LORD OF HOSTS
by George Kirkpatrick

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LORD OF HOSTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter 1 The God of Israel .................... 
Chapter 2 Lord of Sabaoth ...................... 
Chapter 3 The Creating God .....................
Chapter 4 Dwells Between the Cheribum .......... 
Chapter 5 King of Israel .......................
Chapter 6 The First and the Last...............
Chapter 7 Our Redeemer .........................
Chapter 8 The Holy One of Israel ...............
Chapter 9 God of the Whole Earth ...............
Chapter 10 Rock of Offence & Stone of Stumbling .
Chapter 11 The I AM .............................
Chapter 12 God of Judgment ......................
Chapter 13 The Great City ....................... 
Chapter 14 Babylon, a Biblical Perspective .....
Chapter 15 The Man - Beast.......................
Chapter 16 Fall of Babylon, 1ST Destruction ..... 
Chapter 17 Second Destruction ...................
Chapter 18 The Hope of God's People .............

Lord of Hosts

Chapter 1

In speaking to many people, it seems there is a lack of awareness and understanding that the God of the Old Testament is the same God we worship in the New Testament.

Man seems to have difficulty drawing definite lines between Jehovah and Jesus. There is a golden thread that runs through both, the Old and New Testament. This golden thread reveals "There is One God" and this "One God" did not change from the Old Testament to the New Testament; only our relationship to God changed.

When we come to the realization that there is "One God" and that our relationship to God is positional, we witness Him in the Old Testament as Father, or Progenitor, or the one who begins; in the New Testament, as the Son that brought forgiveness of sin and the ministry of reconciliation to His creation.

After Pentecost, our relationship to God is one of ruler and reigner. Through the Holy Spirit anointing, we know much about God. Much is revealed by the many names which are attributed to God in His Word. Of all the names that God subscribes to Himself, none is more prevalent than the "Lord of Hosts".

The word "Lord" is the Hebrew word "YHWH". The writers of the Old Testament would not write, nor speak the name of God, because of *** Lev. 4:16 which states, "And he that blasphemies the name of the Lord, He shall surely be put to death..."

Their concern was that they might accidentally blaspheme God's name in their speech or writing. So they refused to use His name and substituted the name "Adonai". When the translators came to the word "YHWH", they added vowels; thus, the word YAHWEH was created. Jehovah is another derivative of the same YHWH. They changed the Y to a J and added an O vowel. Jah is the shortened form of Jehovah or Yahweh. 

When Moses was told to tell the people "I AM that I AM" sent him, God was speaking in the first person as "I AM". Yahweh means "He Is". So when the people proclaimed "He Is" or "YAHWEH", they were making reference to God as the "I AM".

The word YHWH, or Yahweh, was used 5371 times in the Old Testament and is the personal name of God. Yahweh is the basis for all the covenant names of God. 

God has revealed His personal nature through the twelve covenant names ascribed to Him in His Word:
1 - Jehovah Shammah God is There 
2 - Jehovah Rohi God our Shepherd 
3 - Jehovah Tsidkenu God our Righteousness 
4 - Jehovah M'Kaddesh God who Sanctifies 
5 - Jehovah Jireh God our Provision 
6 - Jehovah Oz God our Strength 
7 - Jehovah Nissi God our Banner 
8 - Jehovah Rophe God who Heals 
9 - Jehovah Zimrath God my Song 
10 - Jehovah Shalom God our Peace 
11 - Jehovah Elyon God Most High 
12 - Jehovah Sebaot God of Hosts 

Through these 12 covenant names of God, we have access to the throne room of God, enabling us to touch the heart of God in many areas.

# 1 Jehovah Shammah - God is There

By proclaiming Jehovah Shammah, we are welcoming His Spiritual presence. 

When we come to God, we must know that HE IS God and we must let God be God. When we pray we must know that God is There. 

# 2 Jehovah Rohi - God our Shepherd 

Our Shepherd is the Holy Spirit's guidance in our lives. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth and will guide us into all truth, *** John 16:13. We need the Holy Spirit guidance, Jehovah Rohi, in our lives.

# 3 Jehovah Tsidkenu - God our Righteousness

We are righteous; not in the fleshly realm, but in the Spiritual realm.

# 4 Jehovah M'Kaddesh - God who Sanctifies

Sanctify means "to set apart" in the Spiritual realm. The Holy Spirit is our hedge. He has set Spiritual bounds around us that neither the physical realm, nor the spiritual realm can penetrate.

When we are within His Spiritual bounds, the spiritual realm of evil can not affect us.

# 5 Jehovah Jireh - God our Provision

God proved His supply to our father, Abraham. God supplies all our needs according to His riches in glory.

# 6 Jehovah Oz - God our Strength

Our strength, our enduring and overcoming power, comes through the Holy Spirit, the Christ in our lives, our Jehovah Oz. 

# 7 Jehovah Nissi - God our Banner

The word Banner means "standard". God's standard in our lives is Love. His Banner over us is Love. God is Spirit and His Spirit is the Light of Love in us. We need to let that Light of Love shine in our Spiritual walk.

God's love is shed abroad in our lives in many ways; in our victories, in our failures and our disappointments. We must always stand by the standard God has set in our lives. 

After Moses had wrought a great victory over Amalek in the wilderness, he built an altar unto his God and called it Jehovah- Nissi, *** Exodus 17:15. This was to show that God had wrought the victory in Israel. Jehovah-Nissi, our standard in battle, will be victorious!

We are admonished in the Word, to love one another. We cannot love unless the God of love is in our hearts. Jehovah Nissi is our Banner and our banner must be Love.

# 8 Jehovah Rophe - God who Heals

Our Jehovah Rophe continues to search and heal our innermost hurts and feelings. God is our total healer, not the physical body only, but He wants to heal our innermost being as well. He desires that we be whole in spirit, soul and body. 

Through the pen of the apostle Paul, God speaks of this total healing.

# 9 Jehovah Zimrath - God my Song

God is our Song. Paul exhorts us to sing with the Spirit and with the understanding, also, *** I Corinthians 14:15. We should have a constant song of praise in our hearts toward God. We need to be praising God, singing in the Spirit at all times. As we pray, praise and sing without ceasing, then the problems that we seem to have, automatically take care of themselves. The book of Revelation reveals that those who have the victory over the beast, his image, his mark and his number have the harp of God. *** Revelation 15:2

Those who have a song in their hearts now, will sing the song of Moses before the throne.

# 10 Jehovah Shalom - God our Peace

God will give us perfect peace when our mind is stayed on Him. This is the peace that passeth all understanding. We are admonished in the Word, "And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God..." *** Ephesians 4:30. We immediately know when we have grieved the Holy Spirit because we lose our peace, our Jehovah Shalom. 

When the angel of the Lord appeared unto Gideon, God gave Gideon assured peace.

# 11 Jehovah Elyon - God Most High 

When we come into the knowledge of the Lord Most High we make Him Lord of Lords and King of Kings in our lives. The word kingdom means "the king's domain". When our lives become the King's domain, then the Kingdom of God will be within us, *** Luke 17:21. 

And we will sing as the Psalmist, "I will praise the Lord according to His righteousness and will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High." *** Psalm 7:17

Jehovah Elyon is the King, Eternal, Immortal, Invisible, the Only Wise God, *** II Timothy 1:17. He is the Blessed and only Potentate, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. *** I Timothy 6:15 

# 12 Jehovah Sebaot - God of Hosts

The word Hosts is SEBAOT and means "the mighty warrior", or the "all-powerful King". Yahweh, the Mighty Warrior, led all Israel's armies when Israel was in obedience.

When David went to face Goliath, he came in the name of the Lord of Hosts, Yahweh, the mighty warrior.

The Lord of Hosts is the God of the armies of Israel. David knew that in the physical, he had no strength to come against Goliath. But David knew his power in the name of Yahweh, the mighty warrior. He knew the Head of the armies of Israel. 

Today, that distinction would have been given to Saul. As king, he would have been recognized as the head of the armies of Israel, but David was not fighting for Saul. David knew Saul had no power. Saul was cowering back in his tent. David had already tried on Saul's armor which was the arm of flesh. David knew his authority in God and the use of His name.

We have all heard about the five, smooth stones and David's sling. These were important, but not the most important. First, he took his staff. The staff was the sign of his authority in God. 

It was by God's authority that David came in the name of the Lord of Hosts. David was accustomed to using the name of the Lord of Hosts in authority. By this authority, he was able to slay the lion and the bear. 

When David was questioned by Saul about his ability as a warrior, David proclaimed, 

David was a foreshadow of Israel overcoming the lion and the bear. After the second World War, when Israel wanted to go back to their homeland and Great Britain (the lion) would not permit the Jews to return to Palestine, the Jews proceeded to overcome the lion. 

The year was 1947. The ship, "President Warfield", renamed "Exodus 1947", steamed toward Palestine with 4515 Jewish refugees aboard. These had escaped the Nazi ovens hoping to make their new home in their ancient promise land.

