Trumpet 7 - Rumor notes 80

 Revelation 11

14 The second woe is past. Behold, the third woe comes quickly. 15 The seventh angel sounded, and great voices in heaven followed, saying, "The kingdom of the world has become the Kingdom of our Lord, and of his Christ. He will reign forever and ever!"

the third woe comes quickly

I saw, and I heard an eagle, flying in mid heaven, saying with a loud voice, "Woe! Woe! Woe for those who dwell on the earth, because of the other voices of the trumpets of the three angels, who are yet to sound!" (Revelation 8:13)

The first woe is past. Behold, there are still two woes coming after this. (Revelation 9:12)

These verses refer to the first two woes, and now we have arrived at the last of the three woes originally announced. This transition into the seventh trumpet parallels similar transitions between six and seven in the other sets and is extremely significant but also can be very confusing. The patterns of these sets of seven are a point of study on the part of many who are seeking to understand the deeper meanings of these prophecies, and we do well to tread lightly and to constantly seek guidance from the Spirit for wisdom instead of driving stakes deep in the ground anchoring our opinions in conflict with anyone disagreeing with us. The spirit brings life while the letter can kill.

Let's review some passages that involve woe, keeping in mind that we have examined this rather thoroughly in previous discussions already.

Therefore rejoice, heavens, and you who dwell in them. Woe to the earth and to the sea, because the devil has gone down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has but a short time. (Revelation 12:12)

Moses said to Aaron, Take your censer, and put fire therein from off the altar, and lay incense thereon, and carry it quickly to the congregation, and make atonement for them: for there is wrath gone out from Yahweh; the plague is begun. (Numbers 16:46)

When you become the father of children and children's children and have remained long in the land, and act corruptly, and make an idol in the form of anything, and do that which is evil in the sight of the LORD your God so as to provoke Him to anger, I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that you will surely perish quickly from the land where you are going over the Jordan to possess it. You shall not live long on it, but will be utterly destroyed. (Deuteronomy 4:25-26 NAS95)

For he will turn away your son from following me, that they may serve other gods: so will the anger of Yahweh be kindled against you, and he will destroy you quickly. (Deuteronomy 7:4)

I looked, and behold, you had sinned against Yahweh your God; you had made you a molten calf: you had turned aside quickly out of the way which Yahweh had commanded you. (Deuteronomy 9:16)

Yahweh will send on you cursing, confusion, and rebuke, in all that you put your hand to do, until you are destroyed, and until you perish quickly; because of the evil of your doings, by which you have forsaken me. (Deuteronomy 28:20)

Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. (Ecclesiastes 8:11)

The great day of Yahweh is near. It is near, and hurries greatly, the voice of the day of Yahweh. The mighty man cries there bitterly. (Zephaniah 1:14)

Isaiah cries concerning Israel, "If the number of the children of Israel are as the sand of the sea, it is the remnant who will be saved; for He will finish the work and cut it short in righteousness, because the LORD will make a short work upon the earth." (Romans 9:27-28)

great voices in heaven followed

I heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up here!" They went up into heaven in the cloud, and their enemies saw them. (Revelation 11:12)

It shall be that when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, and when you hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall go up every man straight before him. (Joshua 6:5)

The kingdom of the world has become the Kingdom of our Lord, and of his Christ

The ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority as kings, with the beast, for one hour. These have one mind, and they give their power and authority to the beast. These will war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings. They also will overcome who are with him, called and chosen and faithful. (Revelation 17:12-14)

Who wouldn't fear you, Lord, and glorify your name? For you only are holy. For all the nations will come and worship before you. For your righteous acts have been revealed. (Revelation 15:4)

Yes, all kings shall fall down before him. All nations shall serve him. (Psalms 72:11)

All nations you have made will come and worship before you, Lord. They shall glorify your name. (Psalms 86:9)

It shall happen in the latter days, that the mountain of Yahweh's house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be raised above the hills; and all nations shall flow to it. Many peoples shall go and say, "Come, let's go up to the mountain of Yahweh, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths." For out of Zion the law shall go forth, and the word of Yahweh from Jerusalem. (Isaiah 2:2-3)

yes, he says, It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give you for a light to the nations, that you may be my salvation to the end of the earth. Thus says Yahweh, the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One, to him whom man despises, to him whom the nation abhors, to a servant of rulers: Kings shall see and arise; princes, and they shall worship; because of Yahweh who is faithful, even the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you. (Isaiah 49:6-7)

Thus says the Lord Yahweh, Behold, I will lift up my hand to the nations, and set up my banner to the peoples; and they shall bring your sons in their bosom, and your daughters shall be carried on their shoulders. Kings shall be your nursing fathers, and their queens your nursing mothers: they shall bow down to you with their faces to the earth, and lick the dust of your feet; and you shall know that I am Yahweh; and those who wait for me shall not be disappointed. (Isaiah 49:22-23)

Behold, you shall call a nation that you don't know; and a nation that didn't know you shall run to you, because of Yahweh your God, and for the Holy One of Israel; for he has glorified you. (Isaiah 55:5)

Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. Lift up your eyes round about, and see: they all gather themselves together, they come to you; your sons shall come from far, and your daughters shall be carried in the arms. Then you shall see and be radiant, and your heart shall thrill and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you, the wealth of the nations shall come to you. (Isaiah 60:3-5)

