What I am going to explain to you is one of the most important concepts you will ever read. It is pivotal. You will either understand it and allow the Holy Spirit to expand your knowledge about God or you will go the other way. It is your choice.

Matthew 7 contains Christ's concluding remarks of the Olivet discourse. And he saves His most important teaching to the last. In Matt. 7:13, 14. Jesus tells them there are two gates to enter in this life. A narrow gate which leads to eternal life and a wide gate which leads to destruction. And then in vs. 15 he warned them to "Beware of false prophets," He warned us because they may look like sheep but in their hearts and minds they are nothing but ravening wolves. So, how do you know the difference? "By their fruits you shall know them." Matt. 7:20.

In Galatians 5 Paul makes two lists. In the first he lists the "Works of the flesh." I find it most revealing that the first four are sexual sins:

1. Adultery
2. Fornication
3. Uncleanness
4. Lasciviousness

These sins are also progressive, including homosexuality which Paul clearly condemns in Romans 1, yet almost all churches today have chosen to excuse homosexuality on the grounds that homosexuals are born that way and cannot help themselves. This is the doctrine of Babylon today and why John the Revelator calls for an exodus of her in Rev. 18:1-6, even stating that she (the church) "is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, etc." vs. 2. This is why Paul's next two listed sins are idolatry and witchcraft which has to do with evil spirits or demons. These two lead right into the next 11 which come as a result of allowing evil spirits to lead and control.

"But when you follow your own wrong inclinations your lives will produce these evil results: impure thoughts, eagerness for lustful pleasure, idolatry, spiritism (that is, encouraging the activity of demons), hatred and fighting, jealousy and anger, constant effort to get the best for yourself, complaints and criticisms, the feeling that everyone else is wrong except those in your own little group--and there will be wrong doctrine, envy, murder drunkenness, wild parties, and all that sort of thing. Let me tell you again as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the kingdom of God." Gal. 5:19-21.

Now, in order to see how this deception (of demons) works we only need to read the life of Jesus in the four gospels. Here is the perfect Son of God going about doing good, healing all who were oppressed of the devil because His Father was well pleased with Him and guiding Him in all He did, Acts 10:38. But almost every time He healed someone the church leaders were trying to find a way to have him arrested, put on trial and crucified. In Matt 12:10-13 we read how Jesus restored a man's hand that was withered. You would think that everyone would be very happy about such a good work, and most of the "common" people were, but the leaders of the nation wanted to kill Him. Why? Because they said He had broken the Sabbath. But Jesus told them, "It is lawful (right or legal) to do well on the Sabbath days." Vs 12. "Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy Him." Matt. 12:14.

Beloved, we have to stop and ask ourselves, What kind of insanity it this? These Jewish leaders prided themselves on being the best and most faithful law keepers in the world. Yet here they are seeking to break their own law by killing the Son of God. Let's listen to the clear reasoning of the Son of God.

So, the question comes to us today, who is the "Father" of the churches today in our modern "Christian" world? And why are church leaders taking a wrong stand on abortion and homosexuality as well as other issues? Is it not because Satan is their father the same as he was in the days of Christ? Yet, Satan has blinded them to this fact.

"My teaching is not Mine but His who sent Me. If anyone wills to do His will He will understand the teaching, whether it is from God or whether I speak from Myself....Has not Moses given you the Law? Yet none of you practices the Law. Why are you seeking to kill Me?" Now, the Pharisees listening to Jesus were shocked that He could read their minds. They knew immediately that they were in conflict with infinite power. "Like a swift flash of light these words revealed to the rabbis the pit of ruin into which they were about to plunge. For an instant they were filled with terror. They saw that they were in conflict with Infinite Power. But they would not be warned." DA 456. So, what did they do? They tried to cover up their murderous designs by accusing Jesus of being devil possessed. Incredible! In Matt. 12 the same issue is addressed by Christ when He told them that by accusing Him of casting demons out through the power of Beelzebub they were committing blasphemy against the Holy Ghost. Matt. 12:31, 32.

