Voices of the Prophets Daniel andThe End of Days

               Moving forward progressively in this seven part series interpreting the Book of Daniel we are ready to look at chapter ten and the preparation for what is to follow. It was at the time of Cyrus king of Persia in his third year. “In those days I Daniel was mourning three full weeks. I also ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh or wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.” (Daniel 10:2-3). Daniel was deeply in fasting and prayer.

            “Then I lifted up my eyes, and looked, and behold a certain man clothed with linen, whose loins were girded with the fine gold of Uphaz: His body was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightening, and his eyes as lamp of fire, and his arms and his feet like the color of polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude.”  (Daniel 10:5-6). Daniel has seen a vision of the Person of the Lord himself in preparation for the revelations which are to follow in chapters eleven and twelve of Daniel’s recorded writings. The description of the person in the vision is a theophany. This description can be compared to two like descriptions found in the Book of Revelation as experienced and recorded by the Apostle John. (Comp. Rev. 1:13-15 and Rev. 10: 1). The presence of the Lord had an overwhelming effect of weakening Daniel in his body and physical state and caused him to fall prostrate before this awesome Person.

           The balance of the chapter is consumed with this revelation of Christ and its effect on Daniel. Reading the final verse of the chapter we see it to be a preparation for what is yet to be revealed in the final two chapters. “….when I am come forth, lo,the king of Grecia shall come. But I will show thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth: and there is none that standeth with me but Michael your prince.” (Daniel 10:20-21) (Compare Daniel 12:1-2 with Rev. 12:7-8 for Michael’s further role in the conflict).

            We proceed to chapter eleven and begin a historical chronology which will carry us forward to the end of days. In verse one we see Darius the Mede being established and confirmed as king and following in verse two we find that there will follow three more kings from among the Persians. This in turn is followed by the conquest of Alexander the Great (Grecia) displacing the Medio-Persian Empire. After Alexander’s rapid conquest of the region he dies prematurely at a young age but not in battle. In verse four we see the confirmation found in chapter eight that his kingdom is divided into four parts towards the four winds. These four divisions were reined over by Alexander’s four generals.

            Now there begins a chronology necessary to carry us forward to the end of days.  What we will discover is the emergence of a world ruler who obtains power and dominion through his allegiance with Satan who seeks to be worshipped universally and displace the God of heaven.  The icon he will use is the “little horn” of Daniel seven and eight. This will prove to identify the now relatively small nation state of Israel. Empowered by Lucifer he (the Antichrist) will go forth conquering and to conquer (see Revelation 6:1). The immediate objective is to recover the territory designated under the old covenant as the “Promised Land”.  (See my book The Israel Deception). The further objective is to obtain world dominion extoling and honoring the god of this world and bringing about a spiritual apostasy that will result in “all the world wondered after the beast”(Rev. 13:3). The lengthy chronology in Daniel chapter eleven leads us up to the time of the revelation of the son of perdition. Unrevealing all of those preparatory scriptures in the chapter are not necessary to capture the end of day’s scenario.  In my view those developments related to his revelation begin at verse twenty one in Daniel eleven. But in preparation for that event which is described in scripture as the abomination of desolation it would prove more profitable to bring us to focus on developments in the world at this present time. Yes, we are now approaching the end time’s events which will ultimately lead us into the great tribulation. That does not mean that they are likely to be at least a few years yet future in time.                   

            I believe the world to be in a stage of preparation and the signs of this include “wars and rumors of wars” as prophesied by Jesus in Matthew chapter twenty-four. Also in evidence is the great apostasy spoken of by the Apostle Paul in II Thes. chapter two. If you focus on the Middle East beginning with the first gulf war against Iraq this was the beginning of conflicts in the region. Saddam Hussein was resistant to the outcome and did not submit to the international effort to destroy his kingdom and wealth. This fact led to the necessity of a further war that lasted eight years and the dictator’s death. Also paralleling this war was the invasion of Afghanistan allegedly to destroy the terrorists that were responsible for the World Trade Center attack. The ‘false flag’ event of 911 was the rationale for these invasions but there was in play another agenda. Ongoing conflicts have been continuous in the entire region including the “Arab Spring” which involved numerous Muslim nations throughout the same region. Then there was the overthrow of Gadhafi’s Libya and we witness the ongoing conflict in Syria. Now there are war drums rattling against Iran which is a hated enemy of Israel. America is the proxy military power being used in all of the above and it has not come to its conclusion but will be ongoing until the entire region has been destabilized by the Zionist cabal which is orchestrating the entire regional operation on behalf of Israel. Israel is to undergo a military expansion in the region as we will investigate further in our series on Daniel. The initial goal is to recover what they believe to be their “Promised Land”.  When that has been accomplished the grounds for the revelation of the Antichrist, the Jews false messiah will be complete. The fourth beast of Daniel’s prophesies  presented in chapters seven and eight will emerge as an expression of the satanically planned New World Order. This much lays the groundwork for the next blog which will reveal the true meaning of the abomination of desolation. Keep your eyes upon Israel as it is not what the religious world believes it to be.In fact it is the exact opposite  of what is percieved by today's apostate church.

David Lance Dean               See my blogs and books at   authordavidlancedean.com

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            ;

Voices of the Prophets: Daniel's Seventy Weeks

            Moving forward in our study of Daniel we will expound on one of the key passages in Old Testament prophesies as it is found in the ninth chapter of Daniel.It is reordered at the time of the end of the Babylonian Empire and the onset of the rule of the Meads and Persians specifically at the beginning of the reign of Darius the Median king. Daniel has awareness that the end of the captivity would correlate with the end of a seventy year period and that fact is discovered in the writings of Jeremiah and specifically at Jeremiah 25:12.