Yahweh, my strength, and my stronghold, and my refuge in the day of affliction, to you shall the nations come from the ends of the earth, and shall say, Our fathers have inherited nothing but lies, even vanity and things in which there is no profit. (Jeremiah 16:19)

There was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations, and languages should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed. (Daniel 7:14)

Many nations shall join themselves to Yahweh in that day, and shall be my people; and I will dwell in the midst of you, and you shall know that Yahweh of Armies has sent me to you. (Zechariah 2:11)

Thus says Yahweh of Armies: "Many peoples, and the inhabitants of many cities will yet come; and the inhabitants of one shall go to another, saying, 'Let us go speedily to entreat the favor of Yahweh, and to seek Yahweh of Armies. I will go also.' Yes, many peoples and strong nations will come to seek Yahweh of Armies in Jerusalem, and to entreat the favor of Yahweh." Thus says Yahweh of Armies: "In those days, ten men will take hold, out of all the languages of the nations, they will take hold of the skirt of him who is a Jew, saying, 'We will go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.'" (Zechariah 8:20-23)

All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to Yahweh. All the relatives of the nations shall worship before you. For the kingdom is Yahweh's. He is the ruler over the nations. (Psalms 22:27-28)

In what way does the kingdom of earth become the kingdom of God? Do they keep their identities?

In the days of those kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed, nor shall the sovereignty of it be left to another people; but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever. (Daniel 2:44)

The kingdom and the dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole sky, shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High: his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him. (Daniel 7:27)

Let your Kingdom come. Let your will be done, as in heaven, so on earth. (Matthew 6:10)

There is another angle from which we need to view this declaration, that involving one of the core issues of the great cosmic war over authority on this earth. It also involves the methods relied on by each side as to how to achieve authority over the world and the more importantly, the nature of that authority. Authority has been contested for millennia and will continue until the final day of full revelation. A pivotal event in this war was when Satan attempted to seduce Jesus to embrace his methods, his version of authority in a slight of hand to trap Jesus through deception just as he did our first parents when they lost their dominion given them by God. This setup to entrap Jesus just as our first parents were duped, happened at the very outset of the public ministry of Jesus as a human who had come to challenge Satan's assertion of authority over this planet.

By faith, Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to share ill treatment with God's people, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a time; accounting the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he looked to the reward. (Hebrews 11:24-26)

If you are the Son of God... The devil, leading him up on a high mountain, showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. The devil said to him, "I will give you all this authority, and their glory, for it has been delivered to me; and I give it to whomever I want. If you therefore will worship before me, it will all be yours." Jesus answered him, "Get behind me Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.'" (Luke 4:3, 5-8)

Note the parallel of derived identity. Moses had to choose who would be his source of identity with all the implications this would involve. The same issue is seen all throughout the life of Jesus on earth.

The kingdom of the world has become the Kingdom of our Lord, and of his Christ

Can we see the real issue here? This war is over who has authority over the social organization of the humans living on this planet. It is too simplistic to simply spout the cliché that God is sovereign, or that because God is all powerful and He created this earth, He owns it and no one can undermine His authority. Many insist that saying Satan has dominion over this world is inaccurate, but that does not square with the history of our world as revealed in Scripture and especially in this book that gives us the most complete explanation of the real backstory. We need to come to understand much better the issues being fought over if we are to understand the far greater significance of this bold assertion that the kingdom of this world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ.

When Jesus was confronted directly by Satan at the very outset of His earthly ministry, this issue of identity and authority was at the very heart of every temptation pressed on Jesus with great intensity and with all the advantages in Satan's favor. Jesus was on the verge of death by starvation, making Him physically weak. Many of us find it difficult to resist reacting negatively if we are feeling hungry after just missing one meal on time. Jesus had the same physical body that we have with all the affects of low blood sugar and everything else working against Him. The instinct of survival was just as strong inside of Him as it is with any of us, and the enemy was using this to leverage the appeal of his enticements to get Jesus to compromise in one way or another simply to survive. The devil hoped that in this way He could trick or seduce the Son of God into reacting in some way that would give credence to Satan's assertions that God has a hidden dark side that if exposed would prove that putting self ahead of others was only one aspect of His character, yet there was also more. This is at the core of the war, for it involves which entity authentically represents the hidden side of God, Lucifer or Christ. Again, this is laid out in Hebrews 1 and was the cause of division from the very outset of the rebellion and is still the ongoing issue that must be settled before peace can ever be restored to the entire universe.

His Son is the radiance of his glory, the very image of his substance, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself made purification for our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; having become so much better than the angels, as he has inherited a more excellent name than they have. For to which of the angels did he say at any time, "You are my Son. Today have I become your father?" and again, "I will be to him a Father, and he will be to me a Son?" Again, when he brings in the firstborn into the world he says, "Let all the angels of God worship him." (Hebrews 1:3-6)

Many have correctly observed that the issue of worship is central to the war brought to light in Revelation. However, worship has long been a rather vague term that needs to be clarified so that we can see the greater dimensions here. Worship involves several factors that must not be overlooked. One of them is authority, but we must keep in mind the kind of authority and the means used to acquire it. Does authority operate in a top-down structure as in hierarchy? If so, then we will assume things about God that are counter to the methods of the Lamb and will not be able to appreciate the real issues here when it comes to winning the war. God does not do hierarchy despite all our objections to the contrary. If we get that settled in our thinking, our perspective of worship can be greatly enlightened and expanded. Worship is about giving authority to a source of power, but also from which we receive what we need in terms of provisions, security and especially identity.

