Are the Retribution Laws of God Being Re-enacted?

ARE THE RETRIBUTION LAWS OF GOD BEING RE-ENACTED?

The laws of God concerning retribution can be found within the chapters of Exodus 21, 22, and 23.  The wording of the majority of these laws don’t actually cover most of the crimes committed today, however, the principle is the same.  Stolen property and destroyed property may currently be different from that of the ancient Hebrews but it continues to be stolen or destroyed property whether it is a burned barley field and a torched vehicle.

Stolen articles must be repaid by double value.  Burned property and articles must be repaid by complete restitution.  There is no jail or prison time for criminal acts.  If a person is unable to pay the price of restitution then he/she is sold as a servant or slave for a certain number of years or until the debt is paid.  A murderer or rapist is simply sentenced to immediate death which will allow God to make judgment at the resurrection occurring at the end of the first one-thousand year Millennium. 

Prisons and detention centers were never a part of the law of God.  Those institutions were created by human beings.  A prison sentence for the perpetrator does not compensate the victim at all and it most likely does not make them feel better either.  The prisoners should be obliged to work, within the supervision of the prison system, at minimum wage with a large portion of the proceeds paid to the victim until the debt is paid in full.

During the Kingdom of God which will begin at the return of Jesus Christ and His Millennial reign, it is entirely possible these laws of retribution (and others) will be reinstated and enforced for any crimes that may occur.  As the power of the Holy Spirit grows around the world, there will be fewer crimes committed perhaps to the point there will be no physical crimes at all.

The Arizona Legislature has passed a bill authorizing the State to seize or confiscate the property of those arrested for destroying property as payment for the damaged property, i.e. burn someone’s car then your possessions are sold to buy a comparable car – break a window then the perpetrator buys a replacement window.

Parts of the Original Article From the Conservative Tribune

Arizona lawmakers passed a bill this week that empowers law enforcement with the authority to deliver what some have called “an eye for an eye” justice to those malevolent souls who choose to riot like maniacs.

Known as SB 1142, the bill “expands the state’s racketeering laws, now aimed at organized crime, to also include rioting,” as reported by the Arizona Capitol Times. The bill also “redefines what constitutes rioting to include actions that result in damage to the property of others.”

This means that if someone were to be arrested causing property damage during a riot, prosecutors could seize the individual’s own property to recoup the damages.

The New Exodus: Part 5

THE NEW EXODUS: PART 5

THEOLOGICAL VIEWS AND THE NEW EXODUS

Some ideas and information for this article were taken from a post by Peter Goodgame entitled:   A “New Exodus” Synthesis of Covenant Views

http://redmoonhawaii.wordpress.com/2014/05/10/a-new-exodus-synthesis-of-covenant-views/

The New Exodus is the final gathering of Israel (new Israel or spiritual Israel) out of the wilderness called Mystery, Babylon.  New Israel will be settled into the Promised Land or the Millennium Kingdom of Christ.  This New Exodus is the framework of so-called second Isaiah where the leader of this new exodus movement is called the “Servant of the Lord” who is Jesus Christ.  All the New Testament gospels quote from Isaiah testifying that Jesus is that leader or Servant of the Lord.  The early church believed that they were the faithful remnant of Israel, re-constituted by Jesus who was the "Prophet like Moses" sent to lead the New Exodus.

The end-times events can be viewed two ways.  One is the last seven years or the 70^th week of Daniel and the second is the time period from the Pentecost of Acts chapter 2 and the beginning of the Millennial reign of Christ.  Next will be a discussion of two theological viewpoints that guide most people in their end-times Biblical studies and thoughts, dispensational and covenantal.  Many factors for each view can be found online.  Only the views pertaining to the Church, Israel, and eschatology are presented at this time.  This is not an argument of right and wrong between viewpoints.

THE DISPENSATIONAL THEOLOGY VIEW

Dispensational theology teaches that the Church and literal Israel are two separate entities, with two separate theologies, and anytime the word “Israel” appears in scripture, it is to mean a literal Israel.  The Church is viewed as a parenthesis in Biblical scripture and history:  the Bible, particularly prophecy, is all about literal Israel both nationally and ethnically.  Many modern writers and commentators claim little or no firsthand knowledge of the dispensational framework.  Actually, it is not necessary to have actual knowledge of the basic theology to follow its tenets.  The study and influence of dispensational writers may be all the stimulus needed to affect one’s thinking and attitudes:  including, but not limited to – the Dallas Theological Seminary, both professors and graduates; John Walvoord; David Jeremiah; Grant Jeffrey; Hal Lindsey; Lewis Schafer; Tim LaHaye; Charles Ryrie; and many others.

