nthebrews12

Caution to students of God's Word - Please remember two things when using our studies: #1. Our commentary is not God's Word. It is only our interpretation or understanding of "His Word" and even though we try our best to be accurate we may or may not be correct. #2. 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. For example: According to the notes in the "Dake's Annotated Reference Bible" the Hebrew word hayah in the KJV is Trans. (became) 67 times, (becamest or came to pass) 505 times, (become) 66 times, and (come to pass) 131 times, but for some reason in Genesis 1:2 it is translated (was)! That sure changes the way a person perceives the original creation of the earth, doesn't it? Gen. 1:2 And the earth was (became) without form, ... Having said that, let us continue with our "Key Knowledge" lessons. These are pamphlets containing knowledge, we believe, you must have to fully and accurately unlock and understand the Word of God.

John 15:26
But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

John 16:13-14
[13] Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. [14] He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

This Bible Study was originally written by Roger Christopherson,
published at http://www.theseason.org/

Without the leading by the Holy Spirit, there is no understanding of the truths, for all the truth of the Scriptures are revealed to us by God's Spirit.

Hebrews 12:1 "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,"

Paul is drawing attention to the fact that there are a great number of witnesses. He describes their large group as being like a "cloud". Paul is describing the ministry of witnessing of all the saints in comparison to a marathon race, similar to that of the Greek races of ancient Athens. Today these races have been brought back to life in the form of the Olympics. Those that claim the name of Christ are the runners in this race, and Paul is urging us in this marathon to set aside every weight, every thing that would turn us from the path of witnessing, and doing the work of the Lord.

Paul wants us to make ground fast, and win the race. Those weights that could slow us down could be many things. It could be a church that teaches false doctrine that could sidetrack growth in the Lord for many years. It could also be many other things that you allow to come between you and our Heavenly father.

Paul used this same word "cloud" in I Thessalonians 4:17. Paul spoke colloquial Greek, and Paul was using a figure of speech when he used the word "cloud" here. Paul was educated in the Hebrew tongue, however his father was an Hellenist, as well as a Roman. The Greek that was spoken by Paul was a street Greek, and he expressed himself in Greek much as you would use the common terms of the day.

I Thessalonians 4:17 "Then we which are alive, and remain, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord."

When you have a "cloud of locust", the "cloud" is in reference to the number that are in the group, and this expression can refer to anything that gathers in a large number, birds, or people. So what Paul was saying when he refers to the "cloud", is an analogy that we are all gathered into one large group with Christ the center, and we call this group "the body of Christ". The race that we are going to accomplish is the race to witness the good news of the gospel.

Today many Christians have built an entire doctrine around the "meeting of the Lord in the clouds", and from it comes the "rapture" doctrine. It seems that those that chase after that false doctrine have overlooked the entire subject, and the object of the lesson that is being spoken of. Paul was writing this letter to let the Thessalonians Christians know "where the dead are". They are not out there in a hole in the ground, like the heathen believe, but the dead are taken instantly back to the Father at death. Their soul is not in the ground, but in heaven. And in that they are in heaven, upon Christ's return to earth they also shall return with Him in a mighty cloud [a great number of persons, a group, not a cloud like you find in the sky], and descend from the air to earth for the Millennium kingdom.

Paul then is telling us to exercise our mind, and build up our endurance to run the race here in our flesh bodies that our Lord expects of us. To do that we have to study to have the knowledge, and use our common sense and join with the assembly of people that are also running that race to reach our goal. When we run that race, there are lanes that we must run in, and the Scriptures give us the boundaries of those lanes so we do not go off in just any direction, and chase after strange doctrines, or in our generation it will be the false Christ. When you stay on the course and keep your mind set on the goal, you have a guarantee of winning that race.

Hebrews 12:2 "Looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith, Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."

Remember that we are still in the race from verse one. Now we see what our goal is, and how we are to run that race. We have our spiritual eyes, and minds set on Jesus Christ who is the finisher of that race that we have entered, and it is because of our faith, that "trust deed" from the last chapter, that we will complete the race.