Jesus' dialogue with these blind Jewish leaders continued on through John 7 and 8 which I hope you will take time to read for yourselves because of the incredible statement that Jesus makes to them after He has totally exhausted every other means of reaching their hearts and minds. It must have broken His own heart to have to speak so bluntly but here is what He finally said and I will begin with vs 43. "Why do you not understand my speech? Even because you cannot hear my word. You are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father you will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. And because I tell you the truth you believe me not." John 8:43-45.

This must have hit them like a bomb blast, totally blowing their minds. Were they aware that Satan was their father and that it was he whose voice they were listening to and following? No, they were totally blind to it just like their fathers were blind to the fact that the Lord spoke through Isaiah and Jeremiah and all the other prophets. Stephen spoke to that point very clearly in Acts 7 when he told them in verse 42 that God had to give up on their fathers and allow them to worship "The host of heaven," connecting it to the animal sacrifice system which even Paul in I Cor. 10 said was the worship of demons.. And, of course, they stoned Stephen to death because of that and for quoting from Isa. 66 and then telling them that even though Solomon had built a marvelous temple, which King Nebuchadnezzar had destroyed in 586 BC, God does not dwell in temples made with hands.

So, with John 8:44 we are able to clearly see that Jesus Himself taught that Satan had been able to palm himself off to the leaders of Israel for centuries as their Father. They were convinced that Jehovah God was truly their heavenly father when in reality it was Satan.

Now, having accepted this as a fact is it possible to find Scripture in the Old Testament which will reveal how Satan is identified as the imposter God, as both Jesus and Paul revealed? Yes, it is...

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Subj: Two Lords of the OT.
Date: 8/7/02 7:52:04 AM Pacific Daylight Time
From: MCLUTE777@aol.com

Dear Brother G.,

Since you mentioned the animal sacrifice system or alluded to it as being destroyed by God via Rome, etc. I have a question for you about that system.

In Acts 7 Stephen got himself stoned to death by having the nerve to tell the leaders of Israel that by killing animals they were worshiping the devil (host of heaven). Paul said the same in I Cor. 10. Now, in Isa. 1:10-12 the prophet denounces the animal sacrifice system completely and then in Isa. 66:1-4 he really finishes it off.

In Isa. 1:10 Isaiah asked them, "Quien demanda?" "Who has required this of your hand?" The implication is that God did not command or require the animal sacrifice system from the beginning. And Jere 7: 21, 22 even says that God tells them that "I spake not concerning those sacrifices."

Did you get that? "I spake not." So, if God did not speak the animal sacrifices outside the gates of Eden or at Sinai then whose voice did speak those words Moses wrote down in the book? It had to be the voice of Satan that Moses obviously thought was the voice of God.

"My sheep here MY VOICE..." John 10:27, implying there is another voice trying to communicate with us, even the one Jesus identified as the "Destroyer," in John 10:10 & I Cor. 10:10.

Ok, will talk to you later. I am not finished with this article yet.

Take care and God bless and keep you.

Pastor Mike Clute.

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Later I wrote more on this topic of the two Lords:

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Dear Brother:

Let's go back to Moses. In Exodus 33 and 34 you will see that Moses about goes bananas trying to figure out who God really is and he finally says in essence, Yahweh, I have had it. If you are going to go with us then quit changing your mind. And before we go any further, please reveal yourself to me. You see when Israel sinned God's Presence withdrew and Satan was allowed to come and talk to them because that was the spirit they were tuning into.

And Satan would punish and hurt them...even kill some of them because He is the destroyer and when God's spirit withdraws, Satan is allowed to hurt and destroy as Jesus revealed in John 10:10. I want to quote from David to show you how the Holy Spirit inspired him to always put the blame on God as the other inspired writers also did. Notice: "When He (God) slew them, then they sought Him: and they returned and enquired early after God. And they remembered that God was their rock, and the high God their redeemer." Psalm 78:34.

