Like a chestnut tree

The sons of Josiah were Johanan, the firstborn, the second was Jehoiakim, the third, Zedekiah, and the fourth, Shallum. (1 Chronicles 3:15)

Before him (Josiah) there was no king like him who turned to the Lord with all his heart, all his soul, and all his might, in conformity to all the Law of Moses; nor did any like him arise after him. (2 Kings 23:25)

 Jehoahaz was twenty-three years old when he became king, and he reigned for three months in Jerusalem; and his mother’s name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. He did evil in the sight of the Lord, in accordance with all that his forefathers had done. And Pharaoh Neco imprisoned him at Riblah in the land of Hamath, so that he would not reign in Jerusalem; and he imposed on the land a fine of a hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold.Then Pharaoh Neco made Eliakim the son of Josiah king in the place of his father Josiah, and he changed his name to Jehoiakim. But he took Jehoahaz and brought him to Egypt, and he died there. (2 Kings 23:31-34)

So Jehoiakim lay down with his fathers, and his son Jehoiachin became king in his place. Now the king of Egypt did not come out of his land again, because the king of Babylon had taken everything that belonged to the king of Egypt from the brook of Egypt to the river Euphrates. Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he became king, and he reigned for three months in Jerusalem; and his mother’s name was Nehushta the daughter of Elnathan of Jerusalem. He did evil in the sight of the Lord, in accordance with all that his father had done.At that time the servants of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon went up to Jerusalem, and the city came under siege. And Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon came to the city, while his servants were besieging it. Then Jehoiachin the king of Judah went out to the king of Babylon, he, his mother, his servants, his commanders, and his officials. And the king of Babylon took him prisoner in the eighth year of his reign.  (2 Kings 24:6-12)

I consider that Josiah resembles Christ more than king David. The great king Josiah had four sons. Among four sons, two are mentioned in Ezekiel 19. Two are identical and evil.

Little is known about the first son. It is believed that Shallum (Johoahaz), the fourth son, succeeded Josiah. But he did evil and was taken to Egypt by Neco. He was succeeded by his older brother, Jehoiakim. He also did evil and died in Jerusalem. His son Jehoiachin (Jeconiah) succeeded him. He also did evil, and Nebuchadnezzar took him to Babylon. He was succeeded by Zedekiah who was the third son of king Josiah. Zedekiah also did evil and was taken to Babylon and died there. Zedekiah refused to listen to the words of God spoken by the prophet Jeremiah. And his end was horrible.

The king of Babylon slaughtered Zedekiah’s sons as Zedekiah watched. He also slaughtered all the officials of Judah at Riblah. Then he blinded Zedekiah and put him in bronze shackles. The king of Babylon took him to Babylon and put him in a prison, where he stayed until he died. (Jeremiah 52:10-11)

But God showed mercy to Jehoiachin in Babylon because of His promise to king David. And Zerubbabel is a descendant of Jehoiachin. And their names are mentioned in the genealogy of Christ in Matthew 1 :12-13 and Luke 3:27.

The two lions in Ezekiel 19 are believed to be Johoahaz, who was taken to Egypt, and Jehoaichin, who was taken to Babylon. But I think the second lion indicates king Zedekiah. He was also taken to Babylon.

They put him in a wooden collar with hooks and brought him to the king of Babylon;
They brought him in hunting nets so that his voice would no longer be heard on the mountains of Israel. (Ezekiel 19:9)

 Then he blinded the eyes of Zedekiah; and the king of Babylon bound him with bronze shackles and brought him to Babylon and put him in prison until the day of his death. (Jeremiah 52:11)

Although Jehoiachin is considered the last king of Judah by some, I consider Zedekiah was the last king of Judah. The Bible tell us the evilness of the last four kings of Judah. From a moral point of view, they may not much worse than other kings. But God had already decided to put an end to Judah before they became kings.

Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to the Lord as he did—with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, in accordance with all the Law of Moses. Nevertheless, the Lord did not turn away from the heat of his fierce anger, which burned against Judah because of all that Manasseh had done to arouse his anger.So the Lord said, “I will remove Judah also from my presence as I removed Israel, and I will reject Jerusalem, the city I chose, and this temple, about which I said, ‘My Name shall be there.’ (2 Kings 23:25-27)

Jehoahaz was the last son of Josiah. And Zedekiah was the last king of Judah. Their end was full of shame and disgrace. The visible churches or the church systems have produced many evil leaders that kill and harm God’s true chosen people. I am not talking about their immoral deeds. By giving false hope and speaking lies about God just as the false prophets did in the OT, they mislead and kill people. The time will surely come when God judges all evil leaders in churches. Then God’s enemies will be put to shame.

All my enemies will be put to shame and greatly horrified; They shall turn back, they will suddenly be put to shame. (Psalm 6:10)

It is not that only evil leaders will be judged. Those who follow them will also be judged.

… they cried out with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who live on the earth? (Revelation 6:10)

But if the wicked person turns from all his sins which he has committed and keeps all My statutes and practices justice and righteousness, he shall certainly live; he shall not die. All his offenses which he has committed will not be remembered against him; because of his righteousness which he has practiced, he will live. (v. 21-22)

When a righteous person turns away from his righteousness, commits injustice and dies because of it, for his injustice which he has committed he dies. But when a wicked person turns away from his wickedness which he has committed and practices justice and righteousness, he will save his life. Since he understood and turned away from all his offenses which he had committed, he shall certainly live; he shall not die. (v. 26-28)

It is easy to divide work from faith and the conditional covenant from the unconditional covenant. Apostle Paul used a simple analogy throughout his letters for the Jews who could not understand the mystery of God’s grace. And some misinterpreted his words and think that there are two completely different covenants just as we divide the Bible into two, the Old Testament and the New Testament. It is one way to look at the covenants of God.

And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost and the skins as well; but one puts new wine into fresh wineskins. (Mark 2:22)

Behold, days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant which I made with their fathers on the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, although I was a husband to them,” declares the Lord. “For this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” declares the Lord: “I will put My law within them and write it on their heart; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. (Jeremiah 31:31-34)

However, there is, in fact, only one covenant. That is the new covenant. The new covenant promises that the Holy Spirit stays with a chosen person forever. This has always been God’s plan.

God alone is righteous. Only God plans and fulfils. Without the Holy Spirit, we are not righteous no matter how many good deeds we do in the eyes of the world. Only through the unconditional covenant, the requirements of the conditional covenant are fulfilled. It is because only by the Holy Spirit, our heart of stone is removed. With the heart of flesh given by God, we understand God and His ways and turn away from evil ways. Therefore, true obedience is the work of the Holy Spirit within a person. Christ became a man so that His people would become like Him. And the result is the Kingdom. This is God’s good will.

Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to reward each one as his work deserves. (Revelation 22:12)

Only those who receive the Holy Spirit by grace will be saved because the Lord knows His chosen people. Despite human weaknesses, saints do not fall again because of God’s eternal grace. Their good works are known to God because the Holy Spirit has done them. Works reflect the condition of the heart. If it remains as the heart of stone, one will produce no fruit or bad fruit. If it has changed to the heart of flesh, one will inevitably produce good fruit. Therefore, true faith given by God produces good works. Faith comes first, not works.

Remain in Me (Christ), and I in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself but must remain in the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in Me. (John 15:4)

So Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, “This is what the Lord God of armies, the God of Israel says: ‘If you will indeed surrender to the officers of the king of Babylon, then you will live, this city will not be burned with fire, and you and your household will survive. But if you do not surrender to the officers of the king of Babylon, then this city will be handed over to the Chaldeans; and they will burn it with fire, and you yourself will not escape from their hands.’” Then King Zedekiah said to Jeremiah, “I am in fear of the Jews who have deserted to the Chaldeans, for they may hand me over to them, and they will abuse me.” But Jeremiah said, “They will not turn you over. Please obey the Lord in what I am saying to you, so that it may go well for you and you may live. But if you keep refusing to surrender, this is the word which the Lord has shown me: ‘Behold, all of the women who have been left in the palace of the king of Judah are going to be brought out to the officers of the king of Babylon; and those women will say,

“Your close friends
Have misled and overpowered you;
While your feet were sunk in the mire,
They turned back.”

