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DANIEL 4:9

[Daniel 4:9 AKJV] — "O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the Spirit of the holy Gods is in you, and no secret troubles you, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof."

[Daniel 4:9 GWN] — "Belteshazzar, head of the magicians, I know the Spirit of the holy Gods is in you. No secret is too hard for you [to uncover]. Tell me the meaning of the visions I had in my dream."


*1* "Belteshazzar:" — Nebuchadnezzar gave him this name, but it's a name he bore outside the Temple of God, not a name he bears in the Temple of God. In the Temple of God, no one should bear idol either in his name, in his hands, in his mouth or in his mind/heart.

*2* "Master of the Magicians:" — Nebuchadnezzar gave him this title, but it's a title he bore outside the Body of Christ, not a name he bears in the Body of Christ. In the Body of Christ, no one should bear magician or master in title, except Christ the Master or Head.

*3* "Spirit of the Holy Gods in you:" — Nebuchadnezzar, being outside the faith, was excused in this blunder: — One Spirit of many holy Gods. Rather in the faith there's One God, and according to Paul (Ephesians 4:4) there is just one Spirit of God, but according to John in (Revelation 4:5) there are seven Spirits of God.

So we don't have more than one God: There's only one God. But we have more than one Spirits of the Holy God. When the seven Spirits merge together into One, that One is called "The LORD" or "Jehovah" or "Holy Spirit." God is Holy Spirit. The LORD (JEHOVAH) is the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:17). Actually, the Father, the Word (Son) and the Spirit, are three in the realms of heaven but in the realms of the flesh they are One. As it is written,

[1 John 5:7] — For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

This means, you cannot see the three at the same time from physical or flesh perspective, just as you can not see your soul and spirit while you are in your body seeing through your flesh or carnal eyes. But when you separate into the inner realms by trance, dream, disconnection of cord or death, you begin seeing your body separate and seeing your soul separate, and if you are in heaven you also see your spirit separate from your soul.

It's like viewing micro organisms through microscope and seeing lots of distinct living fragments, but without the microscope you are seeing one.

When Philip asked the Lord Jesus to show us the Father while Jesus was there with them, he was asking for another distinct manifestation of the Father in the realms of the flesh. The Lord Jesus said to him "The Father is inside Me, and I am inside the Father." That statement also means the Spirit of God is inside Me and I am inside the Spirit of God. The three are One to us yet dwelling in this tabernacle of flesh and blood, and can not be seen by this tabernacle together as separate entities, though sometimes can be heard speaking at same time from different sources.

Holy Spirit is God or the Lord Jesus Christ inside believers or Christians: God dwells inside you means the Spirit of God dwells inside you:

[1 John 4:12-15] — "No man has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwells inside us, and His love is perfected in us. Hereby we know that we dwell inside Him, and He inside us, because He has given us of His Spirit. And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world. Whoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwells inside him, and he inside God."

Did you get the last sentence in this reference? That if a man/woman will confess that Jesus is the Son of God, that willingness or ability to that already proves that the man/woman is inside God and God is inside the man/woman (1 John 4:15). Paul the apostle put it this way, saying, "I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost." (1 Corinthians 12:3).

Many of us think the utterances that prove that the Holy Spirit is inside a man is the utterances of speaking in tongues, or prophesying: but these two last references I cited shows that the Holy Spirit in a man is who gives that man/woman the utterances that says "Jesus is the Lord" (1 Corinthians 12:3) or confesses that "Jesus is the Son of God" (1 John 4:15). If you can utter any of these confessions about the Lord Jesus, surely you have the Holy Spirit or God inside you, and it will be difficult for you to curse the Lord Jesus or blaspheme Him when you speak by the Spirit of God. So the Spirit of God is the Spirit of Faith. As it is written,

[2 Corinthians 4:13] — "We having the same Spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;"

You see how confessing with your mouth "The Lord Jesus" is enough to save you, because it is by the Spirit of God who produced faith in you that even that utterance by faith voiced out. Whoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.


Now look at this Bible reference below:

[Joel 2:28-32] — "And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also on the servants and on the handmaids in those days will I pour out My Spirit. And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the LORD come. And it shall come to pass, that whoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be saved: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD has said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call."

According to this Bible reference:

*1* God poured out His Spirit on all flesh in the last days: This means, there's no man or woman on earth today on whom the Spirit of God was not poured; whether they are Christians or not. Everyone or every flesh of mankind has some measure of the Spirit of God inside him or her in this last days. That was not so in the days of Daniel or olden days.

*2* Though all flesh has some measure of the Spirit of God resident inside him/her to help that flesh to believe and to call upon the name of the Lord and be saved, yet not all flesh would eventually do so: The reason is still in the same Bible reference, which is, not all flesh shall be called by God to come up to Mount Zion where deliverance is. So God poured out His Spirit on all flesh, but God did not call all flesh. Those who were called are those whom God draws into believing and receiving the Lord Jesus Christ. Yet, many are called, but few are chosen.

Therefore, before any one can call upon the Lord to be saved, the Lord God must first call such one to Him.

*3* All flesh has the Spirit of God as power to call upon the Lord Jesus Christ the Son of God and be saved, yet not all flesh received Him, call or believed in His Name to receive Power to become sons of God.

*4* Though all flesh received the pouring of the Spirit of God, yet not all flesh prophesy, dream dreams or see visions. That same chapter where it is written, "No man can say Jesus is the Lord but by the Spirit of God," (1 Corinthians 12) in the same Chapter are different gifts and manifestations of the same Spirit of God in different people. Some received prophesying, some visions/dreams, some word of knowledge, some wisdom, some faith to believe, some speaking in tongues or speaking in mysteries, some interpretations of tongues or mysteries like Daniel had together with dreams, visions, knowledge and prophesying.



Now in the top Bible verse above, Nebuchadnezzar said to Daniel, "The Spirit of the Holy Gods is inside you, and no secret troubles you; interpret my vision or dream to me."

I already mentioned sometime ago that the reason the dream was troubled by the secret of that dream was because he did not have enough Spirit or Spirit of God to handle such dream, vision, mystery or revelation. Here he confirmed it to Daniel that had the Spirit of God saying no secret troubles him. Therefore I titled this, "Spirit of God and no secret troubles." This applies when the Spirit of God in the man gifts him with wisdom, knowledge, understanding and grace to know those mysteries or secrets revealed. For even with the Spirit of God in some persons, yet they still get troubled by secrets unlike Daniel. Spirit of God inside Daniel or any man does not make the man "Omniscient" and so there will always be where God allows some secrets to trouble even those with His Spirit.

Even Daniel himself later began seeing visions or dreams that troubled him, inspite of the Spirit of God in him; and Angels of God was sent to help Daniel through understanding the interpretation of those visions.

I may have to also discuss the Spirit of God in dream/vision interpreters, but when the top Bible verse is "Daniel 4:18."

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DANIEL 4:8
[Daniel 4:8 NKJV] — But at last Daniel came before me (his name is Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god; in him is the Spirit of the Holy God), and I told the dream before him, saying:

[Daniel 4:8 GWN] — "Finally, Daniel came to me. (He had been renamed Belteshazzar after my god [Bel].) The spirit of the holy gods is in him. I told him the dream:"

The wisemen were brought into the king's presence by a decree or the king's order, which was a place they did not want to be at that time; because standing or sitting there that moment was like sitting on "hot seat" or facing "Tough Examination/Quiz." Yet, Daniel walked into that king's presence voluntarily and boldly without fear of hard riddles which those wisemen couldn't resolve. Daniel was not among the wisemen of Babylon that were brought or arraigned before the king, but he came into the challenge those wisemen secretly wished to walk out from just as David walked into the challenge of facing the Champion Goliath of Gath, which those soldiers of Israel secretly wished to walk out from. Well both David and Daniel had the Spirit of God in them when they walked into their said challenges.

In the Bible verse above, Nebuchadnezzar's hope liteup as soon as he saw Daniel came in, and that was expressed by his use of the word "finally" or "at last" which implies the arrival of someone or something to change the existing but undesirable statusquo.

So long this was Nebuchadnezzar's Testimony, and he was writing to the entire world, he needed to introduce Daniel to the world before continuing along his story path. In Testimony, you testify of God and also testify of a man of God in whom was the Spirit of God. In his concise introduction or announcement of Daniel to the world in his testimony:

*1* Nebuchadnezzar the testifier mentioned the different names that man of God or prophet bears: "Daniel + Belteshazzar." Pointing men to him.

*2* Nebuchadnezzar the testifier mentioned that name "Belteshazzar" which Daniel also had was in honor or in accordance or in agreement with the name of Nebuchadnezzar's gods (Bel - gods of Babylon). But the testifier failed to also mention that name "Daniel" was in accordance, in honor or in agreement with the true God, ("El" - "Elohim" in "Dani+El")

*3* However, Nebuchadnezzar the testifier mentioned that "The Spirit of the Holy God or Holy Gods" was in Daniel. That shows which of the two Gods or two names possessed the said man.

Remember what I said about bearing names of other gods, other religions or cultures, as Christians. If it was today, such names would divide the opinions of different Christian groups: Some Christian groups would abominate the names of Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego and the other name of Daniel, Belteshazzar, saying those names have pagan origin or are names tied to Babylonian idols; just as they abominate Christmas, Easter, Sundays, Christian holidays etc, for the same reason of them having pagan origin or tied to idols. Other Christian groups would argue and insist in the tune of Paul, saying,

[1 Corinthians 8:4-6] — "...we know that an idol is nothing in the world and that there is no God except one. Truly even if indeed there are those called gods, whether in heaven or on earth, as there are many gods and many lords, yet to us there is one God the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we through Him."

Infact, even the name of the same Lord, "Jesus" and the name of "God" are subjects of controversy among Christian groups: Some Christian groups would abominate the names "Jesus" as fake as the letter "J" is not part of the Hebrew alphabet and that we must use His Hebrew name "Yahoshua" or "Yeshua." And some others insist we shouldn't use the name "LORD" but "Yahweh" "JEHOVAH" nor "God" but "Elohim."