God spoke the Word that was written down by the prophets, and Jesus Christ came into the world born of the flesh, to suffer and endure the cross, and in doing that He became the "finisher of our faith". When Christ could see the joy that we would have, that alone allowed Him to endure the cross, and the shame that came with it.

When Jesus Christ sat down at the right hand of the Father, that is when the Holy Spirit came to earth to be our comforter and Jesus Christ Himself became our advocate. Jesus Christ is in heaven now, and he is the one that stands between you and Satan. He defends you from your enemies by His Spirit in this world age. While Jesus is our advocate in heaven, the Holy Spirit is here on earth to smooth over each of our paths, and He gives each of us the ability to walk our Christian life as we ought to, and to endure our trials and temptations that we face in victory. You will have the victory, if you have the faith.

Hebrews 12:3 "For consider Him That endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds."

Paul is telling you that when it looks like things are getting a little tough in the living of your Christian life; then think of Jesus Christ and the cursings and sufferings that He had to endure. Think of Jesus Christ hanging on the cross in shame and death to pay the price for those sins that allow you to have all the freedoms that we have in Christ. Relate this back to yourself. Would you have suffered any part of those cursings and sufferings for anybody? Have you ever wondered how strong your love for others really is? It is easy to say that you would do a certain thing, but when death stares you in the face and the blood starts to flow, then it can be a completely different story.

Many people have gone through life threatening conditions, and when the blood starts draining from the body, the mind takes on a whole new direction. Men in combat have come back to the real world completely changed. When people have gone through bad auto accidents, or close calls with death, their mind changes as to what is valuable and what is not. This is the point of this verse. Many times Jesus' life was in danger by those seeking to kill Him, and He never changed from completing the mission from the very beginning.

Even while hanging on the cross in His last dying minutes, the Words that Jesus spoke were still in teaching and completing the fulfillment of all the prophecies. At no time did Jesus complain, but He endured the pain and suffered the insult, and gladly went to the cross with out speaking out in His defense. For if He would have spared His own life, then you and I would not have the Access to the throne of God, nor the advocate we have in Christ, nor the freedom to repent and clear our conscience from the sting of guilt and sin. So any time you think you have it rough, think back to the cross of Christ. He considered it a joy to look past the cross, and be in a position where He could help you.

You often hear of those that think the Christian life is a real drudge. How much blood have they shed or what trials have they had in taking a stand of Christ? Down through the years there have been a lot of Christians that have taken a stand and shed their blood for their privilege being numbered with Christ. When you accepted the Lord and repented to the Father; along with having your sins removed, God's Word told you that Satan would attack you with temptation at every turn. However, when temptation comes, Luke 10:18-20 tells us that Christ gives us power over all our enemies, and that includes the devil and all his realm.

Luke 10:18 "And He said unto them, "I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven."

Luke 10:19 "Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you."

Jesus is speaking here in these verses. The "serpents" are the Kenites, the offspring of Cain, the son of the sexual union between Eve and Satan, in the garden of Eden. Satan was called the "serpent" because of his deceiving role in the garden of Eden. The deceiving that took place was when Satan, appearing in the form of man, seduced Eve, and from that sexual act came Satan's son "Cain", not apples. After the sex act, Adam and Eve put on their fig leaf aprons to cover the parts that had sinned, not a mask to hide their lips that had eaten an apple. Get real and wake up to what happened, for the Kenites are with us today and well in control. Even today most Christians are so tied up in their traditions and false doctrine that the truth simply cannot be told in their church houses. This is the first part of "the parable of the fig tree".

The "scorpions" are the fallen angels who refuse to be born of woman. Revelation 9, and the entire book of Joel address these fallen angels, and in our generation we also will witness their presence in the final days, for they will come to earth along with Satan, the anti-christ. When you are one of God's elect, and receive the power that Christ has given you, you can have the power over them.

Luke 10:20 "Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven."