So, we see here that when they would repent and be humble the true Spirit of God was able to come among them again and comfort them and heal them and lead them on in their journey in the wilderness. I hope you will believe this. If you pray about it I think you can see how pride attracts the wrong spirit and humility attracts the right spirit, i.e. the Holy Spirit.

Now, why was Moses in so much mental turmoil? Because one time the True God spoke to him and the next time Satan was allowed to speak to him. You may not believe that but our theology teaches that very clearly...that God speaks to us and tells us what he wants us to do and then Satan comes in and tempts us to do the opposite. So, do you think that when Satan comes to tempts us that he says, Ok, guy, I have come to tempt you so get ready dude because I am going to make you sorry you were ever born. Do you think Satan would be so stupid to use such an approach?

No, he comes as an "angel of light," Paul tells us. 2 Cor. 11:14.

This is what happened in Exodus 19 where Satan was in the Mountain as a beautiful angel of light, but in reality he was making the mountain smoke and shake and throwing lightning bolts all over the place and thunder, etc. Psalm 78:41-49 shows very clearly that Satan was the one who brought the plagues on Egypt as God withdrew His protecting hand.

Now, let us go to the exchange in the first book of Job and see clearly that it is Satan who is the "Lord" of this earth, by virtue of Adam's failure and default. And that it is this same lord Satan who destroyed Job's children and property and put boils on Job. Notice: "And the Lord (Jesus) said unto (lord Satan), Whence comest thou? Then (lord Satan) answered the Lord (Jesus) and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it." Job 1:7.

Now, for proof that the true God does not bring wind storms, earthquakes and literal fire, etc. read about Elijah on the Mt. after he ran away from Jezebel. There was a terrible wind and an earth quake and a fire. And it says that God was not in any of them...did not cause them...was not the cause of them. No. He does not disrupt, distort and destroy His own creation. That is the work of the devil who will bring the 7 last plagues. Rev. 16:14. It was Satan, the prince of the power of the air who was doing that. Go to I Kings 19:9-12 for proof that Jesus was not in the wind or the earthquake or the fire. And read also Luke 9:51 and where Jesus told James and John that they didn't realize what "bad" spirit (Lord) they were of for wanting to bring down fire on the Samaritans like Elijah did. God does not destroy. Acts 10:38. Going back to I Kings 19:11 let us notice that it uses the word "Lord," as the One who was bringing the wind and the earthquake and the fire.

Let us watch the wording here very carefully because we are going to see two different Lords referred to in this text. "And He (Jesus) said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord (Satan). And behold, the Lord (Satan) passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord (Satan); but the Lord (Jesus) was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord (Jesus) was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord (Jesus) was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice." I Kings 19:11, 12. Who brings earthquakes? Isa. 14:12-17 clearly reveals that it is Satan who makes the earth to tremble and brings earthquakes.

So, at Mt. Sinai when Jesus came down on "the top of the mount" in a fire (like the burning bush) Christ warned Moses not to let the people go up into the mountain to "gaze" at this "Lord."

So, Satan as the self-proclaimed Lord of this earth, with the true God's permission, poses and palms himself off as the true God to the inhabitants of the earth. Rev. 12:9 symbolizes Satan as a dragon who is "that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world:" And that is precisely what he was doing at Sinai. Go through Exodus 19 and you will see Jesus warning Moses about this "Lord," who would "break forth" against them and kill them, Exodus 19:23, 24.

Let's take the word "gaze." What does that mean? It means to stare/look and to see. So, who is the "Lord" they are not supposed to go up and "gaze" at? It is not the true Yahweh because He is invisible. You cannot see him anyway. Christ did not come down on Mount Sinai to "break forth" against or upon His people that He had just gone to so much trouble delivering from Egypt. That is not logical at all. He is not there to read them the riot act....obey me or I will kill every last one of you rotten, no good sinners. Now, that is the kind of God the church teaches...even people who believe in UR teach that God kills.

So, Jesus is warning Moses about this killer God.

Ok, that is enough for now. If you do not catch my point enough to need more examples of this killer God in the OT who claimed to be the true God and who gave them carnal laws that Jesus nailed to the cross and abolished, then we can terminate here and still be friends.

