What is the Serpent

What is the Serpent?

 the word “serpent” immediately suggests an animal, so it Is NATURALLY taken LITERALLY. Understood SPIRITUALLY it is a FIGURE OF SPEECH.

XV. (53) "And they were both naked, both Adam and his wife, and they were not ashamed; but the serpent was the most subtle of all the beasts that were upon the earth, which the Lord God had Made:"{11}{#ge 2:25; 3:1.}--the mind is naked, which is clothed neither with vice nor with virtue, but which is really stripped of both: just as the soul of an infant child, which has no share in either virtue or vice, is stripped of all coverings, and is completely naked: for these things are the coverings of the soul, by which it is enveloped and concealed, good being the garment of the virtuous soul, and evil the robe of the wicked soul. (54) And the soul is made naked in these ways. Once, when it is in an unchangeable state, and is entirely free from all vices, and has discarded and laid aside the covering of all the passions. Philo of Alexandria

XVIII. (71) "Now the serpent was the most subtle of all the beasts which are upon the earth, which the Lord God Made."{21}{#ge 3:1.} Two things having been previously created, that is, mind and outward sense, and these also having been stripped naked in the manner which has already been shown, it follows of necessity that pleasure, which brings these two together, must be the third, for the purpose of facilitating the comprehension of the objects of intellect and of outward sense: for neither could the mind, without the outward sense, be able to comprehend the nature of any animal or of any plant, or of a stone or of a piece of wood, or, in short, of any substance whatever; nor could the outward sense exercise its proper faculties without the mind. Philo of Alexandria

the aforesaid serpent is the symbol of pleasure, because in the first place he is destitute of feet, and crawls on his belly with his face downwards. In the second place, because he uses lumps of clay for food. Thirdly, because he bears poison in his teeth, by which it is his nature to kill those who are bitten by him.

The serpent In whose mouth Is the poison of death, signifies a sinful person according to God's definition (given in Psalm 140:1-3; Romans 3:12-13; Matthew 12:34).

 The name “serpent” was attributed to those MEN who Jesus and John the Baptist had encountered (Matthew 3:7; 12:34; Luke 3:7).  Hence when the word serpent is used to indicate an intelligent  reasoning creature having guile (deceit) in his mouth, It SIGNIFIES a man exhibiting such characteristics.

The serpent a symbol of the Sense consciousness or the desire of unspiritualized man for sensation. He seeks satisfaction through the appetite. By listening to the serpent of sense, man falls to his lowest estate.

The "serpent" of the garden of Eden is the outward senses of consciousness or the carnal mind. The serpent is the symbol of pleasure. It may also be called desire, and sensation, or the activity of life in an external expression, apart from the Source of life.

The meaning of senses Proverbs 20:12

The meaning of senses

Proverbs 20:12 - The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, Yahweh hath made even both of them.

The sense consciousness--A mental state formed from believing in and acting through the outward senses. It is the consciousness of sin, linked with emotions (body) and feelings (mind).

1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.

the meaning of this is clear the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.

"Operating upon the brain [physical], it [indwelling sin] excites the 'propensities', and these set the 'intellect' [mental], and 'sentiments' [moral] to work. The propensities are blind, and so are the intellect and sentiments in a purely natural state; when therefore, the latter operate under the sole impulse of the propensities, 'the understanding is darkened through ignorance, because of the blindness of the heart'". (Elpis Israel, p . 127)

Decisions based on outward appearances--the senses--produce conflicting thoughts

Romans 8:7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so.

Romans 8:6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.

And again, when the spiritual mind is awake the outward sense or carnal mind is extinguished; when we discard the exercise of our senses; and so, when the mind rises up again and awakens, the outward sense is put an end to.

Therefore, the awakening of the outward senses or the carnal mind is the sleep of the spiritual mind or the Christ consciousness; and the awakening of the spiritual mind is the discharge of the outward senses from all occupation. Just as when the sun arises the brightness of all the rest of the stars becomes invisible; but when the sun sets, they are seen. And so, like the sun, the spiritual mind or the Christ consciousness, when it is awakened, overshadows the outward senses, but when it goes to sleep it permits them to shine.



Reuben Chapter 1
2:1 And now hear me, my children, what things I saw concerning the seven spirits of error, when I repented.
2:2 For seven spirits are established against man, and they are the sources of the deeds of youth.
2:3 And seven other spirits are given to man at creation, so that by them every human deed is done.
2:4 The first is the spirit of life, The first spirit is of life, with which man's whole being is created.. The second is the spirit of sight, with which comes desire.
2:5 The third is the spirit of hearing, with which comes instruction. The fourth is the spirit of smell, with which is given tastes for drawing air and breath.
2:6 The fifth is the spirit of speech, with which comes knowledge.
2:7 The sixth is the spirit of taste, for consuming food and drink; by it comes strength, because in food is the substance of strength.
2:8 The seventh is the spirit of procreation and intercourse, with which comes sin through fondness for pleasure.
2:9 For this reason, it is the last in order of creation, and the first in that of youth, because it is filled with ignorance, and leads the youth as a blind man into a ditch, and like an animal over a cliff.

Reuben Chapter 2
3:1 In addition to all these there is an eighth spirit of sleep, with which is brought about the trance of nature and the image of death.
3:2 With these spirits are mingled the spirits of error.
3:3 First, the spirit of fornication resides in the nature and in the senses; the second, the spirit of insatiableness, in the stomach; the third, the spirit of fighting, in the liver.
3:4 The fourth is the spirit of flattery and trickery, in order that through excessive effort one might appear to be at the height of his power.
3:5 The fifth is the spirit of pride, that one may be boastful and arrogant. The sixth is the spirit of lying, which through destructiveness and rivalry, handles his affairs smoothly and secretively even with his relatives and his household.
3:6 The seventh is the spirit of injustice, with which are thefts and acts of rapacity, that a man may fulfil the desire of his heart; for injustice works together with the other spirits by the taking of gifts.
3:7 And with all these the spirit of sleep is joined which is that of error and fantasy.
3:8 And so every young man is destroyed, darkening his mind from the truth, and not understanding the Law of God, nor obeying the admonitions of his fathers as befell me also in my youth.
3:9 And now, my children, love the truth, and it will preserve you: hear you the words of Reuben your father.

Jesus as a Concept Romans 5:10

Jesus as a Concept

or

Jesus as a Principle

Christ is a principle or Christ as an abstraction rather than an historical figure a symbolic representation of the divine mind in mortal existence. Jesus represents God's idea of man in expression; Christ is that idea in its fullness.

Jesus Christ is himself a symbol of the thought processes of life's trials and tribulations that we go through. Therefore we see Jesus Christ going through all the trials, internal temptations and thoughts of each of us, "yet without sin," that is, the Lord Jesus overcame the power of sinful thoughts by quoting Scripture.

