SAME SEX MARRIAGES ARE SENDING SOULS TO HELL EVERYDAY.
                                                                           ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.

SBN COVERED THIS MESSAGE THIS MOURNING, 1/18/2015, BUT I WENT AND DUG DEEPER IN SCRIPTURE, TO GET THIS LOST AND DYING WORLD, SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT AND IN HOPES, THAT THEY WILL CHANGE THE WAY THAT THEY ARE LIVING, SO THEY WILL NOT HAVE TO GO TO HELL WHEN THEY DIE. THIS DOES NOT JUST GO TO THE SINS OF THE GAY AND LESBIANS BUT, FOR ALL SINS OF THIS WORLD. I AM PUTTING MY OPENING STATEMENTS IN LARGE LETTERS, BECAUSE I WANT YOU ALL, TO SEE HOW SERIOUS I AM, WITH YOU KNOWING THE FACTS, FROM THE WORD OF GOD. YOUR SOUL DEPENDS ON THE REAL GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST, THE CROSS AND HIM CRUCIFIED AND WITH WHAT I JUST SAID ABOUT THE JESUS CHRIST AND THE CROSS, IS THE ONLY MEANS OF SALVATION. YOU NEED TO HAVE A CHANGE OF HEART AND A CHANGE, INTO GOD’S WAY OF LIVING. THIS IS GOD’S WORLD AND WE ARE TO LIVE HOLY LIVES, UNTIL THE DAY THAT JESUS CHRIST (GOD), RETURNS AND RAPTURES THE SAVED, REBORN AGAIN SAINTS. SAINTS ARE THOSE WHO ARE REBORN AGAIN AND SAVED. THOSE WHO ARE NOT SAVED, LIKE THOSE WHO SAY THEY ARE SAVED BUT LIVES A LIFE OF SIN, IS CALLED, SELF RIGHTEOUSNESS, MEANS HYPOCRITE. READ THE GOSPEL, THE WORD OF GOD, THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE TITLE OF THIS MESSAGE,

SAME SEX MARRIAGES ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.

LEVITCUS 18:22 You shall not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination (proclaims the terrible sin of the abomination of homosexuality; whatever man says, God says it is an abomination; God help America to see the awfulness of homosexual marriages).

1 CORINTHIANS 6:9-10 But brother goes to Law with brother, and that before the unbelievers (a bad example!). 7 Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because you go to Law one with another (should not be among Christians). Why do you not rather take wrong? (This portrays the perfect example of uncrucified self.) why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded? (It is better to suffer material loss, than to suffer spiritual loss.) 8 No, you do wrong, and defraud, and that your Brethren (to defraud anyone is bad enough, but to defraud a fellow Brother in the Lord is worse still!). PURITY 9 Do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God? (This shoots down the unscriptural Doctrine of Unconditional Eternal Security.) Be not deceived (presents the same words of our Lord, “let no man deceive you” [Mk. 13:5]): neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind (the proof of true Christianity is the changed life), 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the Kingdom of God (refers to those who call themselves “Believers,” but yet continue to practice the sins mentioned, whom the Holy Spirit says are not saved, irrespective of their claims).

 DEATH FOR HOMOSEXUALITY

LEVITICUS 20:13 13 If a man also lie with mankind, as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them (the Lord speaks here of homosexuality as “an abomination”; the word “Abomination,” in the Hebrew, is “towebah,” and means “something disgusting, an abhorrence”).

RESULTS OF APOSTASY

ROMANS 1:24-27 24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts (not merely permissive, but God judicially delivered them over), to dishonour their own bodies between themselves (speaks of every type of immorality): 25 Who changed the Truth of God into a lie (refers back to Verse 23, which speaks of spiritual and sexual uncleanness), and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator (this refers to man worshiping the creation of his own hands, which means that he is worshiping something less than himself), Who is blessed forever. Amen (should have been translated “Bless-ed” [two syllables], because it refers to the One doing the blessing, in this case the Lord). 26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections (the Lord removed His restraints and, therefore, gave them unimpeded access to their desires): for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature (in short speaks of Lesbianism): 27 And likewise also the men (homosexuality), leaving the natural use of the woman (speaks of the sex act which is performed between the man and his wife), burned in their lust one toward another (raging lust); men with men working that which is unseemly (specifies its direction, which is total perversion), and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet (refers to the penalty attached to wrongdoing).

MARK 10:6-9 But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female (not from the beginning of Creation per se, but rather, from the beginning of the creation of humankind). 7 For this cause (has to do with the way man and woman were created and, therefore, meant to live) shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife (completely debunks the homosexual lifestyle); 8 And they twain (two) shall be one flesh (one of the reasons that adultery and fornication are so wicked): so then they are no more twain, but one flesh (the Will of God carried out to its logical and beautiful conclusion). 9 What therefore God has joined together (places the seal of God’s approval on the marriage union; and we speak of the nuclear family of husband, wife, and children), let not man put asunder (there are only two Scriptural grounds for divorce and remarriage: A. Fornication [Mat. 5:32]; and, B. Desertion on spiritual grounds [I Cor. 7:14-15]).

GENESIS 2:24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife (this Passage must be viewed as an inspired declaration of the law of marriage): and they shall be one flesh (points to a unity of persons, not simply to a conjunction of bodies, or a community of interests, or even a reciprocity of affections).