The "Exodus" had been purchased by the Israeli underground movement. For 14 years they had purchased ships to send immigrants to British occupied Palestine. The British were determined that Palestine would not be settled by the Jews. They had prohibited the Jews from returning to ancient Israel.

On July 18, 1947, surrounded by 5 British destroyers and one cruiser, the British were ordered to board and take control of the "Exodus". The destroyers turned and rammed the "Exodus" causing great damage to the vessel. Although many attempts were made to board the "Exodus", only a few men were allowed to board because of the stiff resistance by the men, women and children of the "Exodus".

The "Exodus" sinking, the landing at Telaviv aborted, a British guard all about her, the "Exodus" was forced to sail for Haifa, where upon docking, the passengers were arrested and returned to German concentration camps.

The voyage and consequences surrounding the "Exodus" drew world-wide attention to the plight of the Jewish refugees. Because of this world-wide criticism against Great Britain in their attempt to halt the return of the Jews to their ancient homeland, on September 26, 1947, Great Britain relinquished its rule over Palestine at Lake Success, New York. Israel had defeated the British lion, opening the resettling of ancient Israel in the land promised to Abraham.

A similar event will happen in the near future when Israel will defeat the bear, Russia. This is foretold in Ezekiel 38 & 39 when Russia is defeated on the mountains of Israel. The prophet, Ezekiel, foretold that, in the last days, Russia will invade Israel from the north and 80% of Russia's army will be destroyed on the mountains of Israel.

God has given us these twelve covenant names that we may have further understanding of His character and nature. Twelve is the number of divine government. These are the provisions God has made in His divine nature that we may know our God in intimacy through His revealed nature.

In addition to the 12 covenant names, there are 10 positions ascribed to the Lord of Hosts: 

1. The Lord of Hosts is the God of the armies of Israel 

God is still head of Israel's army. It is by the authority, in the name of the Lord of Hosts, that Israel (both natural and Spiritual) will be victorious.

2. The Lord of Hosts is the God of Israel 

He was in David's day, and He is today. 

3. The Lord of Hosts is the Creating God

4. The Lord of Hosts dwells with man between the Cherubims

Isaiah spoke of the Lord of Hosts as Creator, God of Israel and as the one dwelling between the Cherubims. As the creating God, the Lord of Hosts is the God in Genesis. As the God that dwelt between the Cherubim, He is the God of Exodus. The God that dwelt between the Cherubims is the Almighty God who lights the Holiest of all with His shekinah glory.

At the time of Eli, when the ark was taken by the Philistines, it was ascribed that the ark belonged to the Lord of Hosts. 

When the Philistines captured the ark and placed it in the house of dagon, dagon bowed before the ark. When the Philistines set their idol up, the Lord of Hosts destroyed dagon and his head and hands were cut off. *** I Samuel 5:2-7

5. The Lord of Hosts is the King of Israel

6. The Lord of Hosts is also the First and the Last

As King of Israel, many facets of God come to light. When Isaiah was taken to the throne of the Most High God, he proclaimed Him to be King.

The whole earth is full of the glory of the Lord of Hosts. 

"And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of Hosts: the whole earth is full of His glory." *** Isaiah 6:3

7. The Lord of Hosts is the Redeemer

8. The Lord of Hosts is the Holy One of Israel

9. The Lord of Hosts is the God of the Whole earth

10. The Lord of Hosts is the Rock of Offence and the Stone of Stumbling

In summary, there are 10 names ascribed to the Lord of Hosts: 
#1 The God of the Armies of Israel
#2 The God of Israel
#3 The Creating God
#4 The God that dwelt between the Cherubims
#5 King of Israel
#6 The First and the Last
#7 Our Redeemer
#8 The Holy One of Israel
#9 God of the whole earth
#10 The Rock of Offence and Stone of Stumbling

Chapter 2

Many, today, have only a limited understanding of the New Testament because they have shunned the Old Testament. To these, the Old Testament is a collection of disconnected facts and fiction. In reality, the Old Testament is an integral part of what God is speaking to His Elect who will inherit the earth.

Jesus was flesh, clothed upon with the Spirit of the Father, the Holy Spirit. He was clothed that we may understand God in the Spirit, and at the same time, learn by His example how God would have us live in the flesh.

By studying the life and words of Jesus, we can have a better understanding of His true identity. In light of Old Testament revelation, there is always a "golden thread of truth" which weaves the Old and the New Testament together. Although we do not find the Lord of Hosts in the New Testament, the thread of truth is there, and He is revealed as the Lord of Sabaoth.

Sabaoth means "host or armies". It appears twice in the New Testament: *** Romans 9:29 & *** James 5:4. The "thread of truth" ties the God of the Old Testament to what is recorded about Jesus in the New Testament. 

There are 10 titles ascribed to the Lord of Hosts in the Old Testament. We will now review these ten titles and let the New Testament shed light on the Lord of Hosts, as revealed by His Word. David spoke of the Lord of Hosts as the God of the armies of Israel. The head of the nation or country is always the head of the army; thus, this head is the most powerful person in the nation. It will be no different when we discover who is the head of the armies and nation of Israel in the New Testament.

Jesus proclaimed, "All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth." *** Matthew 28:18. The word "all", PAS, means simply "all". No other has any power above that power which was given to Jesus. "All" means the "whole or total". The word "power", EXOUSIA, means "freedom to act, or right to act, unrestricted". So Jesus' power and authority is total and unrestricted in heaven (Spiritual Realm) and in earth (fleshly realm). He did not proclaim all power on earth, even though He does, indeed, have all power on the earth. He said He had all power IN earth, and that earth is His purchased territory. What is His purchased territory? We are! We are not our own, we are bought with a price. *** I Corinthians 7:23

Jesus stated that He has all power in earth and we are His host and His army in the earth. Paul wrote to Timothy, 

As we examine this scripture closely, the first word used for soldier is STRATIOTES and means "warrior". The second use of soldier is STRATOLOGEO and means "to enlist". Warreth means "to contend with carnal inclination" and entangleth means "to be involved with". Paul was saying that, as a good warrior of Jesus Christ, no man should contend with carnal inclination (the disposition of mind or character) or get involved with the transactions, or affairs of this life; that he may be pleasing to the one who has enlisted him in His glory.

We are the army of which Christ is the head. He is given all power in His army. If our desire is to be part of that army, we must give Him preeminence in every area of our lives. 

As the Lord of Hosts, Jesus is also given all power over the host of heaven, or Spiritual realm. When Jesus was being taken, He stated:

Jesus had the power to command the angels to deliver Him from the death on the cross. But He knew that He must die on the cross so that the scriptures would be fulfilled, *** Matthew 26:54. He was faithful and obedient to the Father, even unto death.

Eternal power and authority were instilled in our Lord and Saviour by the Father's anointing (the Holy Spirit). Because of Jesus' total subjection and obedience to that anointing, Jesus is our example of what the Holy Spirit's anointing is to be in our lives. He is to have all power in earth; in our earth.

Paul wrote of Jesus in Colossians:

Jesus was the repository of the fulness of the Godhead. He is the head of all principalities and powers ascribed to the Spiritual realm. Jesus is the Lord of all the hosts, and we are complete in Him.

The word for complete is PLEROO and means "to fulfill, to carry out to the full, nothing lacking". Jesus is the sum total of the total. 

Jesus is revealed as the God of the armies of Israel, both physical and Spiritual, when He comes as the White Horse Rider. 

All the armies of heaven were following the Lord of Hosts. He is the KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. Hallelujah! The God of the armies of Israel. We can be part of that army, but we must be under the total headship of Christ.

There seems to be a general lack of knowledge as to who constitutes the nation of Israel today. Many do not understand Israel because they cannot differentiate between Jacob and Israel. 

As we read the Bible, we must look at the former things as natural, and the things that come after, as Spiritual. 

We must examine the scriptures to discover where the name of Israel came from. We read in *** Genesis 32:24-30 that Jacob was blessed and his name was changed to Israel. Verse 28 states: 

Jacob means "supplanter", or "to take the place of". Israel means "Prince of God", or "Ruler with God". Natural Israel is revealed unto us in Jacob. When Jacob's name was changed to Israel in the Old Testament, it foretold the coming of the Messiah that would bring forth Spiritual Israel. Spiritual Israel will be made up of the Body of Christ.

Spiritual Israel is represented in the Bible as "The Wild Olive Tree" and "Spiritual Jews". Natural and Spiritual Israel are the two witnesses in *** Revelation 11:3. God has not forsaken His original people, Natural Israel. They will be part of Spiritual Israel. But all Israel will come the same way; through Christ. 

Paul addressed Spiritual Israel in Galatians.

The word "creature" is KTISIS and means "creation". He is talking about the new creation. That new creation comes through the "New Birth". The "New Birth" takes place, by and through, the Holy Spirit; ...when old things are passed away and, behold, all things are become new. *** II Corinthians 5:17

Paul goes on to say that "as many as walk according to this rule...". The word for "rule" is KANON. KANON is a measuring devise, a rule. This also alludes to the beam of a balance and is used in the composition of music. Therefore, KANON is the "standard of excellence used to measure our walk in God".

