Author: Parameciumcaudatum

Throughout sacred history, men of God who pursued Him have encountered many theophanic experiences to better understand His personality, nature, and purposes. The prophet Ezekiel and others had many such revelations, and I would like to reflect upon some of them to further enhance my contention that many biblical passages disclose the true dignity of Christ.

“And above the firmament over their heads was the likeness of a throne, in appearance like a sapphire stone; on the likeness of the throne was a likeness with the appearance of a man high above it. Also from the appearance of His waist and upward I saw, as it were, the color of amber with the appearance of fire all around within it; and from the appearance of His waist and downward I saw, as it were, the appearance of fire with brightness all around. Like the appearance of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the brightness all around it. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord.” Ezekiel 1:26-28 (NKJV).

Obviously, the prophet Ezekiel could not fully understand exactly what he saw. Moreover, he barely believed his own eyes, so he made a human attempt to describe what he felt he was seeing and experiencing. He saw four-faced angelic beings with four wings. This apparition, however, was not the only phenomenon. All the cherubim had feet like calves hooves. Somehow, the Cherubim were attached to the wheels Ezekiel saw, and he describes it as being a wheel within a wheel. The wheels had eyes and could move in any direction the Spirit desired. The clear implication here is that whoever stands/sits upon the sapphire stone rides upon a living throne. Who else could this be but Christ the Son of The Living God, The Highly Exalted One. Eventually, in the midst of all of these supernatural manifestations, the prophet hears a voice speaking to him:

“And He said to me, “Son of man, stand on your feet, and I will speak to you.” Then the Spirit entered me when He spoke to me, and set me on my feet; and I heard Him who spoke to me. And He said to me: “Son of man, I am sending you to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against Me; they and their fathers have transgressed against Me to this very day. For they are impudent and stubborn children. I am sending you to them, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God.’ As for them, whether they hear or whether they refuse—for they are a rebellious house—yet they will know that a prophet has been among them.” Ezekiel 2:1-5 (NKJV)

Everything transpiring within this scenario was designed to impress upon the prophet’s mind and the minds of all those who would subsequently read this passage of scripture the authority, majesty, and awesome power of The Lord Almighty.

“Then He called out in my hearing with a loud voice, saying, “Let those who have charge over the city draw near, each with a deadly weapon in his hand.” And suddenly six men came from the direction of the upper gate, which faces north, each with his battle-ax in his hand. One man among them was clothed with linen and had a writer’s inkhorn at his side. They went in and stood beside the bronze altar. Now the glory of the God of Israel had gone up from the cherub, where it had been, to the threshold of the temple. And He called to the man clothed with linen, who had the writer’s inkhorn at his side; and the Lord said to him, “Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done within it.” Ezekiel 9:1-4 (NKJV)

In the above narrative, those spared are people sympathetic to God. They are abhorrent of the abominations enacted around them by wanton sinners, and they cry unto the All-Powerful One day and night without ceasing. Begging Him to intervene in the cesspool of wickedness engulfing the nation. Urging Him to assert His sovereignty and bring the brazen acts of idolatry, immorality, violence, and every form of injustice being perpetrated to an end.

“To the others He said in my hearing, “Go after him through the city and kill; do not let your eye spare, nor have any pity. Utterly slay old and young men, maidens and little children and women; but do not come near anyone on whom is the mark; and begin at My sanctuary.” So they began with the elders who were before the temple. Then He said to them, “Defile the temple, and fill the courts with the slain. Go out!” And they went out and killed in the city. So it was, that while they were killing them, I was left alone; and I fell on my face and cried out, and said, “Ah, Lord God! Will You destroy all the remnant of Israel in pouring out Your fury on Jerusalem?” Ezekiel 9:5-8 (NKJV)

Like Abraham of Old who pled with The Almighty for the City of Sodom: (Suppose there were fifty righteous within the city; would You also destroy the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous that were in it? Far be it from You to do such a thing as this, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be as the wicked; far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” Genesis 18:24-25 NKJV ). The prophet Ezekiel only sees with human eyes and pleads for the inhabitants of Jerusalem. But he is conversing with One, who sees the full extent of human depravity and knows everything.

The Lord answered the prophet:

“Then He said to me, ‘The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceedingly great, and the land is full of bloodshed, and the city full of perversity; for they say, ‘The Lord has forsaken the land, and the Lord does not see!’ And as for Me also, My eye will neither spare, nor will I have pity, but I will recompense their deeds on their own head.’ Just then, the man clothed with linen, who had the inkhorn at his side, reported back and said, ‘I have done as You commanded me.'” Ezekiel 9:9-11 (NKJV)

In the above passage, Christ is portrayed as the supreme Judge and arbiter of human destiny. How can we be certain that this is Christ? We are counseled in scripture that no man has ever seen God. But the Son in the Father’s bosom has declared him. (John 1:18)

Who exactly is Jesus? I’ve heard some Bible students assert that He is a created God. Or is He a member of the Trinity, as many Christians believe? The Bible clearly teaches that Jesus is none other than The Son of The Omnipotent God and that His nature is divine.

