Zechariah's 7th prophetic vision is about the woman in the Ephah. To emphasize 'deception' the woman did not have the appearance of anything wicked.  What he witnessed could not be defined by the, then, current  (conventional wisdom) definition of 'wickedness.' Otherwise, he would have immediately recognized what had to be revealed to him.  

Puzzled he queried, 'What is it?' My message is based on his question, 'What is it?' This prophecy had a fulfillment relative to the people of the time in which it was given. According to the  nature of Biblical prophecy, It is now in the process of its final fulfillment. 

Due to length and the need for a little oil before lighting the lamp, my comments are in two parts.  There is no way I can express what the Lord has laid on me without offending somebody; which I willingly do but do not relish or enjoy.   

Jesus apprehended and called me in the 1930s. I have never found, nor does it exist in Him, the capacity to hate another human being.  Without question, "God is Love."  He has revealed His quality of love, completely, in His  Son 'Jesus.'  He so loved corruptible Mankind that He gave His only Begotten Son to redeem us.

I cannot find any hate in Jesus who asks forgiveness for His murderers while the nails are still pinning Him to the Cross. If our goal is to love mankind any less than this, we are liars, have never known Him, and the truth is not in us. God is love and He, by nature, must love absolutely.  Although true, this is sometimes hard to handle. It does not jade or eliminate the necessity for jurisprudence and the verdicts of criminal justice. 

'This creates the ultimate oxymoron, Jesus, full of grace and tender mercies, has a love-hate relationship with Mankind. In that He is Omnipotent and loves absolutely then, His 'hatred'  has to be absolute. 

It is required that to know Him as 'love' necessitates that I know 'what it is' that He loathes. This love-hate relationship is a refining testing tool for Christians.   

I am not generalizing but there is a great deal of frustration and sickness in the Church because of loving the wrong things while subtly tolerating a few of the right ways of the Lord. 

There is absolutely, no redemption for whatever it is that He hates. (Rev. 21:8)  He hates cowardice, unbelief, abominations, murder, sexual immorality, sorcery, idolatry and lies. Inescapable, without gradation, all these are objects of the Lord's absolute hatred. 

Every other unnamed thing on His hate-list is physically and spiritually involved with Lucifer, the one who generated evil. 

Although our Father works all things according to the counsel of His own will, it does not minimize the vital exercise of 'our will' in determining our own destiny. Nor does it give credence to the spurious doctrine of universal reconciliation. 

Rev. 2:6 Jesus said, "I hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans." He admonishes Ephesus to repent for leaving their first love while commending them for hating what He hates. The church at Ephesus was short on love. Perhaps their disdain, for the deeds, developed into hatred for the People involved in the hated deeds. 

Rev 2:15 He corrects and calls Pergamos to repentance for not hating the doctrine of the Nicolaitans. Note-worthy at Satan's throne: The blood of martyrdom, doctrine of Balaam, eating things sacrificed to idols, and sexual immorality all consummate in the Nicolaitans. The church at Pergamos fell short on 'hate.' Living in a locale of such concentrated evil it was called, 'Satan's throne'  they were commended for many things but their non-offensive, tolerance diminished their hatred for the things that God hates. 

A paradox: Through His love He cleaned up people, like you and me, who were once on His hate list; Now we love everything He loves and despise everything He loathes.

I say all this to emphasize, if any mans message is based on people bashing, hate mongering or Church-splitting it would not in any degree be from Jesus who loves absolutely. We should all have a passion to know, in every detail, exactly, just 'what it is ' that Jesus vehemently detests. 

The object of His hatred is so important that after His ascension He sent a special messenger to dictate a message taking up 22 chapters in the Bible. The letter to the Church in Revelations ends at 22:21 not chapter four. All this to describe just exactly 'what it is' that He loves or hates. Jesus defines, describes and titles one of the most despicable things on His list; Giving it the infamous title, 'Great Harlot.' Jesus demonstrated that He loves harlots but hates harlotry. He entered the temple one day and was questioned by the chief priests and elders about the source of His authority. He chided them with, "Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you." Matt. 21. 

Why did He write all this to the Church? Because He, not only being Lord, was born into a Race whose history is marked by idolatrous, spiritual harlotry. They killed their own Prophets for admonishing them. Unbelievably, their offspring whitewashed the tombs of their historical Prophets, while religiously killing their own.    

