APOSTATE MANIFESTO - (Un-Holy Circumcision!)

The issue of SECURITY (safety) is at the heart of man's rebellion against God-dependency. The great tower of Babel was not merely a building, monument or memorial... it was man's "high-tower", his man-made "declaration of independence" from/against God Almighty from Whom man derived. Should you think this action absurd on the face of it, (HOW could a creature, whose very existence (life-breath) continued-from its Source remain and maintain itself WITHOUT (apart-from) it's Creator???), you have only but to read God's Living Word to be astonished by one of the most enigmatic Statements in Holy Text;

Gene 11:5 (KJS) And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded. 6 And the LORD said, Behold, the people [is] one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. Gene 11:5 (MOF) Down came the Eternal to see the city and the tower which human beings had built. "They are one people", said the Eternal, "and they have one language; if this is what they do, to start with, nothing that they ever undertake will prove too hard for them."

Now you can speculate and read-into and examine these Words of God all you want to, but when God tells me that "nothing will be restrained from them which they have imagined to do"... I begin to understand another AMAZING Statement;

Mark 6:(6) (KJS) And he marveled because of their unbelief.

What power on earth could make the Son of God, yea, the very Living Word-Incarnate Himself "MARVEL" at it?? It is this power of UNBELIEF! I have called it "the most powerful thing on earth!" Why? Not just because Jesus marveled at it BEFORE the Cross, and before His Precious Blood was spilt as a Sin-Oblation, but because it is the only power capable of rendering Jesus Christ's Blood null & void (in-effectual) AFTER God's Sacrifice for man! "HOW CAN THIS BE??" Good question! It is because of a Covenant WITH evil; a devilish pact; a mighty "high tower" of spiritual rebellion cloaked in such deceit as any magician, shaman or sorcerer would envy... "the synagogue of Satan."

Reve 2:9 (KJS) I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and [I know] the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but [are] the synagogue of Satan. Reve 3:9 (KJS) Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.

What is worse; to prevent one from becoming BornAnew (Planted); or to prevent such NewLife to ever Abide-in-Christ and by Abiding, Mature and bear the Fruit of the Holy Spirit and the Character of Him Who Loved us, Jesus Christ? It may yet prove that the latter has far more severe consequences than the former! Jesus Prayed "Father forgive their ignorance" even as He was Dying for our sins... but for those who are NOT "ignorant" He said,

John 3:18 (KJS) He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

We are Responsible (Accountable) unto God for what we KNOW. There is precious little discussion in these last "daZe" of the whole other half (or "flip-side") of sin... ever notice how all the discussion revolves around the sins of "shalt-not's", and virtually none about the "SHALT'S"?? The sins of OMISSION are as damning as those of commission. The two most definitive Statements I have found in Scripture which detail these two are;

(COMMISSION): Roma 14:23 (KJS) And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because [he eateth] not of faith: for whatsoever [is] not of faith is sin. {doubteth: or, discerneth and putteth a difference between meats} {damned: or, condemned, or liable to punishment}
(OMISSION): Jame 4:17 (KJS) Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth [it] not, to him it is sin.

Jesus makes it clear that bearing Spiritual Fruit is the PURPOSE of Abiding-in-Him-in-NewLife, and that WITHOUT such willing Fruition (the branch can refuse the Sap & thus the Fruit), the Father will REMOVE (KILL) such a branch. In other words, we are "Introduced to Christ by the Holy Spirit to KNOW and to WALK and to HEAR and to OBEY Jesus Christ and thus "Walk in the Spirit" as in;

John 1:12 (KJS) But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, [even] to them that believe on his name: {power: or, the right, or, privilege} Roma 8:14 (KJS) For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 2Joh 1:6 (KJS) And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it. Roma 8:1 (KJS) [There is] therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 1Joh 5:4 (KJS) For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, [even] our faith. Colo 3:3 (KJS) For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. John 3:30 (KJS) He must increase, but I [must] decrease. Luke 14:27 (KJS) And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. Luke 9:23 (KJS) And he said to [them] all, If any [man] will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. Luke 21:19 (KJS) In your patience possess ye your souls. John 15:5 (KJS) I am the vine, ye [are] the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. {without me: or, severed from me} John 15:2 (KJS) Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every [branch] that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

But HOW??? Great question! How (in the world) are we NewCreatures-in-Christ supposed to DO the "impossible" (at God Says)? Here's "how" (by what means) in God's Own Words:

(What God EXPECTS from us): Mica 6:8 (KJS) He hath shewed thee, O man, what [is] good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to 1- do justly, and to 2- love mercy, and to 3- walk humbly with thy God? {walk...: Heb. humble thyself to walk} (HOW God expects us to DO this): Ezek 36:26 (KJS) A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my spirit within you, and [I will] cause you to 1- walk in my statutes, and ye shall 2- keep my judgments, and 3- do [them].