The pre-tribulation rapture is extremely important to dispensationalism.  Without it, the framework becomes shaky.  For this view to extend its basic work as predicted, the Church must be taken out of the way before the beginning of the 70^th week of Daniel so that the entire book of the Revelation, and related Old Testament prophecy, can be played out by literal Israel and the pagans of the world.  In connection with this rapture view, they also insist the Holy Spirit is the “he” that will “be taken out of the way” as stated in 2 Thessalonians 2:7.  In their structure, it there is no Church present, there is no Holy Spirit.

For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.  (2 Thessalonians 2:7 KJV)

This view is highly prone to use current events as circumstantial or near proof to bolster their theology.  I was guilty of this error until I realized the backing proof scriptures must be twisted; with words, sentences, and even paragraphs omitted to arrive at somewhat viable evidence that modern events were fulfilling prophecies.  Events such as:  the establishment of the nation of Israel in 1948; the 1967 Israel war; the return of Jews to Israel; and the preparations for the building of a temple.  This also creates a tendency for Church groups and various religious people to support Israel and Jews as special people protected by God (more than others are protected) regardless of their actions or beliefs. The following verse, or some rendition, has been repeated by:  people in the news, either television or newspaper; or a blog post along the lines that the USA is being punished (hurricane, fire, earthquakes, many others) because the country did not support Israel in some particular situation.

And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.  (Gen 12:3)

According to the Guzik Commentary, the Talmud specifies seven blessings of Abraham’s call.

1. Abram would be the father of a great nation.

2. He would be blessed in his lifetime.

3. His name would be renowned.

4. He would be a blessing to others.

5. Those who honor him would be blessed

6. Those who rejected him would be cursed.

7. His influence would be universal.

As you will notice, only Abraham is involved in the curses and blessings, and all families of the earth were blessed, and continue being blessed, through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, a descendant of Abraham’s linage.

THE COVENANT THEOLOGY VIEW

Unlike dispensationalism the beginning statements of covenant theology does not teach the principle of the Church and Israel as two separate entities.  Both groups are considered the same group throughout the life and ministry of the apostles.  The New Covenant was established by Jesus with a righteous remnant of Israel and quickly became mostly Gentile or non-Israelite, through the ministry of the apostles, with no distinction between the two groups.  This assembly known as the Church is viewed as the New Israel or the true Israel of God.  In other words, the New Israel consisted of any Church members (followers of Jesus) whether Jew or Gentile.  So far, this theology agrees with the New Exodus and the Kingdom of God frameworks.

The second phase (or articles of faith) of this view teaches that because the Church is now the New Israel of God and the vast majority of its members are Gentiles (nations/non-Israelite), then physical or ethnic Israel no longer has a future Biblical role.  A Jew may become a Christian when they individually repent and join.  An argument of Covenant theology is the Church has replaced physical and/or ethnic Israel and this transformation is now termed “Replacement Theology.”

Anything concerning modern Israel is dismissed by this view:  Israel established as a nation in 1948; Jews returning to Israel; the idea of a rebuilt temple in Jerusalem.  All these concepts are rejected as having any role in last-days prophecy.  The strict adherents of this view only allow individual Jewish participation in the New Israel or Church, and foresee no future national Israeli role in last-days prophecy.

A THEOLOGICAL SYNTHESIS

It appears that a new or revised theological framework must be mentally adopted to accommodate the New Testament doctrine of a spiritual Israel and the Kingdom of God.  It may be necessary to view Old and New Testament aspects of the word “Israel” as symbolic rather than literal in many instances.  I consider words such as Judah, Jacob, David, house of David, and Ephraim to refer to ethnic Israelites, although I could be wrong. Other aspects may perhaps be viewed as last-days or millennial rather than having a 1948 beginning or afterwards.  Here is a quote from Peter Goodgame concerning this issue:

In reading Isaiah it becomes clear to me that dispensationalists are taking a lot of prophecies about the New Exodus and erroneously interpreting them literally.  Yes, Isaiah does predict a "last days" gathering of "Israel" back to the promised land, but when these passages are read in light of the New Testament we find that ALL OF THESE PROPHECIES are fulfilled in Christ and the Church, with Jesus inaugurating the New Exodus at His death (or rather at Pentecost), to be consummated at the Second Coming when "true Israel" enters into the heavenly Jerusalem. 