            Because of Daniel’s burden for Jerusalem and the testimony of the Lord he entered into a period of fervent prayer and fasting on behalf of his people mainly focused on a humble supplication for forgiveness and restoration. This covers the majority of chapter nine and the result was the revealing to him the  mind of the Lord for the future of Israel and it is covered concisely in the four verses at the end of chapter nine and those being verses 24-27. Our object now is to break those four verses down verse by verse and provide an accurate interpretation which is the all-important matter.

            “Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon the holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end to sins, and to make reconciliation, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.” (Verse 24). The seventy weeks are understood as weeks of years, that is to say that one week equals seven years and so the seventy weeks are 70  x 7 years or 490 years.(Comp. Lev. 25:12). So in view in the first verse of the passage is the advent of Messiah and his ministry of reconciliation which seals the words of the prophesies of the Old Testament; his anointing which took place at the time of his baptism in the Jordan River including the decent of the Holy Spirit upon him and he was then carried forward in a ministry to the people of Israel being consummated with his death on the cross.

            “Know ye therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and build Jerusalem unto  the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and three score and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.”(Verse 25). So there came a decree at a point in time after the captivity was complete that included the complete provisions for rebuilding the city, the temple and the wall. It is to be realized that work on the temple began first with many returning from the captivity to Jerusalem. The work was hindered and preceded slowly with intervals of time. To pinpoint the time of the decree to completely finish the work you may read of it in the seventh chapter of Ezra. It was given by Artaxerxes the king of the Persians. Also the book of Nehemiah will provide the details of the rebuilding of the wall in troublous times for there was much opposition. But all the work was completed and worship was reestablished through the ministry of Ezra the priest and the efforts of Nehemiah.

            “And after three score and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary and the end thereof shall be with flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined,” (Verse 26). The verse includes the cutting off of Messiah, i.e. his death on the cross after three and one-half years of ministry. The Jews demanded his death at the hand of the Roman government. It also includes the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in 70 AD by the Roman legions under Titus. This event happened outside of the seventy weeks which were determined to be explained in verse twenty seven, but was nevertheless prophesied ""desolations are determined".

            “And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even till the consummation, and that determined shall be poured out upon the desolate.” (Verse 27). The verse covers a seven year ministry to the Jews. The first 3 1/2 years by Jesus himself leading up to his crucifixion. Then for 3 ½ additional years his disciples were commissioned to preach the gospel of the kingdom to the “lost sheep of the house of Israel”. (Seven years equals one week). The desolations determined represent the judgment that fell upon a disobedient and gainsaying people.  The end of the last week of the seventy came at the time of Stephen preaching to the Jewish Sanhedrin—he seventy elders which represented the ruling authority spiritually of the people.  Stephen was stoned to death at the end of his sermon representing the formal determination and rejection of the nation concerning the person and work of Jesus Christ.

            The seventy weeks were all completed and fulfilled consecutively beginning with the decree of Artexerxes (Ezra chapter seven) concerning the completion of the building of the city and the wall and running through to the stoning of Stephen in Acts chapter seven. The ‘gap’ theory propagated by dispensationalists is a theological myth with no support in Scripture.

            A footnote to the interpretation is made necessary by the fact that millions of Christians primarily evangelicals believe that the seventieth week comes at the very end of the age in the form of the tribulation and a returning of God  to the Jews which they believe will be saved nationally. This heresy was propagated and spread wide with the publication of the Scofield Reference Bible in 1909 and several subsequent publications thereafter completely invading and destroying the truth of the Scriptures both doctrinally and prophetically. There is no support in the Bible for the restoration of Israel collectively whether nationally or according to their ethnicity. God’s covenant and dealings with them ended in the advent, crucifixion and subsequent rejection of their promised Messiah; but allowing  them 3 ½ more years to grasp and understand the message  and embrace  by faith the  redemption spoken to them by the disciples.

David Lance Dean              visit my website and follow my blogs:                                                                                 authordavidlancedaen.com

Voices of the Prophets: Daniel's Vision

              We are proceeding progressively through the Book of Daniel and his prophetic revelations which lead us ultimately to world developments at the very end of the age and the coming in judgment of Jesus Christ. This posting will cover the prophetic truths contained in the eighth chapter of Daniel.

            Occurring in the third year of Belshazzar king of Babylon we discover the following: This is Daniel’s vision on the occasion. “Then I lifted up my eyes and saw, and behold, there stood before the river a ram which had two horns and the two horns were high; but one was higher than the other, and the higher came up last. I saw the ram pushing westward and northward and southward, so that no beasts might stand before him, neither was there any that could deliver out of his hand; but he did according to his will, and became great.” (Daniel 8:5).  This again is a representation ion of the kingdom of the Meads and the Persians (two horns). The higher one which came up last are the kings of Persia, but the kingdom was a coalition of the two peoples.

            “And as I was considering, behold, as the goat came from the west on the face of the whole earth, and touched not the ground: and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes, and he came to the ram that had two horns, which I had seen standing at the river, and ran into him in the fury of his power. And I saw him come close unto the ram, and he was moved with choler against him, and smote the ram, and brake his two horns; and there was no power in the ram to stand before him, but he cast him down to the ground, and stamped upon him: and there was none that could deliver the ram out of his hand. Therefore the he goat waxed very great and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; and for it came up four notable ones towards the four winds of heaven. “ (Daniel 8:6-8)  Here we see again as in chapter seven the vast kingdom of Alexander the Great. He is the notable horn on the he goat. When he died after his conquest there were four notable ones which came up towards the four winds of heaven. These were the four principle generals in Alexander’s army which prevailed with him in victory.

