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Preparing us for World War II
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Genesis 14:18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. Genesis 14:19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: Genesis 14:20 And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all. Genesis 14:21 And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself. |
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John 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. John 14:2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. John 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. |
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Ii Corinthians 11:2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. Ii Corinthians 11:2 3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. |
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Facing two Kings
Christ will descend to earth with a shout. Will He be angry? Will He be happy?
Let us turn to Genesis 14:
I. A short history lesson on WWI – About 3500 years ago – or Slaughter of the Kings
Genesis 14:1 And it came to pass in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of nations;
Genesis 14:2 That these made war with Bera king of Sodom, and with Birsha king of Gomorrah,: Shinab king of Admah, and Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela, which is Zoar.
Genesis 14: 3 All these were joined together in the vale of Siddim, which is the salt sea.
Genesis 14: 4 Twelve years they served Chedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year they rebelled.
Genesis 14: 5 And in the fourteenth year came Chedorlaomer, and the kings that were with him, and smote the Rephaims in Ashteroth Karnaim, and the Zuzims in Ham, and the Emims in Shaveh Kiriathaim,
Genesis 14: 6 And the Horites in their mount Seir, unto Elparan, which is by the wilderness.
Genesis 14: 7 And they returned, and came to Enmishpat, which is Kadesh, and smote all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites, that dwelt in Hazezontamar.
Genesis 14: 8 And there went out the king of Sodom, and the king of Gomorrah, and the king of Admah, and the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (the same is Zoar;) and they joined battle with them in the vale of Siddim;
Genesis 14: 9 With Chedorlaomer the king of Elam, and with Tidal king of nations, and Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar; four kings with five.
Genesis 14: 10 And the vale of Siddim was full of slimepits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and fell there; and they that remained fled to the mountain.
Genesis 14: 11 And they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their victuals, and went their way.
Genesis 15:1 And they took Lot, Abram’s brother’s son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.
A. Now Abraham has a problem.
1. Abraham had obeyed God and left his comfortable life in Ur
2. Abraham heard god’s call
3. Abraham had believed in the promises God had spoken to him
4. Abraham had learned his lesson on a trip down to Egypt
5. Abraham had learned his lesson concerning sanctification
6. Lot made a carnal decision and was in trouble – a captive of WWI
B. What is Abraham to do? – We’ll go back to the time Abraham heard about Lot’s demise
Genesis 14:13 And there came one that had escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew; for he dwelt in the plain of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol, and brother of Aner: and these were confederate with Abram.
Genesis 14:14 And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan.
Genesis 14:15 And he divided himself against them, he and his servants, by night, and smote them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus.
Genesis 14:16 And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people.
Genesis 14:17 And the king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of the kings that were with him, at the valley of Shaveh, which is the king’s dale.
Genesis 14:18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.
C. Abraham did the ‘Divide and Conquer” and defeated his enemies thus freeing lot.
1. Abraham faced the king of Sodom - restored the possessions of the wicked city of Sodom
2. Out of no-where came the king of Salem – Melchisedek
3. Abraham was able to distinquish between the good and evil kings.
4. Abraham was blessed by and paid tithes to Melchisedek
5. Abraham refused any reward from the king of Sodom so as not to be aligned with evil
Genesis 14:18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.
Genesis 14:19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:
Genesis 14:20 And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.
Genesis 14:21 And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself.
Genesis 14:22 And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth,
Genesis 14:23 That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich:
Genesis 14:24 Save only that which the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men which went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion.
Abraham Had his senses exercised to discern good and evil
Abraham had graduated from the realm of trusting in God and on to the world (As in Egypt) and is come to the porterhouse steak in God’s economy (Hebrews 5 – we’ll get there)
II. Who is this Melchisedek? – Abides a priest continually – Saved to the Uttermost
A. King of Salem and King of Righteousness – Priest of the Most High God
B. As far as the account goes – no beginning, no end of life – made like unto Christ
Hebrews 7:1 For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;
Hebrews 7:2 To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;
Hebrews 7:3 Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.
Hebrews 7:4 Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.
C. Received tithes of Abraham
D. Blessed Abraham – The less is blessed of the better
Hebrews 7:5 And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham:
Hebrews 7:6 But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.
Hebrews 7:7 And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better.
Hebrews 7:8 And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.
Hebrews 7:9 And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham.
E. If perfection was in Aaronic priesthood, no further priesthood would be needed
F. There is another priesthood – from another tribe
G. Priests after the order of Melchisedek with endless life
Hebrews 7:9 And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham.
Hebrews 7:10 For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.
Hebrews 7:11 If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?
Hebrews 7:12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.
Hebrews 7:13 For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar.
Hebrews 7:14 For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.
Hebrews 7:15 And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,
Hebrews 7:16 Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.
H. The Father made an announcement recorded in Psalm 10
I. A Priest forever after the order of Melchesedek
Hebrews 7:17 For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
Hebrews 7:18 For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.
Hebrews 7:19 For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.
Hebrews 7:20 And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest:
Hebrews 7:21 (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:)
J. This Man has an unchangeable priesthood
K. Is able to save to the uttermost
L. Melchesedek – A type of Christ’s High Priestly office
Hebrews 7:22 By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.
Hebrews 7:23 And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:
Hebrews 7:24 But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.