The reason worship is central in this war involves how we relate to the very design of what it means to be human. Humans always reflect the god they believe is in charge and to whom they look for identity, purpose, value and as the original they will reflect. Worship means that we will emulate whomever it is we admire and value and want to be like more than any other. Worship means turning our attention and imagination towards an original that we will reflect in our lives and in the way we feel about ourselves and how we will relate to others. This is summed up in the two great commandments but is often missed in the word love. If we imagine that love is an emotion we have to feel toward God and those around us, we will likely struggle to make sense of the real issue at stake, for emotions are merely chemical dumps that come from what we think about or what we just ate or injected or experienced.

Love is a principle, not merely an emotion. Love involves the principle of worship, so we need to better understand how we worship instead of fretting over how much we feel love for God and others. Feelings are after-affects of choices and thoughts and must not be allowed to control our choices. Yet this is very difficult for most of us because we are so used to believing our feelings as defining truth for us. This is why the greatest tests of the Son of God while living on this earth involved overwhelming pressure of emotions and feelings designed to get Him to react based on physical feelings rather than reflecting only the love of the Father. If the enemy can get us to follow the dictates of our feelings over the principles of the kingdom of light, love and truth, he has gained our worship, for we have been trapped by his temptation just as surely as was Eve when she encountered him at the Tree.

True agape love originates in God and is completely selfless in nature. This is the truth Satan hates the most, for so long as we believe this to be the truth about God, we will reflect this light that exposes the fraud and deception of the enemy. God is light with no darkness at all in Him, and when this light comes close judgment is the inevitable reaction (John 3:19-21). This judgment has been going on ever since the assertions of Lucifer began to question agape love from the inception of the war. But the principles involved are being allowed to fully work out into the open before evil can ever be defeated and cease to exist. This can only be achieved through the methods of overcoming as relied on by the Lamb, the only true representative and Son of God who reflects perfectly and explicitly the heart of the Godhead and the true nature of love.

Agape love, the very definition of God, always and consistently puts others and their welfare ahead of one's own welfare. This is the light that exposes all the twisted theology we still have about how God will win over evil. Jesus never achieves victory to acquire full authority over this world by relying to a single element of Satan's counterfeit ways. The Lamb of God is the grand exposé of how God's government operates and how the kingdom of love overcomes all the power of evil and lies and darkness and fear. This must be taken into account as we analyze the true meaning of this phrase about the transition of authority over this world to Christ.

Resurrection Repercussions - rumor notes 79

 Revelation 11

13 In that day there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified, and gave glory to the God of heaven. 14 The second woe is past. Behold, the third woe comes quickly. 15 The seventh angel sounded, and great voices in heaven followed, saying, "The kingdom of the world has become the Kingdom of our Lord, and of his Christ. He will reign forever and ever!" 16 The twenty-four elders, who sit on their thrones before God's throne, fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying: "We give you thanks, Lord God, the Almighty, the one who is and who was; because you have taken your great power, and reigned. 18 The nations were angry, and your wrath came, as did the time for the dead to be judged, and to give your bondservants the prophets, their reward, as well as to the saints, and those who fear your name, to the small and the great; and to destroy those who destroy the earth." 19 God's temple that is in heaven was opened, and the ark of the Lord's covenant was seen in his temple. Lightnings, sounds, thunders, an earthquake, and great hail followed.

In that day/hour there was a great earthquake

This word in the Septuagint is most often translated as season, time or hour.

Because you kept my command to endure, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, which is to come on the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. (Revelation 3:10)

The four angels were freed who had been prepared for that hour and day and month and year, so that they might kill one third of mankind. (Revelation 9:15)

He said with a loud voice, "Fear the Lord, and give him glory; for the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and the springs of waters!" (Revelation 14:7)

Another angel came out from the temple, crying with a loud voice to him who sat on the cloud, "Send forth your sickle, and reap; for the hour to reap has come; for the harvest of the earth is ripe!" (Revelation 14:15)

The ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority as kings, with the beast, for one hour. (Revelation 17:12)

standing far away for the fear of her torment, saying, 'Woe, woe, the great city, Babylon, the strong city! For your judgment has come in one hour.' (Revelation 18:10)

A study of the concept in this word hour is important to see its significance.

a great earthquake

God's temple that is in heaven was opened, and the ark of the Lord's covenant was seen in his temple. Lightnings, sounds, thunders, an earthquake, and great hail followed. (Revelation 11:19)

I saw when he opened the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake. The sun became black as sackcloth made of hair, and the whole moon became as blood. (Revelation 6:12)

The angel took the censer, and he filled it with the fire of the altar, and threw it on the earth. There followed thunders, sounds, lightnings, and an earthquake. (Revelation 8:5)

There were lightnings, sounds, and thunders; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since there were men on the earth, so great an earthquake, so mighty. (Revelation 16:18)

He said, Go forth, and stand on the mountain before Yahweh. Behold, Yahweh passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains, and broke in pieces the rocks before Yahweh; but Yahweh was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but Yahweh was not in the earthquake: and after the earthquake a fire; but Yahweh was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. It was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entrance of the cave. Behold, there came a voice to him, and said, What are you doing here, Elijah? (1 Kings 19:11-13)

What is an earthquake? What happens during an earthquake? How does an earthquake affect us?

