1Cor 10:10                            KorahÕs Rebellion                                       2/27/2010      §ˆ   

 

 

 

 

#1.                  Who Are Korah, Dathan, and Abiram? (Num 16:1-40, 1Chron 6:1-3,22)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#2.                  Who Is the Son of Perdition? (2Thes 2:3-12, 2Cor 11:13-15)

 

 



 

 

 

 

#3.                  Who Are the Murmurers? (Num 16:41-50, Rev 13:6-8, Heb 9:11-12, Rev 8:3)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Please open your Bibles to the First Epistle to the Corinthians, 1Cor 10:1 (2X). We have experienced in the past few weeks that even the sins of Israel as recorded in the Prophecy of Numbers is beneficial for our edification. Today we have another incident which makes you hair curl. It is KorahÕs Rebellion. That is why the sermon of today is called ÒKorahÕs RebellionÓ, as it is recorded in Num 16. Let us now review the context and let us begin to read 1Cor 10:1 (2X). Today we will watch for ÒMurmurersÓ (2X).

1Co 10:1-10 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; And did all eat the same spiritual meat; And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.

What is the event mentioned in verse 10? For this we have to turn to Numbers 16. Please put a sticker here in 1Cor 10, and please turn in your Bibles to the Prophecy of Numbers, Num 16:1 (2X). We read here about Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, and 250 princes of the congregation who were on their side.

#1.                  Who Are Korah, Dathan, and Abiram? (Num 16:1-40, 1Chron 6:1-3,22)

Korah was a direct cousin of Moses and Aaron. We read in 1Chron 6:1-3, One of the sons of Levi was Kohath. The sons of Kohath were Amram and Izhar. The sons of Amram were Aaron, and Moses, and one of the sons of Izhar was Korah. But Korah was envious of the position of honor that Moses and Aaron held. He coveted to be a priest also. But God has not appointed him to be a priest. Num 16:1-11

Num 16:1-11 Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men: And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown: And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them (that was a lie): wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the LORD? And when Moses heard it, he fell upon his face: And he spake unto Korah and unto all his company, saying, Even to morrow the LORD will shew who are his, and who is holy; and will cause him to come near unto him: even him whom he hath chosen will he cause to come near unto him. This do; Take you censers, Korah, and all his company; And put fire therein, and put incense in them before the LORD to morrow: and it shall be that the man whom the LORD doth choose, he shall be holy: ye take too much upon you, ye sons of Levi. And Moses said unto Korah, Hear, I pray you, ye sons of Levi: Seemeth it but a small thing unto you, that the God of Israel hath separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to himself to do the service of the tabernacle of the LORD, and to stand before the congregation to minister unto them? And He hath brought thee near to Him, and all thy brethren the sons of Levi with thee: and seek ye the priesthood also? For which cause both thou and all thy company are gathered together against the LORD: and what is Aaron, that ye murmur against him?

What do we read here? Korah, the leader of the pack has obtained the support of Dathan, Abiram, and On, all three descendants of Reuben. Reuben, the firstborn of Jacob, was disqualified from having the honor of the firstborn, because Reuben did lay with Bilhah his fatherÕs concubine. But now his sons are trying to correct the decision that God made. After the first verse we do not read about On any more. These four conspirators had obtained the support of 250 princes of the congregation. This was no small portion of the congregation of Israel. In fact it was the major portion of this congregation that was unhappy with the leadership of Moses and Aaron. But Korah displayed a severe case of ingratitude for the honor that God has bestowed upon him, for God has given him the service of the tabernacle; but now he also coveted the priesthood, like Aaron. In verse 11 we see the murmurers come on the scene. This is a long chapter. So let us cut this short. Please drop down to verse 23, Num 16:23-35

Num 16:23-35 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the congregation, saying, Get you up from about the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. And Moses rose up and went unto Dathan and Abiram; and the elders of Israel followed him. And he spake unto the congregation, saying, Depart, I pray you, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest ye be consumed in all their sins. So they gat up from the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, on every side: and Dathan and Abiram came out, and stood in the door of their tents, and their wives, and their sons, and their little children. And Moses said, Hereby ye shall know that the LORD hath sent me to do all these works; for I have not done them of mine own mind. If these men die the common death of all men, or if they be visited after the visitation of all men; then the LORD hath not sent me. But if the LORD make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth, and swallow them up, with all that appertain unto them, and they go down quick into the pit; then ye shall understand that these men have provoked the LORD. And it came to pass, as he had made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that was under them: And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods. They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation. And all Israel that were round about them fled at the cry of them: for they said, Lest the earth swallow us up also. And there came out a fire from the LORD, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense.