The reason we Christians fall into these controversies is because we do not allow the Holy Spirit of God to be the Leader and the Judge as Daniel implies God is the Judge. The Lord Jesus Christ told us that the Holy Spirit Himself will lead us into all truth, taking from the Lord Jesus Christ and showing us. Mark the words, "He (Holy Spirit) shall lead you (us) into all truth:" As it is written,

[John 16:13-14] — "However, when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide (lead) you into all truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak what He hears, and He will declare to you what is to come. He will glorify Me by taking from what is Mine and disclosing it to you."

Controversies among Christians come from Christians trying to lead or guide themselves into truth without the leadership or guidance of the Holy Spirit Himself. Listen,

*1* Truth is very important, but the Spirit of Truth (Holy Spirit) is more important than Truth.

*2* Wisdom is very important, but the Spirit of Wisdom (Holy Spirit) is more important than Wisdom.

The reason those wisemen couldn't go far in this limelight was because they were filled with wisdom without the Spirit of God: Therefore, their wisdom or wiseness failed them, and only the one that had and was led by the Spirit of God prevailed. Even so, the reason those contending for the truth fall into ministering condemnation and controversy in the name of defending the truth is because they have zeal without knowledge or without the Spirit of God guiding/leading them. It took me time to know the difference, and how even the accuser of the brethren (Satan) was using what I thought was speaking or defending the truth to condemn.

Satan is a liar, but Satan also ministers "Truth without grace" which is not the true gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, but a perversion of it. The true gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is full of "Grace and Truth" born of the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Truth, ministering the Spirit that gives life, not the letter that kills.

Now where are those Christians that uses "Pagan origin" as the basis to condemn things among Christians instead of using the saying or doing of the "Spirit of Christ" to judge or prove all things.

[1 Thessalonians 5:19-22] — "Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil."

Why do you condemn this or that? "Because this or that has Pagan origin." Then why have you not condemned yourself or condemned all Gentile Christians, seeing every Christian that is not a Jew has Pagan origin? Since you believe that once anything is marked with pagan origin, then it should be condemned or rejected, then the Gentiles should not have had the gospel nor become Christians because Gentiles and their ancestors had pagan origin in uncircumcision. As it is written,

[1 Corinthians 12:2-3:] — "You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, even as you were led. Why I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost."

You see such controversy among Christian groups was there even during the early church of the first Apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ, having "Pagan origin" versus "The Holy Spirit" regarding preaching and baptizing the Gentiles (Believers/Christians). Holy Spirit told Peter in the vision, kill and eat any of the revealed animals he was seeing, but Peter was calling the animals unclean or common or pagan origin. Holy Spirit told him not to look at the origin or history, but look at the sanctification and adoption of the Lord over them.

While he preached the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ to the Gentiles that had pagan origin, the Holy Spirit Himself came upon them that had pagan origin and possessed them that were still bearing names attached to idols or pagan as Belteshazzar (Daniel) was having a name with pagan origin and yet filled with the Holy Spirit.

Peter understood the message, led by the Spirit of God approved their baptism so that those having pagan origin (uncircumcised) are now adopted into the Church. But in "Acts 11" those Christians who abominated pagan origin or uncircumcision entered into controversy against Peter for baptizing and adopting some of us Gentiles them. But as soon as Peter explained to them that the Holy Spirit Himself led the entire process and even entered into the uncircumcised or people with pagan origin, the whole of that controversy died down and entered. Today, those Christians who's ancestors were pagan have adopted "Pagan Origin" as basis to condemn or reject things, but hardly making room for the Holy Spirit of God.

I counsel you to get back to the true gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. We do not deny Pagan origin, but we uphold the Lord's Redemption. As simple as this saying may sound, yet it holds: "Whenever Satan reminds you of your past, remind Satan of his future." True Gospel basically speaks to present and future as basis for redemption/adoption, not some speaking to pagan origin or history as basis for condemnation/rejection.

I said I will discuss on the Spirit of God in dream/vision interpreters & prophets, when the top Bible verse above is "Daniel 4:8." I was led to shift the discussion on that to the next top Bible verse that is 'Daniel 4:9'

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[DANIEL 4:6-7] — WISEMEN AND CONCERNS FOR OTHER PEOPLE'S
DREAMS OR VISIONS

DANIEL 4:6

[Daniel 4:6 NKJV] — Therefore I issued a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me, that they might make known to me the interpretation of the dream.

[Daniel 4:6 GWN] — "So I ordered all the wise advisers in Babylon to be brought to me to tell me the dream's meaning."


In the Bible verse above, which is also in the testimony of Nebuchadnezzar the king, because he dreamt that disturbing dream and saw that terrifying vision, he issued a decree or ordered for the forced appearance of all the wise men of Babylon in his presence for them to interpret his dream. By decree, by order of the king, all the wise men of Babylon were brought before the king. It's like today's court order to bring persons or make them appear before the court by force. So let me say, the king ordered the "Arrest" and "Arraign" of all the wise men of Babylon before his presence, to have them explain his dream.

So if a dream/vision troubled the king, he made all the wisemen of Babylon to be troubled for them to interpret and explain or resolve the riddles of the dream or vision to him. You may recall how it happened before, and how all the wisemen of Babylon were almost killed by the king on account of the king's dream or vision, which the wisemen could not guess (Daniel 2). Here again, the king still rounded up all the wise men or advisers of Babylon, demanding the interpretation of the troublous vision the king alone saw in his bedroom.

How can the vision or dream one man is seeing in his closet become a burden on the wise men in the same city or country? Why or how is the movie, the dream, the vision, you are seeing in your secret going to become other people's business when they are not even living with you? [Remember, it's about Testimony sharing].

Wise men should understand how much the visions, the dreams, the views and the perspectives, of their King, Ruler or Leader, affect them under him. It behooves the wise men to see what their leader sees, and to guide or counsel their leader into see things rightly and seeing them foresightly.

But in this case study above, even the wise men could not have seen what their king saw, not could they have helped the king see it well through the right interpretation of what the king saw. I would show to you the reason why the wisemen could not do this, but that would be when the next top Bible verse above is "Daniel 4:7."



DANIEL 4:7

[Daniel 4:7 BSB] — When the magicians, enchanters, astrologers, and diviners came in, I told them the dream, and they could not interpret it for me.

[Daniel 4:7 ICB] — The fortune-tellers, magicians and wise men came. I told them about the dream. But those men could not tell me what it meant.


In this second occasion, Nebuchadnezzar did not demand the wisemen to guess what his secret dream was, rather he narrated his dream to them. And still, they could not interpret his dream nor tell the meaning of it. What that meant was the wise men of Babylon were also blind to seeing the future things to come, which that dream or vision signified.

Those refered to as the wise men of Babylon in that testimony included the magicians, the enchanters, the astrologers (Chaldeans) and the diviners (soothsayers/prognosticators/prophets by dark arts). They were consultants in those different branches of forbidden/dark arts but yet they all came under one title, "Wise men." You see the title, "Wise men" does not always refer to Christians or men of God in the scriptures. For wizards, astrologers, magicians, sorcerers, or prognosticators, etc, who mastered their field automatically become wisemen: That is, by the time anyone would have mastered the art of magic, mastered astrology, mastered arts enchantments, mastered witchcraft etc, he/she must have read or learnt some wiseness and discipline, and could become counselors, advisers, professors or guru(s), in those fields to be called "Wise Men" or "Magi." So even in the dark arts and underworld, wisdom, maturity, discipline and skills, are required for their fools or childish to become wiser.

Thus, they were all wise men, but they couldn't interpret the king's dream. That did not disqualify them from still being called wisemen though they could not see through the king's dream. It is their desire to see those things, not their ability to see those things, that makes them "Wise men."

Here in this top Bible verse above, I show to you the reason why the wise men could not do this, interpret the king's dream or vision:

It's the difference between "being wise" and "Having the Spirit of God." It happened in Egypt with Joseph and in Babylon with Daniel.

*1* In Egypt, Pharaoh first tried his wise men of Egypt, but none could interpret his dream until Joseph came and interpret his dream, and Pharaoh himself testified "the Spirit of God was in Joseph" [Genesis 41:38].

*2* In Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar first tried his wise men of Babylon, but none could interpret his dream until Daniel came and interpret his dream, and Nebuchadnezzar himself testified "the Spirit of God was in Daniel" [Daniel 4:8, 5:11].

I will discuss on the Spirit of God in dream/vision interpreters & prophets, but that would be when the next top Bible verse above is "Daniel 4:8."

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KING YAHOSHUA

This man, Nebuchadnezzar, really knew how to carry himself like a king, something I don't compose myself to do. I act more like a servant, than like a king. You see, even if (not saying that) a tiger is stronger than a lion, the lion would still be seen as a king of the jungle simply because the lion has inbuilt in it the flair of a king in how it carries itself.

Well, that's for the jungle or for this world, but not for the Kingdom of God. What would make you a king in this world is usually what would prevent you from becoming a king in the Kingdom of Heaven. Kings in the Kingdom of Heaven walked like servants when they were yet walking this earth, including those of them that were kings on earth also like David. Michal, Saul's daughter or one of David's wives, was embarrassed by how David the king was dancing to God on the street among maidens/servants, and to her he was losing his respect among them.

The Lord Jesus Christ was born King of the Jews, King of kings; but He was meek and lowly, walking among the poor and lowest of people. He was so meek and lowly that even John the Baptist got confused about Him, asking Him, "Are You the One that should come or should we expect another?" In the Bible, two different Heralds of the Lord Jesus Christ had their proclamation of the Lord Jesus Christ disappointed by the appearance of the Lord Jesus Christ different from how they proclaimed He to appear as:

*1* First Herald: John the Baptist, heralded that "He who comes after me is far greater than me, and I am not worthy to loose His shoes; His Baptism is greater than my water baptism, for He baptizes with Holy Ghost and Fire." Then one day the Lord Jesus Christ appeared and everything about Him was so different from how John had proclaimed Him, because He was so meek and lowly: John corrected himself in his proclamation of the Lord Jesus Christ, saying, "Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. This is the Man I was telling you about, He who comes after me; and the way He appears even I did not know Him for His humility and lowliness until He (God) who sent me to baptize told me the One on whom the Holy Spirit shall descend on like a dove, He is the One who baptizes with the Holy Spirit." (John 1:29-34).