I no longer believe that Scripture predicts a Spirit-led or God-led Exodus of modern day ethnic Jews back to their ancient home in the Middle East. The only Exodus that God is directing is the spiritual New Exodus that includes all nations, out from "Babylon" with the ultimate destination of the New Earth and New Jerusalem.

Jeremiah very clearly predicted that the New Covenant would originate with “Israel” in 31:31-34.  All of the Apostles, including Paul, recognized that their movement was a continuation and fulfillment of what the OT prophets had predicted for “Israel.” (Peter Goodgame)

The Covenant Theology is correct with their initial frameworks (in my opinion).  The kingdom of God, initiated by Jesus, began with a handful of Judean people.  At Pentecost, from the beginning of Acts, the group added over three thousand members.  At this stage all members of the Church (assembly, the Way) are Israelites.  Peter is later given a vision of unclean animals and is told to eat.  He refuses and God says to him, “"What God has made clean, you must not consider ritually unclean!"   Gentiles (non-Israelites) received the Holy Spirit and became members of the Church.

However, there is still a place for Israel in the prophetic eschatological plan of God.  The literal nation of Israel has a purpose, not that of the dispensationalist theology, but it will figure in the last-days scheme of events.  The temple will be rebuilt in Jerusalem; the beast (antichrist) will establish his headquarters there; the daily sacrifices will be restarted; and Jerusalem will be the capitol of the world empire.  Many of the Old Testament prophecies will be semi-fulfilled but in a negative manner as opposed to their complete positive fulfillment in the Millennium.

Jesus, Himself, validated this prophecy when He made the statement below as written in Matthew 25:15:

"So when you see the abomination of desolation -- spoken about by Daniel the prophet -- standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then those in Judea must flee to the mountains. (Matthew 24:15-16 NET)

This is not referring to Gentile Church members – it is proclaiming to ethnic Jews who have come to understand the truth concerning the false beast messiah as opposed to the true Messiah, Jesus, of two thousand years ago.

IS ISRAEL CUT OFF?

Are Jews cut off from spiritual Israel and prophetic scripture as viewed in the Replacement Theology of the Covenant theologians?  According to Romans chapter 11 they are not cut off, but exactly how this unfolds is uncertain.  In verse 1 Paul asserts, “God has not rejected his people, has he? Absolutely not”. 

When Elijah believed he was the only one left, God replied, “I have kept for myself seven thousand people who have not bent the knee to Baal."  Later, Paul adds they can be grafted in if they do not continue in their unbelief.  Covenant Theology claims that individual belief is the only way in the Kingdom of God, and I completely agree.  No one is above or beyond the saving grace of Christ if they believe.  However, what about the end of the 70^th week of Daniel?

And even they -if they do not continue in their unbelief- will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.  (Romans 11:23 NET)

It is scripturally certain two groups will be delivered:  the 144,000 from the 12 tribes (and no, they are not Jehovah Witnesses); and the remnant who escapes Jerusalem when the abomination of desolation is presented, as Jesus warned in Matthew 24.  Will there be any remaining Jews after the destruction of Mystery Babylon and the conflict of Armageddon?  Although not certain, there most likely will be.  If so, this will be the group of ethnic Jews who will view the return of the pierced Jesus and be filled with the spirit of grace.

And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.

(Zechariah 12:10 KJV)

Below is the statement from Paul that all ethnic Israel will be saved and the Isaiah passage which his quote originated.

And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: "The Deliverer will come out of Zion; he will remove ungodliness from Jacob. And this is my covenant with them, when I take away their sins."  (Romans 11:26-27 NET)

"A protector comes to Zion, to those in Jacob who repent of their rebellious deeds," says the LORD. "As for me, this is my promise to them," says the LORD. "My spirit, who is upon you, and my words, which I have placed in your mouth, will not depart from your mouth or from the mouths of your children and descendants from this time forward," says the LORD.  (Isaiah 59:20-21 NET)

Peter Goodgame quote:  One of the best descriptions in the New Testament of the New Exodus, comparing the journey of salvation led by Jesus to the Exodus journey led by Moses.

