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Understanding the Times: Are We in the Last Days? (Part 2)

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PROPHECY #7

They Are Getting Prepared to Build a Temple, for the Anti-Christ

Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. 2 Thes. 2:3-4

The first Temple was built by Solomon (1 Kings 6). David prepared for the Temple to be built, and it was in his heart to build. The Father said Solomon was to build it. It was destroyed by King Nebuchadnezzar in the siege of Jerusalem in 587 BC.

Jewish exiles returned to Jerusalem following a decree from Cyrus the Great (Ezra 1:1-4, 2 Chron 36:22-23), construction started at the original site of Solomon’s Temple, which had remained a devastated heap during the approximately 70 years of captivity (Dan. 9:1-2). In 70 AD the Roman’s destroyed Jerusalem and the second temple.

There will be another temple built to fulfill this prophecy. There is a Temple Institute. (Check it out, it is real… we are at the door of our Lord’s Return! Hallelujah! www.templeinstitute.org

The Hebrew language has been revived. (Zeph 3:9)

They are making plans to rebuild the Temple. The animal sacrifices will start again. The articles of the temple have been made. They say they know where the Ark of the Covenant is. They have been looking for a red heifer, which starts the whole thing. They have their own breeding program to find one without blemish. They already have the priesthood. In August 2016 they chose a High Priest.

PROPHECY #8

The PEACE TREATY with the Anti-Christ

And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. Daniel 9:27

As we saw earlier, the Nations, with America as the leader, are always trying to make a peace treaty with Israel. All these nations will go against Israel, and Yehovah will come back. There will be a peace treaty, by the anti-christ, It will be for a Jewish Bridal Week, 7 years of tribulation, (shavuah in Hebrew, simply means a seven, it means seven days or seven years.) and in the middle of it. They will break this peace treaty with Israel.

Their trust will be in this Anti-Christ. They are moving towards this. The Israeli’s trust in their Iron Dome to deflect their missiles. They trust in their knowledge and their technology (which surpasses the world), they have gay parades, they have been a leader in Hollywood, they have been part of what the world does; instead of rejecting the world and being set apart for God. Just like many people who say they are Believers are not set apart for God, they are the world.

PROPHECY #9

The Antichrist will set himself up as God, In the Temple

The anti-christ will come into the temple and say that he is God.

Matthew 24:15-16 “So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.”

See also Daniel 9:27 and 2 Thes. 2:3-4

PROPHECY #10

He will turn back to Jacob (Israel)

At the foundation of the State of Israel in 1948 there were but a handful of Israeli Jews who believed that Yehoshua is the Messiah…The movement experienced substantial growth in the 1990s. By the turn of the millennium, leaders of the movement estimate that there are between 5,000 and 7,000 Messianic Believers scattered in some 80 congregations and house fellowships throughout the land of Israel. These figures include Gentiles either married to Jewish believers or who feel solidarity with the movement. (published by Caspari Center 1999)

There are 287 Messianic organizations operating in Israel according to Kehila News Directory – “a searchable list of congregations, ministries, and businesses related to the Messianic Community in Israel.” (as of Jan. 2022)….There is also a community of over 20,000 Messianic Jews.” The Prophecy is being fulfilled!

When He returns they ALL will be looking upon Him whom they pierced.

And they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, Zechariah 12:10

They will receive Yehoshua as their Messiah. They are the natural branches. The oracles came through the Jews and God gave His utterances to the Jews.

Because that unto them were committed the oracles of God. Romans 3:2

Salvation, comes from the Jews. Yehoshua is a Jewish Messiah.

Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. Jn 4:22

Many will say unto me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you; depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Mt. 7:22-23

But He died for us all. We are wild branches that have been grafted in,because they have rejected Him. But we are not to boast against the natural branches because He will turn back to them again. And He is.

And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert grafted in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in. Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again. For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree? For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the father’s sakes. For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all. Romans 11:18-32

He will turn back to Jacob.

And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith Yehovah. As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith Yehovah; My spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed’s seed, saith Yehovah, from henceforth and forever. Isaiah 59:20-21

The fullness of the Gentiles is coming in.

“Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:” Is. 46:9-10

Understanding the Times: Are We in the Last Days? (Part 1)

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And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do. 1 Chron. 12:32

When we understand the times, as the Tribe of Issachar did, it makes us examine our lives and long to live in holiness. We understand that we are a bride who needs to “make herself ready.” We look expectantly to the return of our Messiah. We are not to be as the foolish virgins, but like the wise virgins; who were ready when he came. (Matt. 25)

Are We Really in the Last Days?