See, I love the Lord Jesus Christ. Yes, I really do.

John the Baptist was praying to be baptized by the Lord, but instead He came to be baptized by John the Baptist. John the Baptist was saying he was not even worthy to loose His shoes, but the Lord and King (Jesus Christ) bowed down Himself to wash the feet of His servants and creatures. Which King of kings does that?

[Luke 22:27 ICB] — Who is more important: the one sitting at the table or the one serving him? You think the one at the table is more important. But I Am like a Servant among you!

*2" Second Herald: One of the twenty-four elders in heaven before the Throne of God heralded the Lord Jesus Christ as the Lion of the tribe of Judah, but instead of the Lord to appear as the Lion He is, He appeared as the Lamb and much more as the Lamb that was slain. And from then, no one proclaimed Him as the Lion, but as the Lamb. Even His Throne was called the Throne of the Lamb because of His Lowliness and Humility, even though He is the King of kings had Lord of Lords and Master of all.

He has not changed: He said learn of Me:

[Matthew 11:29 AMPC] — Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls. [Jer. 6:16.]

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DANIEL 4:5

[Daniel 4:5 NKJV] — I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts on my bed and the visions of my head troubled me.

[Daniel 4:5 FBV] — But then one night I had a dream that really scared me—I saw visions that terrified me while I lay in my bed.

How comfortable your bed, your house or life is, does not always define how comfortable your sleep, your dream or your vision, would be. Some rich men do have rough or no sleep. According to*Ecclesiastes 5:12* - "The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, whether he eats little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not permit him to sleep." Dream or vision from God can strike terror on a man who lives in the most secured and most comfortable palace, guarded by the strongest security system of his country. What could have scared such a king of kings from any nation of the world?

Why do I feel that apart from Solomon's dream as king, every other dream of a king expressed in the entire Bible was designed to strike that king with fear or terror as if the expressed dreams of kings were nightmares to the kings? This includes the governor's wife or Pilate's wife, beginning from Abimelech, king of Gerar (Philistine) on account of Abraham's wife.

Not that kings do not dream good and sweet dreams, but that dreams that terrified those kings were the dreams that caught their attention, respect and priority. So for a dream to get the kings' attention and respect, it must be able to terrorize and trouble kings who slept on comfortable beds, flourishing in comfortable home, prosperous with abundance of rest in palaces with hardly anything able to worry those kings.

Not that it must always be a bad news dream or prophecy of doom dream that scared those kings: Because even gospel dreams or good news dream can still scare a dreamer that is a ruler, chief or king. The Chief Cupbearer of Pharaoh had a good dream that appeared lovely and sweet as fairly tale, but yet that goodnews dream scared him as much as the bad news dream scared the other chief with him.

As it is with dreams, so with visions and revelations: They are not nightmares but they inspired fear and troubles to those who do not have enough spirit to receive them. You see why God had to give us His Spirit before giving us some kinds dreams and visions and revelations. He knows we may not be able to handle such dreams, visions or revelations without Him or His Spirit on us. John and Daniel fainted when they could not bear the visions or revelations they were seeing; and the Lord or His Angel had to touch them to revive them again, saying to them, "Fear not." So even if it's just for purpose of dreaming certain dreams or seeing certain visions, and prophesying certain revelations, God would pour Spirit. As it's written:

[Joel 2:28] — "And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit on all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:"

So in the top Bible verse above, Nebuchadnezzar, in the summit of his living the best worldly life on earth, saw dream or vision on his bed which troubled him. That's part of his testimony, and like him let us consider sharing dreams, visions or revelations that terrified us in our comfort zone as testimoy because God's Hand and message is in such dreams, visions or revelations. Do not forget to share in your testimony the fear, the terror, the chills, the reflexes, etc, you felt when you were receiving the dream, vision, trance or revelation. For communicating such things help the hearer to know how much your experience touched you and the virtues that went out or came in to you during the experience, dream or vision.

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DANIEL 4:4

[Daniel 4:4 NKJV] — I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at rest in my house, and flourishing in my palace.

[Daniel 4:4 GWN] — "I, Nebuchadnezzar, was living comfortably at home. I was prosperous while living in my palace."


In this Bible verse, the testifier began the story that built his testimony. Imagine someone was to start giving testimony story, but asking, "Where should start my testimony story?" Some people would reply like, "Start from the Beginning;" but others would reply "Be brief as simple as "Once I was blind, but now I see" just as the man in "John 9:25" testified.

In discussing this Bible verse above, here are two segments: first segment looks into the part that frags "I, Nebuchadnezzar" and the other segment looks into "was at rest or living comfortably in my house, prospering or flourishing in my palace."

_________________________SEGMENT ONE_____________________

Why did he began his story with "I" and still described who the I refers to by mention his name, as if the "I" was not enough for us to know it's him?
He said it four times in this testimony or Daniel 4, "I + Nebuchadnezzar (his name)" to re-emphasize the "I" by his name "Nebuchadnezzar:" for some say repetition is for emphasis. Was that important?

I, Peterch, (doing the same thing) must have taught about who posseses the true reference of first person pronouns, second person pronouns and third person pronouns, in certain spiritual but mysterious prophecies, testimonies or messages. Sometimes you read or hear scriptures or prophecies terms like "I" "Me" "You" "He" "Him" etc, and naturally you may think by those pronouns the references point to characters or persons implied but instead they refer to another invisible Personality, to the Spirit, to the spirits, or to Seed(s), in coded terms. It could refer to both.

E.g. A man of God filled with the Holy Spirit could be speaking with "I" or "me" and that "I" may not just be the man alone but the Spirit of God also. Ananias and Saphira thought they were lying to man (Peter), but the Peter speaking then was filled with the Holy Ghost and so his "I" or "me" was not just referring to flesh and blood but to the Holy Spirit speaking through Peter.

It's by discernment or knowledge: At one time Peter spoke, flesh and blood did not reveal this to Peter but the Father in heaven, and then at the next time Peter spoke, "Get behind Satan;" and then Ananias and Saphira thought it's the usual Peter speaking, but then it's the Holy Spirit of God. In "John 13:27" Satan entered Judas Iscariot, and the Lord spoke to Satan himself by speaking to Judas Iscariot at that moment.

Demon-possessed people were testifiers, giving testimony of Jesus Christ being the Holy Son of God. But He rebuked them and silenced their testimony/revelation and cast them out. Also Paul by the Holy Spirit cast out the evil spirit taking possession of the "I" or "me" in that young girl that was testifying about Paul and Silas. At one occasion, madman ran and knelt down in prayer to the Lord Jesus praying fervently not to be cast into hell (Abyss precisely). The Lord Jesus asked the man, "What is your name?" And the demon(s) that took possession of the "I" and "me" of that man answered Him speaking as the man, saying to the Lord Jesus, "My name is "Legion" because we are many." Thus the "My" was not singular but plural because the "my or I" actually meant "we or many of us."

So in the top Bible verse, the "I, Nebuchadnezzar" meant it was truly Nebuchadnezzar in possession of himself, in possession of his "I" and not another spirit or personality or ambiguity bearing or possessing his "I" as if possessing a surname shared by different entities or people. This is singular, not plural, because it's "I, Nebuchadnezzar."

Even though Jesus Christ sent His Angel to give testimony or to testify on His behalf in the Churches, the Lord Jesus Christ used "I, Jesus" to express it's His Testimony, though by angel that testifies. As it is written:

[Revelation 22:16] — "I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the Bright and Morning Star."


_________________________SEGMENT TWO_____________________

[Daniel 4:4] — "I, Nebuchadnezzar, was living comfortably at home. I was prosperous while living in my palace."

*1* To many testifiers, this would have been the ending point to their testimonies, but to Nebuchadnezzar this was his starting point of his testimony.

*2* To many dreamers, this would have been the climaxing of their dream come true, but to Nebuchadnezzar this was where his dream started.

I have heard some testimonies, dreams, or ambitions; and many of them were pointing to or aiming at arrive this position where Nebuchadnezzar was occupying in the top Bible verse above. It like saying the sky is the limit for many, but for Nebuchadnezzar the sky was his starting point.

Some people's dreams/testimonies is about building houses, gaining home or living comfortably, resting, living in prosperity, promotion at working place, living in palace, being a king having dominion, etc, including Joseph who's dream and testimony was about becoming a ruler over his brothers who would bow down to him. But in the top Bible verse above, none of those dreamers or testifiers have even attained to where Nebuchadnezzar began his testimony. He was already the king of kings, having the whole world given to him by God, having rest, prosperity, fame, power etc, and there was no more any height of promotion or prosperity in human realms where Nebuchadnezzar have not attained in the pinnacle of them all.

But all those things were not even his testimony or foremost message he would share, celebrate and publish to the entire world. Where the dream or testimony of many people would never reach was were the dream and testimony of Nebuchadnezzar was beginning.

Even so, where the highest glories, highest pleasures, highest riches, highest lives, highest powers, highest fames, highest things, of this world stop is still far below where the very least things of the Kingdom of Heaven begin. Therefore I cite what is written here,

[Matthew 11:11 FBV] — I tell you the truth, that among humanity there's no one greater than John the Baptist, but even the least important in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he is.

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DANIEL 4:3

[Daniel 4:3 AKJV] — "How great are His signs! and how mighty are His wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and His dominion is from generation to generation."

[Daniel 4:3 FBV] — His signs are incredible. His wonders are amazing! His kingdom is an eternal kingdom, and His rule will last for all generations!



Well at this stage of sharing testimony, one would have expressed the branch or aspect of the attributes of God he/she is witnessing/testifying about: For usually, one may not be testifying about all attributes/aspects of God. The aspect of God's attributes he/she may be focused on includes:

*1* God is good and merciful or testifying of the Goodness of God; or,
*2* God keeps covenant or testifying of Covenant-keeping God; or,
*3* God grants or answers prayers; or,
*4* God of miracles, God of wonders, working all impossibilities; or,
*5* God is real and true; or,
*6* God is Revealer of Secrets or God of Mysteries and Wisdom; or,
*7* God of Salvation or Deliverance;
*Etc*

In the top Bible verse above, the testifier/witness (Nebuchadnezzar the king) introduced the aspect or attributes of God that structured the core points or message of his testimony: The core aspect of his testimony is basically about "The Kingdom of God:" For he was preaching/witnessing about "the Kingdom and Power (Dominion) of God."

