universe.

And finally to heaven itself … the true promised land.

This will be when God’s faithful of all ages are raised from the dead, in sight of all of their enemies. The angels will gather God’s

“… chosen ones from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” Mtt 24:31 KJV

“17 then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. So we will be with the Lord forever.”
1Thes 4:17

Unless otherwise noted, Scriptures are from the World English Bible WEB, a copyright free revision of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901.

KJV is the King James Version of 1611

Prophecy Practice: Out of Egypt, 14 of 15

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By Mighty acts of Judgment God delivers His people

When God’s people in the Old Testament were totally under the power of Pharaoh, and needed deliverance from the power of the Egypt of this world, so that they might have their own land in the promised land of Canaan, God led them to freedom by mighty acts of judgment on an evil ruler, the Pharaoh of Egypt and his people.

When in the New Testament God’s people will be totally under the power of the beast, and need deliverance so that they might have their own land in the promised land of Heaven, God will lead them to freedom by mighty acts of judgment on an evil ruler, the beast of this world and those who worship him.

This is for a relatively short period of time.

Satan is allowed to reign only for the short time a of time of 3-1/2 years, which called 1260 days (Rev 11:3), 42 months (Rev 11:2, 13:5), and “time, times, and half a time,” (Dan 7:25, 12:7, Rev 12:14). It does say that the beast “overcomes” the church, the saints. Daniel is told that this will last,

“… for a time, times, and a half; and when they have made an end of breaking in pieces the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.
Dan 12:7

Further it should be noted that Daniel deals with both the final events, and also with ancient kings who are symbolic of the final events. So how is the release of God’s people to be accomplished?

God will respond with might acts of judgment on
the kingdom of the beast and his followers

Always remember that the book of Revelation is a series of parallel, overlapping, cumulative visions. Putting them end to end, makes no more sense than putting the parables of the kingdom in the Gospels end to end.

These mighty acts of judgement are mentioned Revelation 11 with the testimony of the two witnesses. More is in chapters 15 and 16 when it talks about the seven last bowls of wrath, the last plagues which will be poured out on the earth. It mentions specifically,

“The fifth poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom was darkened. They gnawed their tongues because of the pain,”
Rev 16:10

The plagues that fall toward the end, are remarkably similar to the plagues
that fell on Egypt in the book of Exodus!

In Rev 16:2 it mentions “a harmful and evil sore on the people who had the mark of the beast, and who worshiped his image.” In Rev 16:3-4 “the sea become blood,” and the rivers and springs of water became blood. All of which seems to be described from a different point of view in Rev 8:8-9. These things are specifically mentioned as punishment for spilling the blood of Christians, Rev 16:5. The world is also scorched with heat from the sun. And Rev 9:3-11 seems to speaks a plague of locusts, which seem to spiritual locusts, to afflict only those who do not have the seal of God.

Scriptures are from the World English Bible WEB, a copyright free revision
of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901.

Prophecy Practice: Out of Egypt, 13 of 15

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And the “god of this world” 2Cor 4:4, overcomes the church.

This is actually a subject of several prophesies, but the one that catches the eye of many is in Revelation 13. The passage in Revelation 13 is obviously parallel to 2Thessalonians 2, that is the say that the “beast” is the “man of sin,” (or “of lawlessness,” depending on your translation). Both are worshipped by the entire world, all of the lost. Both are destroyed by Jesus Second Coming (2Thes 2:8, Rev 19:20). The man of lawlessness / sin is produced by the “mystery of lawlessness, which is already at work in the first century of our era, 2Thes 2:7. In Rev 13:1-2 the organization which produces the beast is called “a beast,” and it has seven heads (men who direct the organization), and ten horns / crowns, rulers who are part of the beast organization. So ten national rulers are part o the “beast” organization, which evidently is existing from at least the first century of our age.

Then one of the seven heads of the organization has a fatal wound and that fatal wound is healed, Rev 13:3. The whole world is fascinated by this one who is killed, yet has some sort of recovery. This head, one of the seven heads of the beast organization, then becomes “the beast,” Rev 13:3.

“The beast” is allowed to make war for forty-two months, or 3-1/2 years, Rev 13:5. This period of time is also referred to by the prophet Daniel. This beast blasphemes God and claims he is the one and only God, Rev 13:6 and 2Thes 2:4. This beast is given great temporary authority.

“It was given to him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them. Authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation was given to him.”
Rev 13:7

No man has had authority over “every … nation” up till now. And no one has overcome the church world wide up to now. So this has NOT happened yet!

Everyone, whose name has not been written in the book of life since the foundation of the world, will worship this beast , Rev 13:8, Rev 17:8. This means that everyone will worship this beast who is not a faithful Christian.

Notice carefully, the beast has AUTHORITY to BOTH make WAR with the saints (all true Christians), AND to CONQUER them!

We are talking about a situation where the saints (those sanctified, cleansed by the blood of Jesus) are completely overwhelmed, and that is plainly stated by the text. The word used in Rev 13:7 for the church being “overcome” is the Greek word nikao and it means to overcome, overpower, conquer, prevail, have the victory over. Nike the Greek “goddess” of victory derives her name from this word, and it a regular word for conquering a foe in battle.

So here is a situation very similar to when God’s people were
under the power of Pharaoh in Egypt.

They will be totally under the power of “the god of this world,” 2Cor 4:4. They will need rescue from power of this evil one.

Scriptures are from the World English Bible WEB, a copyright free revision
of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901.

Prophecy Practice: Out of Egypt, Part 12

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And the Christian is called out of Egypt

“1 Now I would not have you ignorant, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 2 and were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 3 and all ate the same spiritual food; 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of a spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ.”
1Cor 10:1-4

In such symbolism then Pharaoh represents the god of this world, this age, 2Cor 4:4. He has indeed held in us bondage. Christ came and took part of flesh and blood,

“14 … that through death he might bring to nothing him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and might deliver all of them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.”
Heb 2:14-15

The fear of death has kept us in line with “those who by nature are not gods.” Gal 4:8. Egypt represents the world system which is so corrupt.

“We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.”
1Jn 5:19

“… If anyone loves the world, the Father’s love isn’t in him.”
1Jn 2:15

Baptism is our separation from this world.

“3 Or don’t you know that all we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him through baptism to death, that just like Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life.”
Rom 6:3-4

“7 For he who has died has been freed from sin. 8 But if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him;”
Rom 6:7-8

We do our own wandering in a wilderness in the Christian life.

Just as ancient Israel did, we often lose our bearing when things do not go as expected. As they often fell apart and blamed God, and reject their faithful leaders in the Lord, so do we very often when things seem to go wrong, when it seems things are beyond even God’s control. Of course things never are beyond God’s control.

It would be a blessing to enter the promised land early.

It would have been a blessing if Israel had been willing to enter Canaan when they were first instructed. But ancient Israel was intimidated by their worldly adversaries, as we also often are, and then fell into sin, as we frequently do.

Sometimes, like ancient Israel, we may just wander around
in our desolate places until we perish.

We were delivered from Egypt, but loved our bondage to sin so much we perished in it, after being delivered to where we could live. Israel’s sins are warnings to us.

It doesn’t have to be that way!

“Now all these things happened to them by way of example, and they were written for our admonition, on whom the ends of the ages have come.”
1Cor 10:11

Scriptures are from the World English Bible WEB, a copyright free revision
of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901.