DOME OF THE ROCK - NYOBS 58.20

DOME OF THE ROCK

The Dome of the Rock is not a mosque for pubic worship, but a shrine for pilgrims.

First Word                                                        

·         King Solomon built the first Temple in 950 BC; some 3000 years ago, which was destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BC.

·         King Herod built the second Temple seventy years later on the original foundations when the Jews returned from exile.

·         From various time periods, there was located within the Temple Mount area about 100 different structures which have come and gone, all of which are a DESECRATION to this Holy Site including the current Dome of the Rock.

Muhammad

·         In 610 A.D. the Angel Gabriel appeared to Muhammad who was alone in the wilderness near Mecca, instructing him to "Recite! Recite! Recite!”  – Then the angel recited three verses and when Muhammad awoke, he had memorized these verses. - This memorization continued for 10 days. – This would become the verbally transmitted Qur’an, which the verses later on would be written down and divided up into “Surah’s”.  

·         Muhammad believed himself to be a messenger of God and was the SEVENTH and last in a progressive line of prophets beginning with Abraham and ending with prophet number six; Jesus.  (Seven is seen as the Biblical number for “completion”.)

·         His Revelation was… God’s people; the Jews and Christians have all gone astray and need to be restored to the proper path; thus the birth of Islam.

The Platform & Stone

·         The Platform or Temple Mount was constructed and enlarged under the rule of Herod the Great as part of the rebuilding process of the second Temple. – This re-constructed Second Temple would include the western wall also known as the Wailing Wall.  - This would be the same Temple where Jesus worshipped and prophesized of its future destruction. – This Second Temple was demolished in 70 AD.

·         The Midrash is a Hebrew Book that provides a method for interpreting teachings, stories and difficult text of the Hebrew Bible.  It says that when the Ark of the Covenant was taken away and there remained a STONE that was there from the time of the early prophets. 

·         This Stone or “Foundation Rock” is located at the highest point in the center of the first and second temples. -  This places it in the Holy of Holies, on which the Ark of the Covenant rested. – Jewish Tradition holds this “Foundation Rock” site as the Holiest spot on earth.

·         Side Note: The actual dimensions of the rock that you see today is much larger than that of the Holy of Holies and could not possible fit inside, but this is because of erosions and other factors that removed the dirt that covered it.  When covered to its proper level of about 3 fingers in height, only 2 ½ inches was actually exposed within the Holy of Holies.

·         There is a cave or cavity beneath the rock accessible only by a staircase known as the ‘Well of Souls” which purpose is not fully understood to this day. – The Crusaders’ used it as a confessional. – Muslims say the cave was made when the rock and earth tried to rise up with Mohammad as he went to Heaven and the Angel Gabriel stopped its upward motion.

Jews House of Prayer

·         A Caliphate is an Islamic state and is led by a political and religious leader called a Caliph.

·          On Mount Moriah in 638 AD, The Jews showed Caliph Omar ibn al-Khattab where the Holy Temple had once stood on the debris strewn deserted Temple Mount. - Omar cleared the mount to put up a building that faced Mecca AND at the request of the Jewish people ordered another building as a Wooden Temporary house of prayer for the Jews until their Temple could be re-built; it did NOT face Mecca.  .  - NYOBS 07.002 – ESCHATOLOGY

·         The Dome was complete in 691 AD by Umayyad Caliph Abd el-Malik, a Muslim who was actually a follower of the Jewish faith. - He ordered his citizens to pray with their faces towards Jerusalem and ordered them to make pilgrimages to Jerusalem instead of Mecca. He returned the management of the Temple Mount to the Jews. – His name was removed from the Dome of the Rock and removed from their writings to blot out his existence.

·         Manuscripts indicate that the Jews used the remains of the temple to build their “House of Prayer”.  Today the remains can still be observed in the structure of the Dome of the Rock.

·          The main entrance faces South not South-East toward Mecca. – It had four pillars that line up E-W-S-N on which the dome rests.  They represent the four camps of the Israelites in the wilderness as they encamped around their portable Tabernacle.

·         Beginning in 1520 the exterior was covered with tiles which took some 7 years to complete. Centuries later the inside was decorated with mosaic, faience and marble. - The walls were of motif designs of vessels and winged crowns as well as vegetative scrolls, palms, grapes and figs which are all mentioned in the Torah. – The mosaics contain no human figures, nor animals. – Remember the Jew’s commandment to “MAKE NO GRAVEN IMAGE”.

·         It has twelve pillars with palm trees on the capitals which is another Jewish motif; these pillars represent the twelve tribes of Israel. – The Octagonal base with the Spherical cupola symbolized the transition from Earth to Heaven.

Exodus 20:3-4 – Make no graven image
³ Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
⁴ Thou shalt not make unto thee a GRAVEN IMAGE, nor any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. (ASV)

Num 2:3 - East side of the Temple

3 And on the east side toward the rising of the sun shall they of the standard of the camp of Judah pitch throughout their armies

KJV

Num 2:18 - West side of the Temple

18 On the west side shall be the standard of the camp of Ephraim according to their armies: and the captain of the sons of Ephraim shall be Elishama the son of Ammihud.