So when the conflict comes, why would you put up with it? Where is your faith? There is times of mourning when tears are right, but there is also a time when we must claim the promises of God, and stand our ground. It is time to stop being a "poor me baby", and take control of your life. God has given each of us the ability to stand on our own feet, and with the aid of the Holy Spirit to take control of the situation around us. When it becomes too tough for the others, that is when the true man or woman of God gets going. That is the time when you become a witness that is effective for the Lord, when you can be molded into something that is useful.

Hebrews 12:5 "And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, "My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of Him:"

The word "rebuked" in the Strong's Greek dictionary, would be better translated "convicted". When you are under conviction by the Holy Spirit don't faint or fall back, but when the Holy Spirit shows you that you are wrong that is not the time to give up in your Christian life. That is the time to make those corrections and prepare yourself for the spiritual battle ahead.

Hebrews 12:6 "For whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth."

My fellow Christian, the chastening is a sign that the Lord does love you, for He corrects ["chasteneth"] those that He loves. This is not just directed to you, but every one that comes to the Father in repentance and believes on Jesus Christ can expect to be corrected and disciplined when they get out of line. The correction that comes is love, just as any parent would show their love for a child in discipline. Through discipline comes correction. There is no gender in this, and it is absolute to all that have become a Christian, and that is a sign of assurance that God still loves you.

Hebrews 12:7 "If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

If you take the chastening humbly, and know in your mind that you have that correction coming, you know that God is dealing with you like a father would his son. This is using a worldly analogy of a parent to his child, in expressing our heavenly Father's love for you as His child.

Hebrews 12:8 "But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons."

Correction, and chastening is expected to all that claim the name of the Lord, that have repented and are part of the many membered body of Christ. This is one thing that you can count on, and when it comes you can be assured in your mind that our Heavenly Father loves you. When chastening does not come when you know that you are out of God's will for your life, that is the time to be concerned. God does not chasten another parent's child, and the "bastard" or in the Greek text, "a spurious or illegitimate son" would have no rights to any of the inheritance that a member of the family of God would have. Keep in mind that this is speaking spiritually.

Hebrews 12:9 "Furthermore, we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: Shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?"

I know that may times when I have done things that were not right, my father had a certain way of calling my attentions to the wrong I did, by applying pressure to my back side. All parents that care for their children will use various forms to correct a child when when it becomes necessary, and after the correction, when we become more mature we see that the discipline was given in love for us. We respect our parents more when that correction was given with it their love and tenderness to show that it was for our good. Along with discipline comes respect, because respect is earned and created by love.

This is not talking about child abuse, for there is no excuse for any misuse of a child, but the correction of a child when it is necessary for the good of the child.

We all have a flesh father, and when he disciplined you, you love him for it. In Christianity at times it becomes difficult to love those leaders over you that may be very strong disciplinarians, one that is very judgmental of your words and actions. However as a child of God, you must spend time in God's Word, or you will fall away from a disciplined spiritual life, and it will show in your life.

Hebrews 12:10 "For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but He for our profit, that we might be partakers of His holiness."

Parents will discipline their children and make their decisions of what they think is best of their children. Our heavenly Father is no different, in that the discipline is given not to profit Him, but that God's child can become partakers of the things of the Lord. That is, that they may become partakers in the inheritance that is ours as sons and daughters of the Living God. What God does to and for each of us is for our profit, for He knows what is around the corner in the future, even when we don't. So when we are disciplined by God, He shows us that He is guiding us away from problems, and into a course that He would have for us. God wants you happy and content.

Hebrews 12:11 "Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby."

During the time of disciplined punishment it is never a time of pleasure, however the correcting is not for the present, but to call attention to the wrong so that it will not happen again. It always hurts when you are corrected, but after the correcting has taken place, there is a special bonding between the child and the parent.

If ever our nation and the people needed discipline it is now. The fruits of our chaotic system are everywhere, with the violence in the streets, to the complete break down within the family unit. When there is no respect between parent and child, between the people and the laws that govern them, then there is no discipline to bond them together. The love of our fellow man and within the family unit is being washed away by the flood of lies that is covering over the fruit that can only come when there is discipline exercised.