His name shall be called Immanuel, … God with us.” “The light of the knowledge of the glory of God” is seen “in the face of Jesus Christ.” From the days of eternity the Lord Jesus Christ was one with the Father; He was “the image of God,” the image of His greatness and majesty, “the outshining of His glory.” It was to manifest this glory that He came to our world. To this sin-darkened earth He came to reveal the light of God’s love,—to be “God with us.” Therefore it was prophesied of Him, “His name shall be called Immanuel.” The Desire Of Ages By Ellen G. White p. 19.1

CHRIST MEETS WITH ABRAHAM FACE-TO-FACE 

One of the earliest recorded revelations of Christ is his face-to-face encounter with the Patriarch Abraham:

“Then the Lord appeared to him by the terebinth trees of Mamre, as he was sitting in the tent door in the heat of the day. So he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing by him; and when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them, and bowed himself to the ground, and said, ‘My Lord, if I have now found favor in Your sight, do not pass on by Your servant. Please let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. And I will bring a morsel of bread, that you may refresh your hearts. After that you may pass by, inasmuch as you have come to your servant.'” Genesis 18:1-5 (NKJV)

Abraham had seen in his guests only three tired wayfarers, little thinking that among them was One whom he might worship without sin. But the true character of the heavenly messengers was now revealed. Though they were on their way as ministers of wrath, yet to Abraham, the man of faith, they spoke first of blessings. Though God is strict to mark iniquity and to punish transgression, He takes no delight in vengeance. The work of destruction is a “strange work” to Him who is infinite in love. Patriarchs and Prophets By Ellen G. White, p. 138.4

While on their way to execute divine judgment against Sodom and Gomorrah, Christ the Son of God, accompanied by two angels, stopped beneath the Oaken trees of Mamre and permitted themselves to be entertained by God’s humble and faithful servant. What a scene? Just as He had held sweet communion with Adam and Eve in The Garden of Eden, He now sat with Abraham and the two angels who escorted him, ate, and drank with one of His human creatures.

JACOB SEES CHRIST PORTRAYED AS A LADDER

While running away from home to escape the threatened vengeance of his brother Esau, Jacob lay down to rest after he had become weary from a long day’s journey. He was headed towards the land of Mesopotamia to seek refuge in the home of his uncle Balaam. He had never met this side of his family, but domestic strife in his home forced him to flee to a foreign land. Where he hoped to find tranquility and security.

Now Jacob went out from Beersheba and went toward Haran.  So he came to a certain place and stayed there all night, because the sun had set. And he took one of the stones of that place and put it at his head, and he lay down in that place to sleep. Then he dreamed, and behold, a ladder was set up on the earth, and its top reached to heaven; and there the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. Genesis 28:10-12 (NKJV)

In the vision the plan of redemption was presented to Jacob, not fully, but in such parts as were essential to him at that time. The mystic ladder revealed to him in his dream was the same to which Christ referred in His conversation with Nathanael. Said He, “Ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.” John 1:51. Up to the time of man’s rebellion against the government of God, there had been free communion between God and man. But the sin of Adam and Eve separated earth from heaven, so that man could not have communion with his Maker. Yet the world was not left in solitary hopelessness. The ladder represents Jesus, the appointed medium of communication. Had He not with His own merits bridged the gulf that sin had made, the ministering angels could have held no communion with fallen man. Christ connects man in his weakness and helplessness with the source of infinite power. Patriarchs and Prophets By Ellen G. White, p. 184.2

JACOB WRESTLES ALL NIGHT WITH CHRIST

Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He touched the socket of his hip; and the socket of Jacob’s hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him. And He said, “Let Me go, for the day breaks.” But he said, “I will not let You go unless You bless me!” So He said to him, “What is your name?” He said, “Jacob.” And He said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.” Then Jacob asked, saying, “Tell me Your name, I pray.” And He said, “Why is it that you ask about My name?” And He blessed him there. So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: “For I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.” Genesis 32:24-30 (NKJV). 

Suddenly a strong hand was laid upon him. He thought that an enemy was seeking his life, and he endeavored to wrest himself from the grasp of his assailant. In the darkness the two struggled for the mastery. Not a word was spoken, but Jacob put forth all his strength, and did not relax his efforts for a moment. While he was thus battling for his life, the sense of his guilt pressed upon his soul; his sins rose up before him, to shut him out from God. But in his terrible extremity he remembered God’s promises, and his whole heart went out in entreaty for His mercy. The struggle continued until near the break of day, when the stranger placed his finger upon Jacob’s thigh, and he was crippled instantly. The patriarch now discerned the character of his antagonist. He knew that he had been in conflict with a heavenly messenger, and this was why his almost superhuman effort had not gained the victory. It was Christ, “the Angel of the covenant,” who had revealed Himself to Jacob. The patriarch was now disabled and suffering the keenest pain, but he would not loosen his hold. All penitent and broken, he clung to the Angel; “he wept, and made supplication” (Hosea 12:4), pleading for a blessing…Jacob “had power over the Angel, and prevailed.” Hosea 12:4. Through humiliation, repentance, and self-surrender, this sinful, erring mortal prevailed with the Majesty of heaven. He had fastened his trembling grasp upon the promises of God, and the heart of Infinite Love could not turn away the sinner’s plea. Patriarchs and Prophets By Ellen G. White p. 196.3 – 197.1 

CHRIST MEETS WITH JOSHUA FACE-TO-FACE

And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, a Man stood opposite him with His sword drawn in His hand. And Joshua went to Him and said to Him, “Are You for us or for our adversaries?” So He said, “No, but as Commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped, and said to Him, “What does my Lord say to His servant?” Then the Commander of the Lord’s army said to Joshua, “Take your sandal off your foot, for the place where you stand is holy.” And Joshua did so. Joshua 5:13-15 (NKJV).