The answer to that is YES, for those who study the Word of God, more specifically Bible Prophecy. All you have to do is observe the world around you. We are surrounded with prophecy being fulfilled.

There have been lots of people who have thought that they were in the last days, when they really weren’t. So, how do we know we can say it now? There are several, but first we will look at some Bible Prophecies concerning the Jewish people and the Land of Israel.

PROPHECY #1

God Said He Would Scatter the Jewish People Throughout All the World

And Yehovah shall scatter thee among all people, from the one end of the earth even unto the other; Deuteronomy 28:64

And I will scatter you among the heathen, and will draw out a sword after you: and your land shall be desolate, and your cities waste. Leviticus 26:33

And Yehovah shall scatter you among the nations, and ye shall be left few in number among the heathen, whither Yehovah shall lead you. Deuteronomy 4:27

God’s Word said that He would scatter them into all parts of the world. He did that. This is called the Diaspora which means “dispersion or scattering”. The third prophecy is the “Regathering of the People”, from all parts of the World.

This is data showing them immigrated back to Israel from all over the World. My point is, you can’t gather them from everywhere, unless they were scattered everywhere first.

PROPHECY #2

God Said That They Would Be Persecuted.

Yehovah shall bring thee, and thy king, which thou shalt set over thee, unto a nation which neither thou nor thy fathers have known; and there shalt thou serve other gods, wood and stone. And thou shalt become an astonishment, a proverb, and a byword, among all nations whither Yehovah shall lead thee. Deuteronomy 28: 36-37

And among these nations shalt thou find no ease, neither shall the sole of thy foot have rest: but Yehovah shall give thee there a trembling heart, and failing of eyes, and sorrow of mind: And thy life shall hang in doubt before thee; and thou shalt fear day and night, and shalt have none assurance of thy life: Deuteronomy 28: 65-66

In Messiah we have assurance of eternal life, and no one can pluck us out of the Father’s hand. He will not leave us or forsake us. We don’t need to fear the one who can kill the body, and can do nothing more. But to fear God and to grow in love for Him more day by day. To obey Him because we love Him, Oh blessed be His holy name!

I will scatter them also among the heathen, whom neither they nor their fathers have known: and I will send a sword after them, till I have consumed them. Jeremiah 9:16

And I will persecute them with the sword with famine, and with the pestilence, and will deliver them to be removed to all the kingdoms of the earth, to be a curse, and an astonishment, and an hissing, and a reproach, among all the nations whither I have driven them: Jer. 29:18

It’s happened. During the Holocaust nearly 6 million Jews were killed. The Jewish people were kept in unsanitary conditions, buried alive, gassed and starved to death, experimented on, and more.

All this because people hate God and they want to wipe out His people so that they can say that God doesn’t exist. They tried to do this in Esther’s time too (Esther 3), they’ve tried to do it at other times. IT AIN’T GONNA HAPPEN! Anti-semitism (hatred for the Jews) is rising again.

PROPHECY #3

God Said in His Word. I Who Scattered Them, Will Draw Them Back.

For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. Ezekiel 36: 24-26

And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase. And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith Yehovah. Jeremiah 23:3-6

Thus saith Yehovah of hosts; Behold, I will save my people from the east country, and from the west country; And I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness. Zec. 8:7-8

The Father said they would be a nation in one day, On May 14 1948, they became a nation.

Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man child. Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children. Isaiah 66:7-8

After all those years, being persecuted, people hating them, scattered in all parts of the world; you would think they would have dissolved into all these other nations. That there wouldn’t even be a Jew today. That they would never even have become a people again. Especially after that many years; that’s almost 2,500 years!

But God said they would remain a people, and they are today. Jews are making Aliyah, (The Hebrew word, for the return of God’s Chosen People to their inheritance in the Promised Land.) from all over the world, back to The Land that God gave to Abraham and his descendants FOREVER! (Please visit Nefesh B’ Nefesh’s site, and see how they are helping fulfill this prophecy today!)

PROPHECY #4

The Nations Will Divide Up The Land

I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land. Joel 3:2

The word plead here, is shaphat; which means, to judge, pronounce sentence, avenge, vindicate or punish. He is going to deal with the Nations for what they did with His Nation Israel PERIOD. This is not going to be an Ice Cream Social!