But if you would like to see the impostor God in Exodus 24 and Exodus 32 then I will be glad to share with you. In fact, I have already written about it.

It really blows my mind that a bright young man like yourself, who explains UR so beautifully, does not see this concept about the Pretender, Impostor God. I am not surprised when some of my other hard-hearted, legalistic brothers and sisters reject this teaching but it does sadden me profoundly when a very wonderful and spirit filled person like yourself cannot grasp this concept which I find very easy to comprehend.

Your friend, Mike.

P.S.

If you look at some commentators remarks on 2 Sam. 24:1 and I Chron. 21:1 you will see that some of them have good insights on this up-dated, progressive revelation 500 years after the first writing of David numbering Israel at Lord Satan's instigation.

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Before I quote from my article "Would Jesus Kill A Little Sparrow?" let me just refer to two texts that I think are easy to understand regarding how the Bible in the OT reveals Satan as a killer god and lord. "And it came to pass by the way in the inn, that the Lord (Satan) met him, and sought to kill him (Moses)." Exodus 4:24. Now, notice this next verse how clear it is that we are clearly dealing with two different entities. "But the Spirit of the Lord (Jesus) departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord (Satan) troubled him." I Sam. 16:14. Now, notice in Rev. 16:14 that John reveals that it is Satan's angels who bring the seven last plagues. "For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty." Rev. 16:14.

Now, let's go to the main verse which will make it very clear what God is saying here. Vs. 22 says, "For I spake not unto your fathers, nor commanded them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices:" Did you get that? He said that he never spoke a word or gave any command whatsoever about sacrificing animals. The question we must ask at this point is: If God did not speak this law then who did speak it? Now let's go to Isa. 1:10 and on, "Hear the word of the Lord, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah. To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me saith the Lord: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs or of he goats. When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts?" The Spanish bible uses the word "demanda" in place of required. Now, notice how God questions them very closely as to why they are doing this, He pointedly asks them who it was who told them to do this? Why are you doing it? I didn't ask you to do it. I didn't tell you to do it.

Now let's go to Micah 6:6-8 "Wherewith shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?" The answer of course is an unqualified, unequivocal "no." V. 8 says: "He hath shewed thee, 0 man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?" Beloved, this goes right along with what the Psalmist said in Ps. 50, which we read part of already. But notice here, He says, "what is it that I want you to do?" Then He asks in v. 13, "will I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats? What kind of God do you think I am?" Here is what I want, "Offer unto God thanksgiving, and pay thy vows unto the Most High and call upon me in the day of trouble. I will deliver thee and thou shalt glorify me." God wants us to glorify His Name which is the same as His character. He doesn't ask us to kill animals. He didn't ask that at Mt. Sinai. That was man's idea of approaching God, suggested at Sinai by Satan. There are so many different ways to prove this, and friend of mine, I tell you, people have a very difficult time understanding this.

Let's go quickly now to Exodus 19 and Mt. Sinai where the law was given and let's reason together for a moment from Exodus 19:18 "And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the Lord descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly. Vs. 19 And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice. Vs. 20 And the Lord came down upon mount Sinai, on the top of the mount: and the Lord called Moses up to the top of the mount: and Moses went up. Vs. 21 And the Lord said unto Moses, Go down, charge the people, lest they break through unto the Lord to gaze, and many of them perish. Vs. 22 And let the priests also, which come near to the Lord, sanctify themselves, lest the Lord break forth upon them. Vs. 23 And Moses said unto the Lord, The people cannot come up to mount Sinai: for thou chargest us, saying, Set bounds about the mount, and sanctify it. Vs. 24 And the Lord said unto him, Away, get thee down, and thou shalt come up, thou, and Aaron with thee: but let not the priests and the people break through to come up unto the Lord, lest he break forth upon them. So Moses went down unto the people and spake unto them."

