In the beginning, in the first eleven chapters of
the Bible, God tells Moses to write.
So we begin, at the beginning, with the first sentence, the first ten English words, the first categorical statement in the Word of God. It is a statement so profound and so powerful that it strikes fear in hearts of atheists and ACLU lawyers, and drives them to seek legislation whereby these ten words cannot be uttered in the classrooms of public schools for fear of the "damage" it may cause children. For if they (the children) believe this statement, the next thing you know they'll start believing that they are children of God, and that they are somebody, and that their authority is their heavenly Father. It will then be difficult to control them with socialism and communism. It is better, therefore, that they believe that they are the end product of organic soup, stewed over billions and billions of years, until it formed like jello into monkeys, who then lost most of their hair, and became people.
This first sentence in God's Word is therefore the great dividing wall between all of man's vain (stupid) words and theories and philosophies which precede it, and the wisdom of our Father contained in the words which follow it. It is, therefore, the perfect opening statement to the perfect Word of God. It is the "gate" through which we must pass, else that which follows cannot be absorbed.
Genesis
Chapter 1
Ladies and gentlemen, the first words of truth and wisdom:
Since this statement is of such importance, let's analyze it. Does it say "when" God created the heaven and earth? No, it doesn't. Does it say that the earth is only 6,000 years old? No, it doesn't. Does it say that He created the earth only? No, it says He created both the heaven and the earth. So, when was the beginning? Why did He create the heaven and the earth? How did we get here? Let us search the scriptures.Genesis 1:1
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
In Proverbs chapter eight we see that "wisdom" was with our Father before He created the heaven and the earth. The subject is wisdom:
You and me, our souls were created even before the 1st earth age. How long before? The Bible doesn't say. It may have been millions or even billions of years before, as we measure time, but rest assured, as Job 38:1-7 documents, our souls were created first because Job 38:1-7 says "We shouted for joy", when the earth was created for us to live on.Proverbs 8:22-30
The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. [23] I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. [24] When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water. [25] Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth: [26] While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. [27] When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth: [28] When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep: [29] When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth: [30] Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;
Let there be no doubt about who is speaking here. It is the Creator God of Genesis 1:1. This is extremely important because He says that He did not create the earth in "vain", but He formed it to be inhabited, and it was habitable. The word "vain" used here is the Hebrew word "tohu" and it means desolation, utter waste. God did not create the earth as a desolation, a wasteland. We just documented it. Do you believe it? It certainly makes sense, for even man doesn't create things "tohu".Isaiah 45:18
For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, He created it not in vain, He formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else.
Now let us return to Genesis 1 and read verse 2.
Uh, oh! We have a big problem. We just read in Gen 1:1 that God created the heaven and the earth and now it says that the earth was without "form" and void, which is the exact same word, "tohu", used in Isa. 45:18. In fact the phrase "tohu va bohu", without form and void, means totally and utterly desolate and wasted. Look it up in Strong's concordance. Remember, don't take man's word for it, not mine or anyone else's word, document it![2] And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
The apparent contradiction (of which there is none, and there never is) lies in the improper translation of the verb "to be" which is translated "was" in verse two, instead of "became". It is exactly the same word translated "became" in Gen. 2:7 "and man 'became' a living soul". Check it out! You will also find that some translations have it correct. In fact, if you have access to an NIV translation, you will note that they suggest "or became" in place of "was".
Be sure to read this caution about the word was below: It is of utmost importance to your understanding of the Bible.
Therefore, Isa. 45:18 is correct. God created the earth beautiful and perfect, to be inhabited. That could have been millions or billions or trillions of years ago. But then, in verse two, something must have happened because the earth became "tohu va bohu". The beautiful earth that our Father made to be inhabited was destroyed. And guess what? You can see evidence of it everywhere, in the geological layers of the earth's crust, in the fossils pressed between the rocks, in the bones of the dinosaurs, in the tilt of the earth's axis, etc., etc., etc.
So was there a "Lost City of Atlantis"? Was there a "Lost World", a "World That Then Was"? We'll find out! The Bible gives us the answers in detail!
Isn't it amazing that God's Word has the answers to so many intriguing questions concerning such things as the identity of UFO's, the whereabouts of the Ark of the Covenant, the existence of lost cities such as Atlantis, the extinction of the dinosaurs, etc.? We are constantly told by the "main stream" media and the "higher critics" that the Bible is old fashioned and out of date, but it is they who show their ignorance and remain confused by rejecting Him.
Here is what Peter has to say about the scoffers and mockers of the last days, in the A.D. 2000s, who walk according their own lustful desires.
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. This was of old, in the beginning, before Adam, before the flood of Noah. Those who don't believe it are ignorant, according to Peter!2 Peter 3:5-7
For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the Word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:
And the earth became without form, and void, "tohu va bohu". It perished! (The Greek word for perish is apollumi, to destroy fully)![6] Whereby the world that then was (world #1), being overflowed with water, perished:
And darkness was upon the face of the deep (water). The earth was overflowed with water and it perished!
But isn't this passage talking about the flood of Noah? No, it is not. The flood of Noah belongs to the next verse, the heaven and earth age which are NOW, the age of flesh man. Noah's flood occurred about 2348 B.C.
And there will yet be another heaven and earth age, the third and final one.[7] But the heavens and the earth, which are now (world #2), by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
So Peter declares that there are three heaven and earth ages: 1) The world that then was, which perished, 2) the heaven and earth which is now, and 3) the new heaven and new earth age to come.2 Peter 3:13
Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth (world #3), wherein dwelleth righteousness.
But why would God destroy the first heaven and earth age? That answer is simple. Because of the rebellion of one whose name is now Satan (it was Lucifer before the rebellion attempt), who we learn in Revelation 12 drew one third of the sons of God away from Him and into his own camp. Ezekiel tells us what happened to this one?
Tyrus means "rock", the false rock, Satan.Ezekiel 28:12-19
Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty.
Satan was one of the two archangels given charge to protect, i.e. cover, the throne of God. But he wanted to sit on the throne and be the one in charge, i.e. be like God.[13] 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.
This should answer the question "where did the devil come from"? He was a free-will son of God, created by Him, perfect and beautiful. (Note: Satan does not run around in a little red suit toting a pitch fork.)[15] Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.
Continuing with Satan's fall:
[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.
Satan has been judged to die the second death, i.e. to perish in the lake of fire. That is why he is called the son of perdition, the son who will perish. (This death sentence has not been carried out as yet. God first has a job he needs Satan to accomplish according to His plan)[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.[18] Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffick; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee.
Satan, when God is done with him, will be no more, which is what happens when something or someone perishes. It's gone, forever and ever![19] All they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee: thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt thou be any more.
But judgment for the rest of God's children has been postponed until after the Millennium, at the great white throne judgment, until God's plan of salvation, of restoring His sons (whosoever will) to Him, is complete.
So, our Father chose not to judge His other children at the time of Satan's rebellion but chose rather to destroy the "earth age that then was"and rebuild heaven and earth, as they are now, just as Peter explained. The Creator shook this old planet (or perhaps smote it with a meteor) and knocked it off of its true axis and out of its true orbit. That is why there's a magnetic declination where magnetic north and true north are as much as 80 km apart. And since the earth now "wobbles" it produces the "jet stream" which determines patterns of weather and storms.
In the "world that then was" the entire earth was as a tropical garden. That is evidenced by the recent discovery of Mastodons in the artic regions, frozen solid in their tracks, with buttercups still in their mouths.
That global destruction, that "tohu va bohu" of Gen. 1:2, wiped out all physical, flesh and blood life, and destroyed to utter ruin all the cities and habitable places of that earth age. It is the age to which all "Fossils" and "Remains" belong. The geological evidence of a worldwide catastrophe are everywhere, and then some. Listen to our Father describe the destruction Himself.
Dr. Moffat translates the first part of this verse "It is because my people are stupid, and know me not;". Look up the word "sottish", it means "stupid". Hey, God tells it like it is!Jeremiah 4:22-27
For my people is foolish, they have not known me; they are sottish children, and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.
Here it is, the same "without form, and void", "tohu va bohu". And even the heavens had no light, which is why he later commanded "let there be light". There was light in the days of Noah, but not at this destruction.[23] I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form, and void; and the heavens, and they had no light.
The earth was violently shaken.[24] I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly.
This couldn't possibly be the flood of Noah, for there were at least 8 people alive then. This says there was NO MAN and NO BIRDS.[25] I beheld, and, lo, there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens were fled.
[26] I beheld, and, lo, the fruitful place was a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down at the presence of the LORD, and by his fierce anger.
And so we began in Gen. 1:1 with the creation, in the beginning, of a beautiful, inhabitable earth, and we end verse 2 with a dark and desolated world, destroyed by His fierce anger to a state of tohu va bohu.
And out of the total darkness now covering the earth:
This light was not the "sun", for it will not be present until the fourth day of creation. This "light" would divide the darkness, and so there would be that choice in this world age, to choose light or to choose darkness.Genesis 1:3
And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
We spent a great deal of time documenting and establishing the fact that the beautiful heaven and earth age "that then was", that which was created in the beginning (Gen 1:1), perished (Gen 1:2). Our Father destroyed it when He overthrew Satan at his rebellion and reduced it to the state of "tohu va bohu", utterly void and desolate. The physical (Scientific) evidence of this destruction is overwhelming, the spiritual (Biblical) evidence is conclusive. There is no conflict between true science and God's Word. There never was and there never will be!
Live Link to-> The age of the dinosaurs
God now decides to start placing us, his previously created children back here on earth in flesh and blood animal bodies, in order for us to truly learn, by experience, how and why Satan’s ways do not work, and to provide a way for us to still salvage our souls after the 1st earth age fiasco where 1/3 of us join with Lucifer/Satan in his overthrow attempt.
The creation, then, which begins in Genesis 1 vs. 3, is the creation of this 2nd earth age which is now, the former having passed away. Our Father will once again prepare an habitable place for us, His children, only this time each child will "pass through" this earth age, in a flesh body, entering in from the womb of woman, and born innocent (which means we will have no prior knowledge of what happened in the "world that was", i.e. our "hard disk" or "hard head", whichever you prefer, will be newly formatted and contain no data.) We can then have an opportunity to make up our own minds as to who we will follow, the "light" (Jesus) or the "darkness" (Satan).
It is documented in the New Testament, by the apostle Paul, that we should all die, and therefore live, in the flesh (only one time, of course):
We will soon discover in this great Book of Genesis, written by Moses the prophet and lawgiver, that some of us, God's sons disobeyed this decree, and boy are they in trouble! What a fascinating story that is, for their actions caused the flood of Noah.Hebrews 9:27
And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
Before we begin with the first day of this study of flesh and blood life creation in this 2nd earth age, as we will be moving rather quickly through the rest of chapter one, let us note two points:
1.) You will find that 34 verses in this introductory chapter begin with the word "And". This is a figure of speech called a polysyndeton, and it is used to emphasize and carry forward, like a lamp, and important thought or word. In this case the emphasis is on "God", our Father, in verse one. Keep that thought (Him) in mind each time you read "And God....", for it is emphatic. Also, you will find that each new day begins with the words "And God said..."
2.) There has always been, and continues to be, discussion as to the duration, length of time, of each day of creation, i.e. was it 24 hours as we reckon a day, for it says the evening and the morning comprise the day, or was it longer?
In so far as the sun and moon are not placed until the fourth day of creation (verse 16), it would hardly seem that the current status of a day would apply, at least to days 1 to 3, would it?
Peter told us in his second book not to be ignorant about this, especially about this one thing, because God does not reckon time as we do.
God's days are not the same as man's. Are the days of creation in Genesis God's, or are they man's? Who is present and who isn't? The answer is obvious. Also, keep in mind that the Lord's Day, that Sabbath of rest, is that period of time we call the Millennium, which means 1000 years. So the last "day" of this 2nd earth age will be 1000 years. There is nothing new under the sun.2 Peter 3:8
But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
Let us begin, therefore, as the manuscripts declare the perfect work of our Father. He had just decreed the "Light" to divide the darkness, to divide "truth" from "judgment".
The plan of salvation is simple. He loves His children dearly. Will they love Him? The choice is between light and darkness, it is black and white, and for every negative there is a positive.Genesis 1:4
And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.[5] And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.
God spoke and it happened, supernaturally, unlike the receding waters in Noah's time.[6] And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.
[7] And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so.
[8] And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day.
[9] And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so.
We see in this earth age both dry land and sea. In the earth age to come (Rev 21:1) He dries up the seas and the earth is restored to its former glory, and then some.[10] And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good.
[11] And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.
The law of biogenesis states that life can only come from life and that each species reproduces after its own kind. Is it an absolute law?[12] And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good.
They tried to teach me in college that all things are "relative" and they started the process by quoting some fellow named Einstein. But "momma didn't raise no fool". I said, "You take all the corn seeds in the world and plant them. I know some won't grow, and some will grow deformed, and some will be taller than others, and some will bear more fruit than others. But I will guarantee you that you won't grow a watermelon from a corn seed. So much for your relativity. Good day."
Never forget to look up at night, when the sky is clear, and behold the heavenly bodies, for they declare His glory.[13] And the evening and the morning were the third day.Genesis 1:14
And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:
Why did God place the stars in the heavens? To divide the day from the night, yes, but also to be for signs and for seasons and for navigation and for reckoning time. Did you know that the plan of salvation is "written" in the stars and contained within the constellations of the pure Zodiac, including the virgin birth? Too bad man has to pervert and to pollute every work (and word) of God to the point where it becomes unrecognizable as His handiwork.
For those who are blessed to own Companion Bibles, appendix 12, entitled "The Stars Also", will give you a good start on understanding the significance of the heavenly bodies. There are also other resources available by such authors as E. Raymond Capt, E. W. Bullinger, etc. The Bible in the stars... it is truly amazing. see www.artisanpublishers.com
[15] And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so.[16] And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.
Next we will see flesh man, adam, created. Many of you will be absolutely dumbfounded when you discover who you look like! You think you know? Hmmm, just wait.[17] And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth,[18] And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good.
[19] And the evening and the morning were the fourth day.
We have completed the first four days of the creation of this present earth age. The Spirit of God moved upon a world that had become ruined and desolate and our Father brought forth Light out of the darkness and thus began a new creation.
And so it is with the creation of the "new" man from the "old". When our lives have become completely "tohu va bohu", void and empty and desolate, our loving Father, through His Spirit, brings forth that Light to our world, and a newly created man emerges, but this time in a flesh and blood body.
Let us now continue with day five. Five is the number of grace in Biblical numerics. The earth is now ready to sustain life; the waters, the ground, and the sun and moon are all prepared and in place.
The Hebrew word translated "good" is towb, meaning "beautiful" and "precious".Genesis 1:20
And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.[21] And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good.
We now come to the sixth day. Six is the number of man.[22] And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth.[23] And the evening and the morning were the fifth day.
The wild kingdom is now ready to photograph for movies and documentaries.[24] And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so.[25] And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good.
The Hebrew word translated "man" is adam. In the manuscripts it is not preceded by the definite article 'eth and so it does not refer to a specific person, i.e. the word adam means human being or mankind, and no gender is implied. This is an extremely important point to understand in order that you may fully comprehend the events in the next few chapters. If you have a Companion Bible it will document it for you.[26] 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.
And so God said, let "us" make mankind in "our" image. The words "us" and "our" refer back to Elohim, which is to say God and the host of heaven, or God and the angels. It does not say that man just looks like God, does it? Keep that in mind as we continue.
I ask you now to draw upon that which has been discussed previously. Remember in the "world that then was" that Satan rebelled and drew one third of God's children away from Him (Rev 12). God sentenced Satan to death at that time, but rather than sentence everyone else, He destroyed that earth age and instituted the plan of salvation, for this earth age. He did not destroy His other children, only Satan was sentenced to perish.