I remember telling someone that I am not just preaching the "Gospel of Salvation" but preaching the "Gospel of the Kingdom of God." And he asked me, what's the difference between the two? I don't remember answering him that question, but I made it clear the Lord Jesus Christ preached the Gospel of the Kingdom of God or Kingdom of Heaven, and He sent us to go into all the world and preach the gospel of the Kingdom. It is seek you first the Kingdom of God, not just seek you first Salvation, and all other things shall be added to you. There's difference between seeking the Kingdom and seeking Salvation. Salvation is in Word (Confession with your mouth the Lord Jesus), but the Kingdom of God is not in Word but in Power (1 Corinthians 4:20).

This was the "Theme of the Testimony" of Nebuchadnezzar:

[Daniel 4:3 AKJV] — "How great are His signs! and how mighty are His wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and His dominion is from generation to generation."

Three things I show you from this:

1* First - That the Testimony is about the Kingdom of God

2* Secondly - That the Testimony is about the Power of God: Basically, the Kingdom of God is in Power. You really should not separate the Kingdom of God from the Power of God and from the Glory of God. Let those who speak of God's Kingdom talk of God's Power and Glory. Written:

[Psalms 145:11-13] – "They shall speak of the Glory of Your Kingdom, and talk of Your Power; To make known to the sons of men His mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of His Kingdom. Your Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom, and Your Dominion endures throughout all generations."

Again, it is written,

[Matthew 6:13] — "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For Yours is the Kingdom, and the Power, and the Glory, forever. Amen."

3* Thirdly - That the Testifier of the Testimony was himself better witness of his message (testimony), not just because of his experience but because of his position or status as king of kings.

Who better understood kingdom, power or dominion, among men by then than Nebuchadnezzar the testifier, who was king of kings, had dominion over all men and animals of the earth in all nations, and was in power controlling all magicians, witches, wizards, occults, astrologers, and all forms of diabolical powers/group: infact he practically made golden image and declared it as gods to all nations boasting that no other gods or goddess or power could deliver any of its own worshipper from his hands. So for such a man who knew what having kingdom, power, dominion, signs and wonders, whether politically, religiously, esoterically, militarily, diabolically, scientifically, to testify and declare to all nations these things about the Signs, Wonders, Kingdom and Power (Dominion) of God, then you pay most attention to what he says than to what a powerless person is saying about the kingdom of God and the power of God. Remember, the Kingdom of God is not in word but in power, and so you should have some power to talk about the kingdom of God. As it is written,

But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord wills, and I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power. For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power.
[I Corinthians 4:19‭-‬20 NKJV]

Speaking of having some Power to speak better for the Kingdom of God, in the top Bible verse above, Nebuchadnezzar structured the demonstration or manifestation of the Power of God in four categories, while also rating the Power of God high in each category: Which of these categories Power do you have to demonstrate or promote the Kingdom of God?

*1* CATEGORY "A" - SIGNS (Power of God manifested in Signs). Rating: He rated God's Signs as Great or Incredible. There's no sign of God that is not great, even if that sign of God appears small or little. All the Signs of God are great and incredible the more you know them in higher degrees. For the signs of God communicate greater things.

*2* CATEGORY "B" - WONDERS (Power of God manifested in Wonders). Rating: He rated God's Wonders as Mighty or Amazing. There's nothing boring or boredom or common in the Wonders of God because they are marvelous and charming, and cannot be explained by any scientific knowledge or wisdom of men's mind in natural possibilities.

*3* CATEGORY "C" - KINGDOM (Power of God manifested in Kingdom). Rating: He rated God's Kingdom as Eternal Kingdom. He's the King who's Reign is without end and therefore, not a mere regime that has beginning or end. The Kingdom of God never begins, but comes. To say the Kingdom had beginning is to say the Power of God had beginning or His Glory began

*4* CATEGORY "" - DOMINION (Power of God manifested in Dominion or Government). Rating: He rated God's Dominion as from Generation to Generation.

The difference between God's Kingdom and God's Dominion (Government or Rules) is that the Kingdom of God came to earth at one time to take over, but the Dominion of God has always been on earth all the time and had never been absent from the earth, seas and heavens. So when God's Kingdom was not yet on earth, God still rules in the kingdoms of men through God's government or dominion, which was changing kings and setting up kings, exalting one and abasing/overthrowing the other. So the higher powers (governments) that be are the ordinances (dominion) of God who rules even inside the kingdoms (governments) of men, while the Kingdom of God or God as King is yet to come and takeover.

The Dominion God gave Adam and Eve, which they blew off, has been in the Hands of God from generations to generations, but within the kingdoms of men on earth. The Will of God associated with His Kingdom is what we pray His Will be done on earth as it is in heaven. But the Will of God associated with His Dominion (Ordinances, Laws, Principles, Prophecies etc.,) have always been the Will of God done on earth with or without praying for such will, and men cannot prevail in resisting His Will.

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DANIEL 4:2

[Daniel 4:2 NKJV] — I thought it good to declare the signs and wonders that the Most High God has worked for me.

[Daniel 4:2 GNT] — Listen to my account of the wonders and miracles which the Supreme God has shown me.



Nebuchadnezzar the great occultic and idolatrous king was converted into the faith of the Lord God Most High, and he shared the testimony of his conversion in the entire Daniel 4.

But in the Bible verse above precisely, Nebuchadnezzar acted as one of the greatest "Evangelists" publishing the gospel of the miracles, signs and wonders of the Most High (Supreme) God to the whole world. His testimony (message) reached out to the whole world that knew him as idol worshipper and occultic king, to proclaim the true God and Most High as the God of miracles, signs and wonders, to and through him.

What he said about "I thought it good" in the Bible verse above, was translated as "It pleased me" in Berean Study Bible. Basically, it means he found joy or pleasure in sharing the testimony of his experience and conversion and of the miracles, signs and wonders of God to and through him, to all the world. You will find such joy, pleasure or zeal in true evangelists and in those who find the joy at their conversion or salvation.

I have seen many converted into the Lord, but not all of them have joy or testimony or message to share from their experience, conversion or revelation of the grace and power of God. Some experienced the power of God, and were changed/converted, but even their neighbors hardly noticed because they do not have message or testimony to share, neither grateful.

Can you tell the whole world about the revelations, miracles, signs and wonders, of the Most High God, with gratitude and joy, unashamed? Can you reach out to your former sin partners and neighborhood where you were notorious, and publish the joy of your new found relationship and fellowship with the Lord Most High God?

*1* Why not you be like the madman made whole by Jesus Christ, who cast out legion of demons out of the man and the man went to publish and testify of his conversion and freedom by the Lord Jesus Christ?

*2* Why not you be like Nebuchadnezzar, who was cast out of being a man into becoming an animal and after seven years he was returned and restored into becoming a man, who then published and testified of his conversion and understanding by the Most High God?

*3* Why not you be like the Samaritan woman by the well where the Lord and Messiah sat, and she left her business to go testify to all the city of Samaria about her encounter with the Christ?

*4* Why not you be like Paul, who immediately he was converted and regained his sight began preaching or testifying of the Lord Jesus Christ?

I believe and know there are much more deep, miraculous, and wonderful, revelations of God shown to various people than they have publicized. Many of us are keeping the works of God hidden in our hearts/minds as Mary who mothered the Lord Jesus was keeping such things in her secret. There would have been more revelational and testimonial books, audios, videos and messages, about encounters with God/the Lord Jesus Christ, about angels and heavens, about hell and demons/damned souls, about dreams, about deliverances, about the earth/seas/creatures, about history, about men/women, about things to come, etc., if all who received or had them testified and published them.

Don't wait to share them as Testament, rather share them as Testimonies. It's the Testimony of Jesus that is the spirit of prophecy, not just the Testament of Jesus. We overcome by the blood of the Lamb and by the words of our Testimony, not words of our testament. Testimony is as good as confession, which is key to salvation and prayers or utterances. I recently shared "Testaments of the 12 Patriarchs of Israel" which were basically their last testimony, confession or message before they died.

That's testament, always coming out when the testifier is dying or dead. Why share those things only when you know you would not live to face reactions or effects of your revelations or uncovered secrets? Are you trying to escape people's hatred, anger, animosity, shame, while you lived, but suddenly at your dying bed you develop boldness to share those things so that before they can react or respond to your revelations, you are already dead and wouldn't be facing how they receive or react to them?

[Psalms 118:17] — "I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD."

I wouldn't wait until I am old and dying before I testify against fornication; I rather testify against Fornication and against all sins while I was young and youthful, so that I too would live facing the trials and temptations that follow my Testimony. There's place for preaching what you lived, but also place for living what you preached: Hence both Testament and Epistles.

Three categories of people:

*1* Those would never share or testify the Testimonies/Revelations of God and of the Lord to them,

*2* Those who think it good to share the Testimonies/Revelations of God to them only when they are dying or retarding, and have no more to live,

*3* Those who think it good to share the Testimonies/Revelations of God to them like Nebuchadnezzar in the Bible verse above, living to declare the works of God and facing either persecution or acceptance for their Testimonies or Confessions.

Know this, if Nebuchadnezzar had not shared this Testimony, perhaps his testimony would not have become part of the Scriptures given to us, and we may not have known he was turned into animal in shame to his glory and later turned back into a man of understanding by God. So do not deny us from having the useful information of God's works on you, even if it means exposing your shameful secrets while sharing the testimony. It's not about your shame/humiliation in the story, but about the praise, honor and glory of God the Most High who delivered, changed, or converted you.

DANIEL 4:1

[Daniel 4:1 NKJV] — Nebuchadnezzar the king, To all peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you.

[Daniel 4:1 GNT] — King Nebuchadnezzar sent the following message to the people of all nations, races, and languages in the world: “Greetings!



"Daniel 4" is basically an "Epistle" and qualifies as "General Epistle" though it was from Nebuchadnezzar the king of kings then, and hereby written to us (Christians) through Daniel the prophet.