Can earthquakes be a sign? Can they be a distraction? How should we think about them?

It shall happen in that day, when Gog shall come against the land of Israel, says the Lord Yahweh, that my wrath shall come up into my nostrils. For in my jealousy and in the fire of my wrath have I spoken, Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel; so that the fish of the sea, and the birds of the sky, and the animals of the field, and all creeping things who creep on the earth, and all the men who are on the surface of the earth, shall shake at my presence, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground. (Ezekiel 38:18-20)

a tenth of the city fell

For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of God Most High, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, to whom also Abraham divided a tenth part of all (being first, by interpretation, king of righteousness, and then also king of Salem, which is king of peace; without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God), remains a priest continually. Now consider how great this man was, to whom even Abraham, the patriarch, gave a tenth out of the best spoils. (Hebrews 7:1-4)

In the story of Abraham and Melchizedek the issue of ownership and acknowledging God's authority is brought to light. It also reflects our spirit connection with others who share our trust in and dependence on God for all of our needs. The tenth is what is claimed as belonging to God.

He said, "Go, and tell this people, 'You hear indeed, but don't understand; and you see indeed, but don't perceive.' Make the heart of this people fat. Make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and turn again, and be healed." Then I said, "Lord, how long?" He answered, "Until cities are waste without inhabitant, and houses without man, and the land becomes utterly waste, And Yahweh has removed men far away, and the forsaken places are many in the midst of the land. If there is a tenth left in it, that also will in turn be consumed: as a terebinth, and as an oak, whose stock remains when they are felled; so the holy seed is its stock." (Isaiah 6:9-13)

Their dead bodies will be in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified. (Revelation 11:8)

Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake

All the men of might, even seven thousand, and the craftsmen and the smiths one thousand, all of them strong and apt for war, even them the king of Babylon brought captive to Babylon. (2 Kings 24:16)

The Syrians fled before Israel; and David killed of the Syrians the men of seven thousand chariots, and forty thousand footmen, and killed Shophach the captain of the army. (1 Chronicles 19:18)

For Hezekiah king of Judah did give to the assembly for offerings one thousand bulls and seven thousand sheep; and the princes gave to the assembly a thousand bulls and ten thousand sheep: and a great number of priests sanctified themselves. (2 Chronicles 30:24)

It shall happen, that he who escapes from the sword of Hazael shall Jehu kill; and he who escapes from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha kill. Yet will I leave me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth which has not kissed him. (1 Kings 19:17-18)

I ask then, did God reject his people? May it never be! For I also am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God didn't reject his people, which he foreknew. Or don't you know what the Scripture says about Elijah? How he pleads with God against Israel: "Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have broken down your altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life." But how does God answer him? "I have reserved for myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to Baal." Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work. (Romans 11:1-6)

Keep in mind that the people being referred to here in Revelation are connected to the great city discussed in verse 8 particularly. This is where the dead bodies of these witnesses lay for days without burial while those in the city celebrated their demise at the hands of the beast. Now that their reputations have been reversed, the attitude appears to have switched dramatically. The number 7,000 represents God's remnant and parallels the tenth that especially belongs to God.

What might this prophecy mean? How might this play out in events on this planet? At this point I don't feel comfortable with any explanation to conjecture confidently. Applying the filters from verse 1 that we use to examine everything in this book alerts me that while this number may be important, it is not necessarily literal. Likewise, being killed may or may not be physical. Many things in Revelation are still awaiting more inspiration to clarify their deeper meanings for us. When it is time for us to know, if we remain humble, waiting and tuned to the right spirit, we may receive discernment and wisdom so this can fit perfectly with everything else the Spirit reveals.

the rest were terrified, and gave glory to the God of heaven

After the three and a half days, the breath of life from God entered into them, and they stood on their feet. Great fear fell on those who saw them. (Revelation 11:11)

Before they were laid down, she came up to them on the roof; and she said to the men, I know that Yahweh has given you the land, and that the fear of you is fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land melt away before you. (Joshua 2:8-9)

Jesus cried again with a loud voice, and yielded up his spirit. Behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom. The earth quaked and the rocks were split. The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection, they entered into the holy city and appeared to many. Now the centurion, and those who were with him watching Jesus, when they saw the earthquake, and the things that were done, feared exceedingly, saying, "Truly this was the Son of God." (Matthew 27:50-54)

Is this conclusive evidence that this centurion became a true believer in Christ because of this confession? I don't believe this supports that, though it might be possible. Admissions of truth pried from reluctant lips of those who resist a love of the truth is not the same as confessing Christ from the heart and embracing His revelation of God to experience a transformed life. There are many who insist that anyone who admits the evidence that God is right will be saved merely by invoking a formula of words. I see this as a dangerous assumption, for salvation is not about invoking magic formulas or simply saying a right mantra to gain a ticket to heaven, but rather is about genuine heart transformation that aligns and synchronizes us with the life-giving fire of God's love.

