First Love Verses First Born Mitt Jeffords

First Love VersusFirst Born

Mitt Jeffords

Georgia USA

February 27, 2007

Judgment must begin at the house of God: “First love versus First Born

Just as I awoke one morning, the Lord said to me, “FIRST LOVE Versus FIRST BORN”.

I then got up and wrote those words down, as well as everything that I had been taught about each one of those things.

First love….the love that we all received when we first received his Spirit; the love that was accompanied with the desire to know God (to know his nature, to know his power, to know his character, and to know what he loves and hates); the desire to please God; the desire to be with God in his presence; and the desire to have that time alone with God. This love can only come forth when the Lord’s Spirit is present in his people; for this is the love that can only be experienced in the Spirit.

First born…..“Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity and in sin my mother conceived me”. These are the corrupted desires, works, and pleasures of the “old man” nature; the nature of the hypocrite who says that he believes but he does not believe the words of Jesus Christ and denies the working of his power. The desires of the first born are aroused by the law, as well as by letter of the word; the word that is joined with the understanding and wisdom that comes forth from the carnal mind. The carnal mind is the matrix from which all the false doctrines of the congregation of the dead are birthed; and all of these lies conceived when the lies of Satan are mixed with the desires of the man’s wisdom. For in the religion of the first born, the carnally minded Christian finds it natural and easy to express his own opinions (heresy), to judge others, to strive with others, to find fault with others, to do his own works, and to walk in hypocrisy; because these are the natural desires of the first born, nature of the old man.

It is as it is written, “Let every man who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity”: the works of hypocrisy that come forth from the deceitful and corrupted desires of the first born nature/old man. These are the works that are aroused when the letter of the word is joined with the natural desires of the first born that tempt us to exalt oneself; to believe in oneself; to glorify oneself; to be confident in ones self; to love self; to trust in self; to protect and preserve self; to do that which self sees as right; and to obey the natural senses and desires of the creature of “self” rather than the desires of the Creator. The desires and affections of the first born are the desires and affections that makes one citizens/friends to this fallen world”.

James 4:4-5 “You adulterers and adulteresses, do you not know that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. Do you think that the scripture says in vain, “The spirit that dwells in us lusts to envy?”

Ephesians 4:21-24 “If it be so that you have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus, that you put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that you put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness (holiness of the truth)”.

The first born is proud, and as the Lord has revealed, pride always loves and is conscious of the idol of “self”, while first love is always conscious of the Lord.

Psalm 1:1-2 “Blessed is the man that walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the way of sin, nor sits in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law does he meditate day and night”.

Psalm 10:4 “The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts”.

After I wrote these things down that the Lord had previously taught me about each of these, the first born and first love, I then waited for the Lord to reveal more about his purpose for having me to do so. I waited, but the Lord added nothing that day to this word. Then later that same night, I had this dream:

DREAM: I saw myself fighting against the seven headed beast spoken of in the book of Revelation. I knew that I was fighting this battle to defend my first love for the Lord from being overcome by the desires and affections of the first born; and I also knew that each one of these heads represented one of the desires and/or affections that come forth from the nature of the beast. The nature of the first born is found in the deceitful lusts and pleasures of the old man; and the beast gets his power and strength when the lies of Satan and the wisdom of man are joined together with the letter of the word; There are no words that have any greater power to deceive than those words which seem right in the sight of men; especially when they arouse desire and passion within to do them. It is of this zeal that all of Israel was deceived by their own interpretations of the law that God had given unto them; words that agreed with their own natural senses and the deceitful lusts of the old man. For in the same manner that Israel was deceived by the blindness in their hearts, in their minds, and in their eyes, so also are Christians today tempted to yield to the deceitful lusts of their “ old man” nature.

Galatians 3:1-4 “O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified? This only do I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?

Romans 9:31-10:3 “But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness. Why? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; as it is written, “Behold, I lay in Zion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed”. Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they might be saved; for I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God”.

Romans 7:4-6 (NKJ) “Therefore my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another -- to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God. For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death”.

I then saw that I was clothed in the armor of God as I was fighting this beast, and in my right hand was a sword which is the truth of God’s word. I was at first surprised to see how short this sword was, much like the swords that the Roman legions used for close-in fighting. I immediately recognized that my sword was much to small to slay this seven headed beast that was before me; for the beast before me was much larger than the Goliath that David faced, and it’s skin was so thick and rough that my sword could not cut or penetrate through it.

Each head appeared just like a dragon’s head; and each head was on the end of a neck that was at least 15 feet long. These long-necked seven heads appeared before me like seven giant snakes, with each one of it’s heads bobbing and weaving, going up and down, in and out, as they sought for an unguarded place in my armor to attack me. Each one these heads was positioned just outside of the reach of my sword, and when one of them would lunge at me he would quickly withdraw to a position that was just outside of the range of my sword. Their lunges towards me were in the same fashion that a Cobra snake strikes at his target. Though their attacks were very intense and relentless, I found that I was always able to step to the side, or duck, or deflect the head with my shield to keep from being bitten; and on some occasions I found that I could actually take swipes at that head if it was not so quick to withdraw; but my sword was not quite sharp enough to cut through the thick leathery skin that covered the necks and the heads of this beast. All that I seemed able to do was just hack at these heads, and I was never able to inflict any wounds that were severe enough that it caused any real harm. The best that I seemed able to do was to just keep them at bay.

I found myself many times growing weary, and oddly enough it was not from these relentless attacks but rather it was from the continual watching, never knowing just which of these seven heads was going to be the next one to lunge or strike at me. But even in my weariness, I always seemed to find just enough strength to continue the battle before me.

I again found myself in the ready position, watching and ready to swing at the slightest movement towards me when all of sudden there appeared before me a set hands, and both of these hands were gripped tightly around a very big sword. I immediately observed that the blade of this new sword was much larger, much shinier, much longer, much sharper, as well as much stronger than the sword that I had been fighting with. All of a sudden these hands reached out as to give to me this new sword, and so I reached out to receive it. As the sword was being put into my hands, I found that I was fearful to receive it because I thought that I might be to weak and weary from the previous battles to properly handle such a big sword; in fact, I found that I was afraid that I would not even be able to hold it up. Even so, I reached out with both of my hands to take it, and as soon as I wrapped my hands around its handle, I was surprised to find that there was no measurable weight to it; it truly was as light as a feather. What immediately struck me was the great authority and power that seemed to be accompanied with the sword. I never saw just whose hands these belonged to.

I then observed that the beast before me did not seem at all to be afraid of this new sword that I was now holding; for it continued to stay the same distance from me as before, which was just out of the reach of my old sword. So I just swung this new sword towards the head of the beast that was farthest to my right, and when the blade struck its neck it easily cut right through the its tough, thick skin; and off came its head. I then just stood there in awe of this new sword wondering just how great the authority and the power was/is that came with it. For some reason I then expected for this now six headed beast to try and flee from me, but it could not because it was somehow attached to my flesh. When I realized that the beast could not escape me, I then lifted this new sword to finish off all the rest of the heads of this beast when suddenly my dream came to and end.

Oddly, when I awoke from this dream, my first thoughts were not about this powerful new sword, but rather it was on the fact that for all these 27 years since the Lord called me to worship and serve him, I have obviously managed only to “hack” at my enemies, and not slay them. I could not help but wonder about this; and so I asked, “Lord, in all of the battles that I have fought over all these years, is the best that has happened is that my enemies have just been kept “at bay”? Then the Lord quickly reminded me of that which Paul said in II Timothy 4:7-8 “I have fought the good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith”. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing”. I then realized the truth, that truly, until this very day, I am still fighting against my enemies to keep my faith from being overcome.

Then the Lord said to me, “Truly, you have entered many battles, and by your faith you have allowed for me to fight for you. While these battles have raged, I have not only kept your enemies from overcoming you, but I have also increased your faith and your trust in me; and by reason of these battled you have grown in your belief in me, in the grace that I have for you, and in the knowledge of your God; for you now know without any doubt that I have always been there for you and that there is nothing that is able to separate my love from you. As you have grown, so also have I allowed for the darkness to increase it’s power and strength in it attempts to overcome you; for without these trials, there would be no purifying of your faith in me. You know that it is written that I have not, and neither will I ever let you be tempted above or beyond the measure of the faith that has been given to you”.

1 Peter 1:6-9 “Wherein you greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, you are in heaviness through various temptations, so that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perishes, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise, and honor, and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: whom having not seen, you love; in whom, though now you see him not, yet believing, you rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: receiving the end of your faith, the salvation of your souls”.

Romans 8:35-39 “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter”. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord”.