            We would take note here that there is a centuries long gap in the chronology of the secular history because the Roman Empire is not covered even though it was represented in the legs of iron in the image of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. The significance of this fact is to illustrate that all of the other kingdoms are Middle Eastern in origin including the final one which we will cover next.  The Roman Empire was centered in Rome and extending to the regions of Europe. Where history began it will end.

            We came now to the final beast which resulted from the dividing into four parts the great kingdom of Alexander’s Empire. “And out of one of them came forth a title horn, which waxed exceeding great towards the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land (Israel): and it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down of the host (believers) and the stars to the ground and stamped upon them. Yet he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, (Jesus Christ) and by him (Antichrist) the daily sacrifice was taken away and the place of his sanctuary (believers) was cast down. And an host was given against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practiced and prospered.” (Daniel 8:9-12) Now everything for the people of God becomes extremely difficult. The title horn which waxed exceedingly great is the nation state of Israel expanded to a "Greater Israel." It is destined to become a vast empire recovering the territory they believe to be the “Promised Land” at the very end of the age and leading into the time of the  great tribulation period (3 ½ years-not seven). Under the auspices and power of Satan the Antichrist will even exalt himself to the Prince (Jesus Christ) of the host (the people of God). It will be difficult for multiplied millions of Christians to grasp these truths because they speak of both persecution and martyrdom of the saints and they are of the belief that they will be marvelously “raptured” before the time of trouble. The fact is that there is no pretribulational rapture for the entire church prior to the onset of the tribulation. We must now move forward to the next segment of the prophecy.

            “Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake, How long shall be the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot? And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.” (Daniel 8:13-14).This stated period encompasses the vast purification and martyrdom of the sanctuary.( i.e. the people of the Lord). That is to say those among them who are committed and faithful. Many will not endure, but rather will fall away through the craft and deciet of the enemy as we will discover later when we reach chapter eleven. The Calvinist doctrine of ‘eternal security’ will not stand in that day as it does not stand now. Only the faithful saints who “endure unto the end will be saved.”(Jesus said it at Matt. 24:13).

            These passages do not comport to the popular theological systems of today’s churches as they would embrace Calvinism and particularly dispensationalism as popularized by the Scofield Reference Bible. These passages in Daniel’s prophesy cannot be understood from those popular paradigms and so they remain a mystery to almost all who claim to be Christians.

         We intend to continue to enlarge on these truths as we advance through the remainder of the Book of Daniel because the true paradigm of end time prophetic truth stands in stark contrast to what is general being taught today.

David Lance Dean                 website and blog access: authordavidlancedean.com

Voices of the Prophets: Daniel's Dream

                 We will continue progressively through the revelations of Daniel the prophet of God in chapter seven. Most of the early chapters of Daniel are history recording the experiences of Daniel as a captive in Babylon but also demonstrating his favor with the king allowing him to function freely. You may want to read chapters one, three, four, five and six to gather the context for the prophetic portions beginning in chapter seven and carrying forward to the end of the book in chapter twelve.

            “In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed: then he wrote the dream and told the sum of the matters.” (Daniel 7:1).

            “Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of the haven strove upon the great sea and four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse from one another.” (Daniel 7:2-3).

            “The first was like a lion and had eagle’s wings: I beheld until the wings were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth and made stand upon on its feet as a man, and a man’s heart was given to it.” (Daniel 7:4). Depicted in this verse is the Babylonian Empire and its first king Nebuchadnezzar. It was as a lion in its power and dominion and as an eagle being very lofty and lifted up. But its wings were plucked and its king who had seen himself as godlike was dealt with by the Lord as is recounted in chapter four, and he was greatly humbled and came to acknowledge the Lord God as the Almighty. His wings were plucked and he was brought down to worship the King of heaven. Take the time to read the account in chapter four.

            “And behold another beast, a second, like a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, arise, and eat much flesh.” (Daniel 7:5).  In view here is the kingdom of the Meads and the Persians which was a coalition of these peoples. It raised itself on one side is a reference to the Median kings being dominant originally and later the Persian kings became dominant.  The  bear had three ribs in its mouth signifying that it had swallowed up the residue of the three previously dominant kingdoms which were specifically the Egyptians, the Assyrians and the Babylonians. This kingdom was divided into 120 provinces and prevailed in the region for over two hundred years. Of consequence during this time a remnant of Jews were allowed to return to Jerusalem. (See the book of Esther).

            “After this beheld, and lo I saw another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a foul; the beast had four heads; and dominion was given unto it.” (Daniel 7:6).This is the kingdom of Alexander the Great who as s very young man set forth with his armies from Macedonia and Greece moving from West to East and in a short few years conquered the region overthrowing the Persian Empire. The four wings and the leopard speak metaphorically of rapid flight and very quick stealth as his conquest was carried out. The four heads represent his four capable generals. Alexander died shortly after his world conquest was completed and there was a division of power and control taken by his four generals. He brought Hellenism, that is to say, Greek culture and language to the entire region.

            We take note here that the Roman Empire has been left out in the chronology. It seems to me that the reason this was done by the prophet is that he is focusing on the empires which originated in and controlled that region  of civilization we know as the Middle East and thus the fourth beast fits that description as we shall see. The Roman Empire does not fit this categorical definition having originaataed in Europe.

            “After this I saw in the night visions a fourth beast dreadful and terrible and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and breaks in pieces, and stomped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it: and it had ten horns. (Comp.  Rev. 13:1). I considered the horns, and, behold there came up among them a little horn (this is the state of Israel), before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold in this horn were eyes of a man and a mouth speaking great things.”(Daniel 7:8-9). This is a representation of a “Greater Israel” envisioned by the world Zionists with an agenda for world government centered in Israel and empowered by Satan and the Son of Perdition, i.e. the Antichrist. This conception of the destiny of modern Israel is exactly opposite to that held by the evangelical world for they think that upon the return of Christ he will reign from Jerusalem. We will be enlarging on this concept of “Greater Israel” and Antichrist as we proceed through to the end of Daniel’s prophesies. In this regard I recommend my book The Israel Deception.