Now I ask you, where did you come from? Where were you before you entered your mother's womb? You came from God. You were with God, of course, in a spirit/celestial body! And, in this earth age, when your flesh body dies, it gets buried six feet underground, or cremated (ashes to ashes or dust to dust, it doesn't matter, you're done with it) and you "return" to Him/God. This is simple. Ecclesiastes tells us what happens when we die, when the silver cord is severed:
In other words, when you die.Eccles. 12:6-7
Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern.
And so we return from "whence we cometh"; where we existed as one member of "The Host of Heaven", while waiting our turn to be born in the flesh.[7] Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.
Do you also remember that we discussed about how simple and easy many scriptures and passages would be to explain if those who taught weren't "willingly ignorant" of the "world that was" and the events that transpired there? Knowing what we've just learned, could you now explain how it is that God named the prophet Jeremiah before he entered his mother's womb?
Can you understand how our Father could say He hated (which means to love less by comparison) Esau and loved Jacob, while they we still in their mother's belly (Rom 9:13)? Of course, He knew how disrespectful Esau was in the first earth age.Jeremiah 1:5
Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.
And finally, can you now understand what the apostle Paul means in Ephesians 1:4 when he says that God's elect were chosen before the foundation of this world, meaning the "katabole" or "overthrow"? Of course, they stood against Satan and earned the right to have God interfere in their lives and use them as He will during this earth age. Our Father knows all of His children, the good and the rebellious.
So let's go back just before God creates mankind in this earth age. To whom is He speaking? He says, "Let us make man in our image", "after our likeness", to look just like us.
Now think hard. Do you suppose that you look like yourself? As you did in the first earth age before you were born in the flesh? I'll bet you do!
On the sixth day God created mankind, the different races, the ethnos. And He created them male and female![27] So God created man (MANKIND) in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
[28] And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
One of the preliminary requirements for understanding the Bible is that we learn to read what is written, as it is written, and not assume that it aligns or conforms with "tradition", i.e. what we think it says. Did you catch the word "replenish" when you read verse 28? I know I missed it for many years and my mind read "plenish".
To replenish the earth is to populate it once again, for it had been populated in the world that was. Now that too makes sense!
Notice also, that God gave the sixth day man dominion over the fish of the sea, the fowl of the air, and the entire wild kingdom. And so they became hunters and fishers. However, conspicuously absent from this account is any mention of farming and/or tilling the ground. Why? We will find out soon.
All that which is necessary to sustain life has been provided by the Creator. Is He good to us, or what?[29] And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.[30] And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so.
[31] And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.
However, in this "politically correct" environment in which we now find common sense turned "tohu va bohu", you can be sure that God fits the liberal definitions of "racist" and "sexist", that is if you can find a liberal who admits that God is not dead.
In chapter 2 we will see God resting for a day (How long would that be anyway?). Then on the next day, the one following the seventh day, which would be on a later day, we shall meet the great, great, great..... grandparents of Jesus Christ.
Genesis
Chapter 2
And so it was that the sixth day, when flesh man, the races, were brought into being, finally came to an end. We approach the eve of the seventh day.
The heavens and the earth "which are now", this 2nd earth age (2 Pet. 3:7) are finished, and all the "host" of them. Look up the word "host" in your Strong's concordance if you have one (and you should). The Hebrew word is tsaba and it means a "mass of people, in waiting", i.e. the newly heaven and earth, which God made livable again are finished and all of us, God's children, now await our turn to "pass through this earth age", in a flesh body, born of woman.Genesis 2:1
Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.
Host
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tsa?ba?'
tseba?'a?h
tsaw-baw',
tseb-aw-aw'
From
H6633; a mass of persons (or figurative things), especially regularly
organized
for war (an army); by implication a campaign, literally or figuratively
(specifically hardship, worship): - appointed time, (+) army, (+)
battle,
company, host, service, soldiers, waiting upon, war (-fare).
What a joyous occasion that must have been. We read in the Book of Job how the sons of God shouted for joy at our Father's handiwork.
This statement by our Father to Job follows 34 chapters of "bologna", man's preaching, by Job's three friends Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite (he has to be the shortest man in the Bible if he's only a shuhite), and Zophar the Naamathite.Job 38:1
Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, [2] Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?
Stand up and act like a man, Job![3] Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.
[4] Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. [5] Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? [6] Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;
It was a joyous occasion![7] When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
Mankind would be going forth and replenishing the earth during this seventh day, this millennium of rest.Genesis 2:2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.[3] And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.
We now come to the eighth day, the seventh having passed away.[4] These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens,
Now, you will find that in just about every commentary of the Bible extant, that the creation which follows is presented as a parenthetical insertion, a more detailed account of the creation of man which we read of in chapter 1 beginning in verse 26. This false assumption will lead to great difficulty in explaining how it is that in chapter one the animals are created first, then man, while here in chapter two man is created first and then the animals. Which is it?
The answer is BOTH. There are two separate creations (WELL LET CORRECT THAT AND SAY THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT HAPPENINGS). One being described as a creation; the other as a forming. We begin to "see" in the next verse.
Do you recall that we noticed there was no mention in chapter one, whatsoever, of a farmer, a man to till the ground and plant seeds? The sixth day man was given dominion over the fowl of the air and the fish of the sea. They were only hunters and fishers.[5] And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground.
And so here on the eighth day, following God's day of rest (Sabbath), God says that He has "no man to till the ground". It is significant that eight, in Biblical numerics, means "new beginnings", because God is about to form (not create) a new man for a very, very special purpose.
There are several important things to notice in this verse:[6] But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground.[7] And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
First, the Hebrew word for "formed" is yatsar, meaning to "mould" or "form" as a potter. It is not the same word as "created" in Gen. 1:26, which is bara.
Secondly (and this is crucial to our understanding), the word "man" used here is " 'eth-ha adham", with the article and particle, and means "this same man Adam". It means a specific man, not mankind in general. Again, if you are fortunate to have a Companion Bible, it will document this for you.
Lastly, we see God "breathed" into Adam's nostrils the "breath of life". The word translated "breathed" is naphach, which means to "inflate", as in He inflated Adam's lungs. But the word translated "breath" is neshamah, which means "divine inspiration", "intellect", "soul" or "spirit".
Why
this special formation
of this individual man?
Because it would be through this man,'eth ha Adam, and his soon to be formed wife, Eve, that the Messiah, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, would be born.
[8] And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.
God did not tell this "man" to go forth and replenish the earth, did He? Instead, He prepared a special garden and in it placed this "same man Adam", whom He had formed.Do you see that there were two specific trees present in the midst of the garden? Do you know what or who they were? We will find out soon. (Note: throughout the Bible trees symbolically represent people)[9] And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
Verses 10 through 14 describe the geographical location of Eden which we shall discuss in more detail when we get to chapter 6 in Genesis.
Our Father now has a man to till the ground, an husbandman, a gardener. His name is Adam and he is given charge to dress and maintain Eden.[10] And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became into four heads.[11] The name of the first is Pison: that is it which compasseth the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold;
[12] And the gold of that land is good: there is bdellium and the onyx stone.
[13] And the name of the second river is Gihon: the same is it that compasseth the whole land of Ethiopia.
[14] And the name of the third river is Hiddekel: that is it which goeth toward the east of Assyria. And the fourth river is Euphrates.
[15] And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.
Adam was told that he could eat of every tree that is good for food, i.e. bears fruit and nuts, etc. But, take note there is also spiritual food we are to eat daily, i.e. the bread of life; Adam also had a spirit that needed nourishment.[16] And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:
But, there is a "tree" in the midst of the garden, which has the knowledge of both good and evil, that Adam better stay away from, or it will cost him his life. As you may already know, he falls short and disobeys God, and dies at age 930, just 70 years short of one day.[17] But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
But first, we are on the eighth day. God has just formed (not created as in chapter one) a special man to "till the ground" and has placed him in the garden of Eden to dress it and keep it. Why this special creation? Because it would be through this man, 'eth ha Adam, and his soon to be formed wife, Eve, that the Messiah, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, would be born, to a virgin descendant of pure pedigree. It was God's plan from the beginning.
And so, we better be prepared to expect that Satan will try his best to thwart this plan of God and to destroy this woman and her offspring! If we keep this objective (to destroy the seed line of Christ) in mind throughout the Old Testament, as we read it, we will better understand the events that took place, like when king Abimelech took Sarah, after Abraham told him that she was his sister, and when Judah took "foreign" wives, and produced "non-qualified" offspring, etc.
Let's now look in on Adam and see how he is doing.
Oh, the poor boy is lonely.Genesis 2:18
And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.
This particular verse should easily be understood by all those who have gone through puberty, i.e. Adam needed a woman. The fundamental things of life remain, "As Time Goes By".
These are the domestic animals, or better said, the "farm animals" that were created to compliment the "man to till the ground" whom our Father had just formed, i.e. Old McAdam, the farmer.[19] And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.
You will find, if you care to check it out, that in chapter 1 verse 24, God brought forth the beasts of the "earth", erets in Hebrew, meaning the "earth at large" or "wilderness", i.e. the wild animals (wild kingdom I like to call it).
But here in chapter 2 verse 19 he formed every beast of the "field", sadeh in Hebrew, meaning "country" or "field", i.e. field animals or farm animals. Once again, notice that these animals were formed AFTER the man was created whereas in chapter one the wild animals were created BEFORE mankind. These were separate events.
This verse reveals that dog is not really man's best friend! So don't let anyone fool you into believing that line.[20] And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him.
Adam was the first human being to under go surgery. The Hebrew word translated "rib" is tsela, and it is derived from the root word tsala, which means "curve", not rib. And so it is that women are more "curvy" than men.[21] And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;
Some would speculate that the "curve" taken from Adam was in fact his DNA, which it may well have been. Although DNA is very "curvy" (if you've ever seen a model of it), not much in the way anesthesia and surgery would be necessary to acquire it.[22] And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.
I truly love this aspect about God's Word, when not much in the way of details is supplied to an event or occurrence, and we are left free to speculate and use good common sense.
While we are on the subject of speculation, do you suppose Adam witnessed the formation of some of the domestic animals that his Father formed and brought to him? It would certainly make the reality of this verse profoundly more impressive to Adam, knowing that this time God used material and substance taken directly from his own body. Think about it![23] And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.
Ephesians chapter five will document the spiritual aspect of being one flesh, and that husbands and wives should love each other as much as our own flesh.[24] Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
But even so, it is true that when a man and a woman "cleave" together, their combined flesh becomes "one flesh" in their child.
They had no reason to be ashamed for they had committed no sin. Neither would any husband and wife, standing before each other naked, be ashamed, unless perhaps one of them had been unfaithful![25] And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.
OK, it is now time to "grow-up" and mature in the Word of God. Who is this serpent who was more subtle, meaning wise, than any other living, created being, human or otherwise, in the garden? ... a literal "snake" standing upright like we see in the Bible story books? Please!Genesis Genesis 3:1
Chapter 3
Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
Perhaps when we first begin reading the Bible and have only gotten to chapter 3 of Genesis, we might not be quite sure who this serpent is. But if we read the whole Word of God, there can be no doubt who he is and what he looks like.
That "old serpent" in the garden was Satan himself, not disguised as a snake, but the creep is a "snake", in the figurative sense, of course! I've done business with some snakes before and they really are cunning and conniving.Rev. 12:9
And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
Anyway, this old serpent has perpetuated a lie, a tradition, about the "snake" and the "apple" long enough. It is SATAN'S plan to deceive a Biblically ignorant people with such trot, "because it ministers to the acceptance of his lie, the hiding of God's truth, the jeers of the infidel, the opposition of the critics, and the stumbling of the weak in faith." (Companion Bible, appendix 19, last paragraph.)
Again in Revelation 20 we see who that serpent was. He is to be bound during the millennium for 1000 years.
The apostle Paul also made it clear who this serpent was in 2 Cor. 11:3:Rev. 20:2
And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
The Greek word for "serpent" is ophis, which means "an artful, malicious person; (figuratively a snake).2 Cor. 11:3
But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
Satan was beautiful and charismatic and charming, truly a glorious "angel of light" (2 Cor. 11:14).
Paul is saying that we should not let these false preachers be a marvel to us, "for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light". How can Satan be "transformed into an angel of light", when the Word of God says many times over and over that if you are of Satan, you are a child of the darkness? Something is terrible wrong here. Many people say that we are not to worry because Satan himself is going to be transformed into an angel of light, and they show their complete ignorance of God's Word. Lets read for ourselves what the Strong's Greek dictionary has to say about this word "transformed". The number in the Strong's Greek dictionary is # 3345.
Let's repeat Gen. 3:1.
Notice that Satan is about to tempt Eve with God's Word. He is quoting God! Remember he tempted Christ in the wilderness with God's Word. It is his MO, his greatest method of deception. By misquoting and twisting the scriptures and causing people to believe the "letter" of what is written, instead of the "truth" of what is written, he is able to perpetuate mass deception on an uninformed populous.Genesis 3:1
Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
Eve knew that she and her husband could freely partake of all the trees in the garden for physical food as well as the (celestial beings, men who were there) for spiritual food. She also knew that there was a special set aside "tree" (person), in a specific geographical location (in the midst of the garden), that they had better stay away from.[2] And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:
Satan has now brought into question the Word of God. So Eve, in her reply, omits the word "freely" (preceding 'eat thereof'), adds the words "neither shall ye touch it", and alters the certainty "thou shalt surely die" into a contingency "lest ye die".[3] But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
Satan now contradicts the Word of God and tells the first of many, many lies, for he is the father of lies (John 8:44).[4] And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
Next we'll go back and spend some time on verse 3, documenting the true identity of the "tree of the knowledge of good and evil", who dwelled in the midst of garden. We will also examine the Hebrew origin of the word translated "touch", because there is about to be a seduction in the fig grove.
Let's talk about TREES.
Trees are used throughout the Bible to symbolize people, including us, we the children of God, and Satan, and Jesus Christ and even God the Father, who likens Himself to an "evergreen" fir tree in Hosea 14:8.
It would serve a person well to do a study of trees in the Bible, for there are many passages where trees are used symbolically to represent people. You could start by reading the account of Nebuchadnezzar's dream in chapter four of Daniel and the interpretation thereof. It is a great example of "tree symbology".
However, we will focus on identifying the "trees" in the garden of Eden. The following passage from the Book of Ezekiel will document without refute, not only that trees are used symbolically in the Bible to represent people including Satan, but specifically two persons present in the garden of Eden!
The Hebrew word for "Assyrian" used here is te'ashshur and it means "a box tree". It represents Satan, a plain old box cedar who wants to become the greatest tree of all, as we will see in a few verses.Ezekiel 31:3-12
Behold, the Assyrian was a cedar in Lebanon with fair branches, and with a shadowing shroud, and of an high stature; and his top was among the thick boughs.
You should start to get the sense that we are not talking about actual trees. Verse 10 of this same chapter shows that this "tree" exalted himself above all the others. Let's keep reading.[4] The waters made him great, the deep set him up on high with her rivers running round about his plants, and sent out her little rivers unto all the trees of the field.[5] Therefore his height was exalted above all the trees of the field, and his boughs were multiplied, and his branches became long because of the multitude of waters, when he shot forth.
Wow! That must be some giant tree, with a shadow big enough for all great nations to dwell under![6] All the fowls of heaven made their nests in his boughs, and under his branches did all the beasts of the field bring forth their young, and under his shadow dwelt all great nations.
No tree (person) in the garden of God could compare in beauty to this one.[7] Thus was he fair in his greatness, in the length of his branches: for his root was by great waters.[8] The cedars in the garden of God could not hide him: the fir trees were not like his boughs, and the chesnut trees were not like his branches; nor any tree in the garden of God was like unto him in his beauty.
Of course trees can't envy other trees, nor do they have the brains to know the difference between good and evil! These are characteristics of people, not trees. The trees are symbolic. Remember, trees = people.[9] I have made him fair by the multitude of his branches: so that all the trees of Eden, that were in the garden of God, envied him.
Did you notice, verse 9 above tells us there
are also other men in the garden besides Satan and Jesus Christ, all celestial angels, I must
assume (the Bible doesn't say).
Anyway, Genesis 3:1 says it it OK to listen to them but not to Satan,
so those other trees/men must have been loyal to God.