THE MODEL PRAYER

MATTHEW 6:9-13 9 After this manner therefore pray you (is meant to be in total contrast to the heathen practice; as well, it is to be prayed in full confidence, that the Heavenly Father will hear and answer according to His Will): Our Father (our prayer should be directed toward our Heavenly Father, and not Christ or the Holy Spirit) Who is in Heaven, Hallowed be Your Name (we reverence His Name). 10 Your Kingdom come (this will definitely happen at the Second Coming), Your Will be done in Earth, as it is in Heaven (the Will of God is all-important; it will be carried out on Earth, beginning with the Kingdom Age). 11 Give us this day our daily bread (we are to look to the Lord for sustenance, both natural and spiritual). 12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors (the word “debts” here refers to “trespasses” and “sins”; His forgiveness on our part is predicated on our forgiving others). 13 And lead (because of self-confidence) us not into temptation (help us not to be led into testing — the idea is, in my self-confidence, which stems from the flesh and not the Spirit, please do not allow me to be led into temptation, for I will surely fail!), but deliver us (the trap is more powerful than man can handle; only God can deliver; He does so through the Power of the Holy Spirit, according to our Faith in Christ and the Cross [Rom. 8:1-2, 11]) from evil (the Evil One, Satan himself): For Yours is the kingdom (this Earth belongs to the Lord and not Satan; he is an usurper), and the power (God has the Power to deliver, which He does, as stated, through the Cross), and the glory (the Glory belongs to God, and not Satan), forever (none of this will ever change). Amen (this Word expresses a solemn ratification; in the Mind of God, the defeat and destruction of Satan and, therefore, all evil in the world, is a foregone conclusion).

ISAIAH 40:31 But they who wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. (The word “wait,” in the Hebrew, is “qavah,” and means “to bind together by twisting.” The sense is that if we really “wait upon the LORD,” we will be constantly seeking His Face and, being bound together with Him, we will be desirous of carrying out His Will. The Holy Spirit uses “eagles” as an example. “Eagles” do not stay perpetually young, but do in fact periodically take on a luster on their wings that gives them a perpetual youthful appearance. Such is intended here! God promises to give strength for the journey in order that we may “run” and “not be weary.”)

JONATHAN AND DAVID

1 SAMUAL 18:1-30 1 And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan (the son of Saul) was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul (Jonathan was to David as an older brother). 2 And Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more home to his father’s house (brought David into the court). 3 Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul. 4 And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle. (The covenant basically meant that whatever belonged to Jonathan now belonged to David. [In effect, he was giving David the kingdom, because he knew that God had called him for such.] Whatever belonged to David now belonged to Jonathan, as well! They would go so far as to lay down their lives for each other, if necessary. It would also extend to their children; hence, this is the reason that David would bring Mephibosheth into the palace and give him place and position [II Sam., Chpt. 9]. The covenant that is spoken of is basically a Type of the New Covenant made by Christ on the Cross. We enter into that Covenant by the virtue of Faith in Christ and what He has done for us [Jn. 3:16].)

SAUL BECOMES JEALOUS OF DAVID

5 And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, and behaved himself wisely (the Holy Spirit will bear this out concerning David several times; he did this by the help of the Spirit): and Saul set him over the men of war (a special group), and he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul’s servants. 6 And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of music (because of their victories). 7 And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands. 8 And Saul was very angry, and the saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom? (When Saul had stood powerless before the enemy, a shepherd boy had stepped forth and given him the victory. This stripling, taken to be his companion in arms, had shown so many great qualities that the people reckoned him at ten times Saul’s worth. Due to a total lack of spirituality, Saul could not handle this.) 9 And Saul eyed David from that day and forward (with intent to harm him). 10 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house (however, he wasn’t prophesying by the Spirit of God, but rather by the power of demon spirits): and David played with his hand, as at other times (played the harp): and there was a javelin in Saul’s hand. 11 And Saul cast the javelin; for he said, I will smite David even to the wall with it. And David avoided out of his presence twice (instead of allowing David to draw him to the Lord, he took the opposite road, and tried to kill David). 12 And Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with him, and was departed from Saul (in effect, he sees the handwriting on the wall!). 13 Therefore Saul removed him from him, and made him his Captain over a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people. (Evidently the administrative affairs of the kingdom had been neglected, with David now functioning somewhat in this capacity. In a sense, Saul promoted David, giving him the charge of a thousand men; but David was no longer in the presence of Saul. Evidently, Saul didn’t know what to do with him, because he was so popular with the people.) 14 And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and the LORD was with him (that was the reason for the blessings). 15 Wherefore when Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he was afraid of him. 16 But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he went out and came in before them (he was totally trustworthy, and, as stated, “behaved himself wisely”!).