Paul spoke that as we walk in Christ Jesus, we should not glory in anything except the saving grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Circumcision nor uncircumcision availeth nothing in our walk in Christ. The only thing that availeth anything is our becoming a New Creation in Christ Jesus. The Israel of God is made up of those who are becoming this new creation in Him. Both Natural and Spiritual Israel make up this new creation. Paul further clarifies the Israel of God in his writings to the Ephesians.

Paul stated that, at the time we were without Christ, the Holy Spirit anointing, we were aliens from the commonwealth of Israel. The word for "commonwealth" is POLITES and means "inhabitant of a country or nation". So, while we were without Christ, the Holy Spirit, we were aliens (foreigners) from the country, or nation, of Israel. When we come into a Spiritual walk in God, we, then, are citizens of Israel.

We have become the Israel of God through the Holy Spirit. We are not of the physical nation Israel, but the Spiritual nation Israel. God is raising up Spiritual Israelites all over the earth. 

We are that people who were not a people and are now the people of God and called the children of the living God. *** Romans 9:25-26 

Israel means "Prince of God" or "rulers with God". A prince is the son of a king. Spiritual Israelites are the sons of God who will rule and reign with Him.

Spiritual Israel is symbolized by the wild olive tree in Romans 11. Paul spoke of the wild olive tree being grafted into the root. Paul said that, "...we were grafted in among them, and partake of the root and fatness of the olive tree," *** Romans 11:17. We were grafted in among the natural branches. These are the natural branches that have come by the way of the cross as we have. 

Every part of the olive tree was usable. The olive tree was very important to Israel's economy. It was used for wood, fruit and oil. Even the leaves were medicinal. The olive tree was a main stay in Israel's commerce. When the olive crop failed, it brought disaster to Israel. 

The olive tree is also the emblem of peace, prosperity and wealth. Olive oil was the main ingredient in the anointing oil used in the Old Testament. Many churches use olive oil for anointing. It is the purest oil known to man.

Paul used the olive tree as the symbol of both natural and Spiritual Israel.

Jesus spoke in Matthew, "I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel (natural Israel)." *** Matthew 15:24 

He further stated in John,

There were other sheep who were not of natural Israel. Jesus stated that He was going to bring these into His fold. Paul referred to these as the wild olive tree, or the Gentile nations. These, too, would know His voice. There was to be one fold and one shepherd, natural and Spiritual Israel, grafted into one root which is Christ.

Ezekiel foretold this:

One stick, Judah (natural Israel), and Joseph, the stick of Ephraim (Spiritual Israel), became one in the hand of God which is the Chief Shepherd. 

Paul related that the natural branches were cut off because of unbelief. He warned that if we fall into unbelief, we too, will be cut off.

When natural Israel returns from their unbelief, they also will be grafted back into the same Spiritual root. Natural and Spiritual Israel will then become one and will make up the body of Christ. 

Natural Israel's blindness has come to an end. Many natural Israelites are accepting Jesus and are beginning to walk in the Spirit of the Father. All saved will be called Israel.

Paul further clarifies this in Romans:

The whole house of Israel is made up of Natural and Spiritual Israel. The other sheep Jesus spoke of are Spiritual Israel. These are heirs according to the promises made to Abraham. *** Galatians 3:29

Paul also referred to Spiritual Israel as Spiritual Jews. 

Circumcision means "the cutting away of the flesh". Paul says that the outward circumcision in the flesh does not make one a Jew. This was a sign of keeping the Law. "...For by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified." *** Galatians 2:16

Paul's letter to the Romans made it very clear as to our position in the Law.

When we come to Christ, the Holy Spirit, we are no longer under the Law. Our righteousness in God is no longer dependent on the righteousness of the Law, but the righteousness of Christ. The circumcision we have in Christ is not in the flesh, but in the heart (soul, mind), and in the Spirit. This is the inward work of the Spirit in our lives cutting away the flesh; the fleshly desires, fleshly ideas and fleshly nature. We begin to put on the mind of Christ, growing up into the head, which is Christ; no longer trying to please God or man in the flesh. Our eyes are no longer on the natural, but on the Spiritual. We begin looking up as our redemption draweth nearer. We no longer look on the natural appearance. We no longer judge according to the flesh. We walk, not by sight, but by faith.

Paul said our circumcision was not in the letter (Law). Our praise will not come from men, but from God. He is speaking of Spiritual Israel. When natural Israel comes to this place in God, they, too, will become Spiritual Israel. Again, they, too, will be a praise unto God. But first, they must be grafted in again. Then, the Lord of Hosts will be the God of Israel; and both houses of Israel will come together in the hand of God.

Chapter 3

The Old Testament proclaims the Lord of Hosts as the Creating God. John introduced us to the Creating God in the New Testament. 

John speaks of the Word. First, we must identify who is being referred to as "the Word". John reveals this when he named those that bear record in heaven. 

John proclaimed the Godhead as being the Father, the Word and the Holy Ghost. All other references in the scriptures say Father, Son and Holy Ghost. So the Word is the Son, Jesus. We must then read John 1:1 as, In the beginning was Jesus, and Jesus was with God, and Jesus was God.

John proclaimed Jesus to be the Creating God. He made all things and there was nothing made that He did not speak into existence. Paul also proclaimed Jesus as Creator.

Jesus, in the flesh, was the image of the invisible God. Not only did He create the heavens;all that we call outer space, the planets, stars, asteroids, comets, sun and moon, He also created everything in the invisible, the Spiritual realm: all principalities and powers were created by Jesus. This includes the demonic realm. Satan is a created being, and this dispels any belief that satan, or Lucifer, was ever part of the Godhead, or ever had any authority co-equal with Jesus. He is a created being and is therefore under the power and authority of the Godhead. He is not a power unto himself. His kingdom is made up of those who have chosen to follow him, as we have chosen to follow Christ. Jesus was given all power and authority, and we are given the use of that creative name. This gives us authority over any and all demonic powers. 

Peter also knew Jesus as Creator.

Peter was speaking of the day in which we live when he said: 

God's judgment must begin at the house of God. Judgment, truly, has begun on the house of God. This is the time that we must look only to our Faithful Creator for help, strength and

understanding. 

Many, today, are falling away because the walk has become hard. Promises have been made to them that, once they accept Jesus, they will never have a difficult day. Many are crying, "The way is too hard", and are turning to an easier way. These will not escape the judgment God is bringing upon the earth.

Paul wrote to the church at Rome:

The fool says in his heart; NO, God! *** Psalms 14:1. These are they that knew God, but did not make Him the Lord of their lives. They did not know Him as the Faithful Creator. And though they might have been wise in man-made doctrines and creeds, they have become fools and have turned their backs on God. They have allowed the light they once possessed to become darkness. They will stand before Him without excuse. 

Jesus was, and is the Creator.

It is our position to give glory and honour to the Creator. Everything He created was for His glory and pleasure and that includes us. If we are not a glory to Him, and if we are not a pleasure to Him, then He will not want us in His presence when He comes to set up His Kingdom.

We need to know Him as Creator and know that the Lord of Hosts is coming to make up His precious jewels; those who have come to understanding and know their God.

Chapter 4

According to the Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, Cherubim means "a biblical attendant of God, often represented as a being with large wings, a human head and an animal body; in the order of angels".

Two cherubims were placed atop the Ark of the Covenant, one on each end, above the Mercy Seat. *** Exodus 25:19-20

The word for Mercy Seat is KAPPORETH and means "the cover of the sacred ark". The Mercy Seat was where the Lord of Hosts met with man in the Holy of Holies. *** Exodus 25:22

The Ark of the Covenant was a box made of shittim wood and overlaid with gold, *** Exodus 25:10-14. In the Ark was the golden pot of manna, Aaron's rod that budded and the tablets of the ten commandments. *** Hebrews 9:4

The Ark of the Covenant represents five things: 
1 - God's presence Ex. 33:14 & 40:38 
2 - God's power II Sam. 6:6-7; Acts 5:1-11 Matthew 27:50-51
3 - God's protection Ex. 14:19-20 & 40:38 
4 - God's provision Ex. 16:4,15
5 - God's peace Ex. 33:14 & Romans 14:17 

The Ark was placed inside the Holy of Holies of the Tabernacle. The Lord of Hosts met with man once a year when the High Priest entered into the Holy of Holies with the sin sacrifice on the Day of Atonement.

The priest made atonement with blood for himself and for the errors of the people, *** Hebrews 9:7. Atonement means "to placate, set aside and cover". There was no forgiveness for sin under the old covenant. The blood of bulls and goats could only atone, placate, set aside and cover for Israel's sin.

When the priest came into the presence of the Almighty God, it was to set aside Israel's sin until the Lamb of God was slain; that they might be reconciled to the Father, through the shedding of the undefiled blood of Christ. This, Jesus did on the cross when He shed His blood as a sacrifice for the sin of all mankind. He did this for natural Israel, as well as for the Gentile. 