Now, friends, many people cannot believe what I'm going to tell you now. They just cannot comprehend that there are two Lords here. Very few have the spiritual eyesight needed to see what the Bible plainly reveals. In Mark 8:18 Jesus asked His disciples: "Having eyes can you not see and having ears can you not hear?" So, I hope you can see it but if you can't I will still love you. It just may take some time, so be patient with yourself and with the Lord as He has a perfect timing for your life.

So, from Exodus 19 I am going to try and prove to you that there were two "Lords" at Mount Sinai with Moses. One is going to help you and save you, if you let Him. His name is Jesus. Matt. 11:28-30. The other is going to hurt and possibly kill you if you listen to him long enough. John 10:10. One is going to lift you up and the other is going to put you down. Satan is the "lord" who wants to hurt and kill and destroy but Jesus is the One who gives life. Remember also that Satan counterfeits everything God does. Satan is called a "father" in John 8:44. Jesus is also called the "everlasting Father and the Prince of Peace." Isa. 9:6. Satan is called the god of this world, II Cor. 2:4; the prince of the power of the air, Eph. 2:2. Now, Exod. 19, shows us how Satan is trying to upstage Jesus at Mt. Sinai. Why? So, the people will not understand the Ten Commandments. Let's read it again with the two lords in mind beginning with verse 20.

"And the Lord Jesus came down upon the mount Sinai, on the top of the mount." Christ the true Lord is on top of the mount. Satan is further down the mountain so the people can see him. He is enticing them to try and climb up into the mountain to get a better look at him. That's why Jesus warned Moses about this "lord." The people are at the bottom of the mountain, at the base of the mount. So, "the Lord Jesus called Moses up to the top of the mount; and Moses went up. And the Lord Jesus said unto Moses, go down, charge the people, lest they break through unto the lord (Satan) to gaze and many of them perish." There is where the "killer god" is introduced into this scenario. Let's go on now to v. 22. Jesus is speaking now to Moses. "And let the priests also, which come near to the lord (Satan) sanctify themselves lest the Lord (Satan) break forth upon them." Remember when the ark of the covenant was captured by the Philistines? What happened to them? Many became sick and died of plagues. I Sam. 5. It was the work of "the destroyer." PP 586. Both the Israelites and Philistines treated that Ark of the Covenant as if it were a good luck charm to help them defeat their enemies. Even in the movie, "INDIANA JONES," those who tried to use the ark for selfish, evil purposes were destroyed. The ark of the covenant was only a box made out of wood. But the Lord chose this box as a symbolic instrument to teach these uneducated, superstitious, ignorant slaves about Himself. It became the center of the sanctuary service and a means whereby God revealed His glory to Moses. The Lord gave Moses specific laws governing this ark and the services relating to it in the sanctuary. When those laws were broken people died suddenly and mysteriously. The people thought God was killing them but He wasn't. Once you hear the facts in the case I think you will agree. Remember when the Philistines captured the ark of the covenant and took it home with them? They began to have serious health problems.

I want to reason with you for just a moment, what was it that they died of? When you read I Sam. 5 you will discover that the people broke out with disease. This is an important clue if you know who brings disease and sickness. There are many quotes to prove that it is Satan who brings disease, not God. Listen: Ministry of Healing, pg. 113 "Sickness, suffering and death are the work of an antagonistic power." What antagonistic power? Satan is the destroyer and Christ is the restorer. Did you get that? Sickness, suffering and death are the work of an antagonistic power.

Satan is the destroyer and God is the restorer. We also find on pages 338-339 that the author talks about how Satan is the destroyer of every soul. "Behind the liquor seller stands the mighty destroyer of souls and every art which earth or hell can devise is employed to draw human beings under his power." MH 338, 339. So that is very, very clear that Satan is the destroyer. He's the one who makes people sick. Now, if that doesn't convince you, listen to this statement. "The Lord did not create the disease and imbecility now seen in the bodies and mind of the human race. The enemy has done this. He desires to enfeeble the body knowing that it is the only medium through which mind and soul can be developed for the up building of a symmetrical character. Habits which are contrary to the laws of nature war constantly against the soul. "Patriarchs and Prophets," pg. 378.