DAVID MARRIES SAUL’S DAUGHTER

17 And Saul said to David, Behold my elder daughter Merab, her will I give you to wife: only be you valiant for me, and fight the LORD’s battles. For Saul said, Let not my hand be upon him, but let the hand of the Philistines be upon him (constantly sending David out to battle, Saul believed that he would ultimately be killed, which he desired). 18 And David said unto Saul, Who am I? and what is my life, or my father’s family in Israel, that I should be son in law to the king? 19 But it came to pass at the time when Merab Saul’s daughter should have been given to
David, that she was given unto Adriel the Meholathite to wife. (The king’s promise to give his daughter to the victor was not kept; but, on the contrary, a snare was set for David’s foot. Merab was indeed proposed, but upon the added condition that David should venture his life and slay more of the Philistines, and thereby, as Saul hoped, lose his life. But this plan having failed, the king laid another snare for him. He grossly insulted him by giving the bride, a day or two before the marriage, to another man. By this, no doubt, he hoped to sting David into some disloyal language or conduct that would justify his being put to death. But this also failed.) 20 And Michal Saul’s daughter loved David: and they told Saul, and the thing pleased him. 21 And Saul said, I will give him her, that she may be a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him. Wherefore Saul said to David, You shall this day be my son in law in the one of the twain (David will marry the other daughter). 22 And Saul commanded his servants, saying, Commune with David secretly, and say, Behold, the king has delight in you, and all his servants love you: now therefore be the king’s son in law. 23 And Saul’s servants spoke those words in the ears of David. And David said, Seem it to you a light thing to be a king’s son in law, seeing that I am a poor man, and lightly esteemed? 24 And the servants of Saul told him, saying, On this manner spoke David (they told Saul what David said, which means that David said nothing as it regards what Saul had done to him, by giving his first daughter to another man, instead of to David, as promised). 25 And Saul said, Thus shall you say to David, The king desires not any dowry, but an hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged of the kings’ enemies. But Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines (this was the snare which he planned). 26 And when his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king’s son in law: and the days were not expired (David was given a certain period of time for this to be done). 27 Wherefore David arose and went, he and his men, and killed of the Philistines two hundred men; and David brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full tale to the king, that he might be the king’s son in law. And Saul gave him Michal his daughter to wife. (All of this was so known among so many people that Saul couldn’t go back on this. Some may blanch at David killing so many Philistines; however, they were God’s enemies and, in slaying them, David acted as God’s Servant, and not as Saul’s instrument.) 28 And Saul saw and knew that the LORD was with David, and that Michal Saul’s daughter loved him. 29 And Saul was yet the more afraid of David; and Saul became David’s enemy continually. 30 Then the princes of the Philistines went forth: and it came to pass, after they went forth, that David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul; so that his name was much set by (we learn from all of this that what God has blessed, nothing can curse!).

Side note about this next verse, its speaking of Judging the heart, which would be (Mostives), we are to Judge Bad fruit only. Remeber this when you see the Word JUDGING, in the Word of God. This world takes it way out of context and makes it into something that it is not, that would be Blasphemy and it is also spiritual adultary, to taking God’s Word, out of context like that. Becareful and watch yourselves about that, just a spiritual WARNING for your soul.

JAMES 4:12 There is one Lawgiver, Who is able to save and to destroy (presents God as the only One Who can fill this position): who are you who judges another? (The Greek actually says, “but you — who are you?” In other words, “who do you think you are?”)

1 CORINTHIANS 6:9 Do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God? (This shoots down the unscriptural Doctrine of Unconditional Eternal Security.) Be not deceived (presents the same words of our Lord, “let no man deceive you” [Mk. 13:5]): neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind (the proof of true Christianity is the changed life).

ROMANS 1:26-27 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections (the Lord removed His restraints and, therefore, gave them unimpeded access to their desires): for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature (in short speaks of Lesbianism): 27 And likewise also the men (homosexuality), leaving the natural use of the woman (speaks of the sex act which is performed between the man and his wife), burned in their lust one toward another (raging lust); men with men working that which is unseemly (specifies its direction, which is total perversion), and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet (refers to the penalty attached to wrongdoing).

MATTHEW 19:4-6 And He answered and said unto them, Have you not read, that He (God) which made them at the beginning made them male and female (destroys the theory of evolution; Jesus was actually the Creator [Jn. 1:1-3]), 5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? (Proclaims God as the founder of marriage, which makes it a Divine institution.) 6 Wherefore they are no more twain (two), but one flesh (God looks at a man and his wife not as two, but instead “one”). What therefore God has joined together, let not man put asunder (the Will of the Lord is to be sought regarding marriage; however, God recognizes the institution of marriage whether His Will or not).

MALACHI 2:15 And did not He make one? Yet had He the residue of the Spirit. And wherefore one? that He might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth. (The question, “And did not He make one?”, means that God made only one wife for Adam. This condemns polygamy [being married to several wives at the same time] and divorce! The phrase, “Yet had He the residue of the Spirit,” means that God, being the Author of life, could have given Adam, if He so desired, many wives and so have instituted polygamy. Therefore, what God originally did and intended must not be changed. The question, “And wherefore one?”, has reference to Abraham, to whom God gave one wife and a godly seed by her [Isaac]. Malachi’s critics objected that Abraham had two wives, referring to Sarah and Hagar, and that they might also, to which Malachi had a double reply: 1. Abraham took a second wife, not to gratify passion, but to procure an heir; and, 2. That in so acting, he grieved God and brought suffering upon himself and others. God’s appointment of monogamy is here stated in order to produce holy children [I Chron. 7:14]. “Therefore take heed to your spirit,” has to do with the corruption of one’s own spirit, which leads to all types of sin, i.e., making one dead to the conviction of the Holy Spirit. “And let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth,” has some inference to the beauty fading with the passing years, with the youth of the foreign women becoming more attractive, and even possibly more accessible. At any rate, it was a wicked direction these men were taking.)

GENESIS 19:1-13 1 And there came two Angels (referred to previously as two men) to Sodom at evening; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom (Lot sitting at the gate probably denoted position and authority; he may have even been the mayor of Sodom): and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground (from this action, it is possible that the two Angels revealed themselves and their mission to Lot at this time); 2 And he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant’s house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and you shall rise up early, and go on your ways (as it regards Abraham and Lot, the Lord remained to commune with the Patriarch, while he merely sent His two Angels to Sodom as it regards Lot). And they said, No; but we will abide in the street all night (in fact, the Angels, as we see here, didn’t even desire to enter into the house of Lot; what a rebuke!). 3 And he (Lot) pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house (the Angels, on their part, had to be pressed to accept hospitality from the nephew which they at once accepted from the uncle; fellowship with the world hinders and limits communion and makes the soul lethargic); and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat (the “unleavened Bread” speaks of Christ).