Jesus, the man of Nazareth, revealed that this high and lofty consciousness of the divine mind is possible to believers, and as a result He is a symbol or principle a representation of what we can become. We are exhorted to "have this mind in you, which was also in Christ Jesus," which implies that all true believers may display a change of consciousness as He did. To come to this realization requires careful training of the thoughts.

The mind that was in Christ Jesus was the mind of God, so we know that we must be perfect even as the Father in heaven is perfect. The carnal mind or the consciousness of sin, has to be put away and the Christ consciousness established in its place.

In the individual consciousness the meaning of Jesus' being born in Bethlehem of Judea is that the principles of the Gospel have taken hold of the mind (Bethlehem), and through praise (Judea) have brought the Christ into manifestation.

We may "put on the new man," that is, bring forth Jesus Christ in ourselves. First we must put away the "old man" of the flesh by reading the Scriptures. The second step is to live the Gospel in thought, word, and deed. The Christ is the man that God created, the perfect-ideal man, and is the real self of all true believers; Jesus Christ is this Christ self brought forth into perfect expression and manifestation.

It is wise to protect the newborn spiritual consciousness from contact with Herod, the personal ego. Herod seeks "the young child to destroy him," but under the guidance of Spirit no harm comes to the Child. He is taken down into Egypt (down into the protected places of the memory), to remain until the personal ego destroys itself; then the Christ child is free to come forth and to express.

Jesus in the Temple, at the age of twelve years, represents the growing consciousness within us that we are sons of God (Luke 2:40-52).

The temptation of Jesus (Matt. 4:111) took place within Himself. The place of overcoming is within the consciousness of man. When we follow Jesus we rise above the demands of the flesh-and-the outward senses the consciousness of sin.

The forty days' fasting in the wilderness is in all respects a renouncing of the demands of the consciousness of sin. In fasting, we in our thoughts live above the material needs. We are "led up," and our appetites and passions are for a season in such an eclipse that we think that they will trouble no more. But "he afterward hungered." There is a return to the consciousness of sin.

We are tempted by the “devil” of our own lusts or evil desires, and so was Jesus. We are not tempted by an evil being suddenly standing next to us and prompting us to sin - sin and temptation come “from within, out of the heart of man” (Mk. 7: 21). They “proceed” out of the heart, as if to stress that the heart really is their source. Jesus was tempted just as we are (Heb. 4:15,16), and in this sense He becomes for us a legitimate example.

The Devil is the ego, the consciousness of sin or the carnal mind which has been built up in ignorance and disregard of the divine law.

To worship the Devil is to submit to self-will, the ego, or the carnal mind. To serve God we must build up spirituality in mind, body, and affairs.

In Luke 4:16-30 Jesus represents the Spirit of truth declaring its mission and power in the place of its development, the common, everyday mind. The highest spiritual Truth may be flashed into your mind while you are performing the commonest duties of life. Nazareth is a type of inferiority; it was considered a community of commonplace, if not disreputable, people. "Can any good thing come out of Nazareth ?" Yet in that mediocre village Jesus was reared--and in any one's mediocre mind the Christ Truth is expressed.

We know many of the trite statements of Truth so well that we find it hard to conceive that they are the mighty power that can relieve us from the bonds of sense. "Is not this Joseph's son?" But in no other place shall we find the Truth that sets free. The power that brings salvation from every ill is within us; it is in the gracious words of the indwelling Christ. "To-day hath this scripture been fulfilled in your ears." Every day our inner ears are filled full of this Truth. We know the right, we know the just, we know the pure. This is "this scripture" that is written on the heart.

Do you ask for a sign of power? Do you want miraculous healing without fulfilling the law of right thinking and right doing? Then you are not receiving the Christ Spirit rightly. You are seeking the temporal instead of the eternal, and if you let this superficial phase of mind rule, you will reject the Christ Spirit and cast it out of your midst.

Mark 9:2-13 tells us of the Transfiguration: Jesus went up into a mountain to pray, and was there transfigured. Prayer always brings about an exalted or rapid radiation of mental energy, and when it is accompanied by faith (Peter), love (John), and judgment (James) there is a lifting up of the soul that electrifies the body; the raiment (the aura surrounding the body) shines with glistening whiteness.

The presence of Moses and Elijah represents the two processes through which this picture of the purified man is to be objectified or demonstrated in real life. The first is the Mosaic or evolutionary process of nature through which there is a steady upward trend of all things. This evolutionary process is part of a spiritual plan for the redemption of the human race from its fallen state. The other is the ability of the prophet Elijah, or spiritual discerner of Truth, to make conditions change rapidly on the mental plane, to be in due season worked out in substance. Thus we are told in the lesson that Elijah must first come and restore all things. The mind must first be set right through spiritual understanding; then comes the demonstration.

Peter's proposing to erect three tabernacles carries out this idea of a substance manifestation for each; but Peter's ideas were vague as to the process, hence the accompanying voice out of the cloud, "This is my beloved Son: hear ye him."

To "tell no man what things they had seen, save when the Son of man should have risen again from the dead," means that we shall not consider these mental pictures as real, and so. discuss them. They represent ideas that can be understood only when they are demonstrated in the risen man. ("These mental pictures" refers to visions, dreams, and all that we see in our high moments of illumination.)

Jesus rode an ass into Jerusalem (Matt. 21:1-9). In Oriental countries, in Bible times, kings and rulers rode the ass, and this animal was the accepted bearer of royalty. In the man-consciousness, the animal part is typified by the ass, and its being ridden into Jerusalem by Jesus portrays the mastery by the I AM of the animal nature and its manifestation (colt). Jerusalem means habitation of peace and signifies spiritual consciousness.

"The Lord hath need of them." These forces of the so-called lower nature in man are necessary to his full expression. A man or woman with the animal nature asleep or suppressed is but partially alive. The vital fires are in this department of being, and it is in this purifying furnace that the material man is melted and the pure gold extracted.

Those who live on the plane of mere animal generation do not ride the ass into Jerusalem--they are not masters of their animal nature--but, like the beasts of the field, are mere slaves to animal desire.

In the regeneration these animal forces are turned inward; they become powers in a higher field of action. To fulfill this part of their mission they must be wholly weaned from animal habits. So long as the animal rules, the man is a slave. When the I AM man takes charge of the body, a new order of things is inaugurated. The vitality is no longer wasted in mere sense gratification. Through high and pure ideals the whole consciousness is raised to a higher standard. Through interior thought concentration the subtle essences of the organism are transmuted to vibratory energies and become important factors in building up that pure body which is to triumph over death.

Let not the one who is indulging the sense man in his animal ways think that he is on the royal road into Jerusalem. "Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord." The Lord is the higher ruling principle in man; it is to be in supremacy, not the lower. There is much sophistry among a certain school of metaphysicians who love to live the life of the animal, and call it God. The Master metaphysician said, "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." Another said, "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth unto his own flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth unto the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap eternal life."

