OUR STORY: Let's Talk CAUCASIANS

Our story began with Abraham and Sarah during the reign of the gods. The gods received their inheritance and ruled all of the nations on earth and the people worshipped them, God—our Creator looked down on earth and began His rulership over His inheritance. “When the Most High gave the nations their inheritance, when he divided all mankind, he set up boundaries for the peoples according to the number in His heavenly court. For the LORD’s portion is his people, Jacob his allotted inheritance” (Deuteronomy 32:8-9).

The gods ruling over the nations had turned against their Creator—the Giver of their inheritance, for they desired and battled to gain supreme control. Collectively, they thought they could win. The future on our near horizon will prove them wrong, for God, our Creator is all powerful. He too, has a plan—a strategic military plan, designed before time to overthrow the rebels in heaven and on earth and establish a new headquarters—a new holy court of eternally loyal, royal members. God’s plan cannot be thwarted; no power can overthrow Him and God is right on schedule.

Job knew God and said, ““I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted” (Job 42:2).

Daniel agreed and stated, “All the peoples of the earth are counted as nothing, and He does as He pleases with the army of heaven and the peoples of the earth. There is no one who can restrain His hand or say to Him, 'What have You done?'” (Daniel 4:35)

Our story began during violent storms of ignorance and falsehood during the reign of the gods. Truth was buried deep under the swept sands. There “in a desert land he found him, in a barren and howling waste. He shielded him and cared for him; he guarded him as the apple of his eye, like an eagle that stirs up its nest and hovers over its young, that spreads its wings to catch them and carries them on its pinions. The LORD alone led him, no foreign god was with him” (Deuteronomy 32:10). GOD ALONE LED HIM. God Almighty chose Abram. He and Sarah left their place of birth—that place void of truth, filled with corruption from the ruling rogue gods, to journey into a new homeland—a promised land, like the promise of eternity for those who obey God. They “were looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God” (Hebrews 11:10); they were “longing for a better country—a heavenly one” (Hebrews 11:16).

THEIR NAMES CHANGED TO REFLECT GOD’S BLESSING.
God taught Abram and Sarai His way of life. They put their trust in Him and their faith grew strong. God recognized their devotion and changed their names to reflect His promises to them. “No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations” (Genesis 17:5) and “and God said unto Abraham, as for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be. I will bless her and will surely give you a son by her, I will bless her so that she will be the mother of nations; kings of peoples will come from her” (Genesis 17:15-16).

GOD’S PLAN OF REDEMPTION HAD NOW BEGUN.
Abraham and Sarah’s acts of faith opened the door for all of mankind, for now the Son of God would become the Seed of Abraham who would pay the penalty for the redemption of mankind. “Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said: ‘Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; with burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased. Then I said, ‘Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll—I have come to do your will, O God’” (Hebrews 10:5-7) and “by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (Hebrews 10:10).

THE BIRTH OF ISHMAEL.
Knowing the blessing of redemption, Abraham and Sarah put into action their solution to ensure the fulfillment of God’s plan of salvation. Sarah was barren, so she gave her servant, Hagar to Abraham and Ishmael was born. Abraham was then 86 years old. Now, God was careful to identify His people as “Jacob his allotted inheritance” (Deuteronomy 32:9). The birth of Ishmael was not the birth of God’s people, but a people that God blessed never-the-less. “As for Ishmael, I have heard you; behold, I have blessed him and will make him fruitful and multiply him greatly. He shall father twelve princes, and I will make him into a great nation” (Genesis 17:20).

ISAAC WAS ABRAHAM’S ONLY HEIR.
Ishmael would not be Abraham’s heir. Isaac, the miracle son born from Sarah at the ripe age of 99 years old, would be the sole recipient of Abraham’s inheritance. Isaac images in this chapter, the story of Jesus Christ—God’s only heir. Isaac, like Christ saw the power of Almighty God something mankind is yet to witness. When Jacob was defending his case to Laban, he identified his God through the eyes of Abraham and Isaac, “If the God of my father, the God Abraham and the Fear of Isaac…” (Genesis 31:42). Isaac feared God for he witnessed a sampling of the power of Almighty God. Jesus Christ has witnessed much more than a mere sampling.

God’s plan cannot be thwarted, but every addition, such as the birth of Ishmael who was the first-born but not the heir and Isaac not the first-born but the only heir, so Christ was not the spiritual first-born but the only heir among his companions. Every twist and turn in the story was anticipated as the greater story shimmers through the interactions of the people that God chose to be His own. No accidental threads or incidental knots affect the final outcome. Everything is part of the whole that is and was planned before time.

THE BIRTH OF ESAU AND JACOB.
Isaac married Rebekah and through them another miracle birth took place; Esau and Jacob were born. From inception, the twins jostled as if to acquire the right to be the first-born son. Rebekah cried, “‘Why is this happening to me?’ The LORD said to her, ‘Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger’” (Genesis 25:22b-23).

But alas, the battle was not theirs to win or lose. God reigns supreme and His plan goes untouched by man or gods. “Before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad—in order that God’s purpose in election might stand: not by works but by him who calls—she was told, ‘The older will serve the younger.’ Just as it is written: ‘Jacob I loved but Esau I hated.’ What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! For he says to Moses, ‘I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.’ It does not, therefore, depend on man’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy” (Romans 9:11-16). Apostle Paul revealed the dazzling threads so few can comprehend—the deeper story that cannot be understood without God’s Holy Spirit.

The story of redemption for all of mankind is not based on works or being a covenant people, but God’s gift of grace for all have sinned. God loves the repentant people who humbly accept His grace and dedicate their life to overcoming; they image the Jacobs that God loves. They image the Jacobs that God foreknew that He could say, “the older will serve the younger.” “Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan” (Ephesians 1:11).

GOD’S PLAN IS COMPRISED OF MANY STEPS IN A SPECIFIC ORDER.
Eventually, everything will be known and everyone will see where they were lovingly placed into the grand plan. In that time, the people who lived the key roles of God’s plan will be humbly honored and all they endured and enjoyed will be understood and appreciated; they will finally rest. Until then, God’s plan remains active and the story He writes is directly from His heart as He shares His pain, His sorrow, His distress, His longing, His joy and His love for all of His creation.

THE BIRTH OF JACOB AND ESAU WAS A NOTABLE STEP IN GOD’S PLAN.
Both boys were born into the covenant family, but God would confirm the covenant with only one of them. The members of the covenant family had arrived at a fork in the road. Two boys would choose two different paths. God foreknew that not everyone in the covenant family would choose the way of God. He would confirm His covenant with Jacob, the one He loves—the one whose name was changed to Israel because he overcame. God foreknew Jacob’s choices. His stories are filled with symbolism and imagery, mirroring and parallels—a treasure for the Believers who are driven to discover the hidden things of God. “It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out” (Proverbs 25:2).