THE MOB

4 But before they lay down (retired for the night), the men of the city, even the men of Sodom (homosexuals), compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter: (The principle of evil, which the Bible calls “sin,” and which has wrought such ruin in human nature, painfully appears in this Chapter. Sodomy is the end result of the reprobate mind [Rom. 1:24-28].) 5 And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men who came in to you this night? (the sin of homosexuality was the primary sin which occasioned the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah [Jude, Vss. 6-7]) bring them out unto us, that we may know them (the words “know them” pertained to the loathsomeness of the homosexual act). 6 And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him (locked the door to his house, so these depraved men could not enter), 7 And said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly (the Text marks this sin as unspeakably vile, by telling us that they commanded Lot to bring out his guests so that they could seduce them publicly and in the sight of the whole population; they had lost all sense of shame and decency, for they make no attempt at perpetrating this shameful vice in secret). 8 Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do you to them as is good in your eyes (wisdom from the lukewarm Believer is always flawed, as is evidenced here): only unto these Men do nothing; for therefore came They under the shadow of my roof (we cannot profit by the world and, at the same time, bear effectual testimony against its wickedness). 9 And they said, Stand back. And they said again, This one fellow came in to sojourn, and he will needs be a judge (it seems that Lot, however, had spoken out against these things so often that the men of Sodom accused him of wanting to play the judge): now will we deal worse with you, than with Them. And they pressed sore upon the man, even Lot, and came near to break the door. (Due to Abraham having rescued many Sodomites from Chedorlaomer, evidently these homosexuals had declared Lot, the nephew of Abraham, off limits. But now, due to Lot’s protection of the two Angels, they are breaking their commitment to him.)

THE ANGELS

10 But the Men (the two Angels) put forth Their hand (opened the door and grabbed Lot), and pulled Lot into the house to Them, and shut to the door (little did these perverts know as to who these men actually were). 11 And they smote the men who were at the door of the house with blindness, both small and great: so that they wearied themselves to find the door (the word in the Hebrew actually means that they were not totally blind, but that they would not see properly).

LOT

12 And the Men (the Angels) said unto Lot, Have you here any besides? son in law, and your sons, and your daughters, and whatsoever you have in the city, bring them out of this place (to attempt to reprove the world’s ways, while we profit by association with it, is vanity; thus it was too with Lot’s testimony to his sons-in-law): 13 For We will destroy this place (has happened, no doubt, many times in many places in history past), because the cry of them is waxen great before the Face of the LORD (all sin is in God’s Face, which will ultimately, if not repented of, end in judgment); and the LORD has sent Us to destroy it.

GOD’S FORESIGHT FOR MAN

GENESIS 2:18 And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone (doesn’t mean that the idea of a companion for Adam suddenly presented itself to the Lord; God never intended that man should be alone); I will make him an help meet for him (this is not meant to infer that the creation of woman was an afterthought; there is no Plan of God that is incomplete!).

2 CORINTHIANS 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ (Saved by the Blood), he is a new creature (a new creation): old things are passed away (what we were before Salvation); behold, all things are become new. (The old is no longer useable, with everything given to us now by Christ as “new.”)

1 CORINTHIANS 6:11 And such were some of you (before conversion): but you are washed (refers to the Blood of Jesus cleansing from all sin), but you are Sanctified (one’s position in Christ), but you are Justified (declared not guilty) in the Name of the Lord Jesus (refers to Christ and what He did at the Cross, in order that we might be saved), and by the Spirit of our God (proclaims the Third Person of the Triune Godhead as the Mechanic in this great Work of Grace).

DAVID LEARNS OF SAUL’S DEATH

2 SAMUAL 1:1-27  1 Now it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had abode two days in Ziklag (using the phrase, “when David was returned,” the Holy Spirit has far more in mind than the return to Ziklag; David had, as well, returned from some 16 months of disobedience to God; what a glorious moment when the Child of God realizes his fault and his failure, and then “returns to total dependence on God”); 2 It came even to pass on the third day, that, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul with his clothes rent, and earth upon his head: and so it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and did obeisance. 3 And David said unto him, From where do you come? And he said unto him, Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped. 4 And David said unto him, How went the matter? I pray you, tell me. And he answered, That the people are fled from the battle, and many of the people also are fallen and dead; and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also. 5 And David said unto the young man who told him, How do you know that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead? 6 And the young man who told him said, As I happened by chance upon Mount Gilboa, behold, Saul leaned upon his spear; and, lo, the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him. 7 And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called unto me. And I answered him, Here am I. 8 And he said unto me, Who are you? And I answered him, I am an Amalekite. 9 He said unto me again, Stand, I pray you, upon me, and kill me: for anguish is come upon me, because my life is yet whole in me. 10 So I stood upon him, and killed him, because I was sure that he could not live after that he was fallen: and I took the crown that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them hither unto my lord. (The story of the Amalekite is a most improbable fiction, and utterly untrue. He knew nothing as to the manner of Saul’s death, but found the body, probably sometime after the king had fallen. He then took these particular items from the corpse.) 11 Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and likewise all the men who were with him: 12 And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until evening, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the LORD, and for the House of Israel; because they were fallen by the sword. 13 And David said unto the young man who told him, Who are you? And he answered, I am the son of a stranger, an Amalekite. 14 And David said unto him, How was it that you were not afraid to stretch forth your hand to destroy the LORD’s anointed? 15 And David called one of the young men, and said, Go near, and fall upon him. And he smote him that he died. 16 And David said unto him, Your blood be upon your head; for your mouth has testified against you, saying, I have killed the LORD’s anointed. (“Amalek” is a type of the flesh. We will either kill it, or it will kill us. As well, it must ever be remembered that we cannot kill the “Amalekite” in our own strength. Flesh cannot overcome flesh. The Holy Spirit through us must slay “Amalek,” which He does upon our Faith being placed consistently in Christ and the Cross [Rom. 8:1-2, 11].)