The 1917 Balfour Declaration, 1919 Paris Peace Conference, 1922 Declaration of Principles League of Nations, then the United Nations all were Nations trying to divide The Land. The UN Resolution 181 on Nov. 29, 1947, the Nations of the UN came

together and divided up The Land, and gave Israel only 13% of the Land, the Father promised them as an inheritance. (UN Resolution 181)

This is America’s Taking Part in Dividing the Land in the last 25 Years and God’s “Shaphat” with them!

Oct 31, 1991 President George H. Bush (Sr.) promoted the Madrid Peace Conference, where he attempted to divide the land of Israel in exchange for “peace” with the Palestinians. His opening statement stated, “territorial compromise is essential for peace.”

Consequence: “The Perfect Storm”. A huge rare storm started in the Northern Atlantic, that very day. This storm caught the weather service by surprise. It traveled from east to west for 1,000 miles, completely odd for a storm. It also, did not originate in the tropics, like most of these types of storms do. What’s the big deal? This storm, that was very rare and strong, that came out of no where; directly hit President Bush Sr.’s home in Kennebunkport, Maine. The USA Today Newspaper on Nov. 1 1991 covered both The Madrid Peace Conference and the Perfect Storm. This Perfect Storm, brought 30 ft waves crashing into the President’s home and his land; as he led in dividing up God’s Promised Land to the Israelites.

Aug. 23 1992 Talks resume to surrender land for peace, again under Bush Sr.

Consequence: Hurricane Andrew slams America causing $30 billion.

April-Sept 1993 Israel and the PLO (Palestinians) work on and sign a peace agreement in Washington D.C. under the leadership of President Clinton.

Consequence: During this time, America experiences the most devastating and widespread flooding in US History costing $21 billion.

Aug.-Sept 2001 The US, Arabia, and Israel prepared the most comprehensive peace plan to that date. This meeting ended on Sept. 13.

Consequence: Sept. 11, 2001 God lifted His hand of protection, and the Twin Towers were taken down. This was just two days before their plans were finalized under the direction of President Bush Jr.

Muslim Holiday Ramadan 2002 President Bush Jr. hosts a dinner honoring Islam, and says God has given revelation in His Word, the Holy Koran.

Consequence: When Americans flew to put pressure on Israel, 88 out of season tornadoes hit 7 American States.

August 28, 2003 America pressures Israeli’s out of Gaza, families loose everything being forced to leave.

Consequence: Hurricane Katrina, develops off the shores of the US, and becomes the worst “natural disaster” in America’s history. Over 1 million people lost their homes and the disaster costs over $200 million!

Jan. 11-16 2008 Bush and Condoleezza Rice traveled to Kuwait City, Kuwait; Manama, Bahrain; Abu Dhabi and Dubai, UAE; and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to talk about the status of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks and the Iranian threat.

Consequences: During this part of the Middle East trip, there were record low temperatures and rain during the red carpet welcoming ceremonies.

Baghdad, Iraq, which is a short distance north of Kuwait, experienced its first snow in 100 years. During Bush’s few-hours visit in Dubai, they experienced flooding due to record rain on that day. Riyadh had snow flurries and temperatures in the 20s, which followed summer-like temperatures the week before. There was also a major blizzard in the northeast U.S., record cold temperatures, record crude oil prices, and the approval of a $154 billion U.S. economic stimulus bill shortly after the president’s return to the U.S.

• Rising fears about credit markets and the health of U.S. financial institutions drive down stock prices. Between Jan. 1-22, the Dow lost over 1,000 points — more than 8 percent of its total value.

July 23-24 2008 Future President Barack Obama visited the Israelis in Jerusalem and the Palestinians in Ramallah where he declared his support for a Palestinian state and the dividing of Jerusalem —

Consequence: The same day Hurricane Dolly slammed into the south Texas coast and moved inland. Dolly roared into south Texas with 100 mph winds on July 23, dumping a foot of rain near the Texas-Mexico border. The storm did extensive damage on South Padre Island and left more than 100,000 homes without power.

These are just naming a few incidents on record…..

Skipping Ahead to this year Jan. 2016 As Obama made his deal with Iran, and promised $100 billion dollars from America,which put Israel in great danger and was a great betrayal on the part of the US who is suppose to be Israel’s greatest ally:

Consequence: The East Coast of America had the mega snow storm Jonas. Washington D.C. got 3 foot of snow over that weekend. It shut down most activities and flights and claimed the lives of at least 19.