            “I beheld till the thrones were cast down and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne as the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. A fiery stream issued from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.”  (Daniel 7:9-11)  These are the saints redeemed by the blood of the Lamb found written in the book of life..(Compare also Rev. 20:12-15).

            “I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of Man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.” (Daniel 7:13-14) The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ and he shall reign forever and ever.

David Lance Dean              See my books and blogs at: authordavidlancedean.com

           

Voices of the Prophets: Daniel Nebuchadnezzer's Dream

                        We need to move on to the prophet Daniel to examine several prophetic

portions revealed in the book that he was responsible for authoring. Before we actually begin moving through the texts of the book it will be helpful to understand some things about this man greatly used by God. Daniel was subjected to the Babylonian captivity at a very young age probably in his teen years. He spent virtually his entire life in Babylon spanning the seventy years of Judah’s captivity.  A little more than half of the Book of Daniel is prophecy. The remainder is history to provide context for his prophetic dreams and visions. So we will be looking at some of the historical aspects but featuring the amazing chronological revelations of prophecy. Before we begin I would like to recommend my book These Prophets and the Revelation which brings together the Books of Daniel and Revelation and places them in context of revealing current world developments both political and economic which are bringing us ever closer to the fulfillment of Daniel’s inspired revelations.

            Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had a dream. It was a dream that greatly troubled him although he was unable to remember much of its content and its meaning completely escaped him. He called for the magicians, sorcerers, and astrologers to provide him with the content of his dream and more importantly its interpretation. The wise men in Babylon included some of the Hebrews including Daniel. The Chaldeans failed the king’s request and were not able to provide him either the content or the interpretation. In anger the king decreed a sentence of death upon the wise men of Babylon. Daniel, who was in favor with the king heard of the matter and was called upon by the king and he assured him that God was able to provide him the content of the dream as well as its interpretation. He petitioned for mercy upon the members of the king’s counselors who had failed him and they were spared at Daniels’s behest.

            “But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dreams, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these.  As for thee O king, thy thoughts came into thy mind upon thy bed, what would come to pass hereafter: and he that  revealth secrets maketh known to thee what shall come to pass.” (Daniel 2: 28-29). What Daniel is about to reveal to the king is a summary of future world history from the standpoint of kingdoms and empires.

          “Thou, O king, sawest and beheld a great image: This great image, whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee; and the form thereof was terrible. This image’s head was of fine gold, his  breast and  his arms of silver, his belly and  his thighs of brass,  his legs of iron, and his feet part of iron and part of clay. Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and break them into pieces. Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floor: and the wind carried them away that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth. This is the dream; and we will tell the interpretation thereof to the king.”(Daniel 2:31-36).

            “Thou, O king art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory. And whosesoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fouls of the heaven hath he given into thy hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of Gold.”(Dan 2:37-38).

            “And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, (This we discover through scripture to be the Medio-Persian Empire) and another third kingdom of brass, (The Kingdom of Alexander the Great), which shall bear rule over all of the earth.”(Daniel 2:39).

            And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron:(The Roman Empire)for as   much   as iron breaketh in pieces and subdoeth all things and as iron breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise.(Dan 2:40).

            “And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potter’s clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be  of the strength of iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay. And as for the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of miry clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken. And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave to one another, even as iron is not mixed with miry clay (Dan. 2:41-43).(We will cover this fourth and final kingdom in detail as we move through the book of Daniel).

            And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall not be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.” (Dan 2:44).

            “Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it break in pieces  the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof cure.”(Dan 2:45). 

            What has been summarized for us is the projected history of the kingdoms of this world which will ultimately all experience judgment and destruction, and will become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ.

David Lance Dean                          website,book availability and blogs:

                                                            authordavidlancedean.com

P.S. Because Daniel’s prophecies carry us to this present day we will post a series of seven blogs focusing on the end of the age.

Voices of the Prophets: Jeremiah The Revelation of Babylon

                   We have previously established that Jeremiah’s prophesies spanned a period of about forty years leading up to the time of the captivity and into the time of its inception. There exists much detail in the fifty two chapters. Our objective in these recent posts has been to provide an overview pointing out and expounding on some of the more important topics covered in these Scriptures.

            In concluding this brief series summarizing Jeremiah’s comprehensive revelations it has seemed incumbent that we discuss this entity known as the Babylonian Empire because it goes beyond just an imperial power with great military might. So while its military might was powerful and very destructive resulting in the death of many in Judah and thrir captivity as well as the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple; its own judgment and destruction is prophesied.

            “The word of the Lord spake against Babylon and against the land of the Chaldees by Jeremiah the prophet. Declare ye among the nations, and publish, and set up a standard; publish and conceal not: say Babylon is taken, Bel (the Babylonian Baal—i.e. Lucifer) is confounded. Merodach (a Babylonian idol) is broken in pieces.  Her idols are confounded; her images are broken in pieces. For out of the north there cometh a nation against her, which shall make her land desolate, and none shall dwell therein: they shall remove, they shall depart, both man and beast.” (Jer. 50:1-3).And so is prophesied the destruction of Babylon which will be accomplished after the seventy years of the captivity of Judah. This will be from the north by the emerging kingdom of the Medes and the Persians. To be understood is the fact that Babylon was a mighty military force which became dominant for a brief period, but also it was a totally pagan people who subdued Judah with their pagan religion and culture which had a permanent effect on them from a spiritual perspective. This chapter and chapter fifty-one are not only a commentary on the defeat and captivity of a people physically but also had long term ramifications to the identity of a people spiritually. This portion of prophecy can be projected through the centuries and has application to this present time and will continue even much more so as we move to the end of the age. This, of course, will require further explanation.