The characteristics of the ass are meekness, stubbornness, persistency, and endurance. To ride these is to make them obedient to one's will. The outer thoughts, or people, recognize that some unusual movement of mind is going on, and they fall into line. Their cry, "Hosanna," means save now. A change of base from personal willfulness to meekness and obedience stirs the whole consciousness, or city, and there is questioning about the cause. Simply saying in the silence, "Not my will, but thine, be done," often stirs up a commotion, and then there is questioning as to the cause. The answer is, "This is the prophet [one who states the spiritual law], Jesus [the I AM], from Nazareth [place of development] of Galilee" (life activity). Rendered in modern metaphysical terms this would read, "This is the supreme I AM stating the law of Spirit in development of life action."

The betrayal of Jesus means, to individual consciousness, the appropriation and use in sense ways of the life and substance that the higher self imparts to us in our periods of exaltation. When we deny the bondage of sense and affirm our spiritual freedom, we set free in the organism an energy or vibratory force that goes through the nerves to every part. This is the eating of the Passover with our disciples. But these disciples, or faculties, are not all in understanding of the divine law and they do not use this spiritual force in right ways. This is shown by their desire to have first place (see Luke 9:46), implying carnal ambition. Jesus demonstrated humility and a willingness to serve--which is always a sign of the true disciple--by washing their feet.

Judas represents the personal self of the body, whose center of consciousness is in the sex function. This consciousness is directly connected with appetite and feeling. This is indicated by the phrase, "He that dipped his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me." In body consciousness that which we eat is finally appropriated by this function and deposited in the seminal glands as a reserve supply for the whole nervous system. In this respect its office is good, and when its work is well done, physical harmony ensues.

Judas develops selfishness and sense desire, however. He steals the substance that should go to the upbuilding of the organism, and wastes it in sexual and other sense sensations. In this way he is a "thief" and is possessed of "a devil." When the new life from the spiritual fountain is poured into the body, Judas absorbs so much of it that its identity and power are lost in the consciousness, which is typified by the betrayal of the Christ. In the end Judas destroys himself, because he is ignorant of the constructive law.

There is, however, a feeding of all the faculties through descent of the divine life and substance, which is typified by the eating and drinking of the body and the blood of the Master. When we know the ways of Judas we are on our guard and we declare the law for him, and thus pave the way for his final redemption.

At the crucifixion of Jesus it was the human consciousness of a perishable body that died. "Our old man was crucified with him, that the body of sin might be done away, that so we should no longer be in bondage to sin." When the thoughts of sin and death are crossed out, the spiritual truth about life and its manifestation in the body takes form in consciousness. "The Spirit of him that raised up Jesus . . . shall give life also to your mortal bodies." This is pictured in the resurrection of Jesus as an angel of the Lord descending from heaven (the ruling spiritual kingdom) and rolling away the stone from the door of the tomb.

This angel in man's consciousness is the spiritual I AM. "I am the resurrection, and the life." The tomb represents the most negative phase of material thought or human ignorance. The descent of the spiritual ego into consciousness brings divine intelligence and power within and without. "His appearance was as lightning, and his raiment white as snow."

The first affirmation of the I AM for its body is that it is not under any limitation of material thought; that it is free with the freedom of Spirit. "He is not here: for he is risen." The second affirmation of the I AM for its body is a swift and universal proclamation of omnipresence and activity in all realms of consciousness. "Go quickly, and tell his disciples, He is risen . . . and . . . goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you."

Jesus resurrected the body that was crucified; this is forcibly brought out in the Scripture account of the crucifixion. He did this by putting into the body the true state of consciousness. "Put on the new man, that after God hath been created in righteousness and holiness of truth."

We can resurrect our body just as Jesus resurrected His. "Follow me." We can overcome, and make our body like the body of Jesus. We must do this. "The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus made me free from the law of sin and of death." We resurrect our body by putting a new mind into it--the mind of Spirit. "Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind." Ignorance and sin kill the body; understanding and righteousness bring it to life.

The three days that Jesus was in the tomb represent the three movements of mind that are involved in overcoming error. First, nonresistance and humility, second, the taking on of the divine activity, or receiving the will of God; third, the assimilation and fulfillment of the divine will.

In individual consciousness the "Sabbath" is perfect rest in Spirit, after the cleansing of mind that follows the introduction and activity of Truth principles. Jesus arose "late on the Sabbath day."

In consciousness the two women, "Mary Magdalene and the other Mary," symbolize the feminine side of the soul forces of Jesus (manifest man). "Mary Magdalene" signifies love redeemed. "The other Mary" represents pure life thoughts welling up from the subconsciousness.

The "angel of the Lord" represents positive spiritual thought of the perfect law of life. The "watchers" at the tomb are the thoughts that tend to limit the activity of the body consciousness. The "disciples" represent ideas of Divine Mind that have centers of action in body consciousness.

The spiritual meaning of the two women's being sent to tell the disciples of the resurrection is that divine love and life must be felt in the centers of action in body consciousness as a result of spiritual thought (angel) before a demonstration or resurrection is complete (Matt. 28:1-10)


When Jesus left this planet, at His ascension; He came back by the power of the holy spirit in an invisible presence in the inner spiritual realms of a believer. John 14:23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.

Jesus will become visible to those who "put on Christ" and manifest their new personality. Many are conscious of His presence in some degree, but they do not see Him as He is, because they have not brought their faculties of perception up to His standard. When we awake in His likeness (see Psa. 17:15) then we shall see Him as He is. This does not come about through the soul's leaving the body, but it is accomplished by refining, spiritualizing, and raising both soul and body to higher degrees of power.

Jesus exists in a realm of being where the limitations of form are dissolved. He lives in the heart and mind. When we have identified ourselves with the Christ consciousness as Jesus identified Himself with it, we shall see Him face to face in His spiritual reality.

Many have seen Him in this mind mirage; but we shall not see Him as He is until we awake in His likeness. If the mind has grasped the capacity and power of spiritual ideas, then the appearance of Jesus will be understood.

What is Prophecy 1 Corinthians 14:3

1 Corinthians 14:3 But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men

Prophecy is not about predicting the future it is first edification and exhortation and comfort to the believers

The New Testament refers to prophecy as one of the spiritual gifts given by the indwelling Holy Spirit [Rom 12:6]. From this, many Christians believe that the gift of prophecy is the supernatural ability to receive and convey a message from God. The purpose of the message may be to "edify, exhort and comfort" the members of the Church.

A prophet, is a teacher, one who receives the inspiration of Spirit, an understanding of spiritual law, and imparts it to others.

The Source of all true prophecy is Yahweh Elohim. He transmits it by means of his holy spirit or, occasionally, by spirit-directed angelic messengers. (2Pe 1:20, 21; Heb 2:1, 2

Since the fulfilment of God’s great purpose is all bound up in Jesus (compare Col 1:19, 20), then all prophecy, that is, all inspired messages from God proclaimed by his servants, pointed toward his Son. Thus, as Revelation 19:10 states, the entire “spirit” (the whole inclination, intent, and purpose) of prophecy was to bear witness to Jesus, the one Jehovah would make “the way and the truth and the life.” (Joh 14:6) This would be true not only of prophecy that preceded Jesus’ earthly ministry but also of prophecy subsequent thereto.—Ac 2:16-36.

