Paul cursed a false prophet, but
Peter simply spoke truthfully to those who cursed themselves. We have a
conundrum in that we see some imprecations being made against some people and
we mistakenly think that that is what we should “always” do. Peter gives us
another example of people who put themselves under the curse, and by his
straight talk he exposed them. We will look at the culture of the Essenes and
what they did regarding curses and cursing. We will look at a few people who
all seem to be narcissists. This may be what leads people to become sons of
darkness.
Paul is called a prophet. To
better understand the words of the prophets we have to remember that the
prophets were all Essenes during this time period. They had originated from
Shem and Eber’s school, and through the years were called Zedeks, but by the first century CE they were of the Essenes. We
previously noted that there was a split amongst the Essenes in the first century
BCE at the time Jonathan Maccabee was made the High Priest, which was not an
office Antiochus Epiphanies was allowed to bequeath. Since Jonathan was not of
the lineage of Aaron, he should have known he had no authority as a High
Priest. While the spiritual ones did not like this turn of events, some stayed
and served in the temple, becoming the Pharisees, who were the workers of the
law; while some left for other regions such as Damascus and became the Essenes
who were the prophets led by the Holy Spirit. We find some prophets in Antioch
in the assembly there.
Acts 13:1-7 NOW IN the church
(assembly) at Antioch there were prophets (inspired interpreters of the will
and purposes of God) and teachers: Barnabas, Symeon who was called Niger
[Black], Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a member of the court of Herod the tetrarch,
and Saul. 2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit
said, Separate now for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called
them. 3 Then after fasting and praying, they put their hands on them and sent
them away.
This is Antioch Syria, north of
Damascus. Look at the prophets in that assembly. There is Barnabas,
Symeon/Niger, Lucius, Manaen and Saul. Symeon/Simeon was obviously black and he may
have been the same Simon the Essene that Josephus spoke of. Look at Manaen.
NT:3127 Manaen (man-ah-ane'); of
uncertain origin; Manaen, a Christian: KJV - Manaen. (Biblesoft's New
Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew
Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International
Bible Translators, Inc.)
This is the same Manahem the
Essene we read about last week from Josephus’ Antiquities of the Jews 15:10:5.
Manahem was a friend of the king ruler, the one who prophesied to Herod that he
would be king one day. The Amplified translates this differently than the
Greek, which states that Manaen was a friend or comrade of Herod, not a member
of the court of Herod. {and Manaen G*[2of
Herod G35883the G50764tetrarch G49391a companion]} It is interesting to note that this Essene was
now a prophet in Antioch Syria, establishing the ekklesia, the assembly. Again
when people ask what happened to the Essenes, we can see the simple transition
they made from Essene to Christian after the Messiah came.
Notice what prophets do, they
worship and fast and hear from the Holy Spirit. Then they act on what they are
told. Paul and Barnabas were prophets. Not just recent converts, but prophets.
Paul spent a decent amount of time in Damascus. Remember who lived in Damascus?
People who were Nazarenes/Zedeks/Essenes/Therapeutaes, there was an entire
community there. That is where Paul unlearned his Pharisee education so that he
could become a prophet. The Pharisees yielded no prophetic power at all because
they were the ones who compromised and stayed in temple service, they lost the
power of the Holy Spirit. But there were new people learning the ways of the
Holy Spirit and Paul is one of them. Paul and Barnabas the prophets, sailed to
Cyprus.
Acts 13:4 So then, being sent out
by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from [that port] they
sailed away to Cyprus. 5 When they arrived at Salamis, they preached the Word
of God [concerning the attainment through Christ of salvation in the kingdom of
God] in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had John [Mark] as an attendant to
assist them. 6 When they had passed through the entire island of Cyprus as far
as Paphos, they came upon a certain Jewish wizard or sorcerer, a false prophet
named Bar-Jesus. 7 He was closely associated with the proconsul, Sergius
Paulus, who was an intelligent and sensible man of sound understanding; he
summoned to him Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the Word of God
[concerning salvation in the kingdom of God attained through Christ]. AMP
Paul and Barnabas found a magus, a magician. From the view point
of the Essenes, the prophets and Essenes/Nazarenes/Therapeutaes were “sons of
light”, while the sons of darkness were magicians and false prophets also known
as “sons of Belial”. With that perspective in mind we might imagine what that
meeting might have felt like. There was a huge confrontation between sons of
light and a son of darkness. Magus is
magician. Notice that the word for false prophet is pseudo-prophet. He is a pretend foreteller and a religious
impostor. But notice something else. This man Bar-Jesus (son of Joshua) was a
Jew, from Judea. He was not a Greek or Roman. He was not a Pharisee or
Sadducee. He was a Jew who was a religious impostor or pretend foreteller.