            “Israel is a scattered sheep; the lions have driven her away: first the king of Assyria hath devoured him; and last this Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon hath broken his bones. Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold I will punish the king of Babylon and his land, even as I punished the king of Assyria.”(Jer. 50:17-18). These successive  judgements by of the Lord are executed by the powerful hand of the Lord upon his people for their wickedness and idolatry;  but in turn these pagan empires are also brought under judgment.

            The spiritual seed for Israel and Judah’s destruction were planted and harvested with the Jews as is evidenced by the ‘oral tradition’ held by the Pharisees and their violent  hatred of Christ leading to his crucifixion.. In view in the prophesies are not only the judgment and destruction of  Jerusalem and the temple in that day; but they take us forward to the very end of the age and the revelation of Mystery Babylon as is discovered in chapters seventeen and eighteen of Revelation.

            This dual application of Babylon is confirmed by comparing portions of Jeremiah’s prophesies with those of the Apostle John in Revelation.  “Flee out of the midst of Babylon, and deliver every man his soul: be not cut of in her iniquity; for this is the time of the Lord’s vengeance; he will render unto her recompense. Babylon has been a golden cup in the Lord’s hand that made all of the earth drunken; the nations have drunken of her wine; therefore are the nations mad. Babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed…”(Jer.:51:6-8). Comparing this passage with verses in Revelation where we read: “And upon her forehead was a name written; MYSTERY BABYLON THE GREAT THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMIATIONS OF THE EARTH, And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus…(Revelation 17:5 and 6 in part). “And the woman arrayed with purple and scarlet….and having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication.” (Rev. 17:4).”And I heard another voice from heaven, saying Come out of her my people that ye be not partakers of her sins, and ye receive not of her plagues.”(Rev. 18:4).So there exists a parallel between the two covenants. As a remnant from Judah returned to rebuild the temple and the city under the old covenant; so a remnant will escape from spiritual (mystery) Babylon to recover the rue testimony of Christ. There will be a remnant in the church which will discover  the truths that will  alow them  toescape their spitual captivity in MYSTERY BABYLON.

             So we have observed some of the parallels of Jerimiah’s prophesies, first as they related to the captivity of ancient Judah and then at the consummation of the age as they relate to the people of God. There was a physical Babylon and there is now a spiritual Babylon identified as Mystery Babylon. It is a vital and overriding  satanic  force in today’s world. It is Luciferian in its nature and content. It finds its dogma, its wickedness and the power of its deception in the Babylonian Talmud which has birthed Talmudic Judaismand Zionism. It has taken captive the world at large and it will find its final prophesied destiny in a NEW WORLD ORDER to be centered in Jerusalem and the modern day State of Israel and it will be ruled by the Antichrist as Satan’s representative. Recognizing that much of this may not be discernable to Christians in this modern day apostate church I recommend my book The Israel Deception.

David Lance Dean              blogs and website @authordavidlancedean.com

Voices of the Prophets: Jeremiah Promise of a New Covenant

            “At the same time, saith the Lord, will I be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be my people.” (Jer. 31:1). In order to understand the first verse of this chapter in Jeremiah we must come to a clear understanding of the term Israel as it is defined under the tenets of the New Covenant in Christ for it is not the same as Israel under the Old Testament. In Christ the meaning of the term undergoes a great expansion to include all who truly embrace Christ in his work of redemption and then continue in faithfulness to the covenant. Let us examine this concept as it is expressed in the epistle first in Romans, and then in Galatians. “Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect, for they are not all Israel which are of Israel: Neither because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but in Isaac shall the seed be called.  That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.” (Rom. 9:6-8). “Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds as many; but as of one, And thy seed which is Christ. And this I say, that he covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect. For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise. Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made…… (I.e. Jesus Christ).Gal.3:16-19.

            So we see that this new covenant promised by Jeremiah not only extended and included a multitude of people form among the Gentiles but it also abrogated the old covenant of law “And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matt. 8:11-12).Jeremiah had a commentary prophetically to verify exactly what is stated above: “Behold, I will bring them from the North Country, and gather them from the coasts of the earth, and with them the blind and the lame, the woman with child and her that travailith with child together a: great company shall return thither. They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight way, wherein the shall not stumble: for I am a father to Israel (this is not speaking of Israel after the flesh, but rather the true Israel of God, the spiritual seed of Abraham), and Ephraim is my first born.”Jeremiah 31:8-9).

            So let us define it specifically from the words of Jeremiah all of which can be verified by the Hew Testament account of the work of Christ and the advent of the Holy Spirit too abide in a people of faith and commitment to be obedient to the Holy Spirit. Jeremiah sets it forth as follows: “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was a husband unto them, saith the Lord: But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man their neighbor, and every man his brother saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” (Jer. 31:31-34).

          The covenant is rehearsed in the New Testament book of Hebrews in chapter eight and verses 8-12.The letter to the Hebrews was directed at Jewish believers who were very familiar with the tenets of the law and was given to them by Paul for instruction and encouragement as concerns the completed work of Christ.

            So within Jeremiah’s prophesies were many details of what was to befall Judah at the hand of Nebuchadnezzar along with multiple warnings and with explanation of the cause of that severe judgment at the hand of the Lord. But he also assures them that God is not finished with his work and will not be until Jesus Christ is manifest as Redeemer and Advocate.

            God’s covenants are always conditional requiring a response of faith and after that a performance of faithful obedience.