For Moses writes about the righteousness of the law, "The one who does them will live by them." But the righteousness which is of faith says this, "Don't say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?' (that is, to bring Christ down); or, 'Who will descend into the abyss?' (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead.)" But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth, and in your heart;" that is, the word of faith, which we preach: that if you will confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:5-9)

In reality, formula-based religion is the same thing as a righteousness of the law, for it is based on getting all the facts correct or doing and saying the right things as being what is required for God to let us into heaven. This is an external form of religion and is pervasive in every culture. This is not true salvation, for it fails to address the root of our sin problem. We must allow the context of Paul's statement about confession and belief to inform us as to what he intended rather than lifting it out of context to string it with other verses to prove something we want it to say, even if it sounds good. Doing so seduces us into imagining that God violates the very principles of reality that defines how creation functions, and violates the moral design of how relationships work.

It is also helpful to keep in mind the true definition of the word saved, particularly in this verse. Saved comes from the exact same word in Greek that is often translated as healed. So when Paul says that when we confess outwardly that Jesus is our Lord, the one who we trust to define what is best and right for us and who we are according to His version of our identity, when we couple such heart belief with speaking out loud the truth about God and embrace His revelation of truth, these are the choices that affect healing of mind, spirit and at times even our body.

The record of what happened in the story of Ananias and Sapphira is instructive in this regard. After they had both lied to Peter about their hidden agenda and collapsed dead from the internal dissonance caused by resistance to the Spirit of love that was so powerful in the community of the early believers, great fear was the result, yet also other interesting outcomes.

Great fear came on the whole assembly, and on all who heard these things. By the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. They were all with one accord in Solomon's porch. None of the rest dared to join them, however the people honored them. More believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women. (Acts 5:11-14)

Notice the polarizing effect of this shocking event. Many drew back in fear after hearing what happened to this couple thinking they could leverage their reputation with the believers by trying to appear generous while secretly harboring greed. Yet there were multitudes who saw this same event as compelling evidence that it was safe for them to join. This means that while the first group honored the believers, their fear inhibited them from appreciating what the latter group saw as evidence that this is what they had been looking for their whole life and were eager to experience. This has everything to do with the condition of the heart and how that affects our perceptions of the very same narrative.

gave glory to the God of heaven

Joshua said to Achan, My son, please give glory to Yahweh, the God of Israel, and make confession to him; and tell me now what you have done; don't hide it from me. Achan answered Joshua, and said, Of a truth I have sinned against Yahweh, the God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done: (Joshua 7:19-20)

Can we conclude that because Achan confessed his sin openly that his heart was transformed?

The ark of Yahweh was in the country of the Philistines seven months. The Philistines called for the priests and the diviners, saying, "What shall we do with the ark of Yahweh? Show us with which we shall send it to its place." They said, "If you send away the ark of the God of Israel, don't send it empty; but by all means return him a trespass offering: then you shall be healed, and it shall be known to you why his hand is not removed from you." Then they said, "What shall be the trespass offering which we shall return to him?" They said, "Five golden tumors, and five golden mice, according to the number of the lords of the Philistines; for one plague was on you all, and on your lords. Therefore you shall make images of your tumors, and images of your mice that mar the land; and you shall give glory to the God of Israel: peradventure he will lighten his hand from off you, and from off your gods, and from off your land. (1 Samuel 6:1-5)

Hear, O LORD, and have mercy on me; LORD, be my helper!" You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, To the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to You forever. (Psalms 30:10-12 NKJV)

Behold, God our shield, look at the face of your anointed. For a day in your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness. For Yahweh God is a sun and a shield. Yahweh will give grace and glory. He withholds no good thing from those who walk blamelessly. Yahweh of Armies, blessed is the man who trusts in you. (Psalms 84:9-12)

O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and give praise, even with my glory. Awake, lute and harp! I will awaken the dawn. I will praise You, O LORD, among the peoples, And I will sing praises to You among the nations. (Psalms 108:1-3 NKJV)

Violence shall no more be heard in your land, desolation nor destruction within your borders; but you shall call your walls Salvation, and your gates Praise. The sun shall be no more your light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light to you: but Yahweh will be to you an everlasting light, and your God your glory. (Isaiah 60:18-19)

Hear you, and give ear; don't be proud; for Yahweh has spoken. Give glory to Yahweh your God, before he cause darkness, and before your feet stumble on the dark mountains, and, while you look for light, he turn it into the shadow of death, and make it gross darkness. But if you will not hear it, my soul shall weep in secret for your pride; and my eye shall weep sore, and run down with tears, because Yahweh's flock is taken captive. Say you to the king and to the queen mother, Humble yourselves, sit down; for your headdresses are come down, even the crown of your glory. (Jeremiah 13:15-18)

When he saw them, he said to them, "Go and show yourselves to the priests." It happened that as they went, they were cleansed. One of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice. He fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks; and he was a Samaritan. Jesus answered, "Weren't the ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there none found who returned to give glory to God, except this stranger?" Then he said to him, "Get up, and go your way. Your faith has healed you." (Luke 17:14-19)

So they called the man who was blind a second time, and said to him, "Give glory to God. We know that this man is a sinner." He therefore answered, "I don't know if he is a sinner. One thing I do know: that though I was blind, now I see." (John 9:24-25)

For we don't preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake; seeing it is God who said, "Light will shine out of darkness," who has shone in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (2 Corinthians 4:5-6)

that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him; having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope of his calling, and what are the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, (Ephesians 1:17-18)