There is no doubt, that this is the God of Israel! When you mess with Him and His people, there will be consequences.

PROPHECY #5

All Nations Will Go Against The Nation of Israel

And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it. Zech. 12:3

At the time of this prophecy, never before had the Nations of the world come together, and Jerusalem was in ruin.

Today, we have the United Nations, all these nations coming together, and they are not friendly to Israel. They don’t acknowledge the Land of Israel as their land. (The UN-Israel Relationship) We can really see how all nations are coming together into a one world government and religion, (New World Order) It talks about it, in Latin, on the dollar bill. Obama has talked about the New World Order. They are going to dump the dollar, we will have one currency. (Rev 13:1-18, Rev. 17:13)

Every nation will go against Israel. That doesn’t have to be every man, woman, and child, but it will be every nation. And it’s at the brink.

PROPHECY #6

The Land is Being Restored!

And the desolate land shall be tilled, whereas it lay desolate in the sight of all that passed by.And they shall say, This land that was desolate is become like the garden of Eden; and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are become fenced, and are inhabited. Then the heathen that are left round about you shall know that I Yehovah build the ruined places, and plant that that was desolate: I Yehovah have spoken it, and I will do it. Ezekiel 36:34-36

The prophecy says that Israel would bud. Nobody believed it because it was a waste land. Now, it is budding.

He shall cause them that come of Jacob to take root: Israel shall blossom and bud, and fill the face of the world with fruit. Isaiah 27:6

Israel is a leading producer of fruit and other types of agriculture (Agriculture in Israel). They lead the world in many different things. (Israel Leader In Technology) Scripture says that vines would grow out of Mt. Samaria. People tested the soil and said they’d never grown anything out of that rock; it’s growing out of the rock!

Thou shalt yet plant vines upon the mountains of Samaria: the planters shall plant, and shall eat them as common things. Jeremiah 31:5

The Scriptures say that foreigners would come and be their vine dressers: (Visit HaYovel, Helping Israel’s Farmers)

And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the alien shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers. Isaiah 41:5

This is being fulfilled in The Land today!

Please see Part 2, where we will continue to search out what the Scriptures have to say about the Last Days!

Should We Profit from Evil Possessions?

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The Truth in Love; Should we Profit from Evil Possessions?

Last week my wife, 21 year old son, and I were at couple’s home to give them an estimate on building a bathroom. They were trying to make a decision on whether to build a bathroom in an unfinished space of their home, remodel an existing bathroom to fit laundry, or move to a larger town.

     The couple is in their 80’s. In the course of the conversation, the husband mentioned that he had Playboy Magazine that he wanted to sell or give away. He asked me if I knew anyone who would be interested. He also mentioned that he, himself hadn’t looked at them in a long time. However, he wanted to get them out of the space before we would start on his project, due to my sons.

     How would you respond, as a Believer being in this situation? What would Yehovah call us to do?

     Below is what Yehovah led me to write, in a respectful manner. This man goes to Church and would claim to be a Christian.

Dear Mr. Doe,

     Last week, when my wife, son, and I were at your house; you brought up your collection of Playboy Magazines. You talked about selling them, or giving them away to someone. You also mentioned that you hadn’t looked at them in years.

     First, I’d like to say, this letter is written in a respectful tone, as it can be hard to tell in a letter. You are an older man than I, and I mean no disrespect at all.

Our conversation about these magazines has been on my mind since that day. I wanted to share with you my thoughts.

     It is common for people to think that there is nothing wrong with looking. However, God’s Word says in 

Matthew 5:27-28

“Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:

But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.”

You see, if we look at a woman to lust with her, God says it is the same thing as committing adultery.”

     Although we may not have done something in a long time, time does not forgive sin. We must acknowledge, confess, ask for forgiveness, and turn away from our sin. God is faithful to forgive us. 

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins” 1 John 1:9

     After we do this, we then have a responsibility to dispose of those items. If we sell them to someone, we are causing them to sin, while making money in the process. If you give them away, you aren’t making a profit, but still causing them to sin. If you recycle them; one- it’s not worth recycling and two- it could still cause someone to sin as someone who comes after you might see them and take them home.

     When one of my son’s was younger, I sent him to take our recycling. He put in our recycling, and guess what someone else recycled that he saw?

      That’s right! Those pictures are burned in his mind forever. It’s not something that is easy to get out of a person’s head. The only place for a magazine like that, is for it to be burned and destroyed.