David Lance Dean                          website and blogs: authordavidlancedeancom

Voices of the Prophets: Jeremiah - The Breach of Covenant

             The Lord deals with people on the basis of covenant. Whether it is Old Testament or New Testament your comprehension of the testaments and arriving at sound doctrine will always rest on a right understanding of the meaning of the operative covenant. It must be understood that a covenant is a contract or agreement between two or more entities. A covenant is always conditional in nature.  That is to say there must be a performance as the condition on the part of all parties to the covenant. It must be ratified by agreement and then performance. The essential caveat on the part of people who the Lord has engaged in covenant is the obedience of faith. Clearly we understand that the Lord is always faithful to perform his part in the covenant whether it is the old or the new covenant in Christ. With this background for our understanding let us look at the eleventh chapter of Jeremiah.

            “The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord saying, hear ye the words of this covenant, and speak unto the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and say you unto them, thus saith the Lord God of Israel; cursed be the man that obeyeth not the word of this covenant. Which I commanded your fathers in the day that I brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, from the iron furnace, saying, obey my voice and do them, according to all which I command you: so shall ye be my people, and I will be your God: That I may perform the oath (covenant) which I swore unto your fathers, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey, as it is this day. Then answered I, and said, so be it O Lord.” (Jer. 11:1-6). Is it not clear that the commandment of the Lord is definite and conditional?

            “Yet they obey obeyed not, nor inclined their ear, but walked everyone in the imagination of their evil heart: therefore I will bring upon them all the words of the covenant, which I commanded them to do; but they did them not. And the Lord said unto me , A conspiracy is found among the men of Judah, and among the inhabitants of Jerusalem. They are turned back to the iniquity of their forefathers, which refused to hear my words; and they went after other gods to serve them: the house of Israel and the house of Judah  have broken my covenant which I made with their fathers. Therefore, thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will bring evil upon them, which they shall not be able to escape; and then shall they cry out unto me, I will not hearken unto them.” (Jer. 11: 8-12).

            So we see and conclude through these two passages recorded as spoken by the prophet Jeremiah that the covenant which the Lord mad with them was conditional in nature. Their continued blessing was conditioned upon their continued obedience to the precepts of the covenant which the Lord made with them. Disobedience over time resulted in judgment coming from a righteous God.  The Babylonian captivity was indeed devastating to Judah as the Assyrian captivity had been previously to Israel (the Northern ten tribes). The Lord is longsuffering.

            Today’s compromised and apostate Christian  church should take heed from the lessons learned from these passages in Jeremiah. Because as the old covenant with Israel was conditional to the Israelites so is the new convent in Christ to the church.  It is totally conditional in nature. The conditions imposed by the new covenant are a continuance in faithfulness, obedience end endurance to the very end.  The popular doctrines taught in most churches today is that we have been ‘unconditionally elected '‘i.e., ‘saved ‘and that we are covered by a doctrine they refer to as ‘eternal security’. These two corrupted doctrines provide  the individual with a false sense of security and it is obviously ‘another gospel’ which Paul and the other apostles did not preach. These false doctrines were prevalent u in the reformation period in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries and they have prevailed unto this present time.  They were also adopted by those who adhere to dispensational theology, i.e Scofieldism. They are totally unsupported by the scriptures. (See my five part series on Calvinism posted on my blogsite in April of 2017 for a complete appraisal of them as well as other points of Calvinism).

David Lance Dean                           website and blogs: authordavidlancedean.com

            

Voices of the Prophets: Jeremiah

                 As an introduction to the ministry of Jeremiah the prophet of God we need to establish a few basic facts about him and the context of his calling and how it fits into the history of Israel.  In the first verse in chapter one the fact of his priesthood and genealogy from the tribe of Benjamin are established. We then learn of the inception of his ministry of some forty years beginning during the reign of Josiah, king of Judah and preceding all the way to the end of the kings of Judah which was Zedekeiah. The kingdom of Judah was terminated and carried away by the Babylonian captivity. Jeremiah’s some forty years of prophesying to Judah was in large part related to that captivity of Judah by the Babylonians as a judgement executed by the hand of the Lord as a consequence of their apostasy and departure from the precepts of their covenant with God.  But it also extended to other peoples in the entire region for the Babylonian Empire was vast. The captivity of Judah was to last specifically for a period of seventy years as relates to Judah and Jerusalem as their sovereignty as a nation was brought to an end. Thus Jeremiah was commissioned by the Lord and “whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee saith the Lord.” (Jer. 1:7-8).

            God had set his servant over the nations and over the kingdoms, “to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build and to plant.”

“Out of the north an evil shall break forth upon all the inhabitants of the land.”(Jer.1:14). “And I will utter my judgment against them touching all their wickedness, who have forsaken me…”(Jer. 1:16 in part).”Hath a nation changed their gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit.”(Jer. 2:11).”Therefore, the showers have been withholden, and there hath been no latter rain; and thou hadst a whore’s forehead, thou refusedst to be ashamed.” (Jer. 3:3).

            “The Lord came unto me in the days of Josiah the king, Hast thou not seen that which backsliding Israel hath done? She is gone upon every high mountain, and under every green tree, and there hath played the harlot. And I said after she had done all of these things, Turn thou unto me. But she returned not. And her treacherous sister Judah saw it. And , when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also. And it came to pass through the liteness of her whoredom, that she defiled the land, and committed adultery with the stones and the stocks. And yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah hath not turned to me with her whole heart, but feignedly, saith the Lord.” (Jer. 3:6-10).

            Above we see Israel (the Northern ten tribes) brought in as an example and point of comparison for Judah of the righteous judgment of God.  They had undergone a similar fate at the hands of the Assyrians some one hundred and fifteen years prior to the onset of Judah’s captivity at the hands of Nebuchadnezzar King of Babylon. There was a difference however between the two captivities in that the Assyrian captivity of Israel did not result in a recovery whereas, the Babylonian captivity produced a remnant of faithful Jews who after the seventy years of the captivity returned to Jerusalem and rebuilt the temple and there was a resumption of the Old Testament covenant.