Did you notice that even their little children were swallowed up in the pit that the Lord created at that moment? This certainly is a different God than we have learned of in the previous churches where we went. In addition all the 250 princes of Israel with their brasen censers were struck by fire from God wherever they were at that moment. This shows us a particular aspect of the wrath of God on those who are not elect. Earlier in Num 12 we read about the rebellion of Aaron and Miriam against Moses, but both Aaron and Miriam suffered only a hand-slap. So let us analyze what KorahÕs sin actually was.

What do we learn from this in the first half of Num 16? We read in verse 7 that: ÒThe man whom the LORD doth choose, he shall be holy.Ó God is sovereign. He sets apart and He bestows His favors on whom He has chosen. Please put a second sticker here in Num 16, and please turn in your Bibles to the Epistle to the Romans, Rom 13:1 (2X). Moses was chosen as prophet, and Aaron was appointed by God to be the high priest. Korah was not appointed to be priest. He was not allowed to take what was not given him. That is usurping authority. We must honor those whom God has placed in authority over us, regardless whether they deserve it or not. For example, we read in Rom 13:1-4,

Ro 13:1-3  Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.

This is not just a NT law; this is an OT law as well. God gave Solomon the kingdom after David. No one else from all the sons of David was allowed to take the kingdom by himself. God chose Nebuchadnezzar to be king over Babylon, because Nebuchadnezzar had to bring judgment on Judah and Jerusalem. God chose Cyrus to be king over Medo-Persia, because Cyrus and his army of Medes and Persians were to be a picture of the deliverance of the saints from the wicked Babylon at the time of the rapture. But God did not choose Korah. He was not allowed to take the priesthood. We read in Prov 13:10, ÒOnly by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.Ó Korah was proud to be a Levite, and Korah considered himself as being better qualified for the function of high priest than Aaron. Korah wanted to usurp authority that was not his. Korah wanted to rule in the congregation as a priest and swing his weight around as a high priest. He wanted to sit in the center of the congregation as someone appointed by God. 3500 years ago Korah did not succeed, because the time was not ripe. The iniquity of the Amorites was not yet full. But his desire to sit in the congregation as one appointed by God, and his ingratitude to God who has given him a knowledge of the Bible, and his success in getting most of the nation of Israel rally behind him, and the violent judgment of God on him and his entire family, left us a picture of events that shall come to pass in the end of time. Who does Korah remind us of? He reminds us of Òthe son of perditionÓ.

#2.                  Who Is the Son of Perdition? (2Thes 2:3-12, 2Cor 11:13-15)

No, I do not mean Judas Iscariot, but ÒAntichristÓ. Please turn in your Bibles to the Second Epistle to the Thessalonians, 2Thes 2:3 (2X). God speaks here about a worldwide phenomenon: It is the great apostacy, or the great falling away of the churches. Presently we are seeing this great falling away, and churches are falling away like dominoes, because most of them belong to denominations, and the denominational headquarters are determining what each of their churches must believe and must follow. So, when 2Thes 2:3-12 describes the scenario in one church, it has described them all. 2Thes 2:3-12,

2Th 2:3-12  Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition (the son of Hell); Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way (Lit: Òuntil it comes out of the midstÓ) And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe THE lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Antichrist is Satan in human flesh. He is imitating Christ, who is the incarnation of God the Son. But Satan is not omnipresent, and thus he can indwell only one person at a time. But Satan has many demons who will fill in for him in an intelligent manner. And thus when I speak of Antichrist I speak of the worldwide phenomenon where many churches copy one another and are falling away to another gospel. False preachers have moved themselves up on the clerical ladder and have now usurped the positions that were once held by faithful preachers. God did not appoint them. They appointed themselves. They took these positions by their smooth talking. How does Antichrist manage to get himself appointed to the head pastor of a church? Satan is very sharp, and he knows the Bible better than any man. And thus he can disguise himself as an angel of light. Then follows the process of usurping authority. 2Cor 11:13-15