THE LAMENTATION OF DAVID

17 And David lamented with this lamentation

over Saul and over Jonathan his son (this is really a martial ode, and one of the first and finest odes in the Old Testament; David’s own sufferings are forgotten while his fervent love and deep grief for his king and his best friend, Jonathan, are expressed; there is no bitter or revengeful word or exultation over the death of his greatest enemy, Saul): 18 (Also he bade them teach the Children of Judah the use of the bow: behold, it is written in the book of Jasher [the title of the ode in Hebrew is “Kesheth, the bow.” The Book of Jasher would be equivalent to “Hero-book.” The Hebrews always looked to the moral rather than the physical prowess of their great men].) 19 The beauty of Israel is slain upon your high places: how are the mighty fallen! (Only a Divine love could cause David to speak thusly about the man who had made many attempts to kill him.) 20 Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph (in the course of time, “Tell it not in Gath” became a proverb [Mic. 1:10]). 21 You mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither let there be rain, upon you, nor fields of offerings: for there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed with oil (it should have been translated, “For there the shield of heroes, yea, the shield of Saul, was defiled,” stained, that is, with blood). 22 From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty. 23 Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided: they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions. (Jonathan had ever been his father’s faithful friend and companion; moreover, his affection for David never made him untrue to the ties of natural affection. And David generously commends his friend for thus acting.) 24 You daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights, who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel. 25 How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, you were slain in your high places. 26 I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant have you been unto me: your love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women (never was there a purer friendship than that of Jonathan for David). 27 How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished! (Saul won many great victories for Israel, but never conquered the demons within himself; consequently, he was ultimately killed by that from without, because he never conquered that from within. It is a lesson we should studiously learn.)

JONATHAN’S FRIENDSHIP WITH DAVID

1 SAMUAL 19:1-24 And Saul spoke to Jonathan his son, and to all his servants, that they should kill David. (As we have repeatedly said, the “flesh” must always persecute the “Spirit.” This is a spiritual war that began at the very outset [Cain and Abel], and will not cease until the Trump of God sounds. The biggest enemy to the Work of God is religion, which is a product of the flesh. That’s where Satan does his best and most destructive work. [Religion is a concoction of man, designed to reach God, or to better one’s self in someway. In any form it is unacceptable to God.]) 2 But Jonathan Saul’s son delighted much in David: and Jonathan told David, saying, Saul my father seeks to kill you: now therefore, I pray you, take heed to yourself until the morning, and abide in a secret place, and hide yourself: 3 And I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where you are, and I will commune with my father of you; and what I see, that I will tell you. 4 And Jonathan spoke good of David unto Saul his father, and said unto him, Let not the king sin against his servant, against David; because he has not sinned against you, and because his works have been to you-ward very good: 5 For he did put his life in his hand, and killed the Philistine, and the LORD wrought a great salvation for all Israel: you saw it, and did
rejoice: wherefore then will you sin against innocent blood, to kill David without a cause? 6 And Saul hearkened unto the voice of Jonathan: and Saul swore, As the LORD lives, he shall not be killed. 7 And Jonathan called David, and Jonathan showed him all those things. And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence, as in times past.

SAUL AGAIN TRIES TO KILL DAVID

8 And there was war again: and David went out, and fought with the Philistines, and killed them with a great slaughter; and they fled from him. 9 And the evil spirit from the LORD was upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his javelin in his hand: and David played (the harp) with his hand. 10 And Saul sought to smite David even to the wall with the javelin; but he slipped away out of Saul’s presence, and he smote the javelin into the wall: and David fled, and escaped that night. 11 Saul also sent messengers unto David’s house, to watch him, and to kill him in the morning: and Michal David’s wife told him, saying, If you save not your life tonight, tomorrow you shall be slain. (Williams says, “Saul presents here a sad and terrible picture! One moment generous and kind; the next, murderous and cruel! One moment controlled by the Spirit of God; the next, by the spirit of the demon! A useless ruined vessel, his life was wrecked because he hated David. Apart from that hatred, little is recorded to lead to the belief that his public or private conduct was unworthy of a man and a king; and men would have little known that there were such depths of malignity in his character had David never appeared. David’s person and victories made manifest Saul’s true character. “So was it with man when the Greater than David appeared. His apparition immediately made manifest fallen man’s true nature; just as light makes manifest darkness.”) 12 So Michal let David down through a window: and he went, and fled, and escaped. 13 And Michal took an image, and laid it in the bed, and put a pillow of goats’ hair for his bolster, and covered it with a cloth. 14 And when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, He is sick. 15 And Saul sent the messengers again to see David, saying, Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may kill him. 16 And when the messengers were come in, behold, there was an image in the bed, with a pillow of goats’ hair for his bolster. 17 And Saul said unto Michal, Why have you deceived me so, and sent away my enemy, that he is escaped? And Michal answered Saul, He said unto me, Let me go; why should I kill you? (Michal pretends that David had told her not to force him to kill her by refusing to give aid in his escape.)