I then realized that though I have experienced many, many victories in my walk, Satan has always continued to tempt me in with seducing spirits and doctrines of demons that were new to me in his attempt to overcome my faith and trust in God. I remembered then the countless battles that I have fought in my mind just to keep myself from yielding to the counsels of my fears, or to my doubts, or to my pride, or to my unbelief, or to any of the other thoughts that came forth from within me that are contrary to the truth or the faith that God has given to me. I then remembered all of the adversities and the trials that I have gone through whereby I wrestled against many wicked imaginations that attacked me with such thoughts as, “O, God has forsaken you”; or, “God does not care for you”; or, “God is not going to help you”; or, “Yes, God will do this for others but he will not do it for you”; or, “God does not love you anymore”; or, “God is not there for you”. Lies, all lies; lies that when I made to be enemies, God made them to be his enemies; and when they became his enemies, he then kept me from yielding any belief to these lies. As I these many battles were brought back into me remembrance, my heart became very grateful and thankful to be reminded of the great and mighty things the Lord has done for me; to see how he has kept Satan from overcoming my faith; even in those times where I felt that I had come to the very last ounce of my faith, and when all hope seemed to be lost.

Nahum 1:11-13 “There is one come out of you that imagines evil against the LORD, a wicked counselor. Thus says the Lord, “Though they be quiet, and likewise many, yet thus shall they be cut down, when he shall pass through. Though I have afflicted you, I will afflict you no more. For now will I break his yoke from off thee, and will burst thy bonds in sunder”.

Luke 22:31-32 “And the Jesus said, “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you so that he may sift (separate) you as wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith does not fail. And when you are converted, strengthen your brethren”.

I Timothy 4:1 “Now the Spirit speaks expressly that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron”.

Then the Lord also reminded me of that which is written in Ephesians 6:10-18 “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to “stand” against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; and above all, taking the shield of faith wherewith you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints”. As I was meditating on this scripture, the Spirit of the Lord quickened unto me the word “withstand”; and immediately the eyes of my understanding were opened to comprehend that even when we are clothed with the whole armor of God, which is being clothed with Jesus Christ, it still only enables us to “WITHSTAND” the attacks of the enemy in those evil days; and the armor of God was not given to us to destroy these enemies. I then understood why, in my dream, that I was powerless to inflict any serious or mortal wounds on any of these seven heads of the beast; but neither were any of these seven heads able to inflict any serious or deadly wounds on me either, because I was clothed in the armor of the Lord. I then realized that the victory was not in the killing of the beast, but rather it was in the “withstanding” and the keeping of my faith until the end; the keep myself in the same fight that Paul fought until the end of his earthy days.

Psalm 41:11 “By this I know that you favor me because my enemy does not triumph over me”.

Matthew 13:20-2 “But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles”.

Matthew 24:11-14 “Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because iniquity (self-righteous works; the desires of the 1^st born) shall abound, the love of many will grow cold; but he who endures to the end shall be saved.

I John 5:4-5 “For whatsoever is born of God overcomes the world (the world identified in I John 2:15-17) and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcomes the world, but he that believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”

It was after I understood these things about “withstanding” that my attention then turned back to this “new sword” that had been presented to me; a sword that has the authority and power to inflict mortal wounds on my enemy instead of just hacking at them. Immediately the Spirit of the Lord quickened to me that which is written in Revelation 19:15-16 “And out of his mouth goes a sharp sword so that with it he should smite the nations; and he shall rule them with a rod of iron. He treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God; and he has on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, “KING OF KINGS and LORD OF LORDS”. I then understood that the new sword that the Lord is about to give represents a new tongue; a new tongue that will be accompanied with great authority and power from God, the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords; words that will bring the wrath of God upon our adversaries, as well as all things that are not of God. Then the Lord said to me, “Mitt, you have never wrestled with flesh and blood, nor have you fought against those things which are seen; and as it has been, so shall it be in the battle be that is before; the battle which I am about to equip you to fight”. I did not yet understand this, but if this battle was going to go the way of the head of that beast which I severed with this “new sword”, then it is not going to be much of a battle.

Ps 112:7-8 “He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD. His heart is established, he shall not be afraid, until he see his desire upon his enemies”.

As I sat there considering the things that I had seen in this dream, the Lord brought back into my remembrance the things which he had previously taught me about the seven headed beast spoken of in Revelation 13:1 “And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy”. First of all, I was reminded how the Lord showed me how the beast within is the nature of the carnally minded “old man”; a beast that is subject to the desires of the carnal mind. It is by reason of these desires/lust that we are all tempted to worship and serve the creature more than the Creator. The seven heads of the beast represent seven desires that come forth from the nature of the “old man”; seven desires that are birthed out of the natural wisdom and understanding of the first born “old man”. These desires/lust are not as the desires/lusts of the flesh; for the works of the desires/lusts are manifest and seen to be evil. No, the seven desires of the beast are not even seen as evil in the sight of those who are still carnally minded; those who seek nourishment from the milk of the word, rather than to eat the meat that comes forth from the Spirit of the word.

1 Corinthians 3:1 “And I brethren could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for until now you were not able to bear it, neither now are you yet able. For you are still carnal: for there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are you not still carnal and walk as men?”

2 Corinthians 3:3-6 “Forasmuch as you are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart. And such trust we have through Christ to God-ward; not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; who also has made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter kills but the Spirit gives life”.

Jesus said in John 8:43 “Why do you not understand my speech? Is it because you are not able to listen to my word? You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it”. Talk about being “offended”! It would be one thing if Jesus was speaking to the Pharisees, or even speaking of the Gentiles, here. But as it is written John 8:31-32 “Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed on him, “If you continue in my word, then you are my disciples indeed; and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free”. Jesus was speaking to those who believed on him, but they were not yet able to come into the knowledge of the truth of God. If they did not yet know the truth, then what manner of words did they believe on? These Jews were standing right there before Jesus, listening to every word proceed out of his mouth, but they were applying their own understanding to his words to interpret what he was saying; yet Jesus then asked them why was it that they could not discern the truth of those things which he was speaking. They were still carnally minded; and it is possible for the truth of God to come forth when you mix the words of God with carnal knowledge and natural understanding. The only thing that comes forth when you have this mixture are lies that seem like the truth; and because these lies are birthed out of the carnal mind, so also are the works and the desires that aroused by these lies also carnal; the lusts of the “old man” which are of the Devil.

Ephesians 4:21-25 “If so be that you have heard him and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus, that you put off the former conversation (lies) of the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts. And be renewed in the spirit of your mind and that you put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness (the holiness of the truth)”.

I John 2:15-17 “Love not the world neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world passes away, and the lust thereof, but he that does the will of God abides for ever”.

James 4:4-5 “You adulterers and adulteresses, do you not know that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Therefore whosoever will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. Do you think that the scripture says in vain, “The spirit that dwells in us lusts to envy?”

When I first got saved, I used to think that it was just not possible for the Devil to come into the sanctuary of a church; but as I sought to know the truth of God that is in Christ Jesus, my eyes were opened to see that the sanctuary in most of the churches were just playgrounds for the desires of the Devil. Jesus warned us when he said in Luke 11:35 “Take heed therefore that the light which is in you be not darkness”. How is it possible for the darkness to actually have an appearance of the light? We know that it is written that Satan is able to appear as an angel of light, and his demons can appear as ministers of righteousness; but how so? The carnal mind is the dwelling place of darkness, and all of the works and desires that come forth out of its thinking are nothing but the works and the desires of darkness; and when you apply this darkness to the scriptures, then comes forth the religion of darkness that is established on the false interpretations that come forth out of the carnal mind. Then out of this religion of darkness that appears as the light comes forth the desires/lusts that are actually aroused by the law, as well as by the letter of the word, that provokes the people of God to do those things which provoke God to anger. Can there be anything more deceitful than those works and those words that come forth when the scriptures are mixed with man’s interpretations?

Romans 7:4-5 “Wherefore, my brethren, you also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ so that you should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. For when we were in the flesh, the passions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death”.

It is of this religion of darkness that comes forth the seven headed beast that walks after the desires of the Devil; and each one of the these heads is manifested according to the seven abominations that are spoken of in Proverbs 6:16-19 “These six things does the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination to him: A heart that devises wicked imaginations, a proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, feet that be swift in running to evil, a false witness that speaks lies, and he that sows discord among brethren”. It is of these very desires/ lusts that I have fought against for 27 years to defend my first love for the Lord against the first born desires of my “old man” nature. These are just not just some fleshy desires that the children of God should take lightly because these are the desires that are an abomination in the sight of God; but in the sight of the carnally minded Christian, they are those desires that many esteem and honor. These are the abominations that defile the temple of God, and that leave the temple desolate (alone; fatherless) of any glory that is of God.