God gave Esau his own land in Seir and eventually, there Esau took his family. All future events of Esau’s life and his descendants are recorded only when they interact with his brother, Jacob and his descendants.

THE STORY OF GOD’S PEOPLE FILL THE BIBLE.
The story of Jacob and his descendants become the core series of events that ripple throughout the rest of the Bible. Jacob had obtained the birthright blessing by impersonating Esau and was forced to leave his father’s home because Esau threatened his life. This chapter in the story is rich in meaning leading Apostle Paul to write, “By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future” (Hebrews 11:20). What might be seen as trickery may be a series of events that mirror the life of the overcomers—all part of God’s plan to help the Judeo-Christians to see a clearer reflection.

Regardless of the method used to obtain the first-born birthright, God still reaffirmed the covenant with Jacob. Immediately upon arriving in the place where his Uncle Laban lived, he met Rachel—daughter of Laban, a shepherdess.

RACHEL IS A SHEPHERDESS.
Jacob fell in love with Rachel. This event is one that marks a movement between dimensions in the form of a special chapter in God’s multi-dimensional, quantum layered book as He mirrors a heavenly story into the lives of His people on earth. Rachel plays a very important role. She is a shepherdess—one who cares for sheep—the image of God’s people—sheep who often go astray. This shepherdess loves those under her care. “A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping. Rachel is weeping for her children; she refuses to be comforted for her children, because they are no more” (Jeremiah 31:15). This scripture is not talking about Rachel who died giving birth to Benjamin, but the mirrored Rachel who images a church structure of methods and processes that birth righteous children. That is the structure that God fell in love with and brings comfort with the words, “Keep your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears, for the reward for your work will come, declares the LORD. Then your children will return from the land of the enemy” (Jeremiah 31:16). No one will destroy Rachel’s two sons: Joseph who images Christ and Benjamin who images the Saints. Matthew recognized the fulfillment of Jeremiah 31:15 and quoted it in Matthew 2:18.

Rachel died giving birth to Benjamin. The church structure that God loves ended with the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D.. It was a structure that became corrupted for it was Rachel who had taken her father’s household gods (Genesis 31:34). On Pentecost after Christ died and was resurrected, God’s Holy Spirit became available to repentant people. The veil was rent and Believers through Christ can access God directly. The destruction of Jerusalem mirrors Rachel’s early death, leaving Jacob who mirrored God, our Creator in this chapter with direct care of Benjamin—the mirrored Saints. Every event is part of God’s grand plan, which has a time and a purpose to be fully understood yet in the future.

TWO CHURCH STRUCTURES: ONE BROAD AND WAYWARD, THE OTHER PRECISE AND RIGHTEOUS.
After Jacob’s wedding night, he discovered that he was tricked into marrying Rachel’s older sister, Leah. He was shocked! This twist of events could hardly be part of the same chapter, yet the reality was all too true. Leah was described as having “weak eyes” (Genesis 29:17). She mirrors a church structure with poor eye-sight, poor direction, often losing their way. This chapter of Jacob’s story mirrored the trickery that forced God into a relationship not of His choosing. The continual disobedience and perpetual wayward wanderings of the ancient Israelites were the fruit of the structure of Leah. To this day, many Judeo-Christians continue to wander swaying off balance onto the wayward path that moves away from God.

While the mirrored images of Jacob’s two wives picture two church structures, it is common knowledge that Jesus Christ was born from the tribe of Judah, a son born from Leah. Does the mirroring collapse under scrutiny? Welcome into the deep things of God. In the physical realm, Christ was born out of Leah. His spent his ministry correcting the misguided Jewish religious leaders and teaching the Gentiles the way back to God. In the spiritual realm, he was born out of Rachel—the perfect structure that produces true righteousness. The “eye sight” of the church structure that represents Leah, will be healed during Christ’s reign in the Millennium. There will only be one—perfect church structure in the Millennium and it will produce a righteous, God-fearing, God-serving congregation.

In addition to two wives, Jacob entered into marital relationships with the handmaidens of Leah and Rachel due to their perpetual competition. It can be surmised that these two servants represent Gentile churches who worship the Creator God likely imperfectly, but still produce a small congregation that recognize the Supreme God. The competition between Leah and Rachel mirrors the story of two church structures that have for many years been at odds. While Jacob was tricked into marrying Leah, she never-the-less felt entitled. She said to Rachel, “Wasn’t it enough that you took away my husband?” (Genesis 30:15). It mirrors the mindset of the many different Judo-Christian congregations who believe they are the rightful church and the others are thieves taking from them. Yet, clearly, God loves only one church structure and He will re-establish it in the Millennium. Despite their competition, God blessed them all with children—a congregation. All of the children from these four women comprise of God’s chosen people.

THE TWELVE SONS OF JACOB.
These four women birthed twelve sons. Leah’s daughter, Dinah was raped when she was young and never married. The twelve sons of Jacob are:

From Leah: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun
From Zilpah (Leah’s handmaid): Gad and Asher
From Bilhah (Rachel’s handmaid): Dan and Naphtali
From Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin.

A SIDE POINT ON RACHEL.
Rachel was the last to conceive and like Sarah and Rebekah, she needed help. This is significant because help from God signifies something spiritual can now occur. “God remembered Rachel; he listened to her and opened her womb. She became pregnant and gave birth to a son… Joseph” (Genesis 30:22). It was always part of God’s plan that Rachel who mirrors the church structure that God loves would have children after the other women. He is showing us that while He still blessed the other women—churches with congregations, His beloved church structure will give birth after the other churches are established. Christ was born approximately 2,000 years ago and the Saints after the Holy Spirit was given. There have always been a small number of righteous men and women from ancient times, but the mark that identifies the birth of the Saints is when God’s Holy Spirit became available to everyone who believes and repents. This could only happen after the sacrifice of Christ was accepted by God. The moment Christ was resurrected, the birth of mankind into sons of God became a reality. Rachel, the beloved church anticipated this grace of God and said at the birth of Joseph, “May the LORD add to me another son” (Genesis 30:24).

JACOB’S LIFE IS COMPRISED OF MULTI-DIMENSIONAL CHAPTERS.
Living near Laban, his uncle caused increased hardship for Jacob, as the sons of Laban grew bitter towards him believing that he had taken their father’s wealth. God told Jacob to return home and so, “Jacob put his children and his wives on camels, and he drove all his livestock ahead of him, along with all the goods he had accumulated in Paddan Aram, to go to his father Isaac in the land of Canaan” (Genesis 31:17).