It's as simple as 1-, 2-, 3-; Just like that!

John 14:12 (KJS) Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater [works] than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. John 6:28 (KJS) Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? 29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. John 5:44 (KJS) How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that [cometh] from God only? Matt 17:19 (KJS) Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? 20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Matt 19:26 (KJS) But Jesus beheld [them], and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

It's all about FAITH. But not just ANY old "faith"; no, LIVING-Faith!; the kind that can DO Eternal, Supernatural, even Divine Work! And what's the "Work of God??": BELIEVING Jesus Christ, and DOing that Faith (Word). This is Abiding & Walking AS-BORN, and Bearing Fruit (interest on God's Investment) as Promised! This Glorifies God our Father!

God has "something-in-Mind" for this day... "This is the day the Lord has made..."! We Learn OF Him by Walking and Talking -WITH- Him, DAILY. And what a Privilege and Joy it is! Now back to the "Covenant of DOOM"...

Chapter 28 of Isaiah scathes from the very beginning about the debauchery of spiritual stupor and its awesome consequences. The overall theme appears to be that of God's Denunciation of what He Calls a "covenant with death and hell" {:15KJV}, and His rather astonishing Response to it, a "strange work; a strange ("alien"RSV) act" {:21KJV}. In a word, "error" KILLS!

How can a man OBEY that which he cannot DISCERN?; or discern that which he has not HEARD?; or hear from One he does not TRUST?; or trust One he does not KNOW: or know One he does not LOVE? A Rabbi once quipped that once a man truly Fears God, he loses any other fear. Indeed, the Lord has Taught me that His Fear is not what man would MAKE of it, but is, in Truth, Love and Knowing Him and His Love for man.

The word "apostasy" does not "crop up" in today’s lexicon often. Why? Because its meaning is so altogether repugnant to our modern theologies. But man's ways are legion, and classic. There have been many many times in the past when the spiritual leaders over men have taught them lies for truth and fed them "stones for bread", "serpents for fish", and "scorpions for eggs" {Lk 11:11,12}. God doesn't like this... and he especially doesn't like this when done in His Name to His children!

But HOW could a person who thinks they are right (correct) and who is even very religious be so in error as to infuriate God in such a manner? Jesus WARNED of these last "daZe", and that we should "WATCH and pray!" so that we might not be so deceived. But God has never FORCED His Will on another person (Saul's Damascus Conversion notwithstanding). Even Jesus Christ, Son of Man, when preferring some other Choice BUT His Father's Way, asked thrice for the REMOVAL of the Cup of His Father's Wrath-Will... BUT the Son of God voluntary yielded up (Surrendered) His Own Free-Will (Self-Choice) {which Jesus called His "Meat" in Jn 4:32-34} by His Own SuperNature. He now expects us to Overcome by His Holy Spirit in exactly the same manner! (All things in Revelation are reserved for this "Overcomer").

Zech 4:6 (KJS) Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This [is] the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts. {might: or, army} Psal 127:1 (KJS) A Song of degrees for Solomon. Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh [but] in vain. {for...: or, of Solomon} {that...: Heb. that are builders of it in it}

Jesus had much to Say about this "house". He uses a "house" as only one of many such illustrations to signify a mortal life - that is, a person. He indicates that a "house" (person) can be "divided against itself" (this is "double-mindedness"), and it will surely FALL ("apostasize"). He also mentions that such a person ("house") can be "swept clean" (healed, delivered & forgiven - much like the adulterous woman whom He sent away with the injunction, "Go, and sin no more!") in this parable:

Matt 12:43 (KJS) When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. 44 Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth [it] empty, swept, and garnished. 45 Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last [state] of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.