*1* "Epistle" means special letter written and ministered as *Open Letter* but more importantly as the Oracle (Utterance) of the Spirit of God. This is because without the Spirit of God, Epistles would be mere Letters, and the Letter kills but the Spirit gives life. So when a written letter contains and transmits the Spirit and Life, it is an Epistle.

I earlier wanted to say "Many of the Books in the New Testament" but I am directed to rather say, "All of the Books in the New Testament Scriptures are basically *Epistles." And everyone who qualifies to write an Epistle in the New Testament but himself/herself first becomes an Epistle of Christ. You must be an Epistle of Christ to effectively write an Epistle in Christ. So the true Ministers of Christ are first of all the Epistle of Christ read by all men better and before all men; and as a minister of Christ, you and your life are inside your own written epistle or scriptures by the Holy Spirit of God. You are part of your message, just as Nebuchadnezzar's part of his epistle in Daniel 4 beginning in the top Bible verse.

Everyone of us was first part of the Living Book of God before we became living beings on earth; and more of the written Epistles of God are being declared for us to live by. Man shall not live by bread alone, but live by each declaration of the Living Word/Epistle of Christ's Book. To die is to have no part or portion in the Living Epistle/Book of Christ Jesus; but to live forever is to have part or portion in the Book of Life to live forth forever.

*2* "General Epistle" means the epistle cuts across racial, national, tribal, ethnic, geographic and timeline boundaries to all. As you saw in the top Bible verse above, Nebuchadnezzar the king was addressing all tribes, nations, languages, peoples, cultures, in all the earth: thus, it's a General Epistle, not private epistle.

In the New Testament Scriptures, Paul wrote many Epistles but they were not classified as "General Epistles" by men because Paul wrote them to special groups of people in certain locations or tribes. And Paul's letters or Epistles bore the titles or names of the special Bodies he was addressing to, unlike other Books in the New Testament Scriptures that bore the name of the writers. Examples Paul's letters to the Romans, to Colossians, to Ephesians, to Thessalonians, to Timothy, to Philemon, to Corinthians, to Hebrews etc. But the "General Epistles'' in" the New Testament Scriptures are those who were addressed to all men or all Christians and Jews in all parts of the world. As the Lord Jesus instructed, go into all the world, and preach to every creature. So the General Epistles are addressing the general audience and use jargon/terms applicable across all divides. The Book of Enoch (cited by Peter and Jude) is one of the most General (if not the most General) Epistle or scriptures written by men of God, cutting across all ages and all generations of mankind, from beginning to the end. The Book of Revelation is General Epistle, but focussed on end times. The Books of James, John, Peter, Jude, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and Acts, are General Epistles.

However, though Paul's letters were not originally "General Epistles" but were "Sectarian Epistles" or "Denominational Epistles," yet the Lord made them Scriptures because the Spirit of the Lord speaks through them across and beyond those sectarians or denominations of churches to all men far and beyond thereafter. As it is written, "Let him that has ear hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches" (Notwithstanding which sect or denomination of churches the Spirit's letter/epistle was addressed to) [Revelation 3:22].

So though Old Covenant Scriptures apply to the Jews, not Gentile Church, yet I will hear what the Spirit of God is saying to those under the law because I have the ear to hear. It is as many as are led by the Spirit of God that are the sons of God, not as many as are led by New/Old Testaments or by certain denominational/Sectarian doctrines or traditions.

*3* "Greetings or Peace or Gospel - Beginning of Epistles after Address." In the top Bible verse above, Nebuchadnezzar, after establishing the epistle to be "General Epistle" and not sectarian, by the protocol of people/persons he named/tagged in the address before his main speech, he began his Epistle by "Greetings or Peace be multiplied to you."

No matter the pressure or urgency of the written Epistles, they usually begin with either joyful news, greetings, gracias, blessings or peace to the readers/hears. The Book of Revelation practically pronounced "Blessing to the readers of the Book and more to the doers." Behold, Nebuchadnezzar's as the king of the world then, greets you and decreed multiplication of peace to you, if you are his audience and reader of this epistle in Daniel 4.

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This man did not preach himself, but preached Joseph and Jesus Christ

THE TESTAMENT OF BENJAMIN - 1

[Benjamin 1:1-46]

Benjamin, son of Jacob and Rachel, Preaches "Joseph as Role Model and Example to follow Joseph's Footsteps"

*1* THE copy of the words of Benjamin, which he commanded his sons to observe, after he had lived a hundred and twenty-five years.

*2* And he kissed them, and said: "As Isaac was born to Abraham in his old age, so also was I to Jacob.

*3* And since Rachel my mother died in giving me birth, I had no milk; therefore I was suckled by Bilhah her handmaid.

*4* For Rachel remained barren for twelve years after she had borne Joseph; and she prayed the Lord with fasting twelve days, and she conceived and bore Me.

*5* For my father loved Rachel dearly, and prayed that he might see two sons born from her.

*6* Therefore was I called Benjamin, that is, "A son of days."

*7* And when I went into Egypt, to Joseph, and my brother recognized me, he asked me: "What did they tell my father when they sold me?"

*8* And I said to him, "They dabbled your coat with blood and sent it, and said: "Know whether this be your son's coat."

*9* And he said to me: "Even so, brother, when they had stripped me of my coat they gave me to the Ishmaelites, and they gave me a loin cloth, and scourged me, and bade me run."

*10* And as for one of them that had beaten me with a rod, a lion met him and killed him.

*11* And so his associates were afraid."

*12* Therefore, my children, you must also love the Lord God of heaven and earth, and keep His commandments, following the example of the good and holy man Joseph.

*13* And let your mind be to good, even as you know me; for he that has his mind right sees all things rightly.

*14* Fear you the Lord, and love your neighbour; and even though the spirits of Beliar claim you to afflict you with every evil, yet shall they not have dominion over you, even as they had not over Joseph my brother.

*15* How many men wished to kill him, and God shielded him!

*16* For he that fears God and loves his neighbour cannot be smitten by the spirit of Beliar, being shielded by the fear of God.

*17" Nor can he be ruled over by the device of men or beasts, for he is helped by the Lord through the love which he has towards his neighbour.

*18* For Joseph also besought our father that he would pray for his brethren, that the Lord would not impute to them as sin whatever evil they had done to him.

*19* And thus Jacob cried out: "My good child, you have prevailed over the bowels of your father Jacob."

*20* And he embraced him, and kissed him for two hours, saying:

*21* "In you shall be fulfilled the prophecy of heaven concerning the Lamb of God, and Saviour of the world, and that a blameless One shall be delivered up for lawless men, and a sinless One shall die for ungodly men in the blood of the covenant, for the salvation of the Gentiles and of Israel, and shall destroy Beliar and his servants."

*22* See you, therefore, my children, the end of the good man?

*23* Be followers of his compassion, therefore, with a good mind, that you also may wear crowns of glory.

*24* For the good man does not have a dark eye; for he shows mercy to all men, even though they are sinners.

*25* And though they devise with evil intent concerning him, by doing good he overcomes evil, being shielded by God; and he loves the righteous as his own soul.

*26* If any one is glorified, he does not envy him; if any one is enriched, he is not jealous; if any one is valiant, he praises him; the virtuous man he lauds; on the poor man he has mercy; on the weak he has compassion; to God he sings praises.

*27* And him that has the grace of a good spirit he loves as his own soul.

*28* If therefore, you also have a good mind, then will both wicked men be at peace with you, and the profligate will reverence you and turn to good; and the covetous will not only cease from their inordinate desire, but even give the objects of their covetousness to them that are afflicted.

*29* If you do well, even the unclean spirits will flee from you; and the beasts will dread you.

*30* For where there is reverence for good works and light in the mind, even darkness flees away from him.

*31* For if any one does violence to a holy man, he repents; for the holy man is merciful to his reviler, and holds his peace.

*32* And if any one betrays a righteous man, the righteous man prays: though for a little he is humbled, yet not long after he appears far more glorious, as was Joseph my brother.

*33* The inclination of the good man is not in the power of the deceit of the spirit of Beliar, for the angel of peace guides his soul.

*34* And he gazes not passionately on corruptible things, nor gathers together riches through a desire of pleasure.

*35* He does not delight in pleasure, he does not grieve his neighbour, he does not sate himself with luxuries, he does not err in the uplifting of the eyes, for the Lord is his portion.

*36* The good inclination does not receive glory nor dishonour from men, and it does not know any guile, or lie, or fighting or reviling; for the Lord dwells in him and lights up his soul, and he rejoices towards all men always.

*37* The good mind does not have two tongues, of blessing and of cursing, of contumely and of honour, of sorrow and of joy, of quietness and of confusion, of hypocrisy and of truth, of poverty and of wealth; but it has one disposition, uncorrupt and pure, concerning all men.

*38* It has no double sight, nor double hearing; for in everything which he does, or speaks, or sees, he knows that the Lord looks on his soul.

*39* And he cleanses his mind that he may not be condemned by men as well as by God.

*40* And in like manner the works of Beliar are twofold, and there is no singleness in them.

*41* Therefore, my children, I tell you, flee the malice of Beliar; for he gives a sword to them that obey him.

*42* And the sword is the mother of seven evils. First the mind conceives through Beliar, and first there is bloodshed; secondly ruin; thirdly, tribulation; fourthly, exile; fifthly, dearth; sixthly, panic; seventhly, destruction.

*43* 'Therefore was Cain also delivered over to seven vengeances by God, for in every hundred years the Lord brought one plague on him.

*44* And when he was two hundred years old he began to suffer, and in the nine-hundredth year he was destroyed.

*45* For on account of Abel, his brother, with all the evils was he judged, but Lamech with seventy times seven.

*46* Because forever those, who are like Cain in envy and hatred of brethren, shall be punished with the same judgement.

THE TESTAMENT OF BENJAMIN - 2

[Benjamin 2:1-33]

Benjamin, son of Jacob and Rachel, Preaches "Jesus Christ"

*1* AND do you, my children, flee evil-doing, envy, and hatred of brethren, and cleave to goodness and love.

*2* He that has a pure mind in love, does not look after a woman with a view to fornication; for he has no defilement in his heart, because the Spirit of God rests on him.