Jacob’s journey back to Canaan showcases a man who learned to trust in and listen to God—a man who now had a purpose beyond the physical realm. Jacob had left Laban in secret, but it wasn’t long when Laban caught up to him. While Laban and his men rested that night at the mountains of Gilead, God warned him not to say anything to sway Jacob from his journey home “I'm warning you—leave Jacob alone!” (Genesis 31:24). God spoke to Laban in a dream and Laban listened to God. It was as simple as that. The direct interactions God has had with mankind in ancient times is white-washed by 21st century mankind because such interactions do not occur today. They reason because it does not happen today, it did not happen then. Such faulty logic allows Satan to slip in falsehood, deceit and keep mankind ignorant.

JACOB CONTENDS WITH LABAN.
Laban was angry with Jacob’s secret departure and said, “I have the power to harm you; but last night the God of your father warned me, 'Leave Jacob alone!'” (Genesis 31:29). Again, communication directly from God and the gods ruling over the different nations was like an every-day event. Laban confronts Jacob about his missing household gods, which Rachel had taken. Unable to find them after an extensive search, Jacob then confronts Laban concluding with his final rebuke, “If the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac, had not been with me, you would surely have sent me away empty-handed. But God has seen my hardship and the toil of my hands, and last night he rebuked you” (Genesis 31:42). Laban responded claiming that everything still belonged to him: my daughters, my children, my flocks. “All you see is mine” (Genesis 31:43). Despite the unreconciled views, Laban heeded the warning of Jacob’s God and proposed a covenant, which Jacob accepted. Laban’s final words in the covenant between them recognized the heavenly rulership over the nations, “May the God of Abraham and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge between us” (Genesis 31:53). 21st century Judo-Christians have forgotten this history. Jacob, in this chapter of the story experiences the difficulties of being the father of God’s covenant people. He fled his homeland to save his life to live among people worshipping gods who are not his God. Then, while returning home confronted the force he feared the most.

JACOB WENT FROM ONE HEAVENLY INTERACTION TO ANOTHER LIKE IT WAS JUST ANOTHER DAY.
Laban returned home and Jacob left. On his way, the angels of God met him. “When Jacob saw them, he said, ‘This is the camp of God! So he named the place Mahanaim’’ (Genesis 32:1). Two groups camped together; Jacob was given divine protection and affirmation as he approached his brother, Esau.

While Esau was the first-born son, he did not value or respect the birthright blessing. He sold it for a bowl of soup and then, demanded it from his father, Isaac. “See to it that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. He could bring about no change of mind, though he sought the blessing with tears” (Hebrews 12:16-17). “See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks… for our God is a consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:25, 29).

Within the covenant family, one son—Esau was rejected because he was not repentant. “See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many” (Hebrews 12:15).

JACOB PREPARES TO MEET ESAU.
Jacob greatly feared Esau.  He sent a humble message through his servants to Esau who was now living in the land of Seir—the land given to him by God. Esau left Seir to meet Jacob bringing with him 400 men. In great distress upon hearing the news, Jacob divided his family into two groups preparing for an attack and hoping that one group could escape. He also sent ahead of his company generous gifts to appease Esau.

Jacob then left his company to pray. In his desperation, he reminded God that it was He who told him to return home and promised him prosperity in wealth and numbers. After he sent his wives, handmaids and possessions across the river, he remained alone. There, the angel of God appeared in the form of a man and Jacob entered into a wrestling match seizing the angel of God with his request—a blessing. Troubled Jacob needed God’s guaranteed favor, which the angel of God could give. In addition, this angel of God could bestow him with a new name—a name that now reflected his tempered character—an overcomer.

As God works to tell the greater story, Jacob is now known as the overcomer who would image all of the overcomers in the covenant family. Esau would image someone different and he would accept eventually what he originally had lost due to his godlessness.

JACOB MEETS ESAU
“Jacob looked up and there was Esau, coming with his 400 men” (Genesis 33:1). Esau cannot help himself. He delighted in a display of power and might. He was likely the “stronger” one of Genesis 25:23 as the godless of this world relish in power, wealth and control. Jacob quickly went ahead of his family after placing Rachel and Joseph in the back. “But Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; he threw his arms around his neck and kissed him. And they wept” (Genesis 33:4).

Jacob’s trouble was not with Laban or Esau but with his relationship with God. Overcoming was that critical piece that needed to be resolved before he could re-enter the Promised land. Christ urges the churches of Revelation to overcome. They too, will not re-enter the physical Promised land or the spiritual Promised land (eternity) without first overcoming. Those who rule with Christ in the Millennium will be the overcomers and their godless brethren will embrace them at that time, recognizing the inheritance that they will have been given. God has promised, “He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son” (Revelation 21:7).

GOD’S PLAN FOR THE TWELVE SONS OF JACOB
It was God’s plan that His inheritance would become a royal kingdom of holy priests. Unfortunately, the 12 sons who became 12 tribes wanted to be like the nations around them. Regardless of their promise to God to obey and do all He has commanded at Mt. Sinai, they rebelled. The humble role of a priest was not attractive to them. They were drawn to the love of stardom and super-power status.

As they drifted away from the ways of God, their kingdom weakened. Under King Rehoboam (son of King Solomon) it split into two houses. They remain a divided kingdom to this day. The two tribes: Judah and Benjamin became knows as the Jews of the house of Judah. The remaining ten tribes became known as the house of Israel.

This division is part of the greater story. While the anger was intense at the time the kingdom of Israel split, God said that it was His doing. It will take two critical components to bring the kingdom together as one tightly bound union. It remains a future event to achieve this both physically and spiritually. The house of Judah embraced the law of God and preserved the books of the Old Testament, but it would be the house of Israel who would embrace grace and preserve the New Testament. Law and grace will come together as one union. Still in the future, the house of Judah and the house of Israel will re-unite into a one re-united royal kingdom of holy priests.

For many years, the history of the two houses became a long series of chapters filled with rebellion, pain, curses and more rebellion especially within the house of Israel. God eventually sent both houses into captivity for their sins. The house of Israel did not repent when their time was complete, instead they became angry and remained defiant. The house of Judah repented and God began to work with them to rebuild the temple and start again. They were given the honor of preserving the word of God.

THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL ENTERED ONTO A LONG AND WINDING ROAD GOING NOWHERE.
The Old Testament provides a detailed history of the two houses until the house of Israel went into captivity. Because they remained defiant, their story faded in and out of the pages. The house of Judah—the Jews, took centre stage with historians preserving every detail all the way into the present, while their once proud and arrogant brothers in the house of Israel, though there were many of them, sunk into the forgotten shadows until redemption was given and they began to reappear as a people.

The youngest son of Joseph, Ephraim was ordained the leader of the ten tribes of Israel. God often refers to the ten tribes under the name of their leader. Unfortunately, this house sunk so deep into sin that God cut them out of the covenant family.