Acts 13:6G1330And having gone
through G3588the G3520island G891as far as G*Paphos, G2147they found G5100a certain G3097magus, G5578a false prophet, G*a Jew G3739whose G3686name G*was Barjesus
G3097 μάγος magos mag'-os
Of foreign origin [H7248]; a Magian, that is, Oriental scientist; by
implication a magician KJV Usage: sorcerer, wise man.
G5578 ψευδοπροφήτης
pseudoprophētēs psyoo-dop-rof-ay'-tace From G5571 and G4396; a spurious prophet,
that is, pretended foreteller or religious impostor
KJV Usage: false prophet.
Sergius Paulus wanted to hear
about salvation through Christ. Again the Amplified strays from the Greek in
speaking of Elymas’ name. It literally reads Elymas the magus, “Elymas the magician”.
Acts 13:8-12 But Elymas the wise
man — for that is the translation of his name [which he had given himself] —
opposed them, seeking to keep the proconsul from accepting the faith.
Acts 13:8G436[5opposed
G11611But G14736them G*2Elymas G35883the G30974magus], G3779(for so G1063 G3177is translated G3588 G3686his name,) G1473 G2212seeking G1294to turn aside G3588the G446proconsul G575from G3588the G4102belief.
Bar-Jesus the Jew used sorcery
regularly and in this instance intended to use it to keep Sergius Paulus from
receiving salvation. Think about what Paul and Barnabas dealt with. They went
to a synagogue in eastern Cypress prior to coming to western Cypress. In the
Synagogue they preached to Jews, now they are speaking to a governor who was
not a Jew, but a Jewish wizard who was closely associated with the governor
wanted to keep the governor from hearing Paul and Barnabas.
Acts 13:9 But Saul, who is also
called Paul, filled with and controlled by the Holy Spirit, looked steadily at
[Elymas]
Paul was filled with the Holy
Spirit. It was the Holy Spirit’s leading as to what happens next. This was not
Paul’s idea. We have to understand this so we do not think that by our own
ideas we can curse without consequence.
Acts 13:10 And said, You master
in every form of deception and recklessness, unscrupulousness, and wickedness,
you son of the devil, you enemy of everything that is upright and good, will
you never stop perverting and making crooked the straight paths of the Lord and
plotting against His saving purposes? [Hos 14:9.] 11 And now, behold, the hand
of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind, [so blind that you will be]
unable to see the sun for a time. Instantly there fell upon him a mist and a
darkness, and he groped about seeking persons who would lead him by the hand.
12 Then the proconsul believed (became a Christian) when he saw what had
occurred, for he was astonished and deeply touched at the teaching concerning
the Lord and from Him. AMP
We see the power Paul the prophet
had with the Holy Spirit working in him. Curses were part of the Essene
Community, in that they cursed Belial and the children of the devil. It was
normal for them to curse the workers of evil. Let’s read.