Prophecy is, in truth and reality, an emanation sent forth by the Divine Being through the medium of the Active Intellect, in the first instance to man's rational faculty, and then to his imaginative faculty.

The divine word, which suddenly descends into the human situation, unexpected and unwilled by man, is free and fresh like lightning, And the man who has to make it heard is over and over again subdued by the Word before He lets it be put in his mouth.

A prophecy, in the consciousness of a believer, is a thought that is in contact with the Spirit, that receives revelations direct from the Holy Spirit; it knows and understands divine law and its working, therefore it warns and instructs the other thoughts.

(The prophets of old seemed to stand between God and the people; it was through them that the people received divine guidance.)

A prophet (Matt. 21:4) is one who states the spiritual law.

The prophets of Luke 16:29 represent divine law.

The prophet of John 6:14 is the promise of God.

Watchman

The duty of the watchman in ancient times was to warn of approaching danger. In olden times the watchman stood on the city walls, where he could see and report what was going on in and about the city.

What fills this office in the life of man? The Christ consciousness in a believer points out to him the way of peace and safety. Man is free, however, to follow or disregard the warning at will.

watchman--A spiritually developed person who sees within and without, and with the word of command challenges anything negative

A vigilant attitude, but more from a standpoint of looking on from the outside than laying hold of and becoming one with that which is perceived (watchers, watchmen, viewers, lookers from afar;

In the consciousness of the individual believer, what does a watchman represent? In each individual believer the true watchman is the inner consciousness of Spirit, which sees all that is going on in the mind and heart of a believer.

In order to be a capable watchman for the spiritual welfare of others, what is required of one who assumes that part? One who feels that he has been selected by God to guide and direct others in spiritual ways should first discipline his own thoughts, and should become acquainted with both the inner and the outer realms of thought, the intellect, the propensities, and the sentiments in the consciousness.

In the Scriptures these realms are designated as “the house of Israel”; and when he who plans to be a watchman for the spiritual welfare of others has disciplined his own thoughts, he can go forth and successfully carry the message of life to others.

She (Wisdom) is a tree of life Proverbs 3:18

She (Wisdom) is a tree of life Proverbs 3:18

Proverbs

 3:18 She (Wisdom) is a tree of life to those who take hold of her; those who hold her fast will be blessed.

Within this pleasant garden Yahweh Elohim placed two trees which were symbolic of his relationship with mankind. The tree of life was symbolic of God’s promise of immortal life to those who chose to follow his ways rather than the way of human nature. The tree of the knowledge of good and evil was in the garden as a test for mankind and to allow free will. They could follow God’s way or the way of human nature looking for instant pleasure.

Revelation speaks of the tree of life as symbolic and therefore there was no actual tree of that character in Eden

"The tree of life also in the midst of the garden" — Adam's spiritual requirements were also provided for in the tree of life. From Rev. 2:7 it appears that the tree of life was a symbol of immortality, and this is supported by a description of its life giving qualities as described by the Elohim (Gen. 3:22). The tree of life is likened to the Divine Wisdom (Prov. 3:18), the fruit of the righteous (Prov. 11:30), a wholesome tongue (Prov. 15:4), and so forth. They all, being related to the Truth, lead to life eternal (1 Pet. 1:23-25).

The Tree of Life occupied a place in the "midst of the garden" with the "tree of knowledge of good and evil" (cp. Gen. 3:3). Here were symbolically provided the two choices or two ways for mankind: obedience or sin; life or death.

If we consider the Garden of Eden symbolically, and view the river that ran through it as a foreshadowing of the River of God (Psa. 46:4) expressive of the Truth in Christ Jesus, the four chief streams typically illustrate lessons that one must learn in order to partake of the Tree of Life (Rev. 2:7). What is the first lesson? It emphasises the principles of separation (compasseth), eternal life (Havilah, circle), and faith represented by gold (see 1 Pet. 1:7).

"The tree of life … the paradise of God." Compare Gen. 2:9; 3:22; also the Lord Jesus says, "I am the vine: ye are the branches" (John 15). He is the tree of life, and the Paradise is the Kingdom of God in the Holy Land (Ezek. 36:35).

Jesus is "the tree of life" symbolized from the beginning by the tree of life in the Garden of Eden. His body of "many members" is represented by the "very many trees" of the Ezekiel Paradise (Ezek. 47:7), which literally "beautify the place of God's sanctuary" (Is. 60:13). He and they are the substance of the symbol in this place. Leaves and fruit. Contrast the vision of the tree of Babylon (Dan. 4) and compare the language of Psa. 1:3.

To eat of the tree of life is to be granted Life eternal (Gen. 3:22). This was denied Adam and his posterity, but will be permitted the "seed" of the second Adam (cp. Isa. 53:10; 1 Cor. 15:45). Thus the first and the last books of the Bible are joined as a bridge: the former showing how things began, the latter showing how they will end. Eden will be restored; the second Adam will be joined in marriage to the second Eve (2 Cor. 11:2; Rev. 19:7) and will be united "as one" in the paradise of Deity (Gen. 2:23; John 17:21). "To eat of the Tree of Life is to be an unfading leaf, an immortal possessor of the glory, honour and incorruptibility of the Kingdom which the God of heaven will set up in the Age to come" (Eureka). The saints are likened to trees in Paradise—cp. Ps. 1; Rev. 22:2.


The word of God is likened to a tree of life because of its effect upon those who partake thereof (see Prov. 3:18; 11:30; 13:12; 15:4).

Revelation 22:2 down the middle of its broad way. And on this side of the river and on that side [there were] trees of life producing twelve crops of fruit, yielding their fruits each month. And the leaves of the trees [were] for the curing of the nations

Revelation 22:2 "And on either side of the river, was there the trees of life"—It would not be possible to have a single tree both inside the city, and on either side of a river that flows therefrom. The greek word can relate to a wood, or a forest of trees; and that, obviously, is its meaning here. The symbol is based upon the literal forest that Ezekiel saw in vision spring up along the banks of the river of living water that flowed out from the Temple (Ezek. 47:12).

Thus, the Spirit in Jesus said, "I am the life;" "I am the Vine, and ye (my apostles) are the branches." Here was a tree consisting of fourteen living persons, all animated by one and the same life-principle; namely, the Spirit, Jesus, and the Twelve Apostles. Now let this idea be extended so as to embrace "the multitude which no man can number" -- all IN Jesus Anointed" -- and we have a tree, which in the beginning was "as a grain of mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden, and it grew and waxed a great tree, and the fowls of the air came and lodged in the branches of it" (Luke 13:18) -- a tree, which with its feathered songsters of the aerial, is apocalyptically symbolized by a Wood of trees in the Garden, or Paradise of the Deity.