“All their evil appears at Gilgal, for there I hated them. I will drive them from My house for the wickedness of their deeds. I will no longer love them; all their leaders are rebellious. Ephraim is stricken; their root is dried up; they shall bear no fruit. Even though they give birth, I will put their beloved children to death. My God will reject them because they have not obeyed Him; and they shall be wanderers among the nations” (Hosea 9:15-17).

The Jews no longer associated with their brothers in the ten tribes, for they had become pagans worshipping the gods of the nations. The ten tribes lost their name, Israel and became known as Gentiles along with all the other people from the nations.

God in his great mercy never forgot Ephraim—the people in the ten tribes. He is a gracious God and preserved their repentance in stories: Naaman the Syrian, the story of the woman at the well, the prodigal son, the feeding of the multitudes, the prophecy of Hosea, Jeremiah and Isaiah, the double blessing promised in Zechariah, and the refiner in Malachi.

GOD WILL TURN THE HOUSE OF JUDAH AND ISRAEL BACK TO HIM.
“I have surely heard Ephraim’s moaning,” God said.

Ephraim replied, “You disciplined me like an unruly calf, and I have been disciplined. Restore me, and I will return, because you are the LORD my God. After I strayed, I repented, after I came to understand, I beat my breast. I was ashamed and humiliated because I bore the disgrace of my youth” (Jeremiah 31:18-19).

God comforts Ephraim and shares his deepest feelings, “Is not Ephraim my dear son, the child in whom I delight? Though I often speak against him, I still remember him. Therefore, my heart yearns for him; I have great compassion for him” (Jeremiah 31:20).

Christ died for the sins of all of mankind, but he was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel (Matthew 15:24). All steps within God’s plan will come to pass in their appointed order. “These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: ‘Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel’” (Matthew 10:5-6).

The house of Israel—the ten tribes who wandered far and away from God, returned and humbly and with much gratitude accepted God’s grace. They became the Christians who have taken the gospel to the world and brought in people from the nations around the world.

Still in the future, the house of Judah will come to recognize the one they pierced and accept God’s grace. God is filled with compassion for His people. “I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son” (Zechariah 12:10).

“In those days and in that time, the people of Israel and the people of Judah shall come TOGETHER, weeping as they come, and THEY SHALL SEEK THE LORD THEIR GOD” (Jeremiah 50:4), declares the LORD and “I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah” (Jeremiah 31:31).

All twelve tribes of Israel TOGETHER—at the same time, which has never occurred in our history will come to seek the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. “For the LORD will have compassion on Jacob and will again choose Israel, and will set them in their own land, and sojourners will join them and will attach themselves to the house of Jacob” (Isaiah 14:1).

God uses the name “Jacob” in Isaiah 14 to identify stiff-necked, rebellious people but uses the name “Israel” for the ones He will choose AGAIN for they are the OVERCOMERS. God will ONLY choose the OVERCOMERS.

There will be overcomers from each of the 12 tribes of Israel. “For ALL of Israel will be saved” (Romans 11:26).

A time of trouble is coming for the 21st century descendants of Jacob—all twelve tribes. They have not been overcoming. Their leaders have caused them to stray again and many have forgotten their God. It is all too quiet, no voices from heaven or telling dreams; the people have drifted away.

God knows the end from the beginning. This supernatural ability gives Him the exactitude to plan and achieve precisely what He has set out to do without any hindrance or diversion. He knew that Adam and Eve would sin. He knew that He would take claim to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and reign over them. He knew they would reject Him and later search for Him. He knew that from the earliest beginning of His covenant with Abraham, within the family of Isaac, a people would choose to live driven to please self, to revel in self-glory, power and corruption without remorse. He knew one son from Isaac would overcome and his descendants would preserve God’s law and word while they, too, struggled to obey Him. He knew the two families will wrestle until the return of Jesus Christ. Their story is more relevant today than it was those many years ago.

TWO PEOPLES WILL BE SEPARATED

God said to Rebekah, “two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger” (Genesis 25:23).

• Separated: These two opposing boys within the covenant family will be separated to live apart unable to unite because their life choices are very different. One will remain in the covenant family that God made with Abraham and Isaac and the other will be separated to live outside of the covenant. 
•  Stronger: The stronger will be the self-serving body of people who remain superior during this evil age. The stronger brother mirrors a rebel people who will take, steal, deceive, bully and intimidate their way into leadership positions that they feel they are entitled to.
• Younger: The younger will wrestle for power until Christ returns. When the global control is lifted off the nations by Jesus Christ, the younger will gain power and rule over the older forever.

The two boys wrestled for the firstborn inheritance—rulership and great blessings while in Rebekah’s womb, Isaac’s wife. God revealed the time it begins, the time before their birth, mirroring the time before the birthing into God’s kingdom as spiritual children of God. Within Western Europe and the West, battles are taking place from within each country. Royal members, Prime Ministers and Presidents are working against the people, oppressing them and through irregular warfare, attacking them. These leaders are destroyers demonstrating a complete lack of patriotism. Who are these reigning rebel people—the older or the younger?

THE FIRSTBORN SON

God established the firstborn double blessing since ancient times because He is revealing the double blessing that He will give to those in the first resurrection. He also, linked the firstborn blessing to the firstborn chosen as His priesthood. It was an intentional mirror of the first men and women to be resurrected; they will be God’s priesthood serving Him in His temple.

“Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘Consecrate to Me every firstborn male. The firstborn from every womb among the Israelites belongs to Me, both of man and beast’” (Exodus 13:1-2).

Also, God does not want the father of sons from different wives, giving the favourite wife’s son the firstborn inheritance if he is not the firstborn of all the sons. God does not want the mirroring of this practice to become muddied allowing favouritism or any son to receive the inheritance. Only the righteous God-fearing men and women who will be resurrected at the first resurrection are God’s firstborn on earth in His kingdom; they will receive the double blessing. “When that man assigns his inheritance to his sons, he must not appoint the son of the beloved wife as the firstborn over the son of the unloved wife. Instead, he must acknowledge the firstborn, the son of his unloved wife, by giving him a double portion of all that he has. For that son is the firstfruits of his father’s strength; the right of the firstborn belongs to him” (Deuteronomy 21:16-17).

The firstborn mirror the first to be resurrected into God’s kingdom. An interesting discussion takes place between God and the king of Egypt

THE KINGDOM OF ISRAEL IS GOD’S FIRSTBORN SON

God told Moses to tell Pharaoh that His people will be the firstborn in His kingdom. “Then tell Pharaoh that this is what the LORD says: ‘Israel is My firstborn son’” (Exodus 4:22). This scripture may sound odd for those who do not fully understand what God is telling Pharaoh. The heavenly ruler over Egypt was the one God was addressing when He declared His people to be His firstborn son. Egypt’s heavenly ruler was falling out of righteousness. He had taught the Egyptians that he was a Creator.

