Daniel 11:32 KJV And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.
DANIEL 11:32 NASB “By smooth words he will turn to godlessness those who act wickedly toward the covenant, but the people who know their God will display strength and take action.
This Bible verse came to my mind while I ate a snack between my Bible study time. Then I thought how it related to an idea I had while still laying in bed, “no one would have ever imagined or believed that our way of living an open, mobile, and free to do as you please life could or would so drastically change in such a short period of time. One day, all the remarkable events foretold in the Book of Revelation will have come to pass and some will only then realize and believe it, too late.”
Since becoming a “Born Again with God’s Spirit” Christian Bible prophecy has intrigued me, especially those foretold in the Book of Revelation. As scary as the events foretold in it are, it is NOT a Bible book that should be avoided because it is the ONLY one that comes with a promise of blessing,
Revelation 1:3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.
One of the questions in my mind, all these years of wondering how those events would come about is “how will the world be coerced into falling in line with the one world government, one world religion and monetary system without a great uprising against it?” The events of the last couple of weeks has answered that question.
Because of a “seemly right situation or event(‘s), the world’s people will be easily lead as sheep to the slaughter.” Don’t get me wrong and think that I am against the social distancing, and exercise of caution and diligence in doing everything humanly possible to avoid getting or spreading the Covid 19 virus. I am only saying that it amazes me to see how quickly and with little or no resistance the “liberties” that we as Americans have for the most part taken for granted, can be hopefully, only temporarily be set aside.
If you think I am exaggerating the change from “normal” daily life, look at this video of Friday, March 20th of the Kenopsia in Washington D.C. It really is amazing to witness this ghost town, NOT in a movie setting, in Reality!!!
Daniel speaks of how it will be done through “flatteries or by smooth words” depending on which translation you read.
The thought of forfeiting “Liberties” in exchange for safety is somewhat odd because today’s Bible verse from Tecatra is,
2 Corinthians 3:17 KJV
Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
https://tbibl.es/9fDv
I spent about 20 minutes reading the commentaries on that single verse concerning “Liberty” and I learned some things. https://biblehub.com/commentaries/2_corinthians/3-17.htm
Part of Ellicott’s Commentary says, Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.—The Apostle returns to the more familiar language. To turn to the Lord, who is Spirit, is to turn to the Spirit which is His, which dwelt in Him, and which He gives. And he assumes, almost as an axiom of the spiritual life, that the presence of that Spirit gives freedom, as contrasted with the bondage of the letter—freedom from slavish fear, freedom from the guilt and burden of sin, freedom from the tyranny of the Law.
God’s Spirit, and all the more if God’s Spirit is in a person, has the power to deliver them from “fear” by “turning” to that Lord. Benson’s Commentary gets a little deeper in how this “liberty” is established in a believer by relating it to the previous verses as related to the “veil.” The “veil” spoken of is a tool used by God to hide understanding of scripture.
The Apostle Paul wrote this concerning the veil God places or removes according to His Providence,
Romans 11:8-10 Just as it is written: “God has given them a spirit of stupor, Eyes that they should not see And ears that they should not hear, To this very day.”
9 And David says: “Let their table become a snare and a trap, A stumbling block and a recompense to them. 10 Let their eyes be darkened, so that they do not see,
And bow down their back always.”
Benson’s Commentary says this, And where the Spirit of the Lord is — Enlightening and renewing men’s minds; there is liberty — Not the veil, the emblem of slavery. There is liberty from servile fear, liberty from the guilt and power of sin, liberty to behold with open face the glory of the Lord. Accordingly it is added, we all — That believe in him with a faith of his operation; beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, &c. — By the glory of the Lord here, we are to understand his divine attributes, his wisdom, power, and goodness; his truth, justice, mercy; his holiness and grace, and especially his love; these, and his other moral perfections, are his greatest glory. But these cannot be beheld by man immediately and directly, while he is in the body: they can only be seen as in a glass, or through a glass darkly; (1 Corinthians 13:12;)
In the dispensations of his providence, in which glass not only his natural, but also his moral attributes are manifested; his long-suffering in bearing with sinful individuals, families, cities, nations; his justice in punishing when they persist in their iniquities; his mercy in pardoning them when they break off their sins by repentance.
In the work of redemption; a work in which divine goodness in designing, wisdom in contriving, and power in executing, are conspicuously declared; in which justice and mercy meet together, righteousness and peace kiss each other: a wonderful plan! in which God demonstrates that he is just, while he is the justifier of him that believeth in Jesus. See on Romans 3:25-31.
This entire concept of “Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is Liberty” has under some teachings been perverted and emboldened the “we are NOT under the Law but Grace” theology. To those who say the Apostle Paul also taught Grace without Law consider what Paul wrote here,
Romans 3:31 Do we then nullify the Law through faith? May it never be! On the contrary, we establish the Law.