To reduce Jericho was seen by Joshua to be the first step in the conquest of Canaan. But first of all he sought an assurance of divine guidance, and it was granted him. Withdrawing from the encampment to meditate and to pray that the God of Israel would go before His people, he beheld an armed warrior, of lofty stature and commanding presence, “with his sword drawn in his hand.” To Joshua’s challenge, “Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?” the answer was given, “As Captain of the host of the Lord am I now come.” The same command given to Moses in Horeb, “Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy,” revealed the true character of the mysterious stranger. It was Christ, the Exalted One, who stood before the leader of Israel. Awe-stricken, Joshua fell upon his face and worshiped, and heard the assurance, “I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valor,” and he received instruction for the capture of the city. Patriarchs and Prophets By Ellen G. White, p. 487.3

THE NOBLES OF ISRAEL SEE CHRIST 

“Then Moses went up, also Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, and they saw the God of Israel. And there was under His feet as it were a paved work of sapphire stone, and it was like the very heavens in its clarity. But on the nobles of the children of Israel He did not lay His hand. So they saw God, and they ate and drank.” Exodus 24: 9-11 (NKJV)

All of these theophanic appearances/experiences must be seen within the context of John’s declaration:

 “No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.” John 1:18 (NKJV)

(TO BE CONTINUED)

“And when he has made an end of atoning for the Holy Place, the tabernacle of meeting, and the altar, he shall bring the live goat. Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, confess over it all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions, concerning all their sins, putting them on the head of the goat, and shall send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a suitable man. The goat shall bear on itself all their iniquities to an uninhabited land; and he shall release the goat in the wilderness.” Leviticus 16:20-22 (NKJV)

All those who repented of their sins during the course of the year, and whose sins had been transferred to the Sanctuary, were now forgiven. However, although such sins had been separated from the people they were not destroyed. They were removed from the Sanctuary through its annual cleansing and placed upon the head of the Scapegoat. The scapegoat represents Satan. Upon whom all the sins of the redeemed will finally be placed.

“Now the event takes place foreshadowed in the last solemn service of the Day of Atonement. When the ministration in the holy of holies had been completed, and the sins of Israel had been removed from the sanctuary by virtue of the blood of the sin offering, then the scapegoat was presented alive before the Lord; and in the presence of the congregation the high priest confessed over him “all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat.” Leviticus 16:21. In like manner, when the work of atonement in the heavenly sanctuary has been completed, then in the presence of God and heavenly angels and the hosts of the redeemed the sins of God’s people will be placed upon Satan; he will be declared guilty of all the evil which he has caused them to commit. And as the scapegoat was sent away into a land not inhabited, so Satan will be banished to the desolate earth, an uninhabited and dreary wilderness.” The Great Controversy By Ellen G. White p. 658.1 

The great significance of these services inaugurated and performed during Old Testament times is the fact that they pointed towards a future event that would be of supreme importance for all mankind.

“Now when these things had been thus prepared, the priests always went into the first part of the tabernacle, performing the services. But into the second part the high priest went alone once a year, not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the people’s sins committed in ignorance; the Holy Spirit indicating this, that the way into the Holiest of All was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was still standing. It was symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience— concerned only with foods and drinks, various washings, and fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation.” Hebrews 9:6-10 (NKJV)

One of the wonderful realities of Christ officiating as The Melchizedek High Priest is that ALL SINS, not only those committed in ignorance, will be forgiven of men.

“Assuredly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they may utter.” Mark 3:28 (NKJV) 

“But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.” Hebrews 9:11-15 (NKJV)

Based upon all that we have studied in scripture, it seems reasonable for us to conclude that a faithful record of our deeds is carefully transcribed in Heaven. Such a record includes not only the good that we have done but also the evil that we have committed.

“Behold, it is written before Me: I will not keep silence, but will repay Even repay into their bosom—Your iniquities and the iniquities of your fathers together,” Says the Lord.” Isaiah 65:6-7 (NKJV)

When Christ’s mediatorial work has ended, all the sins committed by His people but of which they have faithfully repented will be blotted out of the books of record, and their names will remain in The Book of Life. All those who professed Christ but clung to their cherished sins instead of forsaking them. Their sins will remain in the books of record, and their names will be blotted out of the Book of Life.

When this Investigative Judgement has ended and the cases of everyone that has ever lived been decided, then the solemn pronouncement will be made

He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still.” Revelation 22:11 (NKJV)

The Investigative Judgment, therefore, is conducted for the benefit of God’s People. To determine if those who professed Christ have lived up to their profession of faith in the Savior.

“Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 10:32 (NKJV)

When the work of investigation shall be ended, when the cases of those who in all ages have professed to be followers of Christ have been examined and decided, then, and not till then, probation will close, and the door of mercy will be shut. Thus in the one short sentence, “They that were ready went in with Him to the marriage: and the door was shut,” we are carried down through the Saviour’s final ministration, to the time when the great work for man’s salvation shall be completed. Great Controversy By Ellen G. White P. 428.2 

Specific instructions and procedures were outlined to Moses regarding the disposal of all sins that had been removed from the people and transferred to the wilderness Sanctuary throughout each year.