ABOMINATION (Vines Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words): bdelugma NT:946 Denotes an “object of disgust, an abomination” This is said of the image that is to be set up by Antichrist (Matt.24:15), of that which will be highly esteem in the among men in contrast to its real character in the sight of God. The constant association with idolatry suggests that which is highly esteemed among men constitutes an idol in the heart. In Revelation 21:7, entrance into the Holy City is forbidden to those who are unclean (self-righteousness), and to those who make an abomination and a lie.

Luke 16:15 And Jesus said unto them, “You are they who justify yourselves before men; but God knows your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God”. (Abominations are those illusions of hypocrisy that appear righteous in the sight of men).

“MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT”: THE MOTHER OF HARLOTRY and ABOMINATIONS IN THE EARTH (See: “A Man Is As He Thinks”)

Babylon the Great is the wisdom (power; energy) of this world; and the wisdom of this world is the matrix from which all abominations are conceived; abominations that come forth as those works and those words which are highly esteemed and desired by all those who walk according to the natural senses of the carnal mind. Babylon is the mother of all false doctrines, traditions, and the commandments of men. She is the mother of all those vessels of dishonor, and by her the temple of God is defiled. She fills the hearts of those who are inhabited by her with all manner of desires and lusts for idolatry; the idolatry where the creature of “self” is exalted and is worshipped and served more than God. All who come forth of her praise God with their mouths and they honor him with their lips, but their hearts are far from him because of their love for “self”. From her come all of the desires for self-righteousness that entice all of the workers of iniquity to do deceitful works in the name of Jesus Christ. The wisdom of this world is the energy/power which the darkness consists of, and from her not only comes harlotry and abominations, but all rebellion, sin and iniquity, as well as the death that dwells in the thinking of those who are carnally minded.

Romans 8:6 “For the carnal mind is death and the spiritual mind is life and peace. For to be carnally minded is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God (vs.2 the law of life), and indeed it cannot be”.

Isaiah 29:13 “Wherefore the Lord says, “Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth and with their lips they do honor me, but they have removed their heart far from me and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men. Therefore behold, I will proceed to do a marvelous work among this people; even a marvelous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid. Woe to them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the LORD, and their works are in the dark, and they say, “Who sees us?” And, “Who knows us?”

I Corinthians 1:18 “For the preaching of the cross (the daily cross) is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us who are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.”

It is of these seven abominations that the sons of perdition are enticed, seduced, and overcome by their own desires and pleasures for “self”. These are the abominations that the workers of iniquity of iniquity refuse to repent of because they delight in worshipping and serving the creature. These are the abominations that left uncorrected make men to be bastards before God, and not sons; bastards who become cursed children. These are the abominations that the men-pleasers idolize because it makes them to be accepted, and honored, and esteemed in the sight of other men. These are the abominations that deceive the lukewarm so that they are blind to see that they are wretched, poor in spirit, naked, miserable, and blind by them. These are the abominations that are natural desires and pleasures of the creature of the first born. These are the abominations that make desolate and that separate from all fellowship and communion with God, with his son Jesus Christ, and with the Spirit of the Lord that was given unto them, leaving them isolated and alienated from the God who loves them. The beast within changes God into an image of its own likeness rather than to submit to God and be changed into his image.

James 1:13-16 “Let no man say when he is tempted, “I am tempted of God; for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither does he tempt any man. But every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust has conceived it brings forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, brings forth death. Do not err, my beloved brethren.

Romans 1:21-25 “Because when they knew God, they did not glorify him as God, neither were they thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God to be an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four footed beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves: who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen”.

These are abominations that the carnally minded refuse to depart from, choosing to continue in the milk of the word rather than to seek the meat of God’s truth, not knowing that there are many false prophets and false teachers that love to minister the word unto them that keeps the beast alive. These have no delight in meat of spiritual truths that come forth from the wisdom, the understanding, and the knowledge of the truth which comes from above, who continue to think that those who are friends of this world are those who partake in such sins of the flesh as drinking alcohol, cursing, stealing, smoking, and committing adultery. But these are the sins of the flesh that are seen; the sins that the hypocrites love to judge and condemn the world of; not knowing that the judging of such sins brings condemnation upon their own heads. The sins of the flesh are not like the sins that are found in heart of the “old man” nature; for the carnally minded “old man” delights in these seven abominations; the thoughts of the mind that are enmity against God and that are not subject to the will of God. These are those hidden sins of darkness have no delight in doing the will of God nor in believing the counsel of God’s words, but they delight in justifying “self” with words and with deeds that proceed forth out of their own imaginations; imaginations that not only exalt and oppose themselves against the instructions of the Lord, but that also deceive one into believing that there is more righteousness in their own imaginations than there is in the words of the Lord. It is here that the sins of the heart are manifest in those who do not trust God, in those that rebel against God, in those who do not love the truth, and in those who refuse to let Christ reign in their hearts and minds.

Matthew 15:19 “Jesus said, “For out of the heart proceeds evil thoughts….”

Jude 5 “I will therefore put you in remembrance, though you once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not…… 8 Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.

Luke 19:12-14 “Jesus said, “A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. And he called his ten servants, and delivered to them ten pounds; and then he said unto them, “Occupy until I come”. But his citizens hated him and sent a message after him saying, “We will not have this man to reign over us”.

Colossians 3:15 “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which you are called in one body; and be you thankful”.

King Solomon, after the Lord had enlightened the eyes of his heart with the wisdom, and the knowledge, and the understanding that comes from God, was then enabled to see and discern the intents of the heart and the thoughts of the mind just as God does; and it was then that Solomon prayed in Ecclesiastes 3:18 “I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men that God might manifest to them, and that they might see, that they themselves are beasts”. God told Samuel that man, because of the blindness of his eyes, is only able to judge things by how they appear in sight of their blindness while God, who sees, is able to judge the intents and the passions of the heart. It the Lord’s sight that God opened Solomon’s eyes to see the truth about the state of man’s heart; and then Solomon desired for the Lord to do the same with all men. Only spiritual eyes are able to see the beast within; the beast within that is led by the senses of the carnal mind and the desires of the old man nature.

Psalm 73:22 “I was so foolish and ignorant; I was as a beast before you”.

For the beast within loves this world and has great pleasure in satisfying the desires of the “old man”; for the beast delights in doing those things which seem right in its own eyes; in doing its own will; and in making and expressing its own opinions. The beast within loves to seize every opportunity to glorify and exalt itself. The beast within loves to justify itself in the sight of other men. The beast within is the son of perdition, the man of sin; the hidden sins that the hypocrites who think that they are righteous are blind to see. The beast within seeks to justify itself through the works of the law, desiring to make its make its own doubts of God’s love and its unbelief of God’s word to be more righteous than the faith and belief that is accounted for righteousness. The religion of the beast within is “Babylon, the defiled temple that is full of idolatry; the temple where the idol of “Self” is honored, esteemed, praised, and exalted. Babylon sits on the seven mountains which are the seven abominations which rule over the hearts and minds of all those who are deceived. The beast within subjects itself to the idolatries of Babylon through the desires that are conceived out of the wisdom of this world; the wisdom that is the spirit of Antichrist. Babylon receives its power and authority from Satan; the power and authority to deceive the whole world with illusions that outwardly appear righteous and with abominations that are esteemed in the sight of men. It is by reason of this power and authority that lies are made to appear as the truth; where the darkness appears as the light, and where the works of iniquity appear as works of righteousness; for the beast within does not agree with the image that the beast projects itself to be.

Now these are the things that the Lord showed to me about the seven heads, or the seven abominations that have corrupted the nature of the first born. First of all, the word “head” means first. If that which is in your head, meaning the hearing in your ears, the seeing in your eyes, the words that you speak, as well as the wisdom, the knowledge, and the understanding in your thoughts are natural things; then the natural things are always going to be the things that are first in your life; that is, the natural things will always be those things which you are first mindful and desirous of; the things that will be the most important and the most treasured things in your heart. It is written in I Corinthians 15:46-49 “Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterwards that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthy (the deceitful lustful nature of the old man): the second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly”.

Luke 14:16-24 Then Jesus said to him, “A certain man made a great supper, and he bid many to come. And he sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bid, “Come; for all things are now ready”. And they all, with one consent, began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. And another said, “I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused”. And another said, “I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come”…. And the lord said unto the servant, “Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. For I say unto you that none of those men which were bid shall taste of my supper”.

Matthew 8:21-22 “And another of his disciples said unto him, “Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father”. But Jesus said unto him, “Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead”.