Can you now "see" that Satan is referred to as a "tree" in the garden of Eden? Remember, aside from the trees created for food, there are other trees/men there, but only two specific trees mentioned: 1) the tree of life, and 2) the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
It is ironic that no one seems to have a problem with the "tree of life" symbolizing Jesus Christ.
But when we say that the "tree of the knowledge of good and evil", i.e. the tree with evil knowledge, is Satan, that old serpent, the devil, they go "bonkers" and say, "No, it's an apple tree!" Be assured! The word "apple" does not appear in the entire Book of Genesis.Rev. 2:7
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
Let's now examine what Eve told that "glistening one", Satan, in the garden:
Eating physical food, nuts and fruits, is OK. Eating spiritual food (good fruit) from the "tree of life", is great!Genesis 3:2
And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:
But it is spiritual food (bad fruit) that can kill your soul. Don't you see that "life" is the subject in verse three? The consequence of eating "bad fruit" from a corrupt tree is "lest you die", i.e. death!
You can eat all the "bread" you want,
but you better partake of the "bread of life" if you want to live
forever.
Christ
is that "bread". He is that "tree
of
life". If you eat of the
"leaven" of the scribes and Pharisees,
you'll die. It's bad bread!
Beware of bad bread coming from many pulpits today!
Here is Christ's own words:
Christ said, "get your mind off of physical bread and elevate your thinking to that which is important, i.e. beware of the poison leaven of the bread of the scribes and Pharisees".Matthew 16:11
How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?Matthew 16:12
Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.
The same thought process must apply here to the trees in Genesis or you'll miss the point.
But, you ask, if the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, which is in the midst of the garden, is Satan, what is the fruit spoken of here?Genesis 3:3
But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
It is real simple. Fruit is that which is "produced" by a tree. Here is what Christ said:
Question! Is Christ talking about trees or people? Good, you've got it!Luke 6:43-44
For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. [44] For every tree is known by his own fruit...
So the instruction to Adam and Eve is quite simple, "Do not partake of the fruit produced by the evil, corrupt, tree, which is in the midst of the garden!" In fact, don't even "touch" it, lest ye become seduced.
Finally, as background to understand that which is about to happen in the fig grove, look up the Hebrew word that is translated "touch" in verse 3. The word is naga and it means not just to "lay the hand upon" but it is an euphemism for "to lie with a woman".
Check it out in a Strong's concordance.
Let's continue now in Genesis, repeating verse four, Satan's first lie:
It is their "spiritual eyes" that will be opened! Again, we are not talking about eating apples that wake you up in the morning.Genesis 3:4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:[5] For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
When is the last time you saw a tree and said to yourself, "you know self, if I eat the fruit from this tree it will instantly make me wiser. I'll bet these are some kind of smart apples".[6] And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
No, that which just took place in verse 6 of Genesis 3, is not the chomping of an apple from a fruit tree. There has been a seduction, the truth of which has been hidden for a long time to those who don't know their trees, to those who have allowed the deceptive stories of the traditions of men to blind their eyes, that in seeing they don't see and in hearing they don't hear.
Their spiritual eyes were opened all right! But why in the world do they now "know they're naked"? You will find it is because of the SHAME they have brought upon themselves, for disobeying God, yes, but in a much more perverted way than biting bad apples.[7] And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.
"And they sewed aprons together...". Do you suppose these were itty bitty little aprons that they sewed together to cover their mouths because they just ate bad fruit? The stupidity of tradition!
Uh oh! There's big trouble in the garden! Adam and Eve hear their Father coming! And now that they know good and evil, they know what's coming is not going to be good![8] And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.
I'd hide too!
When we last left Adam and Eve they were hiding from the LORD God who was walking in the garden. They had been in the fig grove with the "tree who had evil knowledge". They were naked and unashamed when they went in, but they were naked and ashamed when they came forth. Why?
Satan had beguiled Eve, which is to say, he totally, wholly seduced her. That is why the apostle Paul would say in his second letter to the Corinthians, that he had espoused them (the church) to one husband, and he wanted to present them as chaste virgins to Christ. But he was fearful that they would become "spiritually" seduced, even as Eve was "physically" seduced by the serpent. You see, Eve was a chaste virgin before Satan seduced her.
The subject is virginity.2 Cor. 11:2-3
For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
Has your mind been corrupted with fairy tale stories about "apples" and "snakes standing upright"? Or do you have the eyes to see and ears to hear the simplicity that is in Christ and His Word?[3] But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
You must look up the word "beguiled" for yourself in Strong's concordance or a Greek dictionary. The word is exapatao and it means "to seduce wholly". Check it out.
G1818
??????????
exapatao?
ex-ap-at-ah'-o
From G1537 and G538; to
seduce wholly: - beguile,
deceive.
You will also find later on, in verse 15, that God will put enmity between Satan's seed and Eve's seed, meaning their offspring, i.e. Satan's children and Eve's children. That which has transpired here is explained, in "simplicity", by the greatest teacher of all time, the Lord Jesus Christ. Will you believe Him or hang on to the apple tree?
In Matthew 13, Christ spoke several parables. Do you know why He spoke in parables? Do you think it was to make things obvious to the crowd He was addressing?
Hey, what do you know, here are the disciples asking Jesus the exact question we were thinking of!Matthew 13:10-13
And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
Did we read that correctly? It was not meant that everyone should understand Him?[11] He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
Yep, we read it correctly. Unless you have eyes to see, and ears to hear, you will not understand the parables of Jesus. Let's test your spiritual senses. Christ gave this parable in Matthew 13. It is the Parable of the Tares. Read it carefully and then Christ Himself will explain it in detail.[12] For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.[13] Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
After Christ speaks another parable, we learn that He is actually uttering things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world. Do you want to learn a secret?Matthew 13:24-30
Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: [25] But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. [26] But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. [27] So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? [28] He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? [29] But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. [30] Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.
Now look what happens!Matthew 13:35-36
That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.
The crowd is gone! The disciples come to Jesus, in private, and ask Him to explain the Parable of the Tares, the one we just read. Would you also like to ask Him to explain it to you? Then go for it![36] Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.
Here is the simple explanation, from the Lord Jesus Christ, of the Parable of the Tares, to those who have been granted or have asked Him for eyes to see and ears to hear. Remember, this information, hidden from the foundation of the world, is not available to all. Blessed indeed is he or she that understands.
Christ's simple explanation:
The field is the world? Wow! This really is simple.Matthew 13:37
He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; (Jesus)[38]The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; (Satan)
The tares are children of Satan? He has children? He has children!
Don't you dare try to spiritualize this away! This is not a parable! These children (seed) are those same seed (children) in Gen 3:15. God puts enmity between his (Satan's) children and her (Eve's) children. We will be meeting the first child of Satan in chapter 4 of Genesis. His name is Cain. He is not listed in Adam's genealogy in chapter five of Genesis. I wonder why not?
The wicked seed was sowed in the fig grove, in the garden of Eden, at the seduction of mother Eve. (Hopefully the words of Christ are not too much for you. Remember, you can always believe that snakes stand up and talk.)[39] The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.
Who has ears to hear, let him hear. Who has not ears to hear, let him slumber.[40] As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.[41] The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;
[42] And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
[43] Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Now back to the Book of Beginnings.
Don't think for one minute that God didn't know where Adam was. You'll find He never asks a question that He doesn't already know the answer to.Genesis 3:9
And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?
Adam isn't facing reality very well at all, a problem common to many. We must all learn that we can't hide from our problems and our sins. Our Father knows![10] And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.
The defendant is being questioned by the Judge.[11] And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?
Here we see one of the basic principles of "liberalism", which is simply "never, never, take responsibility for your own actions. Always blame someone else". In this case Adam points out that the "Manufacturer" of the woman is really to blame, i.e. the woman WHOM THOU GAVEST to be with me.[12] And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.
This was not a good answer! You can't con our Father, who probably shook His head in sorrow and disappointment as He turned to the woman.
Hey, it's not my fault! I have an excuse. The serpent seduced me.[13] And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.
Another really bad answer! God now turns to Satan.
"Because thou hast done this..". Done what? I think we covered that. He seduced Eve.[14] And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:
Notice that no question was asked to this "scum of the earth". Why give him the opportunity to reply with a smart aleck answer? God moves directly to the sentencing.
You should be able to document by now that the "serpent" God is speaking to is Satan, the Devil himself (Rev. 12:19). He was beautiful, charming, witty and very, very likable (Ezek. 28). He was a "tree to be desired". He was also a pervert. It is he whom our Father curses above all other living beings. He did not curse little old snakes.
The statement "upon thy belly shalt thou go" is an Hebrew figure of speech. It is a statement of degradation that implies the utmost humiliation, for prostration was ever the most eloquent sign of subjection. (If you are fortunate to have a Companion Bible, it will document this for you). We have a somewhat similar saying in English, "he's lower than a snake's belly".
The same statement of degradation applies to "and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life". This figure of speech is much like Psalms 72:9 which says "his enemies shall lick the dust". They will not literally get on their hands and knees and lick the ground with their tongues, but they will be so utterly defeated that no words could literally depict their overthrow and subjugation. But a picture, portrayed by a figure of speech, is worth a thousand words.
If the teachers and preachers of God's Word would pay attention to the figures of speech, which are easily identified in the "fixed" languages of Hebrew and Greek, much misunderstanding and confusion could be eliminated.
Here's How Traditions are Made:
If there was a verse in the New Testament that read "The Apostle Paul got in hot water", there would now be churches that would require their parishioners to do as Paul and follow his example, i.e. get into a pool or tub of water that is hot.If you looked up "water" in Strong's concordance it would say "H2O, that substance which forms lakes and rivers and seas, rain, etc.". The would-be scholars would then debate how much water you should get into, how far you should be immersed, and exactly what degree of temperature constitutes hot as opposed to warm.
Thus "getting into hot water" would become a tradition of the church, despite the fact that the phrase is a figure of speech which means "The Apostle Paul got into trouble", and has absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with water!
AGAIN IF
you don't have a Companion
Bible you
can
Download
a
Companion Bible free at:
http://www.companionbiblecondensed.com/
When you open the site click unto and download one book at
a time unto your disk or hard drive.
and
the appendix at: http://www.markfoster.net/rn/companion_bible_appendices.pdf
The LORD God now continues with the sentencing of the guilty ones. He is still addressing Satan:
And so it would come to pass that Christ's heel was bruised when His feet were nailed to the cross at Calvary, but as it is recorded in Hebrew 2:14 He shall destroy Satan, whose name is "death".[15] And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
God has also said that He would put enmity (Webster: positive, active, and typically mutual hatred or ill will) between Satan and Eve and between HIS SEED and HER SEED.
Did you notice that there is no mention of apple seeds.
Conception? God is talking about conception and bringing forth children? What brought up that subject? What does conception have to do with apples anyway? Why didn't He say, "I will make your teeth hurt every time you bite fruit"? Hello![16] Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.
While we're on the subject of conception, did you know that Eve had twins?
We'll find out in the next chapter.
I often say to friends and acquaintances when the opportunity presents itself, when perhaps the subject of church or the Bible comes up, "Remind me sometime and I'll tell you what really happened in the garden". It always provokes curiosity, and it seems that the interest in that type of scandal is ageless, if you know what I mean. In any event, many have been driven into studying the Word of God when the traditions of men have been exposed.
The truth of the seduction in the garden, has been covered up, hidden by the cloak of the "fig" apron, and has been replaced with fairy tales about "apples" and "upright snakes". Satan has succeeded in deceiving those who read into taking the words which are written as literal "to the letter" instead of seeing the "truth" contained in that which is figurative and symbolic. He tried that "trick" on Jesus Christ Himself, when he tempted Him in the wilderness by quoting (misquoting) the Word of God, implying the literal letter (read Mat. 4:1-11). Christ didn't "buy it" and neither should you.
In as much as the flower of the fig is hidden within its casing, it is the very reason that the word "fig" is still used to symbolize something that is "hidden" from view. I hesitate in saying this, but if you would like a real education about the word "fig", then go to the library or obtain an unabridged Webster's Dictionary, look up the word "fig", and read all of the various definitions. I'll quote just two of the many definitions of this "f" word from that source:
Webster's New Twentieth Century Unabridged Dictionary:
A fig for; a phrase shortened from "I don't care a fig for," expressing the speakers contempt for the object or person mentioned.Whether you check it out or not, know this: The traditions of men qualify as "something useless" in one's head. Enough said.fig, v.t. 1. To insult with ficos or contemptuous motions of the fingers. 2. To put, as something useless, into one's head.
We now return to the garden of Eden. Our Father has been "spelling out" the consequences earned from man's first sin. Adam has fallen from grace. Here's what he's got coming:
I know this is the 21st century. But like it or not, Adam was placed in authority and God held him responsible for allowing this carnal event to transpire. Worse yet, he not only permitted it to happen, he participated as well, the exact circumstances of which I will leave to your own speculation and imagination, trusting that you will use good common sense and wisdom. Sometimes those who are "street wise" have an advantage in understanding the realities of the flesh man.Genesis 3:17
And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;
Hey, it's time to plant wheat and corn for food, Adam, and don't forget to pull the weeds or they will choke out the crop.[18] Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;
Do you remember the spiritual body God gave to Adam back in Genesis 2:7? It's gone now![19] In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
You had it made right there in the garden of Eden, Adam. Perfect utopia. But you blew it! Dad's no longer going to provide everything for you "on a silver platter". Go find out what it is like to have to work for a living. Then of course, you're going to die, son!
Obviously, Eve is no more the mother of all the different races than she is of Adam. Remember, our Father created the races on the sixth day and Eve was not formed until the eighth day (if you've just joined us please refer to the previous chapters for a more detailed explanation).[20] And Adam called his wife's name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.
The name "Eve" means life-giving in the Hebrew tongue. Now, it has just been pronounced in the previous verse that man shall die. But our Father, in His infinite love for His children, had already prepared a way in which we could "live". It is called the plan of salvation.
That plan provided that it would be through this woman, EVE (and her offspring), that the only Way to life, the Messiah and Savior, Jesus Christ, should be born to a descendant of theirs of pure pedigree.This is the primary reason that Satan wanted to destroy the woman, to destroy the plan of God, to prevent the Messiah from being born, and instead, have his own born. That's why he was there, in the garden.
Plain and simply then, all people, all races, will either eventually accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, or they will no longer have life. They'll be gone! Therefore Eve IS the mother of all living in that she IS the mother (grand) of Him.
Adam and Eve now needed a covering, because of sin. We all need a covering, because of sin![21] Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.
Here we see animals being used (sacrificed) to provide that covering. This beginning of "blood sacrifice" would continue down through the ages until the supreme sacrifice, of that unblemished Lamb of God, paid the price on the cross, to provide our covering once and for all.
And guess what? Because He did pay the price, we now get to wear the gospel armour (Eph. 6) as full protection from that fiery dart-throwing serpent. I don't know about you, but I really likes the way mine fits.
[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 for ever:
Start plowing, Adam! It is for that purpose you were created, i.e. to "till the ground". God will eventually use this man's descendents to cultivate civilization, (Plant Seeds of Truth) the real purpose for which he was created, using His "sword", as both the plow and the seed. It was to be the destiny of the race of eth' ha Adam. History documents it thoroughly. God's Word is true![23] Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.
That Way, the path to eternal life through that "tree of life", would now be withheld until Jesus Christ, the Messiah walked the earth. And in due time, right on time, as was first prophesied in Gen. 3:15, He did come and walk among men! It was God's most precious gift to His children. How can we not pour out our hearts in love to Him when we see how much He loves us? Do you see?[24] So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubim, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.
Well, we didn't quite make it far enough in to meet Eve's twins, the two seed lines. But they are "next up" in chapter four of this incredibly fascinating Book of Genesis. What a thriller it is!
Genesis
Chapter 4
Well, it's now "Good By Eden" and "Hello Cruel World"! (Somehow I can really relate to that and I suspect many of you can too.)