Hebrews 12:12 "Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;"

You strengthen or prepare the hands that hang down and the feeble knees for the conflict that they will be going into in their spiritual battle. The strengthening comes through the reading and studying of God's Word, to make the mind strong to have the ability to do spiritual combat with Satan, and his realm. The strengthening of the feeble legs means that they become swift in the race itself, swift to give answer, and swift to give out the Word when the opportunity presents itself. This is given in a spiritual light, preparing you to do battle in that spiritual war of the end times. That war is not fought with guns and planes, but with words and ideas. The battleground of our generation is your mind, and the armor that you use in this battle is God's Word, verse by verse and chapter by chapter, all of it. When the spiritual darts of deception come at you, you protect yourself by using the Word of God, and not being deceived.

Hebrews 12:13 "And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way, but let it rather be healed."

This is directed to leaders or teachers that are making the paths straight for the feet. To make straight the path means to make the best of your time, knowledge and information in delivering the Word of God. When you teach anyone, regardless of how weak spiritually they are, make them stronger for having studied with you. The Word of God can strengthen anyone.

Hebrews 12:14 "Follow peace with all men, and holiness without which no man shall see the Lord:"

If it is possible to be done, we are to have peace with all men. The word "holiness" as used here is "sanctification" because it is a none ending process. The one doing the sanctifying is the Lord, and no man can be sanctified unless they are in Jesus Christ. It is Christ that gives us the gospel of peace that we are required to give out in our seed planting of the truth, where ever it is possible. Remember that Paul is using the analogy of a foot race in the taking of the gospel from the time that Christ first taught it here on earth, even within the Old Testament. He is the one that fulfilled those Old Testament prophecies, and we today still carry that torch and carry the Word of God forward.

"No man shall see the Lord" unless they sanctify themselves, which is to say, "unless they repent of their sins, when they sin." This requires a change of heart and mind.

Hebrews 12:15 "Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;"

They must look seriously at the grace that God has given to each of us. This word for "springing up" in the Greek means "germination". In the phrase "lest any root of bitterness", requires every Christian to keep focused on the grace that God has given to us, and to "trouble you", means to "crowd you", or to "annoy you".

When that little bit of bitterness starts to come into a family, and starts to spread from one member to another, it can eventually cause a split in a family that will go on for generations. When there is a problem, or misunderstanding growing within and between family members, it must be faced before it is allowed to destroy the entire family relations. Most problems start after information that has been passed on between several mouths before it reaches the one that it is intended for. By that time words have been distorted so badly that it is virtually nothing more than a rumor. However, it is given as fact to the one that it may have harmed. Never take information from third hand, unless you have checked it out for yourself. Also never pass on information unless you have confirmed that it is true yourself, then think twice before you open your mouth to tare down another. This is what Paul is addressing here.

Appling this within the Christian community, and the family of God, We are to take great care in allowing bitter statement and lose talk to build up within our family of God. When it starts to germinate, and take root, and you know that what is said is not truth that is the time to put an end to it. Confront the one making the statement, and make them prove it, or state that you will go to the injured party and let them have their say. Most of the time rumor or lie will stop right there, and as a child of God that is your responsibility to our family of God. Stop the falsehood before it destroys either the person that it is intended to hurt, or before it destroys the witness or the ministry of the entire group.

Paul was quoting Deuteronomy 29:18; "Lest there should be among you man, or woman, or family, or tribe, whose heart turneth away this day from the Lord our God, to go and serve the gods of these nations; lest there should be among you a root that beareth gall and wormwood:"

It is directed to the crowd that allows someone to bring into the group a false idea or doctrine, and that idea has a chance to take root in the group. What germinates from that lie is a false doctrine, and develops into a false religion. This is what starts denominationalism, and splits the family of God, and the many membered body of Christ. It damages the Word of God.

The root of this word "gall", in the Hebrew is "rosh", which is the same as "Esau", and we will see in the next verse that Esau is mentioned. "Wormwood" is one of the names for Satan. So this is saying that if you allow some traditions that are not in accordance with the Word of God, it is idolatry and God hates that. These people that do this spread their lies in the name of religion and what they are peddling is nonsense. They take bits and pieces from God's Word, and mix it with something that sounds religious and good, and from it comes a bold face lie. That is how Satan, who is "wormwood" works, and you had better get sharp because Satan will be here very soon, doing exactly that, as he tries to pass himself off as the Messiah with all his supernatural powers.