The first nature of the old man is blind, wretched, miserable, naked and poor in spirit, but it does not know this truth because it has been blinded by its own righteousness, keeping the old man under the curse of darkness through its own ignorance. The man of sin is not the man who knows his sin, but he is the man who is ignorant of his sin; for by his love for hypocrisy his sin remains within him. The strength of his sin is found in the letter of the words of the laws that he observes and trust in; for the letter of the word, being his own interpretation of the scriptures, only increases his hypocrisy (play-acting). The nature of the first born has no desire to see or to believe the light of my truth because it reveals the hidden things of darkness and the counsels that are in his heart, as well as the vanity of his works and his righteousness. The strength of sin is found in the letter of word because it makes the works and the efforts of men seem like the righteousness of God, as though man is able to justify his own faith through the works of his own hands. This is their iniquity, their secret sins that appear as that strong delusion that is sent to them because they love to believe the lies of “self”; the lie that says that man is able to please God apart from the nature and characteristics of his son Jesus Christ.

John 9:39 “Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world so that those who do not see may see, and that those who say that they do see will be made blind”. And some of the Pharisees, when they heard this said, “Master, are we blind also?” And Jesus answered and said, “Because you say that you see, your sin shall remain with you”.

I Corinthians 4:5 “Judge nothing before the time until the Lord comes and brings to light the hidden things of darkness and the counsels of the heart; then shall every man have praise of God”.

The gift that our heavenly Father has given to save us from our captivity to the nature of this old man is his son Jesus Christ; and one of the purposes that the Lord gave this precious unto us is found in that which is written in Colossians 1:19-22 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell. And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled, in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight”. Reconcile means “to be made first”; and this is the work that only Christ is able to perform; for he is that Spirit that has God first in all things. But the beast is contrary to the Spirit and fights against the Spirit so that it lose not its place in the thoughts of the carnal mind.

I then remembered that the Lord had also shown to about what the 10 horns and the 10 crowns represented that were upon the seven headed beast. The 10 horns represent power of Satan, and the crowns represent the authority that he gives. His power is seen all those who are deceived who are deceived into with the eyes and heard in the words of the mouth of the hypocrites as they boast of their own works and efforts, as he transforms his words and changes his outward appearance into an image that is pleasing in the sight of the other hypocrites. I was also reminded that the 10 crowns represented the 10 commandments in the Law of Moses; for it is the letter of this law that men use to transform their words and change their appearances, deceiving themselves as well as deceiving all those walk by sight and not by faith. For it is as it is written, that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by the faith “of” Jesus Christ. All who justify themselves by the works of the law are under the curse of blindness; the blindness that keeps their sins hidden in the darkness. This is the curse that leads all the deceived into eternal death/destruction.

Galatians 3:10 “For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse…”

Lamentations 3:64-65 (AMP) “Render to them a recompense, O Lord, according to the work of their hands. You will give them hardness and blindness of heart; your curse will be upon them”.

All false doctrines and lies are established when the scriptures are joined together with the natural senses of the first born, those deceitful pleasures and lusts for “self”; for “self” is always that which is first in thinking of those who are carnally minded; and the religion of the first born is based on all things of “self”: self-righteousness, self-glory, self-recognition, self-control, self-determination, self-thinking, self-reliance, self-will, self-dependence, self-justification and self-love. Though the first born may read the scriptures daily, he only does so to feed the beast within; the beast that is blind and never able to see beyond the letter of the word; the letter of the word that is never able to focus on anything other than “self”.

As I was still meditating on these things, the Lord then reminded me of that time in my walk where I was afraid that I would not be able to recognize the antichrist when he appeared because I knew that he would appear righteous in the flesh, in those words and works that are seen, but he would be filled with the fullness of the old man nature in his heart, in those things which are not seen. I was fearful that I would not recognize him because of his smooth deceitful words and his outward appearances of righteousness. Then one day, the Lord said, “Come and I will show you the beast, and the spirit of antichrist who rules over the beast with its desires and affections”. Then the Lord led me this passage of scripture that I had read many times before but had not once considered that it was a passage of scripture that would enable for me to identify the nature and the characteristics of the antichrist, as well as all those follow after him; for it is written in II Timothy 3:1-7 “This know also, that in the last days perilous (dangerous) times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, proud, covetous, boasters, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, incontinent, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with various lusts, and they are ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth”. These are the deceitful lusts/desires of the first born “old man”.

1 John 2:18-21 “Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us. But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things. I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth”.

Then the Lord said to me, “Mitt, I am not speaking of the heathen here, though the heathen are subject to the same spirits, but I am speaking of the many who I have called who have refused to take up their crosses and crucify the first born nature of the old man. These have denied Jesus and refused to put on the new man. Many have departed from their faith choosing rather to justify themselves through false doctrines and teachings that satisfy their own selfish desires. These have been bewitched into believing the lies that say that I am pleased when men make their best efforts to do the best they can, or the lies that say that I am pleased when you have good intentions to do that which is right. I am not pleased with any of the works or the righteousness of the “old man”, Jesus is the Son in whom I am well-pleased with. Who can hear my word? Jesus is the nature and the characteristics of the new man. Jesus is the new man who arises when the old man is crucified. Those who are deceived into justifying themselves are they who also deny the gift of my son Jesus Christ.

I Corinthians 2:4 “And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power so that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God”.

I choose those who worship and serve me as Lord; who worship and serve me as King; and who worship and serve me as God. I choose those who worship and serve me in Spirit and in truth; and just Cain, I do not choose those who worship and serve me in the manner that pleases “self”. I choose those who humble themselves before me and ask for me to make them my workmanship. I do not choose the proud, those who are an idol of the works of their own hands. For I am the Lord God; I am your Creator and Maker; and I am pleased with the works of my own hands. I do not choose those who choose to worship and serve the desires and affections of the creature rather than the desires and affections of the Creator. Though many have departed from the faith, they still continue to walk in religion of hypocrisy, after the desires of the “old man”. They have an outward form of godliness and they delight in showing their righteousness before men. These do not know the truth but walk in those lies that appear as the truth; the lies that come forth from men’s interpretations of the scriptures. Outwardly they appear righteous; inwardly their hearts and their minds are still captive to the nature of the “old man”: they love their pride and their own righteousness. For there is no work of the law, nor is there any of man’s best intentions, and neither is there any of the best efforts of man that has any power to change the thinking of the carnal mind or the desires of the natural heart.

Psalm 39:5 “…Truly, every man at his best state is altogether vanity”.

2 Peter 2:18-20 “For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning”.

Matthew 22:29 Jesus answered and said to them, “You do err by not knowing (the truth of) the scriptures nor the power of God”.

The Seven Abominations: These are the 7 desires/pillars that “Mystery, Babylon” is built upon. These are the 7 desires of the “old man” that agree with the desires and the lies of the Devil; and these are the lies that ministered by the grievous wolves and vipers, those ministers of righteousness who desire to be lords over the flock.

John 8:44 Jesus said unto them (the religious hypocrites), “You are of your father the Devil, and the desires/lusts of your father you will do. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not abide in the truth because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie he speaks of his own; for his is a liar and the father of it”.

Galatians 5:24 “Those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh (the old man) of its affections and desires/lust… …26 Let us not be desirous for vain glory”.

Mystery, Babylon: The false religions that are birthed with the natural understanding and wisdom of the old man that is used to interpret the Holy Scriptures; interpretations that bring forth doctrines that are nothing more than well crafted opinions that are formed to satisfy the self-righteous desires of the deceitful and hypocritical “old man”; for it is that the creature is glorified, exalted, praised, esteemed, and worshipped above the Creator.

2 Timothy 4:3-4 “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own desires/lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables”.

Ephesians 4:21-25 “If so be that you have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus, so that you put off concerning the former conversation the “old man”, who is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts. And be renewed in the spirit of your mind so that you put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and the holiness of the truth. Wherefore putting away lying, let every man speak truth with his neighbor: for we are members one of another”.

Proverbs 21:16 “The man who wanders out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead”.

Luke 16:15 And Jesus said to them, “You are they who justify yourselves before men; but God knows your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God”.

REVELATION 18:4-7 “And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, COME OUT OF HER (MYSTERY, BABYLON), MY PEOPLE SO THAT YOU BE NOT PARTAKERS OF HER SINS, and that you receive not of her plagues; for her sins have reached unto heaven and God has remembered her iniquities. Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she has filled to her double. How much she has glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she says in her heart, “I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow”.

The seven headed beast that I battled against in my dream”

A HEART THAT DEVISES WICKED IMAGINATIONS: the 1^st head of the beast that comes from within.

Jesus said that in the time at the end that it would be as it was in the days of Noah; and of the days of Noah it is written in Genesis 6:5 “And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. And the LORD said, “I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repents me that I have made them. But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD”. For many years I was troubled by this passage of scripture because I could never see how the, or rather, my own imaginations could be so wicked that the it would upset God so greatly that it would not only grieve his heart, but also bring him to a point where God says, “I will destroy man whom I have created…”. Seeing that there was no way that I could see or understand this, I finally sought the Lord and asked him to show to me what these imaginations are that provoke so much anger in him. I could not help but wonder just what these imaginations were; were they my dreams, or my creativity, or my plans? At that time, I really had no clue.

