Beyond The Blessing And The Curse
Livingstone Fagan

Beyond the Blessing and the Curse!
(Deut: 30)
The fall of ancient Israel turned what was intended as a blessing for the whole of mankind into a curse. Much like it was with Adam and Eve in Eden. But beyond the blessing and the curse there was yet GOOD. This remains true down to today. In Deut. 30:1-9, it was written concerning this,

'1. AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS, When all these things are come upon thee, and thou shalt call them to mind among the nations, whither YHWH thy God hath driven thee.
2. AND SHALT RETURN UNTO YHWH THY GOD, and shalt obey his voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou and all thy children, wiht all thine heart, and with all thy soul;
3. That THEN YHWH thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, AND WILL RETURN and gather thee from all nations, whither YHWH thy God hath scattered thee.
4. If any of thine be driven out unto the outmost parts of heaven, from thence will YHWH thy God gather thee, and from tehnce will he fetch thee:
5. And YHWH thy God will bring thee into the land which thy fathers possessed, and thou shalt possess it; and he will do thee GOOD, and multiply thee above thy fathers.
6. And YHWH thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love YHWH thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest LIVE.
7. And YHWH thy God will put these curses upon thine enemies, and on them that hate thee, which persecuted thee.
8. And thou shalt return and obey the voice of YHWH, and do all his commandments which I command thee this day.
9. And YHWH thy God will make thee plenteous in every work of tine hand, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy land, for GOOD; for YHWH will again rejoice over thee for GOOD, as he rejoiced over thy fathers. (Emphasis added.)

Very briefly. After the flood, God chose Abraham for a special purpose. To preserve and establish the knowledge of God in the earth. This was with the intent it would benefit the whole of mankind, as a means to effect our salvation. You will recall the words of Gen. 12:3, "...and in thee shall ALL families of the earth be blessed." This wasn't an afterthought, rather God's overall purpose (Isa. 42:6, 7; 49:5, 6) as Christ would later confirm. Nevertheless, the promise would continue down through Abraham's descendants based on a covenant relationship with God--Gen. 22:18; 26:4, 5; 28:14; Ps. 78; et al. This was the purpose of God for mankind.

However, unlike Abraham, his descendants were not faithful to the covenant. From the time they entered the promised land through to the judges, on down to the kings they progeressively corrupted themselves, falling short of God's purposes. At last they were removed by the Assyrians and the Babylonians as they had removed those who inhabited the land before them. Successive nations ruled over them down to the time of Rome and the appearing of Christ. Speaking to the leaders among them at that time, a short while before they effected his death, Christ stated:

"33. Ye serpents, Ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell.
34. Wherefore behold, I send unto you prophets, and wisemen, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from city to city.
35. That upon you may come all of the righteous blood shed upon the earth. From the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Berachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.
36. Verily I say unto you, all these things shall come upon this generation.
37. O, Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
38. Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.
39. For I say unto you, ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord." Mt. 23:33-39 (cf. Isa. 5:1-7; Luke 20:9-16)

Evidently God is no respecter of persons. Having rejected Christ, some years later around AD 70, they would be scattered from off the land all together. The curse being in full effect. (Consider Jer. 25:14-38; 26:6.)

Many centuries later saw a return to the land in 1948. This was also written of in the scriptures. But not as an event in fulfillment of the righteous purpose of God. Rather, the will of men. Political Zionism. There have always been those among the Jews who have sought their own selfish purposes in the name of God. During the reign of King Cyrus of Persia, the angel who spoke to Daniel told him how, "the robbers of thy people shall exalt themselves to establish teh vision; but they shall fall." Dan. 11:14. This was also shown in Zech. 1:20, 21 as the "four carpenters" who return to the land to cast out the gentiles and build for themselves. You will notice also that in the vision shown to Zechariah the angel did not speak to the carpenters. Instead, it is shown in Zech. 2:1-5, that he speaks to a "YOUNG MAN" who goes to Jerusalem to measure it. This is how David Koresh got his message. Long before the event, the Bible foretold David's experience. In any case, the Zionist in their attempt to rebuild, set the stage for the third and final destruction of Jerusalem noted in Ezek. 21:27, "I (God) will OVERTURN, OVERTURN, OVERTURN it...until he comes whose right it is; and I will give it to him." This also relates to Ps. 2, note particularly verse 6, "Yet have I set MY KING upon MY HOLY HILL of Zion." The Zionists are doomed to fail in their intended purposes. (Dan. 11:45; Mt. 24:15; 2 Thes. 2:1-12 et al).