4Q286 The Community Council
Curses Belial Fragment 3 Column 2
(1) The Community Council shall
say together in unison, ‘Amen. Amen.’ Then [they] shall curse Belial (2) and
all his guilty lot, and they shall answer and say, ‘Cursed be [Be]lial in his
devilish (Mastematic) scheme, (3) and damned be he in his guilty rule. Cursed
be all the spir[its of] his Lot in their Evil scheme. (4) And may they be
damned in the schemes of their [un]clean pollution. Surely [they are the lo]t
of Darkness. Their punishment (5) will be the eternal Pit. Amen. Amen. And
cursed be the Evi[l] One [in all] of his dominions, and damned be (6) all the
sons of Bel[ial] in all their times of service until their consummation
[forever. Amen. Amen.’] (7) And [they are to repeat and say, ‘Cursed be you,
Angel of the Pit and Spir[it of Destruction in al[l] the schemes of [your]
gu[ilty] inclination, (8) [and in all the abominable [purposes] and counsel of
[your] Wick[edness. And damned be you in [your] [sinful] d[omi]n[ion] (9) [and
in your wicked and guilty rule,] together with all the abom[inations of She]ol
and [the reproach of the P]it, (10) [and with the humiliations of destruction,
with [no remnant and no forgiveness, in the fury of [God’s] wrath
[for]ever [and ever.] Amen. A[men.] (11) [And cursed be al]l who perform their
[Evil schemes,] who establish your Evil purposes [in their hearts against] (12)
Go[d’s Covenant,] so as to [reject the words of those who see] his [Tru]th, and
exchange the Judge[ments of the Torah...]
They damn the schemes of the
devil that come against them. As we saw last week the Jews cursed the
Christians three times per day as part of their 18 /19 benedictions, but that
curse is a causeless one. The curses the Essenes speak are directly against the
people that follow the devil and attempt to harm them. This is an offensive
move in intercession, and we know that the Essenes were mighty
intercessors. Melkiresha is the
anti-type of Melchizedek. Melchizedek is the Lord of the Righteous and Melkiresha
is lord of the unrighteous.
Curses of Melkiresha 4Q280
[May God set him apart]for evil
from the midst of the Sons of Li[ght because he has turned away from following
Him.
And they shall continue saying: Be
cru]sed, Melkiresha’, in all the thou[ghts of your guilty inclination. May] God
[deliver you up] for torture at the hands of the vengeful Avengers. May God not
heed [when] you call on Him. [May He raise His angry face] towards you. May
there be no (greeting of ‘Peace” for you in the mouth of all those who hold
fast to the Father[s. May you be cursed] with no remnant, and damned without
escape.
Cursed be those who practi[se
their wicked designs] and [es]tablish in their heart your (evil) devices,
plotting against the covenant of God…, seers of [His] truth.
[Who]ever refuses to enter [His
Covenant, walking in the stubbornness of his heart]…
Since this is part of their
culture, it was also part of the culture of the first century. It is a very
powerful weapon in the intercession arsenal. But notice that the Essenes could
have cursed specific people who they didn’t like or agree with, but instead
they cursed the people who intentionally worked for satan. Cursing those who
work for the devil, who intentionally try to harm the believers in God is
something we can do today.
There is an interesting account
that we really don’t understand until we understand the holiness of the Essenes
and their culture. The story of Ananias and Sapphira has truly never had a
decent explanation because we have never understood the Essene vow to purity.
What happened to Ananias and Sapphira is that they cursed themselves. We saw
last week that as soon as people repented and believed after Pentecost, they
sold everything they had and shared everything they had. People naturally
started behaving like the Essenes in that they lived communally. But instead of
honesty, Ananias and Sapphira held back part of the money they gained from
selling what they had, but told people they were donating the whole amount.
Then they lied about it.
Acts 5:1-12 BUT A certain man
named Ananias with his wife Sapphira sold a piece of property, 2 And with his
wife's knowledge and connivance he kept back and wrongfully appropriated some
of the proceeds, bringing only a part and putting it at the feet of the
apostles. 3 But Peter said, Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart that you
should lie to and attempt to deceive the Holy Spirit, and should [in violation
of your promise] withdraw secretly and appropriate to your own use part of the
price from the sale of the land? 4 As long as it remained unsold, was it not
still your own? And [even] after it was sold, was not [the money] at your
disposal and under your control? Why then, is it that you have proposed and
purposed in your heart to do this thing? [How could you have the heart to do
such a deed?] You have not [simply] lied to men [playing false and showing
yourself utterly deceitful] but to God. 5 Upon hearing these words, Ananias
fell down and died. And great dread and terror took possession of all who heard
of it.