Many in Christendom are currently deeply enmeshed in Religious harlotry. Why do we have to be reminded to the point of insult? Because our generation has lost its spiritual senses and reasoning faculties to the point it cannot tell the difference between what the Lord loves and what He hates. 

There is a controversy among, both, Protestants and Catholics about the bread and wine of the Communion or Eucharist. If you believe the elements are turned into the Body and Blood of Jesus, you are practicing idolatrous spiritual harlotry while imbibing in witchcraft, which the Lord hates. 

In 1950 at a Church Seminar, during a Scripture lesson, the congregation was suddenly electrified. The front doors burst open behind the audience.  A well dressed man with a two-foot beard, Bible under arm, hands raised as if he were God's man of faith and power for the hour, rushed into the meeting. With a booming voice, expecting eulogies, he shouted, "I am Jesus!" I remember saying to the congregation, "If you believe this you are in trouble!" 

All I can do is tell you the truth. Whether Protestant or Catholic; If you believe the Holy Father who sent His Vicar, the Holy Spirit, to reveal ' Christ in you the hope of glory' can be reduced to a crumb of bread by a mediatory prayer or any other means.  "You are in trouble!"  

The plumb-line is dropped; the measuring reed is extended. The Temple, the altar and worshippers are being weighed in the balances and measured, the season is short.

When we refer to God as Omnipotent, we confess that there is only One power.  All other authorities, powers, and dominions are delegated. Therefore sin and the mystery of iniquity result from misusing the one delegated power. If we have not come to this understanding then we must refrain from calling Him 'Omnipotent.' 

Rom. 13:1 'There is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God." The fact that every man does not have this knowledge of Jesus, the only Potentate, does not eliminate the need to bear witness of it.

There is absolutely nothing evil about the idea of Nations coming together to promote a peaceful world. There is no argument against promoting and fostering Christian unity. Judas expressed concern about feeding the poor while plotting Jesus' crucifixion. 

While we don't believe in abortion we must take into consideration that Lucifer might be against abortion or other evils if it promotes his agenda. He twisted and used the Scriptures in the temptation of Jesus. Lucifer knows Scripture better than many Clergymen and church members.

The value system ratified under the watchful eye of a Religious Credo, Canon Law or Robert's Rules of Order is not the Litmus test. The Lord loves Palestinian and Jew without preference. Whoever occupies a piece of real estate, places their tag on a holy-unholy shrine in Palestine is not the issue. All factions are mistaken and all will end up on the horns of a dilemma sharper than the present one.

What will you do with Jesus is the issue. The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof and He has promised it to the un-walled meek, not to a Race. There is a resurrected Man named Jesus who sits at the right hand of the, Holy Father.  All things rise or fall in and through Him. The plumb-line is in His hand wherein, also, His Messengers abide.

Corporations, Politics and the Religions can all be re-invented. The Resurrected Jesus is untouchable by the manipulative hands of Religious or Political Hierarchies.

Samson, whose strength was in his Nazarite-separation, saw a harlot at Gaza and cohabited with her. His next act will fulfill his appetite for harlotry. He is about to reap the results of his fatal desire. He is about to become a weak, blind prison house grinder bound with brass fetters. Brass is the third, symbolic, element in the image. Then the iron and the iron mixed with every particle of clay=(the souls of men). Dan.2:32-45 (Rev. 18:12-19)   

Gaza means greedy, fierce, and strong. The symbolic Gaza strip, breeding ground of greed and fierceness, is a strong bone of contention. Solution will be sought, by all concerned, in cohabiting with what is described; Rev. 13: 11 "Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon." The body of a beast is utilizing the horns of the Lamb of God while speaking with authority.

His desire being intensified,  Samson went to the Valley of Sorek and cohabited with Delilah and lost his sight because of her betrayal. Delilah means languishing, to slacken, be feeble or dry up. He lost his sight and strength trying to prove his love in response to her accusing question,  designed to possess him. "How can you say I love you when your heart is not with me?" 

In enslaved humiliation his strength was restored. In blindness his last request was granted, "Let us die with the Philistines." He and they were brought down with the idolatrous house. 