He said with a loud voice, "Fear the Lord, and give him glory; for the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and the springs of waters!" (Revelation 14:7)

They sang the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, "Great and marvelous are your works, Lord God, the Almighty [song of Moses]! Righteous and true are your ways, you King of the nations [song of the Lamb]. Who wouldn't fear you, Lord [song of Moses], and glorify your name [song of the Lamb]? For you only are holy. For all the nations will come and worship before you. For your righteous acts have been revealed." (Revelation 15:3-4)

People were scorched with great heat, and people blasphemed the name of God who has the power over these plagues. They didn't repent and give him glory. (Revelation 16:9)

It starts to become clear in these passages that just because people give glory to God, it is not safe to assume they are eternally saved, healed, transformed in heart and spirit. In the end everyone will give God glory, meaning that everyone will come to the inevitable conclusion that God's character is free of any taint of darkness or complicity with sin. Every insinuation and allegation that has tainted His reputation since the very inception of the rebellion in the mind of Lucifer will be exposed as fraudulent, baseless and deadly. This glory is about God, not those reluctantly admitting truth.

Declare you, and bring it forth; yes, let them take counsel together: who has shown this from ancient time? who has declared it of old? Haven't I, Yahweh? and there is no God else besides me, a just God and a Savior; there is no one besides me. Look to me, and be you saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is none else. By myself have I sworn, the word is gone forth from my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, that to me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear. Only in Yahweh, it is said of me, is righteousness and strength; even to him shall men come; and all those who were incensed against him shall be disappointed. In Yahweh shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory. (Isaiah 45:21-25)

One can interpret such passages in various ways based on their larger conclusions about the outcome of the war caused by slander against God's reputation. The way I understand this, given the deeper principles of freedom and love being the heart of God's government, is that there will be two classes in the end – those who are disappointed because all the evidence has proven them wrong, and those who are justified and who willingly choose to reflect God's glory as human beings are designed to do, not merely give Him glory. God pleads with each heart to allow His Spirit to restore us to our original design to live in sync with God's heart of passionate love. Yet without freedom to choose otherwise, love cannot exist and thrive.

The truth is that God's government will not be secure until every lingering accusation and insinuation is exposed and disarmed by the light of truth. God must be fully exonerated of every charge brought against Him, and the charge that seems most difficult for many to discern is the allegation that God will force the will of others in order to achieve His own will.

What is most important for us is to live in love, even when we differ in our perceptions of how God will overcome evil. Love covers a multitude of sins – and differences as well.

God could have destroyed Satan and his sympathizers as easily as one can cast a pebble to the earth; but He did not do this. Rebellion was not to be overcome by force. Compelling power is found only under Satan's government. The Lord's principles are not of this order. His authority rests upon goodness, mercy, and love; and the presentation of these principles is the means to be used. God's government is moral, and truth and love are to be the prevailing power. {DA 759.1}

It is God's will that all shall be saved, that not one shall perish; but He does not compel obedience. He leaves all free to say whether or not they will take advantage of His offer of mercy. In giving Jesus, He poured out all heaven in one gift, making it possible for man to come into possession of eternal riches.

The love of God, as shown in the gift of His Son, should be talked of and dwelt upon. Why are our lips so silent? Why do we not praise the Lord? Every hour of our Saviour's life was spent in praising God. {18MR 345-346}

The germ in the seed grows by the unfolding of the life-principle which God has implanted. Its development depends upon no human power. So it is with the kingdom of Christ. It is a new creation. Its principles of development are the opposite of those that rule the kingdoms of this world. Earthly governments prevail by physical force; they maintain their dominion by war; but the founder of the new kingdom is the Prince of Peace. The Holy Spirit represents worldly kingdoms under the symbol of fierce beasts of prey; but Christ is “the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” John 1:29. In His plan of government there is no employment of brute force to compel the conscience. The Jews looked for the kingdom of God to be established in the same way as the kingdoms of the world. To promote righteousness they resorted to external measures. They devised methods and plans. But Christ implants a principle. By implanting truth and righteousness, He counterworks error and sin. {COL 77}

Revival and Ascension - Rumor notes 78

Revelation 11

11 After the three and a half days, the breath of life from God entered into them, and they stood on their feet. Great fear fell on those who saw them. 12 I heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up here!" They went up into heaven in the cloud, and their enemies saw them.

After the three and a half days

Leave out the court which is outside of the temple, and don't measure it, for it has been given to the nations. They will tread the holy city under foot for forty-two months. (Revelation 11:2)

Two wings of the great eagle were given to the woman, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, so that she might be nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. (Revelation 12:14)

He shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High; and he shall think to change the times and the law; and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and half a time. (Daniel 7:25)

He shall make a firm covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the offering to cease; and on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate; and even to the full end, and that determined, shall wrath be poured out on the desolate. (Daniel 9:27)

I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and swore by him who lives forever that it shall be for a time, times, and a half; and when they have made an end of breaking in pieces the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished. (Daniel 12:7)

But truly I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the sky was shut up three years and six months, when a great famine came over all the land. (Luke 4:25)

Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain, and it didn't rain on the earth for three years and six months. (James 5:17)

Yahweh prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. (Jonah 1:17)

For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the whale, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. (Matthew 12:40)

What are we to make of this time period? It is not completely settled in my understanding. However, I do believe there are multiple legitimate ways of viewing this. What appears to best fit at this point, but with some lingering questions related to things not all aligning completely, is to apply this to the 3 ½ years of Jesus' ministry that brought an end to excuses for viewing God through the immature lenses of the law and the prophets.

the breath of life from God entered into them, and they stood on their feet

Yahweh God formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. (Genesis 2:7)

Thus says the Lord Yahweh to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live.