“Now the Lord spoke to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they offered profane fire before the Lord, and died; and the Lord said to Moses: “Tell Aaron your brother not to come at just any time into the Holy Place inside the veil, before the mercy seat which is on the ark, lest he die; for I will appear in the cloud above the mercy seat. “Thus Aaron shall come into the Holy Place: with the blood of a young bull as a sin offering, and of a ram as a burnt offering. He shall put the holy linen tunic and the linen trousers on his body; he shall be girded with a linen sash, and with the linen turban he shall be attired. These are holy garments. Therefore he shall wash his body in water, and put them on.” Leviticus 16: 1-4 (NKJV) 

The Tabernacle of Meeting was subdivided into two apartments. The first apartment, called The Holy Place, was where all the priests could enter daily to eat the Shew Bread, drink the wine, and attend to the lamps, Altar of Incense, and other furnishings. The Most Holy Place, however, was separated by a veil, and no one was permitted to enter that space except the High Priest. Nevertheless, he was only permitted to do so once yearly on The Great Day of Atonement. Furthermore, not only was he required to bathe and dress in his High Priestly attire. He was also required to make specific sacrifices for his own sins and those of his household and bring the blood of the animals offered with him when he came into the divine Presence.

“And he shall take from the congregation of the children of Israel two kids of the goats as a sin offering, and one ram as a burnt offering. Aaron shall offer the bull as a sin offering, which is for himself, and make atonement for himself and for his house. He shall take the two goats and present them before the Lord at the door of the tabernacle of meeting. Then Aaron shall cast lots for the two goats: one lot for the Lord and the other lot for the scapegoat. And Aaron shall bring the goat on which the Lord’s lot fell, and offer it as a sin offering. But the goat on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat shall be presented alive before the Lord, to make atonement upon it, and to let it go as the scapegoat into the wilderness.” Leviticus 16:5-10 (NKJV).

While attempting to remove his own sins and those of his family from the Tabernacle of Meeting (The Sanctuary), Aaron was required to place live coals within a censer and carry frankincense in his hand when he entered The Holy Place. The Horns of The Altar of Incense were smeared with the bull’s blood. Signifying the penitent sinner’s power before God’s throne of judgment by trusting in the blood and merits of Christ. The sweet-smelling incense represented the incomparable righteousness of Christ our Saviour. The incense was sprinkled by The Aaronic High Priest over the live coals within the censer, and the fragrance thereof rose as a cloud to cover the Presence of The Holy One. The bull’s blood was sprinkled once upon The Mercy Seat, which covered God’s sacred Law (The Ten Commandments), and seven times before the Mercy Seat, upon which two cherubim were postured. The blood was sprinkled once upon the Mercy Seat because Christ would die only once to satisfy the claims of God’s sacred law. That law demanded the death of every sinner. But it was sprinkled seven times before the Mercy Seat because the blood of The Saviour would provide perfect cleansing from all repented and forsaken sins.

“And Aaron shall bring the bull of the sin offering, which is for himself, and make atonement for himself and for his house, and shall kill the bull as the sin offering which is for himself. Then he shall take a censer full of burning coals of fire from the altar before the Lord, with his hands full of sweet incense beaten fine, and bring it inside the veil. And he shall put the incense on the fire before the Lord, that the cloud of incense may cover the mercy seat that is on the Testimony, lest he die. He shall take some of the blood of the bull and sprinkle it with his finger on the mercy seat on the east side; and before the mercy seat he shall sprinkle some of the blood with his finger seven times.” Leviticus 16:11-14 (NKJV)

The fact that Aaron, as High Priest, had to meticulously pursue all the measures outlined to Moses by the Lord to deal with all the sins of himself and his household clearly demonstrates that the priesthood over which he presided was imperfect. Aaron and his progeny, who officiated in the wilderness, Solomonic, and Herodian Sanctuaries, were vile sinners. Accordingly, everything they did was only symbolic and representative of a superior order that would later supersede everything done on earth. Two goat kids were brought to the High Priest for the people on The Day of Atonement and separated by a lot. The goat chosen to be The Lord’s and the one selected to be the Scapegoat were done by divine appointment. The world’s Redeemer has Himself asserted,

“Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.” John 10:18 (NKJV)

“Then he shall kill the goat of the sin offering, which is for the people, bring its blood inside the veil, do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bull, and sprinkle it on the mercy seat and before the mercy seat. So he shall make atonement for the Holy Place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions, for all their sins; and so he shall do for the tabernacle of meeting which remains among them in the midst of their uncleanness. There shall be no man in the tabernacle of meeting when he goes in to make atonement in the Holy Place, until he comes out, that he may make atonement for himself, for his household, and for all the assembly of Israel.” Leviticus 16:15-18 (NKJV)

The fact that the earthly Sanctuary was cleansed twice on The Day Of Atonement immortalizes the cleansing process and makes it a vital and indispensable reality. It illustrates to the people of Israel and all of God’s people throughout all ages that sin is a terrible scourge that must be cleansed from every nook and cranny of God’s universe. Daily, sin was separated from God’s people and deposited inside God’s Sanctuary, within the divine presence, because only The Omnipotent God could dispose of it. Such a disposition could not be accomplished without the shedding of blood.

“And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission.” Hebrews 9:22 (NKJV)

No one except the High Priest was permitted to enter The Holy Place on The Great Day of Atonement. This reality represented the seriousness and solemnity associated with the disposition of all sins. There was a time for personal confession and separation from sin, and a special time was also reserved for removing all sins confessed and forsaken from the camp.  

Examining the services of the Earthly Sanctuary will provide a more comprehensive understanding of the work of the Redeemer within the Heavenly Sanctuary at the end of time. During the dispensation of the Hebrew Church, penitent sinners desiring pardon were given specific instructions on how to deal with their violations of divine law.