Eve is about to give birth to fraternal twins. That isn't commonly taught in the story books of churchianity, but it is recorded in the Word of God.
As it is written, Adam did know his wife and she did conceive (the object, conception, defines the action of the verb, to know, which means the same as "horizontal cha-cha"). It would appear, without further examination, that the result of this conception produced her first born, Cain. But such is not the case. Adam was not the father of Cain.Genesis 4:1
And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD.
There was a conception that took place in the fig grove, at the seduction of Eve. It was declared in verses fifteen and sixteen of chapter three!
The next verse documents that Eve had twins.
The word "again" is translated from the Hebrew word yacaph, which means "to continue to do a thing". Look it up for yourself. In other words, Eve continued in labor and bare Cain's brother Abel.[2] And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.
H3254
éñó
ya?saph
yaw-saf'
A primitive root; to add or augment (often adverbially to
continue to do a thing): - add, X again, X any more, X
cease, X come more, + conceive again, continue, exceed, X further, X
gather
together, get more, give moreover, X henceforth, increase (more and
more),
join, X longer (bring, do, make, much, put), X (the, much, yet) more
(and
more), proceed (further), prolong, put, be [strong-] er, X yet, yield.
If you are not familiar with "twins" you can surf the web and learn a great deal. Start with http://www.twinsfoundation.com .
Basically, there are two types
of
twins. 1) Maternal twins, usually called identical twins, are
produced
from the same conception in which a single ovum splits into two groups
of cells soon after fertilization. 2) Fraternal
twins
are produced from two separate conceptions, i.e. they develop
from
two separate ova which are each fertilized before implanting in the
uterus.
While
it is true that fraternal twins "usually" have the same father, it is
not
at all uncommon for them to each have a separate father. Such is
the case
with Cain and Abel. They were both
Eve's sons, but they both were
not Adam's, only Abel was.
"In process of time" means "at (the) end of days" and shows that there was an appointed time to bring an offering. The place and the offering would have been appointed as well.[3] And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.
Notice that Cain did not bring a sacrificial offering, for there is no blood shed. We also know from the Book of Jude that his offering was merely a "religious act", for his way was that of natural religion, not the way God had appointed. Cain's heart was not in the right place, and he was not being honest, as we shall document in verse seven. Keep in mind that our Father knows the hearts and minds of Cain and Abel (and you and me as well).
Dr. Moffat translates this verse, "Woe to them! they go the road of Cain, rush into Balaam's error for what it brings them, and perish in Korah's rebellion." In other words, Cain's offering was self-serving.Jude 1:11
Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.
Abel brought the choicest, nicest, unblemished lamb from his sheep herd that he could find among the firstlings. What a great attitude![4] And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:
Let's see what we have here. Cain brings some "fruit of the ground" (it doesn't say of the first fruits, or of the fat thereof, or the best of the best) and presents it to the LORD, figuring he's done his duty to the letter of the law. That should be acceptable and good enough to find favor with the LORD. How would the Lord know, anyway, that he just grabbed some produce off the pile, in a "rush" as we just read in Jude 11?[5] But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
So the LORD, knowing what is in Cain's heart, doesn't buy this religious routine of just plopping a few extra brussels sprouts in the offering plate.
Does Cain then examine himself and his motives to see the error of his ways, in order that he might repent and change his attitude? No way! His name means "possession" and he is out to "get", not give. So he performs another religious act and gets PO'd (a slang contraction for angry) at the LORD for not believing his "insincerity" and not accepting his inappropriate, non-sacrificial offering.
There is nothing new under the sun. Many people to this day wonder why God doesn't bless them. Perhaps they haven't read Matthew 22:37 Jesus said unto him, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind." (Not just Sunday morning by bringing a few extra tokens and throwing them in the offering plate.)
[6] And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?
Dr. Moffat (Moffat Bible) best translates this verse:[7] If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
The point is that Cain was not honest and God knew it, but our Father still gave him a chance. If he would just be honest, God would accept his offering. But he would not, for there was no honesty in him, because "his father", the father of lies, was in him.Gen. 4:7 If your heart is honest, you would surely look bright? If you are sullen, sin is lying in wait for you, eager to be at you - yet you ought to master it.
Cain wasn't "talking" with his brother, he was luring him into country so he could murder him! And he did![8] And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.
The N.E.B. translates this verse, "Cain said to his brother Abel, 'Let us go into the open country.' While they were there, Cain attacked his brother Abel and murdered him."
This is the first murder recorded in the Bible. Later, Cain's descendents would plot the murder of Jesus Christ. Let's pick it up in John chapter 8 where the religious leaders, the descendents of Cain, with murder in their hearts, are trying to convince Christ that they are of the good seed, the seed of Abraham. They are boldly, without shamefulness, directly lying to Messiah, as there is no honesty in them either.
Jesus doesn't "buy it".John 8:39-40
They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham.
Unbelievable, isn't it? These "religious" leaders are running around telling folks that they are God's chosen people (which they are not), and all the while they are plotting to murder Jesus Christ, the Son of God! Christ identifies their sireship.[40] But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.
Christ is speaking of the murder and the lies of which we are studying now in Genesis!John 8:44
Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
It is also recorded in the first epistle of John that Cain was "of" (meaning offspring of) that wicked one. Plain and simply, like it or not, believe it or not, Cain was Satan's son, not Adam's.
Let's return to Genesis where the LORD is inquiring of Cain as to the whereabouts of his brother.1 John 3:12
Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.
Hey, surprise, surprise! Cain was dishonest again! This time he lied directly to our Father and followed that lie with a sarcastic, smart aleck question, "Am I my brother's keeper?" You just can't trust an habitual liar![9] And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper?
God knew exactly what he had done.[10] And He said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground.
To this very day, the ground will not yield its potential to the descendents of Cain.[11] And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand;[12] When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth.
Cain knew there were other people on earth. In fact we will discover that he goes into the land of Nod and takes a wife. Where in the world did she come from? Answer! She was from the sixth day creation (refer to previous lessons).[13] And Cain said unto the LORD, My punishment is greater than I can bear.[14] Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me.
Cain also knew that his actions would get him in trouble and even get him killed. So God will place a "mark" upon him. We will soon learn what that "mark" was? Do you know?
We have just witnessed the first murder. Cain, the offspring of that old serpent, the devil, Satan himself, brutally killed Abel, the first son of Adam, a righteous man. It was that "wicked one's" second attempt (this time through his offspring) to destroy the woman and her "seed" through which Jesus Christ, the Messiah would be born.
And since Cain was not Adam's son, God would have to raise up another to fulfill His plan. Verse 25 of this same chapter documents that He did, and so Seth replaced Abel in Christ's ancestry.
Throughout the ages, even unto this very day, the tares of Mat. 13, who are the children of Satan through the line of Cain, would continue to harbor hate and even murder God's children and His prophets. That enmity God said would be there in Gen 3:15 is a sure thing. God's Word is always true.Gen. 4:25 And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew.
The word "Cain" in Hebrew is "Kajin", spelled with a "K", and so his children are naturally called Kenites, a transliteration (which is basically a letter to letter conversion) from the Hebrew to English. Look up the word "kenites" in a World Book Encyclopedia Dictionary. They are defined as the children of Cain (Kain-ites). Or look up Cain in Strong's concordance. (Cain, Kenite)
H7014
÷éï
qayin
kah'-yin
The same as H7013 (with a play upon the affinity to
H7069);
Kajin, the name of the first child, also of a place in Palestine, and
of
an Oriental tribe: - Cain, Kenite (-s).
It was the kenites who were responsible for the murder of Jesus Christ, though Judah has taken the "rap" because of the ignorance of the unlearned. It was the kenites, beginning with their father Cain, the first murderer, who killed the prophets and righteous men of God. And guess what? Christ called them "serpents" and "vipers". Where have we heard that terminology used before? In the garden, of course! And they are a bunch of snakes.
At the time of Christ, the kenites "sat in the seat of Moses", meaning they were in charge of the church. They had become the scribes and Pharisees, affixing themselves to the true house of Israel in 1 Chron. 2:55.Matthew 23:29-35
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous, [30]And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets. [31] Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets. [32] Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers. [33]Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell? [34] Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city: [35]That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.
And by the way, the time of 1 Chron. 2:55 is well after the flood of Noah! Do you know what that means? The sons of Cain made it through the flood! But, how is that possible? It is really quite simple and we will learn the exciting truth of the matter when we get to chapter six.1 Chron. 2:55
And the families of the scribes which dwelt at Jabez; the Tirathites, the Shimeathites, and Suchathites. These are the Kenites that came of Hemath, the father of the house of Rechab.
Let's now return to Genesis chapter four where Cain is being ousted from his native land. He is concerned that his evil ways might get him killed by the people he encounters.
Vengeance is mine saith the Lord (Rom. 12:19). Here we see that God is going to protect Cain by placing a mark upon him. But why should He? The creep just murdered Abel! Because Cain will be used to fulfill the "negative part" of God's plan. You must understand that for every positive there is a negative: sun/moon, light/dark, good/bad, Holy Spirit/evil spirit, Christ/Satan, etc., etc. It seems that for the flesh man, unless he has gone through some storms, he can never truly appreciate the warm sunshine. But a wise person knows that ultimately the negative becomes a positive, for it, the negative, provides the seedbed for the testing of faith.Genesis 4:15
And the LORD said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.
What is this "mark" that the LORD set upon Cain? It is truly amazing to listen and read about the creative ideas that man is able to imagine in an attempt to figure out what this "mark" is. Perhaps it could have been like a "no smoking" sign, a sharp dagger with a red circle and a slash through the center. People would recognize this universal symbol and say to one another, "Look Sam, he has a 'no kill' sign on his forehead, so we'd better leave him alone. Darn, I wanted to kill him!"
Rather than taking the time to understand the Word of God, man is quick to open his mouth and perpetuate vanity.
Suppose computers were taught the same way as the Bible is taught in Sunday schools. This is how it would go:
A well meaning, good hearted individual, who was willing to give of his or her time to help others, would volunteer to teach computer class. The fact that this person is computer illiterate is beside the point, because we know his or her motives are pure. And not to worry, because those who will be the students are just as computer illiterate as the instructor, so we'll have the usual blind leading the blind.An expert in computers would have simply read the verse and said, "Class, the phrase 'boot the computer' is an expression which means to turn on the computer and load its memory. Any questions?"Everyone assembles in the classroom and after the usual introductions, the class begins. The instructor picks up the Computer Bible, opens it, and reads a verse, "Thou shalt boot the computer". The instructor then looks up and says, "Sally, what does 'boot the computer' mean to you"?
Sally says, "Well, a boot is something you wear on your feet, and so, I suppose it means to kick the computer."
"That's good Sally. John, how about you?"
John, who is the would-be scholar of the group, looks up the word "boot" in the dictionary and finds it also means "a casing, or protective cover", as in placing a boot over a machine or car. So John says, "It makes sense that you should place a dust cover over such a delicate instrument as a computer in order to protect it, so "boot the computer" means to "cover the computer with a boot." Everyone applauds John's excellent and logical explanation.
The instructor thanks everyone for their participation and then moves on to the next verse where the same scenario ensues. After enough of this kind of teaching, people soon would be of the opinion that the understanding of Computer Bibles is just a matter of individual interpretation.
In Genesis 4:15 God set a sign for Cain. In other words, He gave him a "pledge" that He would protect him in his journeys. Any questions?
The word "mark" is the same word as "token" in Gen. 9:12, 13, where God gave Noah a sign, a "token" of His covenant that He would never again flood the earth with water. It was His pledge. And He didn't paint a little rainbow on Noah's head, either. Check it out. Don't listen to made up stories.
So God "marked", or set aside, Cain to be protected.
Going "out from the presence of the Lord" means that Cain left the Tabernacle placed by God for His worship, where the offerings were brought.[16] And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden.
And so begins the genealogy of Cain, here in chapter four of Genesis. You now know that Cain's wife was not a daughter of Adam and Eve. And remember, since Cain was not Adam's son, he is not listed in Adam's genealogy in chapter five.[17] And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch.
It would be a good exercise to look up the meanings of each of these names. But for the sake of brevity, I would have listed them here. There is, however, one major point of which you should take note. The names of these kenites are very similar (and some even the same) to the names of the offspring of Adam, listed in chapter five.[18] And unto Enoch was born Irad: and Irad begat Mehujael: and Mehujael begat Methusael: and Methusael begat Lamech.
Not only do the "tares" look like the "wheat" (Mat. 13), but you cannot reliably tell them apart by their names either.Methusa-el vs. Methusel-ah
Enoch vs. Enos and Enoch
Mehujael vs. Mahalaeel
[19] And Lamech took unto him two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.[20] And Adah bare Jabal: he was the father of such as dwell in tents, and of such as have cattle.
[21] And his brother's name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ.
[22] And Zillah, she also bare Tubal-cain, an instructer of every artificer in brass and iron: and the sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah.
And so it was that Cain went forth into the land of Nod and founded Babylon. The history books declare that about 3800 B.C., "poof", that great civilization suddenly appeared with such advances in art and law and astronomy and language, etc., that it defies the explanations of evolutionists who require great lengths of time to justify their theories. It was because of Cain's superior intellect and the knowledge he had learned from our Father and his earthly parents, that he was able to easily subdue the sixth day man.
It would be from the religions founded by this one, Cain, that all the nations of the earth would be made "drunk".
And again regarding Babylon:Rev. 14:8
And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.
We thank our Father that His Son, Jesus Christ, will soon put an end to this maddening deception once and for all.Rev. 17:2
With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.
We learned in the first two verses of this fourth chapter of Genesis that Eve had twins. The word "again" in verse two, means she "continued" in labor and gave birth to Cain's brother, Abel. We also learned that these two fraternal twins had separate fathers: Cain was of his father, Satan, that wicked one, and Abel was Adam's son.
Then, for religious reasons, Cain murdered his brother Abel. History documents that "Religion" is, and ever has been the greatest cause of blood-shedding.
Our Father then ousted this murderer and Cain wandered into the land of Nod and took a wife from among the people who already inhabited the region. Where did they come from? They were created on the sixth day, 2,000 years (2 days) before eth' ha adam, the man Adam and his wife Eve, who were formed on the eighth day.
The Bible then devotes nearly two full chapters, in this Book of the Beginning, to the specific genealogies of both Cain and Adam. This, you would think, should be enough to make the point that they are two totally different genealogies, those of the "tares", the grand-children of Satan, and those of the "wheat", the children of God (see Mat 13, Parable of the Tares). Either you have eyes to see and understand or you don't, but it is the Word of God.
And so we continue in Genesis 4 with the posterity of Cain.
Lamech was another in the long line of murderers from Cain, and he was boastful and proud of it.Genesis 4:23
And Lamech said unto his wives, Adah and Zillah, Hear my voice; ye wives of Lamech, hearken unto my speech: for I have slain a man to my wounding, and a young man to my hurt.
There will be another Lamech mentioned in the last few verses of chapter five in Adam's genealogy (coincidence?). The examination of their fathers will document that they are two different individuals. This process of examination is called "rightly dividing" the Word of God, like God tells you to do.[24]If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy and sevenfold.
And now 130 years after Adam's beginning:
Seth means substituted. God has raised up another "seed" to take the place of Abel in the genealogy that would bring forth Jesus Christ, the Messiah.[25] And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew.
Enos means frail, incurable.[26] And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the LORD.
Look up the word "call" in Strong's concordance. It will help in understanding that the statement "men began to call upon the name of the LORD" refers to the beginning of the "profanation" of the name of the LORD, and not to divine worship. Idolatry now begins to "infest" the earth which will be the reason that Enoch is raised up, to prophesy against it.
H7121
÷øà
qa?ra?'
kaw-raw'
A primitive root (rather identical with H7122 through
the idea of accosting a person met); to call out to (that is,
properly
address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications): - bewray
[self], that are bidden, call (for, forth, self, upon), cry (unto),
(be)
famous, guest, invite, mention, (give) name, preach, (make) proclaim
(-ation),
pronounce, publish, read, renowned, say.