“Speak to him and tell him that this is what the Lord GOD says: Behold, I am against you, O Pharaoh king of Egypt, O great monster who lies among his rivers, who says, ‘The Nile is mine; I made it myself’” (Ezekiel 29:3).

The Nile River was the life-source of Egypt. Egypt’s king was declaring himself to be the creator of their life source. Almighty God was battling against this fallen, heavenly ruler. The staff is a symbol of authority. The magicians, using power from this fallen, heavenly king, turned their staffs into snakes. Aaron, through the power of Almighty God, turned his staff into a snake and it swallowed up all of the snakes of the magicians (Exodus 7:12). The message: The God of Israel has supreme authority.

The water of the Nile River and all water ways were turned to blood by God through Aaron’s staff. Life in the water died and a stench came out. The Egyptian magicians could also curse the water, but they could not heal it. The message: The Egyptian magicians can present a sacrifice of blood, but they cannot forgive sins. God is referring to these heavenly rulers over the nations on earth.

The plague of frogs that likely mirror the evil spirits that are prophesied to come out of the dragon, the false prophet and the beast (Revelation 16:13) came out of the Nile. This very river, Pharaoh claimed to have created became the cesspool of wickedness. The message: Pharaoh’s Nile River is full of evil spirits and the heavenly king of Egypt has no power to take them away (Exodus 8:8). 

Pharaoh pleaded to have the frogs taken away. Moses replied, “It will be as you say, so that you may know there is no one like the LORD our God” (Exodus 8:10). And Moses added, “The frogs will leave you and your houses, your officials and your people; they will remain only in the Nile” (Exodus 8:11).

God’s point to the Egypt’s ruler in heaven was that he has failed to rule righteously and his people, the Egyptians on earth, will not be resurrected first into His kingdom. There was likely a chance for the Egyptian people and likely for any of the heavenly rulers over the nations to have their people on earth resurrected at the first resurrection, but all of these rulers turned against Almighty God and taught the people in all the nations on earth to worship them. Hence, the myriad list of gods—elohim worshipped all around the world.

EPHRAHIM, GOD’S FIRSTBORN

God has declared that His people will be the first to be resurrected into His kingdom. He has a salvation plan for all of mankind and it begins with the redemptive sacrifice of Jesus, born from the tribe of Judah in the kingdom of Israel. God is specific as to which house of the two, who will be first to be resurrected. Ephraim was given the leadership over the ten tribes of Israel. He was Joseph’s youngest son. God had prophesied that Ephraim will be His firstborn. These people from the ten tribes of Israel who accept Christ as their Saviour, the Christians will come out of the Great Tribulation weeping and begging for forgiveness and life eternal. They will be exactly like Jacob when he wrestled with the Jesus Christ, the Old Testament Angel of God. God will recognize their sincerity and they will be blessed.

“Behold, I will bring them from the land of the north and gather them from the farthest parts of the earth, including the blind and the lame, expectant mothers and women in labor. They will return as a great assembly! They will come with weeping, and by their supplication I will lead them; I will make them walk beside streams of waters, on a level path where they will not stumble. For I am Israel’s Father, and Ephraim is My firstborn” (Jeremiah 31:8-9).

JESUS CHRIST, THE FIRST OF THE FIRSTBORN

Jesus was first born in his family on earth and consecrated to God according to God’s Law given to Moses. “And when the time of purification according to the Law of Moses was complete, His parents brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord: “Every firstborn male shall be consecrated to the Lord”) (Luke 2:22-23).

Jesus Christ was consecrated to Almighty God into His priesthood on earth. He died and was resurrected; he is the first of the first resurrection. “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive” (I Corinthians 15:20-22).

Also in Hebrews 1, “For to which of the angels did God ever say: “You are My Son; today I have become Your Father”? Or again: “I will be His Father, and He will be My Son”? And again, when God brings His firstborn into the world, He says: “Let all God’s angels worship Him” (Hebrews 1:5-6). Jesus Christ is the first to be resurrected from mortals. He is King over all kings and Lord over all lords both in heaven and on earth.

GOD’S PRIESTHOOD: AN ADJUSTMENT FROM THE FIRSTBORN SON TO THE LEVITES

God made an adjustment in His selection of His priesthood when ancient Israel left Egypt. He selected the Levites to serve Him (Numbers 3). This change pointed to Moses given God’s Law and His Holy Spirit both essential for service to God. This tribe would be blessed with the essential components to serve Him. They remained God’s priesthood all through ancient Israel’s journey in the wilderness, into the Promised Land until they entered into captivity. God is likely to uphold this change in the future.

“But the Levites who went far from me, going astray from me after their idols when Israel went astray, shall bear their punishment… Because they ministered before their idols and became a stumbling block of iniquity to the house of Israel, therefore I swore with an uplifted hand concerning them that they would bear the consequences of their iniquity, declares the Lord GOD.  They shall not come near to me, to serve me as priest, nor come near any of my holy things and the things that are most holy, but they shall bear their shame and the abominations that they have committed. Yet I will appoint them to keep charge of all the work for the temple and everything to be done in it" (Ezekiel 44:10, 12-14).

“But the Levitical priests, who are descended from Zadok and who kept charge of My sanctuary when the Israelites went astray from Me, are to approach Me to minister before Me. They will stand before Me to offer Me fat and blood, declares the Lord GOD” (Ezekiel 44:15).

THE FIRSTBORN WHO LOST THEIR BIRTHRIGHT BLESSING

Not all of the firstborn sons received the firstborn, double blessing inheritance. Esau lost the firstborn double blessing and well as Rueben, Jacob’s firstborn son.

REUBEN

Jacob’s firstborn son was Reuben born from his mother, Leah. She was not Jacob’s beloved wife, but keeping with God’s Law, Reuben was destined to receive the double portion, firstborn blessing. He was aware of the firstborn birthright; but he wanted more. He attempted to establish his own ruling family line coming directly from him and exclude his brothers by taking one of his father’s concubines and impregnating her. Jacob understood the presumptuous attempt and took the firstborn birthright from him. He gave Judah the ruling sceptre passing over Simeon and Levi because of their war-like retaliation towards the people of Shechem in responding to the rape of their sister, Dinah. Judah proved his service to his father by putting his life on the line to protect Benjamin during his journey to Joseph in Egypt. The riches of the birthright blessings went to Joseph who proved to be a righteous God-fearing and God-serving son. This change in the giving of the firstborn inheritance was a God sanctioned decision because only the righteous, God-fearing and God-serving people will be in the first resurrection and receive rulership and great blessings.

ESAU

The loss of Esau’s firstborn birthright is a relevant study into the 21st century. Esau came to Jacob starving after coming in from the field. He approached Jacob and asked for a bowl of soup. Jacob replied, “First sell me your birthright” (Genesis 25:31). Esau agreed saying, “Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?” (Genesis 25:32)

But Jacob said, “Swear to me first.”