“If anyone of the common people sins unintentionally by doing something against any of the commandments of the Lord in anything which ought not to be done, and is guilty, or if his sin which he has committed comes to his knowledge, then he shall bring as his offering a kid of the goats, a female without blemish, for his sin which he has committed. And he shall lay his hand on the head of the sin offering, and kill the sin offering at the place of the burnt offering.” Leviticus 4: 27-29 (NKJV).

Then the priest shall take some of its blood with his finger, put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and pour all the remaining blood at the base of the altar. He shall remove all its fat, as fat is removed from the sacrifice of the peace offering; and the priest shall burn it on the altar for a sweet aroma to the Lord. So the priest shall make atonement for him, and it shall be forgiven him. Leviticus 4:30-31 (NKJV)

By laying his hands upon the head of the substitutionary sacrifice. The sinner transferred his own sins to the animal being offered. Denoting the gruesome reality that the Lamb of God would one day die in man’s place. The Brazen Altar represented the repentant sinner. The horns represented the believer’s power at God’s throne, appealing to the blood of the Saviour. The blood of the Sin Offering was poured out at the base of the Altar because the blood of Jesus was shed for the benefit of his people. Furthermore, the blood of the world’s Redeemer ultimately cleanses the earth to benefit all the redeemed who will finally inherit this world. The substitutionary sacrifice represented Christ. The fat, like the Burnt Offering, was consumed in the flames upon the Altar and ascended to the Lord Almighty as a sweet-smelling savor because Christ lived a perfect, sinless life.

“The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29 (NKJV)

“When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:16-17 (NKJV)

Following this procedure repeatedly during the twelve months of each year, numerous sins were transferred to the Holy Place of the earthly Sanctuary. Accordingly, an annual cleansing known as The Day of Atonement became necessary. The only sins that could be cleansed from the Sanctuary were those transferred there. 

“This shall be a statute forever for you: In the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, whether a native of your own country or a stranger who dwells among you. For on that day the priest shall make atonement for you, to cleanse you, that you may be clean from all your sins before the Lord. It is a sabbath of solemn rest for you, and you shall afflict your souls. It is a statute forever. And the priest, who is anointed and consecrated to minister as priest in his father’s place, shall make atonement, and put on the linen clothes, the holy garments; then he shall make atonement for the Holy Sanctuary, and he shall make atonement for the tabernacle of meeting and for the altar, and he shall make atonement for the priests and for all the people of the assembly. This shall be an everlasting statute for you, to make atonement for the children of Israel, for all their sins, once a year.” And he did as the Lord commanded Moses.” Leviticus 16:29-34 (NKJV)

Since Jesus ascended to heaven and commenced His high priestly ministry within the heavenly court, many sins have been transferred to the heavenly records. This process has been going on for over two thousand years. As we approach human probation’s end, a blotting out of all sins repented by every penitent believer will occur. This process commenced in 1844 when the 2300-day/year prophecy ended. As the bible declares, “Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people— saying with a loud voice, ‘Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.'” Revelation 14: 6-7. (NKJV)

We are repeatedly warned in scripture that there will be a judgment, “Therefore, since we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, something shaped by art and man’s devising. Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.” Acts 17: 29-31 (NKJV)

This judgment is inescapable, unavoidable, and is an intricate part of human destiny,  “I said in my heart, ‘God shall judge the righteous and the wicked, For there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.” Ecclesiastes 3:17 (NKJV)

“Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all.
For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil.” Ecclesiastes 12: 13-14

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” 2 Corinthians 5:10 (NKJV)

The prophet Daniel was given a vision of this future judgment scene because, in his day, such an Investigative Judgment had not yet commenced.

“I watched till thrones were put in place, And the Ancient of Days was seated; His garment was white as snow, And the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was a fiery flame,
Its wheels a burning fire; A fiery stream issued And came forth from before Him. A thousand thousands ministered to Him; Ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him. The court was seated, And the books were opened.” Daniel 7: 9-10 (NKJV)

Everyone will be judged based on their written records.

“And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.” Revelation 20:12 (NKJV) 

At the commencement of the judgment, The world’s Savior is brought before The Heavenly Father.

“I was watching in the night visions, And behold, One like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, And they brought Him near before Him.” Daniel 7:13 (NKJV)

The coming of Christ as our high priest to the most holy place, for the cleansing of the sanctuary, brought to view in Daniel 8:14; the coming of the Son of man to the Ancient of Days, as presented in Daniel 7:13; and the coming of the Lord to His temple, foretold by Malachi, are descriptions of the same event; and this is also represented by the coming of the bridegroom to the marriage, described by Christ in the parable of the ten virgins, of Matthew 25. (Great Controversy, 426 By E.G. White).

In this judgment, Christ is the Advocate of His people

In the parable of Matthew 22 the same figure of the marriage is introduced, and the investigative judgment is clearly represented as taking place before the marriage. Previous to the wedding the king comes in to see the guests, to see if all are attired in the wedding garment, the spotless robe of character washed and made white in the blood of the Lamb. Matthew 22:11; Revelation 7:14. He who is found wanting is cast out, but all who upon examination are seen to have the wedding garment on are accepted of God and accounted worthy of a share in His kingdom and a seat upon His throne. This work of examination of character, of determining who are prepared for the kingdom of God, is that of the investigative judgment, the closing work in the sanctuary above. (Great Controversy 428.1 By Ellen G. White) 

“He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.” Revelation 3:5 (NKJV)

“Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 10: 32-33 (NKJV)

(TO BE CONTINUED)

