JUDGMENT MUST BEGIN AT THE HOUSE OF GOD

(would you rather be taught or shot?)

08-16-15 This message may be viewed live streaming video at www.tabernacleofmoses.org commencing today Sunday at 11:00am, and repeated 24/7 for one week; thereafter, the audio and notes without video are archived.

The depth of our revelations depends upon the correctness of our doctrine.


(1 Pet 4:17) For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?


THE KEY TO UNDERSTANDING… LOTS OF THINGS

(Mar 4:13-20) And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable [Gk: similitude: comparison, figure /// to throw alongside, compare]? and how then will ye know all parables? The sower soweth the word. And these are they by the way side [Gk: road], where the word is sown; but when they have heard [“and understandeth it not” Matt 13:19], Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts [“lest they should believe and be saved” Luke 11]. And these are they likewise [i.e., who suffer the same fate of unsavedness] which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; And have no root [“not root” Matt 13:21; “no root” Luke 8:13] in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended [“fall away” Luke 8:13] And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, And the cares [Gk: distractions] of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things [“and pleasures of this life” Luke 8:14] entering in, choke the word [Gk: to strangle completely /// throttle, take by the throat], and it becometh unfruitful [Gk: barren /// without fruit] [“bring no fruit to perfection” Luke 8:14]. And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it [Gk: admit or delight in] [“and understandeth it” Matt 13:23], and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.

  1. Commentary: the use of “immediately,” descriptive once in “by the way side” and twice “on stony ground” tends to indicate a certain, perhaps common, superficiality in thought by the receiptients, i.e., characteristic of “without thought.”

  2. Commentary: Jesus Christ is “a root of Jesse” (Isa 11:10; Rom 15:12), & “the Root of David” (Rev 5:5).

  3. (Rev 22:16) I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

  4. offended = Gk: entrapped, tripped up, stumble, or enticed to sin.

  5. fall away = Gk: desert: depart, withdraw self.


AN APPLICATION OF THE KEY TO UNDERSTANDING

(Judg 8:4-9) And Gideon [Heb: feller (warrior) /// to fell a tree, hew down] [a type and shadow of Jesus Christ] came to Jordan [the river of life], and passed over [from the Promised Land into the wilderness], he, and the three hundred men that were with him, faint [Heb: thirsty and weary], yet pursuing them [the 15,000 remaining Midianites]. And he said unto the men of Succoth, Give, I pray you, loaves of bread unto the people that follow me; for they be faint, and I am pursuing after Zebah [Heb: sacrifice] and Zalmunna [Heb: withheld], kings of Midian [Heb: brawling, contentious, discord, strife]. And the princes of Succoth said, Are the hands [Heb: powers] of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine hand [captured and held within your power], that we should give bread unto thine army? And Gideon said, Therefore when the LORD hath delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into mine hand, then I will tear your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers. And he went up thence to Penuel, and spake unto them likewise: and the men of Penuel answered him as the men of Succoth had answered him. And he spake also unto the men of Penuel, saying, When I come again in peace, I will break down this tower [Heb: rostrum (podium): castle, pulpit] [constructed out of rocks placed upon rocks].

  1. Commentary: The city of Succoth was located east of Jordan within the territory of the tribe of Gad, and the city of Penuel was located somewhat farther eastward. When Joshua divided the land to the tribes of Israel, the tribes of Gad, Reuben, and the half tribe of Manasseh remained on the land east of Jordan which may be referred to as the wilderness. From the eye of an eagle, if we place the pattern template of the tabernacle over upon the territory under Israelite control, the tabernacle would be the Promised Land; the door of the tabernacle would be Jordan (definite significant spiritual relevance), and the Israelite land east of the Jordan would be the courtyard of the tabernacle.


(Judg 8:10-12) Now Zebah [Heb: sacrifice] and Zalmunna [Heb: withheld] were in Karkor, and their hosts with them, about fifteen thousand men, all that were left of all the hosts of the children of the east: for there fell an hundred and twenty thousand men that drew sword. And Gideon went up by the way of them that dwelt in tents on the east of Nobah and Jogbehah, and smote the host [unexpectedly]: for the host was [i.e., thought itself] secure [Heb: in a place of refuge, safety]. And when Zebah and Zalmunna fled, he pursued after them, and took [Heb: captured] the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and discomfited [caused to tremble with terror] all the host.


(Judg 8:13-15) And Gideon the son of Joash returned from battle before the sun was up, And caught a young man of the men of Succoth, and enquired of him: and he described unto him the princes of Succoth, and the elders thereof, even threescore and seventeen men [77 men]. And he came unto the men of Succoth, and said, Behold Zebah and Zalmunna, with whom ye did upbraid me [Heb: defame: defy, reproach, rail, blaspheme], saying, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine hand, that we should give bread unto thy men that are weary?


JUDGMENT MUST BEGIN AT THE HOUSE OF GOD

(Judg 8:16) And he [Gideon] took the elders of the city, and thorns of the wilderness and briers, and with them he taught the men of Succoth.

  1. (Mark 4:18,19) And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, And the cares [Gk: distractions] of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things [“and pleasures of this life” Luke 8:14] entering in, choke the word [Gk: to strangle completely /// throttle, take by the throat], and it becometh unfruitful [Gk: barren /// without fruit] [“bring no fruit to perfection” Luke 8:14].


(Judg 8:17) And he [Gideon] beat down the tower of Penuel, and slew the men of the city.


Amen