KJV

Num 2:10 - South side of the Temple

10 On the south side shall be the standard of the camp of Reuben according to their armies: and the captain of the children of Reuben shall be Elizur the son of Shedeur.

KJV

Num 2:25 - North side of the Temple

25 The standard of the camp of Dan shall be on the north side by their armies: and the captain of the children of Dan shall be Ahiezer the son of Ammishadda. 

KJV

Matthew 24:1-2 – Prophecy destruction of the Temple by Jesus
¹ Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple.
² But he answered them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” (ESV)

Jew – Christian - Muslim

·         The Dome over the Rock was built from 688 to 691 AD on the highest point of the Temple Mount and rises up some 67.2 feet.  - It was built as a symbol of oneness and continuity of the Abrahamic people; Jewish, Christian and Muslim Faiths. - The direction of this rock is where Jews would pray toward from every place in the world.

·         In 1099 the Crusaders had made the Dome of the Rock structure into a Christian Church and Jerusalem became primarily Christian and the shrine was renamed “Templum Domini” or Temple of the Lord and a cross was placed on top of the Dome, but by 1187 it was re-consecrated as a Muslim shrine (Not a Mosque) and the Cross was taken off the top and replaced with the Islamic crescent.

·         In 1982 a gate and tunnel was discovered that was built by King Herod which led directly up to the Holy of Holies that was used by the priest to avoid coming into contact with ordinary Jews, thus keeping themselves Holy and purified. – It is called the “Gate and Tunnel of the Priest.” – So we now know exactly where the Holy of Holies was located.

·         The Jew as well as the Christian feel connected to this Rock.  It is believed that this is the very rock where Abraham prepared to offer his son ISAAC as a sacrifice to God; when God intervened. - NYOBS 39.20 – ISLAM vs; CHRISTIANITY

For the Muslim

·         This is where Abraham prepared to offer his son ISHMAEL as a sacrifice to God; when God intervened. – Muslim legend has it that the angel Gabriel took Muhammad on a night journey from Mecca to the rock on Mount Moriah, riding on a winged horse named El Burak which means “lighting”; there Muhammad talked with all the prophets that had gone before him, including Abraham, Moses and Jesus and then ascended into the seventh heaven on a golden ladder made of light and saw Allah sitting on His throne surrounded by angels.

·         There Muhammad received instructions for his followers as well as for himself and returned to Mecca on his winged steed before dawn. – Muslim tradition has it that the rock bears the hoof print of the winged horse as it leapt into the sky.  Other writing say it bears the foot print of Mohammad when he pushed down on the rock to keep it from rising up with him to Heaven.  Even more writings say it bears the fingerprints of Michael the high Arch Angel as he held down the rising rock.

·         The Dome of the Rock used the measurements of the Dome of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher therefore they have almost identical domes, however the Dome of the Rock’s elevated position and its magnificence is a way of showing that Islam is superior over Christianity. – Today a Mosque is sought to be built in every major city in the USA to show domination.

·         The Kiblah is the direction that should be faced when a Muslim prays during salat.  - It was fixed as the direction of this rock until Mohammad received a revelation from Allah to change the direction of the Kiblah from Jerusalem to face Mecca.

Genesis 22:9-13 – Abraham prepared Isaac as a sacrifice
⁹ Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound ISAAC his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood.
¹² He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” (ESV)

Renovations

·         In 1993 the dome was covered with gold with a donation of 8.2 million dollars from King Hussein of Jordan.

·         After the 6 day war, in an effort to “Keep the Peace”, the authority to manage the Temple Mount was given over to the Muslims where at this writing it still remains today. – Limited access and strict security screening is required of all non-Muslims.

·         The following is inscribed on the walls of the dome – It is not befitting to Allah that He should beget a son. -  (God has no companion) - This rejects Jesus Christ as the Son of God, making it BLASPHEMY to suggest that God has a son, and that is why the Muslims hate the Infidel Christians today.  There are other inscriptions denouncing the Christian doctrines of the Trinity and the divinity of Jesus, while emphasizing the unity of God and affirming Jesus’ status as only a prophet. -  NYOBS 29.24 – CASE FOR CHRISTIANITY

Quran 19:33–35 – It is not fitting that God should begat a Son

33. "So peace is upon me the day I was born, and the day I die, and the day I shall be raised alive!"

34. Such is Jesus, son of Mary. It is a statement of truth, about which they doubt.

35. It is not befitting to Allah that He should beget a son. Glory be to Him! When He determines a matter, He only says to it, "Be", and it is.

The Third Temple

·         The Re-building of the Holy Temple depends on the finding of an unblemished RED HEIFER (parah adumah) deemed to be of absolute Divine origin; an absolute rarity; a biological anomaly - God has ordained that its ashes alone are the single missing ingredient for the reinstatement of Biblical purity – Then after that, the building of the third Holy Temple can begin which will give God more honor than the previous Temples.