While chatting with Mary on the phone, I learned that although she had been assigned to a school because of Ghana’s National Service Law, she was not paid for this assignment. She also complained that her phone had a fault and remembered to thank me for the bag of cosmetics I had sent her. The following day, I was preoccupied with how to help her appropriately. Because if I offered her any assistance at all, I didn’t want it to be misunderstood or misconstrued in any way. While contemplating my next action, The Spirit spoke to me in my right ear and said, “Send her money.” That directive was received on a Saturday afternoon, and I did as I had been told on Sunday morning. Before this phenomenon, I had spoken to a few trusted friends who gave me the same advice. I called Mary to alert her regarding the transmission of funds. She advised me that she had received the money sent and thanked me. Over the years, I realized that giving money to a woman was a big deal in Ghana, as were any acts of compassion or kindness. I knew that Mary would be without any income for the foreseeable future. Therefore, I sent her money weekly, and she was always appropriately grateful and thanked me for my kindness.

After I sent her the cosmetics, I asked Mary when she could visit my house. She responded, “Well, right now, I’m busy preparing for my licensure exams, but afterward, I will come.” She completed her studies successfully, took the examination, and passed all subjects but never kept her promise. I couldn’t help observing that although the weeks changed into months, Mary never visited my home, nor did she try to make any arrangements with me to do so. On one occasion, I asked her, “When do you plan to start caring for your husband?” Her reply was, “James, this is Africa. A young lady can’t go to a man’s house to do chores.

“Furthermore,” she continued, “I belong to the Fanti Tribe, and our culture and mores wouldn’t permit me to come to your house unless we have a very special relationship. However, I will tell you when I’m ready.” At the end of April, she told me she wanted me to give her the money she needed to purchase an outfit and shoes to attend a friend’s wedding. At first, I agreed, but after losing my money card, I realized that facilitating such a transaction was impossible for me to accomplish. Although Mary was disappointed, she tried not to make a big deal out of it. After receiving notification that she had passed her examination, she wanted to celebrate with her friends and invited me to foot the bill. I consented, especially since this event was to commemorate a tangible occurrence. I offered to meet with her at the local hospital to give her the money she requested, but she said such an arrangement was completely out of the question. After leaving my apartment early one Sunday morning for my regular diurnal walk, I fell and fractured my fibula. I contacted Mary on WhatsApp, explained what had happened, and even sent her pictures. I asked her to bring me some food, and she refused, asserting that her culture wouldn’t permit her to prepare and take food to a man to whom she wasn’t married.”

None of these rationalizations made sense to me, and I tried to clarify my reservations to her. Her response was, “You are disrespecting me.” I had heard this kind of comeback many times before, and it was invariably from people who were suffering from some kind of mental illness. I recalled the scene that Mary and her mother made at the market while I was attempting to converse with Mary’s sister, and I became convinced that part of her problem was paranoia. She didn’t want anyone to see the two of us together, so why? I shared all of these experiences with a few of my trusted friends. I had learned in the past from painful and brutal experiences to seek counsel from others because there are some things that we cannot see. People are not created equal. Some gifts we have, and some we don’t.

All of my friends were in shock. One of them, who works at The Holy Family Hospital, asserted that “no such culture exists.” Others advised me to avoid any or all of the girls in the tribe mentioned above. They all agreed that I was the victim of just another Ghanaian romance scam. “How does she expect you to get to know each other better unless she comes to your house?” I shared my friends’ reservations with Mary out of respect for her and concern for myself. To my shock and dismay, she flew into a rage. What Clinical Psychologists would describe as an inappropriate affect (mood), she also started to run for cover. “I made it clear to you from the beginning that I wasn’t interested in any kind of romantic involvement,” She said. This assertion was her first desperate attempt to cover her ass. “Even though I told you that, you’ve been trying to purchase me with your money,” she continued. Mary probably felt the first rationale wasn’t good enough, so the second one was enacted. The thought that was uppermost in my mind was if her actions were honorable, then why all of these nonsensical lies? As an experienced Clinician, I knew that these assertions were delusions. My friends had warned me that I should exercise due caution under the present circumstances. Accordingly, I stopped sending her money.

There were many unresolved issues in my mind. Why was she unwilling to come to my house? Was it because she was afraid of being exposed? Maybe she didn’t know how to cook, clean house, or iron clothes. A disgrace for a young African woman who also has a degree in Education. Maybe she was suffering from grandiose delusions, believing that household chores were beneath her dignity. Such a belief would be consistent with her brazen emotional callousness and the fact that she was also obviously withdrawn. Behavioral patterns that are common among people afflicted with Paranoid Schizophrenia. Why didn’t she want to be seen anywhere with me? Was this because of some psychotic or personality disorder? Whenever we chatted at the market, other people saw us together. Did she accept the money I sent her because she wanted it to accumulate to a certain amount before having social contact with me? Or was she denying me the benefit of any interpersonal intercourse until she had obtained all the money she craved? This would be tantamount to some kind of extortion. A common symptom of people suffering from psychosis is an irrational fear of poverty. For this very reason, they resort to hoarding.

As I walked past Mary’s mother’s market stall one weekday, she was courteous enough to thank me profusely for my kindness towards Mary. Therefore, I didn’t want to stop sending Mary money abruptly without informing her mother of the reasons for my actions. I asked Mary to give me her mother’s telephone number, but she refused. Claiming that her mother couldn’t speak English. Although her mother had conversed with me in excellent English on many occasions. Her refusal ruined my plans to have one of my friends, who didn’t know her mother, call her. I had no choice but to ask one of my friends (fluent in Tri) who knows Mary’s mother. To speak to her on my behalf and advise her that I had stopped sending Mary money for the following reasons:

1. She doesn’t come to my house.
2. I fractured my fibula in June and asked Mary to bring me some food, and she refused.
3. She never goes anywhere with me because she fears other people might see us together.