This is how groups are split and fragmented off in forms of idolatry. This is also how the Word of God gets weighted down with the traditions of men, and it is why you must take the time to know how to study the Word of God. When you see some teaching that cannot be backed up in detail by God's Word, let your common sense tell you to stay away from it, for it makes void the Word of God.

Hebrews 12:16 "Lest there be an fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright."

This word "fornicator" in the Greek tongue is "pornos" and means specifically a "male prostitute". If you are not real careful with the false christ coming, you will also become a prostitute in selling your inheritance and birthright in the kingdom of God, just as Esau sold his birthright for a morsel of meat in the form of a soup. The entire birthright passed on from Abraham went to Isaac, and Esau gave it up to his twin brother Jacob for the sake of one meal on a hungry stomach.

Today many Christians treat the inheritance that we have in the kingdom of God with little more respect that Esau treated God birthright that was intended for Esau. Upon the arrival of Satan, the Antichrist, to earth, they will rush out to throw their rewards as a Christian to Satan's feet, and in one quick move become Satan's harlot. They will do this in ignorance, because they value little of their inheritance that we have in Christ, and took on the traditions of men, rather then studying to seal in their minds the Word of God to prepare themselves for the coming false Messiah.

How do you consider your birthright as a son or daughter of the living God. Your birthright means your inheritance from Almighty God, and included within that birthright is eternal life. You can trade away your eternal life very easily, if you do not believe the Word of God and all its promises, you do not consider your birthright of much value. My fellow Christian, you don't have to wait on the collection of parts of that birthright, for it is available to you today, if you take by faith the promises that God has promised to you. Part of that inheritance is the protection that we have in Jesus Christ, who is the one that stands between us and Satan. Jesus is our advocate in heaven and His Spirit is protecting us from our enemies. We don't need another advocate with the Father, for Jesus and the Father are one and the same, as Jesus spoke of in John 10:30.

Once repentance is given "in Jesus name", those sins are blotted out from all heavenly record. There is no intercession necessary between you and the Father, for when you are in Christ, then He is in you. When Jesus Christ went to the cross, then the last will and testament of the Father became active, and each person who will believe on Jesus, and repent of their sins can collect on that Will. That Will of God is called the Old and New Testament, and all the promises stated within that Will are part of your inheritance. It seems to me that if someone had such a great inheritance that the least that they would do is read that Will and find out what they could claim, and the conditions that are required for collection of the inheritance.

Esau didn't care about his inheritance nor any part of what God had to say, and because of this, God called him a "male prostitute".

Hebrews 12:17 "For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears."

After Esau had sold his birthright, and when it came time to inherit that birthright, it was not there to be given to him. In a moment of passion and on an empty stomach Esau sold it to Jacob, then years later when he saw what he had done it was too late. There was no blessing to be passed on to him. Esau wept before His father as he sought to change Isaac's mind, but he was rejected from all the blessings from God through the Abrahamic covenant.

Esau's tears were being shed to the wrong person. Isaac was not the one that could give him forgiveness, but Esau refused to seek repentance from God. Rather then trying to get God to change His mind, he sought repentance from his flesh father, and wept to try to get his earthly father to change his mind.

There is always forgiveness before our Heavenly Father, when there is true repentance from the heart, and you have belief and faith in Jesus Christ. This is a good lesson to us today, for when we sin there is only one place that we can seek repentance and that is to our Heavenly Father. It is not to some church, or preacher, or any one in the flesh but our only credentials for approaching the Father is in the name of Jesus Christ. If you do not believe in Christ's finished work on the cross, and that Jesus was the Son of God, the only begotten of the Father, then his forgiveness is not extended to you, regardless how many tears you shed in repentance. So when you repent, make sure you repent to the living God.