The God that dwells between the Cherubims was made flesh, dwelt among us and was the slain Lamb of God who is now the mediator of the New Testament. *** Hebrews 9:15

God was made flesh. We beheld the glory of the Father in Jesus. That glory shone in the face of Jesus, just as it shone in Moses' face as he came down from the presence of God on Mt. Sinai. *** Exodus 34:29-30 

What was the glory that shone in Jesus' and Moses' face? 

*** In Genesis 1:3 God said, "Let there be light: and there was light." 

The light that shone in Jesus' face was the Holy Spirit of God.

The light, the Holy Spirit, that shines out of darkness today, shines in our hearts. That light is the glory of God that shone in the face of Moses and of Jesus Christ. Speaking of John the Baptist, John said that he was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness to that Light. The one that John the Baptist bear record of "...was the True Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world." *** John 1:8-9

Jesus was that Light when the anointing of the Father came upon Him on the banks of the Jordan. He was the presence of God that walked the earth for 3 1/2 years, bearing record and bringing forth the glory of the Father.

John states that Jesus was full of Grace and Truth. Grace and Truth were not part of His flesh. Grace and Truth comes by the Holy Spirit. Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit on the banks of the Jordan River. He became, therefore, the repository of Grace and Truth.

The Holy Spirit anointing in our lives brings us into Grace and will lead us into all Truth. We can have the Grace of God by the Spirit of Truth anointing.

Truth is not a block of knowledge or learning. Truth is the Spirit of Truth. When Pilot asked: "What is Truth?" *** John 18:38, Truth was standing before Him. Yet, He never recognized it. 

Many, today, have accepted precepts and doctrines of men as truth and have rejected the Spirit of Truth, even though the Spirit desires to do a mighty work in their lives.

The God who dwells between the Cherubims, the Holy Spirit, is shining in the hearts of men, desiring to be the light of their lives. The Lord of Hosts, who dwells between the Cherubims, came on the day of Pentecost as Cloven Tongues of Fire to cleanse the heart of man that he may enter into the presence of God; not for just one day a year, but to dwell there, eternally.

Flesh and blood cannot enter into the presence of God. This flesh must be changed. Paul spoke of this in I Corinthians. 

Paul further wrote, "And as we have borne the image of the "earthy", we shall also bear the image of the Heavenly," *** I Corinthians 15:49. When we are changed, we will put on Spiritual flesh. The corruptible, "apt to rot", and the mortal, "temporary body", will be put off. The Spiritual flesh will be put on, which is incorruptible. It will not rot and is eternal. Our immortal shall put on permanent flesh.

Paul said in *** II Corinthians 5:1-2 that we will be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven, or the Spiritual realm. 

Today, because we have the Holy Spirit anointing in our lives, we can come into the presence of God through our praise and worship unto Him, but we cannot live there. The flesh is unable to stand in the presence of God for very long. But the day is coming when we will be changed, and we will live in the presence of the Lord of Hosts, who dwells between the Cherubims.

Chapter 5

David knew the Lord of Hosts as the King of Glory. Kings rule over Kingdoms. As Americans, we do not understand kings or kingdoms. We witness Christians standing up for their rights before God. But in a kingdom, the only rights we possess are granted by the King. Yet, Christians demand their rights under the Constitution while claiming to be part of the Kingdom of God. A Christian has no rights. We are not our own. We are bought with a price, *** I Corinthians 7:23. That price was the blood of the King of Glory. 

When the wise men came from the east, they had followed His star, looking for the King of the Jews. At Jesus' trial, Pilate asked Him if He was the King of the Jews, and Jesus' answer was, "Thou sayest," *** Matthew 27:11. All writers of the gospel record that Pilate inscribed a plaque saying, "Jesus, King of the Jews", and nailed it to His cross. 

There is much evidence that Jesus was recognized as the King of the Jews, or Israel. But the New Testament records so much more of the eternal Kingship of Christ Jesus. When He came the first time, He established His Kingdom.

John, the Beloved Disciple, spent more time with Jesus than any other person, except Peter. John seemed to have a deeper perception of the true identity of Jesus than did the other writers of the Bible. In John's records of the calling of Nathanael to be a disciple, Nathanael called Jesus the King of Israel.

Jesus never claimed to be the King of the Jews. He is King of both houses of Israel, natural and Spiritual Israel. John recorded Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, different from the other writers of the gospel.

John knew Jesus as the King of Israel.

Paul, in his writings to Timothy, knew Jesus as the eternal King of Glory.

Paul further wrote to Timothy of the second appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul called Him King of kings and Lord of lords. He also called Him the only Potentate which means "all powerful authority". 

What Paul revealed about immortal and invisible, not only reveals the state of Jesus' existence today, but it also reveals the pre- existence of Jesus before He was clothed in flesh and came as the Saviour of the world.

This is shown in the Melchisedec priesthood.

Melchisedec was without father or mother, without genealogy. He had no beginning of life, nor was there any end of days in Melchisedec. He was made like the Son of God. Jesus was made in the image of the invisible God, *** Colossians 1:15. Jesus was the "incarnate" Melchisedec of the Old Testament. 

The writer of Hebrews wrote: "Now consider how great this man, "Melchisedec", was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils," *** Hebrews 7:4. Jesus stated that Abraham saw His day and was glad. 

The Jews said, "You are not yet 50 and you saw Abraham?" And Jesus replied, "Before Abraham was, I AM," *** John 8:57-58. Before Jesus was clothed with flesh, He appeared as Melchisedec, that His creation could relate to Him. 

Melchisedec was called the King of Righteousness and the King of Peace. On the Isle of Patmos, Jesus revealed to John that before the angels would pour out their wrath upon the earth, those who had gotten the victory over the mark of the beast would be singing the Song of Moses and the Lamb. They said, "Great and Marvelous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, Thou King of Saints." *** Revelation 15:1-3

Who is the King of the saints? 

The King of Saints desires to enter into us today. But, as in the beginning, there was no room at the inn; there is no room in the inn of our hearts. God does not want a partial room. He wants all of our heart, soul, mind and being. He was willing to settle for a manger only in the beginning. 

He has revealed Himself as the King of Glory, the King of Righteousness, the King of Peace, and the King of Saints. He is the King of Kings, Lord of Lords, and the Lord of Hosts is His name. 

The king demands total authority in our lives. We must submit to the King's will in every aspect. We have no rights. We must depend completely upon our King's goodness and mercy to give us what is good for us, and not demand that which He will have to judge us for.

Chapter 6

The Lord spoke to Isaiah that the Lord of Hosts was the First and the Last, and that besides Him there was no God.

John has said, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." *** John 1:1 

The writer of Hebrews proclaimed: "And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:" *** Hebrews 1:10 

God laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are His handiwork. We have witnessed Jesus as the Word, the beginning of all things. We must also recognize Him as the end of all things. When God put John on the Isle of Patmos to reveal Himself in His revelation to us, He stated that this was the revelation of Jesus Christ, *** Revelation 1:1. Jesus was going to be revealed in this book.

Jesus proclaimed who He was in *** Revelation 1:8, "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty."

Jesus was Alpha and Omega. Alpha is the "A" in the Greek alphabet and Omega is the "Z". He, also, declared Himself to be "The beginning and the end, the creator and judge." Jesus was pre- existent and is reigning in the earth today, and is to come to be the Head over His Kingdom that He is presently establishing. He is establishing His Kingdom in the earth, in His peculiar people. 

Jesus stated that the kingdom is within, *** Luke 17:21. The Kingdom cometh without observation, *** Luke 17:20. God will establish His Kingdom in the earth before He puts His Kingdom on the earth. 

When John came face to face with Jesus, He fell at His feet as dead. This was the same John who had an intimate relationship with Jesus while He was in His flesh. He was called the Beloved Disciple and had leaned on Jesus' breast at the Last Supper. Jesus also appeared to John three times during the 40 days that Jesus walked the earth after His resurrection. John had seen Him in His Spiritual flesh.

Jesus said, "Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself: handle Me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see Me have." *** Luke 24:39

John, at no time, fell at Jesus' feet to worship Him while Jesus was in His flesh. It was only when John saw Him in all His glory; the glory He had with the Father from the beginning, that he fell at His feet as dead. Jesus comforted John by assuring him that He was the first and the last. He told John, "I am He that liveth, and was dead: and, behold, I am alive for evermore, ..." *** Revelation 1:18

Jesus used the names Alpha and Omega, and the beginning and the end, as He addressed the churches in Revelation. To the church at Smyrna, He spoke as the first and the last. 

To the Laodicean church He stated, "And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;" *** Revelation 3:14 

He was the beginning of the creation of God. He was the Light that appeared in Genesis 1:3. Jesus climaxed the Bible with the declaration of Himself. 

First, in *** Revelation 21:5-6, "And He that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And He said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

And He said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto Him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely." 

To those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, He will give to drink of the water of life, freely. 