1Cor. 10:8 "Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they are written for our admonition, on whom the ends of the ages have come" 

1 Cor. 3:18 "Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise."

The Valley of Sorek means:  A vine yielding purple grapes, the richest variety. Here again the affluent prestigious spiritual harlot is identified by 'vine, purple and grape'. Rev.18:16    

Deut. 32:31 For their rock  is not like our Rock . Even our enemies themselves being judges. For their vine is the vine of Sodom and of the fields of Gomorrah; Their grapes are grapes of gall, their clusters are bitter. Their wine is the poison of serpents, and the cruel venom of Cobras."

Not only will Palestinian and Jew cohabit with her by partaking of the wrong vine; many professing Christians will be led, by their teachers, into the valley of Sorek to feed upon the wrong wine. 

The reason: Determining the Litmus test of all promises and covenants by fascination with Israel according to the flesh. The fulcrum of the scale weighing all things is, 'Jesus The Christ.' In Whom there is neither Jew, Gentile or any other. He is the new creation Man; His Church, the new creation Body, is called to be the fullness of Him who fills all in all. Eph. 1:23. Herein all the promises of God are realized in the Messianic Kingdom. All things, Yes and Amen in Him. 

      Rev. 18:12 Marked by 'purple'.

A purple robe put upon Christ to mock his royalty. Mark 15: 17

Rev 2:18-29: Thyatira was a city of notoriety. Made infamous by the harlot Jezebel to whom the Lord gave ample time to repent. Her destiny was a sickbed. Those who co-habit with her are promised great tribulation.   

 Acts 16:14-19 Lydia of Thyatira seller of purple and worshipper of God was attending a prayer meeting by the River side at Philippi;  It was at Caesarea Philippi Peter learned who is the eternal Rock and who the lively stones are.  Lydia, worshipping God at a women's prayer meeting, has her heart opened to life changing truth. There are many called sellers of Purple who worship God and are having their hearts opened to 'The Christ' 

The moment Paul entered the house of the seller of purple, The psychic slave girl, tool of the purveyors of mystery, began to exalt him and his message. Paul actually cast out the spirit motivating the slave-girl to say, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation."  Right words, wrong vessel!  Result: Paul and Silas were dragged into the market place before the civil authorities. 

Accusation: These men greatly trouble our city, teaching customs, which are not lawful for us, being Romans, to receive or observe. Imprisoning the Apostles, who sang hymns while prisoners listened, set the stage for Jesus the only Potentate to make a statement.

Suddenly, foundations were shaken, doors opened and chains were broken. Keepers, thinking their only option was suicide, were saved. The only prisoners were the prisoners who listened. The only foundation shaken was the prison. The only ones without a destiny were the Keepers. All, by choice, stepped out of Rome into the Kingdom of  Jesus becoming new creation citizens. Paradox: In the midst of miraculous intervention,  Paul legally used his Roman citizenship to expose and deflate the secret tribunal denying him equal justice under the law. 

The woman in the Ephah with flattering words seeks occupants to share her, Prince and power of the air-born, basket. Beware when the woman in the Ephah exalts you with kind epithets.

The same kind of unclean spirit speaking through a man in the synagogue cried out in the presence of Jesus. Mark 1:24 " I know who you are---the Holy One of God." Jesus answered, 'shut your mouth." Today, in many places, he would be invited to the Lectern to share many words.   

Should we love America and its Constitution? Yes!  Should we be patriotic? Yes!  Should we respect our political leaders? Yes!  Should we salute the Flag? Yes, every time the National Anthem is played! The Lord commands that we be loyal, model, citizens rendering to Caesar the things that are Caesar's and to God the things that are God's. However, there is an unseen Divine Person inextricably woven into the  aggregate of the American Constitution. 'In all things Jesus must have the pre-eminence.'

The Lord's reminder, to all Religions using the proper noun 'God': James 2:19 "You believe that there is one God. You do well, even the demons believe and tremble." 

Solution to the one common 'God' issue:  John. 17:3 "This is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent." 

Do we love all of Humanity?  We should, to be like Jesus is our goal.  Do we hate what He hates?????? 

In this world His crown has thorns. In the Age to come, gloriously indescribable! The Joy of the Lord is our strength!

A blessed and joyful  New Year to you all, 

Don Murphy

12/29/2002

Don Murphy©2001-2024

oxgoad38@gmail.com