A2 c 1,2. Rulers. Woe to false.
d 3. Restoration. The remnant.
c 4-6. Shepherds. The true. The Branch.
d 7,8. Restoration. The Nation.
489 B.C.
Jeremiah 23)
1 Woe be to the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture! says the Lord. (Hey, HE is not happy about it. False teachers and people that teach. They say, "I cant teach Gods word chapter by chapter it is boring to the people." Why? Because they have got a boring teacher that is why.)
2 Therefore thus says the God of Israel against the pastors that are the feeders of My people (a good man will fight and protect his livestock. Many hunger for God's truth); You have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings (see Ex. 32:34), says the LORD. (God's people are hungry. They are looking for a solid foundation in their lives. Chastisement will not be light for those pastors that drive the sheep away. Don't think anybody is getting away with anything that misleads Gods children. Michael that old angel of the people is watching. Our heavenly Father is watching and time is running out.)
3 And I will gather the remnant of My flock out of all countries where I have driven them (cp. 31:10; 32:7. Ezek. 34:13,&c.), and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase. (You can count on it. If you will truly teach Gods word the ministry would be so fruitful that you cant even keep up with it. You could hardly manage it because of Gods blessings of bringing forth truth instead of lies and deception. Feed My people is what He insists on.)
4 And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, says the LORD. (Under Christ's direction, the people will be fed. You don't have to worry about anything when you understand Gods Word. Why? HE loves you as we learned in this lecture this morning. HE died for you. And what does He want from you? Burnt offerings? No! H wants your love. He wants you to understand HIS Word, the letter HE has written to you.)
5 Behold, the days come, says the LORD, that I will raise to David a righteous Branch (= Sprout from the root, not from a branch. Cp. Isa. 11:1; 53:2. The name of the brightest star in the Zodiac sign "Virgo". See note on the Structure of the 4 Gospels. Cp. 33:15), and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. (Through the seedline of David, Jesus Christ is promised. He will not return at the 2nd advent as a babe. Jesus will execute judgment and justice. Justice for some means rewards.)
6 In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely (see Lev. 25:18,19; 26:5. Deut. 33:12,28. Repeated in 32:27; 33:16): and this is His name whereby He shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS (Yehovah Zidkenu. Because the gift of God. You don't have to wait to be fed the good pasture. Get into God's Word. It is all in uppercase notice for emphasis. That's what Michael and that's what Gabriel were saying way back in Psalms and Revelation 16. He's coming and He's not going to put up with this stuff anymore. He isn't now if you will take up the plow and plow. If you will take up the planter and plant. Feed Gods children. Well what are they going to do? Do you think God left you wanting, Hes going to tell you.)
7 Therefore, behold, the days come (cp. 16:14,15), says the LORD, that they shall no more say, 'The LORD live, Which brought up the sons of Israel out of the land of Egypt;' (See Ex. 12-15,&c. That's why that 4th seal and 4th vial is so important. It doesn't have anything to do with Egypt, it has to do with now.)
8 But, The LORD lives, Which brought up and which led the seed of the house of Israel (see 2:4) out of the north country, and from all countries wherever I had driven them; and they shall dwell in their own soil.'
V e 9-15. Incrimination.
f 16-23. Dehortation.
e 23-29. Incrimination.
f 30-40. Threatening.
9 My heart within me is broken because of the prophets; all my bones shake; I am like a drunken man, and like a strong man whom wine has overcome, because of the LORD, and because of the words of His holiness. (The word that should be taught. The word that is Holy and the only word that is Holy. It is not what some preacher might say that is not quoting Gods word but his own feelings.)
10 For the land is full of adulterers; for because of swearing the land mourns; the pleasant places of the wilderness are dried up, and their course is evil, and their force is not right. (I.e. the false prophets. If you don't have Gods blessings in your ministry you are sunk. He is not going to help you and it will dry up. Don't ever wonder why you hear so many people say, "Our group is just drying up, the church is just going to pot, people are turning away from Christianity". You know people are turning to Christianity, true Christianity, the word of God. If they don't teach it naturally the people are going to turn away from it.)
11 For both prophet and priest are profane; yes, in my house have I found their wickedness, says the LORD. (They even have perverts ordained and supposedly teaching the word of WHAT! I don't know, you guess.)
12 Wherefore their way shall be to them as slippery ways in the darkness: they shall be driven on, and fall therein: for I will bring evil upon them, even the year of their visitation (see 8:12. It is soon coming), says the LORD.