Then said he to me, Prophesy to the wind, prophesy, son of man, and tell the wind, Thus says the Lord Yahweh: Come from the four winds, breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live. So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up on their feet, an exceedingly great army. Then he said to me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are clean cut off.

(Ezekiel 37:5,9-11)

When he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit! Whoever's sins you forgive, they are forgiven them. Whoever's sins you retain, they have been retained."

(John 20:22-23)

But if the Spirit of him who raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised up Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

(Romans 8:11)

Suddenly there came from the sky a sound like the rushing of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. Tongues like fire appeared and were distributed to them, and one sat on each of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other languages, as the Spirit gave them the ability to speak. (Acts 2:2-4)

When they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were gathered together. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness. (Acts 4:31)

If these two witnesses represent the immature, inferior and partially darkened perceptions of God's character as witnessed to by the perceptions of the Law and the Prophets symbolized by Moses and Elijah, this kind of testimony was rendered impotent or dead during the 3 ½ years of Jesus' ministry. This period could be likened to a time of metamorphosis during which truth and our understanding of history was being reshaped by the witness of the Lamb on earth. After this time the truth as it is in Jesus powerfully prepared His followers to be filled with His Spirit at Pentecost, which in turn brought consternation and fear to the opponents of the truth about God brought to light by the gospel of Jesus. Thus the glory of the old system of witnesses became eclipsed by the far greater glory of the gospel.

Beginning from Moses and from all the prophets, he explained to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

They said one to another, "Weren't our hearts burning within us, while he spoke to us along the way, and while he opened the Scriptures to us?" (Luke 24:27,32)

What we see here is the death of two witnesses followed by a reviving of two witnesses but with a very different effect on those around them then they had previously. Something dramatic changes between their death and the new kind of witness emanating from them, and I don't think it is simply because they came back from the dead. I believe it is more likely that the nature of their testimonies is what changed, now in line with the testimony of the Son. More on this later.

Great fear fell on those who saw them

In that day there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified, and gave glory to the God of heaven. (Revelation 11:13)

Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and died. Great fear came on all who heard these things.

Great fear came on the whole assembly, and on all who heard these things. By the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. They were all with one accord in Solomon's porch. None of the rest dared to join them, however the people honored them.

(Acts 5:5,11-13)

As they said these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, "Peace be to you." But they were terrified and filled with fear, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. (Luke 24:36-37)

They heard the voice of Yahweh God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of Yahweh God among the trees of the garden. Yahweh God called to the man, and said to him, "Where are you?" The man said, "I heard your voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself." (Genesis 3:8-10)

Elijah and Moses appeared to them, and they were talking with Jesus. Peter answered Jesus, "Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let's make three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." For he didn't know what to say, for they were very afraid. (Mark 9:4-6)

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love. (1 John 4:18 NRSV)

This city shall be to me for a name of joy, for a praise and for a glory, before all the nations of the earth, which shall hear all the good that I do to them, and shall fear and tremble for all the good and for all the peace that I procure to it. (Jeremiah 33:9)

Why is great fear the default reaction of people confronted with the presence of God?

Why were the disciples of Jesus terrified when He suddenly appeared in person in their midst after the resurrection? It was not merely the surprise factor, for there were two other disciples there strongly urging them to believe He was alive when this transpired. So what was the root issue that led them to be terrified when seeing Him rather than being filled with joy?

Here is another very important question. How do we interpret passages that tell us that people give glory to God from a motivation of fear? Is this a sign of true repentance, or is it something inferior that still leaves them vulnerable to torment in His presence?

Fear has been our problem ever since the entrance of sin into the human psyche in Eden. Fear is the unavoidable symptom of harboring disbelief of God's goodness, kindness, love and unconditional forgiveness. Fear comes because we believe The Lie of the enemy that God relates to us in the reward punishment legal system rather than from a passionate desire for intimate relationship simply because He is love and has no darkness in Him at all.

The reason the disciples in the upper room felt terrified when Jesus suddenly appeared, was for the same reason Adam and Eve felt terrified when this same Jesus showed up in the garden to visit with them after they ate the forbidden fruit. Their fear was a direct result of being infected with the lie that brought misapprehension about God's disposition towards them and the kind of motivations He has for everything He does. They now could only assume that the reason He was coming was to carry out His presumed threat to kill them because they had disobeyed His direct command to them and this was the promised punishment.

Similarly the disciples assumed that Jesus must be very upset with them as they had all forsaken and betrayed Him into the hands of His enemies in His time of greatest vulnerability. Now that He had returned to find them again, it must be to carry out retribution for their betrayal Him and for crass disloyalty. This was the kind of kingdom they had imagined He had come to set up, which is why Jesus needed to come back to correct the way they perceived His disposition towards them along with how God longed to relate to them.