They are also going to bring out all your wives and your sons to the Chaldeans, and you yourself will not escape from their hand, but will be seized by the hand of the king of Babylon, and this city will be burned with fire.’” (Jeremiah 38:17-23)

———————————————————————————–

So Samuel said, “Is it not true, though you were insignificant in your own eyes, that you became the head of the tribes of Israel? For the Lord anointed you as king over Israel. And the Lord sent you on a mission, and said, ‘Go and completely destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are eliminated.’ Why then did you not obey the voice of the Lord? Instead, you loudly rushed upon the spoils and did what was evil in the sight of the Lord!”

Then Saul said to Samuel, “I did obey the voice of the Lord, for I went on the mission on which the Lord sent me; and I have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have completely destroyed the Amalekites. But the people took some of the spoils, sheep and oxen, the choicest of the things designated for destruction, to sacrifice to the Lord your God at Gilgal.” Samuel said,

“Does the Lord have as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices
As in obeying the voice of the Lord?
Behold, to obey is better than a sacrifice,
And to pay attention is better than the fat of rams.
For rebellion is as reprehensible as the sin of divination,
And insubordination is as reprehensible as false religion and idolatry.
Since you have rejected the word of the Lord,
He has also rejected you from being king.”

Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned, for I have violated the command of the Lord and your words, because I feared the people and listened to their voice. (1 Samuel 15:17-24)

There is at least one thing common with king Zedekiah and king Saul. That is, they feared people. They feared people more than God. Listening to people and trying to please them is the first step to corruption. I know there are so-called super ministers in the world. They preach in front of many people, do broadcasting, and write books. They are extremely popular among Christians. And yet, they do not speak truths. Even though they speak of Sola Gratia at the beginning, they deny it at the end. Then we realize that they are false Christians. Almost always, their immoral living is revealed at the end. We who have the Holy Spirit speak truths of God and live according to the Law. They do not have the Spirit and thus, speak lies and live against the Law. Because of their popularity and reputation, people follow their words, not God’s words.

God handed the Israelites over to king Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. The people and the kings of Judah were comfortable in their kingdom while they despised God. They love to live in a kingdom without the King. Tenants are trying to remove the landlord. When God announced disasters to punish them, they resisted God’s words and persecuted His prophets. Jeremiah was threatened and harassed because of God’s words that he spoke to people. Rather than turning away from their evil ways, they continue to serve idols.

Egypt symbolizes slavery to sins. And the Law reveals that we are sinful. Christ came and died to break us from that bondage. Although people have tasted the sweetness of freedom, they miss their old days of slavery and go back to Egypt.

After the fall of Jerusalem, those remaining in Jerusalem insist on going to Egypt. Jeremiah warned them. But they still did. The end was death. Jeremiah chapter 42 to 46 tells us the end of rebellious people.

God has hardened the heart of Pharaoh, Saul, and Zedekiah because they are to show us who the Lord is. Their demise tells us that human wisdom is nothing. We always come up with various ideas that we think will work well. But we do not have any wisdom or power. We own nothing. Fear of God is the beginning of true wisdom.

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. (Proverbs 9:10)

Many Christians think that Apostle Paul had a successful career because he built many churches. Christians often quote verses from the Book of Acts and think they can convert everyone to Christianity. I consider that Evangelism and Acts 29 movement has done much harm to Christianity. People get lured by false leaders all the time. And there is nothing that I can do to stop them. It was God’s will that the Apostles built many visible churches. Many people came to churches, but many did not know God as we read the NT. The Letter to the Galatians tells us about the challenges that Paul had within churches.