Notice Peter’s words to Ananias. Why
did satan fill your heart? Ananias didn’t have to sell the property, he could
have kept it. Ananias didn’t have to tell everyone he was giving all the money
to the apostles from the sale of the land. Then when asked about it, Ananias
didn’t have to lie but he could have simply told the truth. This tells us
something. Ananias sold the property to gain in prominence and stature among the
apostles. Ananias wasn’t truly concerned with helping others. It was all done
for show. The fact is some people are motivated by their own narcissism and
vying for the promotion of men. Peter asks why did he propose and purpose in
his heart to do what he did. Why did he lie to the Holy Spirit? It is possible
that this new movement looked like it could be lucrative and Ananias thought it
was a good idea to set himself up as an important person.
Ananias and Sapphira put this
idea from satan in their hearts, their cardia.
It may have started in their heads, but they themselves put the thoughts into
their own hearts’. That is where the problem is. It wasn’t an idea. They didn’t
die due to a bad thought in their head, they died because they put the bad thoughts
into their hearts’ and planned accordingly. Satan filled their hearts, not just
their heads. Understand, satan can influence bad thoughts in your head, but as
Paul told us we are to cast down imaginations and every high thing that exalts
itself against the knowledge of God. That is so the thoughts don’t get into our
heart.
Three hours later Sapphira was
confronted and died. Notice Peter never once cursed them. Peter never said
anything about them being cursed either, he simply confronted them.
Acts 5:6 And the young men arose
and wrapped up [the body] and carried it out and buried it. 7 Now after an
interval of about three hours his wife came in, not having learned of what had
happened. 8 And Peter said to her, Tell me, did you sell the land for so much?
Yes, she said, for so much. 9 Then Peter said to her, How could you two have
agreed and conspired together to try to deceive the Spirit of the Lord? Listen!
The feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will
carry you out [also]. 10 And instantly she fell down at his feet and died; and
the young men entering found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her
beside her husband. 11 And the whole church and all others who heard of these
things were appalled [great awe and strange terror and dread seized them]. 12
Now by the hands of the apostles (special messengers) numerous and startling
signs and wonders were being performed among the people. And by common consent
they all met together [at the temple] in the covered porch (walk) called
Solomon's. AMP
The power of the Holy Spirit was
so strong in the crusade at that time that corrupt people could not lie and
weasel their way in. They put themselves under the curses of the Essenes by
pretending to be Essenes. There are a few ideas regarding lying and punishment
among the Community, but again no one said a word against Ananias and Sapphira
other than to confront their lies.
Dead Sea Scrolls 1QVI:24. These
are the rules by which they shall judge at a Community (court of) inquiry
according to the cases If one of them has lied 25. Deliberately in matters of
property, he shall be excluded from the pure Meal of the Congregation for one
year and shall do penance with respect to one quarter of his food. Whoever has answered 26. his companion with
obstinacy, or has addressed him impatiently, going so far as to take no account
of the dignity of his fellow by
disobeying the order of a brother inscribed before him,27. he has taken the law
into his own hand; therefore he shall do penance for one year [and shall be
excluded]. If any man has uttered the
[Most] Venerable Name
Concerning the statute for
free-will offerings 4Q266, fr 8ii, 2-3
No man shall vow to the altar
anything unlawfully acquired. Also no Priest shall take from Israel anything
unlawfully acquired. And no man shall consecrate the food of his house to God,
for it is as he said, Each hunts his
brother with a net (or votive-offering Mic vii2). Let no man consecrate…And
if he has consecrated to God some of his own field… he who has made the vow
shall be punished…{[with]on sixth of his valuation money}
Where there is purity there is
power. This “new thing” that started on Pentecost was pure, and there was great
power in and among the people. Remember, the apostles were not Essenes, they
were regular people, Jesus and John the Baptist were Essenes and they showed
the way of the Essenes to the non-Essene/Nazarene/Therapeutae people. Now we
have a movement of non-Essene people receiving the Holy Spirit, while the
Pharisees who once had been associated with this holy order moved further and
further away into dead works. The new converts were exhibiting power that other
religious people did not have. The new converts were also spiritually held to a
standard of holiness by being led by the Holy Spirit. This is why Ananias and
Sapphira could not stand before the pure power of the Holy Spirit and lie.
Satan filled their hearts, but holiness always wins when confronted by the Holy
Spirit.