Hebrews 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
III. Paul was concerned about The Group to whom he was writing – This Chapter begins with “For”, so does the previous chapter - In fact we must go to Chapter 1 because of all those the “fors”
A. Hebrews chapter 1 tells us that today Christ speaks to us by His Son.
B. Then he gives us 5 danger signals – We’ll see that these will prepare us for the time in which we will face two kings just as God prepared Abram to face those two kings.
1. Warning to not let the Son’s Words slip:
Hebrews 2:1 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.
Hebrews 2:3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;
Hebrews 2:4 God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?
2. Warning of hardening the heart leading to “departing from the Living God”
Hebrews 3:9 When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years.
Hebrews 3:10 Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways.
Hebrews 3:11 So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.)
Hebrews 3:12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
Hebrews 4:1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.
3. Warning of becoming “dull of hearing” to the Words of the “Author of salvation”, but by use of strong meat have senses exercised to discern both good and evil
Hebrews 5:10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
Hebrews 5:11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
Hebrews 5:11 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.
Hebrews 5:12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
Hebrews 5:13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
Hebrews 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
4. Danger of falling away and not being able to be renewed.
Hebrews 6:4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
Hebrews 6:5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
Hebrews 6:6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
Indeed, this “use” of strong meat having our senses exercised to discern good and evil, will prepare us to face the two kings in the world today before World War II begins
IV. The Antitype of the King of Sodom – Is already here in this world – Instructions to discern him
I John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
I John 4:2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
I John 4:3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
I John 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
I John 4:5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
I John 4:6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
V. What about Our Relationship to the Great High Priest of the order?
II Corinthians 11:2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
II Corinthians 11:2 3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
A. We are “espoused” to one husband as a chaste virgin – 3 steps to Jewish marriage ceremony
1. Espousal – a meal is prepared at the brides father’s household, an agreement dowry
2. Marriage chamber – The groom goes back to his father’s property and builds a house for the
Marriage – The groom’s father signs off on the building
3. Picking up the bride – When his father approves, the groom sets off to the bride’s house to
Get his bride. Since she does not know the time he will arrive, he usually gave a shout when he got close to the house
B. Paul Gives an analogy of the church and Christ and traces the typical prophecy back to the first marriage.
Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
Ephesians 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
Ephesians 5:27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
Ephesians 5:28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
Ephesians 5:29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
Ephesians 5:30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
Ephesians 5:31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
Ephesians 5:32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
C. This presentation of the bride was depicted in type in the book of Genesis – The first marriage
Genesis 2:18 And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.
Genesis 2:19 And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.
Genesis 2:20 And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him.
Genesis 2:21 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;
Genesis 2:22 And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.
Genesis 2:23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.
Genesis 2:24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
D. Paul, In Ephesians 5 stated that a man should love his wife as Christ loves the church. Christ wants to present Himself a bride “without spot or wrinkle” at the time of the Rapture. This was taught in type in Genesis 2. God put Adam to sleep and performed an operation taking a body part out of Adam’s side and making woman. God then woke Adam and presented Adam’s bride to Adam. A beautiful typical picture of the “Bride of Christ at the Rapture. Then Jesus explains it further in His High Priestly prayer:
John 17:20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
John 17:21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
John 17:22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
John 17:23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
John 17:24 Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.
VI. We Will Return to Earth with Christ at His 2nd Coming- World War II
A. But 1st we have to get ready for the Marriage Supper
Revelation 19:7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
Revelation 19:8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
Revelation 19:9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.
B. Now we will follow Him – The Bride (Here called wife) follows Christ and His white horse
Revelation 19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
Revelation 19:12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
Revelation 19:13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
Revelation 19:14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
Revelation 19:15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
Revelation 19:16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
1. Verse 13, His “Vesture dipped in Blood” – He single-handedly slaughtered His enemy so that the blood was up to the horses bridles in that Valley of Megiddo. He has been treading the winepress of the fierceness of Almighty God.
Isaiah 63:2 Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat?
Isaiah 63:3 I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment.
Isaiah 63:4 For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come.
2. Notice also that this King has many crowns Do you know why? – Well, it is because He has already won the battle in heaven, before the door was open in heaven.
a. Revelation 14:14 – He has only one crown – He has not yet conquered the Kings in heaven or earth. But He “thrust in His sickle on the earth from a cloud” symbolizing Armageddon blood.
b. Look at Isaiah 24 – There will be no doubt as to the time
Isaiah 24:21 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD shall punish the host of the high ones that are on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth.
Isaiah 24:22 And they shall be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison, and after many days shall they be visited.
Isaiah 24:23 Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the LORD of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously.
You see, just like in Daniel chapter 11, the battle is first fought and won in heaven, and then plays out on earth. The Lord had already won the battle in the heavens! Then came to earth and cleaned up. Therefore, His vesture was dipped in blood, but we behind Him in white – He is the only One with red stained cloths.
3. Just look at the carnage of His cleanup!
Revelation 19:17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;
Revelation 19:18 That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.
Revelation 19:19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.
4. Now we should be able to see the destruction of the Antichrist and His False prophet
Revelation 19:20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
Revelation 19:21 And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.
If we do not follow the warnings in the book of Hebrews, we will be destroyed just like the beast and the false prophet. Feast on the porterhouse steak and “use” it to be able to discern between the Righteous King and the “Want to be king”. Follow the Righteous King for ever. Look at this promise:
Revelation 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
Ii Corinthians 11:2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
Ii Corinthians 11:2 3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.