·         This Holy Cow under Jewish law requires keeping the young cow under strict care until it reaches THREE YEARS of age - During this time, leaning on the cow, riding it even once or even putting a piece of cloth on its back disqualifies it from becoming a Red Heifer. – The color is not actually a bright red, but is closer to an “earth brown red” which must be consistent over the entire body down to and including the hoofs and even the eye lids.

·         Once found Kosher it is ritually slaughtered outside of the camp. -  A ritually pure “Kohen” slaughters the heifer, and sprinkles its blood in the direction of the Temple seven times. - The ceremony of the burning of the red heifer itself takes place on the Mount of Olives.- Cedar wood, hyssop, and wool dyed scarlet are added to the fire, and the remaining ashes are placed in a vessel containing pure water – (Red is considered the color of sin.)

·         God told Moses to have the children of Israel bring him a RED HEIFER. - He alone would understand what this Red Heifer represented. - NYOBS 40.11 RED HEIFER

·         Unblemished – The Red Heifer was to be unblemished with no defect and on which a yoke had never been placed. – The Temple Institute says that the cow must also have red hoofs and cannot have even two gray hairs and that all the hairs must be straight.

·         Ashes – When we think of roasting a cow, we are thinking of the meat, but the product that is desired is the ashes, not the meat.

·         When the Priest performs the ritual, he becomes ritually unclean, and must then bathe himself and his clothes in a ritual bath. - He is deemed impure until the evening. - He would withdraw into a chamber made entirely of stone, including stone vessels to prevent himself from coming in contact with anything that could contaminate him and make him unclean – In Jewish law, stone does not act as a carrier of ritual impurities.

·         Side Bar - Each time a heifer was burned, one third of the ashes was removed and kept by the priests for use by future generations. – The ashes were mixed in a solution of water.  It was called the "Waters of Sanctification" and the priest was sprinkled with it every day during his time of separation, sanctification and purification. – This was in case he had unknowingly walked over a grave or had come near the dead, thus making him unclean.

·         The Water was drawn from a “living natural spring” source such as from the Shjiloach (Siloam) spring in the city of David located at the foot of the Temple Mount. (Rainwater is not accepted) - It had to be drawn by someone who was pure enough to go draw it. – This is a complex procedure utilizing children to draw and carry the water for the ceremony. - The children were born and reared in isolation for the specific purpose of ensuring that they never came into contact with a corpse. - This emphasizes how important the purification and sanctification process is considered.

·         Nine Red Heifers have been slaughtered during the period extending from Moses to the destruction of the Second Temple. - Moses prepared the first, Ezra the second, Simon the Just prepared two and Yochanan the High Priest prepared two, and Elioenai ben HaQayaph and Hanameel the Egyptian prepared one each.

·         The TENTH and FINAL Red Heifer - Ten is the Biblical number for “The Law”, i.e. the Ten Commandments. – There were ten linen curtains in the Tabernacle which represented the Law.  Jesus fulfilled the law when he was nailed to the cross.

Josephus 4.4.4:79-81 – Red Heifer was killed outside the camp.

79 He brought a HEIFER that had never been used to the plough or to do husbandry that was complete in all its parts, and entirely of a RED color, at a little distance from the camp, into a place perfectly clean.  This heifer was slain by the high priest and her blood sprinkled with his finger seven times before the tabernacle of God.

80 After this the entire heifer was burnt in that state, together with its and entrails; and they threw cedar wood, and hyssop, and scarlet wool, into the midst of the fire: then a clean man gathered all her ashes together, and laid them in a place perfectly clean.

81 When therefore any persons were defiled by a dead body, they put a little of these ashes into spring water, with hyssop, and, dipping part of these ashes in it, they sprinkled them with it, both on the third day; and on the seventh, and after that they were clean.  Then he enjoyed them to do also when the tribes should come into their own land.

Dual Perspectives

·         For the Jew, the “Purification” provided through the Red Heifer signals the way for the commencement of the re-building of the Third and final Holy Temple.  This will usher in for the FIRST TIME the appearance of the Jews long-awaited Messiah. 

·         For the Christian who believes the Messiah is Jesus Christ and has already come, believes it points toward the “Rapture” or catching away of His saints at His SECOND coming and bringing the onset of Armageddon. – NYOBS 22.02 - ARMAGEDDON

1 Cor 15:52 – We will be changed in the twinkling of an eye

52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed KJV

1 Thess 4:16-17 – Christians Raptured in the Air

16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:.

17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. KJV

At the Return of Christ

• When Christ returns for His millennial reign, the Ark of the Covenant that sits on the ROCK will not be present, it will not even be thought of because Christ will be on the throne in Jerusalem. - There will be no need to make a new Ark; and they won’t.

Jer 3:16-17 – The Ark will no longer be remembered.