After I started praying and asking the Lord to show me his truth, the Lord then led me to that which is written in Jeremiah 16:12 “And you have done worse than your fathers; for behold, everyone of you walk after the imagination of his evil heart so that you do not hearken unto me”. Okay Lord, I am beginning to see; these evil imaginations are not my dreams, or my plans, but they are thoughts that I choose to walk after rather than hearkened unto you. But still I did not really comprehend what these thoughts were. Then the Spirit of the Lord quickened unto me that which is written in Romans 8:7 “For the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God; nor indeed, can it be (subject)”. It was with this verse that I realized that as long as I was carnally minded, it was not going to be possible for me to hearken unto the words or instructions that the Lord speaks to me. I felt like I was subjecting myself to the law of God, yet I could feel the Spirit stirring in me, as though it was saying, “You do not understand Mitt; and neither do you comprehend how the imaginations of the carnal mind rebel against the law of God”. I later learned that the law that I thought that I was subjecting myself was only my own interpretation of the scriptures thought came forth out of my own imaginations; vain opinions of the scriptures that sure seemed like the truth to me, but they were only words that were powerless to bring forth the abundant life that Jesus had promised us. I found that I was just like the Pharisees that Jesus spoke to in John 5:39-40 “You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. But you are not willing to come to Me so that you may have life”. How can a man hearken to a word that he does not even understand?

Still, I continued to pray about this matter because I felt a restless in my Spirit; a restlessness whereby I still did not comprehend the true wickedness of my imaginations.

As I continued to seek out the truth concerning my imaginations, the Spirit of the Lord then led me to that which is written Luke 14:16-24 where Jesus spoke this parable, “A certain man made a great supper, and he bid many to come. He then sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, “Come; for all things are now ready”. And they “all”, with one consent, began to make excuse. The first said unto him, “I have bought a piece of ground and I must go and see it: I pray you that you excuse”. And another said, “I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray you that you have me excused”. And another said, “I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come”. So that servant came, and showed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. For I say unto you that none of these men who were bidden shall taste of my supper”. Wow! This was it; it is the reasonings and the excuses that are birthed out of our imaginations! Reasonings and excuses that all who are carnally minded use to justify their disobedience to God’s instructions; excuses and reasonings that are chosen to be more righteous instructions than the counsel that comes forth out of the mouth of the almighty God. Who among us, at one time or another, or more times than not, has not wrestled against imaginations in his own thoughts that contend with the instruction of the Lord’s words?

Jesus also said in Luke 9:59-62 “And he said unto another, “Follow me”. But he said, “Lord, suffer me first go and bury my father”. Jesus said unto him, “Let the dead bury their dead: but you go and preach the kingdom of God”. And another also said, “Lord, I will follow you, but let me first go bid them farewell who are at home at my house”. And Jesus said unto him, “No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God”. My eyes were now opened my wide to see and understand how and why God gets so angry with man when he exalts the counsels of his own imaginations to be more important than the instructions of God. Then the Spirit of the Lord reminded me of that which is written in 1 Samuel 15:22-23

And Samuel said, “Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as he does in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has also rejected you from being king”. I then saw clearly how we have all sacrificed things unto the Lord like our time, our money, and even the works of our hands; but these are the things that the Lord does not require. Yes, surely all of these things are sacrifices done in the name of the Lord, but any man of any religion can do these things according to the strength of his own will and purposes without ever having been obedient to the voice of God.

While I was considering these things the Lord spoke to me and said, “Mitt, I am going to give you a choice; either you can give to me these wicked imaginations and ask for me to destroy them, or you can be destroyed with them. You, as well as all those come after me, are going to be tried to see whose words you are going to believe. Will you battle against any and all imaginations that enter into the thinking of your mind that oppose the instruction of my voice? If you are willing, and you call on me, then I will come and fight for you, and I will cast out all of these wicked imaginations that only have one purpose; to keep you from hearkening unto my voice. I am for you; will you be for me?” says the Lord. Then the Spirit of the Lord confirmed that this was the Lord that had spoken to me when he quickened unto me that which is written in II Corinthians 10:3-5.

“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds and casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; and having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled”.

Then the Lord said unto me, “Now hear and understand; there is not one of your imaginations that agrees with or believes any of my words; no, not one; for your imaginations are the matrix from which all of your fears, and doubts, and unbelief come forth from. Remember; no, not one”.

John 12:47-48 Jesus said “And if any man hears my words, and does not believe them, I do not judge him: for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. He that rejects me, and receives not my words, has one that judges him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day”.

Nahum 1:11 “There is one come out of you that imagines evil against the LORD, a wicked counselor”. Thus says the LORD, “Though they are quiet, and likewise many, yet thus shall they be cut down when he shall pass through. Though I have afflicted thee, I will afflict thee no more. For now will I break his yoke from off thee, and will burst thy bonds in sunder”.

I am so thankful that our heavenly Father has sent his son Jesus unto us; for only through Christ can the heart of the Father be revealed unto us. In the days of Noah, there was no one to intercede for those who walked after their own imaginations, but unlike those days, there is hope for those who discover that they have been walking after the excuses and reasonings of their own imaginations, for it is written in Isaiah 65:2 “My arms are stretched out all day long to a people who walk in a way that is not good, after their own thoughts; a people who continually provoke me to anger….” To those who have not entered the battled against their own imaginations, repent of the wisdom that is in you, and return you’re your heavenly Father, and ask for him to give unto you his wisdom; for his wisdom always puts God first, and not the cares and riches of this life.

A PROUD LOOK: the 2^nd head of the beast that comes from within

The very first verse of scripture that the Lord ever used to correct me with was that which his written in James 4:6 “…Wherefore he says, “God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble”. I did not exactly understand what pride was at that time, but I knew enough from this verse that I had better learn what it was because I sure did not want to walk in that which my heavenly Father was going to resist. The Lord coupled that verse also with that which is written in Proverbs 16:5 “Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand joins in hand, he shall not be unpunished”. After I sought out to know just what pride was, I still felt like I did not understand what it was well enough to keep myself from being deceived by it; for it is written in Obadiah 3 “For the pride of your heart has deceived you….” So I asked the Lord if he would tell me what he says pride is; and he answered me and said,

“Pride is the love and consciousness of “Self”; and man was not created with any pride in him, else I would not have been able to walk with Adam. Pride is to Satan what my Holy Spirit is unto me; and the man who walks in pride has no desire to walk in fellowship and agreement with me”.

Then the Spirit of the Lord quickened to me that which is written in Psalm 10:4 “The wicked through the pride of his own appearance will not seek after God; God is not in all of his thoughts”. I then saw and understood, those who walk in pride, they are only conscious of self in all things, while those who walk humbly before their God are always conscious of God.

Psalm 1:1-2 “Blessed is the man that walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD (the truth; Ps.119:142); and in his law does he meditate (conscious of) day and night.

I felt like I had a pretty good understanding by now as to what pride was, but when I saw the term “proud look”, I had some questions as to just what this meant. Then the Lord led me to Luke 18:9-14 where Jesus spoke a parable to those who were confident that they were righteous because of the way that they saw themselves in their own eyes; for the self-righteous Pharisee was the one who prayed before God saying, “God, I am thankful that I am not like other men; extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice in a week and I give tithes in all that I possess”. Then the Lord quickened unto me that men are most proud of the things that they make of themselves; and when with their own hands, they make themselves to be like an image of they believe is righteous, they are then very proud of that self-image that they made themselves to be; for the pride of their heart has deceived them.

Then the Lord showed me that once a man has been deceived by his pride, he will then judge everyone around according to the image that he perceives himself to be; even though the image that he has of himself is only an illusion. Those who walk in the pride will judge, look down upon, despise, frown, and point the finger at all those who do not measure up the righteousness of the idol that he has created himself to be after. It is by reason of this perverse judgment that they will then find fault with all those who do not agree with the idol of their image.

No where is the perverseness of this pride more visibly seen than in those who have been deceived by Satan to believe that righteousness comes through the works of the law. These are they who will then walk by sight, and not by faith, always justifying themselves by their good intentions and their own works, which are eagerly display in the sight of other men. Those who walk in pride are the lukewarm who do not know that they are blind, wretched, miserable, naked, and poor and spirit; and they love to stay in the darkness, lest the light of God’s truth destroy and consume the image of their idol: Self.