Genesis
Chapter 5
Do you believe the Bible is the Word of God? Do you suppose our Father needed to fill some space in His Word and add some more volume to it? It makes you wonder sometimes when people ask why we have the Book of Chronicles and why we have these "boring", as they call it, genealogies listed in the Bible.Genesis 5:1-32
This is the BOOK OF THE GENERATIONS OF ADAM. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him;
It is extremely important that we pay close attention to these genealogies. They are here for a reason, otherwise God would not have had them included.
We have already seen in chapter four that Cain, begotten of his father the Devil (John 8:44), has his own genealogy, completely separate from Adam's, for he was not of Adam. But it would be through a descendant of pure pedigree of Adam and Eve that the Messiah was to come. Therefore God's Word is very careful in documenting that it did indeed happen, exactly as it is was ordained.
Also, when we examine closely the genealogies in Matthew (Joseph's genealogy) and Luke (Mary's genealogy) in context with the events of His birth (particularly Elizabeth's cousinship to Mary), we find that Christ was half of Judah (the kingship line) and half of Levi (the priest line) and so He fulfilled, right down to His bloodlines, the position of King of Kings and Lord of Lords. God's Word is perfect.
God told Adam in Gen 2:17, ".. for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die". As we've already learned, Adam lived 930 years, which is 70 years short of one of God's days (2 Pet 3).[2] Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.[3] And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth:
[4] And the days of Adam after he had begotten Seth were eight hundred years: and he begat sons and daughters:
[5] And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years: and he died.
Methuselah = when he is dead it (the Deluge) shall be sent.[6] And Seth lived an hundred and five years, and begat Enos: [7] And Seth lived after he begat Enos eight hundred and seven years, and begat sons and daughters: [8] And all the days of Seth were nine hundred and twelve years: and he died. [9] And Enos lived ninety years, and begat Cainan: [10] And Enos lived after he begat Cainan eight hundred and fifteen years, and begat sons and daughters: [11] And all the days of Enos were nine hundred and five years: and he died. 12] And Cainan lived seventy years, and begat Mahalaleel: [13] And Cainan lived after he begat Mahalaleel eight hundred and forty years, and begat sons and daughters: [14] And all the days of Cainan were nine hundred and ten years: and he died. [15] And Mahalaleel lived sixty and five years, and begat Jared: [16] And Mahalaleel lived after he begat Jared eight hundred and thirty years, and begat sons and daughters: [17] And all the days of Mahalaleel were eight hundred ninety and five years: and he died. [18] And Jared lived an hundred sixty and two years, and he begat Enoch: [19] And Jared lived after he begat Enoch eight hundred years, and begat sons and daughters: [20] And all the days of Jared were nine hundred sixty and two years: and he died. [21] And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah: [22]And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters:
With all of the idolatry now taking place on the earth, we come to this one, Enoch, whose name means teaching, or initiation, who walked with God.
Much has been written about this very special man of God who lived 365 years, the number which corresponds to the number of days in a year. Some even suppose he was the master builder of the great pyramid of Giza.[23] And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years:
There were two men in the Bible, Enoch and Elijah, who did not see death, but instead were translated, i.e. transported to heaven. Elijah was taken up in a "whirlwind", a highly polished, bronze looking, circular vehicle. The same vehicles are described by Ezekiel in chapter one of the book titled after his name. (Live Link)to-Ezekiel chapter 1[24] And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.
There is no reason not to believe that Enoch was "taken" in the same manner. (Of course the traditions of men show Elijah being sucked up by a tornado, kind of like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz. Both are fairy tales.)2 Kings 2:11
And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
Our Father was obviously very pleased with the work of this man EnochHebrews 11:5
By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
Methuselah holds the honor as the oldest man recorded in the Bible. Perhaps Lamech was first to use the phrase "my old man".[25] And Methuselah lived an hundred eighty and seven years, and begat Lamech: [26] And Methuselah lived after he begat Lamech seven hundred eighty and two years, and begat sons and daughters: [27] And all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred sixty and nine years: and he died.
Lamech means powerful. Remember, never let anyone tell you this is the same Lamech as in Genesis 4:18. You can rightly divide.[28] And Lamech lived an hundred eighty and two years, and begat a son:
The promise of One to come, a "comforter" if you will, had been given back in Gen. 3:15. Perhaps Lamech thought this one, Noah, would be Him. In any event, Noah means rest, comfort, or consolation, which he would provide concerning their works ("work" should be translated "works" in verse 29). And so it is that they will "rest" a long time after the flood.[29] And he called his name Noah, saying, This same shall comfort us concerning our work and toil of our hands, because of the ground which the LORD hath cursed.
The chronology has now been brought up to Noah and his sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. To this point we have seen two major attempts by Satan and his offspring to thwart the plan of God and destroy the "woman" and her "seed".[30] And Lamech lived after he begat Noah five hundred ninety and five years, and begat sons and daughters: [31] And all the days of Lamech were seven hundred seventy and seven years: and he died.[32] And Noah was five hundred years old: and Noah begat Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
Next we will see another massive attempt to prevent the Messiah from ever being born of woman. It is a story not taught in the majority of Christian churches, and yet it can be documented with just a "little bit" of "rightly dividing" the Word. This attempt was so evil and so against God's plan and His commands, that it caused the Great Deluge, the Flood of Noah.
Genesis
Chapter 6
Chapter six of Genesis is without a doubt the most astounding attempt by Satan to prevent the "One who will bruise his head", the Messiah prophesied in Gen 3:15, from being born. But that is not what is commonly taught in main stream Christianity. Most churches teach that everyone on earth was wicked and evil except Noah and his family whom God saved through the flood because of their moral perfection. Is that what really happened?
Once again, in order to arrive at the truth, we will lay aside the traditional teachings of man and simply read with understanding, rightly dividing the Word of God. As always, each individual is and should be, free to agree or disagree with that which is taught. But a mature Christian does so by proving (documenting) his or her beliefs from the Word of God, not from what man might say, not from church doctrines, nor traditions, nor catechisms, nor quarterlies handed down from the church hierarchy.
However, one thing is for certain. If you do not understand what happened in chapter six of Genesis, that caused our Father to bring about the Flood of Noah, you will not understand what is about to take place in our generation in the very near future. It makes no difference that I told you, but it is Christ who said so!
Jesus Christ, as He sat upon the Mount of Olives, was asked the following question by his disciples in Matthew 24:3:
They wanted to know the same thing people ask today, "What will it be like before Jesus returns"? The funny thing is, that question has been answered in detail by Jesus Himself in Matthew 24 and Mark 13, and is available for anyone who really cares to know. But you may have to do some homework.Matthew 24:3
... Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
For instance, Christ said in this same chapter of Matthew that when you see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place where he ought not, then time is really short. So we'd better know and understand the Book of Daniel. Christ also said that it would be just like it was in the days of Noe (Greek for Noah) before He returns.
What in the world was going on then?Matthew 24:37
But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
Who was doing these things, drinking, marrying, etc.? We're about to find out![38] 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,
There is another flood coming soon. No, it is not of water, for God promised that wouldn't happen again. This flood will be a flood of lies (deception) that is cast out of the mouth of that same serpent, Satan, who was present in garden spewing forth his lies. He's coming soon to deceive the whole world (Rev 12:7-9). And guess what? We of the final generation get to face the serpent "head on" as did Adam and Eve. The problem is that most people are not mentally nor spiritually prepared to stand against the supernatural, an archangel like Satan. Unless one is fully dressed with the gospel armor described in Ephesians 6, the fiery darts of Satan will easily pierce their "unsealed" minds.[39] And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
Note: What does a person cast out of their mouth? If this verse is talking about water all it would be is spit. That wouldn't flood much of anything. No, this is a flood of lies cast from Satan's mouth!Rev. 12:15
And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.
Editor's
Note: This is only my
speculation but, I do not believe the Noah's flood was worldwide. I
believe it
only covered the middle east where the angels mated with eighth day
man, or should I say the man that was formed as described in chapter
two, i.e.
the Adamic people who Christ was to be born through. What I'm saying
is, I
don't believe the races were aboard the ark. I believe they were in
another
part of the earth. I don't believe God had any reason to destroy
thousands of years of 6th day man's replenishing of the earth, as God
had told him to do
since Satan's goal was to disrupt the seed line of eighth day Adam who
lived only in the middle east. Why, I ask
myself, would God want to destroy the races?
I
believe the confusion is in the translation;
The
Hebrew words
"ad-aw-maw" and eh'-rets are translated "land" more often then
"earth" through out much of the Bible. How do you think they should
have been translated in chapter 4 verse 14 in Genesis?
Scripture: Genesis 4:14 Behold, thou hast driven
me out this day from the face of the earth
(H127);
and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and
a vagabond in the earth
(H776,
should this have been translated land, not
earth?) ;
and it shall come to pass, that every one that
findeth me shall slay me.
Let's
look closely at the King James translation:
......,
thou hast
driven me out this day from the face of the earth;
................;
and
I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth:
It sure reads funny the way it's translated with earth at both places doesn't it?
Two
different Hebrew
words, but both translated earth in the King James Bible.
Strong's
Concordance
Gen
4:14 Behold,
thou hast driven me out, this day from, the face of the earth;H127
and from thy face, shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive
and a vagabond in the earth;H776
or (land)
and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me.
earth
H127
àãîä
'a?da?ma?h
ad-aw-maw'
From
H119; soil (from its
general redness): - country, earth, ground, husband [-man] (-ry), land.
earth
H776
àøõ
'erets
eh'-rets
From
an unused root
probably meaning to be firm; the earth (at large, or partitively a
land):
- X common, country, earth, field, ground, land, X nations, way,
+
wilderness, world.
H127
ad-aw-maw' was translated earth
over 30 times and land over 100 times in
the King James Version of the Bible.
H776
eh'-rets was
translated land
over 1300 times
and earth over 700 times in
the King James Version of the Bible.
If
ad-aw-maw'
had been translated land in Genesis 4:14 and eh'-rets
had
been translated earth as in many parts of the Bible it would
read like this:
Behold, thou hast
driven me out this day from the face of the land;
and from thy face
shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth;
and it shall come to
pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me.
If
eh'-rets
had
been translated land in Genesis 4:14 and ad-aw-maw'
had
been translated earth as in many parts of the
Bible it would read like this:
Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth;
and from thy face
shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the land;
and it shall come to
pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me.
Why
do you suppose they translated it the way they did?
I suspect it is because the
translators of the "King
James Bible" had the same pre-conceived ideas about Noah’s flood as do
most people today!
Scientists,
and therefore the translators, know that when
they examine the earth's crust, at some point in time there was a
catastrophic
world wide flood and being
ignorant of the 1st earth age and Lucifer's Flood the
translators tried to make
Noah's Flood fit what they know happened on earth, but were ignorant of
when or how
it happened.
They are
ignorant of Lucifer's flood; therefore think
Noah's flood had to be universal! If
they had translated
it "land" here they would also have had to translate it
"land" in Genesis chapters 6 and 7. But since they were convinced
that the flood was universal they had a problem using the word "land"
in Genesis.
One
thing is for sure;
ad-aw-maw' and
eh'-rets should
not
both have been translated earth in Genesis 4:14. In
the original Hebrew two different words were used and in this verse
have two different meanings.
Genesis 6:1
And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth (àãîä Hebrew127), and daughters were born unto them,
It was to them (Adam and Eve) that daughters were born. This is important as we will see.
Ah ha! Do you remember verse 38 of Matthew 24 that we read a few paragraphs ago? Let's review it:[2] That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.
So it was the sons of God who were marrying the daughters of Adam! Who were these sons of God? They were angels, part of the host of heaven.Mat. 24:38 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,
Remember from our previous studies, that woman, a man with a womb, exists only in this flesh age. Birth from the womb is the natural means created by our Father whereby all of the host of heaven (sons of God) would pass through this earth age, born innocent, with no prior knowledge of the evil of the "world that then was" (2 Pet 3).
And so it is that all of the heavenly host are referred to as sons of God. They do not procreate for our Father created them all. Do you recall that the religious leaders, those who should have known this, came to Jesus and asked him whose wife the woman who had seven husbands would be in the resurrection?
These religious leaders of the people were ignorant of God's Word. And so you see, not much has changed in 2,000 years, has it? The ignorance continues for there is nothing new under the sun!Mark 12:23-25
In the resurrection therefore, when they shall rise, whose wife shall she be of them? for the seven had her to wife. [24] And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God?
The angels, the sons of God, are all of the same gender, or more correctly we should say, that without woman there is no gender.[25] For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven.
I can just hear it now. The "flesh man" suddenly tells the "inner man" to shut up a minute and yells, "What? Do you mean there's no sex in heaven? I know the song says 'In heaven there ain't no beer' but this is going a little too far! (he begins to doubt whether he really wants to go)". Relax, calm down! As it is also written, the flesh mind cannot even begin to imagine the wonderful things God has in store for us. Trust Him. (And by the way, just wait until you step into your spiritual body. From all that I've read it is simply orgasmic.)
We were discussing the sons of God, angelic beings, who were taking to wife the daughters of Adam. Wait a minute! You just said there's no sex in heaven. And that is correct, Christ said so. But these angels left heaven, their place of dwelling, and came to this earth without being born of woman. That was a direct violation of God's decree that all should pass through the womb (Heb 9:27), the penalty of which is the second death. Jude documents that these angels left heaven.
Here is a recap what was happening before the Flood:Jude 1:6
And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.
Satan knew it would be through Adam and Eve and their offspring that the Messiah would be born. And he continues to try to prevent that from happening throughout the Bible, right up to shortly after Christ's birth. Remember Herod killed all the male children from ages two and under to try to prevent this occurrence.
So Satan sent his angels, the same ones who will be cast out with him when he comes as the false messiah (Rev 12:7-9), to infiltrate the daughters of Adam and corrupt the "seed" once again by seducing them, i.e. taking them to wife. We will soon document, without even a shadow of a doubt, i.e. conclusively, that Noah and his sons and their wives (all 8 people) were the ONLY Adamic people left in the land that had not corrupted themselves. They were perfect in their generations, their genealogy, i.e. they had a perfect pedigree.
It was for the purpose of destroying the giants that our Father caused Noah's Great Deluge.
The word "man" used here, as well as throughout this narrative, is "the individual man Adam". It is his days that shall "yet" be an 120 years. So this fixes the date. Adam lived 930 years - 120 years to go = 810 or 3194 B.C. (Pretty cool, eh?)Gen. 6:3 And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.
The union of the angelic body with the flesh body produced hybrids, i.e. giants. This word "giants" in Hebrew is nephiliyl or nephilium and comes from the word naphal which means to fall or fallen. It was the fallen angels referred to in Jude that produced these giants.[4] There were giants in the earth ('eretsHebrew776land) in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.
The phrase "and also after that" means "and also after the days of Noah". In other words, there was another influx of these giants after the Flood of Noah. We read about them when Joshua sent the scouts across the river Jordan and they returned with the report, "There are giants over there". God ordered Israel to destroy every last one of them, including the babies.
I hope you're enjoying this Book of Genesis. It is remarkably fascinating! And the real beauty of it is that if you can understand how it was in the beginning, the rest of God's Word will flow with simplicity.
Yes, there were giants in the earth in those days (Gen 6:4), both before and after the flood. God's Word is true and it's history sure. Hopefully by now you have checked out some of the physical evidences of the existence of giants, like Easter Island and Bashan. If you haven't, make it a priority to do so, else how can you speak boldly and authoritatively to the unlearned or the scoffer who laughs at such "utter nonsense". They are quicker to believe the Encyclopedia Britannica than the Word of God!
We were discussing the sons of God, the "fallen angels", who left their first estate (Jude 6), i.e. their place in heaven, came to earth and married (seduced) the daughters of Adam. That intermarrying between angel and flesh woman produced hybrids, giants, mighty men, men of renown (Gen 6:4).