He proclaimed His eternalness, declaring Himself to be the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last. He revealed Himself in all His creative power, His pre-eminence and His glory to all His creation, that they may understand Him to be the God of the Old Testament, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and the Lord of Hosts. He declared Himself to all the world to know and believe. 

Jesus is not only the beginning of our salvation, He is the eternal life that dwells in us that we may endure forever. 

Chapter 7

Isaiah prophesied of the coming Redeemer and proclaimed His name to be the Lord of Hosts. Jesus was the Redeemer for all mankind. He came to restore man's relationship to the Father. His death on the cross was the unselfish act that brought total and complete redemption to His creation, man.

The writer of Hebrews called this redemption eternal. 

The blood of bulls and goats could not bring this plan of redemption. It took the precious blood of Jesus. Jesus' blood purges our conscience from dead works so that we can serve the living God. *** Hebrews 9:14

We cannot serve the living God as long as our minds are on our own dead works. We must come into that Holy Place with Him. Only then can we serve the living God. 

Peter understood the redemption plan of God:

No price could be paid for this redemption, but the precious blood of Jesus. All the silver and gold could not purchase it; only the shed blood of the Lamb of God.

Paul understood the plan of redemption through the blood of the Lamb:

The redemption plan bore the cost for the forgiveness of sin. 

God has promised us an eternal inheritance, but we must partake of this redemption plan of God.

What were we redeemed from?

We were redeemed from all iniquity. The word iniquity means "lawlessness, wickedness and unrighteousness". These are the acts of men that cause alienation from the presence of God. These could all be summed up in the word SIN. It is sin that brings separation in man's relationship with God. But we are redeemed that we may be pure before God. He is looking for the "peculiar people" who are "zealous of good works".

What else did this act of redemption include?

It is God's desire to redeem them that are under the law so that He may receive the adoption of sons. Paul further wrote that "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: For it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:" *** Galatians 3:13 

The curse of the law was "if you sinned you would die", *** Romans 8:2. Therefore, the redemption plan of God has redeemed us from the law and the curse of the law.

God's eternal redemption plan is complete. We have not yet been totally redeemed, but we are in the process of being redeemed. 

God's redemption plan is not complete until we come to Christ, the Holy Spirit. Paul wrote about our redemption in the Holy Spirit. 

We are sealed by the Holy Spirit until the day of redemption. Have we not been redeemed? Yes, but the redemption plan of God is not complete. And we are sealed by the Holy Spirit of God until that day.

We are sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise. This is the earnest, or down-payment, of our inheritance. We have only received the firstfruits of the Spirit, *** Romans 8:23, until God redeems His purchased possession. We are that treasure in the earth; that pearl of great price. Jesus sold all that He had to purchase that treasure. We are His praise and His glory in the earth.

We are in Christ Jesus and Christ Jesus is made unto us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption. Jesus was our redemption by His shed blood. Now, God is redeeming us through His Spirit.

The redemption that is coming upon the body is completed in Christ Jesus; not Jesus Christ, nor Jesus, the anointed. But in Christ Jesus, which is Jesus in His proper place as the Anointing in our lives. Jesus has become the anointing (Christ, the Holy Spirit). 

All creation is waiting for the manifestation of the sons of God, *** Romans 8:19. We are waiting for the redemption of our body, (flesh), when this flesh will be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of the eye. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality, *** I Corinthians 15:52-54. We will be changed, and will receive the adoption of sons. 

Jesus gave a list of things to watch for that we may know when our redemption is drawing nigh in *** Luke 21:25-27.

This redemption of the body is coming in the near future. 

We should be looking up. 

But before we look up, we must wake up!

The church is asleep! They need to wake up to what the Spirit is saying unto the church. We are to lift up the hands that hang down and begin to rejoice. We need to begin to seek God in a new way, with our whole heart.

Our redemption is drawing nigh. The things our eyes are on are going to pass away. Only those things which are not seen are going to remain. God's redemption plan is complete in Him. It is about to be completed in His people. Our Redeemer is the Lord of Hosts, the Holy One of Israel.

Chapter 8

The Lord of Hosts is the Holy One of Israel. The Holy One of Israel is revealed in the New Testament as Christ, the Holy Spirit. 

Because of the blindness of people's hearts, they are unable to see Christ. They can only recognize God as Jesus in the flesh, and continue to worship Jesus in the flesh. 

But God would have us recognize Jesus as He is today, not as He was during His 33 years He walked the earth in the flesh. We are to recognize His eternalness in the Spirit. Jesus spoke of Himself and said, "...No man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and He to whomsoever the Son will reveal Him." *** Matthew 11:27

We can only know Jesus by the Father anointing that is upon us which is the Holy Spirit. 

We have known Christ after the flesh, but we know Him no more after the flesh. We can only know Christ Jesus by the Spirit. 

Just before Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane where He was betrayed, He spoke to His disciples concerning His fleshly existence.

The death of Jesus' flesh had to be accomplished because it was written, or prophesied, that He would die for the sins of the world. Jesus also revealed, "The things concerning Me have an end." He spoke this of His flesh, or fleshly existence. And yet, He is still being worshipped in the flesh, instead of His true place in our lives; as the Holy Spirit anointing.

The church today is no different than Israel at the time Jesus walked the earth. Just before Stephen was stoned, Stephen gave a dissertation on the history of Israel, and He spoke to those who were about to stone Him:

Paul wrote that ancient Israel always resisted the workings of the Holy Spirit. As Israel resisted the Holy Spirit, much that is called church today is still resisting the Holy Spirit. They will not allow Him to rule and reign in their lives. They are still uncircumcised in their hearts and in their ears. They are stiff- necked, or hard-headed.

From the beginning, God has endeavoured to reveal Himself as the Holy One of Israel in the lives of Natural and Spiritual Israel. But they refuse to succumb to the complete control of their lives to the Christ in their lives. When the Spirit begins to bring change in their lives, they run back to the cross and plead the blood of Jesus. They ask God why He is allowing satan to be so hard on them. When, in reality, it is the cloven tongues of fire trying to burn the flesh away, that they may come into the presence of God and be made whole. 

Israel never recognized Christ who had taken them through the wilderness for 40 years. Their clothes and shoes never wore out. They were given manna throughout the forty years in the wilderness. 

They saw the water come out of the flinty rock and they never recognized the cloud by day and fire by night.

In his letter to the Corinthians, Paul exposed for all the world to see, who the miracle worker in the wilderness was. 

The Spiritual meat was manna. It represented Jesus Christ. He was the bread that came down from heaven. Jesus said, "Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead." *** John 6:49

Those who are partakers of the flesh will die, but those who partake of the Spirit will never die. 

Jesus explained, "I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is My flesh, which I will give for the life of the world." *** John 6:51 

Jesus was that bread that came down from heaven, or the Spiritual realm. The flesh did not come from the Spiritual realm. That which came from the Spiritual realm was the anointing. 

The fleshly Jesus, born of woman, was changed, just as our flesh will be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye. The flesh was shed for the forgiveness of sins and the Spirit was given to bring us to the Father.

There is no eternal life in the flesh. If this body is not changed, it will die. Christ is the Spirit of God, the Father. Christ is God's eternal seed which He has set in the earth. 

Paul spoke of Abraham's seed:

Abraham had one seed which would bring forth the promised heir and would be as the sand of the sea and as the stars of heaven. That seed is Christ, the Holy Spirit of God, the Holy One of Israel.

In his letter to the Romans, Paul spoke clearly of the promised seed, Christ:

The Lord of Sabaoth is the Greek rendering of the Lord of Hosts which was known as the Holy One of Israel in the Old Testament.

Paul further states that if we be Christ's, or His anointed ones, then we are Abraham's seed and heirs according to the promise. *** Galatians 3:29

It is God's heart's desire that we begin to understand Christ as the Father and as the Holy Spirit. The demonic realm had no trouble recognizing the anointing which was upon Jesus. When they saw Jesus, they spoke: "Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God." *** Mark 1:24 

As the truth begins to become evident in our lives, there will be a new awakening in our Spirit to know who we are in Christ. 

Our lives are no longer in the flesh, but must be in the Spirit. God is Spirit and no flesh will enter into His presence. No flesh will enter into His Kingdom.

The Holy One of Israel is saying, "Come up higher. Leave the dust of the earth and arise." God's call is to those who have ears to hear and eyes to see. These are the eyes and ears of Christ, the anointing in our lives.

The Holy One of Israel, the Lord of the Sabaoth is the Lord of Hosts.

Chapter 9

Isaiah spoke through inspiration that The Lord of Hosts would be called the God of the Whole Earth. In Genesis, God created the earth and the stars and all creation. God made man and all His creation from the earth. He created man from the dust of the ground. *** Genesis 2:7 

Three main words for dust, ground and earth are APHAR, ADAMAHA and ERETS. These words are interchangeable and all have the same basic meaning of TERRE FIRMA. When God speaks of the earth in the Word, we must determine if He is speaking of the planet earth, or that which He has created from the earth which includes man. Many times man is referred to as earth. 