Acts 8:4-24 Now those who were
scattered abroad went about [through the land from place to place] preaching
the glad tidings, the Word [the doctrine concerning the attainment through
Christ of salvation in the kingdom of God].
By this time period, the
believers were already scattered abroad. They did not wait for the destruction
of the temple, they moved out to many other areas.
Acts 8:5 Philip [the deacon, not
the apostle] went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed the Christ (the
Messiah) to them [the people]; [Acts 6:5.] 6 And great crowds of people with
one accord listened to and heeded what was said by Philip, as they heard him
and watched the miracles and wonders which he kept performing [from time to
time]. 7 For foul spirits came out of many who were possessed by them,
screaming and shouting with a loud voice, and many who were suffering from
palsy or were crippled were restored to health. 8 And there was great rejoicing
in that city.
Philip the evangelist had a
healing ministry in Samaria. Remember that the Samarians believed Jesus was the
Messiah and they didn’t want Jesus to go to Jerusalem to die, so they were
receptive to Philip’s miracle ministry.
Acts 8:9 But there was a man
named Simon, who had formerly practiced magic arts in the city to the utter
amazement of the Samaritan nation, claiming that he himself was an extraordinary
and distinguished person.
G3096 μαγεύω mageuō mag-yoo'-o From G3097; to practice magic
KJV Usage: use sorcery.
Simon was practicing magic, just
like Bar-Jesus the magus, he was a magus also. Notice the narcissism of Simon
who claimed himself to be something that we was not. Just like Bar-Jesus and Ananias
and Sapphira, it seems the Holy Spirit is against narcissism.
Acts 8:10 They all paid earnest
attention to him, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is that
exhibition of the power of God which is called great (intense). 11 And they
were attentive and made much of him, because for a long time he had amazed and
bewildered and dazzled them with his skill in magic arts.
Simon was the leader of the false
miracle club in Samaria and people believed him because of the power of satan
working through him. We have to remember, at that time the Therapeutaes were
well known for healings and miracles and the people who needed healing were
drawn to anyone who could give them hope. Simon looked like he could give
people hope and so they believed that he had the dunamis of Theos.
Acts 8:12 But when they believed
the good news (the Gospel) about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus
Christ (the Messiah) as Philip preached it, they were baptized, both men and
women. 13 Even Simon himself believed [he adhered to, trusted in, and relied on
the teaching of Philip], and after being baptized, devoted himself constantly
to him. And seeing signs and miracles of great power which were being
performed, he was utterly amazed.
Simon saw the power of the Holy
Spirit working miracles and wanted to add to his collection of tricks so that
he could continue to have prominence. But truly the miracles of Phillip were
more powerful and healed people, whereas Simon’s miracles probably did not heal
people. (This was Phillip the evangelist who was a deacon, not Philip the
apostle. The Amplified points to the idea that he was not an apostle as the
apostles came later in the story)
Acts 8:14 Now when the apostles
(special messengers) at Jerusalem heard that [the country of] Samaria had
accepted and welcomed the Word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, 15 And
they came down and prayed for them that the Samaritans might receive the Holy
Spirit; 16 For He had not yet fallen upon any of them, but they had only been
baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then [the apostles] laid their
hands on them one by one, and they received the Holy Spirit.
The apostles Peter and John laid
hands on the people who believed and they received the Holy Spirit. As we
studied Apollos a couple of weeks ago, sometimes people received the Holy
Spirit without people laying hands on them. Sometimes they received the Holy
Spirit without being immersed first. There is no “right procedure” there is
only the Holy Spirit’s procedure whatever way that might be at the time.
Acts 8:18 However, when Simon saw
that the [Holy] Spirit was imparted through the laying on of the apostles'
hands, he brought money and offered it to them, 19 Saying, Grant me also this
power and authority, in order that anyone on whom I place my hands may receive
the Holy Spirit.
Simon wanted the authority to
impart the Holy Spirit into people. That is rather funny since Simon believed
that the power or authority was the apostles’ to give. Simon did not know or
understand that the Holy Spirit is a being, not a thing. The Holy Spirit is an
Elohim, not a physical force like electricity. I can buy electricity but I
can’t buy God. So Simon’s understanding was very limited. He performed magic
tricks, maybe he had props and assumed that all he needed was a few more
props.