Where then is that sense of blessing you had? For I testify about you that, if possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. So have I become your enemy by telling you the truth? (Galatians 4:15-16)

At my first defense no one supported me, but all deserted me; may it not be counted against them. But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that through me the proclamation might be fully accomplished, and that all the Gentiles might hear; and I was rescued out of the lion’s mouth. (2 Timothy 4:16-17)

Paul’s understanding of how one is saved did not change in his writings. He never taught people work-based or Law-based salvation. He always preached on Sola Gratia. However, false teachers twist his words and confuse people. If anyone wants to go back to Egypt, I won’t stop him/her because people always act according to what they know and understand. God also let Zedekiah do whatever he wants to do. But God’s warnings do not go away. How can we know God unless He gives us the Holy Spirit? Therefore, God alone plans and carries out His plans.

… I also swore an oath to you and entered into a covenant with you so that you became Mine… (v.8)

Then your fame spread among the nations on account of your beauty, for it was perfect because of My splendor which I bestowed on you,” declares the Lord God. “But you trusted in your beauty and became unfaithful because of your fame, and you poured out your obscene practices on every passer-by to whom it might be tempting. (v.14-15)

Now your older sister is Samaria, who lives north of you with her daughters; and your younger sister, who lives south of you, is Sodom with her daughters. Yet you have not merely walked in their ways and committed their abominations; but, as if that were too little, you also acted more corruptly in all your conduct than they. As I live,” declares the Lord God, “Sodom, your sister and her daughters have not done as you and your daughters have done! Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had arrogance, plenty of food, and carefree ease, but she did not help the poor and needy. So they were haughty and committed abominations before Me. Therefore I removed them when I saw it. Furthermore, Samaria did not commit half of your sins, for you have multiplied your abominations more than they. So you have made your sisters appear innocent by all your abominations which you have committed. Also, bear your disgrace in that you have made judgment favorable for your sisters. Because of your sins in which you acted more abominably than they, they are more in the right than you. Yes, be also ashamed and bear your disgrace, in that you made your sisters appear innocent. (v. 46-52)

Nevertheless, I will remember My covenant with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish an everlasting covenant with you. Then you will remember your ways and be ashamed when you receive your sisters, both your older and your younger; and I will give them to you as daughters, but not because of your covenant. So I will establish My covenant with you, and you shall know that I am the Lord, so that you may remember and be ashamed, and not open your mouth again because of your disgrace, when I have forgiven you for all that you have done,” the Lord God declares. (v. 60-63)

Both the Northern Israel and the kingdom of Judah built a city to worship God. The Northern Israel built altars for God at Dan and Bethel (in Samaria region), and Samaria was their capital city. And Judah continued to worship in the temple built by Solomon in Jerusalem. Jerusalem was the authorized place for worship to God because the Tabernacle was there as we read 1 and 2 Kings and 1 and 2 Chronicles. Jerusalem was the pride of the kingdom of Judah. However, God reveals that Jerusalem has committed more sins than Samaria or Sodom. That does not mean that Samaria or Sodom will escape judgements. When Ezekiel received God’s words, they had already been punished and destroyed. This chapter warns the people of Judah of the fall of Jerusalem. As always, the judge tells the sinner why he/she is judged. Although the sentence will be carried, God gives hope to His chosen people that He will restore the city and make it His eternal dwelling place. I am not talking about a city that can be visible on the earth.

The Protestant churches boast that they are different from the Roman Catholic church. They boast that they worship God right. They call themselves true churches of God. They call their church their mothers. But their mothers are harlots. It is very sad, but it is true. They are not true churches. The only true church is the invisible church. They praise the Reformers and the Confessions. Yet, they do not follow what they say. Many have abandoned the Confessions. They put trust in men’s words, not God’s. They worship men, not God. They worship themselves, not God. They lure people to their churches saying that they can save them but make them worse sinners than themselves.

This is the end of churches that speak lies. Jerusalem who denies Sola Gratia and speaks lies will fall. If anyone puts hope in a visible church or a church system, the end will be sad. Only the words of God will remain.

Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away. (Matthew 24:35)

You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by people. (Matthew 5:13)

The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, how is the wood of a vine different from that of a branch from any of the trees in the forest? Is wood ever taken from it to make anything useful? Do they make pegs from it to hang things on? And after it is thrown on the fire as fuel and the fire burns both ends and chars the middle, is it then useful for anything? If it was not useful for anything when it was whole, how much less can it be made into something useful when the fire has burned it and it is charred? (Ezekiel 15:1-5)

I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Remain in Me, and I in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself but must remain in the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; the one who remains in Me, and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. (John 15:1-5)

I will make the land desolate because they have been unfaithful, declares the Sovereign Lord. (Ezekiel 15:8)

God cuts down the unfruitful vine (Israel) and throws it into fire because she has been unfaithful. Saints are united with Christ through the Holy Spirit. Those who have not received the Spirit cannot bear fruit (faith). They will be thrown into fire on the Day of the Lord. Apostle Paul talks about the fruit of the Holy Spirit in his letter to the Galatians.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23)

Many interpret these verses from a moral point of view. But the distinctive feature of a good vine is faith in God. Faith is the gift from God (Ephesians 2:8).

Many Christians think science is against God. But science, when used and understood properly, is beneficial in understanding the Bible. I looked up some information on salt. Salt cannot lose saltiness as long as it is in natural form. But it can lose saltiness when it contains additives. Salt in pure form does what it should do – enhancing the taste of food and preventing bacterial growth. When its natural form is broken, it goes bad. It becomes rubbish. It loses its saltiness and cannot suppress bacterial growth. So is the vine that cannot bear fruit. A vine is useful as long as it bears good fruit. Saints cannot survive unless we remain in God and His words.

If we add anything to the pure form of faith like those who follow Pelagianism and Semi-Pelagianism, we are no longer called Christians by God. True Christians are the light of the world because we know God and have faith in Him, not by our will, but by God’s.

“Son of man, if a country sins against Me by being unfaithful, and I stretch out My hand against it, destroy its supply of bread, send famine against it, and eliminate from it both human and animal life, even though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job were in its midst, by their own righteousness they could only save themselves,” declares the Lord God. (v.13-14)

even though Noah, Daniel, and Job were in its midst, as I live,” declares the Lord God, “they could not save either their son or their daughter. They would save only themselves by their righteousness. (v.20)

You shall not worship them nor serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, inflicting the punishment of the fathers on the children, even on the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me. (Deuteronomy 5:9)

“What do you people mean by using this proverb about the land of Israel, saying, ‘The fathers eat sour grapes, but it is the children’s teeth that have become blunt’? As I live, declares the Lord GOD, “you certainly are not going to use this proverb in Israel anymore. Behold, all souls are Mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is Mine. The soul who sins will die. (Ezekiel 18:2-4)

What God says in Deuteronomy 5:9 may appear to contradict to what He says in Ezekiel 14:20. When God gave the Israelites the Ten Commandment, He spoke to the Israel nation. And He made a conditional covenant with Israel nation, a visible church. And the warning written in Deut 5:9 was fulfilled when Israel was destroyed by Babylon.

I will make them an object of terror among all the kingdoms of the earth because of Manasseh, the son of Hezekiah, the king of Judah, for what he did in Jerusalem. (Jeremiah 15:4)

However, God’s eternal covenant has always been with His chosen people (one invisible church) within visible churches through His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. All chosen people of God have faith in Him. And that faith is a gift from God. Only those who receive the Holy Spirit by grace, according to His eternal Covenant of Grace, are righteous because only God is righteous.

Earlier I talked about the difference between righteousness of Adam and that of Noah (and Abraham). The word “righteous” used for Noah is God’s righteousness, which does not depend on works. I already talked about the transition of Job’s righteousness from work-dependent to grace-dependent. Daniel has also received the same righteousness as Noah and Job.

There may be many theories about why God mentioned those three men. I cannot say I know exactly why. But what is more important is that God is talking about people who received grace without works. Noah and Job existed before the Ten Commandments. Daniel was an Israelite but he is equally righteous as Noah and Job. This tells us that righteousness does not come from keeping of the Law. There is something greater than the written code – God. Obedience to all God’s commands and understanding His will comes from the Holy Spirit. Most importantly, the Spirit makes us love God because we know God. If anyone says, “I love God” and yet, does not have the right understanding of God, he/she is loving an idol.

There is not a single person who will understand God by his/her own will and efforts. Saints may not know all truths but we know, at least, that we are saved only by grace. That may be the biggest difference between those under grace and those under curse.