In this scripture, Jeremiah was speaking to God's created earth, "Man".

We have witnessed Jesus as the Creating God, the Creator of all things which are in heaven and in earth, visible and invisible, thrones, dominions, principalities and powers. These were created by Him and for Him. 

As was revealed unto John, "Thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created." *** Revelation 4:11 

We, as His created earth, are created for His pleasure. Certainly, we should gratify Him as the God of the Whole earth. But there is more: 

"For the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof." *** I Corinthians 10:26 

Truly, our Lord Jesus is the Lord of the Whole Earth. We are told that He should be the Lord of our lives. When the writers of the Bible were speaking of God's dominion on earth, they recorded it "on earth". But when God was speaking of His purpose "in man", He recorded it "in earth". The Lord's Prayer is a good example of this:

Jesus prayed that, as His will was done in heaven, the Spiritual realm, so would His will be done "in earth", in the lives of His creation, man.

John recorded there were three that bear record in Heaven and "in earth". 

The three that bear record in the earth are the Spirit, the water and the blood. These three agree in one. The Spirit is first because, without the Spirit, we have no communion with the Father. Our being baptized in water, bears record of our sin being forgiven by the blood. This is His redemptive work "in the earth", being reconciled back to the Father. We are awaiting the day when this earth, or flesh, will be changed in a moment, in a twinkling of an eye. 

Paul spoke of this act of reconciliation:

Jesus reconciled all things in this earth and the Spiritual realm unto Himself. "That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and in earth..." *** Philippians 2:10 

This is the sign of being humble before our Creator now. We humble ourselves, our knees bowed before our Creator, who's name is above every name.

Another attribute that Jesus had was the power to forgive sins.

This was before Jesus went to the cross. We know that His shed blood forgives sin. But Jesus had this power before He went to the cross. This power was only retained in God. 

There was no forgiveness of sin under the Law. God has always had power in Himself. God displayed the power to forgive sins many times in the Old Testament.

The first commandment that God gave after the flood, was that murder was to be punished by death. Yet, Moses and David, both used mightily by God, were murderers; and both were forgiven by God. Moses and David lived under God's grace. They witnessed God's forgiveness of sin. But Jesus said He had the power to forgive sins. It was Jesus, in His pre-existent Spiritual state, that forgave Moses and David of their sins. 

Jesus also demonstrated Himself, being the God of the Whole Earth, when He came walking on the water.

He further demonstrated this when He called Peter to step out on the water with Him. He created the water, He created man and He had the power over both. 

The disciples were amazed when they witnessed His control of the elements. When Jesus calmed the sea, the disciples declared, "What manner of man is this! For He commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey Him." *** Luke 8:25

Jesus had power over the elements. Only God, the God of the Whole Earth, has this power.

John records another example of Jesus being the God of the Whole Earth. He was not bound by time and space.

Jesus, His disciples and the ship were immediately at the land where they were going; the ship, the cargo and all the people were translated to the other side.

We, as His "earth", are also given certain power and authority and we are given the use of that Name that is above every name. We have the power to bind and loose.

These are powers in the Spiritual realm which are given to His "earth". If we bind or loose anything on earth, it will move God's hand in the Spiritual realm to honor our request while we are yet in the flesh. 

We, as His creation, need to understand that the God of the Whole Earth is the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is directing our lives. God is reconciling all things "in earth" unto Himself. There is nothing, except that which comes from God. We need to recognize the God of the Whole Earth in our lives. The Lord of Hosts is His name. We are the repository of this power and authority through the Holy Spirit anointing in our lives.

Chapter 10

Isaiah spoke of the Stone of Stumbling and the Rock of Offence as being a gin (to separate and scatter), and a snare (a noose or trap) to both houses of Israel.

Paul also spoke of this Stone of Stumbling and Rock of Offence.

Natural Israel stumbled at the Stumbling Stone. Spiritual Israel, too, stumbles at the Stumbling Stone. The Stumbling Stone is the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is also the Rock of Offence. 

Paul writes that whoever believes on the Stumbling Stone and Rock of Offence shall not be ashamed. If we are to understand this, we must first understand the two stones that are spoken of in the New Testament.

The household of God is built upon the foundation of the apostles (New Testament) and the prophets (Old Testament). Jesus Christ is the chief corner stone of both.

The second stone spoken of is the headstone, though not much is said about it. Jesus spoke of the headstone as recorded by Matthew, Mark and Luke.

The stone the builders rejected has become the head of the corner. In the building that God is erecting, all the corners come together in one stone. The only building with the design which makes this possible is the pyramid. The headstone of the pyramid is Christ Jesus.

Paul spoke of the headship of Christ in our lives.

We are to grow up into the head, and the head is Christ, the Holy Spirit. The cornerstone is Jesus Christ and the headstone is Christ Jesus.

It sounds like we are saying the same thing, but let's take a closer look. When Jesus was born, Mary was told to call Him Jesus. 

Jesus was fathered by the Holy Spirit. *** Matthew 1:18, 1:20 and Luke 1:35

When Jesus stood on the banks of the Jordan River and the Spirit descended upon Him as a dove, the Father spoke, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased," *** Matthew 3:17. This was when Jesus became the Christ, or the anointed one of the Father. Jesus told His disciples to tell no one that He was Jesus THE Christ. *** Matthew 16:20

Matthew recorded the genealogy of Jesus, stating that Jesus, who was called THE Christ, was the son of Mary, *** Matthew 1:16. So Christ was an addition to Jesus' name. He was called Christ because He was the "anointed one". Christ means "the anointed one". 

While Jesus walked the earth, He was Jesus, THE Christ. But, on the Day of Pentecost, Jesus came as the "Anointing". He was no longer the "anointed one". When He returned to the Father He became the Anointing.

John recorded Jesus' words concerning the coming of another Comforter in John 14. Jesus told His disciples that after He left, He would send another comforter and that comforter would abide with them forever. This comforter would be the Spirit of Truth. Jesus promised the disciples that He would not leave them comfortless, but stated, "I will come unto you." *** John 14:16-18

Jesus was the first comforter, as the Son. When He came on the Day of Pentecost, He came as the Father, the Holy Spirit of God; or, as He is called 55 times after the Day of Pentecost, Christ Jesus.

Christ Jesus is the head of the corner, or the headstone. The headstone is the exact image of the completed building. When He sets His head upon His body, the church, then the building of God, His temple, will be complete, made of the living stones Peter spoke of. *** I Peter 2:5

Jesus said the builders rejected this stone, *** Matthew 21:42. The builders are those who have built their houses upon the sand (flesh). The Holy Spirit has nothing to do with their building projects. They are built upon the flesh with the precepts and doctrines of men as their foundations, instead of the Holy Spirit. God will only inhabit those houses that are built upon the Rock, with Jesus Christ as the chief corner stone and Christ Jesus as the head.

Luke records Jesus' words about the stone the builders rejected, becoming the head of the corner, *** Luke 20:17. Luke added, "Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder." *** Luke 20:18 

When we come to an understanding and knowledge of these words that Jesus spoke, we can perceive, both the work of Jesus Christ and Christ Jesus in our lives. Jesus said that when we fall upon that stone, we shall be broken. The word broken is SUNTHLAO and means "to break or crush". When we come to Jesus Christ, our old ways, our old habits are broken and crushed. God begins to take the pieces and construct a new life. Changes begin to take place. The language changes, the friends change, the places we visit change. The old way of life is being broken off and reconstruction begins to take place.

This relates to when we fall upon that foundation stone and come to repentance. But when that stone that is above, falls upon us, we are ground to powder. The word that was translated "grind to powder" is LIKMAO and means "to throw against the wind", or "to winnow". This is the last act of God in our lives before He takes the full, ripe, fully developed grain into His granary.

John the Baptist spoke of this in Luke:

The winnowing process is the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. The cloven tongues of fire that came on the Day of Pentecost is the cleansing power of God in our lives. It will cleanse all the worthless chaff out of our lives; the things that do not profit. 

Malachi also spoke of this final cleansing of the Body of Christ:

The refiner's fire is to turn up the heat in our lives that the dross may come to the top where God can skim it off to remove those things that are displeasing in His sight. This is the cleansing power that must take place if we are to be acceptable in the eyes of the Beloved. In the Old Testament, a fuller was a launderer. The fuller's soap was an example of the cleansing power of God in our lives. This is one of many ways God uses to describe this cleansing that must take place in our lives.

When Isaiah wrote of the Stone of Stumbling and Rock of Offence, he said it would scatter and separate God's people. This is exactly what the Holy Spirit does. When you try to discuss the Holy Spirit with those who sit in the church, who have nothing to do with the Holy Spirit, they are offended. The Holy Spirit has become the Stumbling Stone in their lives. They stumble, just as natural Israel stumbled, at the Holy Spirit working in their lives. 

When they were about to stone Stephen, he spoke to the religious system of His day before they stoned Him. 