So, he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob. “Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left. So, Esau despised his birthright” (Genesis 25:34).

Esau did not understand the value of the birthright. While he believed that he would die imminently, the selling of the birthright was an easy payment for life. He relies on the food given to him by Jacob to revive him. That would become a prophetic act when the “older” is revived by the “younger,” still a future event.

Here, Esau mirrors the ungrateful ancient Israelites who had God Almighty—the Creator as their king, but they rejected Him. The nation of Israel was God’s inheritance; Israel became subjects to Almighty God. They took for granted the priceless gift of His perfect leadership, perpetual forgiveness and enduring love. 

The resurrection described in Ezekiel 37 of the very dry, ancient bones of the whole house of Israel in the valley could take place just prior to the re-unification of the two houses of Israel after Christ’s return. Then, we will see the older serve the younger. 

The “younger” are the repentant and humble, obedient and loving Israelites of the latter days who come out of the Great Tribulation who have been refined and tested by God. They will be stronger spiritually than the “older” who when resurrected say, “Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off” (Ezekiel 37:11b). 

ESAU, REPRESENTATIVE OF THE UNGODLY AND UNREPENTANT MEMBERS OF GOD’S COVENANT FAMILY

Isaac sent Esau to hunt venison and make him his favourite meal, anticipating his death and planning to give Esau the firstborn inheritance. Esau arrived back from hunting and said, “My father, sit up and eat some of my game, so that you may give me your blessing” (Genesis 27:31).

Esau was not a polite and caring individual. He was gruff and commanding. “Sit up,” he said to father when he entered his room. Isaac was confused because moments earlier he thought he had blessed Esau.

When Isaac realized that he had not blessed Esau, he trembled violently. Esau burst out with a loud and bitter cry and said, “Bless me—me too, my father!” (Genesis 27:34) 

The Apostle Paul understood the importance of BEING RIGHT WITH GOD, when he wrote, “See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no ‘root of bitterness’ springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; that no one is sexually immoral or UNHOLY LIKE ESAU, who sold his birthright for a single meal. For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, HE WAS REJECTED, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears” (Hebrews 12:15-17).

It was God who rejected Esau, not Isaac. Esau did not value the birthright nor did he respect God. His marriage choices were a source of grief to both Isaac and Rebekah (Genesis 26:35). Looking through the reflection into the parallel story, it is evident that Esau’s religious preferences, like many of the covenant people then and today, were not the ways of God. The people who reflect Esau will not inherit the blessings from God just because they are DNA Israelites of the covenant family. 

Jesus said, “Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness’” (Matthew 7:22-23).

Many Judo-Christians are not living righteously. They are living according to their own interpretations of God’s word.

THE OUTCOME CHANGED

Jacob believed that the birthright was his; he had purchased it for a single meal. Isaac may have known about that. If so, he did not validate the purchase. Rebekah was told by God, that the older [Esau] would serve the younger [Jacob]. This meant that the younger would receive the family birthright inheritance—rulership and blessings. It is highly likely that Rebekah shared that with Isaac when she was in turmoil and worried about losing her life due to the intense wrestling of the twins in her womb. Still, Isaac ignored her testimony. It is the work of God that Isaac had suffered blindness; it mirrored his spiritual condition being unable to see what lies ahead of him. He failed to ask God for guidance, knowing Esau’s behaviour and marriage choices.

When Sarah told Abraham to send Hagar and Ishmael away, it distressed him greatly. He went to God on the matter and God said, “Do not be so distressed about the boy and your maidservant. Listen to whatever Sarah tells you, because it is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned” (Genesis 21:11-12).

Rebekah worked to correct a direction that would bring chaos and destruction into God’s covenant family. She gave specific instructions to Jacob to dress and cover himself to deceive Isaac into believing that Jacob was Esau. This action pricked Jacob’s conscience and he said, “But my brother Esau is a hairy man, and I’m a man with smooth skin. What if my father touches me? I would APPEAR to be tricking him and would bring down a curse on myself rather than a blessing” (Genesis 27:11-12).

Jacob understood what the action APPEARED to look like if their true intentions was not known. In addition, Jacob feared being cursed because he knew his father had a relationship with Almighty God and power to bless or curse. Jacob was a God-fearing man who knew God.

When Esau learned that the birthright inheritance was given to Jacob, he went into a rage and planned to kill his brother. He did not acknowledge the vow he made upon selling his birthright for a single meal, instead his hatred for his brother spilled over onto his children and descendants for many years to come. This is a prophecy of family members hating and spreading hatred towards the God-fearing and God-serving people. Jesus prophesied, “They will put you out of the synagogues. In fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God. They will do these things because they have not known the Father or Me” (John 16:2-3).

It is no surprise that descendants of Esau have taken leadership offices throughout Judea during Jesus’ life on earth and likely continue to hold, key leadership positions today in Western Europe, the West and Israel. Herod the Great, client-king over Judea ordered the death of Jesus after he was born. He was an Edomite. His son, Herod Antipas ruler of Galilee ordered the beheading of John the Baptist. They are willing to kill to protect their rulership.

ESAU AND GOD

Esau may feel sorry for himself and continue to behave badly, but God did not abandon him. Before Isaac died, Esau packed up his family and everything he owned and moved away. God took care of him and gave Esau his own land, the area around Mount Seir where once the Horites lived. The Horites were a similar race of people like the Anakites who were very large and tall.

As God battled the giants for Israel, He first battled the giants for Esau and his children. “They were a people strong and numerous, and as tall as the Anakites. The LORD destroyed them from before the Ammonites, who drove them out and settled in their place. The LORD had done the same for the descendants of Esau, who lived in Seir, when he destroyed the Horites from before them” (Deuteronomy 2:21-22).

Though God gave him land, he was not satisfied. His story is about a people within the covenant family who refuse to repent, so God will not confirm the covenant with them. Their hatred for their own brother continues to burn into an unquenchable fire.

THE EDOMITES CONTINUE IN ANGER AND RAGE AGAINST THE DESCENDANTS OF JACOB:

God has prophesied His judgement on the Edomites for their uncontrolled rage. “For three sins of Edom, even for four, I will not turn back my wrath. Because he pursued his brother with a sword, stifling all compassion, because his anger raged continually and his fury flamed unchecked, I will send fire upon Teman that will consume the fortresses of Bozrah” (Amos 1:11-12).

THE EDOMITES WERE WILLING TO ENSLAVE THEIR OWN COUSINS: “This is what the LORD says: ‘The people of Tyre have sinned again and again, and I will not let them go unpunished! They broke their treaty of brotherhood with Israel, selling whole villages as slaves to Edom’” (Amos 1:9).

“For three sins of Gaza, even for four I will not turn back my wrath, because she took captive whole communities and sold them to Edom” (Amos 1:6).