*3* For as the sun is not defiled by shining on dung and mire, but rather dries up both and drives away the evil smell; so also the pure mind, though surrounded by the defilements of earth, rather cleanses them and is not itself defiled.

*4* And I believe that there will be also evil-doings among you, from the words of Enoch the righteous: that you shall commit fornication with the fornication of Sodom, and shall perish, all except a few, and shall renew wanton deeds with women; and the kingdom of the Lord shall not be among you, for straightway He shall take it away.

*5* Nevertheless the temple of God shall be in your portion, and the last temple shall be more glorious than the first.

*6* And the twelve tribes shall be gathered together there, and all the Gentiles, until the Most High shall send forth His Salvation in the visitation of an only-begotten Prophet.

*7* And He shall enter into the first temple, and there shall the Lord be treated with outrage, and He shall be lifted up on a tree.

*8* And the veil of the temple shall be rent, and the Spirit of God shall pass on to the Gentiles as fire poured forth.

*9* And He shall ascend from Hades and shall pass from earth into heaven.

*10* And I know how lowly He shall be on earth, and how glorious in heaven.

*11* Now when Joseph was in Egypt, I longed to see his figure and the form of his countenance; and through the prayers of Jacob my father I saw him, while awake in the daytime, even his entire figure exactly as he was."

*12* And when he had said these things, he said to them: "Know you therefore, my children, that I am dying."

*13* Therefore, Do you truth each one to his neighbour, and keep the law of the Lord and His commandments.

*14* For these things are the things I leave to you instead of inheritance.

*15* Therefore, do also give them to your children for an everlasting possession; for so did both Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob.

*16* For all these things they gave us for an inheritance, saying: "Keep the commandments of God, until the Lord shall reveal His Salvation to all Gentiles."

*17* And then shall you see Enoch, Noah, and Shem, and Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, rising on the right hand in gladness,

*18* Then shall we also rise, each one over our tribe, worshipping the King of heaven, who appeared on earth in the form of a Man in humility.

*19* And as many as believe on Him on the earth shall rejoice with Him.

*20* Then also all men shall rise, some to glory and some to shame.

*21* And the Lord shall judge Israel first, for their unrighteousness; because when He appeared as God in the flesh to deliver them they did not believe Him.

*22* And then shall He judge all the Gentiles, as many as did not believe Him when He appeared on earth.

*23* And He shall convict Israel through the chosen ones of the Gentiles, even as He reproved Esau through the Midianites, who deceived their brethren, so that they fell into fornication, and idolatry; and they were alienated from God, becoming therefore children in the portion of them that fear the Lord.

*24* If you therefore, my children, walk in holiness according to the commandments of the Lord, you shall again dwell securely with me, and all Israel shall be gathered to the Lord.

*25* And I shall no longer be called a ravening wolf on account of your ravages, but a worker of the Lord distributing food to them that work what is good.

*26* And there shall arise in the latter days one beloved of the Lord, of the tribe of Judah and Levi, a doer of His good pleasure in His Mouth, with new knowledge enlightening the Gentiles.

*27* Until the consummation of the age shall He be in the synagogues of the Gentiles, and among their rulers, as a strain of music in the mouth of all.

*28* And He shall be inscribed in the holy books, both His work and His word, and He shall be a chosen One of God forever.

*29* And through them He shall go to and fro as Jacob my father, saying: "He shall fill up that which lacks of your tribe."

*30* And when he had said these things he stretched out his feet.

*31* And died in a beautiful and good sleep.

*32* And his sons did as he had enjoined them, and they took up his body and buried it in Hebron with his fathers.

*33* And the number of the days of his life was a hundred and twenty-five years.

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The Fisherman and First man to invent Boat, Preaches Treasure of Compassion for others

THE TESTAMENT OF ZEBULUN - 1

[Zebulun 1:1-37]
Zebulun, son of Jacob and Leah, recounts Joseph's ordeal partly

*1* THE copy of the words of Zebulun, which he enjoined on his sons before he died in the one hundred and fourteenth year of his life, two years after the death of Joseph.

*2* And he said to them: "Hear me, you sons of Zebulun attend to the words of your father.

*3* I, Zebulun, was born a good gift to my parents.

*4* For when I was born my father was increased very exceedingly, both in flocks and herds, when with the straked rods he had his portion.

*5* I have no consciousness of sin that I have sinned in all my days, except in the sin of thought.

*6* Nor yet do I remember that I have done any iniquity, except the sin of ignorance which I committed against Joseph; for I covenanted with my brethren not to tell my father what had been done.

*7* But I wept in secret many days on account of Joseph, for I feared my brethren, because they had all agreed that if any one should declare the secret, he should be killed.

*8* But when they wished to kill Joseph, I adjured them much with tears not to be guilty of this sin.

*9* For Simeon and Gad came against Joseph to kill him, and he said to them with tears: "Pity me, my brethren, have mercy on the bowels of Jacob our father: do not lay your hands on me to shed innocent blood, for I have not sinned against you.

*10* And if indeed I have sinned, with chastening chastise me, my brethren, but do not lay your hand on me, for the sake of Jacob our father."

*11* And as Joseph spoke these words, wailing as he did so, I was unable to bear his lamentations, and I began to weep, and my liver was poured out, and all the substance of my bowels was loosened.

*12* And I wept with Joseph and my heart sounded, and the joints of my body trembled, and I was not able to stand.

*13* And when Joseph saw me weeping with him, and them coming against him to kill him, he fled behind me, begging them.

*14* But meanwhile Reuben arose and said: "Come, my brethren, let us not kill him, but let us cast him into one of these dry pits, which our fathers digged and found no water."

*15* For it was for this reason the Lord forbade that water should rise up in them in order that Joseph should be preserved.

*16* And they did so, until they sold him to the Ishmaelites.

*17* For in his price I had no share, my children.

*18* But Simeon and Gad and six other of our brethren took the price of Joseph, and bought sandals for themselves, and their wives, and their children, saying:

*19* "We will not eat of it, for it is the price of our brother's blood, but we will assuredly tread it under foot, because he said that he would be king over us, and so let us see what will become of his dreams."

*20* [I skipped]

*21* [I skipped]

*22* [I skipped]

*23* [I skipped]

*24* [I skipped]

*25* And after he was cast into the pit my brothers sat down to eat and drink.

*26* But I, through pity for Joseph, did not eat, but watched the pit, since Judah feared lest Simeon, Dan, and Gad should rush off and slay him.

*27* But when they saw that I did not eat, they set me to watch him, till he was sold to the Ishmaelites.

*28* And when Reuben came and heard that while he was away Joseph had been sold, he tore his garments, and mourning, said:

*29* "How shall I look on the face of my father Jacob?" And he took the money and ran after the merchants but as he failed to find them he returned grieving.

*30* But the merchants had left the broad road and marched through the Troglodytes by a short cut.

*31* But Reuben was grieved, and ate no food that day.

*32* Dan therefore came to him and said: "Weep not, neither grieve; for we have found what we can say to our father Jacob.

*33* Let us kill a kid of the goats, and dip in it the coat of Joseph; and let us send it to Jacob, saying: Know, is this the coat of your son?"

*34* And they did so. For they stripped off from Joseph his coat when they were selling him, and put upon him the garment of a slave.

*35* Now Simeon took the coat, and would not give it up, for he wished to tear it with his sword, as he was angry that Joseph lived and that he had not killed him.

*36* Then we all rose up and said to him: "If you do not give up the coat, we will say to our father that you alone did this evil thing in Israel."

*37* And so he gave it to them, and they did even as Dan had said.

THE TESTAMENT OF ZEBULUN - 2

[Zebulun 2:1-42]

Zebulun preaches human sympathy and understanding of one's fellow men.

*1* AND now children, I urge you to keep the commands of the Lord, and to show mercy to your neighbours, and to have compassion towards all, not towards men only, but also towards animals.

*2* For all this thing's sake the Lord blessed me, and when all my brethren were sick, I escaped without sickness, for the Lord knows the purposes of each one.

*3* Have, therefore, compassion in your hearts, my children, because even as a man does to his neighbour, even so also will the Lord do to him.

*4* For the sons of my brethren were sickening and were dying on account of Joseph, because they showed no mercy in their hearts; but my sons were preserved without sickness, as you know.

*5* And when I was in the land of Canaan, by the sea-coast, I made a catch of fish for Jacob my father; and when many were choked in the sea, I continued unhurt.

*6* I was the first to invent a boat to sail on the sea, for the Lord gave me understanding and wisdom therein.

*7* And I let down a rudder behind it, and I stretched a sail on another upright piece of wood in the midst.

*8* And I sailed therein along the shores, catching fish for the house of my father until we came to Egypt.

*9* And through compassion I shared my catch with every stranger.

*10* And if a man was a stranger, or sick, or aged, I boiled the fish, and dressed them well, and offered them to all men, as every man had need, grieving with and having compassion on them.

*11* Which is why also the Lord satisfied me with abundance of fish when catching fish; for he that shares with his neighbour receives manifold more from the Lord.

*12* For five years I caught fish and gave thereof to every man whom I saw, and sufficed for all the house of my father.

*13* And in the summer I caught fish, and in the winter I kept sheep with my brethren.

*14* Now I will declare to you what I did.

*15* I saw a man in distress through unclothedness in wintertime, and I had compassion on him, and stole away a garment secretly from my father's house, and gave it to him who was in distress.

*16* Do you, therefore, my children, from that which God bestows on you, show compassion and mercy without hesitation to all men, and give to every man with a good heart.

*17* And if you have not the means to give to him that needs, have compassion for him in bowels of mercy.

*18* I know that my hand did not find the means to give to him that needed, and I walked with him weeping for seven furlongs, and my bowels yearned towards him in compassion.

*19* Have, therefore, yourselves also, my children, compassion towards every man with mercy, that the Lord also may have compassion and mercy on you.

*20* Because also in, the last days God will send His Compassion on the earth, and wherever He finds bowels of mercy He dwells in him.

*21* For in the degree in which a man has compassion on his neighbours, in the same degree the Lord has also upon him.

*22" And when we went down into Egypt, Joseph bore no malice against us.