For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they were all drinking from the spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ. But God was not pleased with most of them, for they were cut down in the wilderness. These things happened as examples for us, so that we will not crave evil things as they did. So do not be idolaters, as some of them were. As it is written, "The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play." And let us not be immoral, as some of them were, and twenty-three thousand died in a single day. And let us not put Christ to the test, as some of them did, and were destroyed by snakes. And do not complain, as some of them did, and were killed by the destroying angel. These things happened to them as examples and were written for our instruction, on whom the ends of the ages have come.  (1 Corinthians 10:1-11 NET)

A quote from bible scholar Richard Hayes concerning 1 Corinthians 10:1-11, as found in his book, The Conversion of the Imagination: Paul as Interpreter of Israel’s Scripture, 2005, Kindle version, location 227-236:

RICHARD HAYES QUOTE

In 1 Corinthians 10 Paul sets forth an extended typological correspondence between Israel in the wilderness and the situation of the Corinthian church as it confronts the issue of eating meat sacrificed to idols. Even though Paul quotes just one biblical verse (Exod 32:6, in 1 Cor 10:7), his argument alludes to several episodes narrated in Exodus and Numbers and presupposes that his Corinthian readers are familiar with the story… …Paul is arguing from the story, not narrating it as something new to his audience. The thing that is new here is the way he brings the narrative of Israel into metaphorical conjunction with the issues the Corinthians face.

Paul’s first important hermeneutical move is to introduce the Israel of the wilderness generation as “our fathers” (hoi pateres hemon, 10:1). For the predominantly Gentile Corinthian church, this is already an important gesture. Israel’s story is not somebody else’s history; rather, Paul addresses the Gentile Corinthians as though they have become part of Israel. They are invited to understand themselves now as descendants of the characters who appear in the pages of Scripture.

This interpretation is confirmed by Paul’s passing reference to the Cornithians’ past life as idol worshipers in 1 Cor 12:2, “You know,” he writes, “that when you used to be Gentiles (hote ethne ete), you were carried away to dumb idols.” This formulation implies that he considers them ethne [Gentiles] no longer. Within Paul’s symbolic world, they are no longer among the goyim, because they have been taken up into the story of Israel. It should be noted that Paul is not trying to convince his Gentile readers to accept this identity description as a novel claim; rather, he assumes their identification with Israel as a given and tries to reshape their behavior in light of this identification.  (END QUOTE)

THE TEMPLE WILL BE REBUILT

According to several sources, the glory of God was never present in the rebuilt temple of Herod and the Ark of the Covenant was not present either.  It had been lost, stolen, or hidden during the Babylonian invasion (some claim it was hidden by Jeremiah).  From the time of the return of the Babylonian refugees, through the life of Jesus, and ending at the destruction of the Herod temple by the Romans in 70 AD, temple sacrifices were practiced with no Ark of God and no Shekinah Glory of God.  At the death of Christ the temple curtain separating God from man was torn in half signifying that a priest was no longer needed between God and man, although the Glory of God was not present in the temple.  Each believer in Christ becomes his or her own priest with direct access to God.  Jesus was the ultimate sacrificial lamb showing that sacrifices were no longer needed or wanted, whether in a temple or a pile of rocks.

Some have objected to the concept of a rebuilt temple in Jerusalem.  They claim that God does not desire a temple and His glory will not be there, and they are correct.  They claim the death and resurrection of Jesus nullifies the need for sacrifices, and they are again correct.  However, there are several scriptures that mention or hint of another temple in the future. 

Who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sits in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.   (2 Thessalonians 2:4 KJV)

In Matthew 24 Jesus personally stated the abomination of desolation, described by Daniel the prophet, would be placed in the HOLY PLACE, which is the temple or a reasonable facsimile in my opinion.  There was no abomination of desolation standing in the holy place prior to the temple’s destruction in 70 AD.

When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)

(Matthew 24:15 KJV)

The temple will be rebuilt as a fulfillment of the prophetic and planned will of God for the last days.  There are rumors the Ark of God has been found and will be placed in the new temple, but it will not be honored by the Glory of God.  God is currently being Glorified by and through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. 