I call this the "resurrection of damnation" (7+1=8; 8 is the # for resurrection). Note please that it occurs AFTER the house 1- "purging", 2- "cleaning", 3- "adorning". This "house-person" was made-ready for Holy Occupancy... but was LEFT VACANT! BEWARE! What good did it do to "Save" such a one?... the obvious answer the Lord Implies is, NONE AT ALL! Indeed, more's the SHAME. This "one" is now FAR worse off than before, as we are warned of in Hebrews:

Hebr 3:19 (ASV) And we see that they were not able to enter in because of unbelief. Hebr 4:1 (ASV) Let us fear therefore, lest haply, a promise being left of entering into his rest, any one of you should seem to have come short of it. 2 For indeed we have had good tidings preached unto us, even as also they: but the word of hearing did not profit them, because it was not united by (did not meet with-RSV) faith with them that heard. Hebr 6:4 (ASV) For as touching those who were once enlightened and tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the age to come, 6 and [then] fell away, it is impossible to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

No one in the Realm is in a Position to "put Him to an open shame" ("shame-on-th-Name") as are His Royal Princes! They bear the Stamp, the Impress and Imprint of His Majesty and His Love. King David learned this bitter lesson; that the MOST vile and painful mutiny comes from within one's own family! So it is also with God and His Royal Family. And the enemy KNOWS this!

He Said, "For this cause came I into the world..." {Jn 12:27; 18:37}. For WHAT "Cause"???... Discernment; Decision; Deliverance; Discipline. God's Authority (Rule or Reign), Peace, is ONLY Possible in His TRUE Sabbath (Rest). And we can expect everything about Messiah to be counterfeited! As the last daZe are dawning and the nighttime of error falls and enshrouds mankind with the ways of their own making; as man's own vile imaginations become snares and traps for his feet; God intends to "catch them up" in their own evil devices - and SAYS so!

Three Greek words call for our attention if we are to answer Paul's question in Rom 8:35 "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or anguish, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?" Most answer him with, "Why no one can!" Oh? Only one can - SELF! Indeed, that is precisely what Paul goes on to remind the Galations in Gala 5:4 (ASV) "Ye are severed from Christ, ye would be justified by the law; ye are fallen away from grace." Now this term "fallen from Grace" is quite explicit in the Greek. It means that one has, by "falling from Grace", literally been "severed from Christ". Having once been "attached" (as the grafted-in branches are FIRST alive and a part of the Living Vine, Jesus Christ), they have now been "cut off" and are no longer a part of Christ!

How can this be??? This is what Paul wants to know when he asks in Gala 3:1 (ASV) "O foolish Galatians, who did bewitch you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was openly set forth crucified?" And how could they have become so "bewitched"?; and by what sorcery?? Gala 1:6 (ASV) "I marvel that ye are so quickly removing from him that called you in the grace of Christ unto a different gospel; 7 which is not another [gospel] only there are some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach unto you any gospel other than that which we preached unto you, let him be anathema." So the "sorcery" which "bewitched" was a FALSE GOSPEL! (We'll see more of this later). But let's look at the words themselves. After having first Received the True Gospel of Christ's Atonement by His Own Blood-Sacrifice for them... they KNOW BETTER!

Hebr 4:9 (ASV) There remaineth therefore a sabbath rest for the people of God. 10 For he that is entered into his rest hath himself also rested from his works, as God did from his. 11 Let us therefore give diligence to enter into that rest, that no man -- > fall (#4098 "pipto") after the same example of disobedience. Hebr 4:9 (YLT) there doth remain, then, a sabbatic rest to the people of God, 10 for he who did enter into his rest, he also rested from his works, as God from His own. 11 May we be diligent, then, to enter into that rest, that no one in the same example of the unbelief may -- > fall (#4098 "pipto"),

#4098 "Pipto" = "Fall from a state of uprightness; to perish or be(come) lost; to fall under judgment; to come under condemnation; to come to an end, perish or die."

Hebr 3:12 (ASV) Take heed, brethren, lest haply there shall be in any one of you an evil heart of unbelief, in -- > falling away (#868 "aphistemi") from the living God: 13 but exhort one another day by day, so long as it is called To-day; lest any one of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin: 14 for we are become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our confidence firm unto the end: Hebr 3:12 (YLT) See, brethren, lest there shall be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in the -- > falling away (#868 "aphistemi") from the living God, 13 but exhort ye one another every day, while the To-day is called, that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of the sin, 14 for partakers we have become of the Christ, if the beginning of the confidence unto the end we may hold fast,

#868 "Aphistemi" = "Withdraw, remove or fall away from; to be(come) faithless; to shun or flee from" (see Jn 6:66).