2Co 11:13-15  For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

This is how Antichrist manages to get the chief position in the church, Òso that he as God sitteth in the temple of God.Ó And when we read 2Thes 2:7 we should remember that this is a faulty translation: The personal pronoun ÒHeÓ is not in the original Greek text. In other words, the interpretation that the Holy Spirit will be taken out of the way is from the imagination of one manÕs mind. The second half of 2Thes 2:7 literally reads: ÒUntil it comes out of the midst.Ó What comes out of the midst? The mystery of iniquity comes out of the midst of the congregation. They shall believe THE lie (verse 11), because it is preached by one of their own people, one who came out of the midst of them. And what is that lie? It is related to 2Thes 2:9; look there at verse 9. It is the working of Satan with all power, and signs and lying wonders. Signs and lying wonders are the signs of the charismatic movement, which is a religion that believes that God is still bringing divine messages today in dreams and visions and angel visitations and tongues, especially tongues. That is THE lie which is mentioned in 2Thes 2:11. And because these congregations are not saved, God shall send them strong delusion. Why is this delusion so strong? When people have imagined that God the Holy Spirit has spoken through them to bring a message in a strange tongue, it is such an exciting phenomenon that they will believe anything just to keep this exciting experience, and to continue to practice it. Just imagine: God is speaking through me! And why does Antichrist come into the church? He wants to keep people away from the true Gospel of Christ.

Antichrist wants to rule the world by using the church as his instrument toward that goal. Please turn to the Revelation of Jesus Christ, Rev 17:1 (2X). Rev 17 is a very scary chapter. God describes here for us in symbolic terms the church near the end of time. The church has apostatized worldwide, and is in such a terrible condition that no one in the world any more is getting saved. That is why God will bring the end of the world and the judgment of all the unsaved. We read in Rev 17:1-5,

Re 17:1- And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication. So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.