God has no use for the Mosaic Law – every law and ritual was fulfilled by Jesus Christ.

God has no use for sacrifices – they were all fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

God has no use for priests – every believer is a priest before God.

God has no use for temples – every believer is the temple of the Holy Spirit.

What will be the purpose of a rebuilt temple? 

·         It will be necessary for the 70^th week of Daniel to be enacted. 

·         It will be required so that the beast can sit inside it as self-declared  “god”

·         The abomination of desolation will be placed there.

·         It may be part of the “great deception” and the falling away.

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;

(2 Thessalonians 2:3 KJV)

And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. (2 Timothy 4:4 KJV)

This could also be the source of strong delusion, where many will believe a lie.  A functioning temple and a false Jewish messiah will be the final acts of idolatry.

And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:  (2 Thessalonians 2:11 KJV)

The New Exodus: Part 4

THE NEW EXODUS: PART 4

Isaiah’s expectation of God's coming to inaugurate His eschatological rule was shaped according to the pattern of the Exodus from Egypt, the important and critical event of Israel's past.

While there are numerous hints of the Exodus tradition throughout the poems of Second Isaiah, the theme of the new exodus is the specific subject in the following passages.

1.    40:3-5 The highway in the wilderness.

2.    41:17-20 The transformation of the wilderness.

3.    42:14-16 YHWH leads his people in a way they know not.

4.    43:1-3 Passing through the waters and the fire.

5.    43:14-21 A way in the wilderness.

6.    48:20-21 The exodus from Babylon.

7.    49:8-12 The new entry into the Promised Land.

8.    51:9-10 The new victory at the sea.

9.    52:11-12 The new exodus.

10. 55:12-13 Israel shall go out in joy and peace.

THE HIGHWAY IN THE WILDERNESS

This passage is referencing the preaching of John the Baptist announcing the coming Kingdom of God.

Isaiah 40:3-5 KJV  The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.  (4)  Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain:  (5)  And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.

THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE WILDERNESS

The wilderness is Mystery, Babylon and it encompasses the entire world.  It represents the idolatry, violence, greed and rebellion of the corrupt world, and the various systems man has created to manage this corruption.  During the 70^th week of Daniel, the focal point of this mystery system will be located in Jerusalem with the worship of the false messiah or beast as the pinnacle of idolatry.

Isaiah 41:17-20 KJV  When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the LORD will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them.  (18)  I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water.  (19)  I will plant in the wilderness the cedar, the shittah tree, and the myrtle, and the oil tree; I will set in the desert the fir tree, and the pine, and the box tree together:  (20)  That they may see, and know, and consider, and understand together, that the hand of the LORD hath done this, and the Holy One of Israel hath created it.

GOD LEADS HIS PEOPLE IN A WAY THEY KNOW NOT

It may be that the Lord will make a level passageway with the rivers easy to cross.  The path will be knowable, even to the blind.  The Lord will be a beacon of light signaling the destination in a straight path.

Isaiah 42:14-16 KJV  I have long time held my peace; I have been still, and refrained myself: now will I cry like a travailing woman; I will destroy and devour at once.  (15)  I will make waste mountains and hills, and dry up all their herbs; and I will make the rivers islands, and I will dry up the pools.  (16)  And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.

PASSING THROUGH THE WATERS AND THE FIRE

Utley Commentary:  “the waters, the fire, the flame”  These are used as metaphors of problems, fears, and foes.  This passage could also be referring to the Exodus crossing of the sea and later the Jordan River.  The statement, “I am the Lord, your God” is an imitative reminder of Exodus 20.

Isaiah 43:1-3 KJV  But now thus says the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.  (2)  When thou pass through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walk through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.  (3)  For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Savior: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee.

A WAY IN THE WILDERNESS

The Lord will provide a way to escape the perils of Babylon (the wilderness).  The chief instigators will be brought down.  Do not consider the indulgences of the past as the children of Israel did in the desert because the Lord will provide even better things than before.  Everyone will survive.