For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under the Law but under grace. (Romans 6:14)

If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or the wonder comes true, of which he spoke to you, saying, ‘Let’s follow other gods (whom you have not known) and let’s serve them,’ you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer of dreams; for the Lord your God is testing you to find out whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. You shall follow the Lord your God and fear Him; and you shall keep His commandments, listen to His voice, serve Him, and cling to Him. But that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death, because he has spoken falsely against the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of slavery, to drive you from the way in which the Lord your God commanded you to walk. So you shall eliminate the evil from among you. (Deuteronomy 13:1-10)

False prophets and false teachers/leaders have one thing in common. They reject God who brought us out of Egypt and redeemed us from the house of slavery. In my dream, I saw an enormous white cruise ship. I was told that they were going to Egypt, the land of the dead. Many Christians are going back to slavery. It travels with pomp and pride, but it is just a white-washed wall.

False prophets speak lies about God. In the OT, many false prophets spoke of peace and prosperity when God’s wrath was imminent. People have sold themselves to the devil. So, they speak what the devil speaks.

Because you disheartened the righteous with falsehood when I did not cause him pain, but you have encouraged the wicked not to turn from his wicked way to keep him alive. (v.22)

I consider that 1 Kings 22 (and also Jeremiah 28) is a very interesting chapter that shows the difference between the false prophet and the true one.

Then the messenger who went to summon Micaiah spoke to him saying, “Behold now, the words of the prophets are unanimously favorable to the king. Please let your word be like the word of one of them, and speak favorably.” But Micaiah said, “As the Lord lives, whatever the Lord says to me, I shall speak it.”

When he came to the king, the king said to him, “Micaiah, should we go to battle against Ramoth-gilead, or should we refrain?” And he said, “Go up and succeed, for the Lord will hand it over to the king!” Then the king said to him, “How many times must I make you swear that you will tell me nothing but the truth in the name of the Lord?” So he said,

“I saw all Israel
Scattered on the mountains,
Like sheep that have no shepherd.
And the Lord said,
‘These people have no master.
Each of them is to return to his house in peace.’”

Then the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Did I not tell you that he would not prophesy anything good regarding me, but only bad?”

And Micaiah said, “Therefore, hear the word of the Lord. I saw the Lord sitting on His throne, and all the angels of heaven standing by Him on His right and on His left.And the Lord said, ‘Who will entice Ahab to go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?’ And one spirit said this, while another said that. Then a spirit came forward and stood before the Lord, and said, ‘I will entice him.’ And the Lord said to him, ‘How?’ And he said, ‘I will go out and be a deceiving spirit in the mouths of all his prophets.’ Then He said, ‘You shall entice him, and you will also prevail. Go and do so.’ Now then, behold, the Lord has put a deceiving spirit in the mouth of all these prophets of yours; and the Lord has declared disaster against you.”

Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah approached and struck Micaiah on the cheek; and he said, “How did the Spirit of the Lord pass from me to speak to you?” And Micaiah said, “Behold, you are going to see how on that day when you go from one inner room to another trying to hide yourself.” Then the king of Israel said, “Take Micaiah and return him to Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king’s son; and say, ‘This is what the king says: “Put this man in prison, and feed him enough bread and water to survive until I return safely.”’” But Micaiah said, “If you actually return safely, the Lord has not spoken by me.” And he said, “Listen, all you people!” (1 Kings 22:13-28)

The false prophet(s) is loved by the king and people. He speaks what people want to hear. Yet, he prevents people from turning away from their sins by persuading them with sweet talks. The false prophets remind me of Arius, who was loved by the Roman emperor and Christians. Arius appeared to be very pious. Yet, he spoke lies about God.

The chapter 1 Kings 22 may appear that God accepts and encourages lying. But if we read it carefully, God lets the false prophets speak lies and tells Ahab that they are lying by the words of the  prophet, Micaiah. Yet, Ahab’s hardened heart did not accept the words of the true prophet, and he went as he was destined to go.