Our Father would soon bring about the Great Deluge (Noah's Flood) to rid the earth of these giants and their perversion. As for those sons of God who did this, "they are history", "archive material", "clean out your locker", i.e. finished, as in going to perish at judgment. Both Jude and Peter document it.
You can now determine what Noah was preaching.Jude 1:6
And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.2 Peter 2:4-5
For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;[5] And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;
Let's continue in this fascinating Book of Genesis with chapter 6, verse 5:
How is that people could become so lewd (wicked) and morally depraved? It was because they were under the influence of supernatural beings, the sons of God, the fallen angels, whose offspring we just read in verse 4 were men of renown, i.e. superstars. Look around in today's society and see how willing people are to be influenced by almost anyone of "super", renown status, like famous Hollywood actors and actresses, and even country and rock stars.Genesis 6:5
And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth ('eretsHebrew776land), and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
It should not be difficult for anyone to understand how Satan and these same fallen angels will once again be able to deceive the whole world when they are cast out of heaven unto the earth (Rev. 12:7-9), appearing as angels of light.
That is why Paul wrote in 1 Cor. 11:10 concerning the veil, i.e. the Holy Spirit or Christ, that women should be "covered" with. It is because of these angels!
Did we not begin this chapter six by quoting the words of Jesus that "as it was in the days of Noah, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be?" These angels are coming again. Perhaps we should read it once more for emphasis:1 Cor. 11:10
For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.
And just exactly what was going on before the flood?Matthew 24:37
But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
Oh, the angels, the sons of God, were marrying (seducing) women, the daughters of Adam![38] 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,
Jesus Christ said it is going to happen again! It is also documented in Revelation 12:9.
They're coming soon! And guess what? As with the rest of God's Word, it doesn't matter whether you believe it not. It will happen again, just as Christ said it will. Are you "covered"?Rev. 12:9
And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
Isn't it amazing how Christianity has become so much like "Outcome Based Education". It seems that it doesn't matter whether or not you understand the Word of God, just so long as you "feel good" about your relationship with Him. And you can get that feeling by attending church once a week, dumping a few bucks in the plate as it's passed before your face in the "sight of men", and by participating in a few fund raising and charity events. The preacher then tells you you're doing "good", and so you feel that way.
Then, to provide you with the "feeling" of security, you are told that you don't have to understand the books of Daniel and Revelation, because you are not going to be here when those events transpire anyway. Why? They say you are going to "fly up into the sky", "up, up and away", raptured out of here by Jesus Christ while the rest of us sinners suffer horrible consequences below.
Our Father was very disappointed with what was happening. It was a total disruption of His natural plan for flesh man, and He determined to put a stop to it. He can do that you know!Gen. 6:6 And it repented the LORD that He had made man on the earth eretsHebrew776land), and it grieved him at his heart.
This statement is obviously figurative, proven by the fact that the LORD does not intend to destroy at least Noah, his family and all those aboard the ark. Right? It is the figure of speech Synecdoche whereby the whole is put for a part. We will discuss this in more detail later.[7] And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth(àãîä Hebrew127); both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.
Why did Noah find grace in the eyes of the LORD? Well, for one thing he told those fallen angels, the nephylium to "go pound sand"! He would have nothing to do with the fallen angels and he obviously taught his children and their wives to keep away from them also.[8] But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.
How do we know? Because the next verse conclusively documents it!
The Hebrew word for "generations" is towledah, which means "family history". So here is Noah's family history.[9] These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.
Verse 9 says that Noah was PERFECT in his family history, his generations, his family tree, his pedigree. You MUST understand this word "perfect". The Hebrew word is Tamin, and it means without spot or blemish, and is the technical word for bodily and physical perfection, NOT MORAL. It is used of animals of sacrificial purity, i.e. they were to pick a "perfect" sacrificial lamb, one without spot or blemish, tamin.
Verse six then, does not speak of Noah's moral perfection, but that he and his family had preserved their pedigree and not corrupted themselves by intermarrying with the fallen angels. This also documents that all eight, i.e. Noah and his wife and his sons and their wives, were purebred Adamites.
Remember that this whole sordid affair was an attempt by Satan to destroy the "seed" of the woman through which Christ, the Messiah, would be born. How successful was his campaign? Well, there were only eight people, who were descendents of Adam and Eve, left on the face of the earth who could fulfill God's plan, i.e. through whom Christ could descend.
That's a pretty close call as man would view it!
Do you now "see" what caused the flood of Noah? Do you understand that our Father brought about the Flood of Noah in order to destroy the giants and the wickedness, the corruption, caused by the sons of God who left their first habitation (Jude 6) and came to earth, without being born of woman, to take the daughters of Adam to wife?
Good, then you won't be too surprised when we speculate that the Flood was not universal!
We already documented that Noah and his family had not been influenced by the prevailing fallen angels, who had succeeded in seducing the rest of Adam and Eve's descendents. Giants, hybrids produced by the union of the sons of God (angels), with Adam's daughters, roamed that region. Our Father would now have to put a stop to this perversion of His plan.
The three sons of Noah, whenever they are listed together, are named in inverted order with Shem, the youngest, named first. As is other cases, the youngest was chosen for the blessing, and so it would be through Shem that Christ would come. Japheth was the eldest.[10] And Noah begat three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
The word "violence" means "wrong or unrighteous". They weren't killing each other, they were drinking and marrying and giving in marriage. Jesus Christ said so in Mat. 24. The land was filled with unrighteousness, i.e. perversion.[11] The earth ('eretsHebrew776land) also was corrupt before God, and the earth ('eretsHebrew776land) was filled with violence.
The natural way of bringing forth the children of God through "flesh man" and "flesh woman" was now corrupted.[12] And God looked upon the earth('eretsHebrew776land), and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth('eretsHebrew776land).
Our Father now "foretells His servants", as He always does, what is going to happen next. He is now going to eradicate the mess in this land, and every living thing in it. The phrase, "I will destroy them 'with' the earth", should read, "from" the earth.[13] And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth('eretsHebrew776land) is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth('eretsHebrew776land).
So God tells Noah to go build a big boat and He gives him the blue prints complete with measurements and a materials list. This was necessary because there were no Home Depots in those days.
"Pitch it" means to "coat it" and comes from the Hebrew word kapher, which means to cover. It is the only word for "atonement" in the Old Testament and lets us know that only "atonement" can protect us from the waters of judgment.[14] Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch.
"With pitch" is the Hebrew kopher, meaning "resin" and not "bitumen", which is zepheth.
A cubit is a measure of distance from the elbow to the tip of the fingers, i.e. forearm, and is approximately 17.5 inches in length. However, the sacred cubit was closer to 25 inches.[15] And this is the fashion which thou shalt make it of: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits.
It is remarkable that there were three levels built into the ark, just as there are three levels of understanding built into God's Word. The Bible is written to all, but one must have eyes to see and ears to hear in order to understand that which is written on the third level, for it is not given to everyone to "see" (Mat. 13:10-11).[16] A window shalt thou make to the ark, and in a cubit shalt thou finish it above; and the door of the ark shalt thou set in the side thereof; with lower, second, and third stories shalt thou make it.
You would have to be on the third level in the ark to be able to "see" out over the waters.
[17] And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth('eretsHebrew776land), to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth('eretsHebrew776land) shall die.
Gen 4:14 Behold,2005 thou hast driven me out1644, (853) this day3117 from4480, 5921 the face 6440 of the earth;127 and from thy face 4480, 6440 shall I be hid;5641 and I shall be1961 a fugitive5128 and a vagabond 5110 in the earth;776 and it shall come to pass,1961 that every one 3605 that findeth 4672 me shall slay2026 me.
It sure isn't as translated in the King James version of the Bible; Cain wasn't driven out from the face of the earth to be a vagabond in the earth! àãîä and 'erets 2 different Hebrew words.
H127
àãîä
'a?da?ma?h
ad-aw-maw'
From H119; soil(from
its general redness): - country, earth, ground,
husband [-man] (-ry), land.
H776
àøõ
'erets
eh'-rets
From an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth (at large,
or partitively a land): - X
common,
country, earth, field, ground,
land, X nations, way, + wilderness, world.
Based on what we just learned let's study the flood account in chapters 6 and 7 of Genesis substituting the english word land for earth everywhere 776 'erets was the Hebrew word used in the original manuscripts. Just like it is translated LAND throughout the rest of the Bible. Remember our previous discussion about the effect of preconceived ideas as to what the translators thought God meant to say! The King James translation, or any other translation, of the original Hebrew text has some words which were given different translations at different places probably because of the interpreters preconceived ideas of what they think God meant to say.
And here again we see the figure of speech Synedoche in the term "all flesh", put here to mean every kind of being. A Synedoche is where the whole is put for the part.
Another example of a Synedoche would be Luke 2:1:
"All the world" didn't include Australia and North America, but a "part of the whole", i.e. the Roman Empire.Luke 2:1
And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.
And so "all flesh" won't die. At the least, Noah and his family and all aboard the ark would be spared.
Have you come into His "ark" in these last days? There is another flood coming soon whereby you will need to be "pitched" with the gospel armor, i.e. "sealed" with the Word of God, in order to stay afloat. That flood is the flood of Satan's lies spewing forth from his mouth and the mouths of his angels (whom we've been reading of), when they are cast to this earth in Rev. 12:7-9.Gen. 6:18 But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons' wives with thee.
It will be as it was in the days of Noah! Hello! Those sons of God, Satan's angels, will be here soon, with Satan who will be playing the role of Christ.Rev. 12:9
And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
Don't be swallowed up by this flood. Our Father's ark is loading now. Don't wait 'till the door is shut.Rev. 12:15
And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.
Notice carefully that this verse does NOT say bring two of all the "animals". It says to bring two of all "flesh".[19] And of every living thing of all flesh, two of every sort shalt thou bring into the ark, to keep them alive with thee; they shall be male and female.
Have you never wondered how the different races were preserved through the flood? Just a few verses ago God stated that man was also flesh. Don't forget him!
If you believe that the flood was universal, i.e. encompassed all the earth, then the races could have been preserved aboard the ark and brought in along with "all flesh".Genesis 6:3
And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: ...
Do you remember back in chapter two of Genesis that there was another set of animals created after "the Adam" was formed? They were the domestic animals, including the farm animals that would be necessary to help the "man who would till the ground", Adam.Gen. 6:20 Of fowls after their kind, and of cattle after their kind, of every creeping thing of the earth(àãîä Hebrew127) after his kind, two of every sort shall come unto thee, to keep them alive.
It is Adam's land, his region of the world, his eretz or country, that the fallen angels have come to intermarry with his daughters. It is this area where the domestic animals would have been.
It would therefore be logical that it was only the domestic animals that Noah took aboard the ark. The farm animals would have become extinct had Noah not preserved them, for they were in that area, created on the eighth day, after Adam, to help him till the ground.
If all God's children listened to their Father as did Noah, we wouldn't need this flesh earth age, would we?[21] And take thou unto thee of all food that is eaten, and thou shalt gather it to thee; and it shall be for food for thee, and for them.[22] Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he.
So, was the Flood of Noah universal, i.e. worldwide? I realize many are shocked at the suggestion that it wasn't worldwide, but as you can see it wouldn't have been necessary in order to destroy the giants and the perversion they had caused in the region where the Adamites were located. Go back and re-read the entire account translating "earth", i.e. eretz, as land or country.
Then, if you still subscribe to the universality of the Flood, you have more explaining to do. You must reconcile the Flood with the histories of China and Egypt and explain how it is that Egyptian chronology shows an uninterrupted succession of Dynasties from at least 3001 B.C. Then too, there is not enough moisture and water available to cover all the mountains by fifteen cubits (Gen. 7:20) given that some of the mountains are 6 miles high. That means that Egypt and all the land would have been covered with six miles of water. There is so much more, but I'm sure you get the point.
One last FACT. If you turn to 1 Chronicles 2:55 you will read that the sons of Cain (Kenites) affixed themselves to the 12 tribes of Israel, whose genealogies are listed beginning in verse 1.
If you are not familiar with the word "kenite" then look it up in Strong's concordance or the World Book Encyclopedia Dictionary. It means progeny, or offspring of Cain.1 Chron. 2:55
And the families of the scribes which dwelt at Jabez; the Tirathites, the Shimeathites, and Suchathites. These are the Kenites that came of Hemath, the father of the house of Rechab.
Do you understand what this means? The descendents of Cain are alive and well many, many years following the Flood of Noah. They were present when Christ walked the earth (John 8:44) and they are present this very day. That means they survived the Great Deluge, as did all the other races.
And so it is for this and many other reasons, especially the understanding of what caused the Flood, that this teacher does not believe that the Great Deluge covered Babylon and the land of Nod, nor Egypt, but only that portion of perhaps Central Asia, around the Tarim Basin, where some scholars place the garden of Eden and the origin of the Adamic race (Read "Tracing Our Ancestors" by Frederick Haberman for more details).
In any event, however universal you may believe the flood to be, it is imperative that you understand what transpired PRIOR to that Flood, because as it was in the beginning, so shall it be in the end. We live in the most exciting time period in the history of mankind, for it is this generation, the generation of the fig tree, that will see the events foretold by Christ in Matthew 24 and Mark 13. And guess what? We will face the supernatural, i.e. Satan and his angels, as did Adam and Eve and their offspring before the Flood.
Are you "covered"?
Genesis
Chapter 7
Let's pause for a moment of reflection and try to imagine what it was like for Noah, whose name means "rest". Our Father has given him the plans and told him to go out and build this humongous boat in the backyard, which is not exactly a weekend project, so there won't be any "rest" for awhile, anyway.
Now we know from 2 Peter 2:5 that Noah was a preacher of righteousness, and by putting two and two together (that's a figure of speech and has nothing to do with how the animals were assembled for the ark) we know what he was preaching and warning about. Noah was preaching against getting involved with the sons of God, the fallen angels! Keep away from them! Keep away from Satan and his own! But ultimately only he and his family would remain pure and uncorrupted by these supernatural charmers.
So not only wasn't anyone heeding Noah's warnings, but you can be sure they had him labeled as a "far right wing religious extremist". And now he starts to build this floating stadium to house the broncos, the cardinals, the bulls and the eagles and adds the flash flood warning to his sermons. I'm sure this went over really big and as a result brought forth the best scoffers of the day!
The point is that Noah and his family stood alone in the land against tremendous pressure and ridicule and yet were willing to take a stand against the "fiery darts", against this same locust army that we will face in this generation, the final generation, the generation of the fig tree, yes, the "Baby Boomer" generation.
Twice for emphasis, once in Gen. 6:22 and again in Gen 7:5, our Father had Moses record, "And Noah did all that the Lord commanded him". What an example he was for us. What a tremendous servant of God! I can't wait to meet him someday!
We begin now with chapter seven of Genesis, which flows rather smoothly.
Noah and his family have come under the divine protection of our Father and are invited aboard His ark. The invitation is still open today for the ark of the end time.Genesis 7:1
And the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.
[2] Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee by sevens, the male and his female: and of beasts that are not clean by two, the male and his female.
[3] Of fowls also of the air by sevens, the male and the female; to keep seed alive upon the face of all the earth('eretsHebrew776land).
The number seven denotes "spiritual perfection", while the number 40 signifies "testing" or "probation". All these folks in Noah's day were put on probation.[4] For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth('eretsHebrew776land) forty days and forty nights; and every living substance that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the earth (àãîäHebrew127).
Did you know that 1 out every 5 verses in the Bible contains at least one number? Did you know that numbers in scripture have spiritual significance? They help us to partake of that "hidden manna", giving us a deeper level of understanding. For instance: each time the number 40 is used throughout the Bible it denotes probation or testing. It rained 40 days and 40 nights at the time of the flood. Israel wandered in the wilderness 40 years. Moses was on the mountain 40 days. Christ was tempted of Satan 40 days in the wilderness, etc. Here are a few other numbers and their meanings:
If you are fortunate to have a Companion Bible, appendix 10 will explain the significance of numbers in more detail. Additionally, we have several good resources available on Biblical numerics.5 = Grace
6 = Man
7 = Spiritual Perfection
8 = New Beginnings
10 = Law or Ordinal Perfection as in the 10 commandments
12 = Governmental Perfection as in 12 tribes, 12 apostles, etc.