Notice also that when Israel was in the wilderness how they desired flesh food. "God might as easily have provided them with flesh as with manna, but a restriction was placed upon them for their good. It was his purpose to supply them with food better suited to their wants than the feverish diets to which many of them had become accustomed. Their perverted appetite was to be brought into a more healthy state, so they might enjoy the food originally provided for man, the fruits of the earth which God gave to Adam and Eve in Eden. It was for this reason that the Israelites had been deprived in a great measure of animal food. Satan tempted them to regard this restriction as unjust and cruel. He caused them to lust after forbidden things, because he saw that the unrestrained indulgence of appetite would tend to produce sensuality. And by this means the people could be more easily brought under his control. The author of disease," (who is the author of disease? Who is the one who started it?) "The author of disease and misery will assail men where he can have the greatest success, through temptations addressed to the appetite he has to a large extent led man into sin...It was the same means that he led Israel to murmur against God." So Satan is the one who is continually trying to lead us away from God. And here in the mountain he is spoken of as a 'lord.'

Remember that in the Old Testament Baal was called "lord." You can also translate Baal as possessor, even as husband. And so Baal was a lord. A false lord, an idol. He was also the fire god, and the god of nature, the chief god of the Canaanites. And here Jesus is warning Moses that this false lord or God has the potential to "break forth upon them." Now, notice how the true Lord, Jesus, speaks about this false "lord" in the third person. V. 24. "And the Lord Jesus said unto him (Moses) Away, get thee down, and thou shalt come up, thou, and Aaron with thee: but let not the priests and the people break through to come up unto the lord, lest he break forth upon them." This phrase "break forth" simply means "Baal Perazim." Now, let's notice how Jesus changed from the first person to the third person when He was warning Moses about this killer god. He definitely is not talking about Himself. He is clearly talking about somebody else. For further proof, lets notice how God talks about Himself in the first person when He gave the Ten Commandments. Ex. 20, vs. 1 and on, "And God spake all these words, saying, 'I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me.'" He doesn't say "thou shalt have no other gods before 'the lord.'" No. Notice here that the Creator is talking about Himself in the first person.

Next I am going to show you more proof for the concept of the two lords. I am sure you have heard of the LIVING BIBLE. Some of the passages in this paraphrase (not a translation) are basically the theological spin (opinion) of the author, Ken Taylor. Let us see what he did in Exodus 19. "But the Lord told Moses, go back down and warn the people not to cross the boundaries. They must not come up here to try to see God for they will die. Even the priests on duty must sanctify themselves lest Jehovah destroy them." Notice that Taylor paraphrased the title Lord as Jehovah which is ok, but Satan was still allowed to imitate this title. Strong's concordance has three Hebrew words for the title "Lord."

1. Adon-Strong's 113
2. Adonai-Strong's 136
3. Jehovah-Strong's 3068

Also remember that the punctuation of the bible is no more inspired than some translations, let alone paraphrases. "But the people won't come up into the mountain Moses protested, you told them not to, you told me to set boundaries against the mountain to declare it off limits because it is reserved for God. Vs. 24 But Jehovah said go on down and bring Aaron back with you and don't let the priests and the people break across the boundaries to try to come up here or I will destroy them." Isn't that amazing. You see Kenneth Taylor realized that if God is talking about Himself as the one who is going to destroy, he would naturally and grammatically have to be talking in the first person. So that is why he changed it from "lest he destroy them," to "lest I will destroy them." So he realizes that it was incorrect to say that the "Lord, he," because God doesn't talk like that. No. When God talks about himself He says I or me.

For more proof let's go to Exod. 24:1-11 which is a fascinating account of how Aaron, Nadab and Abihu and the 70 elders went up the mountain and worshipped afar off. Doesn't it seem strange that they are worshiping afar off? Why? Because the Bible tells us that they saw and ate and drank with this "Lord." But notice what else the bible says. It says that he did not lay his hand upon them. In other words he wasn't able to hurt them. The LB says, "Yet, even though the elders saw God, he did not destroy them; and they had a meal together before the Lord." V. 11.