A LYING TONGUE: the 3^rd head of the beast that comes from within

There are two realms, the spiritual realm and the fleshy realm; and there is no agreement between the two. In the fleshy realm, it is the darkness rules keeping all men blind to the truth about God, the truth about all things spiritual, and the truth about the state of man. For natural man is born in/of the darkness, under the illusion that the way that he sees and interprets all things to be right and true; confirming that which is written in Proverbs 21:2 “Every way of man is right in his own eyes…”. There is not one man who does not believe that he is right in all of the decisions that he makes for himself. Yet, the in spiritual realm, where all things are seen in the light of the truth, God says in Romans 3:10 “As it is written, there are none righteous; no, not one”. Therefore, there is obviously no agreement between that which natural man believes to be right and true and that which God sees to be right and true.

It is written in Romans 3:4 “…Let God true and every man a liar…” Let? Let God be true? Let meaning who is going to allow for God to be true and himself a liar? Who is going to let God be right and himself unrighteous? Daniel said in Daniel 9:7 “O Lord, righteousness belongs unto you but unto us confusion of face”. Who is going to humble his heart before God and submit himself unto the Lord’s instruction that says, “Seek first the kingdom of God and “His” righteousness? It is also written in Proverbs 12:17 “He that speaks the truth shows forth righteousness but a false witness deceit”. Who is he that speaks the truth but he that sees things in the spiritual realm, while he who deceives is he who speaks that which appears as the truth in the natural realm.

The truth is of God, and the truth exists only in the spiritual realm; and it is only this truth that is eternal. When the truth of God presents itself in the natural realm, it cannot at all be discerned by the flesh; for the flesh discerns that the truth is that which is based on things are seen and heard with the natural senses. There were those who swore that they heard Jesus say, “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it again”. Of course, he did say those words, but they discerned with their natural senses that the truth was that Jesus was speaking of the temple in Jerusalem; but as it is revealed in John 2:21, Jesus was speaking of the temple of his body. It is then written in Mark 14:57-58 “And there arose certain, and bare false witness against him, saying, “We heard him say, “I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands”.

In simple terms, the lies of man are found in all of his interpretations and opinions about the things of God. I remember when I read Job the first time, when I was still a baby Christian on the milk; that is applying my own understanding to the scriptures. Here was Job rejecting all of the counsel that was coming from his 3 friends, and here I was wishing that I just had someone that would speak to me about God when I was troubled about the events of my life. I was really blind to see anything wrong in the counsel that these 3 men were speaking to Job; I just thought that their counsels lacked compassion considering the events that Job had just experienced. I then about fell out of my chair when I read that which is written in Job 42:7 “And it was so that after the LORD had spoken these words unto Job, the LORD then said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “My wrath is kindled against you and against your two friends: for you have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job has.” This was all that it took for me, seeing that when we speak lies about God, and the things of God, it kindles his wrath. Whoa. Lord, I give you all of my vain and foolish opinions about you; would you reveal to me the truth about your heart to me?”

Jesus, being our example, also reaffirmed this for me when he himself said in John 5:31 “If I speak of myself my witness is not true”. The first few times that I read this verse, I thought that Jesus was saying that if he boasted, or glorified, or exalted only himself in the works that he was doing, then his witness would not be true (and truly, there is truth in this); but when I asked the Lord what he meant by “speaking of his own self”, I was surprised at the answer he gave to me when said, “Any man who speaks of his own natural wisdom, of his own understanding, and of his own knowledge speaks from those natural elements that come from within; and thus, he speaks of himself. For when men speak of the things of God, using these natural elements within, nothing comes forth except the lies of men’s opinions and interpretations of the things of God. If God says that he is love, then the man who uses that which he knows naturally interprets God to be like his own definition of love; or if God says that he is meek, then the man who uses that which he naturally knows interprets God to be like unto his definition of meekness. It is as it is written, that no man knows the Father except the Son, and he whom the Son reveals the Father to”. All else are lies.

I Timothy 1:5-7 “Now the end of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith,6 from which some, having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk, desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm”.

II Corinthians 2:17 “For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ”.

Jude 10 “But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves”.

The Lord then led me to two passages of scripture to confirm these things for me. First, that which is written in 1 Corinthians 2:9-15 “But as it is written, “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither has it entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for them that love him. But God has revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searches all things; yea, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of man which is in him? Even so, the things of God no man knows, only the Spirit of God knows. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God so that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God; which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teaches, but that which the Holy Spirit teaches; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God because they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual rightly judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no man”. Then the second verse that the Lord gave to me was that which is written in I Corinthians 8:2 “If any man thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing as he ought to know”.

It was then that I was now convinced that I my own opinions and interpretations about God was nothing but lies, and that I was going to set my heart to seek and ask for the Lord to teach me the truth about all things that are of God, lest I be tempted to speak lies about God that only would provoke his wrath against me. I do not want that.

HANDS THAT SHED INNOCENT BLOOD: the 4^th head of the beast

It certainly did not take this head of the beast long to attack in story of Cain and Able. It is a story of how two brothers each worshipped and served the Lord. Able had no problem in submitted unto the desires of the Lord and he offered his sacrifices in the manner that the Lord had instructed them. Cain on the other hand had no such desire to sacrifice unto the Lord except in the manner that pleased his own desires, despising the instructions given to the both of them from out of the mouth of the Lord God. Because Cain did not honor God with his sacrifice, neither did God honor his sacrifice with acceptance or with any blessings. When Cain got angry about this, the Lord God came and spoke to directly to him saying in Genesis 4:6-7 “So the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, then sin lies at the door, and its desire is for you; but you should rule over it." Then Cain, even after God spoke these words personally to him, refused to repent of his error and instead rose up and slew his righteous brother Able, shedding the innocent blood of him who had done nothing but obey that which God had commanded of them. Why? Jealousy? Rebellion? Envy? Pride? Hurt feelings? I do not know which one, but obviously anyone of these could have become strong enough to overcome him and provoke him to hatred of his brother. Maybe Cain even imagined that if he slew his righteous brother, then God would be forced to accept his sacrifice seeing that there would be no other sacrifice for him to accept.

Even so, in this story is found rooted the difference between the false church of the proud, and the true church of God; for God resist the proud and he gives grace to the humble. As it was then, so is it still today; for those who are walk after the flesh are those who worship and serve God in the manner that is pleasing unto themselves, and they make light of the commandments of God. These will always seek to overthrow and/or kill the humble whose only desire is to worship and serve God in the manner that God desires to be worshipped and served; in spirit and in truth. It is for these same reasons that Israel killed and persecuted the prophets that were sent to them by God; carrying with them the same basic message that God spoke to Cain; “Repent of your own works and sacrifices and turn back to the Lord, and he will bless you”. It is as it is written in Galatians 4:29-30 “But, as he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now”. That which is born of the flesh walks in the way that is right in his own eyes, leans to his own understanding, does according to his own will, and judges and finds fault with all those who do not agree. These are so blinded by their own righteousness that they are confident that they are doing God a favor when they speak evil, slander, accuse, judge, persecute, or even kill those who find favor with God.

The tongue is a sword; and by it, the blood of many multitudes have been shed by the hands of those who have no offered themselves up as a living sacrifice; for by the sword, the tongue of the hypocrite, they are slandered, accused, judged, evil spoken of, falsely witnessed against, blasphemed, and condemned by reason of the blindness in the eyes of the disobedient; for the wicked will seek to kill the righteous by destroying the reputation of the righteous by the sword of their tongue, not understanding that which is written in Revelation 13:9-10 “If any man have an ear, let him hear. He that leads into captivity shall go into captivity: he that kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints”.

Romans 2:1 “Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whosoever you are that judges: for wherein you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you that judge do the same things”.

Revelation 13:10 “….he that kills with the sword (tongue) must be killed with the sword”.

Matthew:34-37 “O generation of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart brings forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. But I say unto you that every idle word that men shall speak they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by your words you shall be justified, and by your words you shall be condemned”.

Jude 10 “But these speak evil of those things which they do not know; and what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves”.

Since the Lord called me 27 years ago, no where I have seen more of the innocent blood shed that in slaying of babies; baby Christians that is. So many are immediately pounced upon so soon after the Lord calls them, pounded with false doctrines and religious traditions that turn their hearts away from the heavenly Father who had just saved them. You have these newborns full of new life and desire to know God, and the hypocrites quickly sweep in to take their new life from them. These are they who use the letter of the word (the scriptures that are interpreted with man’s understanding), as their sword; and they move swiftly to sever the relationship between Father and child. They make themselves to be head and lord over these innocent babes that they are able to deceive by teaching and establishing the opinions of their own interpretations to be the truth of God. These use the letter of the scriptures to confirm their lies, just as the Pharisees and Sadducees also used to deceive the children of Israel. This is the stumblingblock used by the heretics and hypocrites to cause many innocent to fall; to fall from life back into death. It is as it is written, that once these babes are deceived, they themselves then become deceivers, using the sword of their own tongues to tempt and to bring others into agreement with their false interpretations; for of these are found the members of the congregation of the dead.