Hebrews 12:18 "For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,"

You are not in the Old Testament times, and you are not coming up to mount Sinai to meet the Father. Today God is not approached in some burning bush, or in the dark tempest. Christ has defeated death, and in Him we can go right to the throne of God. The veil in the temple has been rent, and there is no more holy of holies. Our only credentials before the Father is through His Son Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 12:19 "And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard entreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more:"

When the people heard the voice of God rumbling on mount Sinai, the people became afraid, and didn't want to hear it any more. Even today, the people don't like to hear the Words spoken from God's Word either. They don't like the word discipline, and what is required of them, as stated in God's holy Word. To be a disciple of Christ, it means that you are to discipline yourself in the ways of the Lord.

Hebrews 12:20 "(For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart:"

Under the law, the children of Israel could not make their own salvation. The old law was very much on the tough side, with its many dos and don'ts, for if you broke one of the laws, you broke them all. The law is still the same today, but thanks be to God for the privilege of repentance. Once you have repented then it is over and done with, and God doesn't want to hear about it again. God has the authority to forgive you, and when you have repented in Jesus name, don't bring it up again.

Hebrews 12:21 "And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, "I exceedingly fear and quake:)"

The presence of the Heavenly Father is awesome, and when Moses stood before God, he stood in reverence and trembling. Though the Holy Spirit leads us today, it is not like having the office of the Heavenly Father stand before you, as He did before Moses. Many today make light of communication with the Father, as they play church and say "God told me what to wear today", or "where to park my car", or any other thing where common sense should be all that is necessary.

Hebrews 12:22 "But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,"

This is what the Holy Spirit opens up for you when you believe on Jesus Christ and repent of your sins. When you come into the fellowship with God and become part of that Temple of Christ, you have the help also of God's innumerable company of angels ready to help you as you claim the promises of God that come with your inheritance as a son or daughter of the Living God.

This doesn't mean that you will be taken out of the world, but while you are in this world age of the flesh those angels are there to assist when it becomes necessary. You don't pray to or direct those angels, but God controls them for His sake. With that knowledge of your inheritance, you have the power to run the race that is set before us as part of the many membered body of Christ. When we have God on our side, there is nothing that becomes impossible for us. This "city" that we are looking forward to is a heavenly place that will come when the judgment is over, but while we are here on earth we can enjoy the rewards of the promise that is meant for man in the flesh.

Hebrews 12:23 "To the general assembly and church of the firstborn which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,"

"The church of the firstborn" is the "general assembly" of all of God's Elect that are recorded in heaven. This is not a matter of belonging to a church here on earth, for it is what God has written in heaven that matters. There is only one book that you should care where your name is written, and that is the Lamb's book of life.

Revelation 20:12 "And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works."

The "dead" are the spiritually dead, those that entered the Millennium age that had bowed a knee to Satan, the Antichrist and had taken his name and number, even in their ignorance. Though they have received their incorruptible bodies, they still have that mortal soul, are still liable to die the second death. It is by their works in the Millennium age that they will be judged of at the great white throne Judgment, and all of those works will be recorded in these "books that were opened".

The "book of life", which is also called the "Lamb's book of life" in Revelation 21:27. "The Lamb's book of life" records only the names of those souls that have accepted Christ and repented of their sins, and stood against Satan and did not bow a knee nor take the Antichrist's number. It doesn't matter which place you are a member of on earth, but where it counts and your soul is made perfect is in heaven before the throne of God. There all sins are recorded, or when repented in Jesus name the sins are blotted out and only your name is recorded where it matters.

It is God that does the Judging of all men, and the soul and spirit of men that have repent of their sins in Jesus name are made perfect not of themselves, but of Christ in whose perfection we become. We take on Christ's perfection upon repentance.

Hebrews 12:24 "And to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaketh better things than that of Abel."

Christ's wonderful blood of saving grace speaks much better that Abel's blood that cried from the ground to Almighty God for vengeance. Therefore vengeance belongs only to God, who stepped into that place when Christ went to the cross. Christ became our advocate upon His death and resurrection, and through our acceptance of that New Covenant, which is our belief and repentance to God, we can claim all promises written in both the Old and "New Covenant".