“But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and [that] he were drowned in the depth of the sea.” Matthew 18:6

      When I became a Believer, the Holy Spirit showed me that the movies, music, and several other things I had in my possession were against Him. My first thought was to have a yard sale and sell all of those things. I didn’t want them anymore, and I didn’t see the harm. Then, God taught me His truth about causing others to stumble.

“No man put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in [his] brother’s way.”

Ro. 14:13

     So- I didn’t have a yard sale. Instead I ended up burning all those things. I wanted to have a clear conscience with God. Because I know that I will face Him someday, we all will.

      I had a decision to make, to profit off of sinful things, God had showed me were so, or to obey His Word because I love Him. He tells us 

“If you love me you will obey what I command.” John 14:15

Yehoshua was asked

 Matthew 22: 36-39 “Master, which is the great commandment in the law?”

And He replied:

“ Thou shalt love Yehovah thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment.

And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.”

     This was my heart, in getting rid of my sinful items, not profiting off of them, or giving them to someone else to cause them to sin. I wanted to love God first, and then my neighbor. I am not saying I am perfect, and never would claim to be. I do, as a believing man, seek to obey what God shows me because I love and want to live for Him. And He wants us to speak the truth in love, and share His ways with others.

     It may be that you’d never though of this situation like this before. Since last week, this has continued to be on my heart and mind. I had to share the Truth of God’s Word with you. This way, you can make a decision about this, and live with that decision. Just as you do about the bathroom.

Update: A Few Months Later………

I wanted to share an update on “Mr. Doe”. It had been several months since I had sent the letter to him. We received a call from him recently. He was calling because in our local newspaper there was an ad for 50 years of magazines for sale. The same type of magazines, I had written him the letter about.

He wanted me to know, that it was not him who was selling the magazines. After this call, he also shared that he had not found an outlet to burn the magazines because he could not burn in the area he lived in. He shared that it was his heart to be rid of the magazines and to burn them, not causing someone else to sin. Praise the Lord, for good fruit!

He made arrangements for them to be burnt, without causing someone else to sin. They are history, they have been burnt, never to defile anyone again! He shared how relieved he was, in his conscience, to have them out of his possession and know they no longer existed.

I ask you, are you scared to speak to others about such things? Do you love people enough to tell them the truth, no matter what the stake? Not worrying about, what they think about you. If they will hire you in the future to work for them. If they will speak evil of you to others.

In this situation, my conscience is clear because I shared the truth in love with this man. His is also clear because he received the gentle rebuke, chose to honor God, and was found a wise man. Him and I also still have a good relationship as a result.

“Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee:

rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.

Give instruction to a wise man,

and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man,

and he will increase in learning.”

Proverbs 9:8

This man could have sold this collection of books for a large profit, instead he chose to honor God and put him first. Just as the believers did in the Book of Acts:

“Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.” Acts 19:19

I shared a similar letter with “Mr Doe 2” as I shared with “Mr. Doe”, as he is an acquaintance of mine as well.

What Does God say about lying? Part 2- Rahab’s lie

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Rahab is written about in Joshua, Hebrews, James, and Matthew (in the genealogy of Yehoshua). She was a pagan, harlot, and liar.  Here we will look at the fact that Rahab did lie.

“And the king of Jericho sent unto Rahab, saying, Bring forth the men that are come to thee, which are entered into thine house: for they be come to search out all the country. And the woman took the two men, and hid them, and said thus, There came men unto me, but I wist not whence they [were]: And it came to pass [about the time] of shutting of the gate, when it was dark, that the men went out: whither the men went I wot not: pursue after them quickly; for ye shall overtake them. But she had brought them up to the roof of the house, and hid them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order upon the roof.” – Joshua 2:3-6 

Does this fact mean God condones lying, since Rahab is included  in Hebrews 11, the “Hall of Faith?”

What saith the Scriptures? 

Heb.  11:31 says, “By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.”

From this passage of Scripture we see it was her faith NOT  her lying that was pleasing in the sight of God.  We can see this faith in her words in Joshua 2:9  “I know that Yehovah hath given you the land.” 

Unfortunately, many professing Christians today don’t believe this truth. No other nation on earth can say that God has given them land for a lasting heritage, but God gave the land to the Israelites.