It is simply contrary to common sense why any right-thinking person would expect to receive gifts and money indefinitely without reciprocating in some way. Predictably, Mary was severely disappointed at my decision to stop supporting her financially. However, she made no assertion to that effect. Instead, she chose to abuse me verbally. My response to her was, “Please don’t pull my tongue because I have no desire to fight with you. Although I perceive that you love to argue. Just remember the scriptural injunction, ‘He who keeps his tongue, keeps his life.'”

When I returned to Ghana in 2019, I had originally planned to remain for only a few months and then return to the USA. However, COVID-19 commenced, became a full-scale plague in China, and developed into a worldwide pandemic within a few months. My relatives and friends in North America warned me that hundreds of thousands of people were dying weekly in the USA and advised me that it might be safer to remain in West Africa. Out in the Brong Ahafo Region, where I resided, there were hardly any cases of COVID-19. A few people contracted the disease, but they all recovered. Although Mary and I first met in 2020, since she was away at college pursuing her studies, we only saw each other on rare occasions, and our interpersonal interactions were limited. I was in the Berekum Market in March 2024, just outside the gates. An area where traders selling towels, sheets, cosmetics, and cleaning detergents plied their merchandise. While chatting with a friend who was also a trader, I suddenly became aware of the presence of a tall, slender, and very beautiful girl who mysteriously became a part of the conversation. I was completely bowled by her appearance and invited her to sit beside me on a nearby bench so that I could chat with her and get to know her better.

While we were only a few minutes into our conversation, I heard Mary protesting, “Mommy, that’s my gentleman!” What seemed to be a paroxysm of fear, insecurity, jealousy, and anger was unfolding right before me. Mary’s mother came over immediately and interrupted us. “This is Mary’s sister,” Mr. James; you can’t have both of them.” Mary appeared on the scene shortly after that, and I asked her, “Baby, where have you been?” “I am here!” she responded authoritatively. Then she gave me her telephone number and ordered, “Call me.” I was completely taken aback by these developments. I had never met Mary’s sister before and was unaware she and her mother were nearby. Those events were extremely embarrassing to me, to say the least. Especially since the pain and emotional trauma in Mary’s voice were so pronounced. “Why would they conclude that I was threatening my relationship with Mary by merely chatting with her sister?” I wondered.

About one month after my return from the USA in 2023, I lost my smartphone. When I was given Mary’s urgent directive, I only had an inexpensive phone I didn’t know how to use. Accordingly, I called no one, neither Mary nor her sister, who had also given me her number, because she was probably unaware that I was her sister’s boyfriend. These events seemed to be a full demonstration of Mary’s love for me. If there were any previous doubts regarding her commitment to a relationship with me, such questions were soon eliminated. I didn’t see Mary in the market for approximately two months after those events, and while conversing with a nearby trader, I was informed that she and her sister had both graduated from college. Mary had a Bachelor’s degree in Education, and her sister had a Bachelor of Nursing degree. I had never given Mary anything before, and I concluded that now would be a good time to express my admiration, respect, and affection by presenting her with a gift. I bought some expensive cosmetics and waited for the opportunity to present itself. One sunny Friday afternoon in March, I saw Mary at her usual place in the market, and after greeting her in the usual manner, I informed her that I had a gift for her.

Her immediate response was, “A gift for me?” “Yes,” I said. It’s at my house. I was going to bring it to your house on Monday, but since you are here today, I will go home and fetch and deliver it.” “Will you be here when I return? This won’t take long.” She assured me that she would wait until I returned with her gift. I quickly went home, fetched the gift, and returned to her stall as soon as time would permit. To my profound disappointment, however, Mary was nowhere to be seen. She had left. Her maneuver perturbed me greatly. “What could this possibly mean,” I wondered to myself. Was she just playing hard to get? Or was this a sign that she was unwilling to face the challenges and vicissitudes of a long-term relationship? Or did she run away because she was just shy? I left the cosmetics bag with her neighbor and asked her to collect Mary’s telephone number. She assured me that she would. But the gift was neither delivered nor was the requested telephone number forthcoming. Her mother ultimately received the bag that I had left, and so I gave her my telephone number and asked her to have Mary give me a call. Before I left her stall, Mary’s mother was courteous enough to thank me repeatedly. I felt considerably better because I thought, “At least my cosmetics bag was appreciated by someone.”

About one week later, I received a call from a woman whose voice I failed to recognize. I couldn’t distinguish her voice because we hadn’t spoken on the phone for at least two years. She was disappointed that I didn’t recognize her, and after she gave me a few hints, especially the one about the bag of cosmetics, I finally realized that I was talking to Mary. “Is this the woman that I love?” I questioned. “The one who ran away for some strange reason that I have failed to fathom?” She pled guilty to the preceding charges, and we began a conversation. We were disconnected before the conversation ended, but we resumed all contact on WhatsApp after that. She explained that her phone was defective and the network in her area was deplorable.