16 In those days, when your numbers have increased greatly in the land," declares the LORD, "men will no longer say, `The ark of the covenant of the LORD.' It will never enter their minds or be remembered; it will not be missed, nor will another one be made.

17 At that time they will call Jerusalem The Throne of the LORD, and all nations will gather in Jerusalem to honor the name of the LORD. No longer will they follow the stubbornness of their evil hearts. NIV

Ark of the Covenant

·         It is believed that the second temple did NOT contain the Ark of the Covenant as it had been hidden away before it was built. – The Holy of Holies was actually EMPTY.

• The Dead Sea Scrolls are the final reference to the Ark of the Covenant and its location.  The Jeremiah letter: - Jeremiah came and found a cavern in the rock, and there he brought in the Tabernacle, and the Ark, and the Alter of Incense; and he made fast the door – “Yea, and the place shall be unknown until God gather the people again together, and mercy come; and then shall the Lord disclose these things”.
• Other writings not found in the Bible indicate that the Knights Templar from 1118 to 1127 excavated tunnels under the Temple Mount and found vast wealth including the Ark.
• More writing suggest that Solomon, concerned about an invading army, for protection built a replica of the Ark of the Covenant and that the real Ark was sent to Ethiopia for safe keeping with his son that he fathered with the Queen of Sheba and is under guard there even today awaiting its return. - NYOBS 16.20 – ARK OF THE COVENANT

·         There are now reports that The Temple Institute is now in possession of the original Ark claiming it was never lost; only hidden. – I have followed this for years and have never seen a picture of it yet, but it’s Fun to ponder - We will all see.

1 Esdras 1:54 (Apocrypha) – Carried off to Babylon

54 Babylonians took all the holy vessels of the Lord, both great and small, and the ARK of God, and the King’s treasures and carried them away into Babylon.

2nd Maccabees 2:4-10; (Dead Sea Scrolls) The Jeremiah Letter

4 Jeremiah came and found a cavern in the rock, and there he brought in the (tent) Tabernacle, and the Ark, and the Alter of Incense; and he made fast the door – “Yea, and the place SHALL BE UNKNOWN until God gather the people again together, and mercy comes; and then shall the Lord disclose these things”. – The glory of the Lord and the cloud shall appear, as they were shown before Moses and Solomon.

Final Thoughts

·         This Holy Rock on Mt. Moriah was FIRST a place of worship for the Jebusites, then became the site for Two Jewish Temples, next a sanctuary for the Roman god Jupiter, then later the Muslim's Dome of the Rock, next occupied by the Christians, and then finally reverted back to a Muslim shrine again. 

·         Previous writings indicated that the foundations of Solomon’s Temple on the Temple Mount ended about 150 feet from the Dome of the Rock which would remain under the control of the Muslims (The Gentiles) “until their time is fulfilled” – But the recent finding of the “Gate and Tunnel of the Priest” leading to the Holy of Holies and “The Rock” disputes this theory.

·         The Latest information says that the Dome of the Rock is exactly on the spot of the Holy of Holies and the dome must be dismantled and perhaps re-assembled in Mecca.

·         Will Israel trust God and rebuild the prophetic third temple on the exact foundations of the first and second temples which would include removing the Dome over the Rock or will they cave in with fear that it would force an all-out war with the Muslims.

·         Will they choose to build the Temple somewhere else or not at all. – It’s easy for us to say “TRUST GOD” because we don’t live in Jerusalem.

Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem

In the multitude of counselors,

there is wisdom.

Proverbs 11:14

I am grateful to those that went before me providing concepts, ideas, historical information, and scripture verses.  Because of them I can stand on their shoulders and see further that I otherwise ever could have.

                                                                                                                                     

Antiquity of the Jews – Flavius Josephus Matthias

Apocrypha - Goodspeed

Bible Almanac; The – Packer-Tenney-White

Bible Dictionary – Harper and Row

Bible Study Tools - Crosswalk

English Standard Version Bible – ESV

Expositor’s Bible Commentary – Frank E. Gaebelein

Illustrated Bible Dictionary – Nelson’s

Illustrated Bible Dictionary; The – Tyndale

King James Version Bible – KJV

Mysteries of the Bible – Readers Digest

Nave’s Topical Bible - Zondervan

New International Dictionary of the Bible; The – Douglas - Tenney

New International Version Bible – NIV

Temple Institute; The

Temple Mount & Land of Israel Faithful Movement

Temple Mount Location - Dr. Asher Kaufman

Thru the Bible – J. Vernon McGee

Who’s Who in the Bible – Paul D. Gardner

Wikipedia -

Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible; The – Tenney

EVIL HEART - NYOBS 58.10

EVIL HEART

The Bible is clear that we are all sinners and fall short of the mark that has been placed before us.  Ever since our childhood the inclination of our heart is on evil and it’s this evil that is in us that causes us to do evil. – But does that mean we have an evil heart?

Larry

·         In elementary school Larry was very large for his age and his way of life was to shove, punch and hit everyone around him.  He would steal your lunch money, take your food and sit beside you when there was no room, forcing someone else out of their seat.