Trees and leaves are sometimes used as symbols to describe the redeemed in glory (see Psa. 1:3; 92:12; Isa. 60:21; 65:22). The water emanating from the Christ-altar, will be drawn up by the roots of these symbolic trees causing growth and producing fruit. As in the natural, so in the spiritual: as natural leaves help to purify the air so these symbolic leaves "breathe" and help purify the millenial air. They represent the Redeemed who will convey the purifying teaching of Jesus Christ to the world at large (Isa. 30:20-21; Jer. 3:15; Mic. 4:1-4),

"Which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruits every month"—This, again, shows that John saw a forest of trees, and not a single tree. Some of the "fruits" to be produced through the influence of the water of life are outlined in Prov. 3:16-18; Gal. 5:22. The number twelve identifies the fruit with the hope of Israel, and suggests the monthly pilgrimages and services that will form part of the ministry of saints in the age to come (see Isa. 66:23).

"And the leaves of the trees were for the healing of the nations"—They shall act as health-giving herbs (cp. Ezek. 47:12). Figuratively, these leaves relate to the administration of the saints in the Kingdom of the age to come. The influence of their teaching will be to heal the nations of the ills that afflict them today. In natural life mankind is utterly dependent on plants or leaves for their nourishment because even the fish and flesh eaten is from creatures that feed on plants. 

Moreover, leaves breathe in the poisonous carbon dioxide which man breathes out, and breathes out pure oxygen so essential to life. So leaves purity the air, as the Redeemed will purify the political, social, and moral atmosphere of the age to come. Thus, once again, Yahweh's purpose is illustrated by the facts of nature.

The tree of the knowledge of good and evil

The tree of the knowledge of good and evil

There are two trees in the midst of paradise. From one of them originate animals, from another — men. Adam ate of the tree which originates animals. And he became an animal and then brought forth animals.
Therefore at present, the animals like Adam are held in respect.
So, the tree of which Adam ate a fruit is the tree of animals. This is why his children became so numerous. And all of them also ate the fruits of the tree of animals. (The Gospel of Philip)

To understand what the tree of the knowledge of good and evil is we must first understand the symbolic understanding of trees in the Bible

Trees and leaves are sometimes used as symbols to describe the righteous (see Psa. 1:3; 92:12; Isa. 60:21; 65:22).

we know from the book of revelation that trees are symbolic of people

Rev 22:2 down the middle of its broad way. And on this side of the river and on that side [there were] trees of life producing twelve crops of fruit, yielding their fruits each month. And the leaves of the trees [were] for the curing of the nations. (NWT 1983)

Rev 22:2 Then it flowed down the middle of the city's main street. On each side of the riverare trees that grow a different kind of fruit each month of the year. The fruit gives life, and the leaves are used as medicine to heal the nations. (Contemporary English Version)

It would not be possible to have a single tree both inside the city, and on either side of a river that flows therefrom. The word xulon can relate to a wood, or a forest of trees; and that, obviously, is its meaning here twelve crops of fruit, yielding their fruits each month

This, again, shows that John saw a forest of trees, and not a single tree. Some of the "fruits" to be produced through the influence of the water of life are outlined in Prov. 3:16-18; Gal. 5:22. The number twelve identifies the fruit with the hope of Israel, and suggests the monthly pilgrimages and services that will form part of the ministry of saints in the age to come (see Isa. 66:23)

also the Lord's saying, "I am the vine: ye are the branches" (John 15). He is the tree of life, and the Paradise is the Kingdom of God in the Holy Land (Ezek. 36:35).

He is "the tree of life" symbolized from the beginning by the tree of life in the Garden of Eden. His body of "many members" is represented by the "very many trees" of the Ezekiel Paradise (Ezek. 47:7), which literally "beautify the place of God's sanctuary" (Is. 60:13). He and they are the substance of the symbol in this place

So the tree of life is symbolic of Jesus's gospel message or logos teachings it is logical to conclude that the tree of knowledge of good and evil is also symbolic

The tree of life and the tree of knowledge of good and evil are a Figure of speech

also from the book of Provbers we lean that wisdom (wise thinking.) is a tree of life

She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her; and happy is everyone that retaineth her" (Prov 3:14,18).

Since wisdom is understood to be the tree of life it is logical to conclude that the tree of knowledge of good and evil is also symbolic.

the trees could be symbolic of the angels according to Justin the gnostic who's most important work, Baruch comes from Hyppolytus says

angels are the Trees of Paradise: the Tree of Life is Baruch, the third angel of the Father, and the Tree of Knowledge is the third angel of the Mother, Naas the Snake (Hebr. nafash).

In the garden of Eden, God employed two trees for symbolic purposes: “the tree of life” and “the tree of the knowledge of good and bad.” Failure to respect God’s decree concerning the latter brought man’s fall.—Ge 2:9, 16, 17; 3:1-24.

By God’s pronouncement decreeing it to be out-of-bounds for the human pair, the tree became a symbol of God’s right to determine or set the standards for man as to what is “good” (approved by God) and what is “bad” (condemned by God). It thus constituted a test of man’s respect for his Creator’s position and his willingness to remain within the area of freedom decreed by God, an area that was by no means cramped and that allowed for the greatest enjoyment of human life. Therefore, to violate the boundaries of the prohibited area by eating of “the tree of the knowledge of good and bad” would be an invasion of or a revolt against God’s domain and authority

The Tree of Life occupied a place in the "midst of the garden" with the "tree of knowledge of good and evil" (cp. Gen. 3:3). Here were symbolically provided the two choices for mankind: obedience or sin; life or death.

"And the tree of knowledge of good and evil" — Good and evil represent the extremes of knowledge and thus serve as an idiom for completeness, comprehending all within the two opposites. In Deut. 1:39 and Isa. 7:14-17, lack of knowing good and evil indicates immaturity, whereas in 2 Sam. 14:17; 1 Kings 3:9 knowledge of such denotes maturity. In 2 Sam. 19:35 the expression is used with regard to the virility of the body to respond and enjoy such experiences. The ability to discern between good and evil is treated as a Divine attribute (2 Sam. 14:17; 1 Kings 3:9; Prov.15:3).

In Genesis 2:9 – 15 we read a description of the garden in Eden. It was a pleasant place with all kinds of trees and plants and the garden was watered naturally by a river. Within this pleasant garden Yahweh Elohim placed two trees which were symbolic of his relationship with mankind. The tree of life was symbolic of God’s promise of immortal life to those who chose to follow his ways rather than the way of human nature. The tree of the knowledge of good and evil was in the garden as a test for mankind and to allow free will. They could follow God’s way or the way of human nature looking for instant pleasure.

We talked about the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil as it was the only fruit that Adam was forbidden to eat. In Genesis 2:16 – 17 we see that this was God’s first commandment. Until this time the idea of death had not been part of human experience. There had been no need for the killing of animals as a sacrifice for sins.