2 Corinthians 2:17 (AMP) “For we are not like “so many”, [like hucksters making a trade of] peddling God's Word [shortchanging and adulterating the divine message]; but like [men] of sincerity and the purest motive, as [commissioned and sent] by God, we speak [His message] in Christ (the Messiah), in the [very] sight and presence of God.

I Corinthians 11:18 “For first of all, when you come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. For there must be also heresies (a self-will opinion that is substituted for the truth) among you that they who are approved may be made manifest among you”.

James 3:2 “For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body”

Matthew 18:5-7 (ASV) And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receives me:

but whoso shall cause one of these little ones that believe on me to stumble, it is profitable for him that a great millstone should be hanged about his neck, and (that) he should be sunk in the depth of the sea. Woe unto the world because of occasions of stumbling! For it must need be that the occasions come; but woe to that man through whom the occasion cometh!”

FEET THAT ARE SWIFT IN RUNNING TO EVIL: the 5^th head of the beast that comes from within

It is written that there is none good, no, not one. If there is none good but God, then there are a lot of evil men in this fallen world. But what is evil? I suppose if you asked ten men what there definition of evil was that you would probably get ten different answers. It was when I asked the Lord what his eyes saw as evil that I got an eye opener that I will never forget; for the Lord led me first to that which is written in Hebrews 3:12 “Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God”. The feet that are swift in running to evil are the feet that are quick in departing from the Lord, either by fear, or doubt, or unbelief; for these are desires of the natural man when he comes face to face with the truth about what is in his own heart; those giants of sin and iniquity that dwell in the promise land of our hearts and our minds. Just let some weakness or sin arise in the land and see how many are quick to run to self-justification; as though they can hide their weaknesses or sins behind some well-crafted lying words that God sees right through.

Just as the Lord promised Abraham a land flowing with milk and honey, so also as he promised his church today a new heart and new mind that would be overflowing with the fruits of abundant life; and just as Israel saw giants in their promised land, so also are there evil giants dwelling in our hearts and minds that must be destroyed/crucified before the fruits of God’s life are able to come forth in our lives. Even though that it is written that when sin abounds, that is, when it becomes a giant, many will go boldly before the throne of grace to find help in time of need, but through unbelief of God’s grace and mercy, or through the fears of how they will be judged by men, they will then run to justify themselves with good works or to hide from their own sinful flesh, not knowing understanding the depth and the width of God’s love; that there is no length or depth that is able to limit his love for us. Even Samuel, after he revealed Israel’s sin unto them, then gave to them the instruction that is written in 1 Samuel 12:20 “Fear not: though you have done all this wickedness: yet turn not aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart”. There is mercy and forgiveness with the Lord, and nothing tries our heart more than when we see those things in our hearts and minds that are not of God.

When the Lord was first teaching me of these things, to confirm for me that this evil that was in my heart was my fears, unbelief, and doubts, he led me to that story which is testified of in Numbers 13:25-33 where 12 men were selected to spy out the land that God had promised to Israel. It is written, “And they (the spies) returned from searching the land after 40 days. And they came to Moses, to Aaron, and before all the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the wilderness of Paran, to Kadesh; and brought back word unto them, and unto all of the congregation, and they showed them the fruit of the land. And they said to them, “We came unto the land where you sent us, and surely it flows with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it. Nevertheless the people are strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great. Moreover we saw the children of Anak there; and the Amalekites dwell in the land of the south: and the Hittites, and the Jebusites, and the Amorites, dwell in the mountains: and the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and by the coast of Jordan. Then Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, “Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it”. But the men that went up with him said, “We are not able to go up against this people; for they are stronger than we. And they brought up an evil report about the land that they had searched before the children of Israel saying, “The land, through which we have gone to search out, it is a land that eats up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature. And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight…14:6-12 And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that had searched out the land, then tore their clothes and they spoke to all the company of the children of Israel, saying, “The land which we passed through to search out, it is an exceeding good land. If the Lord delights in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which flows with milk and honey. Only rebel not against the Lord, neither fear you the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defense is departed from them, and the Lord is with us: fear them not”. But all the congregation bade stone them with stones. And the glory of the Lord appeared in the tabernacle of the congregation before all the children of Israel. Then the Lord said to Moses: "How long will these people reject Me? And how long will they not believe Me, with all the signs which I have performed among them?"

The only thing that stood between Israel and the promise land was not the giants in the land but their FEARS of those giants: for if they had believed the words that the Lord had spoken to them, that he would fight all their enemies for them, then they would, without any doubt, have moved immediately forward against those giants that were inhabiting their land. In the end, out the estimated one million Jews who were led out of Egypt, only the two, Joshua and Caleb, who believed their God, and were not afraid of the giants that inhabited in the land, were allowed to enter into the promise land; while the rest perished for their fears, doubts, and unbelief.

Jude 5 “I will therefore put you in remembrance, though you once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not”.

The Lord has promised abundant life, but there are enemies in the land that must first be overcome; for the Lord has sworn unto us in Revelation 21:7-8 “He that overcomes shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters (worshippers of the creature of self), and all liars (see the 3^rd head of the beast), shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone: which is the second death”. Just as the Lord promised to fight for the children of Israel had they chosen to fight against the giants in their land, so also has the Lord our God promised to do the same for us concerning the giants in our hearts and in our minds; but who will ask for him to fight for them? Who will run and hide from their own weaknesses, sins, and fears?

Isaiah 58:1-2 “Cry aloud, spare not, lift up your voice like a trumpet, and show my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins. Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God: they ask of me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching to God.

Psalm 34:4 “I sought the Lord and he heard me, and he delivered me from all of my fears”.

Romans 8:13-14 “For if you live after the flesh, you shall die: but if you through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, you shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God”.

When the 10 witnessed of the giants that they had seen in the land, did they run before the throne of their God asking for his grace, or did they run before the rest of the children of Israel to spread like a wildfire their fears, their doubts, and their unbelief into the hearts and the minds of the rest of the children of Israel, until they became so enraged with fear that they stoned Joshua and Caleb for believing and trusting the words of their God. So also was it in the days of Saul when Goliath, that all the mighty men of Israel cowered in fear because of the unbelief and doubts that were in their hearts towards their God. Who will have feet swift in running to evil but he who does not believe the love that God keeps professing that he has towards his people; a love so great that he will faithfully cast out all of the enemies that dwell in the land that he has promised his people. But who will prove his love and call upon him? In the days of Saul, there was only one little 13 year old that could be found that had such a belief and faith in his God, and he was the one who mocked Goliath and took his head; the head of the 5^th beast.

I John 4:18 “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear: because fear hath torment. He that fears is not made perfect in love”.

II Timothy 4:18 “The Lord shall deliver me from every evil work”.

In turn, unto those who do not flee from the Lord but are instant in prayer in turning to the Lord, they will find the faithfulness of his love. These are they also who will discover the faithfulness of Jesus, that he is well able to grant unto us all that he has promised to us; his kingdom. Just like Israel, the only thing standing between us and the kingdom of God is fear; for Jesus said in Luke 12:32 “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom”. Just like the promise land, the kingdom land is also filled with it’s share of giants: the lust and the desires of the seven headed beast nature of the old man. And when troubles, sins, confusion, problems, weaknesses, cares, and trials arise, many will be deceived by their own fears, and doubts, and unbelief and they will turn away from the Lord and his loving arms.

Colossians 3:9-10 “Lie not one to another, seeing that you have put off the old man with his deeds; and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him.”

A FALSE WITNESS THAT SPEAKS LIES: the 6^th head of the beast that comes from within

Hypocrite=play actor; a pretender Deceiver=imposter

It is funny that if the Lord had not revealed this to me, I would have thought that a false witness who speaks lies would have been like those who said, “We heard Jesus say, “Destroy this temple and I will raise it up again in three days”; simply because they were called false witnesses in that passage of scripture. But the Lord quickly, and I mean quickly and very sternly, led me to the hypocrite as being the false witness that speaks lies; so much so that I really got the feeling that this is the most dangerous of all the heads of the beast that seeks to overcome the saints of God. Bottom line is, hypocrisy is the illusion where men believe that they are something other than were they truly are; and they desire for others to believe the same illusion that they have of themselves.

Jesus said in Matthew 6:1-5 “Take heed that you do not your alms before men to be seen of them: otherwise you have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore when you do your alms (righteous works), do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets so that they may have the glory of men. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward. But when you do alms, let not your left hand know what your right hand does so that your alms may be in secret: and your Father who sees in secret himself shall reward you openly. And when you pray, you shall not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets so that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward”. The hypocrites do all of their righteous works and they speak good words only to be seen by men; and they only reward they will ever get from all of these righteous deeds and good words is the glory that comes from other men.