·         Things did not change in High School; knocking your books out of your hand and picking you up and throwing you into the bushes and in general making himself a bully.

·         Larry’s heart was set on evil all the time. - I had never hated anyone before and often thought how much better the world would be if he did not exist.  - Larry was killed during a robbery in his twenties.  I did not rejoice at his death, but mourned over his perishing soul.

First Word

·         Evil translates to someone who deceives without a conscience; someone who hurts others with no remorse; someone who makes up lies to shatter others’ lives. - We don’t recognize an evil heart because we don’t actually believe that anyone around us is really just plain evil.

·         What is the difference between someone having an evil heart and a person that is just an ordinary run of the mill sinner who just messes up?

·         A Christian does not on purpose cultivate evil desires, nor feel good about them when they occur, but feels guilty and ashamed about them right away.  NYOBS 30.16 - SINLESS

Romans 3:23 – We all have sinned and fall short of the mark

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ESV

Genesis 8:21 - Inclination of the heart is evil from childhood

21 The LORD smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart: “Never again will I curse the ground because of humans, even though every inclination of the human heart is evil from childhood. And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done.

Romans 7:19-21 – Sin lives in us and causes us to do evil

19 For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.  Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. 

21 So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. ESV

Rom 7:23 – There is a war going on between my Mind and Body

23 but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. NIV

Rom 7:25 – Mind serves the law of God – Body serves law of Sin

25 So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin. NIV

The Evil Heart

·         From Birth an evil heart does evil, spreading lies, repaying good with evil, hate for love.  It devises mischief and wicked schemes and stirs up conflict for no reason and thinks of ways to sharpen its tongue with the poison of deceit and lies.

·         An Evil Heart takes advantage of the poor and needy with jaws of knives and tongues of swords. It conceives trouble; gives birth to evil and fashions deceit, it wink maliciously with the eye, signals with the feet; motions with the fingers, plotting evil with deceit in the heart; stirring up conflict.

·         The evil heart lies awake plotting ways to carry out evil because it has the power to do so and secretly manipulates false witnesses to get the results that they want.  - They withhold information, deny reality and make up stories to avoid their own responsibility.

Psalm 58:3 – From birth the evil heart goes astray spreading lies

3 Even from birth the wicked go astray; from the womb they are wayward, spreading lies.

ESV

Job 15:35 - Births evil; Conceives trouble; Fashion deceit

35 They conceive trouble and give birth to evil; their womb fashions deceit.” ESV

Psalm 36:1-4 – The evil heart has no fear of God

1 I have a message from God in my heart concerning the sinfulness of the wicked: There is NO FEAR OF GOD before their eyes. 

2 In their own eyes they flatter themselves too much to detect or hate their sin. 

3 The words of their mouths are wicked and deceitful; they fail to act wisely or do good. 

4 Even on their beds they plot evil; they commit themselves to a sinful course and do not reject what is wrong.

ESV

Romans 2:8 – Self-seeking rejecting the truth; following evil

8 But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. ESV

Psalm 109:2-5 – fighting without cause, repaying good with evil
2 For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of deceit have they opened against me: They have spoken unto me with a lying tongue.
3 They have compassed me about also with words of hatred, and fought against me without a cause.
4 For my love they are my adversaries: But I give myself unto prayer.
5 And they have rewarded me evil for good, and hatred for my love. (ASV)

Proverbs 30:14 – Devouring the poor and needy

14 those whose teeth are swords and whose jaws are set with knives to devour the poor from the earth and the needy from among mankind. ESV

Micah 2:1 – Plot evil in their beds; carry it out because they can

1 Woe to those who plan iniquity, to those who plot evil on their beds! At morning’s light they carry it out because it is in their power to do it. ESV

Jeremiah 18:18 – Plan attacks with their tongues; will not listen

18 They said, “Come, let’s make plans against Jeremiah; for the teaching of the law by the priest will not cease, nor will counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophets. So come, let’s attack him with our tongues and PAY NO ATTENTION to anything he says.” ESV

Proverbs 16:27-28 – Plots evil, stirs up conflict with gossip

27 A scoundrel plots evil, and on their lips it is like a scorching fire. 

28 A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends. ESV

Nehemiah 6:8 – Make up stories and spin yarns as they go

8 I sent him this reply: “Nothing like what you are saying is happening; you are just making it up out of your head.” ESV

Acts 6:11-13 – Secretly manipulates false witnesses

11 Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, “We have heard Stephen speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.” 

12 So they stirred up the people and the elders and the teachers of the law. They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin. 

13 They produced false witnesses, who testified, “This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law.

ESV

Jeremiah 23:14 – Strengthens the hands of others to do evil

14 And among the prophets of Jerusalem I have seen something horrible: They commit adultery and live a lie. They strengthen the hands of evildoers, so that not one of them turns from their wickedness. They are all like Sodom to me; the people of Jerusalem are like Gomorrah.” NIV

Characteristics of an Evil Heart

·         An evil heart withholds mercy and craves evil. – They delight in wrong – There paths are crooked and are devious in their ways – They are slanderers, insolent, arrogant, boastful, and God haters.