SAMUEL

18 So David fled, and escaped, and came to Samuel to Ramah, and told him all that Saul had done to him. And he and Samuel went and dwelt in Naioth. 19 And it was told Saul, saying, Behold, David is at Naioth in Ramah (a school for Prophets). 20 And Saul sent messengers to take David: and when they saw the company of the Prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as appointed over them, the Spirit of God was upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied (which turned them away from their murderous mission). 21 And when it was told Saul, he sent other messengers, and they prophesied likewise. And Saul sent messengers again the third time, and they prophesied also. 22 Then went he also to Ramah, and came to a great well that is in Sechu: and he asked and said, Where are Samuel and David? And one said, Behold, they be at Naioth in Ramah. 23 And he went thither to Naioth in Ramah: and the Spirit of God was upon him also, and he went on, and prophesied, until he came to Naioth in Ramah (this records the last attempt by God to salvage Saul; as would be obvious, this prophesy was from the “Spirit of God” and not evil spirits). 24 And he stripped off his clothes also, and prophesied before Samuel in like manner, and lay down naked all that day and all that night. Wherefore they say, Is Saul also among the prophets? (It does not mean that Saul stripped off his clothing. It means that he stripped off his armor and kingly robes. In other words, he was “naked” of these items, but not naked as we think of nakedness. As stated, this was God’s last attempt to bring Saul back to the right way. After this, Saul would go even deeper into spiritual oblivion.)


INTRODUCTION

ROMANS 1:1-32 Paul (the only Bible writer who discarded his Jewish name [Saul] for his Gentile name [Paul]), a servant (a voluntary Bondslave) of Jesus Christ, called to be an Apostle (he puts “Bondslave” ahead of Apostle), separated unto the Gospel of God (means that Paul was separated by God from all mankind for his Apostleship), 2 (Which He (God) had promised afore by His Prophets in the Holy Scriptures,) (He promised the Redeemer, Who would be the Lord Jesus Christ.) 3 Concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord (speaks of Jesus being the Core Message of the Old Testament), which was made (signifies entrance into a new condition) of the Seed of David (through the family of David) according to the flesh (the Incarnation, God becoming man); 4 And declared to be the Son of God with power (He was the Son of David regarding His Humanity, and the Son of God regarding His Deity), according to the Spirit of Holiness (presents another Name for the Holy Spirit), by the Resurrection from the dead (the Jews Crucified Jesus because He claimed to be the Son of God; God Resurrected Him because He was the Son of God): 5 By Whom (by God) we have received Grace (unmerited favor) and Apostleship (the Call), for obedience to the Faith (Jesus Christ and Him Crucified) among all nations (one Gospel for the entirety of the world), for His Name (He is the One Who has purchased our Redemption, by and through the Cross of Calvary); 6 Among whom (all Believers) are you also the called of Jesus Christ (every person who is saved has been called of the Lord from something to something): 7 To all who be in Rome, Beloved of God, called to be Saints (“to be” was improperly supplied by the Translators; every person who is saved is a Saint, and made so by Jesus Christ and what He did at the Cross): Grace to you (which comes through the Cross) and Peace (Sanctifying Peace) from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ (presents the Trinity, with the Holy Spirit inspiring these words to be written).

THANKSGIVING

8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world (speaks of the Roman Empire). 9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit (his human spirit) in the Gospel of His Son (Jesus Christ and Him Crucified), that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers (Paul had a strong prayer life); 10 Making request (has to do with seeking the Lord about a certain thing, in this case the privilege of ministering to the Church at Rome), if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the Will of God to come unto you (Acts, Chpts. 27 and 28, record that journey; it was very prosperous spiritually, but not prosperous in other ways). 11 For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift (does not mean, as some think, that Paul could impart one or more of the nine Gifts of the Spirit, but rather speaks of explaining to them more perfectly the Word of God), to the end you may be established (spiritual Gifts, as valuable as they are, do not establish anyone; it is the Truth of the Word which establishes, and that alone [Jn. 8:32]); 12 That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me (carries the idea of a mutual strengthening brought about by his Ministry among them, and their Love shown to him). 13 Now I would not have you ignorant, Brethren (a phrase often used by Paul), that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) (something hindered) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles (he knew that his teaching concerning the Cross would help them to grow in Grace). 14 I am debtor (true of every Believer) both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise (to all people, whomever they might be, and wherever they might be). 15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the Gospel to you who are at Rome also.

THE POWER

16 For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ (is said in reference to the Cross): for it is the Power of God unto Salvation to every one who believes; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek (through the Cross, and the Cross alone, man is reconciled unto God). 17 For therein (through the Cross) is the Righteousness of God (Right with God) revealed from faith to faith (“from Faith” relates to God as the Provider and “to Faith” relates to man as the receiver): as it is written, The just shall live by Faith (proclaims Paul showing that Righteousness by Faith is no new idea, but found in the Prophets [Hab. 2:4]).

GUILT

18 For the Wrath of God (God’s Personal Emotion with regard to sin) is revealed from Heaven (this anger originates with God) against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men (God must unalterably be opposed to sin), who hold the truth in unrighteousness (who refuse to recognize Who God is, and what God is); 19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them (speaks of the universal objective knowledge of God as the Creator, which is more or less in all men); for God has showed it unto them (means that His Signature is in Creation). 20 For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen (explains Verse 19), being understood by the things that are made (Creation demands a Creator), even His Eternal Power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse (the Creation tells us of the Eternal Power of God, and is obvious to all):

APOSTASY

21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified Him not as God (if men do not understand God in the realm of Creation, they will not understand Him in anything else), neither were thankful (refusing to honor Him resulted in a lack of gratitude for His Gifts); but became vain in their imaginations (presents the only direction that fallen man can go, considering he has rejected God), and their foolish heart was darkened (speaks of the rejection of Light). 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools (lays waste to all so-called wisdom which is not of God), 23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God (presents the sin of the ages, and points not only to the heathen of old, but also much of modern Christendom) into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things (proclaims the degeneration of man, which is the opposite of evolution).