The Holy Spirit has always been a Stumbling Stone and a Rock of Offence to Natural Israel. The same is true today in what is called "church". You can discuss Jesus as much as you wish, but when the Holy Spirit is mentioned, it causes separation and division. The builders are still building their man-made works on doctrinal foundations that please the flesh and tickle the ears. 

But God is refining a people to inhabit His kingdom through the Holy Spirit cleansing fire. If we are offended by the Holy Spirit's presence in our lives, then we will not stand before the Father because we have not made Him the Lord of our lives. We must sanctify the Lord of Hosts. His presence should become our fear and our dread.

Chapter 11

The word translated Lord is YAHWEH and means "HE IS". We should know when we address our God that "HE IS". When God spoke to Moses, He called Himself "I AM", or He addressed Himself in the first person, present. He proclaimed Himself to be the self- existent one. He is the repository of all power and authority. God has no need to go outside Himself for anything. He proclaimed that I AM THAT I AM.

The name I AM is the all-inclusive name of God; His nature, purpose, and attributes are complete in that name. Many times in the New Testament, Jesus addressed Himself as the "I AM". But, before we can examine that, we must first understand italicized words in the Bible. They were added words to bring clarification to the text. But, in many cases, they confuse what God intends for His people to understand. Many times the translator added the pronoun, He, when Jesus spoke, "I AM". When quoting these scriptures, we will omit the "He" that we may consider the scriptures as it was originally written. 

The beloved disciple, John, understood Jesus as being the great I AM and recorded His words to bring out Jesus as the I AM, or the Almighty God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Jesus, speaking to the Pharisees, proclaimed that they would die in their sins because they did not believe that He was I AM, or the God that spoke to Moses. The same holds true today. The writer of Hebrews stated: "...He that cometh to God must believe that `HE IS'..." *** Hebrews 11:6. When we come to God, if we do not know "HE IS" YAHWEH, or Lord, it is impossible to please Him. 

When the Pharisees did not recognize Jesus as the I AM, there was no forgiveness of sin. They would die in their sin. Jesus told the same Pharisees that they would recognize Him.

When Jesus was crucified, the centurion recognized who Jesus was:

Truly, Jesus is the Son of God. He is also the Great I AM because He and the Father are one, and the works that He did in the flesh were done by the Father, or the anointing that was on His life. Jesus always did what pleased the Father. Again, Jesus proclaimed His pre-existence when He spoke of Abraham:

Jesus was the God of Abraham in His pre-existence before He left the glory of the Father to come as the Son, to be the sacrificial Lamb of God. He was the God that spoke to Moses and made the covenants with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He was the Great I AM of the Old Testament.

Jesus proclaimed to His disciples, "Ye call Me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for I AM." *** John 13:13

When Judas betrayed Jesus in the garden, Jesus proclaimed Himself to be the I AM. Jesus asked, "Whom seek ye?" And they answered, "Jesus of Nazareth". Jesus' answer was, "I AM". But they believed not on Him.

When Jesus proclaimed that He was the "I AM", they fell backward to the ground, *** John 18:6. 

They could not stand in the presence of the Almighty God. When Jesus asked again, "Whom seek ye?", they said, "Jesus of Nazareth." He said, "I AM", and He allowed Himself to be taken.

The question is asked: "How could Jesus be the great I AM in the flesh, when the Bible is clear that God is Spirit." In the flesh, Jesus was only a man. He was flesh, born of woman; but Jesus' power and authority was in His anointing; the Father Anointing that He received on the banks of the Jordan. He said nothing unless He heard His Father 

saying it, and He did nothing unless He saw His Father doing it. 

We received the first-fruits of the Spirit of the Father on the Day of Pentecost. Jesus received the Spirit without measure, or the fullness. That same fullness of the Spirit is coming upon the children of obedience in the coming seventh day, or the millennial reign of Christ in the earth. This is when Christ Jesus will become the head of His body; those who have made Him the Lord of their lives. This is when we will do the greater work that Jesus spoke of in *** John 14:12.

Jesus was our example:

We should follow Jesus' steps. His life was a life of sacrifice. But it was also a life of obedience and believing every word the Father spoke. He was obedient in doing what He saw the Father doing. This is the example that Jesus left us. 

We need to look to the Great I AM, the all-sufficient God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Chapter 12

"...The Lord of Hosts shall be exalted in judgment..." *** Isaiah 5:16

Hosts means "mighty warrior or almighty king". The Lord of Hosts is the God of Judgment. A large portion of the Bible is the record of God's judgment on Israel because of their sin. These judgments "are for examples and they are written for our admonition upon whom the ends of the world are come." *** I Corinthians 10:11 

There are three main areas where judgment has been prophesied as to what would come at the end of this age:
# 1 Upon the house of God
# 2 Upon the United States
# 3 Upon the whole earth

These three judgments are already in process. They come as travail or birth pangs. When a woman is bringing forth new life into the world, her birth pangs begin easy and far apart; but the closer the time of delivery, the closer and harder the birth pangs become; until the water breaks and the child comes forth. The water is the Word of God. God is going to pour out His Word before the man child is birthed. In any normal birth, the first thing that appears is the head. It is no different in birthing the manchild; we must first recognize the head, Christ Jesus. When the head is in place, then the birth can proceed.

Daniel saw the day in which we live. 

Daniel's words were shut up until the time of the end; his words would not be revealed until this time. He said many would run to and fro and knowledge would increase. If you want to see man running to and fro, just spend a few hours in a major airport or watch a busy freeway.

Daniel also related that knowledge would increase. As we view the technology of today, we cannot deny that knowledge is increasing at an unprecedented rate. The knowledge of God, also, is increasing in His people as never before in the history of mankind. God is baring His arm (strength and authority) unto His people. *** Isaiah 52:10 

As we view the coming events, we realize the only safe haven for those who will walk through what is coming on the earth is IN GOD. Jesus said, "Watch ye therefore and pray always that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass and to stand before the son of man". *** Luke 21:36

God's people are to pray that they are counted worthy to escape the things He is going to bring upon the earth. At the time God pours out His wrath upon the earth, those who have prayed this prayer will be standing before the Son receiving strength, guidance and protection in that hour. 

We are not speaking of standing before the Son in the flesh, because no flesh will enter into His presence. We are not referring to a false rapture, but coming into a place in God where we have put off the flesh and the fleshly desires.

Jesus said those who try to save their lives will lose it. When we come to the place where we allow God to move in our Spirit to consume the flesh, and the only voice we hear is His voice and we become obedient to listening only to the Father's voice, then the things of this world will not concern us and God will have delivered us from His wrath.

Peter relates that judgment must begin at the house of God. This judgment has already begun. Ezekiel prophesied the judgment coming upon the house of God:

Six men came from the north. North represents the place of God's throne, *** Psalms 48:2. These men came from the higher gate and were sent from God with a slaughter weapon in their hand. The six men from the higher gate are the six angels that pour out the wrath of God upon the earth. *** Revelation 16 

One of the six men was clothed in linen and had a writer's inkhorn by his side. Linen is the sign of righteousness. The man who was clothed in righteousness is the angel in Revelation 7 who has the seal of the living God. This angel is going to seal the servants of God in their forehead. The number is 144,000. *** Revelation 7:2-3

There are two sealings of saints in Revelation; those spoken of in Revelation 7, and those Jesus revealed in Revelation 3. 

These saints have the name of the Holy City. They will rule and reign in the earth. This group of saints will flee into the wilderness where they will be protected for 3 1/2 years from the wrath and from the face of the serpent, *** Revelation 12:6-14. These are the called out ones; the virgins who are prepared to enter in. *** Matthew 25

The 144,000 who were sealed in Revelation 7 are the same 144,000 who stand on Mount Sion with the Lamb. These have the Father's seal in their foreheads. The saints sealed in Revelation 3:12 have the name of the Holy City in their foreheads. Both groups rule and reign. The 144,000 were redeemed from the earth being the first fruits unto God and the Lamb and rule and reign around the throne, *** Revelation 14:3-4. The ones with the seal of the Holy City rule and reign in the earth. These are the virgins who are prepared to enter into the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. *** Matthew 25:10

The God of Israel, the Lord of Hosts, went up from the cherubims and called to the man clothed with linen who had the inkhorn, (seal of God). God instructed the man with the inkhorn to go through Jerusalem and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men who sigh and cry for the abominations they see in their midst. 

Jerusalem represents the true place of worship. Those in Jerusalem are called by His name. God said, "I have put my name upon this city." The man with the inkhorn was not told to go into the world, but only to those who were called by God's name; the "inchristed ones".

We expect the world to do abominable things. God told the man with the inkhorn, "Go to those who are called by My name and find those who are sighing and crying, those who are wailing, mourning and weeping for sorrow, and groaning in the Spirit for the abominations that are in the lives of the children of God." 

The abominations God lists in His Word are: homosexuality, lesbianism, idolatry, lewdness, fornication, adultery, dabbling in the occult, prostitution and dishonest business dealings. When we hear of these in our midst, we have a tendency to say God will forgive them because our God is a loving God and He will not punish sin.

