Micah talks about good things which are coming, both the coming the gospel, the good news of salvation to all the nations of the earth, AND the ending of all wars.
Then goes on to show how prophecy typically relates the immediate subject under discussion related to ultimate destinies of all things. This is something which throws many people off, but it should not. Also, once understood, it makes the reading of many other prophecies both more readable and more understandable.
Also we begin to address in this lesson the fact that there are prophecies in Scripture of the gospel coming, and of heaven and hell, and also there are still UNFULFILLED prophecies about the Jews as a nation. And no! We are not talking about the so-called “millennium,” but rather of things which are still happen in history before the end of this universe.
Listen to this audio lesson here, or click on the Audio Player to download as an MP3 file.
Jewish Chronicles deals with how the Jews came to where they are today in history, and where all these things are leading.
Addressing the twin subjects of prophecy: “Present Jerusalem,” and “Jerusalem Above.” Both are subjects of both Old Testament and New Testament prophecy. This conflict will be resolved in history when the Jews as a nation accept their own Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ of God.
Listen to this audio lesson here, or click on the Audio Player to download as an MP3 file. The basics of how Bible prophecy works is discussed in detail in Prophecy Principles.Available from you bookseller.
The basics of how Bible prophecy works is discussed in detail in Prophecy Principles.Available from you bookseller.
The story of how the Jews became sidetracked, and how they will finally turn as a nation to Jesus of Nazareth, is told in Jewish Chronicles, available from your bookseller.
The Real Masters of the Universe will be those who are followers of the Jewish Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth.
Listen to this audio lesson here, or click on the Audio Player to download as an MP3 file. The basics of how Bible prophecy works is discussed in detail in Prophecy Principles.Available from you bookseller.
Man’s true destiny is only fulfilled in Jesus of Nazareth.
In the context of of knowing about when Jesus the Christ will come again, Jesus tells all of us,
“But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what watch of the night the thief was coming, he would have watched, and would not have allowed his house to be broken into.” Mtt 24:43
In this case we are indeed the homeowner, knowing things will happen but not knowing when. There are great many things that are unknown to us. There are for sure things which we are not told.
“The secret things belong to Yahweh our God; but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.” Deut 29:29
What is revealed to us in prophecy is for the purpose of our being able to act as we should, respond to coming events in intelligent and responsible ways.
Our Master, Our God, Yahweh Lord of Hosts is the absolute Master of all !
Additionally, we are told His grand plans, so that we can act in line with them … if we will. We are not just slaves in the house, but we friends, and were born to rule with Him
“No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave doesn’t know what his lord does. But I have called you friends, for EVERYTHING that I heard from my Father, I have made known to you.” Jn 15:15 nf
And the Greeks word used here is “slave” (doulos), not just one of the many words for a servant. We should remember that we are dealing with recurring patterns of actions and reactions during the Christian age. Mystery Babylon the Great is described in Revelation and in the prophets as a religio-commercial entity which dominates the governments. It is implied (but not clearly stated), that she is already in existence during the first century of our age. Still, it is clear that she only reaches the height of her power toward the end of our age, and that she is fully active until very near the end of the Christian age (see Revelation chapters 17 and 18).
Similarly, the “mystery of lawlessness already works,” in the very first century of our age, 2Thes 2:7. These mysteries are to some extent restrained during most of our age, so that they “may be revealed” at the right time, 2Thes 2:6.
So these allied but opposing mystery religions have been seeking for over two thousand years to set in place their ultimate “fixes,” but with failure after failure, despite their seeming dominance in history. We do not know which of the cycles and events will produce the results which are prophesied. We are merely told what to look for.
Prophecy is NOT an optional extra. Believing what God says in prophecy does matter! It is an ethical matter. Or to put another way,
“Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:” Lk 24:25 KJV
KJV is the King James Version, 1611.
Unless otherwise noted, Scriptures are from the World English Bible (WEB), a copyright free revision of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901
For the common thief to survey the situation, to “case” the property and its occupants and how they act, and when they come and go, and the nature of their dispositions, is a common thing. In some places they say there are more break-ins during the day than at night. Why? Everyone one is at work or at school during the day. Seeing and understanding that, the thief shows up as a delivery person, a meter reader, a moving crew. Sometimes the family has posted on line their upcoming overseas trip, and the bad guys feel safe showing up in a moving van in broad daylight, to kick in the door and empty perhaps empty a house. Anticipation of what the situation will really be, alters behavior … and often alters final results
We are receiving an astonishing view of things which we otherwise would never think of actually happening.
Many are taken back by what the apostle John says in 1John 5.