The tree of the knowledge of good and evil is symbolic of our sinful desire

Yahweh says, "the cedars in the garden of God could not hide him; nor was any tree in the garden of God like unto him in his beauty. I made him fair by the multitude of his branches; so that all the trees of Eden, in the garden of God, envied him" (Ezek 31:3,8-9). These trees (Dan 4:20-22) are symbolic of the negative thoughts of the mind which Syria (intellectual pride), and Assyria ( reasoning according to the outward senses) shall be abolished (Isa 37:12-13).

The "tree of the knowledge of good and evil" represents the discerning capacity of mind. Man first becomes aware of knowledge; then he must discern the relation of ideas before activity is set up within him.

God told Adam to avoid the tree whose fruit was a knowledge of good and evil, "for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." It is evident that this tree is closely related to individual free will, which is in direct touch with the "serpent" or selfhood. In that state of consciousness, or day, the individual shall surely die.

The branch that separates itself from the tree withers away and dies. So a belief by the ego that its life, substance, and intelligence are self-derived cuts off the source of supply, and the ego begins to revolve in a mental vortex whose dominant tones are good and evil, birth and death--duality.

It is through the affections, the feminine in us, that we partake of both good and evil. The soul, or woman, was given to man by Yahweh, and is the avenue through which the inspirations of Spirit come. When the I AM assumes mastery over the soul it brings forth only good.

"tree of the knowledge of good and evil" (Gen. 2:9)--Indicates a dual state of consciousness, a belief in both good and error, which eventually drives man out of the garden (his body temple).

There are two trees in the midst of paradise. From one of them originate animals, from another — men. Adam ate of the tree which originates animals. And he became an animal and then brought forth animals.
Therefore at present, the animals like Adam are held in respect.
So, the tree of which Adam ate a fruit is the tree of animals. This is why his children became so numerous. And all of them also ate the fruits of the tree of animals. (The Gospel of Philip)


As a result, the fruits of the tree of animals begot numerous people-animals who now honor only man-animal.

There are two trees growing in Paradise. The one bears animals [the tree of knowledge of good and evil which leads to death], the other bears men [the tree of life]. Adam ate from the tree which bore animals. He became an animal [after going according to his own will] and he brought forth animals [all of his sons are brought forth in the same condition of separation from the Father and eat from this tree (this is the first death]. For this reason the children of Adam worship animals [who continue to “lord it over them” in their unreasoning minds]. The tree [...] fruit is [...] increased. [...] ate the [...] fruit of the [...] bears men, [...] man. [...] God created man. [...] men create God. That is the way it is in the world - men make gods [by choosing for themselves kings and/or governments or men to rule over them; also by setting up selfishness as ruler over their own temple] and worship their creation [bow down to their own man-made constitutions]. It would be fitting for the gods to worship men [all men are created in the image of God and are “sons of the Most High” with all power of creation that the Father has bestowed upon them if they would just turn to Him, but in ignorance they keep following those that are not gods – this is idolatry whether it be government, idealism, religion etc. for they all result in spiritual thievery]!

Seeing

Seeing

People cannot see anything that really is without becoming like it. It is not so with people in the world, who see the sun without becoming the sun and see the sky and earth and everything else without becoming them.

This is quite in keeping with the truth. But you saw something of that place, and you became those things.,

you have seen the spirit and have become spirit,

you have seen Christ and have become Christ,

you have seen the [father] and will become father.

[Here] in the world you see everything but do not [see] yourself, but there in that realm you see yourself, and you will [become] what you see.

Dear brothers and sisters for this reason no longer see yourselves as human or flesh that you may not be human, nothing human can enter the realm of spirit but will be dissolved by pure light.

Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. Romans 8:5

So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. Galatians 5:16

The Natural Seed and the Spiritual Seed 1 John 3 9

The Natural Seed and the Spiritual Seed 1 John 3 9

There are TWO TYPES OF NATURAL SEED mentioned in the scriptures: SPERM the engendering male element which begets like kind; the seed in or from the loins - and CHILDREN - the results of impregnation of the semen (sperm) bringing forth the seed of posterity; the offspring of a father after the flesh; the subsequent generations follow this NATURAL LAW and are considered the seed of the original progenitor after the FLESH.

There are also TWO FORMS OF THE SPIRITUAL SEED: THE WORD OF GOD (Luke 8:11) - which is spirit (John 6:63) - and CHILDREN OF GOD - those persons whose minds and hearts have been impregnated with the word of God and through obedience to the word and develop into God’s children; they are born of the SPIRIT - begotten by the word of God:
John 3:5 - “Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”
James 1:18 - “And of his own will begat he us with the WORD OF TRUTH, that we should be a kind of first-fruits of his creatures.”
1 Peter 1:23 - “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, BY THE WORD OF GOD, which liveth and abideth for ever.”
1 John 3:9 - “Whosoever is born of God does not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.” They are thus begotten by God.
John 1:13 - “Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of man, but of God.”
We might term this seed “MYSTICAL”, since Jesus stated that: “The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou heareth the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh and whither it goeth. So is EVERY ONE THAT IS BORN OF THE SPIRIT” (John 3:8). Also, Paul speaks of the MYSTERY OF GODLINESS:
1 Timothy 3:16 - “And without controversy great is the MYSTERY OF GODLINESS: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.”
... A MYSTERY is a concealed FACT that MAY be revealed. God reveals these things unto his children by his spirit. He conceals them from the wise (of the world) but reveals them unto babes:
Matthew 11:25 - “At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.”