Hebrews 12:25 "See that ye refuse not Him That speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused Him That spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from Him That speaketh from heaven:"

The one that you should not refuse is Christ, of course. The one that "spake on earth" is Moses, and the words that Moses spoke gave us the law, and obedience to the law. However, it is important that we learn to listen to the one that speaketh from heaven, who is Christ. Christ speaks to us through His holy Word, and we listen to His Words when we read and study the Word. He brings that knowledge to our minds in understanding through the working of the Holy Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit is ever present for He is in you and you are in Him. The Holy Spirit of God is the one that gives you the endurance to run the race that Paul is laying out before us, and it is He that will give us the victory.

Hebrews 12:26 "Whose voice then shook the earth: but now He hath promised, saying, "Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven."

In Moses day, God shook the earth when He spoke, and He shook the earth again when Christ died on the cross and gave up the Ghost. However this is speaking of another, yet future time, at the end of this earth age, when Jesus Christ shall return as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Though there shall be a great shaking on the first day of the Millennium age, the final shaking will come at the end of the final judgment

Revelation 21:1 "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea."

Editor's Note: This is a bad translation. This word translated first G4413 here in verse one is the same Greek word translated former G4413 in verse four. This happens often when the person doing the translating doesn't understand the Bible and translates words by what he thinks God meant to say.

G4413
πρῶτος
prōtos
pro'-tos
Contracted superlative of G4253; foremost (in time, place, order or importance): - before, beginning, best, chief (-est), first (of all), former
There was a world [age] before this present one.
In this chapter 3 of 2nd. Peter, Peter tells us about all 3 heaven and earth ages:

So Peter declares that there are
three heaven and earth ages:

1) The world that then was, which perished, Verse 5

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:

Live Link to- "God's Elect" Were chosen in the first earth age .

Live Link to- When Did Dinosaurs Live on Earth?

2) the heaven and earth which is now, Verse 7

2 Peter 3:7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men

and

3) the new heaven and new earth age to come. Verse 13

2 Peter 3:13
Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens
and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness

Revelation 21:2 "And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband."

Revelation 21:3 "And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God.

Revelation 21:4 "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away."

Following the great white throne of judgment of God, both the old heaven and the old earth will be shaken and done away with. Then coming to this old planet will be the New Jerusalem. Just the thought of that holy new city makes anything we face in this life well worth it all. At that time those judged worthy by their works from the Millennium age, as well as those written in the Lamb's book of life will live eternally, with no more pain, or sorrow, for all the things that caused it in this age and the Millennium will be gone and perished. Even erased from the memories of all souls that were judged and found worthy.

Paul is quoting here from Haggai 2:6: "For thus saith the Lord of hosts; 'Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land;"

Haggai 2:7 "And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the Lord of hosts."

This is in reference to the coming of Jesus Christ for the establishment of the Millennium age. The desire of all nations shall be to come and worship Jesus Christ, for all souls will know who He is, and the entire earth will be filled with God's glory. We have the Holy Spirit today, but Jesus Christ shall return as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Haggai 2:9 "The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the Lord of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the Lord of hosts."

This eternal peace is going to come, when the true prince of Peace comes to this earth. Then in the eighteenth verse:

Haggai 2:18 "Consider now from this day and upward, from the four and twentieth day of the ninth month, even from the day that the foundation of the Lord's temple was laid, consider it.

The temple of the Lord today, is the many membered body of Christ. Then comes a very important question that pertains even to today.

Haggai 2:19 "Is the seed yet in the barn? yea, as yet the vine, and the fig tree, and the pomegranate, and the olive tree, hath not brought forth: from this day will I bless you."

Your seed does not belong in the barn, your seed is to be planted in the field, and the fruit that comes from the seed is feed that is stored in the barn. If your seed is still in the barn it means that you have not taken part in the ministry of planting the seed of truth that will bring forth fruit for Christ. If you are a part of the many membered body of Christ then you are expected by God to do your part in His work. That may be in singing, talking to a neighbor, teaching, or what ever gifts that God has given to you, He expects you to use them. He will hold you accountable as to what you did with that seed that is in your hands.