·         They find pleasure in wicked schemes and are full of meaningless talk, using their mouth for rebellion and deception; advising deceitfully for their own advantage – Manipulating false witness; using winks and hand gestures to secretly put plans into motion, stirring up conflict.

·         They plot destruction, and invent ways of doing evil. – They pat you on the back and flatter you with kind words with plans for your demise.

Proverbs 21:10 – Crave Evil – Withhold mercy

10 The wicked crave evil; their neighbors get no mercy from them.

ESV

Romans 1:30 – Slanderers, insolent, arrogant, boastful, Haters

30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; ESV

Proverbs 2:14-15 – Delight in wrong – Paths are crooked; devious

14 who delight in doing wrong and rejoice in the perverseness of evil, 

15 whose paths are crooked and who are devious in their ways. ESV

Proverbs 10:23 – Find pleasure in Wicked schemes

23 A fool finds pleasure in wicked schemes, but a person of understanding delights in wisdom.

ESV

Psalms 52:2-3 – Practice deceit; plot destruction, love falsehood

2 You who practice deceit, your tongue plots destruction; it is like a sharpened razor. 

3 You love evil rather than good, falsehood rather than speaking the truth. ESV

Titus 1:10 – Full of meaningless talk, rebellion and deception

10 For there are many rebellious people, full of meaningless talk and deception, especially those of the circumcision group. ESV

Psalms 50:19 – Their mouth used for evil; their tongue for deceit

19 You use your mouth for evil and harness your tongue to deceit. ESV

Psalms 59:7- They spew deceit secretly from their mouths

7 See what they spew from their mouths— the words from their lips are sharp as swords, and they think, “Who can hear us?” ESV

Proverbs 12:5 – They advise deceitfully

5 The plans of the righteous are just, but the advice of the wicked is deceitful. ESV

Jeremiah 12:6 – They use kind words, but cannot be trusted

6 Your relatives, members of your own family— even they have betrayed you; they have raised a loud cry against you. Do not trust them, though they speak well of you. ESV

Proverbs 12:10 - They find pleasure in wicked schemes

10 The righteous care for the needs of their animals, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel. ESV

Matthew 26:59 – They present false evidence against you

59 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death.

ESV

Psalm 140:2-3 – Devise mischief, sharpen their poisoned tongues
2 who devise mischiefs in their heart; continually do they gather themselves together for war.
3 They have sharpened their tongue like a serpent; Adders' poison is under their lips. Selah

(ASV)

Proverbs 6:13-14 – Maliciously signals, winks, motions & plots

13 who winks maliciously with his eye, signals with his feet and motions with his fingers, 

14 who plots evil with deceit in his heart— he always stirs up conflict. ESV

Proverbs 6:18-19- Devises wicked schemes – Stirs up conflict

18 a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, 

19 a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community. ESV

Make-Believer

·         There are some who call themselves Believers, but are actually Make-Believers; wolves in sheep’s clothing, full of meaningless talk and deceptions and feel nothing of their actions.   They are full of evil and threats; with troubles and lies buried under their tongue.

·         They take the hard scriptures and distort them to fit their own agenda bringing destruction to the body; going from bad to worse.

·         There is no evidence of their Faith, just smoke and mirrors. – They lay claim to heaven, but are unworthy to even recite God’s laws and commandments; having only a form of Godliness, pretending to be Believers, but perverting the Grace of God.

Rev 2:2 – Some claim to be Christians, but are not

2 I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. ESV

Jude 1:4 – Pretend to be Believers, perverting the grace of God

4 For certain individuals whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord. ESV

2 Corinthians 11:13-15 – Evil Hearts masquerade as Believers

13 For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ.  And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then,

15 if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve. ESV

Proverbs 26:23-26 – Disguise themselves with charming speech

23 Like a coating of silver dross on earthenware are fervent lips with an evil heart. - Enemies disguise themselves with their lips, but in their hearts they harbor deceit. 

25 Though their speech is charming, do not believe them, for seven (complete) abominations fill their hearts. 

26 Their malice may be concealed by deception, but their wickedness will be exposed in the assembly. ESV

2 Timothy 3:2-5 – Having a form of godliness

2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 

3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God

5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people. ESV

Psalm 73:6-9 - Their mouths lay claim to heaven

6 Therefore pride is their necklace; they clothe themselves with violence. From their callous hearts comes iniquity; their evil imaginations have no limits. They scoff, and speak with malice; with arrogance they threaten oppression. 