THE EDOMITES WERE VIOLENT AGAINST THEIR COUSINS: “Because of the violence against your brother Jacob, you will be covered with shame; you will be cut off forever” (Obadiah 1:10).

“Thus says the Lord GOD: Because Edom acted revengefully against the house of Judah and has grievously offended in taking vengeance on them, therefore thus says the Lord GOD, ‘I will also stretch out My hand against Edom and cut off man and beast from it. And I will lay it waste; from Teman even to Dedan they will fall by the sword’” (Ezekiel 25:12).

THE EDOMITES BECOME A TOTALLY CORRUPT PEOPLE:

“Concerning Edom Thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘Is there no longer any wisdom in Teman? Has good counsel been lost to the prudent? Has their wisdom decayed? Flee away, turn back, dwell in the depths, O inhabitants of Dedan, for I will bring the disaster of Esau upon him at the time I punish him. If grape gatherers came to you, would they not leave gleanings? If thieves came by night, they would destroy only until they had enough’” (Jeremiah 49:7-9).

EDOMITES TURN A BLIND EYE:

The Antichrist will “enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, EVEN EDOM, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon” (Daniel 11:41). These Edomites go untouched by the Antichrist. What type of alliance will they have with this beast power at that time? 

But they will not go unpunished by God.

“In that day… Your warriors, O Teman, will be terrified, and everyone in Esau’s mountains will be cut down in the slaughter. Because of the violence against your brother Jacob, you will be covered with shame; you will be cut off forever… you should not look down on your brother in the day of his misfortune, nor rejoice over the people of Judah in the day of their destruction, nor boast so much in the day of their trouble” (Obadiah verse 10).

THE EDOMITES TRANSFORM INTO THE IMAGE OF WICKEDNESS AND UNREPENTANT ISRAEL:

“The LORD is angry with all nations… My sword has drunk its fill in the heavens; see, it descends in judgment on Edom, the people I have devoted to destruction. The sword of the LORD is bathed in blood, it is covered with fat—the blood of lambs and goats, fat from the kidney of rams. For the LORD has a sacrifice in Bozrah [the redeemed—accepted sacrifice] and a great slaughter in Edom [the unredeemed]… For the LORD has a day of vengeance, a year of retribution, to uphold Zion’s cause. Edom’s streams will be turned into pitch, her dust into burning sulfur; her land will become blazing pitch! It will not be quenched night and day; its smoke will rise forever [until its God-determined end]… No nobles will be left to proclaim a king, and all her princes will come to nothing” (Isaiah 34:1-12).

God is angry with all of the nations because they surrender to Satan and the beast. When they are thrown out of heaven and arrive on earth their display of power will be overwhelming. “One of the heads of the beast appeared to be mortally wounded. But the mortal wound was healed, and the whole world marveled and followed the beast. They worshiped the dragon who had given authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who can wage war against it?” (Revelation 13:3-4)

So, they surrender.

God’s day of vengeance will protect the redeemed [in Bozrah] and destroy the unredeemed in Edom [the place of rebels]. A concentration camp of types will appear and be referred to as Bozrah. There, the repentant and God-fearing people will be imprisoned. The reference of Bozrah may not necessarily be the physical Bozrah on earth rather an emblematic place where the God-fearing covenant people are held hostage.

The King James version states in Micah 2:12, “I will surely assemble, O Jacob, all of thee; I will surely gather the remnant of Israel; I will put them together as the sheep of Bozrah, as the flock in the midst of their fold: they shall make great noise by reason of the multitude of people."

Bozrah is mentioned only in the King James version. Other translations simply refer to a “pen,” which infers an enclosure for sheep—an image of a large apprehended number of righteous people imprisoned by ungodly family members. They are making lots of noise knowing their rescuer is on his way and they are mere moments away from their release and the ushering in of the millennial reign of Jesus Christ.

“One who breaks open the way will go up before them; they will break through the gate, and go out by it. Their King will pass through before them, the LORD as their leader” (Micah 2:13).

God’s use of King and Lord in the same sentence identifies Jesus Christ [King over all kings and Lord over all lords] is both their sovereign and religious leader. He is head of the state and the church.

Isaiah provides even greater details of this event. “Who is this coming from Edom, from Bozrah with crimson-stained garments? Who is this robed in splendor, marching in the greatness of His strength? “It is I, proclaiming vindication, mighty to save. Why are Your clothes red, and Your garments like one who treads the winepress? “I have trodden the winepress alone, and no one from the nations was with Me. I trampled them in My anger and trod them down in My fury; their blood spattered My garments, and all My clothes were stained. For the day of vengeance was in My heart, and the year of My redemption had come… And I trod down nations in my wrath, and made them drunk in my fury, and made their life-blood run down to the earth.” (Isaiah 63:1-4, 6).

Keil and Delitzsch provide a well-researched interpretation, “The meaning is, that no one joined Him with conscious free-will, to render help to the God of judgment and salvation in His purposes. The church that was devoted to Him was itself the object of the redemption, and the great mass of those who were estranged from Him the object of the judgment. Thus, He found Himself alone, neither human co-operation nor the natural course of events helping the accomplishment of His purposes. And consequently, He renounced all human help, and broke through the steady course of development by a marvellous act of His own. He trod down nations in His wrath, and intoxicated them in His fury, and caused their life-blood to flow down to the ground… all that is intended is, that Jehovah caused the nations to feel the full force of this His fury, by trampling them down in His fury… Not only is the name of Edom made covertly into an emblem of its future fate, אדם becoming אדם upon the apparel of Jehovah the avenger, when the blood of the people, stained with blood-guiltiness towards the people of God, is spirted out, but the name of Bozrah also; for bâtsar means to cut off bunches of grapes (vindemiare), and botsrâh becomes bâtsı̄r, i.e., a vintage, which Jehovah treads in His wrath, when He punishes the Edomitish nation as well as all the rest of the nations, which in their hostility towards Him and His people have taken pleasure in the carrying away of Israel and the destruction of Jerusalem, and have lent their assistance in accomplishing them.” (https://biblehub.com/commentaries/isaiah/63-3.htm)

The insight of Keil and Delitzsch

• None of the nations of the world, of their own free will, will be willing to stand up and support Christ’s vengeance against Satan and the beastly coalition and the redemption of God’s newly repentant people. [This group of people among the twelve nations of Israel into the 21st century is the last to repent. Their repentance involves a painful correction.] Christ then, will renounce all human help. We can understand now, why he will rule the nations with a rod of iron.
• In Christ’s great fury, he alone will take down the evil monster that grips the whole world.
• The reference to Ancient Bozrah is a picture of the ancient stronghold, a fort of the Edomites. 
• It is the Edomite enclosure of God’s newly repentant people. Bozrah will become an emblematic reminder on Christ’s cloak of the crushing defeat of the ungodly.
• Christ will fulfill the last harvest in “Bozrah” [which will be the logo, the icon declaring the family who hate family members who serve Almighty God]. The final great harvest will bring destruction to the unrighteous people [the clusters of grapes] bent on serving Wickedness. They will be crushed by foot in the winepress outside of the city.