            So we come to understand that Jeremiah’s cry to Judah which now constitutes the remnant of Israel was that they should repent and turn back to the Lord their God and put away their abominations and transgressions. “If thou will return, O Israel saith the Lord, return unto me: and if thou will put away thine abominations out of my sight, then shall thou not remove, And thou shalt swear, the Lord lveth in truth, in judgment, and In righteousness; and the nations shall bless themselves in him, and in him shall they glory,” (Jer. 4:1-2).

            It is necessary to understand that Jeremiah’s words to the people of Judah were quickened and made powerful by the Spirit of the Lord. Otherwise they could not effectively produce a result. Later in the text of Jeremiah we see this principle proclaimed. “The prophet that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully….Is not my word like as fire saith the Lord; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces.” (Jer. 23:28-29). The word of the Lord has power both to convict as well as to condemn.  We see this principle being expressed again at the end of the age in the testimony of the two witnesses at Revelation 11:5. “And if any man will hurt them (the witnesses prophesying); fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies; and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.” In this passage it is not to be understood the enemies of the witnesses are killed physically by literal fire because it is a metaphor.  What is being expressed that the word of the Lord being spoken in the power of the Spirit will bring conviction which leads to repentance; or if resisted it will bring condemnation and judgment to those who would resist it or stand against it.

David Lance Dean                                                                                                                                                                                      websiteandblogs:authordavidlancedean.com

Voices of the Prophets: Isaiah 61

            “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord has anointed me to preach the good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to the blind and to the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them who are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance  of our God; to comfort all that morn; to appoint unto them that morn in Zion, to give unto them beauty  for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, the planting of the Lord that he might be glorified.” (Isaiah 61:1-3). These amazing promises are all fulfilled in Jesus Christ. The prophet Isaiah has foreseen the coming anointed ministry of Jesus far in advance of its realization. The first two of the above cited verses are duplicated at Luke 4:18-19 as Jesus opens the book of Isaiah and quotes them at a gathering in the synagogue at Nazareth. This is the beginning of the ministry of Jesus which is to continue for a period of three and one-half years to the house of Israel leading  up to his crucifixion. The anointing refereed to is found at his baptism by John the Baptist in the Jordan River when the Spirit of the Lord descended upon him accompanied by the voice of God from heaven proclaiming him to be the Son of God in whom the Father was well pleased. (See Matt. 3:16-17). This necessary anointing is confirmed by the prophet Daniel a at Daniel 9:24: “Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to make an end to sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision of prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.” The anointed ministry of Jesus was extended first to the house of Israel prior to his death on the cross, but it was ordained to reach far beyond that to all nations at the end of the prophesied ‘seventy weeks’.

            “And strangers (Gentiles) shall feed your flocks, and the sons of the alien shall be your plowman and your vine dressers. But ye shall be named the Priests of the Lord; men shall call you the ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves.” (Isaiah 61:5-6). The demise of a people who are unbelieving is revealed following this promise of the salvation to be extended to the alien Gentiles. Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes and commits themselves to him. He fulfilled the law and  it was nailed to his cross abrogating completely the old covenant.“For I the Lord love judgment, I hate robbery for burnt offering; and I will direct their work in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.  And heir seed shall be sown among the Gentiles, and their offering among the people: all that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which the Lord has blessed. “(Isaiah 61:8-9).

            Israel’s demise was sealed by their rejection of their Messiah although a remnant from among thembelieved and became the heirs of ‘the new and everlasting covenant’ which the Lord had already promised definitively through  the prophets and is detailed by the prophet Jeremiah.  We will visit that text at a later time.

            The balance of Isaiah 61 is focused on the blessings promised for those who wholly embrace that new and everlasting covenant. “I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul  shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with  her jewels. For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things to spring forth; so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all nations.”  (Isaiah 61:11-12).

David Lance Dean                     website and blogs :authordavidlancedean.com

Voices of the Prophets: Isaiah 53

             “Who hath believed our report? And to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?(Isaiah 53:1 in part).  Presented here in this chapter is the all-encompassing message of the gospel of Jesus Christ which confronts every man to give an answer based on his subsequent revelation in the gospels including his death burial and resurrection. So the prophet predicts that which is to befall him (Christ) several hundred years prior to the actual act of redemption that is to occur at the time of his crucifixion and subsequent resurrection.

            Let us explore the chapter in order to understand more fully all of the truth involved by faith in the redemptive work of Christ on the cross.  First let us understand how he was viewed and generally received by the people save a remnant from among them. “He hath neither form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him; there is no beauty that we should desire him. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief and we hid as it ere our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.”  (Isaiah 53: 2-3 in part). In other word he did not bring an appearance or charisma of natural appeal which would have captured their attention.  His message was what he was all about.

            “Surely he has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.: (Isaiah 53:4-6).The foregoing verses are probably the most clear setting forth of the gospel to be found in the Old Testament. There is a clarity and inclusiveness given here in this one chapter which can be correlated precisely with the New Testament accounts given in the four gospels but also verified time and time again in the epistles of the New Testament. When it was written it was pure prophecy but it had a certain fulfillment in the person and work of Christ to bring redemption to any and all of mankind contingent upon who would embrace it by faith and then faithfully endure in its promised provisions.

            The accounts of his ministry to the lost sheep of the house of Israel are thoroughly covered in the four gospels including all of the details of his suffering and persecution demanded by the Jewish hierarchy and the Pharisees.” He came unto his own and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them he gave thrower to become the sons of God, even to them who believe on his name.” (John 1:11-12).

            Salvations plan was to be extended so the Gentile nations and while it was to the Jew first the work of Christ was to become universally available to anyone who would embrace it by faith. There are two distinct aspects in the provision of Christ’s sacrifice of himself on the cross.  First is the shedding of his blood for the life is in the blood and without the shedding of blood there is no remission. “Much more then, being justified by his blood we shall be saved from wrath through him.”  (Romans 5:9) and numerous other verses and texts found in the New Testament. The blood of Christ is for the cleansing of sin and addresses the issue of forgiveness and the receiving of the Holy Spirit when the act of faith has been exercised by any individual.

            The deeper work of salvation addresses the issue of deliverance from the power of sin inherent in the fallen nature of man. Moving forward from chapter five of Romans the Apostle Paul provides us with a very comprehensive and definitive explanation of the meaning of the cross to set us free from the power of indwelling sin. “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the flesh, but after the spirit. For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me fee from the law of sin and death.” (Rom.8:1-2) We must come to understand and then apply the effectual working of the cross in our lives individually. This means a complete submission of our hearts and lives so that we can effectually enter into the reality of a walk led by the empowering of the Holy Spirit. We must apprehend as did Paul when he said at Galatians 2:20 “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live yet not I , but Christ liveth in me: and the life that I live in the the flesh I live by the faith of the son of God who loved me, and gave himself for me.” This more clearly explains Isaiah 28:4 “He was wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was on him, and by his stipes we are healed.” So we are called to take up the cross in the depth of its meaning because…”he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sins of many, and he made intercession for the transgressors. (Isaiah 28:12).

            So we conclude that without the blood there is no forgiveness, but without the cross there is no deliverance. They each must be applied by faith.

David Lance Dean                                                  website:authordavidlancedean.com

Voices of the Prophets: Isaiah 28

            “Woe to the crown of pride. To the drunkards of Ephraim (another designation for Israel), whose glorious beauty is a fading flower……..(Isaiah 28:1).

The crown of pride, the drunkards of Israel shall be trodden under foot: and the glorious beauty, which is on the head of the fat valley shall be a fading flower and as the hasty fruit before summer….(Isaiah 28:3-4 in part).

            We see at the outset of the prophet’s commentary in the text that he is speaking of the demise of Israel. This would be seen as the Northern ten tribes who were subsequently to fall under the lord’s judgment as the hands of the Assyrian Empire. The cause for this judgment is clearly set forth to be their pride and spiritual disorientation spoken of metaphorically as drunkenness. The testimony of scripture throughout whether Old Testament or New Testament is clear teaching that whatever covenant applies to us that we must remain steadfast and faithful.  In verse five the text carries forward: “In that day shall theLord of hosts be for a crown of glory, and for a diadem of beauty, unto the residue of his people.” Wilson’s Old Testament Word Studies defines the word residue to mean that which is over and above, i.e. a remainder. In other words out from the larger body of the Lord’s people at any one time there will always be found a much smaller remnant who have remained faithful and have not transgressed, fallen away, or breached the covenant. The text continues in verse six: “And for a spirit of judgement to him that sitteth in judgement, and for strength to them that turn the battle to the gate.”

            “Whom shall he teach knowledge? And whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept: line upon line; here a little and there a little.  For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. To whom he said, this is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: but they would not.” (Verses 10-12). After covering the concept of moving forward precept upon precept the prophet introduces the concept of speaking in other tongues (known languages) to the Jews to proclaim to them that the promise of their anticipated Messiah has been fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ. But because the majority of them had not advanced in precept upon precept but rather had engendered their own “oral traditions” contrary to the law they stumbled at the stumbling stone and the rock of offense in rejection of him.    

           

            Clarifying the gift of speaking in unknown languages as a gifting of the Holy Spirit it was come at a time and an occasion and that being the verification that the Messiah had come to redeem them  but also had extend that redemption to the gentile nations. That verification was made manifest at Acts chapter two on the day of Pentecost testifying to the Jews who had come from far regions to the feast as they were commanded to do under the law. The sign of the promise was given them in their own individual languages and verified by the powerful presence of the Holy Spirit testifying to the veracity of the prophesied gift. (See Acts 2: 6-12).

            Supporting the above precept we turn to I Cor. 14:21 and context confirming the prophesy. “In the law it is written, with men of other tongues and other lips will I speak to this people; and yet for all that will they not believe me, saith the Lord. Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but them who believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believeth not, but to them which believe.”  We would further understand that tongues were a temporary gift which was to come to an end. “Charity never faileth; but whether there be prophesies, they shall fail; whether there shall be tongues, they shall cease….(I Cor. 13:8 in part).

            Returning to Isaiah 28 we read beginning at verse  16: “Therefore thus saith the Lord, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, for a foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste. Judgment also I will lay to the line and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail (Wilson- to scatter) shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place. And your covenant with hell shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then shall ye be trodden down by it.”  The prophet is setting forth in clarity the coming of Messiah to establish a firm foundation and a cornerstone of reference to build upon establishing the new and everlasting covenant

            In a brief summary of the points covered in the chapter we see the judgment of a people (the Jews) unfaithful to the precepts of the old covenant, but at the same time the preservation of a remnant who embraced the new by faith. We are instructed that to insure our understanding of sound doctrine we must establish precept upon precept and line upon line to arrive at a correct understanding.  The giving of the gift of tongues was manifest to prove to the unbelieving Jews that the Messiah had come to provide a foundation and cornerstone of reference to build a new and everlasting covenant fulfilling and abrogating completely the precepts of the law. They were swept away as a refuge for lies “and your agreement (Jewish Israel after the flesh) with hell shall not stand.”

David Lance Dean                                 website and blogs:authordavidlancedean.com