9 Their mouths LAY CLAIM TO HEAVEN, and their tongues take possession of the earth. ESV

2 Peter 3:16 – They distort the hard scriptures

16 He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction. ESV

Psalm 50:16-22 – They have no right to recite God’s Laws

16 But to the wicked person, God says: “WHAT RIGHT have you to recite my laws or take my covenant on your lips? 

17 You hate my instruction and cast my words behind you. 

18 When you see a thief, you join with him; you throw in your lot with adulterers. 

19 You use your mouth for evil and harness your tongue to deceit. 

20 You sit and testify against your brother and slander your own mother’s son. 

22 “Consider this, you who forget God, or I will tear you to pieces, with no one to rescue you: ESV

Titus 1:10 - They spin meaningless talk with deception

10 For there are many rebellious people, full of meaningless talk and deception, especially those of the circumcision group.

NIV

Romans 16:17-18 – Cause divisions – Put up obstacles

17 I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. 

18 For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people. ESV

Psalm 10:7 – Their mouth is full of lies, threats, trouble and evil

7 His mouth is full of lies and threats; trouble and evil are under his tongue. ESV

Proverbs 26:28 – Have a lying flattering mouth that brings ruin

28 A lying tongue hates those it hurts, and a flattering mouth works ruin. ESV

Acts 6:11-13 - They secretly manipulate; stirring up the people

11 Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, “We have heard Stephen speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.” 

12 So they stirred up the people and the elders and the teachers of the law. They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin. 

13 They produced false witnesses, who testified, “This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law.

ESV

Titus 1:16 – The Make-Believer’s actions deny God

16 They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good. ESV

2 Timothy 3:13 – Make-Believers will go from bad to worse

13 while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. ESV

Judging an Evil Heart

·         We are told to not judge others because that is God’s prerogative alone. -  We are instructed to be fruit inspectors; that we will know a good tree by its fruits. – Fruit does not fall very far from the tree   – NYOBS 20.36 - GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

·         You will know them by their fruit - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control; All of these make up ONE FRUIT. – It’s in the Book –

• Description of the Believer - An Evil Heart exhibits none of the following characteristics.

1.     They realize that they are in spiritual bankruptcy and need God. - NYOBS 04.02 – BE ATTITUDES

2.     They weep over perishing souls. – They anguish over sin. – They want right to prevail

3.     They have an absence of pretense which suggests self-control, humility, doing their daily work as unto the Lord with gentleness toward all men.

4.     They have an intense desire to be in right standing with God and from the heart to wholly do God’s “will”.  All sin, evil and wrong doing to anyone grieves them.

5.     They are kind; have pity and show mercy to others, whether it’s convenient or not.

6.     They have a pure heart with singleness of purpose with no hidden motives or self-interest; utterly sincere. - (In scripture, seven is the number of completeness.)  

7.     They are Peacemakers; partaking in the nature of God; therefore they have peace with God.  Peacemakers not only keep the peace, but bring men into harmony with each other.

·         The Beatitudes show the characteristics of a man who is saved; they do not show a man how to be saved.  They are not promises, but are a description of who the believer already is.

Matthew 7:1-2 – Do not judge others
¹ Judge not, that you be not judged. (ESV)

Matthew 7:16-18 - You will recognize them by their fruits
¹⁶ You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles?  - So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit.
¹⁸ A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. (ESV)
Isaiah 32:6 – You will know them by their actions

6 For fools speak folly, their hearts are bent on evil: They practice ungodliness and spread error concerning the LORD; the hungry they leave empty and from the thirsty they withhold water. ESV

Galatians 5:22-23 – Fruit of the Spirit
²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
²³ gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (ESV)

Matthew 5:3-9 – Complete Description of the Believer
³ Blessed are (1) the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
⁴ Blessed are (2) those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
⁵ Blessed are (3) the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
⁶ Blessed are (4) those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
⁷ Blessed are (5) the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
⁸ Blessed are (6) the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
⁹ Blessed are (7) the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. (ESV)

How an Evil Heart ends

·         This is how it all ends up – An Evil Heart pollutes their own body; they reject authority and heap abuse on everyone around them including the things in and of the spiritual realm. – The Evil Heart has no room for thoughts of God.

·         The evil heart is proud, arrogant and is a mocker and slander of what they do not understand, reacting to things with their basic animal instincts. – They seek to shepherd, but actually only feed themselves – Their promises are like empty clouds without rain and their opinion is like the wind being tossed about with change. 

·         No one who practices deceit will dwell in the house of the Lord.  - No one who speaks falsely will stand in His presence. - Their sacrifices and gifts are detestable and rejected.

·          Because of the sin of Adam, EVERYONE is born traveling down the road to hell; however, God in His mercy has predestined some to be saved from this fate, others He gave FREE WILL to accept the mercy extended by His Son Jesus the Christ. – The Evil Heart becomes trapped by its own actions therefore its Destiney is Hell. – NYOBS 03.30 - PREDESTINATION –- NYOBS 29.28 - PREDESTINATION REVISITED

·         The blackest of darkness has been reserved for them as they follow their own evil desires.  Scripture says they are TWICE DEAD.

·         I hate to end this study by saying there is no hope for an evil heart, because TRULY with man it is impossible to be saved, but Jesus said, WITH GOD, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE. The thief on the cross was saved at the very last minute.