The writer of Hebrews reveals: 

The word impossible means exactly "impossible". It will be impossible for those who have known God and have fallen away to renew again to repentance because they have crucified the Son of man afresh and have put Him to an open shame. 

Man put Jesus to open shame as He hung naked before the whole earth. His creation will never again put Him to open shame. Those who are called by His name are His new creation. 

Why was Jesus crucified? Because He interfered with the religious system that man had established. Today, the religious systems are ordaining homosexuals and lesbians. When those who stand in the pulpits are caught in adultery, lewdness or crooked business dealings, we say, "God will forgive them". God will always forgive if there is repentance. Repentance means a change of direction. He will not forgive them who do the same thing over again, continuing to put Him to an open shame. 

The Word says, "God knows the heart". Yet man continues to try to fool God with his mouth. When God looked upon the heart, He knew the heart was deceitful above all things and desperately wicked, *** Jeremiah 17:9. Jeremiah further states, "Strangers are come into the sanctuaries of the Lord's house." He was speaking of the pulpit. Strangers who do not even know God are standing in the pulpits; to these it is only a job. They are unregenerate hirelings. 

So many sitting in pews today have lost their fear of God as Zephaniah recorded.

God's people believe that the Lord will do nothing, neither good nor evil. It is written that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, *** Proverbs 9:10. So many believe that God will not judge His people because He loves them so much that they can do anything and He will forgive; God is love and only love. 

But Paul wrote: 

We are to continue in His goodness. How do we continue in His goodness? By being obedient to His voice and obedient to His Word. 

If we fall into the abominations that are around us, we will be cut off and suffer the severity of God. 

The severity of God is His judgment. Judgment on the house of God has begun. If this judgment does not purify His house, those who are not purified will be cast into the great winepress of the wrath of God, *** Revelation 14:19. Those who are cast into the winepress do not have the seal of God in their foreheads. 

Then Ezekiel's words will come to pass:

Those who do not have the seal of God will be slain. The six men with the wrath of God in their hands were told to begin at the ancients, or the elders of the church. 

Many who read this will say that he was speaking to ancient Israel. All things that happened unto Israel are examples, and they are written for our admonition upon whom the ends of the world are come. *** I Corinthians 10:11 

When Ezekiel witnessed in the Spirit what was coming to pass, he fell on his face and cried, "Ah, Lord God, will thou destroy all the residue (remnant) of Israel?" *** Ezekiel 9:8

God answered Ezekiel in verse 9, "Then said He unto me, The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceeding great, and the land is full of blood, and the city full of perverseness: for they say, The lord hath forsaken the earth, and the Lord seeth not."

It was both houses of Israel; Israel and Judah, Natural and Spiritual Israel.

Paul writes much about our walk in God. God spoke through Paul, "Wherefore come out from among them and be ye separate and touch not the unclean things and I will receive you." *** II Corinthians 6:17 

Paul went on to write: "Let no man deceive you with vain words." Many today are listening to vain words such as: "God is only a loving God"; "once you are saved, you are always saved"; "no matter what you do, God will forgive you"; and "you won't miss your reward". These vanities have become false hopes in many lives. 

So many of God's people today are still walking in the course of this world. They have not separated themselves from this world, nor from the prince of the power of the air. Paul calls those who are still walking according to the course of this world, children of disobedience. Paul said because of these things cometh the wrath of God on the children of disobedience, *** Ephesians 5:6. Be not partakers with them, *** Ephesians 5:7. Mortify, therefore, your members which are upon the earth: fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence and

covetousness, which is idolatry. For which things sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience. *** Colossians 3:4- 5

The wrath of God is coming on those who will not follow the Rhema (spoken) Word, or the Logos (written) Word. Those who refuse to obey the Word of God are children of disobedience and they will have their part in the judgment of God.

As we view the possibility of this great shaking coming upon the earth, we must consider all aspects. We need to differentiate between when God is speaking of the earth (terra firma); and US, as His earth. Haggai records the dry land being the (Terra Firma) earth; and the earth being His people. The Lord of Hosts will shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. 

The writer of Hebrews also records this great shaking: 

The book of Hebrews spoke of the voice that shook the earth, referring to when God spoke to the children of Israel on Mt. Sinai and the mountain shook and the fire of God was so dreadful that all Israel fled from His presence. This time He has promised not only to shake the earth, but the heavens as well. Heaven is the Spiritual realm. At this shaking, satan will be cast out of heaven. 

Satan will be cast unto the earth. No longer will he have access to God's throne. No longer will he be the accuser of the brethren.

The physical shaking of the earth has truly begun. Matthew and Mark record that there will be earthquakes in diverse places. The ten major earthquakes in modern times have been in the last 15 years. Everyone knows the big ones are yet to happen. 

But, in the Spiritual sense, the shaking of our earth is also taking place. Men's hearts are truly failing them for fear when they look at the things coming upon the earth, *** Luke 21:26. They are being shaken. Their Spiritual lives are being shaken. Their walk in God is being shaken. 

The old religious ways no longer satisfy. They are crying out to God for more; more of God, more understanding. This shaking in our earth is to shake out those things that do not bring glory unto God, so that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. There are greater earthquakes then we have ever witnessed coming in our near future. But the shaking that is in our earth now is so important. The words of Haggai must be fulfilled in us.

God is going to shake the nations and the desire of all nations shall come. Many who read this scripture, attribute the phrase, "desire of all nations", as the second coming of Jesus. Haggai was not speaking of the second coming of Jesus. The word for nations is GOWY and means "a foreign nation, or Gentile, or aliens from God". 

The desire of all nations are those who have come into the fullness of Christ from all nations on earth. God will fill His house (the Body of Christ, His inheritance in the earth) with His glory. This includes both houses of Israel, Natural and Spiritual. 

When Israel was broken off from the root, they became aliens of God, and are still aliens of God until they be grafted back into the root, *** Romans 11:15-24. That root is Jesus Christ. They must come the same way as the wild olive branch. 

At the time of the shaking of the earth, God is going to fill the house of Israel, His body, with glory. Paul spoke of being filled with that glory: 

The time of judgment is upon the Body of Christ NOW. And the shaking we are all feeling is so necessary if we are to receive the full glory when He comes to make up His precious jewels. At this time God will claim the treasure He has hidden in earthen vessels. 

As we witness the judgment and feel the shaking, we need to look up for our redemption draweth nigh. The Lord of Hosts will judge His house first. If He will not judge His house, how can He judge the earth? His judgment now is on the faithful ones. Those who refuse the shaking in the earth are children of disobedience. 

John said that the wrath of the winepress will be trodden without the city and the blood will come out of the winepress to the horses bridles by the space of one thousand six hundred furlongs, or 200 miles. *** Revelation 14:20

This is the blood of the vine. The vine is that which brought forth the full ripe fruit, or the church system. And that blood is the blood of the children of disobedience; those that call themselves by the household of God; those who were not changed by the shaking in their earth. They resisted the shaking and did not separate themselves from the things of the world, the flesh or the prince of the power of the air. They had not made God the Lord of their lives, but rather had depended on the precepts and doctrines of men. They followed their religious order instead of the Rhema and Logos Word of God. 

The Lord of Hosts is a God of judgment. And severity will fall on those that have not continued in God's goodness. These will be cast from the presence of God. The angel with the sickle will cut them off and cast them into the great winepress of the wrath of God. 

God desires that we turn to Him with our whole heart and become separated from the things in our lives that will cause separation from Him IN THAT DAY.

Chapter 13 

For many generations the question has been asked: "Is the United States mentioned in the Bible?" As we ponder this question, it would certainly seem reasonable that God would make mention of the most powerful, affluent nation that has ever existed on the earth. We know that the Word does not mention the United States by name; none the less, the United States is spoken of extensively in God's Word.

We must realize the uniqueness of the United States. This nation never became an empire with a large amount of disconnected land under one governmental control. The United States has never been under a monarch rule. The reference to the United States in the Word is as a "CITY". 

The reason for this is that the United States did not become a great nation by throwing down other nations to acquire territory. Rather, it annexed, purchased and developed land. When territories wanted to become part of the United States, they became states and were annexed into the United States the same way cities annex other towns, or surrounding areas, to increase the size of their cities. Examples of these are Texas, Alaska and Hawaii.

The United States also purchased vast territories. These purchases included the Louisiana Purchase, the Gladstone Purchase and the Seward Purchase. The United States also developed land. It only took 74 years from the time that the United States declared their independence from England until the `49ers settled California.

How do we recognize the United States in the Bible? It has been thought for many years, that the judgment of the Great Whore in Revelation 17 was the United States. Now God has provided the Spiritual Truth.

Let's let the scriptures speak for themselves:

John tells us in *** Revelation 17:1, "And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters:"

The whore was sitting upon many waters. The many waters are explained further in Revelation 17:15. This becomes our first clue as to who the whore is.

The United States is known as the melting pot of the world. The Statue of Liberty is a symbol of welcome to all nations and languages. The inscription on the Statue of Liberty states it very clearly: