The Church In The Wilderness

THE CHURCH IN THE WILDERNESS

12-14-2016

It has previously been written, in a past article, that the woman who fled to the wilderness, in Revelation 12, is the same woman in the wilderness sitting on the scarlet beast in Revelation 17.  Women in the Wilderness 

Revelation 12:14 NET  But the woman was given the two wings of a giant eagle so that she could fly out into the wilderness, to the place God prepared for her, where she is taken care of — away from the presence of the serpent — for a time, times, and half a time.

Revelation 12:17 NET  So the dragon became enraged at the woman and went away to make war on the rest of her children, those who keep God's commandments and hold to the testimony about Jesus.

Considering the decision of the dragon to go and make war on her children i.e. those who keep God's commandments and hold to the testimony about Jesus, there is a high probability the woman is the Church.  For somewhat over a thousand years after Revelation was drafted, the Church was primarily the Roman Church.

The early Church around Jerusalem came under great tribulation from the Temple leaders and were scattered around the Middle East and Southeast Europe beginning their time in the wilderness.  When prominence was vested in the church after it became a legal religion, power increased within the Roman seat and also later in the Eastern seat in Constantinople.  Eventually, all religious power rested within the Roman Church structure for all of Europe, Northern Africa, and many of the Eastern areas.

The First Wilderness Wandering

The Israelites had the Passover faith to pack up their belongings and leave Egypt under the leadership of Moses.  When they arrived at Sinai, God appeared to Moses as a flame or a fire with thunders and lightning.  Later, after Moses met with God on several occasions, the congregation was asked to listen to the voice of God as He desired to give them the laws and commandments.

At the sight and sound of the smoke, thundering, and lightning, the people were fearful and refused to allow God to appear and speak in their presence.  Their decision was for Moses to go up the mountain, listen to the words of God, and then repeat the information to them.  During Moses’ trip to listen to God on Sinai, the congregation molded a golden calf, which resulted in idolatry worship.

For some reason the Israelites lost the faith that took them out of Egypt.  From this point onward their lack of faith in the power of God continued in various ways and became a disaster for all the people except Caleb and Joshua.  The story spoken by ten of the twelve spies exploring the land spoke of giant men and the people became fearful and refused to enter the land.  As a result God assigned the congregation to wander in the wilderness for a total of forty years until all adults died except of course for Joshua and Caleb.

Exodus 20:18-21 NET  All the people were seeing the thundering and the lightning, and heard the sound of the horn, and saw the mountain smoking — and when the people saw it they trembled with fear and kept their distance. 

(19)  They said to Moses, "You speak to us and we will listen, but do not let God speak with us, lest we die."  

(20)  Moses said to the people, "Do not fear, for God has come to test you, that the fear of him may be before you so that you do not sin."  (21)  The people kept their distance, but Moses drew near the thick darkness where God was.

The Church in the Wilderness

Similar to the Israelites at Sinai, the Church people did not listen to God.  The major cause of this inability to listen to God was due to the Roman Church denying access to the Bible.  The Bible chained to the front of the Cathedral was written in Latin that no one could read except for the priests.  All vernacular translations of the scriptures were forbidden and only approved hints of the substance of the Bible were given only by the priests.  The result was similar to the “fake news” debacle occurring within the USA today.  Whatever the Roman Church reported as “Christian” was readily accepted by the majority as truth.

Israel’s lack of faith caused them to worship the golden calf shortly after failing to hear God for themselves. In fact, their shortage of faith during their entire wilderness wandering meant that most were led by the flesh, rather than by the Spirit. The flesh is always an inner “harlot” that leads us to worship the golden calf in some manner. On a corporate scale (including Protestant groups), the church has had the same problem throughout the entire church age.  The seven letters to the seven churches, at the beginning of the Revelation addresses the lack of faith mentality of the churches, from the beginning to the present.

Martin Luther posted his 95 thesis in 1517.  He translated the New Testament from Greek to a vernacular German in 1522 and the complete Bible, containing the Old and New Testaments in 1534.  The printing press was also developed during the same time period (brought to Eastern Europe by the Mongol invasion) which greatly aided the distribution of the Bible, which people could read for themselves in their own language for the first time since the initiation of the Roman Church.

Israel, prior to the division after the death of Solomon, brought forth David (with the assistance of God).  Although David greatly sinned with the Bathsheba affair (he later repented) he ruled Israel as a follower of God and His laws.  After the division, northern Israel was termed a harlot by Hosea.  Later, southern Judah was cast out for their idol worshipping harlotry and placed under the rule of Babylon, Persia, Greece, and finally Rome.  Afterwards, the majority of the Church have been disqualified from ruling the coming Kingdom of God due to their idolatry and lack of faith concerning the true workings of God.

In the days of Elijah, God said that only 7000 souls have not disqualified themselves by worshipping Baal.  In like manner, according to God through Paul, there is currently only a remnant that is free of the harlotry of idolatry.  This remnant, sometimes called the elect or the overcomers are the ones truly chosen to participate as leaders during the Kingdom of God. 

Romans 11:4-5 KJV  But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.  (5)  Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

In the Days of Noah

Immediately prior to the flood, Noah and his family entered the ark and the flood took them away.  In like manner, the return of Jesus will envision some taken away and others will be left.

Matthew 24:38-40 KJV  For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,  (39)  And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.  (40)  Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

There are several interpretations for this passage and the majority of them are in error.  “They were eating and drinking, etc.” refers to the general population.  Noah and his family entered the ark during this event or time.  No one knew about the nature of rain or vast amounts of water coming forth from the ground, including Noah and his family.  Thus when the flood came, even though Noah was unaware of the process, the water took them away as they were aboard the ark.  The general population outside the ark, most likely knew much more about the origin of the water than Noah since they were watching it happen.

One so-called seer teaches that the people taken away in verse 40 are taken to hell.  Although a fiery hell of eternal punishment does not exist, it could mean they are terminated and sent to the grave which is the actual meaning of hell and Hades.  However, both scenarios are false.  Salvation, Hell, & Resurrection

The ones taken in verse 40 are the elect, the overcomers, or the remnant.  The popular explanatory word is the Latin translation of “rapture”.  Before they are taken, the remnant of the days of Elijah plus many other deceased elect will be caught up first and then the living overcomers will join them.

More of the Tribe of Dan

MORE OF THE TRIBE OF DAN

As a review, the Hebrew land allotment at their entrance into the land of Canaan put the tribe of Dan into the smallest land areas although the tribe had the largest population.  They were also against the Philistine area of Gaza which proved to be troublesome.

 

Samson

Samson was and is considered the Danite hero.  He was appointed a judge and other than a few unusual incidences he accomplished little of any practical value.  He killed several Philistines and ended his life killing more Philistines and their lords than his entire life.

Samson said, "Let me die with the Philistines!" He pushed hard and the temple collapsed on the rulers and all the people in it. He killed many more people in his death than he had killed during his life.  (Judges 16:30 NET)

After the death of Samson, the tribe of Dan had issues dealing with the Philistines problem so they decided to move to another location which resulted in an area north of the other tribes.  Their new location would be considered as the current southern Lebanon.  This new land bordered on the area of the Phonicians.  The Danites apparently socialized with the Phonicians and intermarried with them.  They also became adept at seamanship and became skilled sailors.  It is claimed they sailed to southern Greece and founded a group or kingdom called the Spartan Danites.  When Moses gave a blessing to each of the twelve tribes, the one to the Danites was merely, “Dan is a lion’s whelp:  He shall leap from Bashan”.  This was not really a blessing and some exegetes consider it is to mean than Dan will leave Bashan and go north.  Others view it as a prophecy that the beast/antichrist will be a Danite and will come from Bashan to invade Israel.

From all scriptural indications the tribe of Dan were consumed with idolatry from the very beginning.  While surveying a new land placement a team of Danites went to the house of Micah the Ephraimite, who was an idolator, and stole several objects including a golden calf which they positioned in their new area as an object of worship.

Merovingians

The Merovingian family is known for their connections with the Knights Templar, and the Search for the Holy Grail. They were rulers in what is now France from 481 through 752, then known as the Frankish area.   It was even said that Merovius' ancestors came from Atlantis, and were from the stock of a race of very intelligent, powerful, caring people. Merovius (the historical ruler) claimed to have documented that he was descended from Jesus and Mary Magdalene, but documentation was never shown or saved.  It is said the Mary Magdalene heresy is propagated by the Mormon church.  It is also seriously considered by many of the European royal families as well as many elite powerbrokers of the European Union.