2The 2:3 (ASV) let no man beguile you in any wise: for [it will not be,] except the --- > falling away (#646 "apostasia") come first, and the man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition, 2The 2:3 (YLT) let not any one deceive you in any manner, because--if the --- > falling away (#646 "apostasia") may not come first, and the man of sin be revealed--the son of the destruction,

#646 "Apostasia" = "Forsake; to fall away from; defection; where, of a whole, some part is taken; separation causing divorce."

Hebrews warns over & over against the real possibility of repeating in the New Grace-Dispensation what was the cause of such devastation in the Old Covenant of Law, namely UNBELIEF. But how can "believers" have UN-belief - many ask??? Good question! For an answer to this we can turn to any number of situations and circumstances God Allowed to occur to His Chosen People of Israel. We must remember what is Written in 1Cor 10:11 (ASV) "Now these things happened unto them by way of example; and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages are come.", and 2Tim 3:16 (ASV) "Every scripture inspired of God [is] also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness.", and as Jesus actually interrupts Himself to Say in Matt 24:15 (ASV) "When therefore ye see the abomination of desolation, which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let him that readeth understand), ".......... well, DO we??

We have such a powerful tendency to dismiss and disregard what we do not readily understand. And the "flip-side" of that "coin", of course, is that we also resist with just as much vigor simple compliance with Christ's Admonition to ASK! Oswald Chambers (sa) said it like this; "It is astonishing how we ignore Jesus Christ’s Words!" Well, in the same manner exactly, we also ignore those "ensamples" the Lord has placed in His Living Word for us to remember!

Deut 18:18 (ASV) I will raise them up a prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee; and I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. 19 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him. Matt 17:5 (ASV) While he was yet speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold, a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. (LISTEN TO HIM!)

But Jesus is the HARDEST Man that ever Lived to LISTEN to! That is, He Said "hard things"! His Words ARE ALIVE. And the Speak Spirit to our very souls. And we KNOW this! Because we are so very carnal, we not on crave the darkness (sin) we have become addicted to, but we are "vested" in it; that is, we have something to LOSE! It is for this reason I contend that most of growing up is turning LOOSE! We want to grasp-to-control what we think we can hang onto! This is more than amply illustrated by the Lord's parable of this rich who pulled down his barns to build larger ones:

Luke 12:19 (ASV) And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, be merry. 20 But God said unto him, Thou foolish one, this night is thy soul required of thee; and the things which thou hast prepared, whose shall they be?

We see here the casual disregard for those things God TRIES to Tell us are the MOST important things He has given us; our souls, and our Calling to be WITH Him forever! It is this stupor, this myopia, this arrogant vanity which beguiles and bewitches a mortal into the illusion of death. And Jesus is quite brutal about it, too! To such a one, He replies, "You HAVE your reward!"; and in other places He Says, "Depart from Me you evildoers, for you never KNEW Me!"

Being "vested" in the world is only "natural" for man, some might say... right! And the fear of leaving the "known" for the "Unknown" in death? God Came to man to be KNOWN by all. So who WANTS to Know Him? Jesus Says, "Very FEW!" Surprised? Don't be - you've heard it all before. That which is "only natural" for man (as I was reminded smartly one day), is what God has placed us all here to OVERCOME! How? Turn LOOSE! But that means TRUST, and that means... well, you see what I mean?

Before we launch into the language, images and metaphors of Isaiah, let's revue a couple of things: 1- "Egypt" is usually "put-for" (symbolic of) man's carnal flesh, and the world-system which preys upon it; 2- "Assyria" is (in this case) the instrument by which the Lord would "Speak" or Discipline His people "Judah" (Israel); 3- "Drunkenness" is a metaphor for the stupor of confusion, deceit and error which is the subject of this chapter.