By two reasons God is not responsible for the death of the reprobate. One is that God is the Law, and He can do whatever He wants to do as the only Creator as we read in Romans 9. The other is that Adam and his descendants trust in their own wisdom, ignore warnings from God, and cause their own demise. All reprobate people have no excuse on the Judgement Day.

Then the angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and the things in it, and the earth and the things in it, and the sea and the things in it, that there will no longer be a delay, (Revelation 10:5-6)

When the same prophecies are repeated over a long period of time, people think the prophecies are nothing to do with them.

But if that evil slave says in his heart, ‘My master is not coming for a long time and he begins to beat his fellow slaves, and he eats and drinks with those habitually drunk; then the master of that slave will come on a day that he does not expect, and at an hour that he does not know, and he will cut him in two and assign him a place with the hypocrites; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 24:48-51)

In Ezekiel 12, God made Ezekiel demonstrate the people in Jerusalem to show the exiles that the fall of Jerusalem was imminent. But people did not believe.

“Son of man, behold, the house of Israel is saying, ‘The vision that he sees is for many years from now, and he prophesies of times far off.’ Therefore say to them, ‘This is what the Lord God says: “None of My words will be delayed any longer. Whatever word I speak will be performed,”’” declares the Lord God. (Ezekiel 12:27-28)

The reason why God hates false teachers, prophets, and leaders is because they mislead others by telling them lies. The Book of Jeremiah is helpful in understanding what happened in Jerusalem when Ezekiel was in Babylon. Jeremiah 28 shows that the false prophet Hananiah misled people in Jerusalem.

Then the prophet Jeremiah said to Hananiah the prophet, “Listen, Hananiah! The Lord has not sent you, yet you have persuaded this nation to trust in lies. Therefore this is what the Lord says: ‘I am about to remove you from the face of the earth. This very year you are going to die, because you have preached rebellion against the Lord. (Jeremiah 28:15-16)

As I mentioned before, the devil hates all men, especially the chosen people of God. The reprobate trust the devil, not God, because they are blind. They bear either no fruit or bad fruit. They follow idols. They follow false images of God. They distort truths of God. And some of these people take leadership in churches.

The distinct feature of a false minister, theologian, or leader is that they have crooked understanding of God’s words. They do not encourage people to read the Bible and meditate on God’s words day and night. They fear that people may understand God’s words by the Holy Spirit and turn against them. They do not have the Holy Spirit in them and make others rely on false hopes and promises like Hananiah.

We are living in a very prosperous age. Not many people in the developed countries die of hunger. But such prosperity has blinded many people. They now deny the existence of God and serve idols (more precisely themselves). And churches are full of people who think they will continue to live in prosperity because they are chosen. Yet, they are not interested in reading God’s words. They serve idols that give them a false sense of security. The Bible tells us that there is no peace for the idolaters. Any minister who does not emphasize on the importance of reading the Bible at the pulpit every Sunday is false. Anyone who does not love God’s words is false.

Even if the fig tree does not blossom,

And there is no fruit on the vines,

If the yield of the olive fails,

And the fields produce no food,

Even if the flock disappears from the fold,

And there are no cattle in the stalls,

Yet I will triumph in the LORD,

I will rejoice in the God of my salvation. (Habakkuk 3:17-18)

Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision; for we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and take pride in Christ Jesus, and put no confidence in the flesh, … (Philippians 3:2-3)

This chapter warns those in leadership within churches. I am not saying all church leaders are like those mentioned in this chapter. But it is true that false leaders hate saints within churches. False leaders think they are important and are loved by the majority. They think they are the center of the universe. But God tells them they are nothing. God knows what they have done to His people within churches.

They say, ‘Haven’t our houses been recently rebuilt? This city is a pot, and we are the meat in it. (v.3)

Then the Spirit of the Lord came on me, and he told me to say: “This is what the Lord says: That is what you are saying, you leaders in Israel, but I know what is going through your mind. You have killed many people in this city and filled its streets with the dead. “Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: The bodies you have thrown there are the meat and this city is the pot, but I will drive you out of it. (v.5-7)

False leaders think that they suffer from various things because they are disciples of God. The truth is that they suffer because of their evil deeds. God uses civil governments to punish them but they say that the governments are evil. The people they killed are the ones God care about.