When God created them, male and female, it was for the purpose of multiplying and filling the whole earth with like kind. The law of descent by birth was vested in the man, the male sperm. The man-to-the-woman is a type of God-to-his-people, or of Christ-to-his-church (bride). Now Jesus was born under this natural law, in order to inherit the natural attributes of his forefathers (Adam, Noah, Abraham, and David) after the flesh. He partook of flesh and blood and in all things was made like unto his brethren, that he might destroy those human attributes in himself, which attributes would result in death.
Hebrews 2:14-17 - “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
15. “And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
16. “For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.
17. “Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.”
Therefore it was necessary for God to use a natural seed (sperm) or else Jesus would have been born spirit, according to Jesus’ own statement at John 3:6: “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”
The seed promised to Abraham was relative to his posterity. The promise to David was as literal as the promise to Abraham as witnessed by the following texts:
2 Samuel 7:12 - “And when thy [David’s] day be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee which shall proceed out of thy bowels and I will establish his kingdom.”
1 Chronicles 17:11 - “And it shall come to pass, when thy days be expired that thou must go to be with thy fathers, that I will raise up thy seed after thee, which shall be of thy sons, and I will establish his kingdom.”
Psalm 132:11 - “The LORD hath sworn in truth unto David; he will not turn from it; Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne.”
2 Timothy 2:8 - “Remember that Jesus Christ of [Grk. ‘ex’ - out of] the seed of David was raised from [Grk. ‘ex’ - out of] the dead according to my gospel.”
Acts 2:30 - “Therefore [David] being a prophet and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of [Grk. ‘ex’ - out of] the FRUIT OF HIS LOINS, according to the FLESH, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne.”
Jeremiah 33:20-21 - “Thus saith the LORD: If ye can break my covenant of the day, and ... the night, and that there should not be day and night ...
21. “Then may my covenant be broken with David my servant, that he should not have a SON to reign upon his throne.”
John 7:42 - “Hath not the scriptures said, that Christ cometh of [Grk. ‘ex’ - from out of] the seed of David.”
Romans 1:3 (Diaglott) - “Concerning that son of his, who was born from a seed of David, according to the FLESH.”
These testimonies refer specifically to God’s covenant with David. God through Isaiah states that “a virgin shall conceive” [Hebrew ‘harah’ - to receive seed - sperm] (Isaiah 7:14). And the angel Gabriel said to the virgin Mary: “Thou shalt conceive” [Grk. ‘sullambano’ - to receive seed - sperm] (Luke 1:31).
Now, “that which is born of the flesh is flesh” (John 3:6). Also, “that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is NATURAL; and afterward that which is SPIRITUAL” (1 Corinthians 15:46). Thus denoting the sequence by which God begets “sons” from among mankind. Since Jesus was born of flesh and blood (Hebrews 2:14), then God must have used a NATURAL seed (sperm) to impregnate Mary by insemination.

When Gabriel informed Mary of God’s purpose, she said: “How can this be seeing I know not a man?” Gabriel answered: “The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee” (Luke 1:35). The Holy Spirit is not a person but is the power of God, by which he subjugates and sustains all things according to his will. Thus was the physical association of a man dispensed with, as God, through his power, performed the feat in accordance with his promise to David.
And Gabriel said to Mary: “God will give unto him [Jesus] the throne of David his father” (Luke 1:32). Jesus was the son of David after the flesh. He is the natural seed (posterity) in whom all the covenants are fulfilled.
This does not negate the fact that Jesus became the son of God after the spirit in God’s appointed way: First the natural, afterward the spiritual. Jesus expressly states that, “I am the way and no man cometh to the Father but by me [after the
same manner]” (John 14:6).

true citizenship Romans 13 1

Romans 13:1 Let every soul be in subjection to the superior authorities, for there is no authority except by God; the existing authorities stand placed in their relative positions by God. 2 Therefore he who opposes the authority has taken a stand against the arrangement of God; those who have taken a stand against it will receive judgment to themselves

Temporal rulers represent the ruling principle of divine law, and in the degree that we become obedient to that law their authority to us is divine.

We reject that we are at liberty to serve in the armed forces, in the police force, take part in jury duty or politics, or recover debts by legal coercion. [These constitute elements of society and its law-enforcement requirements, of which the believer will have no part. — Jn . 17:16]

The NT teaches that our "true citizenship" is from heaven, I.e., when Jesus returns and establishes the Kingdom of his God on earth: Phil 3.20. Thus, for the time being, we're described as "foreigners, resident aliens": 1 Peter 2.11

So if you're a Christian think twice before pledging allegiance to ANY flag by killing for home or country!

We honor kings, but do not vote for them....we respect law and order but do not seek to be officiers of the law....we are polite and pay taxes, but our allegiance is to God, not man.

Do not follow the spirit of the moment

For true believers we are not part of this age therefore we should not worried about immigration we are not part of this world we have a better place to live an heavenly country the fullness of things to come

Sheol Hell in the book of Enoch

Sheol Hell in the book of Enoch

Sheol Hell in the 1st book of Enoch

Sheol

Translated from Ethiopic by Richard Laurence, London, 1883.
http://www.johnpratt.com/items/docs/enoch.html#Enoch_22
http://qbible.com/enoch/22.html

22:1 And from there, I went to another place, and he showed me in the west a large and high mountain, and a hard rock, and four beautiful places.

the hard rock could be a cave within the mountain were the four beautiful places would be

Hell is described as being in the earth, and in the foundation of the mountains - the foundations being under the earth (Deuteronomy 32:22). Hell is deep - underground (Job 11:8). The direction of hell is down (Psalms 55:15, Ezekiel 32:21,27). Hell is low (Psalms 86:13). Hell is beneath us (Proverbs 15:24, Isaiah 14:9). Hell is a pit (Isaiah 14:15, Ezekiel 31:16). We must dig into hell (Amos 9:2). Hell (the grave) follows death (Revelation 6:8).

22:2 And inside, it was deep, wide, and very smooth. How smooth is that which rolls, and deep and dark to look at!
22:3 Then Raphael, one of the holy angels who was with me, answered me, and said to me: "These beautiful places are there so that the spirits of the souls of the (righteous and the unrighteous,) dead, might be gathered into them. For them they were created; so that here they might gather the souls of the sons of men.
22:4 And these places they made, where they will keep them until the day of judgement, and until their appointed time, and that appointed time will be long, until the great judgement (seat of Christ) comes upon them (the righteous and unrighteous).

1peter 4:17 For the time is come that judgement 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?
18 “And if the righteous is being saved with difficulty, where will the ungodly [man] and the sinner make a showing?

2cor 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

22:5 And I saw the soul of a dead man making suit, and his voice went forth to heaven and made suit.

The slain soul, in a figure, cried for vengeance. the soul of a dead man was not, and is not an "immortal soul". Had this been so, it would have been symbolized as alive and not as a dead man slain.

22:6 Then I asked Raphael, the angel who was with me, and said to him: "Whose spirit is that, the voice of which reaches to heaven, and complains?"
22:7 And he answered me, and said to me, saying: "This spirit is the one that came out of Abel, whom Cain, his brother, killed. And he will complain about him until his offspring (the seed of Cain, the "Seed of the Serpent,") are destroyed from the face of the Earth, and from amongst the offspring of men, his offspring perish."

The voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground" (Gen. 4:10). So God said to Cain concerning the slain soul of Abel his brother. This was a cry for vengeance upon Cain. So in this symbolic prophecy.

It is a principle in Scripture that "the life (soul, 'nephesh') of the flesh is in the blood". (Lev. 17:11). By personification, a slain person's blood is said to "cry" or "speak". (Gen. 4:10 cf. Heb. 12:24).

The word soul is an equivalent expression for life in many places. Leviticus 17:11 states: "For the soul of the flesh or the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul." In this place, blood represents life or soul. Enoch, therefore, saw the blood of the slain man which was representative of the life, or soul, poured out in death.

The figure is obviously drawn from Leviticus 17.

22:8 At that time therefore I inquired respecting him, and respecting the general judgement, saying, Why is one separated from another?
22:9 And he answered me, and said to me: "These three places where made, in order that they might separate the spirits of the dead (the unredeemed) might be separated (from the Redeemed). And thus the spirits of the righteous have been separated; this is the spring of water, and on it the light.