Revelation 14: “Take your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of grapes from the earth’s vine, because its grapes are ripe. So, the angel swung his sickle over the earth and gathered the grapes of the earth, and he threw them into the great winepress of God’s wrath. And the winepress was trodden outside the city, and the blood that flowed from it rose as high as the bridles of the horses for a distance of 1,600 stadia.” (Revelation 14:18-20). 

• The Edomites and the nations against Jesus Christ will take pleasure in harming and oppressing the newly repentant people of God. This is especially cruel because these people are young in their spiritual growth and need nurturing.

God’s repenting people will have the whole world against them. This has, I think, already begun internally. It poses the question, could most of the leaders and unelected officials in Western Europe, the West and Israel in the 21st century-today, be Edomites? Because the actions of our politicians are destroying our countries from within.

Klaus Schwab has publicly stated, “You’ll own nothing and you’ll be happy.”

Jesus Christ will come to the rescue God’s humbled people at the end of the Great Tribulation. No nation on earth will support him, but in his great fury, he will take them all down by himself.

Scriptures in Revelation confirm this great end-time battle., “And the winepress was trodden outside the city, and the blood that flowed from it rose as high as the bridles of the horses for a distance of 1,600 stadia” (Revelation 14:20).

Again, “He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and His name is The Word of God” (Revelation 19:13).

And again, “And from His mouth proceeds a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and He will rule them with an iron scepter. He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty” (Revelation 19:15).

The story of Jacob and Esau is about the national government leadership of two nations that came from Isaac. From this one story, two important decisions of God were revealed:

1.  Determine the right nation for His headquarters.

2.  Subdue the stronger: the “older” or the “younger.”

God is working to subdue the rebel human spirit to bring all of mankind to their knees.

THE RIGHT NATION

1.  God sought to choose the nation that would be used to establish His kingdom on earth and from within that nation, His Son would be born. Of the two sons, Jacob was chosen who had twelve sons. God chose the nation that would overcome the desires of the flesh and choose to obey God willingly and eternally. From that repentant and humble nation, God would establish the rulership of His Son in the highest level of their government, Christ will rule as King of kings and Lord of lords.

Ezekiel 17 records God’s plan for Christ. “This is what the Sovereign LORD says: ‘I myself will take a shoot from the very top of a cedar and plant it; I will break off a tender sprig from its topmost shoots and plant it on a high and lofty mountain. On the mountain heights of Israel, I will plant it; it will produce branches and bear fruit and become a splendid cedar” (Ezekiel 17:22-23).

The imagery of “cedar” represents the strong, tall, and evergreen—eternal leadership in God’s heavenly government.

Jesus, the Son of God is the “shoot” God chose from His heavenly government and He will reign at the highest level of government, the mountain heights, in the kingdom of Israel. This will be fully evidenced at the return of Christ when he rules as King of kings and Lord of lords.

WHO IS THE STRONGER?

2.  The stronger during this evil age, has always been the bullies, the liars, thieves, those ignoring the law of the land and projecting their evil deeds onto others. These lawless people are prepared to take a life to secure their objective. The stronger was Esau and his descendants as well as the Esau-types within the family of Jacob, which became the kingdom of Israel.

Focusing on the Esau-types from within the kingdom of Israel, a review of their history reveals the “older” is the ancient Israelites who behaved like Esau, while the “younger”—modern Israelites who have access to God’s Holy Spirit behave like Jacob. The chosen nation has now become twelve nations of people into the 21st century, but they are not yet all refined like silver or tested like gold. Their time of trouble rests on the near horizon.

It will be a time of great trouble for Jacob, but scripture confirms that they will be saved out of it. Two-thirds may die, but a remaining one-third will be refined, tested and they will call out to Him acknowledging their sins. God will hear them (Zechariah 13:8-9) and He will save them.

Over 3,500 years journeying through time, finally in the latter days the descendants of Jacob will truly repent and enter into an everlasting covenant that will not be broken. The Ezekiel 37 resurrection of ancient Israel will likely occur in the 21st century, sometime after Christ’s return. The “older” and the “younger” together will come in an emotional heart-felt embrace like Jacob returning home embracing Esau. Esau at that time did not enter into any conflict with Jacob; his 400 men accompanying him remained still. This prophecy will be fulfilled. Jacob will take his inheritance of rulership and the remnant of Esau will submit in peace.

God will rebuild the kingdom of Israel and they rule over the small remnant of Esau and the nations on earth under Christ. “In that day I will restore the fallen tent of David. I will repair its gaps, restore its ruins, and rebuild it as in the days of old, that they may possess the remnant of Edom and all the nations that bear My name,” declares the LORD, who will do this. “Behold, the days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when the plowman will overtake the reaper and the treader of grapes, the sower of seed. The mountains will drip with sweet wine, with which all the hills will flow” (Amos 9:11-13).

God has revealed the future thousands of years ago. “Edom will become a possession, as will Seir, his enemy; but Israel will perform with valor” (Numbers 24:18).

“Those from the Negev will possess the mountains of Esau; those from the foothills will possess the land of the Philistines. They will occupy the fields of Ephraim and Samaria, and Benjamin will possess Gilead” (Obadiah 1:19).

God’s repentant and humbled people, all twelve nations of the 21st century will receive an inheritance of rulership. The ancient fracture between the two houses of Israel will be healed.

“Then the jealousy of Ephraim [the house of Israel] will depart, and the adversaries of Judah will be cut off. Ephraim will no longer envy Judah, nor will Judah harass Ephraim. They will swoop down on the slopes of the Philistines to the west; together they will plunder the sons of the east. They will lay their hands on Edom and Moab, and the Ammonites will be subject to them. The LORD will devote to destruction the gulf of the Sea of Egypt; with a scorching wind He will sweep His hand over the Euphrates. He will split it into seven streams for men to cross with dry sandals. There will be a highway for the remnant of His people who remain from Assyria, as there was for Israel when they came up from the land of Egypt” (Isaiah 11:13-16).

The firstborn blessing will be awarded to a humble, repentant, God-fearing and God-serving people—God’s early fruit. Only they will be part of the first resurrection and receive the firstborn inheritance of rulership with Christ and abundant blessings.Our blog is a place where you can find articles, stories, and reflections on faith and religion from a wide range of perspectives. We believe that everyone's spiritual journey is unique and valuable, and we hope that our blog can be a source of inspiration and encouragement for you. Whether you are looking for practical guidance, thought-provoking ideas, or simply a place to connect with others who share your beliefs, we invite you to explore our blog and join the conversation.