13 And I have seen folly in the prophets of Samaria (that's the 10 Northern Tribes); they prophesied in Baal, and caused my people Israel to err. (You know what the word Baal being properly translated, husband. They have taught the wrong husband. They are teaching our children to marry out of season and to wed the false Christ instead of the true Christ. Well you might say, "Dear God now a Church wouldn't do that". Oh, they wouldn't? How many churches teach people to just jump on the band wagon of the first one that comes along and says, "I have come to rapture you out of here." Do you know who that is? It is Satan. So what are they teaching? Do not judge anyone but at least be wise enough to understand why our Father is so upset with them. He wants to be their husband Ishi He says in the Hebrew tongue. And here they come along with this, You don't have to study Gods word. You don't have to understand even the Book of Revelation, which we have covered quite well today in part, cause you are going to be gone. Gone to hell if you are not careful. Our Father is not happy. And you cant blame Him.)
14 I have seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem an horrible thing: they commit adultery, and walk in lies: they strengthen also the hands of evildoers, that none does return from his wickedness; they are all of them to me as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah. (See Gen. 19. Cp. Isa. 1:10. Look around you and listen to them OK. And see how their clergy will speak for it self.)
15 Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts (Yahaveh Zebaioth. 1 Sam. 1:3) concerning the prophets; Behold, I will feed them with wormwood, and make them drink the water of gall: for from the prophets of Jerusalem is profaneness gone forth into all the land. (And there you have that third seal brought forth right in this chapter. That wormwood, that bitterness. Why? Because the people are bitter. They don't understand when they could have the simplicity in which God teaches for the taking, for their understanding. Our Father is not happy.)
16 Thus says the LORD of hosts, 'Hearken not to the words of the prophets that prophesy to you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD. (Out of the mouth of the Lord came the Bible. Beware of prophets, or teachers, that teach their own words. You know many might say, What do you mean pouring blood out on the water. Michael the archangel of the waters. Haven't you ever watched the news today? It seems like the more they can blow up innocent kids and mothers with car bombs, it makes the headline. Seventy two murdered in an open market. Another seventy here, south of the border seventy two murdered there blood everywhere. Why? Well it is written. You might as well get set for it You better lock on to the word of our Father and thank Him for the truth that He sent you. That is why the archangel of the waters is unhappy of what is happening to the children.)
17 Keep on saying to them that despise me, 'The LORD has said, 'You shall have peace;' ' and they say to every one that walks after the stubbornness of his own heart (The king of Babylon [Satan] is coming claiming he is Christ to "rapture" them away), 'No evil shall come upon you.' (Remember, God told Jeremiah that Israel would fall into Babylonian captivity. That captivity is a type for you today. Watch out for the preachers that teach their own word by telling you that you will have peace.)
18 For who has stood in the secret counsel of the LORD (implying that none has), and has perceived and heard His word? who has marked (meditated on) His word, and heard it? (You can tell a phony when you hear it.)
19 Behold, a whirlwind of the LORD is gone forth in fury, even a grievous whirlwind: it shall burst upon the head of lawless ones (i.e. Satan and his workers of iniquity. Those that follow him, especially pastors, are in the same boat. You don't have anything to worry about. The wicked have got it coming.)
20 The anger of the LORD shall not return, until He have executed (His plan), and till He has performed the thoughts of His heart: in the end of days (see Gen. 49:1) you shall consider it perfectly. (Why perfectly? Because it is coming to pass, because YOU are in the latter days. You are in the generation of the fig tree. Final generation.)
21 I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran (they're anxious): I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied. (The false "rapture". They prophecy, "Peace, peace, peace." Friends, there will be no peace, until the Prince of Peace returns at the 7th trump, and not before.)
22 But, had stood in My counsel, then they would have made My people hear My words, and they would have turned from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings. (Preachers and seed planters should cause God's children to hear and understand God's Words not their own words. It is no wonder people are spiritually starving to death.)
23 Am I a God at hand, says the LORD, and not a God afar off? (I hope you don't think He is afar off. God is always with you. He is not always happy with what you are doing, but He is there. His Word is also always with you.)
24 Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? says the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? says the LORD. (Denoting the fullness of the Divine presence which no place can include, or exclude. A fullness of grace, of the prophetic word of judgment, and of promise. I watch both. I watch where Michael and Gabriel are. I watch here. I watch every thing. I am where I wish to be. I AM that I AM.)
25 I have heard what the prophets said, that prophesy lies in My name, saying, 'I have dreamed, I have dreamed.' (Thus catching the people's ears. God is everywhere and He keeps good books. I wouldn't want to be in the dreamers shoes on judgment day.)
26 How long shall this exist in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies? yes, they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart; (God repeats it over and over so that it gets your attention. The wormwood which is the bitterness comes upon the people . You have never seen more bitterness then there is in the world today of people. And what are they really bitter over? Lies, deception.)