LUKE 16:26 And besides all this, between us and you there is a great chasm fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.’
The passage states that there was a great chasm fixed between Abraham and the rich man, yet they could both see and converse with each other (vs. 26). Is the great chasm to be taken literally?

LUKE 16:24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

If you were being tormented in flames of fire, as the rich man was, would you request only a "drop of water" to quench your agony? Would not a jug or jar, or even a handful of water be more logical?

That it cannot be concluded from this parable that Hades itself is a place of blazing fire is made clear at Revelation 20:14, where death and Hades are described as being hurled into “the lake of fire.” The death of the rich man and his being in Hades must therefore be figurative, figurative death being mentioned elsewhere in the Scriptures. (Lu 9:60; Col 2:13; 1Ti 5:6) So the fiery torment was experienced while he was figuratively dead but actually alive as a human after a resurrection to judgement), being in torment


22:10 Likewise, a place has been created for sinners (the unrighteous), when they die, and are buried in the earth, and judgement has not come upon them during their life.
22:11 And (they have lived the good life, but) here their souls will be separated (in sheol) for (after a resurrection to judgement), being in torment) this great anguish (the General concept of judgement, with painful consequences.), at the Great Day of judgement and Punishment and Torment for those who curse, forever, so that there may be retribution for their souls. And there he (Jesus Christ) will bind them forever.
22:12 And this division has been made for the souls of (the righteous) those who complain, and give information about their destruction, about when they were killed, in the days of the sinners.
22:13 Thus a place has been created, for the souls of men who are not righteous, but sinners, accomplished in wrongdoing, and with the wrongdoers will be their lot. But their souls will not be killed on the day of judgement, nor will they rise from here (to be judged with the righteous and unrighteous."

The Angel Raphael answers this question in Verse 9. above when he says
"Three of the four places have been reserved for the unrighteous, and only one place is reserved for the righteous."

This is a 3-to-1 ratio, which means that out of the over seven billion people who are alive on the earth today, only about 1.75 billion of the people on the earth today will enter into the kingdom of Heaven. To say noting of the billions who have lived on the earth for the past 6000 years of generations that have gone before us,

22:13 Thus a place has been created, for the souls of men who are not righteous, but sinners, accomplished in wrongdoing, and with the wrongdoers will be their lot. But their souls (life) will not be killed on the day of judgement, nor will they rise from here (to be judged with the righteous and unrighteous.") the sinners remain in sheol forever


Thus, the Scriptures speak of the DEATH-STATE into which all go when they depart from among the living. While "in death" they are said to sleep. From this sleep some never awake; which is equivalent to saying, that they are never the subject of resurrection. This is evident from JER 51:57 where, speaking of the princes, wise men, captains, rulers, and mighty ones of Babylon, the eternal spirit saith: "they shall sleep a perpetual sleep, and not wake": and Isaiah, speaking of the same class, says, "they are dead, they shall not live; they are deceased, they shall not rise;

1st book of enoch 51:1 And in those days the Earth will return that which has been entrusted to it, and Sheol will return that which has been entrusted to it and that which it has received. And destruction will return what it owes.

1st book of enoch 56:8 And in those days Sheol will open its mouth and they will sink into it and their destruction; Sheol will swallow up the sinners in the presence of the elect ones."

1st book of enoch 99.11 Woe to you who extend evil to your neighbours; for you will be killed in Sheol.

22:14 Then I blessed the Lord of Glory, and said: "Blessed are you O Yahweh, Lord of Righteousness, who rules over everything forever."

Edom 2 Esdras 6:7

2 Esdras 6:7 Then answered I and said, What shall be the parting asunder of the times? or when shall be the end of the first, and the beginning of it that followeth? 8 And he said unto me, From Abraham unto Isaac, when Jacob and Esau were borne of him, Jacob's hand held first the heel of Esau.9 For Esau is the end of the world, and Jacob is the beginning of it that followeth.

The above quotation from The Apocrypha teaches that the descendants of Esau will dominate the scene at the end of the age

Edom figures in several latter-day prophecies, such as Isaiah 34, Ezekiel 35, Obadiah and Psalm 83,

The end-time prophecies of Edom are often linked to the term ‘nations’,

Amos 9:11,12 which is quoted Acts 15:15-17

the latter-day Edom stands for those Arab nations surrounding Israel who are hostile to her and plot her annihilation. The latter-day revival of Edom in the recent emergence of several Arab nations concurrent with the return of the Jews to their land is one of the unmistakable signs of the times.

The fact that Israel has been outnumbered and ringed round by her enemies but never defeated is also taken as support for those Edom prophecies that speak, not of the defeat of Israel, but rather of the protection by God of His people

it seems certain that we are intended to read Obadiah's prophecy as a prophecy of the Last Days : Obad 1:15,17,21.

This Edomite enemy will be a member of an alliance: Obad 1:11. Edom is a member of the 10-nation Arab alliance described in Psa 83.

The controversy of the Last Days will concern God's holy mountain, mount Zion. There the enemies of Israel, including Edom, will rejoice over her: "Just as you drank on my holy hill...." (Obad 1:16).

And there also will God bring retribution upon these blasphemous enemies: Obad 1:15-17. This observation lends credibility to the idea that the last great conflict in and around Jerusalem -- a conflict which will bring on the literal Return of Christ -- will be a religious conflict, between two peoples desperately struggling to lay claim to the same "holy places".

At this point the prophecy dramatically changes tone. The people of Israel are saved from their adversity and are spiritually regenerated. They receive back the Land promised to their fathers, to its fullest extent, and the rescued and redeemed state of Israel becomes the nucleus of the Kingdom of God: "But on Mount Zion will be deliverance; it will be holy... The house of Jacob will be a fire and the house of Joseph a flame; the house of Esau will be stubble, and they will set it on fire and consume it. There will be no survivors from the house of Esau... Deliverers will go up on Mount Zion to govern the mountains of Esau. And the kingdom will be the LORD's" (Obad 1:17,18,21).

In short, is Obad 1:19,20 being fulfilled right now, or do they await a future fulfillment?

The order of Obad 1:17-21 suggests an answer: First, there must come a deliverance to mount Zion (v 17), and not just a military victory such as in 1948 or 1967: "But on Mount Zion will be deliverance; it will be holy [or 'there shall be holiness': AV], and the house of Jacob will possess its inheritance."

And so this "deliverance" will of require "holiness" -- and for this there must be true repentance and forgiveness of sins. Only then will Israel -- ie, a renewed and glorified remnant of Israel -- go forth to possess all the lands promised to the fathers (cp Gen 15:18-21; Exo 23:23; Deu 1:7; 11:24; Jos 1:4; Psa 72:8), as detailed in Obad 1:19,20.

This last territorial expansion will never be set back or thwarted in any way. Why? Because "Deliverers ['saviours': AV] will go up on Mount Zion... and the kingdom will be the LORD's" (Obad 1:21).