So, who is this "Lord" that Moses and the elders saw and had a banquet with? Well, it could not have been the true God, my friend, because the Bible categorically declares that no man has ever seen God. I John 4:12. But it is possible to see Satan impersonating or counterfeiting God, which we know he will do just before the end. GC 624, 625. We also know that Satan can appear as an angel of light. 2 Cor. In the light of all this why should we think it strange that Satan would appear on Mt. Sinai as an angel of light, claiming to be "the Lord." And Jesus was warning Moses to not let the priests and the curious people go up and gaze at this Lord and get hurt. They could even get killed. We also find in Exod. 24 that it says that there is a book in which Moses recorded all the laws regarding the killing of animals. If the true God did not speak this law, then who was talking to Moses? The people even vowed: "All that the Lord hath said we will do and be obedient." And Moses took the blood and sprinkled it on the people, and said, "Behold the blood of the covenant which the Lord hath made with you concerning all these words." This was the blood of animals, of course. It was written in what they called the "Book of the Covenant." And which is the same book Moses put on the outside of the Ark.

Deut. 31:26 also speaks of this. "Take this book of the law, and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, that it may be there for a witness against thee." Beloved, I looked up on a computer Bible, the word "against," and I found out something very interesting. The Bible says God is for us, as Paul says, "If God be for us who can be against us?" Anything that was ever given that is said to be against God's people was not given by Jesus. It may have been allowed/permitted and He may have taken the responsibility and blame for it, which he does all through the Bible, He always says, It's my fault and responsibility. Put all the blame on Me. Even when His only son died on the cross He took the blame, as it was predicted. "It grieved the Lord to bruise Him, He hath put Him to grief." Isa. 53:10.

Even in the creation of Lucifer as a perfect angel, who went bad, He has taken the blame for it. He says He has taken the responsibility because he created Lucifer. Jesus created Lucifer a beautiful angel. But iniquity was found in him. Ezek. 28:15. So God, as Creator, in order to maintain His sovereign authority over all creation has to be responsible for everything that happens. And He only allows things to happen which are according to His will, that is His permissive will. But eventually God's "perfect will" shall come to pass in the ages to come at which time He will become "All in all." This is also His "ultimate will". I'd say most of the time it's not his perfect will, but his "permissive will", and his ultimate desire will be accomplished after the 1,000 years. But many things are not according to his perfect will at this time. But He allows them for reasons we cannot know at this time, part of which is because of man's free moral choice. Now, let's go to the New Testament and see how God abolished this law when Jesus died on the cross.

These "permitted" laws, which were against God's people, were abolished at the cross. Col. 2:14, 15. Ezek. 20:23-26. Some people protest that this line of reasoning leads to the conclusion that Satan gave the sanctuary service. But that is just as erroneous as to say that Satan gave the laws regarding marriage and divorce or the monarchy or eating flesh food. God allowed these things. The people wanted a king because Satan tempted the people to clamor for a king. Then God stepped in and gave the laws to govern the king and his kingdom. God gave Moses all the instructions for what was to go into the furnishing of the sanctuary itself. He allowed this to be set up and then gave the dimensions and specifications regarding its furnishings, which all gave purpose and meaning to the otherwise, meaningless ceremonies and senseless daily killing and slaughter of innocent animals. The reason this gave meaning to it was because it pointed to the terrible crime that was perpetrated against the Son of God when he came, i.e. the crucifixion of Christ. So, all this shedding of blood of animals typified what they would do to Jesus, a one time only sacrifice which would complete and fulfill all the types. No matter what was done in the Old Testament, God somehow took each crime and/or event and made it point to man's salvation through Christ. That's why Romans 8:28 says that he can make all things come out right as Paul says, "And we know that all things work together for good for them that Love God, to them who are called of God according to his purpose." As you read, study and pray about this--I believe the Lord will help you. See also DA 224, 225.