The mindset brought on by counterfeit ways of viewing God assumes that if we offend God He is required to punish us, if not merely to vent His wrath, then because that is how law and justice operate, and God cannot do otherwise even if He might want to differently. It is this distortion of the very foundation of how God is motivated that is the cause of all fear, and the more vested we are in our belief of this, the more terrified we will be when we encounter the presence of pure power. To believe in the power of God while refusing to believe simultaneously that God is nothing but love alone is the recipe of torment. Resistance to love always results in terror which is torment to the human heart that is designed for love yet crippled by unbelief. Resistance to trusting God's heart is the core essence of sin and is the corrosive element that destroys the very parts of our psyche that are necessary in order to experience joy, satisfaction, peace, love and fulfilling bonds with other hearts.

The only path to freedom from fear is the same path to freedom from sin, for sin is simply another name for distrust in God's integrity, truthfulness and trustworthiness. The only way one can avoid the reaction of fear that produces torment is to consent to believe the truth as it is in Jesus. It is this truth of the trustworthiness of God that alone has the ability to align us properly with the power of God's glory so that we will thrive in His intense presence instead of frying in it.

The sinners in Zion are afraid. Trembling has seized the godless ones. Who among us can live with the devouring fire? Who among us can live with everlasting burning? He who walks righteously, and speaks blamelessly... (Isaiah 33:14-15)

It is not God who needs to change His thinking about us in order for us to be saved, for love never needs adjustment and it is not God who is our problem. This comes out of the religious definition of sin, that God takes offense when we sin against Him and we must find some way to placate Him or pay off the debt induced by our offenses. This entire way of viewing God is what must be exposed as a fraud and discarded completely, for such views of God are what make up the resistance that results in the fire of torment whenever we encounter the truth of God's love up close and personal.

I am coming to see that this is more likely the meaning of this prophecy of the two witnesses. Their immature testimony of God that represents Him as using a mixture of love and fear has to come to an end in order to be replaced with the Lamb's version of God that is itself a terror to His enemies. It is a terror because they see His power but refuse to believe He is only love. Thus their fear of punishment is anchored in their own imagination and deeply embedded traditions invested in that system, rendering them incapable of believing the truth that alone could set them free.

The coming of the lawless one is apparent in the working of Satan, who uses all power, signs, lying wonders, and every kind of wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion, leading them to believe what is false, so that all who have not believed the truth but took pleasure in unrighteousness will be condemned. (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 NRSV)

I heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up here!"

After these things I looked and saw a door opened in heaven, and the first voice that I heard, like a trumpet speaking with me, was one saying, "Come up here, and I will show you the things which must happen after this." (Revelation 4:1)

This gives us a positive ID that this voice is that of Jesus introduced in chapter 1. The testimony of Jesus the faithful witness is significantly different from that of these two witnesses so far, but now that they have died to that old way of thinking, the law of the Spirit of life in Christ gives them new life and a new identity, and now they are ready to be exalted by heaven as their testimony now is only to point to Jesus as the only reliable witness to emulate, believe and embrace.

After six days, Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John his brother, and brought them up into a high mountain by themselves. He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his garments became as white as the light. Behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them talking with him. Peter answered, and said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you want, let's make three tents here: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them. Behold, a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to him." (Matthew 17:1-5)

They went up into heaven in the cloud, and their enemies saw them

But Michael, the archangel, when contending with the devil and arguing about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him an abusive condemnation, but said, "May the Lord rebuke you!" (Jude 1:9)

It happened, as they still went on, and talked, that behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, which parted them both apart; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. (2 Kings 2:11)

We must not slip into the trap of the earning/deserving mentality when viewing the accounts of Moses and Elijah being taken to heaven. Neither of them experienced this because they represented God accurately, but simply because God had greater plans for them and they had chosen in the end to allow Him to have His way in their lives. Their end does not justify their earlier misrepresentations.

Who are these who fly as a cloud, and as the doves to their windows? Surely the islands shall wait for me, and the ships of Tarshish first, to bring your sons from far, their silver and their gold with them, for the name of Yahweh your God, and for the Holy One of Israel, because he has glorified you. (Isaiah 60:8-9)

He said to them, "It isn't for you to know times or seasons which the Father has set within his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. You will be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth." When he had said these things, as they were looking, he was taken up, and a cloud received him out of their sight. (Acts 1:7-9)

Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, yes rather, who was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Could oppression, or anguish, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Even as it is written, "For your sake we are killed all day long. We were accounted as sheep for the slaughter." No, in all these things, we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

(Romans 8:34-37)

even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with him, and made us to sit with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, (Ephesians 2:5-6)

For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with God's trumpet. The dead in Christ will rise first, then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. So we will be with the Lord forever.

(1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)

their enemies saw them

It was so, that after Yahweh had spoken these words to Job, Yahweh 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. Now therefore, take to yourselves seven bulls and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you, for I will accept him, that I not deal with you according to your folly. For you have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job has."

So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went, and did what Yahweh commanded them, and Yahweh accepted Job. (Job 42:7-9)

Show me a sign of your goodness, that those who hate me may see it, and be shamed, because you, Yahweh, have helped me, and comforted me. (Psalms 86:17)

The wicked will see it, and be grieved. He shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away. The desire of the wicked will perish. (Psalms 112:10)

"They shall be mine," says Yahweh of Armies, "my own possession in the day that I make, and I will spare them, as a man spares his own son who serves him. Then you shall return and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him who serves God and him who doesn't serve him.

(Malachi 3:17-18)