Acts 8:20 But Peter said to him,
Destruction overtake your money and you, because you imagined you could obtain
the [free] gift of God with money!
Acts 8:20G*And Peter G1161 G2036said G1473to him, G3588 G694[2your
money G1473 G48624with
G14735youG1510.41May 3be]
G1519unto G684destruction, G3754for G3588[2the
G14313gift
G3588 G23164of
God G35431you
thought G12236by
G55367things
G29325 is to
be acquired].
More literally Peter said “May
your money be to you spiritual destruction as you thought you could gain wealth
by this gift of Theos.”
Acts 8:21 You have neither part
nor lot in this matter, for your heart is all wrong in God's sight [it is not
straightforward or right or true before God]. [Ps 78:37.] 22 So repent of this
depravity and wickedness of yours and pray to the Lord that, if possible, this
contriving thought and purpose of your heart may be removed and disregarded and
forgiven you. 23 For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in a bond
forged by iniquity [to fetter souls]. [Isa 58:6.] 24 And Simon answered, Pray
for me [beseech the Lord, both of you], that nothing of what you have said may
befall me! AMP
Peter says Simon’s heart is not
straight before Theos. He tells him to repent from depravity and beg God for
forgiveness for the thoughts in his cardia. Again the heart and thoughts are
what causes separation between people either being children of light or
children of darkness. He was joined to unrighteousness and in the bile of
poison. If someone has been joined or united to unrighteousness it means that
that person made an allegiance with the devil. To join ones’ self takes a
conscious effort. Remember, Peter just saw two people die for lying to the Holy
Spirit, so Peter gives Simon the low down of his condition and says repent and
beg Theos to forgive you. Simon asks Peter and John to pray to Kurios on his
behalf. We see that sometimes people get swayed by the illusion of power and
authority and join themselves to the darkness without considering the light. If
someone was given the option of who to join themselves to before joining
themselves to the devil or the Holy Spirit, we would understand the contrast
between the sons of light and the sons of darkness. But many times people, like
Simon, are baited into joining themselves to darkness due to the feeding of
their own narcissism. We don’t know what happened to Simon after that. Maybe he
changed and maybe he did not. But Peter told him exactly where he was at, and
it scared Simon.
This again was not a curse that
Peter issued, he simply told Simon the truth, that he was about to curse
himself if he didn’t repent and that his money would lead to spiritual destruction.
It would be better if Simon’s money led to his spiritual destruction so that he
could be reconstructed in the Holy Spirit. It is better for Simon’s money to
damn his unclean magic ways so that he can change and become a true believer. It
would be better for Simon to become poor and destitute in Christ than to stay
wealthy and prominent in satan. We have to understand this from the perspective
of blasphemy of the Holy Spirt.
Matt 12:31-32 Therefore I tell
you, every sin and blasphemy (every evil, abusive, injurious speaking, or
indignity against sacred things) can be forgiven men, but blasphemy against the
[Holy] Spirit shall not and cannot be forgiven. 32 And whoever speaks a word
against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Spirit,
the Holy One, will not be forgiven, either in this world and age or in the
world and age to come. AMP
When one attributes the works and
miracles of the Holy Spirit to the devil or to magic, one is blaspheming the
Holy Spirit. As we have studied in the past, someone blaspheming may not lose
their salvation but still may not be forgiven. Just like Paul mentions he
received mercy because he was ignorant, it doesn’t mean he is forgiven but that
he is still saved even though he blasphemed the Holy Spirit. The unforgiveness by
way of blaspheming the Holy Spirit is carried over into the next age, or eon.
Another principle that the
Essenes had is that people who made oaths did not swear an oath using the name
of God, but they made oaths that were binding by the curses of the Covenant.
The Statutes
... (He shall
not) <<XV>> swear by (the Name), nor by Aleph and Lamed s
(Elohim), nor by Aleph and Daleth (Adonai), but a binding oath by the curses of
the Covenant.