Notwithstanding, although Israel became a fallen nation, there were yet those among them who remained faithful to the covenant. You will recall Daniel and his companions in Babylon. The apostles were also Jews. So were Simeon, Anna, and teh parents of John the Baptist--Luke 1&2. There were others too such as Stephen (see also Heb. 11). The unfaithfulness of hte leaders caused the attention to shift to the Gentiles. The Gentiles were also to be given their opportunity to see whether they would set forth righteousness in the earth. During the early days of what became the Christian church the apostle Paul was commissioned to take the message of Christ to the Gentiles (Acts 9:1-16). He also warned them not to boast themselves against the Jews by reason of hte favour now being shown them of God through Christ. In his letter to the Romans he wrote,

"18. Boast not against the Branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.
19. Thou wilt say then the branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in.
20. Well, because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear.
21. For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee." Rom. 11:18-21

Apparently, Paul's counsel went unheeded. Catholicism and Protestantism have since been exalted to power. But like Israel before them they also have become drunken by it. Egotistically gratifying themselves before their fellowmen, rather than the fulfillment of the purposes of God for the salvation of mankind.

Yes, the Gentiles have been given their opportunity. And as the "Times of the Gentiles" now meets its fulfillment (Lk. 21:24; Rev. 11:1, 2) they haveing also failed of righteousness, God would turn again to Israel. This is what is referred to in Zech. 1:15, 16 (see also Ps. 2:1-6). Due to lack of concern shown by the Gentiles to the matters of God regarding the judgment and the book sealed with seven seals, God says, "And I am very sore displeased with the heathen that are at ease: for I was but a little displeased, and Ithey helped forward the affliction. Therefore thus saith YHWH, I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies: My house shall be built in it..." (cf Ps. 2:1-6). Had they received David Koresh instead of killing him as did the Jews Christ 2,000 years ago, they would have shown themselves righteous.

Consequently, as noted in Rev. 6:3, 4, the "ease" in which the Gentiles dwelt is being removed as "peace" is taken from off the earth. The effects of this is being felt even as we speak. As it was with Israel when they fell from favour so too the Gentiles, neither relinquishes power without a fight. But comes the question: Will they disregard the lesson of Pharoah in Egypt and proceed to fight against God? In Isa. 27:4, 5 God says, "Fury is not in me: who would set the briars and thorns against me in battle? I would go through them, I would burn them together. Or let them take hold of my strength, that he may make peace with me: and he shall make peace with me." In light of God's entreaty what is their answer to be? Its significance affected whether or not the present unrest matured into the full-blown "Time of Trouble." (Dan. 12:1; Mt. 24:15, 21, 22, et al). God had not left man without a way out.

In any event, the GOOD imagined of God noted in Deut. 30:1-9, had to do with God setting up his kingdom here on earth. Being of God it would have brought true peace, born of his righteousness. He had sought to do this when he brought Israel into Canaan. Had they obeyed it would have enabled God to have a visible presence in the earth for all mankind to see. But as the record shows, Israel fell short. Now the Gentiles have shown themselves not to have done any better. Even with the experience of Israel to go by.

Now in the end of time and through David Koresh, God announces his intent to perform his promises. This time by SUPERNATURAL means. Fittingly so for this "hi-tech" generation. It is in MERCY that the kingdom is set up. God does it for his name sake, and for his elect whom he has chosen--Mt. 24:22; Ezek. 36:16-36; Isa. 48; Deut. 32:36; et al. The inability of both Jew and Gentile to bring forth righteousness has become clearly revealed. There is therefore now no occasion for either to boast themselves. The pride of man is purged from the root. None can say their admittance to the kindom was through any righteousness of his own. Our salvation has been simply by faith in God's righteousness. His right as God, BORN OF HIS LOVE, to save those who trust in him. Sin will not arise again to disturb the peace of the saved, who trusted in God. (Isa. 32:16-18; 33:20-24; Zech. 13:1-5; et al).
The opening of the book sealed with seven seals (Rev. 4-6ff) makes known the GOOD God intends for this world. It informs our understanding preparing us to deal with certain realities soon to occur here on earth. Very briefly; in Ps. 45, which has to do with the 1st seal, the one on the throne speaks, "My heart is inditing a GOOD matter. I speak of the things which I have made touching the king; My tongue is the pen of a ready writer." And on it goes. The psalms reveal the understanding of truth and God according to the mind of the Lamb--the Lord God.

The book of Zechariah focuses on the 2nd Seal. The man on the red horse--Zech. 1:8, 9. It concerns the kingdom God intends to set up in Jerusalem, "And YHWH answered the angel taht talked with me with GOOD words and with comfortable words...I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies; my house shall be built in it saith YHWH of Hosts, and a line shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem." Zech. 1:13, 16.

In Hosea, which has to do with the 3rd Seal, this is also revealed. Consider Chapter 3, noe particularly verse 5, "Afterwards shall the children of Israel return, and seek YHWH their God, and DAVID their king; and shall fear YHWH and his GOODNESS in the LATTER DAYS."

This is echoed in too in Ezekiel, which relates to the 4th Seal. The fourth measure--Ezek. 47:1-6. These waters of truth are deep extending to heaven and earth, "Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all the waves and thy billows are gone over me." Ps. 42:7; cf Gen. 1:1, 2, 7, 9; Jer. 51:16. Consider also, Isa. 2:2-4; 11:6-9; Jer. 23:3-6; 31:6-14; 33:14-16; Ezek. 20:32-38; 34:11-24; 36; 37:21-28; 40-47; Dan. 2:34, 35, 44, 45; 7:9, 10, 13, 14, 26, 27; Joel 2:28-32; 3:15-21; Amos 9:9-15; Zeph. 3:14-20; Rev. 14:1; 21:9-16ff; et al.

How this also relates to Mt. 24:27, 28, concerning the "carcass" around which the "eagles" gather together is shown in Ps. 103:1-5. Note particularly verse 5, "who satisfieth thy mouth with GOOD things; so that thy youth is renewed like EAGLES." (cf Isa. 40:29-31). Consider too Ps. 68, particularly verses 9 & 10, "Thou, O God, dids send a PLENTIFUL RAIN, wehreby thou didst confirm thine inheritance, when it was weary. Thy congregation hath dewlt therein; thou, O God, hast prepared of thy GOODNESS for the poor." You will recall the angel of Rev. 10. He was, "clothed with a cloud and a rainbow upon his head." Symbolic of the "latter rain" of truth. The substance contained in the "little book open" in his hand and what the "seven thunders uttered." (Cf Deut. 32:1, 2ff; Isa. 55:1-4, 6-13; See essay, "The Coming of Christ.")

The 5th Seal takes us on a journey into death itself. The precursor to the resurrection, "Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise." Isa. 26:19-21; Rev. 6:9-11; Ps. 79:11; 102:19, 20; et al. At the 6th Seal, SURPRISE! God makes a visible appearance on the stage of human reality for all to see. This blows away unbelief and unbelievers. Having denied God out of political expediency it is now impossible for them to stand in his presence. Fear and terror takes hold of them. For those who have believed, his coming is a cause of unexplainable joy and empowerment. In Ps 102:16, "When YHWH shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory. (cf Ps. 48; 126; Mt. 24:29-31, et al). The Bible integrates past, present and future reality together in its pronouncements. It is understood as a whole.
So then, the blessing promised of God to mankind through Abraham had not been rescinded by God. It was merely hindered as a result of man getting in the way of God. This was also written of in scripture. As far back as Gen. 3, in the Garden of Eden. The "enmity" between the seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent--verse 15. By bruising the "heel" the serpent would slow progress, but this would return upon his own "head." It remains then that the coming of the kingdom of God is a CERTAINTY. It is to appear on the MOUNT OF OLIVES EAST OF JERUSALEM. This last message given of God through David Koresh affirms it. This is shown as the angel ascending from the east placing the seal on those who are to be saved--Rev. 7:1-9; 10. In Ps. 85:12, 12, it is written concerning this, "Yea YHWH will give that which is GOOD; and our land shall yield her increase: Righteousness shall go BEFORE him, and shall SET US IN THE WAY OF HIS STEPS." Fortunately, though not without cost, there were those awake among men to see when "good cometh." Alerting their fellowmen to that which God has long sought to give; lifting humanity out of the misery it presently suffers.

In conclusion. Truth purges away the sins that so easily overtake us, causing us to lose our way. What we have been engaged in here is that spoken of in Isa. 28:9-11, "...for precept must be upon precept...line upon line, here a little, there a little." Bringing together the pieces of the puzzle in order that we might see the dimensions of truth beyond the words. The understanding of truth comes a little at a time. It would be mind blowing to handle all at once. Our life then becomes bound up together in God allowing his thinking and thoughts to become ours. ETERNAL LIFE! This empowers us to live forever and not die. But who would wish to live forever were it not in righteousness!

L. Fagan
Student of David Koresh, in the
Matter of the Seven Seals
Feb/April '05
Bible references: KJV