So what God is saying, is that there is a time coming just before that great shaking, that God will bless every seed that is sown, and that fruit, which is God's elect will come forth, and each of them will know that they have a destiny, they will hear and understand, and God will bring His house together.

Hebrews 12:27 "And this word, "Yet once more." signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain."

Remember that the subject here is the "shaking that will come upon the earth". There is also a great spIs the seed yet in the barn?iritual shaking coming, and if you are on the foundation of Christ, you will not be shaken when the rest of the world is shook off its foundation. God has no ill will against anyone that has repented and believes on Jesus Christ, but the rest of the world will be shaken to where they will not be the same. At that time all their spiritual houses, their false doctrines, and their traditions will come tumbling down. This day is coming shortly, and He is not happy over what is going on in His name today.

The one thing that "signifieth" is the sign and events that are given in His Word. Those events of the final days warn us of the things that shall come to pass. The things that are made, or created are the physical things that are made to become things of idolatry, and they all shall be shaken and covered over. We are living in a generation where there can be no excuse, for the things that are coming to pass were written in His word, and we are to be watchman for those signs and events that mark the coming of the false messiah, so that we are not deceived. This is a good time to live, for in this generation, like no other, we can see the mighty hand of God working, and the events of the final generation are happening right before our eyes daily.

Hebrews 12:28 "Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:

We don't deserve that grace, that unmerited favor that we have in Christ, but we collect on it anyhow. When we have faith, and have become a child of God, that is our right of inheritance, only we have to reach out and take it. We serve God because we love Him, and He loves us. Jesus Christ is coming, and He is angry at the world, but that anger is not directed at us. His anger is directed at those that have rejected the sacrifice of Jesus, and chose in ignorance Satan, the Antichrist and the brief prosperity that Satan promised.

Many read this statement and become frightened, and they should when they have not repented of their sins. Jesus said in Matthew 10:28 "And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear Him Which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell."

This "consuming fire" is "God's glory present". God's "consuming fire" is the Holy Spirit that warms your heart, and protects you when the enemy comes against you. His Spirit will protect you exactly as God protected Daniel when he was in the Lion's den, or the three Hebrew children in the fiery furnace. This consuming fire is symbolic, or to signify that God will protect His own. So to those that love Him this consuming fire is our protection, but to those who are against Christ it will consume them and cause them to perish.

So when you witness for Christ and study to follow His Word, God is going to take care of you. We are living in the generation of the "parable of the fig tree", spoken of in Matthew 24 and Mark 13, which is the final generation, and though Satan will rule this world for a brief time (five months), God is our protection. That final generation started when the Jews, the two baskets of both good and bad figs returned to Jerusalem to establish a new homeland in the middle east. Which we today call Israel. When that nation was established, the shoot of the fig tree was planted and all the signs and wonders of the end of this earth age will take place before the end of this generation comes to a close. That generation started in 1948, with a charter from the United Nations, and from it came the tiny nation of Israel.

It is because of these times that we are instructed to keep our eyes on Jerusalem, for it is there that the Antichrist will rule the earth. And during this reign of Satan, the "consuming fire" who is the Holy Spirit of God will keep each of his elect safe from harm. All that is, except the two witnesses spoken of in Revelation 11:7 "And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascended out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them." That beast is Satan, and he will kill the two witness in Jerusalem while the world watches, and celebrates their death.

God will allow every thing that will happen to happen, and at the end of three and one half days, life comes back into the two witness, and they ascend into heaven. This marks the end of this earth age, "and instantly the second woe is past and behold the third woe cometh quickly." The seventh trumpet will sound, and this marks the start of the Millennium age, which is the destruction of all evil rudiments, idolatry, Satan's entire host of fallen angels. "God is a consuming fire."

doctrine of many of our Christian churches, (The Man on a White Horse)
political direction of our country, (The Man on a Red Horse)
economic direction our country has taken, (The Man on a Black Horse)
and teaching of our schools and media, (The Man on a Pale Horse)

The Four Hidden Dynasties of the New World Order Revelation 6:1-8
"The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse"
Did you know all four are being ridden by Satan?