*23* To whom taking heed, do you also, my children, approve yourselves without malice, and love one another; and do not set down in account, each one of you, evil against his brother.

*24* For this breaks unity and divides all kindred, and troubles the soul, and wears away the countenance.

*25* Observe, therefore, the waters, and know when they flow together, they sweep along stones, trees, earth, and other things.

*26* But if they are divided into many streams, the earth swallows them up, and they vanish away.

*27* So shall you also be if you be divided. Therefore, do not be divided into two heads for everything which the Lord made has but one head, and two shoulders, two hands, two feet, and all the remaining members.

*28* For I have learnt in the writing of my fathers, that you shall be divided in Israel, and you shall follow two kings, and shall work every abomination.

*29* And your enemies shall lead you captive, and you shall be evil entreated among the Gentiles, with many infirmities and tribulations.

*30* And after these things you shall remember the Lord and repent, and He shall have mercy on you, for He is merciful and compassionate.

*31* And He does not set down in account evil against the sons of men, because they are flesh, and are deceived through their own wicked deeds.

*32* And after these things shall there arise to you the Lord Himself, the Light of righteousness, and you shall return to your land.

*33* And you shall see Him in Jerusalem, for His name's sake.

*34* And again through the wickedness of your works shall you provoke Him to anger,

*35* And you shall be cast away by Him to the time of consummation.

*36* And now, my children, do not grieve that I am dying, nor be cast down in that I am coming to my end.

*37* For I shall rise again in the midst of you, as a ruler in the midst of his sons; and I shall rejoice in the midst of my tribe, as many as shall keep the law of the Lord, and the commandments of Zebulun their father.

*38* But on the ungodly shall the Lord bring eternal fire, and destroy them throughout all generations.

*39* But I am now hastening away to my rest, as did also my fathers.

*40* But do you fear the Lord our God with all your strength all the days of your life."

*41* And when he had said these things he fell asleep, at a good old age.

*42* And his sons laid him in a wooden coffin. And afterwards they carried him up and buried him in Hebron, with his fathers.

muyico:
Where was it writen in d bible?

Revelation 14:4-5, 7:7
John 1:47

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THE TESTAMENT OF ISSACHAR - 1

[Issachar 1:1-44]

Issachar, the son of Jacob and Leah, and the sinless child of hire for mandrakes. He preaches True Singleness.

*1* THE copy of the words of Issachar:

*2* For he called his sons and said to them: "Listen, my children, to Issachar your father; give ear to the words of him who is beloved of the Lord.

*3* I was born the fifth son to Jacob, by way of hire for the mandrakes.

*4* For Reuben my brother brought in mandrakes from the field, and Rachel met him and took them.

*5* And Reuben wept, and at his voice Leah my mother came forth.

*6* Now these mandrakes were sweet-smelling apples which were produced in the land of Haran below a ravine of water.

*7* And Rachel said: "I will not give them to you, but they shall be to me instead of children.

*8* For the Lord has despised me, and I have not borne children to Jacob."

*9* Now there were two apples; and Leah said to Rachel: "Let it suffice you that you have taken my husband: will you take these also?"

*10* And Rachel said to her: "You shall have Jacob this night for the mandrakes of your son."

*11* And Leah said to her: "Jacob is mine, for I am the wife of his youth."

*12* But Rachel said: "Do not boast, and do not vaunt yourself; for he espoused me before you, and for my sake he served our father fourteen years.

*13* And had not craft increased on the earth and the wickedness of men prospered, you would not by now see the face of Jacob.

*14* For you are not his wife, but in craft were taken to him in my stead.

*15* And my father deceived me, and removed me on that night, and did not allow Jacob to see me; for had I been there, this would not have happened to him.

*16* Nevertheless, for the mandrakes I am hiring Jacob to you for one night."

*17* And Jacob slept with Leah, and she conceived and bore me, and on account of the hire I was called "Issachar."

*18* Then an angel of the Lord appeared to Jacob, saying: "Two children shall Rachel bear, inasmuch as she has refused company with her husband, and has chosen continency."

*19* And had it been Leah my mother did not pay the two apples for the sake of Jacob's company, she would have borne eight sons; but for this reason she bore six instead, and Rachel bore the remaining two: because on account of the mandrakes the Lord visited Rachel.

*20* For the Lord knew that it was for the sake of children (procreation) Rachel wished to company with Jacob and not for lust of (sexual) pleasure.

*21* For on the next day also Rachel again gave up Jacob.

*22* Because of the mandrakes, therefore, the Lord listened to Rachel.

*23* For though she desired them, she did not eat them, but offered them in the house of the Lord, presenting them to the priest of the Most High who was at that time.

*24* When, therefore, I grew up, my children, I walked in uprightness of heart, and I became a husbandman (a farmer) for my father and my brethren, and I brought in fruits from the field according to their season.

*25* And my father blessed me, for he saw that I walked in rectitude before him.

*26* And I was not a busybody in my doings, nor envious and malicious against my neighbour.

*27* I never slandered any one, nor did I censure the life of any man, walking as I did in singleness of eye.

*28* Therefore, when I was thirty-five years old, I took to myself a wife, for my labour wore away my strength, and I never thought on pleasure with women; but owing to my toil, sleep overcame me.

*29* And my father always rejoiced in my rectitude, because I offered through the priest to the Lord all first-fruits; then to my father also.

*30* And the Lord increased ten thousandfold His benefits in my hands; and also Jacob, my father, knew that God aided my singleness.

*31* For on all the poor and oppressed I bestowed the good things of the earth in the singleness of my heart.

*32* And now, hear me, my children, and walk in singleness of your heart, for I have seen in it all that is well-pleasing to the Lord.

*33* The single-minded man does not covet gold, he does not overreach his neighbour, he does not long after manifold dainties, he does not delight in varieties of clothings (wears).

*34* He does not desire to live a long life, but only waits for the will of God.

*35* And the spirits of deceit have no power against him, for he does not look on the beauty of women, lest he should pollute his mind with corruption.

*36* There is no envy in his thoughts, no malicious person makes his soul to pine away, nor is there worry with insatiable desire in his mind.

*37* For he walks in singleness of soul, and beholds all things in uprightness of heart, shunning eyes made evil through the error of the world, lest he should see the perversion of any of the commandments of the Lord.

*38* Keep, therefore, my children, the law of God, and get singleness, and walk in guilelessness, not playing the busybody with the business of your neighbour, but love the Lord and your neighbour, have compassion on the poor and weak.

*39* Bow down your back to husbandry (farming), and toil in labours in all manner of husbandry, offering gifts to the Lord with thanksgiving.

*40* For with the first-fruits of the earth will the Lord bless you, even as He blessed all the saints from Abel even until now.

*41* For no other portion is given to you than of the fatness of the earth, whose fruits are raised by toil.

*41* For our father Jacob blessed me with blessings of the earth and of first-fruits.

*43* And Levi and Judah were glorified by the Lord even among the sons of Jacob; for the Lord gave them an inheritance, and to Levi He gave the priesthood, and to Judah the kingdom.

*44* And do you therefore obey them, and walk in the singleness of your father; for to Gad has it been given to destroy the troops that are coming upon Israel.

THE TESTAMENT OF ISSACHAR - 2

[Issachar 2:1-18]

*1* KNOW you therefore, my children, that in the last times your sons will forsake singleness, and will cleave to insatiable desire.

*2* And forsaking guilelessness, they will draw near to malice; and forsaking the commandments of the Lord, they will cleave to Beliar.

*3* And leaving husbandry, they will follow after their own wicked devices, and they shall be dispersed among the Gentiles, and shall serve their enemies.

*4* And do you therefore give these commands to your children, that, if they sin, they may the more quickly return to the Lord; For He is merciful, and will deliver them, even to bring them back into their land.

*5* Behold, therefore, as you see, I am one hundred and twenty-six years old and am not conscious of committing any sin in my entire life.

*6* And except my wife, I have not known any woman. I never committed fornication by even the uplifting of my eyes.

*7* I drank no wine, to be led astray thereby;

*8* I did not covet any desirable thing that was my neighbour's.

*9* No guile arose in my heart;

*10* A single lie never passed through my lips.

*11* If any man was in distress I joined my sighs with his,

*12* And I shared my bread with the poor.

*13* I worked godliness, all my days I kept truth.

*14* I loved the Lord; likewise also every man with all my heart.

*15* So do you also these things, my children, and every spirit of Beliar shall flee from you, and no deed of wicked men shall rule over you;

*16* And every wild beast shall you subdue, since you have with you the God of heaven and earth and walk with men in singleness of heart."

*17* And having said these things, he commanded his sons that they should carry him up to Hebron, and bury him there in the cave with his fathers.

*18* And he stretched out his feet and died, at a good old age; with every limb sound, and with strength unabated, he slept the eternal sleep.

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The Two is not One, choose One from the Two — Separate the light from the darkness - For the latter ends of men do show their righteousness or unrighteousness, when they meet the angels of the Lord and of Satan.

THE TESTAMENT OF ASHER - 1
[Asher 1:1-48]

Asher, the son of Jacob and Zilpah, preaches against having double faces, double standards or hypocrisy.

*1* THE copy of the Testament To Asher, including things he spoke to his sons in the one hundred and twenty-fifth year of his life.

*2* For while he was still in health, he said to them: "Listen, you children of Asher, to your father, and I will declare to you all that is upright in the sight of the Lord.

*3* Two ways has God given to the sons of men, and two inclinations, and two kinds of action, and two modes of action, and two motives.

*4* Therefore all things are by twos, one over against the other.

*5* For there are two ways of good and evil, and with these are the two inclinations in our breasts discriminating them.

*6* Therefore if the soul takes pleasure in the good inclination, all its actions are in righteousness; and if that soul sins it immediately repents.

*7* For, having its thoughts set upon righteousness, and casting away wickedness, it immediately overthrows the evil, and uproots the sin.

*8* But if the soul inclines to the evil inclination, all its actions are in wickedness, and it drives away the good, and cleaves to the evil, and is ruled by Beliar; and even if that soul works what is good, he perverts it to evil.

*9* For whenever it begins to do good, he forces the motive of the action into evil for him, seeing that the treasure of the inclination is filled with an evil spirit.