(TO BE CONTINUED)

There is a large market in the Town of Berekum, and within that market are many agricultural products. However, Chinese wares, cosmetics, clothing, hardware, kitchen utensils, and footwear are also sold at different locations. There are also many trading women within that area. During one trip to the market, I ran into a pretty girl sitting behind her mother’s stall. I liked how she looked. Therefore, I ventured to place a gentle pinch on her arm, which she seemed to appreciate. Afterward, we started a friendship, exchanged pics, and conversed frequently. One day, while I was at the market, I saw her sitting in the same place, approached her mother, and said, “I think your daughter is very beautiful,” and gave her 100.00 GHS. Her mother thanked me profusely and accepted the money. Her daughter was mostly away at college, so I rarely saw her. But whenever we met, I would kiss her hand, exclaiming, “My beautiful and gorgeous princess.” An affectionate gesture which she didn’t seem to mind. Eventually, while we discussed our plans for the future, Mary demanded that I give her an iPhone. I didn’t think that was unreasonable, but I was reluctant. Because I knew that exploitative and unscrupulous Ghanaian girls routinely demanded expensive gifts from their admirers. Usually, such girls were already married or in other long-term relationships.

I didn’t see her often since she pursued her studies at a Teacher’s college. We never got closer than a certain posture, which she used to command my attention whenever we met in the market, and she wasn’t sitting in her usual place. Seeing her standing, however, was not only a revelation of her phenomenal beauty. It evoked from me words of praise for her appearance and money. Such encounters were rare since she was away most of the time. Initially, she called me often, and we talked about her career goals and my plans to open a church and a school in Ghana. That kind of talk interested her greatly, but I wanted to know about her homemaking skills. From personal experience, I knew that I was happiest in a clean, attractive, and well-organized home. In a previous marriage, I was sometimes afraid to venture into my own house because my X wife just didn’t have the ability, inclination, or motivation to create that kind of environment. I blamed myself for such a state of affairs and determined not to repeat the same mistake. My girlfriend always claimed to be an excellent homemaker and repeatedly accused me of wanting to marry a maid. Maybe she was right. I’ve learned over the years from painful experiences that excellent housekeeping skills and beautiful women usually don’t go together.

One of the most emotionally vexing experiences is the realization that having exactly everything we want is impossible. Accordingly, we are forced to settle for what we need. That’s one of the most important life lessons we must master. An exquisitely beautiful woman is always desirable, but excellent homemakers generally don’t possess such looks.

“If we aren’t careful, our children will come down with ‘affluenza,’ a disease that causes them to confuse wants and needs. We need to teach our children what my grandmother taught me: Think twice about spending money you don’t have on things you don’t need to impress people you don’t like anyway.” Michelle Singletary.

However, knowing the difference between your needs and wants depends on knowing yourself, which is one of the greatest challenges of life. Most people think they know themselves, but after they have made a choice, they spend many years living in misery with the choice that they have made. The Prince of Wales (Prince William) was in a courtship with Kate Middleton for eight years before they married on April 29, 2011. The marriage seems to be quite stable even after 13 years. When he traveled to Mesopotamia to find Rebecca, Eliezer returned to Canaan and delivered her to Isaac. As far as we know, the marriage was a success. Even though it only took a few moments for Abraham’s servant to decide in that regard because he was the recipient of divine guidance.

Divine guidance should always be sought in any decision we make, but even then, we should never rush into any kind of contract, not even marriage.

“I will bless the Lord who has given me counsel; My heart also instructs me in the night seasons. I have set the Lord always before me; Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.” Psalm 16: 7-8 (NKJV)

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.” James 1:5 (NKJV).

Even if you feel that The Spirit has given you the ‘Go ahead’ to marry a life partner. Observe that person carefully for at least a year or two before you make a final decision. Although The Holy Spirit can live with almost anyone, you can’t. That’s a piece of eternal truth I gleaned many years ago from a female friend.

(TO BE CONTINUED)

THE RIGHTEOUS DEAD WILL BE RESURRECTED

“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.” 1 Thessalonians 4:16 (NKJV)

THE LIVING RIGHTEOUS WILL BE TRANSLATED

Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 1 Thessalonians 4:17 (NKJV)

ALL THE RIGHTEOUS WILL BE GIFTED IMMORTALITY

“Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” 1 Corinthians 15:51-54 

THE LIVING WICKED WILL BE DESTROYED

Since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed. 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10

“And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.” 2 Thessalonians 2:8

THE WICKED DEAD WILL REMAIN IN THEIR GRAVES 

“But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished.” Revelation 20:5 (NKJV)

“It shall come to pass in that day That the Lord will punish on high the host of exalted ones, And on the earth the kings of the earth. They will be gathered together, As prisoners are gathered in the pit, And will be shut up in the prison; After many days they will be punished.” Isaiah 24:21-22 (NKJV)

ALL THE RIGHTEOUS WILL BE TAKEN TO HEAVEN

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” John 14:1-3 (NKJV) 

THE MILLENNIUM AND JUDGMENT OF THE WICKED BEGIN

And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years…This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years. Revelation 20:4, 6.

SATAN IS BOUND FOR A THOUSAND YEARS

“Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while.” Revelation 20:1-3 (NKJV).

THE EARTH IS DEVASTATED BY DIVINE JUDGEMENT

“I beheld the earth, and indeed it was without form, and void;
And the heavens, they had no light. I beheld the mountains, and indeed they trembled, And all the hills moved back and forth. I beheld, and indeed there was no man And all the birds of the heavens had fled.
I beheld, and indeed the fruitful land was a wilderness, And all its cities were broken down At the presence of the Lord, By His fierce anger.” Jeremiah 4:23-26. (NKJV)