RESULTS OF APOSTASY

24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts (not merely permissive, but God judicially delivered them over), to dishonour their own bodies between themselves (speaks of every type of immorality): 25 Who changed the Truth of God into a lie (refers back to Verse 23, which speaks of spiritual and sexual uncleanness), and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator (this refers to man worshiping the creation of his own hands, which means that he is worshiping something less than himself), Who is blessed forever. Amen (should have been translated “Bless-ed” [two syllables], because it refers to the One doing the blessing, in this case the Lord). 26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections (the Lord removed His restraints and, therefore, gave them unimpeded access to their desires): for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature (in short speaks of Lesbianism): 27 And likewise also the men (homosexuality), leaving the natural use of the woman (speaks of the sex act which is performed between the man and his wife), burned in their lust one toward another (raging lust); men with men working that which is unseemly (specifies its direction, which is total perversion), and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet (refers to the penalty attached to wrongdoing). 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge (carries the idea of the human race putting God to the test for the purpose of approving or disapproving Him), God gave them over to a reprobate mind (Light rejected is Light withdrawn), to do those things which are not convenient (which are not fitting);

APOSTATES

 29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful (these things listed are the end results of forsaking God, which is the reason for all the strife in the world): 32 Who knowing the judgment of God (in essence saying, “do Your worst, and it will not stop us”), that they which commit such things are worthy of death (Divine Judgment is implied), not only do the same, but have pleasure in them who do them (proclaims the result of the “reprobate mind”).

THE FALL OF MAN

GENESIS 3:1-24 1 Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made (the word “subtle,” as used here, is not negative, but rather positive; everything that God made before the Fall was positive; it describes qualities such as quickness of sight, swiftness of motion, activity of self-preservation, and seemingly intelligent adaptation to its surroundings). And he said unto the woman (not a fable; the serpent before the Fall had the ability of limited speech; Eve did not seem surprised when he spoke to her!), Yes, has God said, You shall not eat of every tree of the Garden? (The serpent evidently lent its faculties to Satan, even though the Evil One is not mentioned. That being the case, Satan spoke through the serpent, and questioned the Word of God.) 2 And the woman said unto the serpent (proclaims Satan leveling his attack against Eve, instead of Adam; his use of Eve was only a means to get to Adam), We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the Garden (the trial of our first parents was ordained by God, because probation was essential to their spiritual development and self-determination; but as He did not desire that they should be tempted to their Fall, He would not suffer Satan to tempt them in a way that would surpass their human capacity; the tempted might, therefore, have resisted the tempter): 3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the Garden, God has said, You shall not eat of it, neither shall you touch it, lest you die (Eve quoted what the Lord had said about the prohibition, but then added, “neither shall you touch it”). 4 And the serpent said unto the woman, You shall not surely die (proclaims an outright denial of the Word of God; as God had preached to Adam, Satan now preaches to Eve; Jesus called Satan a liar, which probably refers to this very moment [Jn. 8:44]): 5 For God does know that in the day you eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened (suggests the attainment of higher wisdom), and you shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. (In effect says, “You shall be Elohim.” It was a promise of Divinity. God is Omniscient, meaning that His knowledge of evil is thorough, but not by personal experience. By His very Nature, He is totally separate from all that is evil. The knowledge of evil that Adam and Eve would learn would be by moral degradation, which would bring wreckage. While it was proper to desire to be like God, it is proper only if done in the right way, and that is through Faith in Christ and what He has done for us at the Cross.) 6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food (presents the lust of the eyes), and that it was pleasant to the eyes (the lust of the flesh), and a tree to be desired to make one wise (the pride of life), she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat (constitutes the Fall), and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat (refers to the fact that evidently Adam was an observer to all these proceedings; some claim that he ate of the forbidden fruit which she offered him out of love for her; however, no one ever sins out of love; Eve submitted to the temptation out of deception, but “Adam was not deceived” [I Tim. 2:14]; he fell because of unbelief; he simply didn’t believe what God had said about the situation; contrast Verse 6 with Luke 4:1-13; both present the three temptations, “the lust of the flesh,” “the lust of the eyes,” and “the pride of life”; the first man falls, the Second Man conquers). 7 And the eyes of them both were opened (refers to the consciousness of guilt as a result of their sin), and they knew that they were naked (refers to the fact that they had lost the enswathing light of purity, which previously had clothed their bodies); and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons (sinners clothe themselves with morality, sacraments, and religious ceremonies; they are as worthless as Adam’s apron of fig leaves). 8 And they heard the Voice of the LORD God walking in the Garden in the cool of the day (the “Voice” of the Lord had once been a welcome sound; it is now a dreaded sound, because of their sin; it is not that the Voice of the Lord had changed, for it hadn’t; it was the same Voice that they had heard since creation; He hadn’t changed, but they had): and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the Garden (here is the dawn of a new era in the history of humanity; the eye of a guilty conscience is now opened for the first time, and God and the universe appear in new and terrible forms). 9 And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where are you? (This is the first question in the Old Testament. “Where is he?” is the first question in the New Testament [Mat. 2:2]. The Old Testament, God seeking the sinner; the New Testament, the sinner seeking God.) 10 And he (Adam) said, I heard Your Voice in the Garden, and I was afraid (fear is the first reaction of fallen man; Adam’s consciousness of the effects of sin was keener than his sense of the sin itself), because I was naked; and I hid myself (he was naked to the Judgment of God, because of sin, which must be judged; he tried to hide himself from God, even as untold millions have, but never with any success; God wanted Adam to know that he who hides himself from Him is never hidden from Him, and that he who runs away from Him can never escape Him). 11 And He said, Who told you that you were naked (carries Adam’s mind from the effect to the sin that had caused it; as long as a man feels sorrow only for the results of his action, there is no Repentance, and no wish to return to the Divine Presence)? Have you eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded you that you should not eat? (The way the question is framed removes the pretext of ignorance, and also points to the fact that the sin had been carried out in direct violation of the Divine prohibition [Calvin].) 12 And the man said, The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat (Adam first of all blamed God, and then blamed Eve; he recapitulates the history, as if, in his view, it was a matter of course that he should act as he had done; man has been doing this ever since). 13 And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that you have done? (The two questions, “Where are you?” and “What is this that you have done?” comprise the human problem.) And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat (presents Eve blaming the serpent; in a sense, she was blaming God as well, simply because God had made the serpent).