It is going to be sad on that day when they stand before Jesus, crying out to him, “Lord, Lord, have we not done many righteous works your name? Have we not cast out demons in your name? Have we not preached the gospel and prophesied in your name?” But they did all of these things to satisfy their own desires for vain glory; to receive praise and honor from men. Paul made it very clear in II Corinthians 5:7 “We walk by faith and not by sight”. I remembered that the Lord spoke to me in a previous word where he was speaking about how deceiving the illusions of outward righteousness is, and he said, “You live in word that says, “If it looks like a duck; and if it talks like a duck, and if it walks like a duck, then it surely must be a duck”. Then the Lord said, “Any man who trusts in his own natural senses to discern who a Christian is will surely be deceived by the hypocrites who walk by sight”; for Jesus said in Matthew 23:27-28 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like unto whited tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly but within are filled with dead bones and of all uncleanness. Even so you outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity”. A hypocrite is full of dead bones, all uncleanness, iniquity, and hypocrisy, yet he still appears righteous in the sight of men. What an illusion; and when men are deceived by the illusion, they become as the illusion.

Jesus spoke a parable to those who thought that they were righteous; and Jesus did not speak this parable to condemn the hypocrite but so that the hypocrite might be able to judge himself and see his own error; and then repent of the idol that he had made himself to be. One man in that parable was a hypocrite who said the Lord that he was glad that he was not like other men and that he fasted and tithed, while the other man simply said, “Lord, be merciful to me, a sinner”.

A sinner, the man who Jesus shed his blood for, is man who the hypocrite despises and judges; for one of the greatest desires/lusts of the hypocrite is to judge others, to compare and measure their own appearance against the outward appearance of others, even though they are just as guilty of sin as those they judge of sin. Jesus tried to warn us of this when he said in Matthew 7:1 “Judge not lest you be judged; for with what judgment you judge you shall be judged with; and with what measure you measure, it shall be measured to you again. And why do you behold the speck that is in thy brother's eye, but do not consider the beam that is in your own eye? Or how will thou say to your brother, “Let me pull the speck out of your eye; and, behold, a beam is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of your own eye and then you shall clearly see to cast out the speck out of your brother's eye”. How great is the blindness that dwells in me? As great as the desire/lust is that dwells in us to judge, to accuse, and find fault with one another, seeing that the only judgment that God is going to use to judge you with is the judgment you use to judge others. If you do not judge, then you will not at all be judged. The height of hypocrisy is found when sinful man, and all have sinned, judges another for his sin; thus condemning his own self.

Romans 2:1-3 “Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whosoever you are that judges: for wherein you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you that judge do the same things (sin).

But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them who commit such things. And do you think this, O man that judges them which do such things that you do, that you shall escape the judgment of God?”

2 Corinthians 10:12 “For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise”.

And if it were not enough to keep a watch out for these desires/lust arising to tempt us to judge, then we also must watch out for this same beast coming out of the mouths of others as they judge, find fault with, and accuse others, hoping that we will consent and join in with their condemnation. Then there are those false pastors and prophets who have no fear to judge and accuse before their congregations, all the while sowing the seeds of fear in those who hear; the fear that they will also be judged and accused in the same unmerciful manner if there sins are made known to the hypocrites. Hypocrites love to accuse and intimidate others with their judgments of others, as they seek to satisfy their own desires to take control and rule over the lives of others; almost as though they think that their righteousness for living should be the rule of living far all who are around them.

James 1:13-16 “Let no man say when he is tempted, “I am tempted of God”; for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither does he tempt any man. But every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust has conceived it brings forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, brings forth death. Do not err, my beloved brethren”.

How great is the blindness of the hypocrite? He is so blind that he cannot even see that when he judges others, he sins.

HE THAT SOWS DISCORD AMONG THE BRETHREN: the 7^th head of the beast

Discord= strife, contention

It is written in Proverbs 13:10 “Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom”. Remembering that the Lord has revealed that “Pride is the love and the consciousness of self”, then it does not take much to discern the desires/lust that are aroused when the head of this beast arises to tempt one to put the idol of “self” before the things of God; and he who does so will also sow discord among his brethren when he exalts the ways of “self” to be even more righteous that the ways of God. Those who sow to the flesh, are those who walk after the desires and pleasures of the flesh, and the flesh is always contrary, or in contention with, the ways of God; for as it is written in Galatians 5:17 “For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that you cannot do the things that you would”. Those who walk after the flesh desire/lusts to make their ways, their opinions, their righteousness, their will, and their own beliefs to be greater than, more esteemed than, and more righteous than all of the things of God; even conforming the image of God into an image like unto themselves. Those who teach the brethren to walk after these things sow discord between God and his children.

It is written in 1 Kings 18:17-18 “And it came to pass when Ahab saw Elijah that Ahab said unto him, “Are you he that troubles Israel?” And he answered, “I have not troubled Israel but you, and your father's house, in that you have forsaken the commandments of the LORD; and you have followed Baalim. Those who walk after the flesh are surely troubled by those who walk after the Spirit; and those who walk after the Spirit are surely troubled by the flesh. In the case of Ahab, Elijah could have been accused of sowing discord among the children of Israel, but in truth it was Ahab that was sowing discord between the children of Israel and their God because he was not teaching them to observe the ways and the commandments of God. What prophet, sent by God, at any time, has had any message other than for the people of God to turn back to God? Can there be any discord between God and his people when they are seeking after the desires of his heart rather than the desires of their own heart?

It is written in I Corinthians 1:10 “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment”. You will not find disagreement among those who believe this word; but to those who disobey this word because they do not believe it, you will find much discord between them and their God.

The seven headed beast are the seven desires/lusts that come forth from the wisdom of this world; and from the matrix of the wisdom of this world comes forth first born nature of the “old man”; and from this nature comes forth the desires to worship and serve the creature rather than the Creator. When the wisdom of this world is joined with the scriptures, it then brings forth the works of iniquity and the righteousness of man; that strong delusion whereby the hypocrite is deceived into believing that he is righteous in the sight of God. There is no delusion that has any greater power to deceive than when the scriptures are joined with man’s interpretation; and the only works that are able to come forth are those works that are performed by men, and not by God.

As it is written in Galatians 5:17-21, the lusts of the flesh are manifest, that is, they are visible for all to see; but it is not so with the secret sins of iniquity, for these are the works that are hidden behind the appearances of righteousness; these are those works that are performed according to the letter of the word; those works that are aroused by the law; works that bring glory and praise unto men. It is of these 7 desires/lusts that the image of the idol is formed and made for the pleasing of SELF rather than God. Only by the wisdom of this world comes forth the desires to worship and serve the idol of “SELF”; and all who worship and serve this idol will stand in the temple of God (that vessel of their own body), and declare their own goodness, their own righteousness, as well as their own greatness: “I have preached the gospel and I have prophesied in the name of Jesus Christ”; “I have given my tithes and prayed before the saints”; “In Jesus name I have cast out demons and sicknesses”; “I am not like sinful man”; “I have done many wonderful works in the name of Jesus Christ”; “I have counseled and ministered to the saints”. These are they who sit in the temple of God to receive glory, and honor, and praise from all those who they sought to please and to be esteemed by.

Psalm 90:8 “You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence.

Matthew 7:21-23 “Not every one that says to me, “Lord, Lord”, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but only he that does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, “Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name? And in your name have cast out devils? And in your name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, you that work iniquity”.

II Timothy 2:19-22 Nevertheless the foundation of God stands sure having this seal, “The Lord knows them that are his”. And let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honor, and some to dishonor. If a man will therefore purge himself from these (his iniquities), he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and ready for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work. Flee youthful (babes on the milk of the word) lusts…”

II Thessalonians 2:3-12 “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sits in the temple of God showing himself that he is God. Remember you not that when I was yet with you I told you these things? And now you know what withholds so that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity does already work: only he who now lets will let until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming, even him whose coming is after the working of Satan with all his power, and signs, and lying wonders, and with all the deceivableness of unrighteousness (self-righteousness) in them that perish; because they did not receive the love of the truth so that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion so that they should believe a lie; that they all might be damned who did not believe the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness (self-righteousness).”

Proverbs 20:6 “Most men will proclaim everyone his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?”

The desires of the first born are always battling to overcome the first love for God. It is of these desires that the children of God are tempted repeatedly. All who are deceived by these desires are then brought into that religion where the darkness appears as the light; the darkness that keeps them blind to their hidden sins, as well as blind to the truth about all things that are of God. Having then been overcome by her words (the letter of the word), the truth of God’s word then become powerless to change, or to increase faith, or to correct, or to edify, or to sanctify; and thus all who have been overcome by her will be found as filthy as that whore when the Lord appears to receive his faithful bride; the bride that is found without blemish or spot before the Lord because she has been sanctified by God’s truth in the hidden part and by his wisdom in the hi