·          I truly want to believe in my heart that life is still choice driven even if you have an evil heart, however, narrow is the gate and difficult is the road that leads to life, and unfortunately very FEW FIND IT. – It’s in the book – He is coming soon -

Proverbs 21:24 – An Evil heart mocks and is insolent

24 The proud and arrogant person—“Mocker” is his name— behaves with insolent fury. ESV

Psalms 10:1-18 – The wicked have no room for thoughts of God

1 Why, LORD, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?

2 In his arrogance the wicked man hunts down the weak, who are caught in the schemes he devises. 

3 He boasts about the cravings of his heart; he blesses the greedy and reviles the LORD. 

4 In his pride the wicked man does not seek him; in all his thoughts THERE IS NO ROOM FOR GOD. 

5 His ways are always prosperous; your laws are rejected by him; he sneers at all his enemies. 

6 He says to himself, “Nothing will ever shake me.” He swears, “No one will ever do me harm.” 

7 His mouth is full of lies and threats; trouble and evil are under his tongue. 

8 He lies in wait near the villages; from ambush he murders the innocent. His eyes watch in secret for his victims; 

9 like a lion in cover he lies in wait. He lies in wait to catch the helpless; he catches the helpless and drags them off in his net. 

10 His victims are crushed, they collapse; they fall under his strength. 

11 He says to himself, “God will never notice; he covers his face and never sees.” 

12 Arise, LORD! Lift up your hand, O God. Do not forget the helpless. 

13 Why does the wicked man revile God? Why does he say to himself, “He won’t call me to account”? 

14 But you, God, see the trouble of the afflicted; you consider their grief and take it in hand. The victims commit themselves to you; you are the helper of the fatherless. 

15 Break the arm of the wicked man; call the evildoer to account for his wickedness that would not otherwise be found out. 

16 The LORD is King for ever and ever; the nations will perish from his land. 

17 You, LORD, hear the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry, 

18 defending the fatherless and the oppressed, so that mere earthly mortals will never again strike terror.

ESV

Jude 1:8-16 – They slander what they do not understand

8 In the very same way, on the strength of their dreams these ungodly people pollute their own bodies, reject authority and heap abuse on celestial beings. 

9 But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not himself dare to condemn him for slander but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” 

10 Yet these people SLANDER WHATEVER THEY DO NOT UNDERSTAND, and the very things they do understand by instinct—as irrational animals do—will destroy them.

11 Woe to them! They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit into Balaam’s error; they have been destroyed in Korah’s rebellion. 

12 These people are blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm—shepherds who feed only themselves. They are clouds without rain, blown along by the wind; autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted—TWICE DEAD. 

13 They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame; wandering stars, for whom BLACKEST DARKNESS has been reserved forever. 

16 These people are grumblers and faultfinders; they follow their own evil desires; they boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage.

ESV

Proverbs 21:27-29 - The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable

27 The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable— how much more so when brought with evil intent! 

28 A false witness will perish, but a careful listener will testify successfully. 

29 The wicked put up a bold front, but the upright give thought to their ways.

ESV

Proverbs 12:13 – They become trapped by their own sinful talk

13 Evildoers are trapped by their sinful talk, and so the innocent escape trouble.

ESV

Psalm 101:7 – No one who practices deceit will go to heaven

7 No one who practices deceit will dwell in my house; no one who speaks falsely will stand in my presence.

ESV

Matthew 7:13-14 – The gate is narrow and the road difficult
¹³ Enter through the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the road is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who go through it.
¹⁴ How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to life, and few find it.

(HCSB)

Matthew 19:25-26 – All things are possible with God
²⁵ When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?”
²⁶ But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but WITH GOD ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE.”

(ESV)

Luke 23:42-43 – You will be with me in Paradise
⁴² Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
⁴³ Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (NIV2011)

Through the character of the Believer,

the world can see God

 and glory in Him.

The Believer is the light of the world

It’s in the Book

In the multitude of counselors,

there is wisdom.

Proverbs 11:14

I am grateful to those that went before me providing concepts, ideas, historical information, and scripture verses.  Because of them I can stand on their shoulders and see further that I otherwise ever could have.

                                                                                                                                     

Antiquity of the Jews – Flavius Josephus Matthias

Apocrypha - Goodspeed

Bible Almanac; The – Packer-Tenney-White

Bible Dictionary – Harper and Row

Bible Study Tools - Crosswalk

English Standard Version Bible – ESV

Expositor’s Bible Commentary – Frank E. Gaebelein

Illustrated Bible Dictionary – Nelson’s

Illustrated Bible Dictionary; The – Tyndale

King James Version Bible – KJV

Mysteries of the Bible – Readers Digest

Nave’s Topical Bible - Zondervan

New International Dictionary of the Bible; The – Douglas - Tenney

New International Version Bible - NIV

Thru the Bible – J. Vernon McGee

Who’s Who in the Bible – Paul D. Gardner

Wikipedia -

Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible; The – Tenney