As we previously studied the
Aleph Tav, we can see that the Aleph Lamed and the Aleph Daleth are also names
the Essenes used for God/Theos. If someone made an oath or vow they were not to
say “I swear to God” they were to simply say “I swear to (whatever)” and then be bound by the Covenant. It probably became a
cultural expression to swear an oath to God, but the Essenes point out that any
oath one made was bound to the Covenant and one could not make a stipulation as
to the curse one would receive if the oath was broken. For example, one could
not announce “I swear on my mother’s life” or “I swear by the temple” or “I
swear by the gold in the temple”. The oath taker could not set the parameters
in case he broke his vow.
The Israelites who rejected Jesus
cursed themselves as well because they did not recognize the time of Jesus’
visitation. The time that the Prophets spoke of. The time the Essenes were
aware of, but the Pharisees forgot about this time when God would show his
mercy to his people via a Messiah.
Luke 19:41-44 And as He
approached, He saw the city, and He wept [audibly] over it, 42 Exclaiming,
Would that you had known personally, even at least in this your day, the things
that make for peace (for freedom from all the distresses that are experienced
as the result of sin and upon which your peace — your security, safety,
prosperity, and happiness — depends)! But now they are hidden from your eyes. 43
For a time is coming upon you when your enemies will throw up a bank [with
pointed stakes] about you and surround you and shut you in on every side. [Isa
29:3; Jer 6:6; Ezek 4:2.] 44 And they will dash you down to the ground, you
[Jerusalem] and your children within you; and they will not leave in you one
stone upon another, [all] because you did not come progressively to recognize
and know and understand [from observation and experience] the time of your
visitation [that is, when God was visiting you, the time in which God showed
Himself gracious toward you and offered you salvation through Christ]. AMP
Luke 19:43G3754For G2240[2shall
come G22501days] G1909upon G1473you, G2532that G4016[2shall
put 4around G3588 G21901your enemies G1473 G54823a siege mound] G1473you, G2532and G4033shall surround G1473you, G2532and G4912shall constrain G1473you G3840from all sides,
44G2532and G1474shall dash G1473you G2532and G3588 G5043your children G1473 G1722with G1473you, G2532and G3756they shall not
leave G863 G1722among G1473you G3037a stone G1909upon G3037a stone; G446.2because G3756you knew not G1097 G3588the G2540time G3588 G1984of your
visitation
Because they did not recognize the Messiah, the city was
destroyed, and then the temple was destroyed in 70 AD. Remember what happened
after that? The Jews were thrown out of Jerusalem and those who continued to
reject Jesus started a school south of Tel-Aviv and proceeded to curse
Christians, the Min. But while the hearts of those people became more and more
hardened, the Christians were spreading the good news. If we look at the
numbers today, we see that Christianity has continued to flourish.
I know what some may say, that all the miracles of the
apostles, evangelists, prophets, and the first century believers, were done by
the magus’, and were all from the devil; however that is the blasphemy of the
Holy Spirit which puts another curse upon people. People have been tricked into
cursing themselves. If we reject Jesus and attribute the works of the Holy
Spirit to the devil we have put ourselves under two curses. If we have made a
vow or oath we are bound by the terms of the Covenant, not our own made up
terms. Therefore it is important to understand that people who have put
themselves in this type of situation need to repent and beg God for
forgiveness. Only then can they be set free. The law became a curse because it
pushed out the Holy Spirit, the free gift from Theos. We can’t buy the Holy
Spirit or do enough works to attain the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit is given
freely to those who believe.
There is no law or procedure that one can perform to attain
the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. But if people bury themselves in curses they
will not be able to get themselves unburied. We have to teach them repentance.
This is the Essene way and the Christian way.
Paul was a prophet and he specifically cursed an
individual. Peter was an apostle and he specifically spoke the truth about people’s
actions and they then were exposed and cursed by their own works. It was common
for the Essenes to curse the children of satan as a general group. Even when
speaking of others specifically the Essenes used cloaked language or titles. So
if Jesus says to bless and curse not, we have to understand that cursing specific
individuals was for the prophets, by direct revelation of the Holy Spirit. It
doesn’t matter if one “wants” to be a prophet, the Holy Spirit is in charge of
who the prophets are and what they say. Then what we want to understand is that
people get corrupted in their hearts’ by thoughts from their heads’. Repentance
and begging God can cure the curse.