It is not because of false leaders that God punishes the world. Those who follow false leaders are also to be punished. Yet, the world goes on as it has been until the coming of our Lord. When He comes, false Christians and unbelievers will mourn.

Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen. (Revelation 1:7)

Although visible churches are destroyed and the church leaders become silent, the invisible church remains strong because the Lord is with His people. In the OT era and even now, people think that God stays in a specific geographical location. Whether it is the city Jerusalem, Israel nation, a church building, etc. people want to believe that God is in a certain location. That is the idea of a pagan religion. Our God does not live in a certain location. God is always with His people.

Therefore say, ‘This is what the Lord God says: “Though I had removed them far away among the nations, and though I had scattered them among the countries, yet I was a sanctuary for them for a little while in the countries where they had gone.”’ Therefore say, ‘This is what the Lord God says: “I will gather you from the peoples and assemble you from the countries among which you have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel.”’ (v. 16-17)

And it is not by men’s will that we are saved. God bring His remnant people to His Kingdom and gives them the new heart by giving His Spirit. His people are His Kingdom.

When they come there, they will remove all its detestable things and all its abominations from it. And I will give them one heart, and put a new spirit within them. And I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, so that they may walk in My statutes, and keep My ordinances and do them. Then they will be My people, and I shall be their God. But as for those whose hearts go after their detestable things and abominations, I will bring their conduct down on their heads,” declares the Lord God. (v.18-21)

As you read the second letter of Peter and the Book of Revelation, you will understand that the writings of Ezekiel are connected to the last days. Saints will go into exile. We may already be in exile. But God is with us (Immanuel).

Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and she will name Him Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14)

The prophecies in the OT are about both the end of Israel nation and the last days, and this chapter tells us what will happen soon. God will abandon His seven churches and burn them. It is because the shadow has failed to reflect the real Kingdom.

The Lord said to the man clothed in linen, “Go in among the wheels beneath the cherubim. Fill your hands with burning coals from among the cherubim and scatter them over the city. (v.2)

When the Lord commanded the man in linen, “Take fire from among the wheels, from among the cherubim,” the man went in and stood beside a wheel. (v.6)

In the OT, there were 12 tribes (in fact, there were 13 including the Levite tribe). And there are seven churches in the NT. When God made the world, He created everything over six days and rested on the seventh day. The Lord is the Lord of Sabbath. Paul talked about three heavens. And what I saw in my dream is how the world is structured. The earth is in the middle and there are three floors up and three floors down. Since God revealed Himself to the whole world in the NT era, seven indicates the whole creation system. And this system will be destroyed, and the Kingdom will come. Heaven and Earth will pass away. It may take many years for the end to come. Still, it does not change the fact the Kingdom is coming soon.

This chapter illustrates the appearances of the four living creatures again as in chapter 1. The Spirit is in the wheels and decides where they should go. They do not turn left or right. They go straight ahead without resistance.

Then the cows went straight up toward Beth Shemesh, keeping on the road and lowing all the way; they did not turn to the right or to the left. The rulers of the Philistines followed them as far as the border of Beth Shemesh. (1 Samuel 6:12)

Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the Law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may achieve success wherever you go. (Joshua 1:7)

I know that many Christians accuse those who speak of Sola Gratia of being libertines. It is because they do not have the Spirit and therefore, do not know the work of the Spirit. God hates both antinomianism and legalism. And the Apostles spent many hours to educate people. Because visible churches have both the elect and the reprobate, ministers and theologians still spend hours on discussing how one is saved. Saints do not get involved in meaningless discussions. We do not turn left or right. We go straight ahead as the Spirit leads us. People believe that they are saved because there are many who follow the same ideas in their churches. It is not surprising that they have abandoned Sola Gratia because they follow people, not God. Ministers also follow people and love to receive praises from them. Sola Gratia is welcomed by few who are chosen by God. Therefore, ministers choose to desert the sound doctrines. God judges them according to what they say. Since they say they are saved by their works, God will judge them by their works.