You see everything that happens is not God's will, but nothing can happen to defeat his will. I don't care what you do to God or to your fellow man, He can take it and make it meaningful, not only in your own life but in the lives of all you hurt or help. He can take it and make it turn out to be a blessing in the final analysis. He takes lemons and makes lemonade. He cure the incurable and reverse the worst curse. Jesus proved Himself to be God by revealing His power over all sickness, disease and demon infestation of the worst sort. He cured the lepers, healed the blind and even raised the dead. And He can still do the same today for you, for me, for anyone who puts their trust in Him. He can take the years of your life that the locust has eaten and restore them to you...if you are willing to be made to do His will. What an incredible God we have!

This is precisely how He took this animal slaughter system which started right back there with Adam, who dealt treacherously with his Creator, as Hosea. 6:6-7 tells us and devised symbols from it to point to His own sacrifice on the cross of Calvary. So, this animal slaughter system was passed down through Noah, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, his twelve sons to Moses and on to Sinai.

Notice in Exod. 24:1 "And he said unto Moses, Come up unto the Lord (I believe this is the lord Satan). It says here that they saw God, vs. 10. They saw the God of Israel: and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his clearness. And upon the nobles of the children of Israel he laid not his hand:" (He didn't destroy them because God wouldn't let him). "Also they saw God, and did eat and drink." Now, which god did they see beloved? Did they see the true God, Jesus Christ in the Old Testament? No they didn't. What they saw was a representation of the deity, with God's permission, and it was Satan who was representing Him or misrepresenting Him. But that didn't matter because that was where Israel was at the time in their understanding. God knew the full truth about Him would be revealed in the ages to come when His final Remnant would fully understand and restore all things, Acts 3:21.

In Exod. 24:12, we read, "And the Lord (Jesus) said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount." Notice the difference between vs. 12 and vs. 1. In vs. 1 he says "Come up unto the Lord," but here he said, "Come up to me into the mount, and be there: and I (first person) will give thee tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written; that thou mayest teach them." Moses had just finished writing all these laws in this book, but this was not God's law. This was not His covenant. This law, which was written in the book, was written because man had a hard heart. He wanted to blame someone else for his sins. He didn't really want to repent and get rid of his sins. He just wanted to put the blame on someone. And so God allowed that system to be put into force (law) as part of the Jewish economy. God had a very special reason and purpose for it as He does for everything He allows.

Now I want to talk to you about how it was abolished and what Paul says about it in Hebrews. First of all let's look at what God's covenant really is. Deut. 4:13 "And he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded unto you to perform, even ten commandments: and he wrote them upon two tables of stone." That was God's original Ten Commandment covenant which He gave to Abraham and his seed. But when he came to Mt. Sinai, this Ten Commandment covenant was broken. They broke the law by worshiping the golden calf and rejected God's wonderful plan for them. At that point Satan was permitted to give them extra laws, rules and regulations that were more in keeping with their carnal nature.

In the book of Hebrews, Paul talks about the Melchizedek priesthood as opposed to the Aaronic priesthood. Heb. 7:15 "And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchizedek there ariseth another priest (referring to Christ). Who is made not after the law of a carnal commandment, (friend of mind, did you hear that, the law of killing animals, the law of all this ceremony that was abolished by Christ when he died on the cross was a carnal commandment) but after the power of an endless life." The Bible says that the carnal mind is enmity against God. And we know that God has nothing to do with anything that is carnal, He never gives anything that is carnal because God is spiritual, He is a holy perfect God, and He never gives us anything that is carnal, because the carnal mind is imperfect. The true God has nothing to do with anything that is imperfect, except he always tries to correct it and make it perfect.

If you would like to read the rest of this article, "Would Jesus Kill A Little Sparrow?" you will find it in the free ebook section on God's Last Call web site.

May the Lord Jesus bless you as you pray and study on this important topic.

Your friend always in His wonderful power and love for the finishing of the gospel work in all the world.

Your friend always in Him,

Pastor Mike Clute.

P.S. With this introduction we are now ready to go to Genesis 1-3 and study on the false Lord and God of Eden.

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