Scripture has at least 170 references to the land that God gave to the offspring of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. God promised the land  to the Israelites as an unconditional covenant – 55 times the Bible records that God confirmed the gift with an oath. Twelve of those times He stated that the covenant was everlasting.

“And Jacob said unto Joseph, God Almighty appeared unto me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and blessed me, And said unto me, Behold, I will make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, and I will make of thee a multitude of people; and will give this land to thy seed after thee [for] an everlasting possession.” 

Genesis 48:3-4

“For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.”

Genesis 13:15

Today, nearly every nation on earth is hostile to this fact.  

Who was Rahab?

Rahab was a harlot, living in Jericho, and she did lie. She was a pagan, who lived among a people who also worshiped false gods.  Why wouldn’t she lie?  Why wouldn’t she be afraid?  

She was hearing it broadcast about how, by God’s mighty hand, the Israelites had been delivered out of Egypt.   She didn’t have the Bible, all she had was fear from what she had been hearing.  She knew that the Israelites were conquering the Nations, and now here they were, in Jericho.

God was bringing His wrath and judgments on these nations, for the evil they had done in His sight, and for the defiling of the land.  

However, Rahab showed faith in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

She knew that God had given them the land, that they were not by themselves, but that He was with them. In Joshua 2:10 Rahab said, “FOR WE HAVE HEARD.”   

Romans 10:17, tells us “Faith cometh by hearing, hearing the Word of God.”  

Hebrews 11:1 tells us what true faith is….“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

You see, Rahab had faith that:

~  God gave them the land. (Joshua 2:9) ~

~ That God parted the Red Sea.  (Joshua 2:10) ~

~ That God, through them, defeated the two kings of the Amorites. (Joshua 2:10) ~

~ She said, “Yehovah your God, He is God in heaven above, and earth beneath.”  (Joshua 2:11) ~

~She didn’t trust in the walls of Jericho.  She knew that the only way for her to remain alive was to trust in the mercy of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  (Joshua 2: 12-21) ~

Did it happen?

“And they utterly destroyed all that [was] in the city, both man and woman, young and old, and ox, and sheep, and ass, with the edge of the sword. But Joshua had said unto the two men that had spied out the country, Go into the harlot’s house, and bring out thence the woman, and all that she hath, as ye sware unto her. And the young men that were spies went in, and brought out Rahab, and her father, and her mother, and her brethren, and all that she had; and they brought out all her kindred, and left them without the camp of Israel. And they burnt the city with fire, and all that [was] therein: only the silver, and the gold, and the vessels of brass and of iron, they put into the treasury of the house of Yehovah. And Joshua saved Rahab the harlot alive, and her father’s household, and all that she had; and she dwelleth in Israel [even] unto this day; because she hid the messengers, which Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.” – Joshua 6:21-25 

This God she had not known, she knew was the true God. Do we see that anyone else wanted to go this way?  No, they did not.  

Some people today, want to focus on her lie. They will say, “Well, she is in the genealogy of Messiah and in Hebrews 11, even though she lied, so it must be okay. “

She is not found in these places because of the lie she told. She feared God and had faith, this is why she is in God’s ‘Hall of Faith’.  Anyone who really trusts in Yehovah, as she did, turns from their life of sin.  A woman who had faith and feared God, wouldn’t have continued to be a liar, pagan, and harlot the rest of her life.

She married Salmon and they had Boaz.  Boaz  married Ruth, who was also from another people and god.  After her husband’s death, when given the option to return to her people and false gods, Ruth also showed faith.  She chose to follow the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. She told Naomi (her mother-in-law), “Your people shall be my people and your God my God.” (Ruth 1:16) Because Boaz’s mother was a harlot and worshiped false gods, it wouldn’t have been such a stretch for him to redeem the next of kin.

Ruth and Rahab may have talked.  What would their conversation have been like?  Every one seasoned with grace, and talks of how He changed lives.  From this lineage came Yehoshua. The broken road that led to our Savior.  Rahab stands out because she was a harlot, but all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.

In Closing

Rahab’s life is a beautiful picture that should bring hope to anyone.  A harlot, heathen, and a liar. I can stand with Rahab and praise God for saving a wretch like me.  There are many testimonies in the Bible.  A testimony with only one side of the cross, is not a true testimony.  But before we came to the cross, at, and after; that is our testimony.  As long as we are in this body, that testimony goes on. Even after we have left this world, our testimony can live on; as did Rahab’s testimony.  God had a place for her in the  “Hall of Faith.”  Because of her faith, not because God condones lying.