THE ADAMIC COVENANT AND CURSES

14 And the LORD God said unto the serpent (as we shall see, presents no question or interrogation being posed toward the serpent at all; God judges him, and it is in listening to this judgment that the guilty pair hear the first great Promise respecting Christ), Because you have done this, you are cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field (refers to this animal being reduced from possibly the highest place and position in the animal kingdom to the lowest); upon your belly shall you go, and dust shall you eat all the days of your life (if in fact the serpent was an unwitting tool in the hand of Satan, then I think that the Lord would not have placed a curse upon this animal): 15 And I will put enmity (animosity) between you and the woman (presents the Lord now actually speaking to Satan, who had used the serpent; in effect, the Lord is saying to Satan, “You used the woman to bring down the human race, and I will use the woman as an instrument to bring the Redeemer into the world, Who will save the human race”), and between your seed (mankind which follows Satan) and her Seed (the Lord Jesus Christ); it (Christ) shall bruise your head (the Victory that Jesus won at the Cross [Col. 2:14-15]), and you shall bruise His Heel (the sufferings of the Cross). 16 Unto the woman He said, I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception (the original Plan of God was that husband and wife would bring sons and daughters of God into the world; due to the Fall, they can only bring sons and daughters into the world in the “likeness of Adam” [Gen. 5:3]); in sorrow you shall bring forth children (as a result of the Fall, children would be born into a world of sorrow); and your desire shall be to your husband, and he shall rule over you (her husband, instead of God, would now rule over her). 17 And unto Adam He said, Because you have hearkened unto the voice of your wife (Adam hearkened unto his wife instead of God), and have eaten of the tree, of which I commanded you, saying, You shall not eat of it (the tree itself contained no evil properties in the fruit; the Fall, as stated, was caused rather by disobedience to the Word of God): cursed is the ground for your sake; in sorrow shall you eat of it all the days of your life (Earth was originally intended to be a paradise, but now it will give up its largesse reluctantly; as well, the phrase, “all the days of your life,” proclaims the death sentence, which means that life is now terminal, all as a result of “spiritual death,” which was, and is, separation from God); 18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to you (thorns and thistles were not originally in the creation of God, this being a result of the curse, which is a result of the sin of man); and you shall eat the herb of the field (this would not now grow freely, as originally intended, but only now with great care and great labor); 19 In the sweat of your face shall you eat bread (food will be obtained by hard labor), till you return unto the ground (the life-source, which was formerly in God, is now in food, and which is woefully insufficient); for out of it were you taken: for dust you are, and unto dust shall you return (the Power of God alone could keep the dust alive; that being gone, to dust man returns). 20 And Adam called his wife’s name Eve; because she was the mother of all living. (God named the man, and called him Adam, which means “red earth.” Adam named the woman, and called her Eve, which means “life.” Adam bears the name of the dying body, Eve of the living soul.) 21 Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them (in the making of coats of skins, God, in effect, was telling Adam and Eve that their fig leaves were insufficient; as well, He was teaching them that without the shedding of blood, which pertained to the animals that gave their lives, which were Types of Christ, is no remission of sin; in this first sacrifice was laid the foundation of the entirety of the Plan of God as it regards Redemption; also, it must be noticed that it is the “LORD God” Who furnished these coats, and not man himself; this tells us that Salvation is altogether of God and not at all of man; the Life of Christ given on the Cross, and given as our Substitute, provides the only covering for sin; everything else must be rejected).

EXPULSION FROM THE GARDEN

 22 And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of Us, to know good and evil (the Lord knew evil, not by personal experience, but rather through Omniscience; man now knows evil by becoming evil, which is the fountainhead of all sorrow in the world; the pronoun “Us” signifies the Godhead, “God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit”): and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the Tree of Life, and eat, and live forever (this would have been the worst thing of all, to have an Adolf Hitler to live forever, etc.): 23 Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the Garden of Eden (in effect, this was an act of mercy; man is expelled from the Garden, lest by eating the Tree of Life he should perpetuate his misery; but God’s Love for him, though fallen and guilty, is so strong that He accompanies him into exile; as well, through Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, Who will be given in Sacrifice, the Lord will show Adam, and all who would follow him, how to come back into Paradise; regrettably, there is no record that Adam and Eve placed any faith in the Lord; unfortunately, untold billions have followed suit), to till the ground from whence he was taken (refers to a place of toil, not to a place of torment). 24 So He (God) drove out the man (implies the idea of force and displeasure); and He placed at the east of the Garden of Eden Cherubims (these Cherubims signified the Holiness of God, which man had now forfeited), and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the Tree of Life (the “flaming sword” was emblematic of the Divine Glory in its attitude towards sin).