The historical context is the Assyrian crises of 705 - 701 BC (Uzziah died in 649 BC - see 6:1) when Hezekiah allied himself with Egypt against Assyria. There are 6 "Woes" in 28:1 - 35:10 which correspond with the 7 "Burdens" of 13:1 - 27:13. The fact that I "see" many corollaries between the situation of these people caught-up just before God's Hand of Wrath and Judgment was Administered by Assyria (despite their "faith in Egypt"), the determination of their convictions to listen to men and not God Himself, and the fierce "trafficking" in deceit of their leaders who were as deceived as the people they led... and the hapless circumstances of what passes for the church in this very (last?) generation. I hope all this will be(come) evident.

Isai 28:1 (KJS) Woe to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim, whose glorious beauty [is] a fading flower, which [are] on the head of the fat valleys of them that are overcome with wine! {overcome: Heb. broken}

Stupor begets stupidity & ends in the "blind leading the blind(ed)" to destruction! On a side note, let's look at Isai 19:14 (KJS) he LORD hath mingled a perverse spirit in the midst thereof: and they have caused Egypt to err in every work thereof, as a drunken [man] staggereth in his vomit. {a perverse...: Heb. a spirit of perversities} Now remember, "Egypt" is man's "carnal flesh - even the flesh of his understanding" But is this the LORD'S doing???

... 2 Behold, the Lord hath a mighty and strong one, [which] as a tempest of hail [and] a destroying storm, as a flood of mighty waters overflowing, shall cast down to the earth with the hand. 3 The crown of pride, the drunkards of Ephraim, shall be trodden under feet: {under...: Heb. with feet} 4 And the glorious beauty, which [is] on the head of the fat valley, shall be a fading flower, [and] as the hasty fruit before the summer; which [when] he that looketh upon it seeth, while it is yet in his hand he eateth it up. {eateth: Heb. swalloweth}

This "crown of pride" (vs 1 & 5) refers to the circle of towers (strongholds) which surrounded Samaria at the time & were responsible for such a false sense of security {see Amos 6:1}. These were man-made devices in which they trusted (much like the man-made heresies which are so "comforting" to those who will not seek out God's Living Word for themselves today, preferring instead to entrust those "Reverends" or "Doctors" or "Theologians" with the very outcome of their eternal Salvation). At this point we need to insert Roma 11:8 (KJS) (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day. {slumber: or, remorse} , which Paul lifts from Isai 29:9 (KJS) Stay yourselves, and wonder; cry ye out, and cry: they are drunken, but not with wine; they stagger, but not with strong drink. {cry ye...: or, take your pleasure, and riot}

Jesus too refers to this, as it was as applicable on His 1st Advent and it is was to these folks before the coming Judgment at the hands of the Assyrians as it is now, in these last daZe just before His 2nd Advent.

Luke 8:10 (KJS) And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand. And in another place... John 12:38 (KJS) That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed? 39 Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again, 40 He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with [their] eyes, nor understand with [their] heart, and be converted, and I should heal them. 41 These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him. Isa 28:5 In that day shall the LORD of hosts be for a crown of glory, and for a diadem of beauty, unto the residue of his people, 6 And for a spirit of judgment to him that sitteth in judgment, and for strength to them that turn the battle to the gate.

This "residue" God Speaks of are His very Elect; they are apparently the ones who have the "Mark of God on/in their foreheads" as Stated in Ezek 9:4 (KJS) And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof. {set a mark: Heb. mark a mark} And to the others he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity: {mine hearing: Heb. mine ears} 6 Slay utterly old [and] young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom [is] the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which [were] before the house. {utterly: Heb. to destruction}

The Hebrew Word used here for "mark" is "Tau", which means (literally), "a signature; or desire; or mark (as in "X")." This "Signature of God's" in a man's "forehead" or mind is God's Own Living Word-Will - that is, God's Purpose-IN-Christ for us. Hence, Jesus Asks repeatedly, "Have you not read?" (Mt 12:2,5; 19:4, etc), and, "It is Written..." (Mt 4:4,7; 11:10; 24:13; 26:24,31, etc.).

Isai 28:7 (KJS) But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble [in] judgment. (Please note that the term "strong drink" is used 3 times for emphasis).

"Vision error" (blindness) and "judgment stumbling" reminds us of these Scriptures:

Prov 29:18 (KJS) Where [there is] no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy [is] he. {perish: or, is made naked} ...and, Hose 4:6 (KJS) My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, hat thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten he law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. destroyed: Heb. cut off}

As we shall see, this sort of "blind ignorance" (as it pertains to discerning God's Will and the subsequent obedience thereof) is LETHAL! But is it really DELIBERATE, you ask, since, after all, they have been "bewitched" by the "sorcery" of those leaders in whom they placed their trust??? Well, let's see...