What do we see here? We see that the world has moved into the church, and the church has moved into the world. That is why the church is called Babylon, named after the power that has taken over the church; and that is why she is called the mother of harlots, because she has invited the false gospels of the world to come into the church. Do we presently see this come to pass worldwide? Indeed we do. Satan wants to establish a worldwide kingdom over which he rules supreme, and thus he uses Antichrist to achieve that goal. But it is a kingdom without Christ, and without His atoning sacrifice. In that kingdom man must have dominion over all things. In that kingdom they speak of righteousness and brotherly love, but they extend their brotherly love to include fornicators and homosexuals. They demand outward righteousness and they insist on brotherly love. They strive to realize the universal brotherhood of man and they want to establish universal peace. They want to abolish sin in the world. The result is that their kingdom is after all no kingdom of God, but a kingdom of man, by man, and for man. To accomplish this goal the state must legislate men into this kingdom, and by force of law they are made to practice their love to the brother. The state, in combination with other states, will enforce universal peace.  All the nations must conform to these rules in order that war may be abolished and the kingdom of peace may be ushered in. The cooperation of the church is also invited. The church must now preach a social gospel. The old message of sin and guilt, of total depravity, of righteousness and holiness, and of the necessity of atonement through the blood of Christ, and of regeneration by the Spirit of Christ has become antiquated, and must be adapted to the needs of the present time. And thus a new gospel must be brought to the forefront:  the gospel of love and peace for all men, without Christ. Man is not spiritually impotent, but rather he is divine. Man is not guilty and condemned, but rather he is by nature good and a child of God. The church must establish herself as a powerful agency for the establishment of this universal kingdom of peace and righteousness. The school then must serve the same purpose. It must not be separate. It may not teach a definite religion, but it must teach the universal brotherhood of man. Therefore the school must teach children the general principles of love and respect for all people, including those living a homosexual lifestyle. Society must be transformed according to the same principles. Differences must be removed. The socialistic state of things must be established to cover up the sore spots of covetousness and greed. If the murder of children helps to the establishment of the kingdom, its practice must be encouraged. And so, the great aim is to establish a kingdom that is outwardly like the Kingdom of God. But the principal motive is enmity against God and against His Christ. This is the influence of Antichrist on the people of the world. So the whole world rallies behind the Beast and the False Prophet of Rev 13, and the world is prepared for its final intervention by God. Forget about the one world government by one country and by one ruler. That is an invention of man, and it is an unnecessary restriction for the end to come. Satan can use many governments, as long as they are under his control. The harlot Babylon does not represent one church or one denomination, but many denominations, as long as they are following the social gospel of Antichrist. But when the world will have united under Satan, then that period of world peace will be the most dangerous period of history for the church of God in the world. Therefore in the past God send death into the world for our protection. You will understand this when you realize that death mows away the proper persons at the proper place at the proper time. Just think of it, When Alexander the Great at the age of only 32 was about to make himself lord of the whole known world, and thereby establish the one-world government, he contracted a fever and died. God rescued the world by killing Alexander. Why death? To prevent the premature establishment of the imitation kingdom of Satan; a kingdom that resembles in outward form the Kingdom of Christ, but which is based on the principle of enmity against God and against Christ. It would be a kingdom of world peace but without Christ. And thus, because of the curse of sin on this earth, as stated by God to Adam in Gen 3:17-19, God has sent wars and pestilences and death into this world. Wars and revolutions, famines and pestilences and death cannot injure the Kingdom of God, for the simple reason that as yet it exists purely spiritually.  And thus we see how all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose. (Rom 8:28). Therefore God says to us:  ÒBe not afraid, therefore, ye people of the Kingdom!Ó Let us now return to Num 16, for we still have the second part of this chapter. Please turn to the Prophecy of Numbers, Num 16:41 (2X).

#3.                  Who Are the Murmurers? (Num 16:41-50, Rev 13:6-8, Heb 9:11-12, Rev 8:3)

Nu 16:41-50  But on the morrow all the congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron, saying, Ye have killed the people of the LORD. And it came to pass, when the congregation was gathered against Moses and against Aaron, that they looked toward the tabernacle of the congregation: and, behold, the cloud covered it, and the glory of the LORD appeared. And Moses and Aaron came before the tabernacle of the congregation. And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Get you up from among this congregation, that I may consume them as in a moment. And they fell upon their faces. And Moses said unto Aaron, Take a censer, and put fire therein from off the altar, and put on incense, and go quickly unto the congregation, and make an atonement for them: for there is wrath gone out from the LORD; the plague is begun. And Aaron took as Moses commanded, and ran into the midst of the congregation; and, behold, the plague was begun among the people: and he put on incense, and made an atonement for the people. And he stood between the dead and the living; and the plague was stayed. Now they that died in the plague were fourteen thousand and seven hundred, beside them that died about the matter of Korah. And Aaron returned unto Moses unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and the plague was stayed.

This is absolutely amazing. These people witnessed the wrath of God on Korah and upon all those who were ganging up against Moses and Aaron, and God clearly showed that His anger rests upon those who are against Moses and Aaron. And yet, one day later they murmured against Moses and Aaron. And look who is doing it. God says in verse 41, ÒAll the congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against AaronÓ. Their rebellion could not be worse. It is no wonder that God intended to destroy them. And notice that God speaks in verses 46 and 47 about making an atonement for these people who were about to be destroyed by God. These are two issues that must be resolved. Please turn in your Bibles to the Revelation of Jesus Christ, Rev 13:6 (2X). Now, let us apply this second part of Num 16 to the end time events like we did with KorahÕs rebellion. Who do these murmurers represent? These murmurers represent all those who are worshipping Antichrist. In Rev 13 God made Antichrist appear symbolically as the beast that comes up out of the sea of mankind, and as the false prophet that came up out of the earth. Both the beast and the false prophet work together to make sure that the church and the world are cooperating, working toward the same goal. Rev 13:6-8,