Isaiah 43:14-21 KJV  Thus saith the LORD, your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; For your sake I have sent to Babylon, and have brought down all their nobles, and the Chaldeans, whose cry is in the ships.  (15)  I am the LORD, your Holy One, the creator of Israel, your King.  (16)  Thus saith the LORD, which maketh a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty waters;  (17)  Which bringeth forth the chariot and horse, the army and the power; they shall lie down together, they shall not rise: they are extinct, they are quenched as tow.  (18)  Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.  (19)  Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.  (20)  The beast of the field shall honour me, the dragons and the owls: because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen.  (21)  This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise.

THE EXODUS FROM BABYLON

This exodus is not from the physical Babylon.  Again, this Babylon is the same as Mystery, Babylon in the Revelation (see description above).  It is synonymous with the wilderness of previous scriptural excerpts. Flee from idolatry, violence, greed and rebellion of the Chaldeans (corrupt world).  The basic necessities will be provided as in the exodus from Egypt.

.

Isaiah 48:20-21 KJV  Go ye forth of Babylon, flee ye from the Chaldeans, with a voice of singing declare ye, tell this, utter it even to the end of the earth; say ye, The LORD hath redeemed his servant Jacob.  (21)  And they thirsted not when he led them through the deserts: he caused the waters to flow out of the rock for them: he clave the rock also, and the waters gushed out.

THE NEW ENTRY INTO THE PROMISED LAND

The new promised land of the Millennium will be as the original Garden of Eden.  The New Exodus is about getting all of humanity out of the darkness and death of the current fallen world (the wilderness) and back into the Garden of Eden where the tree of life will stand again (Rev.22:2). The original exile that God wants to remedy through Jesus is not the story of Israelites deported from Israel and Judah, but of Adam and Eve being evicted from the Garden of Eden.

Isaiah 51:3 KJV  For the LORD shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.

Isaiah 49:8-12 KJV  Thus saith the LORD, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages;  (9)  That thou mayest say to the prisoners, Go forth; to them that are in darkness, Shew yourselves. They shall feed in the ways, and their pastures shall be in all high places.  (10)  They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them.  (11)  And I will make all my mountains a way, and my highways shall be exalted.  (12)  Behold, these shall come from far: and, lo, these from the north and from the west; and these from the land of Sinim.

2 Corinthians 6:2 KJV  (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

THE NEW VICTORY AT THE SEA

The Lord is most powerful:  “Thy will be done.”  There have been several past and current speculations concerning Rahab; most of them bordering on science fiction.  The word is defined in Strong’s Hebrew Dictionary as:  Rahab (that is, boaster), an epithet of Egypt:  It thus means pride or one who boasts:  When coupled with the word dragon it perhaps means that God has or will subjugate Satan.  In my post titled The Beast I made this comment about the dragon of Revelation 12:  This composite beast, which is later identified as a Satan-type entity, is representative of the empire instigated by Satan throughout the history of the Hebrew-Israelite people.  The purpose of this historical empire has been to prevent the birth of the woman’s Son who will bruise (crush NIV, attack NET) the head of the serpent or Satan as prophesied in Genesis.

Verse 10 gives another allusion to the Egyptian exodus crossing of the Red Sea when God parted the water as a means of escape.

Isaiah 51:9-10 KJV  Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the LORD; awake, as in the ancient days, in the generations of old. Art thou not it that hath cut Rahab, and wounded the dragon?  (10)  Art thou not it which hath dried the sea, the waters of the great deep; that hath made the depths of the sea a way for the ransomed to pass over?

THE NEW EXODUS

The journey out of the wilderness must be made in righteousness with no unclean words or deeds.  The call to separate from Babylon, the spiritual wilderness, is a call for purity, for those who are the vessels of the Lord.  It is not necessary to go in fear for the Lord will lead us and He will be our reward.

Isaiah 52:11-12 KJV  Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD.  (12)  For ye shall not go out with haste, nor go by flight: for the LORD will go before you; and the God of Israel will be your reward.

This righteous exodus is also proclaimed by Paul.

2 Corinthians 6:17 KJV  Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

WE SHALL GO OUT IN JOY AND PEACE

Eden is not mentioned in this passage but is implied with the anticipated peace and tranquility.  Even nature will be as a manicured garden.  Creation is often personified as rejoicing at the presence of God. The idyllic fellowship of the Garden of Eden is restored.  The land will enjoy freedom from the curse, with fruitfulness as a result.

Isaiah 55:12-13 KJV  For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.  (13)  Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.