And he didn't whine and moan and complain. He probably had sign hanging in his workshop that said "Just Do It".[5] And Noah did according unto all that the LORD commanded him.
600 is the number connected with warfare. Pharaoh pursued Israel with 600 chariots, etc., etc.[6] And Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters was upon the earth('eretsHebrew776land).
[7] And Noah went in, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons' wives with him, into the ark, because of the waters of the flood.
[8] Of clean beasts, and of beasts that are not clean, and of fowls, and of every thing that creepeth upon the earth(Hebrew127),
[9] There went in two and two unto Noah into the ark, the male and the female, as God had commanded Noah.
One week, then judgment began.[10] And it came to pass after seven days, that the waters of the flood were upon the earth('eretsHebrew776land).
This fixes the exact date of the Flood, beginning the solar year 2348 B.C. It was Noah's 600th year and Methuselah died at age 969 in the first month of this flood year.[11] In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened.
Here in verse 11 we see the earth opening up and bringing forth the flood. In Rev. 12:16 we see the earth opening up and swallowing the flood (the lies of Satan).
We suggested earlier that these were the domestic and farm animals that existed only with the Adamic people in the region, land, eretz, where they lived.[12] And the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights.[13] In the selfsame day entered Noah, and Shem, and Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah, and Noah's wife, and the three wives of his sons with them, into the ark;
[14] They, and every beast after his kind, and all the cattle after their kind, and every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth('eretsHebrew776land) after his kind, and every fowl after his kind, every bird of every sort.
Remember in Gen. 6:3 that man had also become flesh. One thing is for sure, all the races, including the sons of Cain (kenites) survived the Flood of Noah, whether they were aboard the ark or in other countries unaffected by the deluge.[15] And they went in unto Noah into the ark, two and two of all flesh, wherein is the breath of life.
God Himself shut the door of the ark. Never can it be said that it was man who shut the door on them and wouldn't let them aboard the ark. They will be without excuse at judgment.[16] And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the LORD shut him in.
What a sight that must have been![17] And the flood was forty days upon the earth('eretsHebrew776land); and the waters increased, and bare up the ark, and it was lift up above the earth('eretsHebrew776land).
All of the remaining animals, birds, etc., including the giants and all of Adam's descendents died.[18] And the waters prevailed, and were increased greatly upon the earth('eretsHebrew776land); and the ark went upon the face of the waters.[19] And the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth('eretsHebrew776land); and all the high hills, that were under the whole heaven, were covered.
[20] Fifteen cubits upward did the waters prevail; and the mountains were covered.
[21] And all flesh died that moved upon the earth('eretsHebrew776land), both of fowl, and of cattle, and of beast, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth('eretsHebrew776land), and every man:
The word "destroyed" literally means "blotted out".[22] All in whose nostrils was the breath of life, of all that was in the dry land, died.[23] And every living substance was destroyed which was upon the face of the ground(àãîäHebrew127), both man, and cattle, and the creeping things, and the fowl of the heaven; and they were destroyed from the earth('eretsHebrew776land): and Noah only remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark.
And so the bloodline of Adam has been purged, purified by judgment. The adamic race through which the Messiah would come, now begins anew with it's eight remaining souls aboard the ark. The number eight means "new beginnings". How appropriate.
150 days = 5 months. As it was in the beginning, so shall it be in the end. The "flood" of lies soon to engulf those adrift in the sea of peoples in this generation, will also prevail 5 months. We know that from Revelation chapter 9, for it is also called the locust army. And do you want to know something even more specific? The time of the swarming stage of locusts is from May to September! Look it up in the encyclopedia. It's 5 months![24] And the waters prevailed upon the earth('eretsHebrew776land) an hundred and fifty days.
The Word of God is the most amazing and exciting book you'll ever read! After all, it is authored by the Creator of the Universe, our Father, who is amazing and exciting indeed! For it is written that the feeble mind of flesh man cannot even begin to comprehend the things He has in store for those who love Him. If you're not already on His ark, it's now time to get aboard. It's by no means boring! It's an exciting ride!
Noah and his family have now been aboard the ark for 150 days. Little did he realize that someday his great, great... grandson would record words very similar to his current thoughts as he cleaned out another stall: Psalm 89:46 How long, LORD? wilt thou hide thyself for ever?..
I jest, but even if those thoughts did cross the mind of Noah (perhaps planted by the impatience of family members) this just servant of God always waited patiently and faithfully on the LORD.
The Hebrew word for "wind" is ruach, and so we could once again say, as in Gen 1:2, that the Spirit of God moved upon the waters. Only this time the waters didn't instantly disappear, they slowly subsided or abated (asswaged).Genesis 8:1
And God remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the cattle that was with him in the ark: and God made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters asswaged;
Our Father has complete control over the forces of nature. When He speaks, not only does everyone listen, but everything listens![2] The fountains also of the deep and the windows of heaven were stopped, and the rain from heaven was restrained;
The disciples witnessed God's control over the "forces" of nature first hand:
Ever had a few storms in your life, spiritual or otherwise? Watch what happens when you call upon Christ for help as did the disciples:Luke 8:23-24
But as they sailed He fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy.
He has ALL POWER in both heaven and earth. It is His Word that produces "calm", which is to say tranquility, that inner peace of mind. And this isn't religion, it is for REAL![24] And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm.
Our Father determined (remember He controls nature) that a Five Month period was enough. In Rev. 9 He has determined the same period upon Satan's flood of lies to be enough too.Gen. 8:3 And the waters returned from off the earth continually: and after the end of the hundred and fifty days the waters were abated.
This day of rest was a Sabbath Day. Imagine that! In fact ALL the Flood dates are Sabbaths except the one in the next verse. Remember, Noah's name means "rest" and so does the word Sabbath. It is Christ who gives us rest. He is our Sabbath.[4] And the ark rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, upon the mountains of Ararat.
The word "Ararat" is twice translated "Armenia", but it also means "high mountain". Modern day searchers of the Ark keep looking on the mountain in Turkey named Ararat. Perhaps they do err!
This is about 6 months later.[5] And the waters decreased continually until the tenth month: in the tenth month, on the first day of the month, were the tops of the mountains seen.
Here we see the number forty again, which means probation, trial, or testing. I'll bet that fresh air smelled good![6] And it came to pass at the end of forty days, that Noah opened the window of the ark which he had made:
According to Lev 11:15 the Raven is an "unclean" bird. Now, you've got to love the terminology used here to describe what it did. It went "to and fro". Isn't that just like that other "unclean fowl" we read about?[7] And he sent forth a raven, which went forth to and fro, until the waters were dried up from off the earth.
The unclean Raven probably found some dead floating carcass to munch on, because we don't read of his coming home to roost.Job 1:7
And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.
Now Noah sends forth a "clean" bird, a Dove, which represents peace and the Holy Spirit.[8] Also he sent forth a dove from him, to see if the waters were abated from off the face of the ground;
You can just picture this beautiful, touching scene in your mind's eye as the dove returns to the ark to rest. Noah extends his arm out the window and the gentle Dove lights upon his hand, and he pulls her slowly in unto him. He probably gave her a little birdie kiss on the cheek.[9] But the dove found no rest for the sole of her foot, and she returned unto him into the ark, for the waters were on the face of the whole earth: then he put forth his hand, and took her, and pulled her in unto him into the ark.
Contrast this with the blood sucking Raven out there on some floating body part.
On the next Sabbath day he again sent forth the dove.[10] And he stayed yet other seven days; and again he sent forth the dove out of the ark;
Look up the Hebrew word for "pluckt off". It is taraph, which means "recently torn off, i.e. fresh". This is important because it shows that the olive leaf, or branch, was plucked off of a tree and not picked up off the ground or floating waters, for it takes a long time to grow an olive tree to the stature whereby a branch can be plucked from it.[11] And the dove came in to him in the evening; and, lo, in her mouth was an olive leaf pluckt off: so Noah knew that the waters were abated from off the earth.
This documents that God did not destroy the earth "tohu va bohu" at the time of Noah's Flood. It further documents that the destruction described in Jeremiah 4 does NOT pertain to this same flood, but rather to that of Gen. 1:2 and the judgment of the "world that then was" (2 Pet. 3).
She was probably carrying her fertile eggs at this time and rested to fulfill her destiny set forth in verse 17, to hatch a new colony.[12] And he stayed yet other seven days; and sent forth the dove; which returned not again unto him any more.
There are at least six major events that happened on the first day of the first month.[13] And it came to pass in the six hundredth and first year, in the first month, the first day of the month, the waters were dried up from off the earth: and Noah removed the covering of the ark, and looked, and, behold, the face of the ground was dry.
This marks the completion of exactly one solar year from chapter 7:11 of the entry into the ark.1.) The drying up of the waters we just read about. (Gen 8:13)
2.) The Tabernacle was set up by Moses. (Ex. 40:2)
3.) Hezekiah's sanctification of the Temple. (2 Chron. 29:17)
4.) The going up of Ezra. (Ezra 7:9)
5.) The giving up of strange wives. (Ezra 10:17)
6.) The offering up of a bullock in the future Temple. (Ezek. 45:18)[14] And in the second month, on the seven and twentieth day of the month, was the earth dried.
The Solar calendar is the only precise, exact calendar, and it always pertains to God's children. The lunar calendar is used when giving prophecy pertaining to Satan and the children of darkness (a bunch of lunies).
And so God gives Noah further instructions. It is interesting that we always hear the expression "He has the patience of Job". Hey, what about the patience of Noah?
[15] And God spake unto Noah, saying,
Insert here verses 6:22 and 7:5, "And Noah did according unto all that the Lord commanded him".[16] Go forth of the ark, thou, and thy wife, and thy sons, and thy sons' wives with thee.[17] Bring forth with thee every living thing that is with thee, of all flesh, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth; that they may breed abundantly in the earth, and be fruitful, and multiply upon the earth.
[18] And Noah went forth, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons' wives with him:
This is the first time in the Bible that an altar is mentioned, and of course that is one of the reasons seven of the clean animals were taken aboard the ark.[19] Every beast, every creeping thing, and every fowl, and whatsoever creepeth upon the earth, after their kinds, went forth out of the ark.[20] And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.
Our Father has now twice smitten the earth, the first being at the judgment of the first earth age (Gen 1:2).[21] And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.
Will man destroy the earth with his nuclear arsenals, causing a nuclear holocaust, a nuclear "winter"? He will not! This verse documents that not only won't our Father again smite the earth Himself, but He won't permit man to do it either. The seasons shall remain, as it is written.[22] While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.
There is so much we can learn from our Father's Word. Are the events in Genesis and the Old Testament important to us today? Are they even relative? Well, if you want to know what it will be like in these end times, you need to know what it was like in the beginning.
I leave you with the words of wisdom written to the wise by Paul:
..1 Cor. 10:11
Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
The Great Deluge is finally over. Noah and his family have come forth from the ark to begin their lives anew.
God told Noah and his family to re-populate the land with their kind, for these eight people are now the only surviving descendents of the individual man we know as Adam left on earth.Genesis 9:1
And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth.
They are now in charge, or shall we say that this earth age has now been turned over to Noah and his family.[2] And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hand are they delivered.
Every living thing is now at Noah's disposal, to be used as he sees fit. However, there are two "qualifiers" for the flesh that shall be eaten, the first being "even as the green herb". God did not create every plant on earth to be eaten, such as poison ivy, poison mushrooms, etc. Moses would later classify those animals which are edible, i.e. created for food, and those that were not.[3] Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.
The second qualifier is as follows:
Don't eat meat that has not been properly butchered, i.e. still contains the blood therein.[4] But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.
In as much as the blood contains the "life" of the soul, we see here the foundation of the doctrine of substitution and atonement, i.e. "life for life". And so it is that "without shedding of blood is no remission (of sins)" (Heb. 9:22).
So if you have sinned, someone has to pay the price with "blood". Thank God for His Son, Jesus Christ, who was willing to shed His blood for us.
"And I will avenge the shedding of your own life-; I will avenge it on any beast, I will avenge man's life on man, upon his brother-man;" (Moffat translation)[5] And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man's brother will I require the life of man.
If you take the life of another man, i.e. murder someone as did Cain his brother Abel, God will now require your life.
It is our Father that instituted capital punishment. He commands, even unto this day, that if one becomes a murderer, the "judgment" is taken away from us, i.e. we are to send that person home, back to the Father, whereby the murderer and his/her victim can be in "court" together.[6] Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.
To murder means to pre-meditate a killing, to lie in wait. The words for "murder" and "kill" are as different in Hebrew as they are in English, i.e. they are not synonymous terms.
How many times have we seen on TV the signs saying "Thou Shalt not Kill" carried by the ignorant outside a prison just prior to an execution? The sixth commandment (Exodus 20:13) does not say "Thou shalt not kill", for the Hebrew word "kill" is ratsach, which means "premeditated murder". The sixth commandment therefore should read "Thou Shalt do no Murder".
In the very next chapter, Exodus 21, one who murders is to be put to death, i.e. executed, which is not the same as murder for it is the carrying forth of the law, God's law.
Go make some babies, Noah.[7] And you, be ye fruitful, and multiply; bring forth abundantly in the earth, and multiply therein.
And so the covenant that God is about to make is not just with Noah but includes you and me![8] And God spake unto Noah, and to his sons with him, saying,[9] And I, behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with your seed after you;
And it includes everyone else who dwells on the earth, as well.[10] And with every living creature that is with you, of the fowl, of the cattle, and of every beast of the earth with you; from all that go out of the ark, to every beast of the earth.
Notice the repetition of the word "And" at the beginning of the verses in chapter 9. It is the same figure of speech, a Polysyndeton, that we saw in Genesis 1, whereby each "And" is independent, important and emphatic, i.e. giving special emphasis the words which follow.
When God makes a promise He always keeps it. And when He says that no flood shall destroy the earth, that includes the "flood" of Satan (Rev 12:15). Some preachers teach gloom and doom and worldwide devastation and destruction from the Book of Revelation.[11] And I will establish my covenant with you; neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth.
Don't they know that the warfare of the end time is spiritual and requires the gospel armor, not armored tanks?
Perpetual generations means just that, forever and ever.[12] And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations:
The beautiful rainbow, containing the full prism of colors, and which follows a rain storm, is to remind us of God's promise.[13] I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth.
[14] And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud:
And when God sees it, it also reminds Him of His promise.[15] And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.
[16] And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth.
Did you know that our Father added an amendment to this covenant just for His elect? To them, when they see the rainbow, it reminds them of our Father's love and His promise not to be angry with His children, i.e. we are fully protected from the wrath of God which is directed only towards His enemies, Satan & Company.[17] And God said unto Noah, This is the token of the covenant, which I have established between me and all flesh that is upon the earth.
Oh, how He loves His children!Isaiah 54:9
For this is as the waters of Noah unto me: for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee.Isaiah 54:10
For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee.
We are going to see in the next few verses why is Canaan is mentioned here.Gen. 9:18 And the sons of Noah, that went forth of the ark, were Shem, and Ham, and Japheth: and Ham is the father of Canaan.
So they did go make babies! Obeying God's commands is not all that burdensome and difficult as liberals would tell us, is it?[19] These are the three sons of Noah: and of them was the whole earth overspread.
The whole eretz, and eventually the whole earth, was overspread with sons and daughters of Adam's descendents.
Remember, Noah was perfect in his generations, his genealogy. So he drank a little too much wine. Nobody's perfect.[20] And Noah began to be an husbandman, and he planted a vineyard:[21] And he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent.
So what do you think? Did Ham see his father in the nude and run outside and tell his two brothers, "Hey guys, Dad's naked, like in his birthday suit"? And they said, "Oh my gosh, we can't see him naked. Let's take a garment and go in backwards and cover him up, 'cause we sure can't see him without his clothes on."[22] And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without.