Some teach that the Grace of God overlooks sin(s) in the life of a person who merely claim Jesus Christ as Lord with their mouth. Benson goes on the explain what the “Liberty” gained by beholding the Glory of God does to a sincere believer,
But by whom is the divine glory beheld in these glasses? Only by those from whose faces the veil of ignorance, prejudice, and unbelief is removed; so that with open, ανεκεκαλυμμενω, with unveiled face, and with the eyes of their understanding opened, they behold, view attentively, and contemplate this glory of the Lord.
Now, observe the effect produced on those who behold this glory; they are changed into the same image. While we steadfastly and with open face behold the divine likeness exhibited in these glasses, we discern its amiableness and excellence, and the necessity of a conformity thereto, in order to our happiness here and hereafter. And hence arises sincere and earnest desire after that conformity, and an endeavour to imitate such perfections as are imitable by us. Add to this, the very beholding and meditating on the divine glories, has a transforming efficacy. For instance, by contemplating his wisdom, as manifested in his works and word, we are enlightened and made wise: by viewing his power, and by faith arming ourselves with it, we become strong; able to withstand our enemies, as also to do and suffer his will. The contemplation of his truth, justice, mercy, and holiness, inspires us with the same amiable and happy qualities, and knowing and believing the love that he hath to us, and all his people, we learn to love him who hath first loved us; and loving him that beget, we are disposed and enabled also to love all that are begotten of him; and even all mankind, if not with a love of approbation and complacency, yet with a love of benevolence and beneficence, knowing that he is the Father of the spirits of all flesh, and that the whole race of Adam are his offspring. Thus we become godlike, and put on the new man, which is renewed in and by this spiritual knowledge, after the image of him that created him, Colossians 3:10. From glory to glory —
The portion of the title verse, “the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits,” can bring with it imaginations of great miracles being done by the Name and to the Glory of Yeshua Jesus Christ. I would ask that you would consider bringing this grand vision of mighty exploits down to a more humble, personal and yet still miraculous level. Coming to Really, Truly, Deeply and Sincerely “Knowing” God by the revelation that can only come when the Holy Spirit of God, which is Jesus Christ, removes the “veil” and allows us to actually “Behold God’s Glory.” The commentaries speak of what being in the presence of the Glory of God does to a person and can do through that person. Not in grandiose, flamboyant exploits but in its ability to transform even the most vile, perverted or corrupt sinner into the “image and likeness” of Almighty God.
It is undeniable that a life changed by the Glorious Power of God has the potential of changing other lives as they witness the changes brought about by that same Glorious Power.
1 Corinthians 13:9-13 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
Everytime I read the words “face to Face” in the Bible I am reminded of the Angel of Repentance & Hope that Jacob and I’m certain that I struggled with named Phanuel or at least an associate of his under the command of Almighty God. Praise God for the angel He sent to pull back the veil of sin from my eyes and let me see myself, even just a little through His Holy, Sinless and Loving Eyes.
Peniel & Penuel – H6439 Transliteration: penû’êl penîy’êl – face of God; Penuel or {Peniel}
It’s in having a genuine, personal encounter with Almighty God that we can’t help but being changed for the better. The more we desire and seek God and become exposed to His Glory as He removes the veil, we are changed, “from glory to glory.”
Benson doesn’t leave out the attitude or actions of mankind to bring about this work of God. He says through “repentance” is the good result of God revealing His Glory brought about,
“his long-suffering in bearing with sinful individuals, families, cities, nations; his justice in punishing when they persist in their iniquities; his mercy in pardoning them when they break off their sins by repentance.”
God sends “his justice in punishing when they persist in their iniquities;” but is ALWAYS Gracious in “his mercy in pardoning them when they break off their sins by repentance.”
Hebrews 3:7-11 NASB
7 Therefore, just as the Holy Spirit says,
“TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE,
8 DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS AS WHEN THEY PROVOKED ME,
AS IN THE DAY OF TRIAL IN THE WILDERNESS,
9 WHERE YOUR FATHERS TRIED Me BY TESTING Me,
AND SAW MY WORKS FOR FORTY YEARS.
10 “THEREFORE I WAS ANGRY WITH THIS GENERATION,
AND SAID, ‘THEY ALWAYS GO ASTRAY IN THEIR HEART,
AND THEY DID NOT KNOW MY WAYS’;
11 AS I SWORE IN MY WRATH,
‘THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST.’”
Help change the world. That’s a worthy exploit to undertake. Seek God with all your mind, body and spirit and let Him change you, then watch as it rubs off and changes others. That’s the kind of “contagion” this world really needs.
Contagion – the communication of disease from one person to another by close contact.
The Love of God shed abroad in the heart of man, shed abroad in the hearts of men, and on and on
In The Word 