Re 13:6-8  And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

Who are following and worshipping Antichrist? This passage says, ÒAll that dwell upon the earth shall worship himÓ, except of course the remnant chosen by grace from before the foundation of the world. And thus, who do the murmurers of Num 16 represent? They represent the whole world minus the remnant. All kindreds and tongues and nations shall follow Antichrist. And what was so special about the atonement that Aaron made? First of all, who is able to make an atonement? We read in Heb 9:11-12, ÒBut Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.Ó In what function did Christ make atonement for us: as prophet, or as priest, or as king? He made atonement for us as our great High Priest. Part of the priestly office is to bring prayers on behalf of other people, and to make atonement on behalf of other people. And thus, while both Moses and Aaron were on the ground beseeching God that He may have mercy on this congregation, Moses told Aaron to make atonement for the people, for Aaron as the high priest was able to make atonement for them. So Aaron put fire and incense on the censor, representing the prayers of the saints. God says in Rev 8:3, ÒAnd another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.Ó Please turn again to the First Epistle to the Corinthians, 1Cor 10:10 (2X). We should not lose track of where we were in the beginning of this sermon. We read there in 1Cor 10:10, ÒNeither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.Ó We have looked at those who murmured on two days: judgment day for Korah, Dathan, Abiram & the 250 princes of the congregation, and we looked at those who murmured the day after. But now the question arises:

Please turn again to the Prophecy of Numbers, Num 16:35 (2X). We have learned that Satan is called the destroyer. His goal is always to destroy the works of God. But let us now read carefully what the Word of God says. We read in Num 16:35, ÒAnd there came out a fire from the LORD, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense.Ó This was a fire from the Lord. Also in verse 30 we read that Òthe Lord made a new thing and the earth opened her mouth and swallowed them up.Ó Again in verse 46 we read that Òthere is wrath gone out from the LORD; the plague is begun.Ó All three times we read that the Lord has done it. Not Satan, but God is the Destroyer. And now we remember that God has said this more often in the Bible. He is the Destroyer of all the unsaved. God says in 2Thes 1:8, ÒIn flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:Ó Notice the words here. God is taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. What does that mean? It means that they who believe not the Gospel that Paul preached, and they who have not come to know who the God of the Bible is, will inherit His wrath which will feel like a flame of fire, for our God is a consuming fire. Please turn again to the Revelation of Jesus Christ, Rev 20:7 (2X). When we see Korah as representing Antichrist, because he sought to usurp a central position in the church, or we see the murmurers on the side of Korah in great number following Antichrist, it would be good to remember that all these pictures are pictures of the last battle. Also we should remember that there is only one last battle. And thus, whether at the last battle the enemies of Christ are swallowed up in the earth, or they are struck down by fire from the Lord out of heaven, or they are eaten alive by very quick flesh eating bacteria like the murmurers have felt, these are all symbols of GodÕs wrath at the end of time. A vivid illustration is given in Rev 20:7-9,

Re 20:7  And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,

Re 20:8  And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.

Re 20:9  And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.

What do we learn from this description of the last battle? We learn that God will never abandon His saints. Please turn to the Epistle of Jude 4, which comes just before Revelation. God is not surprised by this last battle, for He caused it to come to pass. We can ask the question: Was the son of perdition appointed to this dreadful act of rebellion? Was he appointed to this condemnation like 1Pet 2:8 states? We read in Jude 4, ÒFor there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.Ó Indeed, to know God is to know that God endured with much longsuffering these vessels of wrath who were fitted to destruction. God knew these vessels of wrath from before the foundation of the world. To deny that God knew them is to deny GodÕs omniscience and to deny GodÕs wisdom when He created the world and all the universe. When we claim to know who God is, we must include all these verses to our understanding. And then we can truly glorify our Creator who knows the end from the beginning, and who chose us to be among the remnant saved by grace. We are the elect children of God, the Bride of Christ, who will glorify Him, and we will also be to His glory.            This is a guarantee.                        AMEN.                        Let us turn to the Lord in prayer.