Isai 28:8 (KJS) For all tables are full of vomit [and] filthiness, [so that there is] no place [clean].

The unqualified finality to those two Words "no place" indicate the pervasiveness of the perversion of this "leaven" of heresy that caused such false-security and blatant rejection of God's Warnings to the contrary. So it is today with those who are absolutely certain of such un-Biblical (but universal) doctrines as the "rapture-theory", "eternal-security", and to some extent, even "speaking in tongues". Such confusing man-made traditions may be convenient and even "comforting" to some for a season, but have nothing to do with what God has a right to expect should be IN THE MIND and heart of ALL Christ-Ones! (NewCreature-IN-Christ)

Isai 28:9 (KJS) Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? [them that are] weaned from the milk, [and] drawn from the breasts. {doctrine: Heb. the hearing?} 10 For precept [must be] upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, [and] there a little: {must be: or, hath been} 11 For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. {stammering...: Heb. stammerings of lip} {will...: or, he hath spoken}

Remember Ezk 36:26,27... the Text about God putting HIS Holy Spirit inside of us and CAUSING us to DO His Will?

The taunt of childish, immature, but defiant scoffers mocks the prophet as though he were teaching kindergartners their "A-B-C's". This is as if to say, "He's not Speaking to Meeeeeeee!!!"; or even, "Nee-nee-naw-naw-nu-nu!!". And, indeed, how CAN God Teach or Feed "Meat" to the "toothless"?? (Moffatt and the New English Version translations here uses the term "babies") We are reminded again of these Words on Spiritual Maturity in Hebr 5:11 (KJS) Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. 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.

(Remember Christ's "Meat" of Obedience?) Hebr 12:7 (ASV) It is for chastening ("discipline"-RSV) that ye (must) endure; God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is there whom [his] father chasteneth not?

So it is, then, that God Says (in effect), "O.K., you want "gibberish"?, I'll GIVE you such gibberish as will actually deceive you into "believing a lie" (2Th 2:11), as in Roma 1:22 (ASV) "Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,"

Isai 28:12 (ASV) to whom he said, This is the rest, give ye rest to him that is weary; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear. 13 Therefore shall the word of Jehovah be unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, there a little; that they may go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.

God had already Instructed them as to His true Sabbath, that is, His Rest and His Security or His Peace (Shalom). (Moffatt says, "He told them once...") At this point, the ruse becomes complete with even a counterfeit sabbath! That is, the people are "lulled to sleep" (as with a child's lullaby) with such thoughts of security as their hearts are soon hardened by. And, preferring their own "opinions" to God's, their ways to His, and the words of men to that from God, they "fall-away" from the Living God in utter apostasy! They become as lost as they are convinced they are "safe" - and they HIDE FROM GOD in their hearts.

They had forsaken God's Way of Salvation, Return to His Rest and Rule of Peace, for their own illusion of "prosperity" and ease. We need here to see these verses:

Isai 30:15 (KJS) For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not. Jere 6:16 (KJS) Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where [is] the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk [therein]. Hebr 11:13 (KJS) These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of [them], and embraced [them], and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. {in faith: Gr. according to faith} Hebr 4:9 (KJS) There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. {rest: or, keeping of a sabbath} 10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God [did] from his. 11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. {unbelief: or, disobedience} Isai 26:3 (ASV) Thou wilt keep [him] in perfect peace, [whose] mind [is] stayed [on thee]; because he trusteth in thee. 2Chr 7:14 (ASV) if my people, who are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. Matt 4:17 (ASV) From that time began Jesus to preach, and to say, Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Acts 3:19 (ASV) Repent ye therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that so there may come seasons of refreshing from the presence of the Lord;

Their "falling backward" also reminds us of these scriptures...

1Sam 4:17 (KJS) And the messenger answered and said, Israel is fled before the Philistines, and there hath been also a great slaughter among the people, and thy two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God is taken. 18 And it came to pass, when he made mention of the ark of God, that he fell from off the seat backward by the side of the gate, and his neck brake, and he died: for he was an old man, and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years. and... John 18:5 (KJS) They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am [he]. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them. 6 As soon then as he had said unto them, I am [he], they went backward, and fell to the ground.