“He who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. He who doesn’t believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given concerning his Son.” 1Jn 5:10
I mean, who would call God a liar?
Further, part of that testimony God gives about His Son, concerns what God says He will yet do through the son. Sadly, we as men often hear what God says we should do or what will happen, and … then …. say to ourselves … I am not sure whether I believe that or not!
God makes provision to tell us astonishing things which WILL BE, which we cannot otherwise know!
“But as it is written, “Things which an eye didn’t see, and an ear didn’t hear, Which didn’t enter into the heart of man, These God has prepared for those who love him.” ” 1Cor 2:9
Well no man may have heard or seen or imagined these things, however Paul goes on to tell us, that God has told us about these things!
“But to us, God revealed them through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.” 1Cor 2:10
Wow! Paul goes on to say that no man can know what is in a man’s mind unless that man tells us what he is thinking. Similarly, Paul says that no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God reveals them, 1Cor 2:11. So what are we given in Scripture and the prophetic word? We are being given in these things gifts of staggering value.
“But we received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is from God, that we might know the things that were freely given to us by God.” 1Cor 2:12
This inside knowledge can give us tremendous advantages.
And we want to say, prophecy is of no consequence?
What we know, or what we think we know about what will happen, almost always changes behavior one way or another. Believing what God says in prophecy does matter! It is an ethical matter.
Scriptures are from the World English Bible (WEB), a copyright free revision of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901
It commonly true that whatever our expectations are of the future, will have a tendency to alter our behavior. An everyday example is the weather. If we think it might snow today, we will probably dress differently. Most of us will not be wearing Bermuda shorts or tank tops. It might mean we will take a coat along, and maybe a hat and some gloves.
On the other hand, if we are expecting 90 degree Fahrenheit temperatures today, coats and insulated pants will not probably come to mind, and few or none will make a point to drag them along wherever we are going. Expectations of what we think will happen commonly changes behavior.
Prophecy is INTENDED to change behavior.
It should never be considered as anything less than something intended to change expectations and thus behavior, so that we maybe better prepared for those things which are to come.
Micah chapter one has a dramatic description of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.
“2 Hear, you peoples, all of you. Listen, O earth, and all that is therein: And let the Lord Yahweh be witness against you, The Lord from his holy temple. 3 For, behold, Yahweh comes forth out of his place, And will come down and tread on the high places of the earth. 4 The mountains melt under him, And the valleys split apart, Like wax before the fire, Like waters that are poured down a steep place.” Mic 1:2-4
Listen O earth it says. God is coming from His Holy temple to tread on the mountains of the earth, and the mountains and valley’s will melt like wax. God is coming to witness against us it says. But then comes the next verse, relating all of this to the sins of Jerusalem and Samaria in the 8th century BC.
“All this is for the disobedience of Jacob, And for the sins of the house of Israel. What is the disobedience of Jacob? Isn’t it Samaria? And what are the high places of Judah? Aren’t they Jerusalem?” Mic 1:5
Ho! Ho! Ho! says the scoffing scholar.
What does this have to do with Judah and Israel of the 8th century BC? They would say this is merely metaphorical language expressing the Yahweh’s displeasure at their sins, and it symbolic of the desolations which will come down on them for their wrongs in the 8th century BC, so many would say.
Still, IF God was indeed personally coming from heaven to face men with their sins, and cause the mountains to melt, and MAKE MEN TO FACE THEIR SINS …?
That SHOULD change behavior!
Would it not?
And the men of Judah and Samaria WILL BE THERE on that day, as will you and me!
Judah and Samaria’s sins did produce evil results in their days, as our sins also do today, and tomorrow and the next day. We will ALL be there somewhere on great and terrible day of the Lord, when the days of this present amnesty is over.
Further that should, and it is meant to, alter our behavior, our ethics.
Scriptures are from the World English Bible (WEB), a copyright free revision of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901
The Mystery of Lawlessness, and Mystery Babylon the Great is studied in some detail in Revealing the Christian Age. These are really competing secret religions, which oppose and try to use each other. Available from your bookseller.
It starts here in the hearts of men.
“20 Being asked by the Pharisees when the Kingdom of God would come, he answered them, “The Kingdom of God doesn’t come with observation; 21 neither will they say, ‘Look, here!’ or, ‘Look, there!’ for behold, the Kingdom of God is within you.” Lk 17:20-21
Many kingdoms and powers exercise great authority without the source of the power being visible, or noticed, at least by most. The occult powers are especially aware of many powers exercising their influence and control without being seen. Two great mystery religions of the Christian Age exercise considerable influence and control all through the Christian Age. Some call these the “Deep State.” They are the Mystery of Lawlessness of 2Thessalonians 2, and Mystery Babylon the Great of the book of Revelation.These are important world swaying powers. The Mystery of Lawlessness is basically a Satanic group. I call Mystery Babylon the Great a “a religio-commerical entity” in Revealing the Christian Age.
So also the Kingdom of God Exercises Power to Transform ALL.
“He spoke another parable to them. “The Kingdom of Heaven is like yeast, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, until it was all leavened.” Mtt 13:33
So once again we have a verse of this Kingdom in time influencing this entire world to the point that (which is yet in the future for you and me) the leaven of this Kingdom is an influence all over this world “until it was all leavened.” There is to come a world-wide influence of Christianity which has not been seen so far.
The present time is the selection of the chosen, the elect, to live and rule in a world which is yet to come.
The author of Hebrews speaks of these things, and says,
“For he didn’t subject the world to come, whereof we speak, to angels.” Heb 2:5
You see this present universe will pass away. In Hebrews 1 it picture God as rolling up this present universe like an old coat and putting it away, Heb 1:10-12. Peter tells us of,
A New Universe Will be Without Sin and Death
“But, according to his promise, we look for new heavens and a new earth, in which dwells righteousness.” 2Pe 3:13
Isaiah also speaks of this perfect place.
“For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former things shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.” Isa 65:17
What will it be like?
“23 They shall not labor in vain, nor bring forth for calamity; for they are the seed of the blessed of Yahweh, and their offspring with them. 24 It shall happen that, before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear. 25 The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the ox; and dust shall be the serpent’s food. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, says Yahweh.” Isa 65:23-25
A real world, without decay or things running down. A world which some call “heaven.”
Scriptures are from the World English Bible (WEB), a copyright free revision of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901
With Jethro, Moses father in law, we need to understand,
“Now I know that Yahweh is greater than all gods because of the thing in which they dealt arrogantly against them.” Ex 18:11
Perhaps the greatest tribute to God in all of Scripture is by David toward the end of his life.
“… You are blessed, Yahweh, the God of Israel our father, forever and ever. 11 Yours, Yahweh, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, Yahweh, and you are exalted as head above all. 12 Both riches and honor come of you, and you rule over all; and in your hand is power and might; and it is in your hand to make great, and to give strength to all.” 1Chron 29:10-13
“I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth.” Psa 46:10b-c
He will indeed be treated in holy ways by all that come near Him. When the sons of Aaron treated lightly the rules for worshipping God, fire cam from before the Lord and killed them.
“Then Moses said to Aaron, “This is what Yahweh spoke of, saying, “‘I will show myself holy to those who come near me, And before all the people I will be glorified.’”” Lev 10:3
As David wrote,
“Stand in awe, and don’t sin. Search your own heart on your bed, and be still.” Psa 4:4
At the end of his life David told his son Solomon,
“… if you seek him, he will be found of you; but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever.” 2Chron 28:9
“Yahweh of Hosts is with us. The God of Jacob is our refuge.” Psa 46:11
Revealing the Christian Age is a discussion of how to approach the book of Revelation. Revelation does in fact reveal, not conceal, the Christian Age. Available from your bookseller.
When Jehoshaphat went to fight agains a large force of Moabites and Ammonites, the prophet told him,
“You shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand you still, and see the salvation of Yahweh with you, O Judah and Jerusalem; don’t be afraid, nor be dismayed: tomorrow go out against them: for Yahweh is with you.” 2Chr 20:17
And God arranged, as He often does, for their enemies to destroy each other. As Paul put it,
“31 What then shall we say about these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who didn’t spare his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how would he not also with him freely give us all things?” Rom 8:31-32
God is a sure refuge in a time of trouble. It has been that way from the beginning, and it will be that way all the way to the very end … no matter how bad it looks from a fleshly point of view. Even when the earth begins to melt.
Psalm 46 is indeed a very abbreviated description of the same story told in the book of Revelation!
Scriptures are from the World English Bible (WEB), a copyright free revision of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901
So Scripture pictures an open revolt against God, and His authority, and ALL rule and authority on earth. This is one of the main subjects of the book of Revelation, but is probably first pictured clearly in Psalm 2.
See the books Prophecy Principles and Revealing the Christian Age for more information on the end of this universe. Available through your bookseller.
“Why do the nations rage, And the peoples plot a vain thing?” Psa 2:1
So it is the “nations,” plural that are in an uproar, are raging against God and His commandments, and it is “peoples” plural that are plottingagainst God! Further it is also the kings and presidents and dictators of the earth taking a stand against God Almighty.
“2 The kings of the earth take a stand, And the rulers take counsel together, Against Yahweh, and against his anointed, saying, 3 “Let’s break their bonds apart, And cast away their cords from us.”” Psa 2:2-3
They want their connections to Almighty God ended, their bonds to Him ended. Historically, such a wide open revolt against God has never happened! It is clearly pictured in the book of Revelation. This is, indeed, insanity in the extreme. Clearly they do not understand about God that,
“14 If he set his heart on himself, If he gathered to himself his spirit and his breath; 15 All flesh would perish together, And man would turn again to dust.” Job 34:14-15
As we have seen, this world wide raging against God is also pictured in Psalm 46.
So how does an Almighty God respond to this insanity?
“4 He who sits in the heavens will laugh. The Lord will have them in derision. 5 Then he will speak to them in his anger, And terrify them in his wrath:” Psa 2:4-5
In Psalm 46 this is pictured as,
“He lifted his voice, and the earth melted.” Psa 46:6c
That is a summary of those chapters 19 and 20 in the book of Revelation.
There were some preliminaries of course. Trumpets of warning included famine, sword and plagues turning the sea to blood, and more, Revelation chapters 6 to 8. Other things are listed in Revelation chapters 14 to 16. Remember always that Revelation is a series of parallel visions, with the final visions placing more emphasis on the end things. David speaks of some of these things in Psalm 65.
“Who stills the roaring of the seas, The roaring of their waves, And the turmoil of the nations.” Psa 65:7
Jesus says,
“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;” Lk 21:25
These are signs of the end.
“But when these things begin to happen, look up, and lift up your heads, because your redemption is near.” Lk 21:28
Then will come the earth melting
“… and the elements will be dissolved with fervent heat, and the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.” 2Pe 3:10
But it will be alright for God’s chosen ones.
“Yahweh of Hosts is with us. The God of Jacob is our refuge.” Psa 46:7
Scriptures are from the World English Bible (WEB), a copyright free revision of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901
The first point here is that God is with this city of God, “In her midst.” Zechariah speaks of “the daughter of Zion,” Zech 2:10; and says,
There is of course much more to the book of Revelation than is told in Psalm 46, and the basics of how to approach these subjects is what the book Revealing the Christian Age is all about. Available from your bookseller.
“… and I will dwell in the midst of you, and you shall know that Yahweh of Hosts has sent me to you. ” Zech 2:11
Moses said a similar thing to Israel of old.
”You shall not be scared of them; for Yahweh your God is in the midst of you, a great and awesome God.” Deut 7:21
And he counseled Israel,
“for Yahweh your God walks in the midst of your camp, to deliver you, and to give up your enemies before you; therefore shall your camp be holy, that he may not see an unclean thing in you, and turn away from you.” Deut 23:14
So for instance in context Moses says they must bury their excrement, lest God walking through the camp see any unclean thing and be offended, and leave.
So you have to be holy!
“Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:” Heb 12:14 KJV
Oh? What does that mean? It means first of all that you cannot be in filthiness, sexually or figuratively. You cannot be walking in hatred of God or man, or in malice and anger. Further, to really be holy you must be washed in the blood of the lamb, Rev 7:14. You have to be living a committed life to the Lord, trusting Him to make good what is missing.
“She shall not be moved” Psa 46:5b
Of the assault on the city in Zechariah it is so.
“For thus says Yahweh of hosts: ‘For honor he has sent me to the nations which plundered you; for he who touches you touches the apple of his eye. “ Zech 2:8
Further,
“ … I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples; all who lift it will be severely injured.” Zech 12:3 NASB 95 ed.
It is related to staying with the Lord
“I have set Yahweh always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.” Psa 16:8
But also there are tragedies in “the city,”in both the Old and New Testaments
In the Old Testament Jerusalem was nearly taken in Hezekiah’s time, and was taken, and destroyed in the time of King Zedekiah, 2Kings 25. Similarly in Revelation 11 all “the city” but the inner court of the temple is trampled underfoot foot.
“… They will tread the holy city under foot for forty-two months.,” Rev 11:2d
Naturally, “the city” of Revelation ultimately is “Jerusalem that is above,” Gal 4:26, Revelation 21, but additionally physical Jerusalem may also be in view in Revelation 11. Further it says of the beast,
“It was given to him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them. …” Rev 13:7a
And to overcome them? I thought God was with the city?
So what gives?
Is this psalm false, or is Revelation true or not?
Unless otherwise noted, Scriptures are from the World English Bible (WEB), a copyright free revision of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901