That's about the dumbest interpretation a person could up with. Even if Noah had popped a few Viagra pills, men seeing each other naked is no big deal. Common sense, and the use of locker rooms, document it.
Let's read the next verse and then see what really happened.
What does the expression "to uncover your father's nakedness mean"?[23] And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were backward, and they saw not their father's nakedness.
Let's quote this verse from the Moffat translation:Leviticus 18:8
The nakedness of thy father's wife shalt thou not uncover: it is thy father's nakedness.
Is that plain enough?Leviticus 18:8
You shall not have intercourse with any wife of your father. (Moffat)
To "uncover your father's nakedness" means to have sex with your father's wife (who may or may not be your mother). Read Leviticus 20:11:
So what did Ham do? Well, Noah was "drunk as a skunk" (skunks don't actually drink alcohol but their name rhymes with "drunk" and so it makes a great expression), and quite possibly Noah's wife, though it doesn't say and I'm not accusing her. It just looks like there was a party going on at the Noah residence, based on knowing what happened.Leviticus 20:11
And the man that lieth with his father's wife hath uncovered his father's nakedness: both of them shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
Ham took advantage of the situation and seduced his mother, Noah's wife, i.e. he "uncovered his father's nakedness". Yes, that is incest. He then told his two brothers, Shem and Japheth, who would have nothing to do with the affair, and so they two went in backwards with a garment and covered up their mom (who was probably passed out on the bed. Relax, I said "probably").
When Noah "awoke from his wine", which means came to his senses or became sober, Noah found out that Ham had seduced his wife. And he was not "a happy camper".[24] And Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done unto him.
And guess what? Ham did not practice "safe sex", because there were no public schools and government programs around to educate him properly. And so his mother became pregnant and bare a child to Ham, her son. His name was Canaan.
In the course of time, in his anger over what had taken place, Noah put a curse on Canaan. Please read the following passages carefully. It is Noah who places the curse, not God!
Again, it was Noah who cursed Canaan, not God. God did not curse Canaan![25] And he said, Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren.
One more thing must be said about this sordid affair, and that is that there is NO NEW RACE of people being created here. Ham and his mother were purebred descendents of Adam, i.e. "white folk", perfect in their "generations", remember?
For any teacher, preacher or minister to insult the Black Race, by telling them that their people were brought into being by an incestuous affair between Ham and his mother should be ASHAMED of themselves and hang their heads in DISGRACE. It makes one want to "puke" at their ignorance and their stupidity. How can they claim to know God and think He would do such a thing?
Our Father created the races on the sixth day and He BLESSED them, not cursed them, and He pronounced them VERY GOOD and He loves them all dearly!
Back to Noah.
Who said? Noah said.[26] And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant.
[27] God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant.
I hate to end any Bible Study on a negative note, for there is so much positive to be said. But let the lesson of chapter nine be real short and simple: Don't listen to stupidity![28] And Noah lived after the flood three hundred and fifty years.[29] And all the days of Noah were nine hundred and fifty years: and he died.
Genesis
Chapter 10
In chapter 9 we learned that our Father made a perpetual, everlasting, covenant with Noah, which included his family and all of mankind, declaring that He would never again destroy the earth with a flood. He set the beautiful rainbow in the sky as a token of that unbreakable promise.
We also learned that Ham, Noah's son, "took advantage" of his father's wife, and as a result a child was born, whose name was Canaan. Then, to add insult upon injury, we saw that many supposedly knowledgable teachers of God's Word would pass along a despicable story about the Black race being created as result of this incestuous affair.
This they do in ignorance, for they cannot explain how the different races came from Noah and his family. Well, guess what? They didn't! We have already thoroughly documented that Noah and his sons and their wives were pure blooded Adamites (Gen. 6:9). Stories are made up about the races because the Bible teachers are blinded to the fact that God created the races on the sixth day (Gen 1:26) and pronounced them VERY GOOD (Gen 1:31).
They are also blinded to the fact that while Noah and his family were the only 8 "Adamic" people to survive the flood, the other races survived also, including the sons of Cain (Kenites) who are alive and well and found affixing themselves to the tribes of Israel in 1 Chron. 2:55.
In chapter 10 of Genesis we see listed the "generations" of Noah and his sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. You can read most of this chapter on your own, i.e. without commentary, however there are some key verses that must be noted.
Notice that there were already Gentiles, races other than Noah's, in their lands, i.e. gentile nations from the sixth day creation (Gen. 1:26). Look up the word "gentiles" in Strong's concordance. Noah's offspring would come in contact with the gentiles as they (Noah's offspring) spread forth, and it would be by these that the nations would be divided in their lands.Genesis 10:1
Now these are the generations of the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth: and unto them were sons born after the flood. [2] The sons of Japheth; Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, and Tiras. [3] And the sons of Gomer; Ashkenaz, and Riphath, and Togarmah. [4] And the sons of Javan; Elishah, and Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim.[5] By these were the isles of the Gentiles divided in their lands; every one after his tongue, after their families, in their nations.
Historians, including Biblical historians, often overlook a very important fact about the names of peoples. And that is that folks are often called by the name of the geographical location, the land, in which they live. For example, if you are from Texas you might be called a Texan. Can you tell what nationality one is if he/she is called a Texan? You cannot!
In the New Testament the word for "Jew" is ioudaios. Look it up in Strong's concordance. It means either a person who is of the tribe of Judah or a person who resides in the land of Judea. You must determine which meaning is intended in a particular verse by the context of that verse, i.e. you must rightly divide the scripture, which in many cases is accomplished by simply reading it correctly in the first place without trying to make it fit some traditional teaching.
Let's look at another Biblical example and dispel another myth of ignorance. You'll often hear it said that Moses married a Kenite, a descendent of Cain. The following verse seems to confirm that.
But wait! Wasn't Jethro Moses' father in law? Was he a Kenite?Judges 1:16
And the children of the Kenite, Moses' father in law, went up out of the city of palm trees with the children of Judah into the wilderness of Judah, which lieth in the south of Arad; and they went and dwelt among the people.
It says here that Jethro was a Midian priest, i.e. a Midianite. So who was Midian?Exodus 18:1
When Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses' father in law, heard of all that God had done for Moses, and for Israel his people, and that the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt;
Midian was a son of Abraham by Keturah. He was definitely not of the lineage of Cain, the father of the Kenites. How is it then that the Bible says Moses' father in law (and therefore Moses' wife) was a Kenite? Because he lived in the land of the Kenites. Duh! If he had lived in Texas, Moses' father in law would have been called a Texan.Genesis 25:1-2
Then again Abraham took a wife, and her name was Keturah. [2] And she bare him Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah.
Hopefully you can see that it does not take a "rocket scientist" to use a little common sense. If historians were more attuned to this still common practice of identifying people from the land in which they are from, the histories of the origins of the nations would not be so confusing to them.
For example, the ancient Greeks of the era of Plato and Aristotle are not the same race as the "olive skinned" people who inhabit Greece today. The ancient Greeks are called "danoi" in the history books and were of the tribe of Dan, i.e. they were Hebrews. You can look it up for yourself, it's there.
Let's continue then with Genesis 10:6.
The land of Canaan would later become a province of Egypt. So you could be called a Canaanite and/or an Egyptian and still not have your national orign or race identified, though there might be a predominant race inhabiting the land. Remember, Joseph married an Egyptian. Does that necessarily tell you what race she was? No it does not. You cannot tell the national origin or race of a person who is just called an American, though America is predominantly Caucasian.[6] And the sons of Ham; Cush, and Mizraim, and Phut, and Canaan.
Nimrod's name means "to rebel" or "Come, let us rebel". He became a "mighty one" or hero, i.e. he became a despot.[7] And the sons of Cush; Seba, and Havilah, and Sabtah, and Raamah, and Sabtechah: and the sons of Raamah; Sheba, and Dedan.[8] And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth.
And so there was a saying, "As mighty a hunter in the sight of the LORD as Nimrod" (Moffat translation). Nimrod was brazen and of course God could see him.[9]He was a mighty hunter before the LORD: wherefore it is said, Even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before the LORD.
Shinar is the land of Iraq today.[10] And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.
The word "Babel" means "confusion" and the "confusion" spoken of here is man's "confusing of the truth" from our Father rather than learning and listening to Him. Remember, God is not the author of confusion (1 Cor. 14:33), man is! Man, because he knows not the Word of God, makes up confusing stories, or shall we say stories that confuse the people, like "apples" and "snakes" and "races from incest" and "rapture theories", and on and on and on. Nimrod made up stories that other gods were God, or even more outrageous that he was god.
And as it was in the beginning so shall it be in the end. The great Babylon (from the word Babel) of the Book of Revelation is the great "confusion" or "deception" of the end time. You either have the truth of God's Word, His seal, in your mind, or you already live in Babylon, which is "story land", the State of Confusion. You better get out of there!
We continue now with the generations.
The name "Eber" means "a region across" or "on the opposite side" (of the river). It is from "eber" that we get "ebrews" or "Hebrews" who were the people who came from across the great river Euphrates.[11] Out of that land went forth Asshur, and builded Nineveh, and the city Rehoboth, and Calah, [12] And Resen between Nineveh and Calah: the same is a great city. [13] And Mizraim begat Ludim, and Anamim, and Lehabim, and Naphtuhim, [14] And Pathrusim, and Casluhim, (out of whom came Philistim,) and Caphtorim. [15] And Canaan begat Sidon his firstborn, and Heth, [16] And the Jebusite, and the Amorite, and the Girgasite, [17] And the Hivite, and the Arkite, and the Sinite, [18] And the Arvadite, and the Zemarite, and the Hamathite: and afterward were the families of the Canaanites spread abroad. [19] And the border of the Canaanites was from Sidon, as thou comest to Gerar, unto Gaza; as thou goest, unto Sodom, and Gomorrah, and Admah, and Zeboim, even unto Lasha. [20] These are the sons of Ham, after their families, after their tongues, in their countries, and in their nations.[21] Unto Shem also, the father of all the children of Eber, the brother of Japheth the elder, even to him were children born.
And so it was, as the sons of Noah and their descendents moved against the gentiles, that the nations were divided in the earth.[22] The children of Shem; Elam, and Asshur, and Arphaxad, and Lud, and Aram. [23] And the children of Aram; Uz, and Hul, and Gether, and Mash. [24] And Arphaxad begat Salah; and Salah begat Eber. [25] And unto Eber were born two sons: the name of one was Peleg; for in his days was the earth divided; and his brother's name was Joktan. [26] And Joktan begat Almodad, and Sheleph, and Hazar-maveth, and Jerah, [27] And Hadoram, and Uzal, and Diklah, [28] And Obal, and Abimael, and Sheba, [29] And Ophir, and Havilah, and Jobab: all these were the sons of Joktan. [30] And their dwelling was from Mesha, as thou goest unto Sephar a mount of the east.[31] These are the sons of Shem, after their families, after their tongues, in their lands, after their nations.
[32] These are the families of the sons of Noah, after their generations, in their nations: and by these were the nations divided in the earth after the flood.
In chapter 11 of this great Book of Genesis after we discover how man attempts to reach heaven with a pile of his own confusion.
Genesis
Chapter 11
In chapter 10 we saw the sons of Noah begin to spread forth among the gentile nations, bringing with them their advanced knowledge, such as in astronomy, farming, laws, etc., and also their language, which of course was Hebrew, the first language.
Here is how the Fenton Bible translates Gen 10:5 concerning the sons of Noah:
Which brings us to Genesis chapter 11.Genesis 10:5
From these they spread themselves over the seacoasts of the countries of the nations, each with their language amongst the gentile tribes. (Fenton)
Note: It should be pointed out, for those who adhere to a strictly literal translation of scripture and would ignore the figures of speech used by the Holy Spirit, that the "earth" can't talk, and therefore has no language. In the phrase "the whole earth('eretsHebrew776land) was of one language", "earth" is used to represent the "people of the land of Shinar where the sons of Noah dwelt". It is the figure of speech Metonymy (of subject).Genesis 11:1
And the whole earth('eretsHebrew776land) was of one language, and of one speech.
So all of the sons of Noah spoke one language.
Who were the "they" who were migrating from the east? The answer should be obvious. So these descendents of Noah found a plain in what is today the land of Iraq and they settled there.[2] And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there.
We must keep in mind that this is not all that long after the Great Flood, and the stories about it are still fresh and plentiful. There's just one problem. It looks like they forgot to end those stories with the remembrance of God's "promise of the rainbow", His covenant that He would not again destroy the earth with a flood.[3] And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them throughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter.
So, they decided to make extremely hard (permanent) bricks and use "slime" to bind them together. Slime is bitumen or what we would call asphalt and is so tenacious today that detachment is almost impossible. It should have been plentiful if we remember where they were, in the oil rich country of Shinar, i.e. Iraq.
What is it that they are going to do with these "man-made" bricks? Build a bridge to the 21st century?
They are going to stop right here and build a city with a tower. They are going to stop this migrating thing! They are going to stop obeying God's plan for them to go forth and cultivate the earth, i.e. "till the ground". They are going to make a name for "themselves", not God.[4] And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.
This was not a good idea!
The "children of men" should read "sons of Adam". (And you don't have to take my word for it. You can always check the manuscripts for yourself. Here's what you'll find:)[5] And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded.
Well, they certainly got our Father's attention.Gen. 11:5 And Jehovah came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of Adam had built. (The Interlinear Bible, Hebrew, J.P. Green )
You see, this "which they have imagined to do" constitutes "Babel", which means "confusion". We learned in chapter 10 that "confusion" is the confusing of, or perverting of, God's Word and His plan of salvation. Man here is attempting to provide his own security and salvation using his own blueprints and his own materials. In the end he may sing "I Did It My Way", but as he marches into the lake of fire he'll hear the refrain, "That Was Bad Idea".Gen 11:6 And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.
We also see in this whole affair the first attempt (in this earth age) to unify mankind and bring about a New World Order. And today we see the last attempt to unify man and bring about a New World Order. Both attempts are made without our Father's inclusion. Therefore both are Babel. Therefore both will fail.
Live Link to=> Mystery Babylon
There is only one way to unify man and that is through the Lord Jesus Christ. May He soon return.
So our Father is about to teach a lesson to those who would promote "confusion". They are going to get a "taste of their own medicine", so to speak.
Hey, look! They received the "gift of tongues", only in reverse. Whereas in Acts chapter 2 when they spoke everyone heard and understood in his or her own dialect. But here at the wonderful Tower of Babel when they spoke NO ONE understood.[7] Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech.
And so it is that the diverse languages of man can be traced back to the 7 or so basic languages imparted to man at the Tower of Babel.
So much for the construction project. Looks like they forgot to get a permit from the Authority.[8] So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth('eretsHebrew776land): and they left off to build the city.
This kind of reminds me of Jonah and the great fish for the simple reason that God will accomplish His purpose and His plan with or without the cooperation of man. The sons of Noah were to spread out from "the face of the earth" and they could have done it the easy way and trusted in the LORD. But NO!
You can also imagine that since verse 7 says "let us" go down, meaning God and the angels (the Host), that it wasn't too difficult to scatter them, i.e. "scare them away". The supernatural have a way about them.
[9] Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.
And so there is nothing new under the sun. Man today continues to build "towers that reach unto heaven" to provide him with security and guarantee his salvation. Since the year 1830 the most popular "tower" is the Rapture Theory, whereby you can reach heaven and escape the Flood of Satan, the spurious messiah, in the end times. And with this new modern "tower" you don't have to walk up steps or a ramp either, you can just fly up, up, and away. But I've got bad news! If anyone's security is in the Rapture Theory, they're in big trouble. In fact their "language" is already confounded.
We as Christians must learn to "stand fast" with the gospel armor on and in place (Eph. 6) and trust in Him who has all power in heaven and in earth, and whom no "tower" of man can rise above.
The choice remains ours. It is really simple. In fact it is binary. We can choose to either follow God's way or man's way. The one brings rewards and blessings and eternal life while the other brings death. Man's "towers" to heaven may sound really wonderful, but they are never a good idea.
Proverbs 16:25
There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
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