The Merovingians were thrown out of power by the Pope in 751 with the "Donation of Constantine", where they were called pagans and renounced. The Pope feared their power and replaced them with the Carolingian dynasty, of which Charlemagne was a member.  Some claim that Merovius was the offspring of Chlodio the Longhair, who was a chief of a Frankish tribe.  Note that Chlodio had long hair and his sons all wore long hair as well.  It was considered that long hair was a source of power, which is perhaps a remnant memory of the legend of Samson.

Various stories and legends concerning the so-called marriage of Jesus and Mary Magdalene began to propagate in southern France during the 9^th century (800’s).  Some became linked with Isis, the pagan goddess of Egypt, and others evolved into the divine Mary, mother of Jesus, mythos created by the Catholic church.

Bees

The riddle of Samson involving bees became an identifying factor for the tribe of Dan.  This identification with bees also became a part of the later Merovingian kingdom.  A tomb of a Merovingian king was unearthed and the archeologists found an assortment of 300 tiny gold bees.  Napoleon, a native of the Frankish Merovingian area was apparently enamored with the Danite/Merovingian bees that his coronation cloak was bedecked with 300 embroidered bees.  The same bees were also embroidered into the wedding gown of Marie Louise Habsburg for their ceremony.

The Eagle

During the wilderness journey, the tribe of Dan was initially associated with the serpent due to a so-called blessing given to the Danites as well as the other tribes.

Dan shall judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel. Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder in the path, that biteth the horse heels, so that his rider shall fall backward.  (Genesis 49:16-17 KJV)

This identification with a serpent was changed by Ahiezer, the leader of the Tribe of Dan during the Exodus, to an eagle with a serpent in its mouth which became the ensign on their tribal flag.  The eagle was known as the killer of serpents and was more preferable than just a serpent.  Although it could be a coincidence, the historical enemies of Israel always seem to have the eagle as an ensign representation such as Herod, the Romans, the Germans, and the Czars, among others.

Angels & the Divine Council: Part 2

ANGELS AND THE DIVINE COUNCIL

PART 2

THE CREATION OF MAN

Since it has been documented that sons of God were created prior to the earth or humanity let’s look at the next example.

And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.  (Genesis 1:26 KJV)

Genesis 1:26 states that God said, “Let us make man in our image.”  The conservative answer would be that “us” and “our” is one member of the Trinity speaking to the other two members of the Trinity due to the use of plural pronouns.  However, let’s view the plural Trinity issue in Genesis 3:22.

And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever:   (Genesis 3:22 KJV)

After the sin of disobedience, the Lord God said, “the man is become as one of us.”  Does this mean that Adam and Eve were the same nature as the Triune God:  were like the Triune God; or became as the Triune God?  That is obviously not the answer, but there was apparently a vast change in the spiritual composition of the humans.  Perhaps Adam and Eve, by knowing good and evil, became as one of the created entities such as an angel or Divine Council member.  Perhaps Adam and Eve could now express free will without regard to the higher authority of God.  Did the created beings know good and evil?  The one who tempted Eve to eat the fruit of the forbidden tree obviously did know.  (It was not a snake)  Yes, it appears created beings have the free will to disregard the authority of God as we will see later on.  Perhaps, it should be considered that the Lord God was speaking to members of the Divine Council and not to Jesus or the Holy Spirit.  It’s not an important point and either opinion will not tarnish your theology.

THE SNAKE AND THE FRUIT

The Hebrew word “nachash” usually translated as serpent in most Bible versions has previously been covered in my article entitled, THE GARDEN OF EDEN NACHASH,  (see Garden of Eden Nachash)  Here is a short quote as a refresher:

The word serpent is the Hebrew word, nachash, which can be translated as serpent or snake but has other meanings as well.  According to Heiser, the Hebrew root is the basis for a noun, verb, and adjective.  Of course as a noun it is usually the word for serpent.  The verb form means deceiver or diviner with divine knowledge.  The adjective version means bronze or brazen with a bright shine.  Therefore, used as an adjective it should be translated as “shining one.”  Shining or luminosity is a quality that is characteristic of divine beings in the Hebrew bible and other near east literature.

This tempter was a serpentine shining entity and a member of the Divine Council as evidenced in Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28 named Helel ben Shachar (literally means “shining one, son of the dawn”).  The word “Lucifer” of Isaiah 14 was taken from the Latin vulgate translation of “Helel” and transliterated to the English KJV and others.

The motivation for the temptation of Adam and Eve is Biblically unknown although several non-canonical assumptions are available, with envy being the major theme.  It may have been that Helel considered it insulting when humans were given dominion of the earth and the status of council members.