27 Which think to cause My people to forget My name by their dreams which they tell every man to his neighbor, according as their fathers have forgotten My name in (or through) Baal. (God will not be happy with those that have forgotten His name. He will not be happy with those who forget His Son's name by worshiping antichrist. They fall for that fake husband. The fake wedding. Lies. Satan, that's who it is coming as the false Messiah. Hey he has looked forward to playing this role for a long time and man is he going to play it to the hilt. He is going to really make a splash among the people and it is going to break your heart when you see many of your own relatives worshiping him listening to the lies and thinking he is our true husband when he is a fake. This is why God wants you to take note LORD of Righteousness. Not wrongness. It is important that you are in the right camp, that you know and you understand. Stay away from the wormwood.)
28 The prophet that has a dream, let him tell a dream (cp. Ezek. 13:7); and he that has My word, let him speak My word faithfully (chapter by chapter and verse by verse). What is the crushed (or chopped straw) to the wheat? says the LORD. (You teach Gods Word as it is written. He will bless you and there is nothing those lies can do to you. They will talk about you, but God will protect you. You will have that protection.)
29 Is not my word like as a fire? says the LORD; and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces? (You had better have the Rock that doesn't break, when the Lord's hammer strikes. Fake rocks won't hold up.)
30 Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets (see Deut. 18:20), says the LORD, that steal My words every one from his neighbor. (God doesn't deal with nonsense.)
31 Behold, I am against the prophets, says the LORD, that use their tongues, and say, 'He says.' (The people don't have God's Word because the preachers are are teaching what the neighbors wrote in a quarterly. And naturally Gods letting you know I didnt say it, they are lying to you.)
32 Behold, I am against them that prophesy false dreams, says the LORD, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their reckless boasting; yet I sent them not, nor commanded them: therefore they shall not profit this people at all, says the LORD. (Beware of "feel good" pastors. When you leave a church, ask yourself, "What did I learn from God's Word?" If the answer is nothing, you have wasted your time. And that is the sad part because there are a lot of people that are good loving people. Many of them even on fixed incomes, some of you might wonder why sometimes when I say, Don't let somebody rip you off pay for your medicine and your groceries. Don't do without for some preacher. You know if he can't if he has to go around shaking down old people that don't have money then God didn't send him. He is lying to you. If it is the real thing well fine God bless them but leave senior citizens alone that are really in hard straits.)
33 And when this People, or the prophet, or a priest, shall ask you, saying, 'What is the burden of the LORD?' you shall then say to them, 'You yourselves are the burden' I will even reject you, says the LORD. (God only has good news. It didn't come from God. Absorb this verse. God does not place burdens on His children. If you want to see your blessings cut off, just blame God for your troubles. People burden themselves through their ignorance. They are not appreciating for one thing what they have got. This great nation, to protect it with all you can stand for. To do everything you can to protect it. Mainly vote and protect and pray for people that have to fight to keep it that way. It is a blessed thing. God does not send burdens.)
34 And as for the prophet, and the priest, and the people, that shall say, 'The burden of the LORD,' I will even punish that man and his house. (Or Church.)
35 Thus shall you say every one to his neighbor, and every one to his brother, 'What has the LORD answered?' and, 'What has the LORD spoken?'
36 And the burden of the LORD shall you mention no more: for every man's word shall be his burden; for you have perverted the words of the living God, of the LORD of hosts our God. (He's not happy about it when they do that.)
37 Thus shall you keep on saying say to the prophet, 'What has the LORD answered you?' and, 'What has the LORD spoken?, (Ask with respect.)
38 But since you say, 'The burden of the LORD;' therefore thus says the LORD; Because you say this word, 'The burden of the LORD,' and I have sent to you, saying, 'You shall not say, 'The burden of the LORD;' ' (Because He doesn't send them. God loves you. He doesn't want you harmed. What do you think Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego said in the fiery furnace? God sent a burden. No, God protected them and HE will protect you. What is chaff to the true wheat of Gods word. Nothing.)
39 Therefore, behold, I, even I, will utterly forget you, and I will forsake you, and the city that I gave you and your fathers, and cast you out of My presence: (Not those that believe HIM. But the fakes. Thy are not going to be with us long.)
40 And I will bring an everlasting reproach upon you, and a perpetual shame (put for a part of time = life long. Limited here by the promised Restoration), which shall not be forgotten. (Father is pouring His heart out to you. Nailing down the third wrath, cup of wrath. Do you know what chapter 24 is about? It is about your generation. It is to jar you into it. To let you know. Read the first verse.)