THE SONS OF GOD AND ANGELS

All scripture passages with the Hebrew phrase translated as “the sons of God” is beney ha-elohim or just beney Elohim.  The Hebrew word Elohim is the most common Biblical name for the Lord God although it is plural.  There are two generic Hebrew words for “God”:  el and eloah; the plural forms are elim and elohim.  The normal Hebrew word for “angel” in the Old Testament is malak.  It would appear that the “sons of God” or beney ha-elohim of the divine council are different entities from the normal angel or malak which means a messenger.

The word translated as “Satan” in the book of Job, which is the first instance of the word is the Hebrew hassatan, which is satan with a definite article has in front.  The meaning of the word is “The Adversary”.  The Hebrew satan became a proper noun name in the Greek New Testament and was used untranslated or transliterated in English Bible versions.

EZEKIEL 28

The passage found in Ezekiel 28 is considered by Dr. Heiser as a semi-parallel commentary to the nashash/serpent deceiver of Genesis.  Verse 10 states this particular entity was in the Garden of Eden.  His covering was one of shining precious stones.  It should be noted the tabrets and pipes (tambourines and flutes) is not the translation of every version.  (OTHER VERSIONS USE:  settings and mounts NET, NIV; treasures and stores LXX).  Dr. Heiser maintains the figure is the anointed cherub which is a serpentine entity with a shining covering (of precious stones).  He has walked in the midst of the stones of fire which is defined by Heiser as the divine council on the mountain of God.  He was thrown from Eden / the mountain of God / the stones of fire / the divine council due to his iniquity.  His heart (ego) was lifted up due to his beauty and brightness (shining), but he will be placed into Sheol (the abyss or the bottomless pit).

Ezekiel 28:13-17 KJV  Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.  (14)  Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.  (15)  Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.  (16)  By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.  (17)  Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.

The NET Bible side notes claim this particular passage has many translation problems.  This is evidenced by viewing several Bible versions.  One issue concerning tabrets and pipes has been mentioned above.  Another major concern is whether the shining one is actually the guardian Cherub or if he was there with a Cherub.  Also did God expel him from Eden or did the Cherub expel him?  The differing versions of this passage are the KJV, which is listed above, and the NET with different wording is listed below.

Ezekiel 28:14-16 NET  I placed you there with an anointed guardian cherub; you were on the holy mountain of God; you walked about amidst fiery stones.  (15)  You were blameless in your behavior from the day you were created, until sin was discovered in you.  (16)  In the abundance of your trade you were filled with violence, and you sinned; so I defiled you and banished you from the mountain of God -- the guardian cherub expelled you from the midst of the stones of fire.

The meaning of the Hebrew word for “cherub” is uncertain.  It could possibly refer to a heavenly entity with the task of guarding the throne room of God, regardless of appearance. 

ISAIAH 14

Unless his opinion has changed, Peter Goodgame views this chapter as a resurrected, from the abyss, Nimrod, the former king of Babylon, and the coming antichrist (beast).  He pairs this with the Queen of Babylon or Babylon the Great of Revelation.  The characteristics of:  oppressor; staff of the wicked; smote the people in wrath; ruled the nations in anger; all appear to describe the Revelation beast.

The chapter according to Dr. Heiser is about an evil tyrant king, whose pride is described in terms of an ancient story about a divine being who fell from paradise due to rebellion against God.  The Hebrew word translated as Lucifer in the KJV is “Helel ben Shachar” which literally means “shining one, son of the dawn.”  The word “Lucifer” was taken from the Latin vulgate translation of “Helel” and transliterated to English.  This would be the same entity who fell from paradise because of his Eden deception.  More extensive coverage can be found at:  Garden of Eden Nachash

Isaiah 14:4-6 KJV  That thou shalt take up this proverb against the king of Babylon, and say, How hath the oppressor ceased! the golden city ceased!  (5)  The LORD hath broken the staff of the wicked, and the sceptre of the rulers.  (6)  He who smote the people in wrath with a continual stroke, he that ruled the nations in anger, is persecuted, and none hindereth.

The punishments or curses given to the nachash (serpent, shining one) of Genesis 3 cannot be seen as part of Isaiah 14 because a snake (reptile animal) would not be sent to Sheol.  The Sheol punishment have to be a future event as depicted by Satan being cast into the bottomless pit in Revelation 20:1-2.

And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,

(Revelation 20:1-2 KJV)