*10* A person then may use words to help the good but for the motive of the evil, yet the end of the action leads to mischief.

*11* There is a case where a man shows no mercy on a wicked man who's caught up in suffering for his own evil; and this thing has two aspects, but the whole of it is evil.

*12* And there is also a case where a man loves him that works evil, because he would prefer even to die in evil for his sake; and concerning this it is clear that it has two aspects, but the whole thing is an evil work.

*13* Though indeed that man has love, yet he is wicked for hiding what is evil for the sake of the good name, but the end of the action tends to evil.

*14* Another steals, cheats, does unjustly, plunders, defrauds, and uses the proceeds to pity and feed the poor: this too has a twofold aspect, but the whole of it is evil.

*15* He who defrauds his neighbour provokes God, and swears falsely against the Most High, and yet he pities the poor: The Lord commanded that law he breaks and provokes, and yet he refreshes the poor.

*16* He defiles the soul, and makes gay the body; he kills many, and pities a few: this, too, has a twofold aspect, but the whole of it is evil.

*17* Another case is a man who commits adultery and fornication, and abstains from meats, and when he fasts he does evil, and by the power of his wealth overwhelms many: And notwithstanding his excessive wickedness he still observes the commandments: this, too, has a twofold aspect, but the whole of it is evil,

*18* Such men are like the animal called Hares, which is clean, like those that divide the hoof, but in very deed are unclean.

*19* For God in the tables of the commandments has thus declared.

*20* But my children, do not wear two faces like to them having both that of goodness and of wickedness; but rather cleave to goodness only, for God has His habitation therein, and men desire it.

*21* But flee away from wickedness, destroying the evil inclination by your good works; for they that are double-faced do not serve God, but their own lusts, so that they may please Beliar and men like themselves.

*22* For good men, even those that are of single face, are just before God, even though they are presumed to sin by them that are double-faced.

*23* For many in killing the wicked do two works, of good and evil; but the whole is good, because he has uprooted and destroyed that which is evil.

*24* One man hates a merciful but an unjust man, and hates the man who commits adultery and yet does fastings: this, too, has a twofold aspect, but the whole work is good, because he follows the Lord's example, in that he does not accept the one who seems good as being genuinely good.

*25* Another man does not desire to see good day with them that not, lest he defiles his body and pollutes his soul; this, too, is double-faced, but the whole of it is good.

*26* For such men are like to stags and to hinds, because in the manner of wild animals they seem to be unclean, but they are altogether clean; because they walk in zeal for the Lord and abstain from what God also hates and forbids by His commandments, warding off the evil from the good.

*27* You see, my children, how that there are two in all things, one against the other, and the one is hidden by the other: in wealth is hidden covetousness, in conviviality drunkenness, in laughter grief, in wedlock profligacy.

*28* Death succeeds to life, dishonour to glory, night to day, and darkness to light; and all things are under the day, just things under life, unjust things under death; wherefore also eternal life awaits death.

*29* Nor may it be said that truth is a lie, nor right wrong; for all truth is under the light, even as all things are under God.

*30* All these things, therefore, I proved in my life, and I wandered not from the truth of the Lord, and I searched out the commandments of the Most High, walking according to all my strength with singleness of face to that which is good.

*31* Take heed, therefore you also my children, to the commandments of the Lord, following the truth with singleness of face.

*32* For they that are double-faced are guilty of a twofold sin; for they both do the evil thing and they have pleasure in them that do it, following the example of the spirits of deceit, and striving against mankind.

*33* Do you therefore, my children, keep the law of the Lord, and give not heed to evil as to good; but look to the thing that is really good, and keep it in all commandments of the Lord, having your conversation therein, and resting therein.

*34* For the latter ends of men do show their righteousness or unrighteousness, when they meet the angels of the Lord and of Satan.

*35* for when the soul departs troubled, it is tormented by the evil spirit which also that soul served in lusts and evil works.

*36* But if he is peaceful with joy he meets the angel of peace, and the angel leads him into eternal life.

*37* My children, do not become as Sodom, which sinned against the angels of the Lord, and perished for ever.

*38* For I know that you shall sin, and be delivered into the hands of your enemies; and your land shall be made desolate, and your holy places destroyed, and you shall be scattered to the four corners of the earth.

*39* And you shall be set at nought in the dispersion vanishing away as water.

*40* Until the Most High shall visit the earth, coming Himself as Man, with men eating and drinking, and breaking the head of the dragon in the water.

*41* He shall save Israel and all the Gentiles, God speaking in the Person of Man.

*42* Therefore do you also, my children, tell these things to your children, that they do not disobey Him.

*43* For I have known that you shall assuredly be disobedient, and assuredly act ungodly, not giving heed to the law of God, but to the commandments of men, being corrupted through wickedness.

*44* And therefore shall you be scattered as Gad and Dan my brethren, and you shall not know your lands, tribe, and tongue.

*45* But the Lord will gather you together in faith through His tender mercy, and for the sake of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob."

*46* And when he had said these things to them, he commanded them, saying: "Bury me in Hebron."

*47* And he fell asleep and died at a good old age.

*48* And his sons did as he had commanded them, and they carried him up to Hebron, and buried him with his fathers.

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KILL HATRED INSIDE YOU, AND BE FULL OF LOVE

THE TESTAMENT OF GAD - 1
[Gad 1:1-36]

Gad, the son of Jacob and Zilpah. He preaches against hate: This is a message about hatred.

*1* THE copy of the testament of Gad, the things he spoke to his sons, in the one hundred and twenty-fifth year of his life, saying to them:

*2* Listen, my children, I was the ninth son born to Jacob, and I was valiant in keeping the flocks.

*3* Accordingly I guarded at night the flock; and whenever the lion came, or the wolf, or any wild beast against the fold, I pursued it, and overtaking it I seized its foot with my hand and hurled it about a stone's throw, and so killed it.

*4* Now Joseph my brother was feeding the flock with us for upwards of thirty days, and being young, he fell sick by reason of the heat.

*5* And he returned to Hebron to our father, who made him lie down near him, because he loved him greatly.

*6* And Joseph told our father that the sons of Zilpah and Bilhah were killing the best of the flock and eating them against the judgment of Reuben and Judah.

*7* For he saw that I had delivered a lamb out of the mouth of a bear, and put the bear to death; but had killed the lamb, being grieved concerning it that it could not live, and that we had eaten it.

*8* And regarding this matter I was angry with Joseph until the day that he was sold.

*9* And the spirit of hatred was in me, and I wished not either to hear of Joseph with the ears, or see him with the eyes, because he rebuked us to our faces saying that we were eating of the flock without Judah.

*10* For whatever things Joseph told our father, he believed him.

*11* I confess now my sin, my children, that oftentimes I wished to kill Joseph, because I hated him from my heart.

*12* Moreover, I hated him yet more for his dreams; and I wished to lick him out of the land of the living, even as an ox licks up grass of the field.

*13* And Judah sold him secretly to the Ishmaelites.

*14* Thus the God of our fathers delivered him from our hands, that we should not work great lawlessness in Israel.

*15* And now, my children, listen to the words of truth to work righteousness, and all the law of the Most High, and do not go astray through the spirit of hatred, for it is evil in all the doings of men.

*16* Whatever a man does the hater abominates him: and though a man works the law of the Lord, the does not praise him; though a man fears the Lord, and takes pleasure in that which is righteous, the hater does not love him.

*17* The hater dispraises the truth, he envies him that prospers, he welcomes evil-speaking, he loves arrogance, for hatred blinds his soul; as I also then looked on Joseph.

*18* Beware, therefore, my children of hatred, for it works lawlessness even against the Lord Himself.

*19* For it will not hear the words of His commandments concerning the loving of one's neighbour, and it sins against God.

*20* For if a brother stumbles, it delights immediately to proclaim it to all men, and is urgent that he should be judged for it, and be punished and be put to death.

*21* And if it be a servant it stirs him up against his master, and with every affliction it devises against him, if possibly he can be put to death.

*22* For hatred works with envy also against them that prosper: so long as it hears of or sees their success it always languishes.

*23* For as love would quicken even the dead, and would call back them that are condemned to die, so hatred would slay the living, and those that had sinned venially it would not suffer to live.

*24* For the spirit of hatred works together with Satan, through hastiness of spirits, in all things to men's death; but the spirit of love works together with the law of God in long-suffering to the salvation of men.

*25* Hatred, therefore, is evil, for it constantly mates with lying, speaking against the truth; and it makes small things to be great, and causes the light to be darkness, and calls the sweet bitter, and teaches slander, and kindles wrath, and stirs up war, and violence and all covetousness; it fills the heart with evils and devilish poison.

*26* These things, therefore, I say to you from experience, my children, that you may drive forth hatred, which is of the devil, and cleave to the love of God.

*27* Righteousness casts out hatred, humility destroys envy.

*28* For he that is righteous and humble is ashamed to do what is unrighteous, being reproved not of another, but of his own heart, because the Lord looks on his inclination.

*29* He does not speak against a holy man, because the fear of God overcomes hatred.

*30* For fearing lest he should offend the Lord, he will not do wrong to any man, even in thought.

*31* These things I learnt at last, after I had repented concerning Joseph.

*32* For true repentance after a godly sort destroys ignorance, and drives away the darkness, and enlightens the eyes, and gives knowledge to the soul, and leads the mind to salvation.

*33* And those things which it has not learnt from man, it knows through repentance.

*34* For God brought upon me a disease of the liver; and had not the prayers of Jacob my father succoured me, it had hardly failed but my spirit had departed.

*35* For by those things a man transgresses by the same also is he punished.

*36* Since, therefore, my liver was set mercilessly against Joseph, in my liver too I suffered mercilessly, and was judged for eleven months, for so long a time as I had been angry against Joseph..

THE TESTAMENT OF GAD - 2
[Gad 2:1-21]

Gad exhorts his listeners against hatred showing how it has brought him into so much trouble.

*1* AND now, my children, I exhort you, love you each one his brother, and put away hatred from your hearts, love one another in deed, and in word, and in the inclination of the soul.

*2* For in the presence of my father I spoke peaceably to Joseph; and when I had gone out, the spirit of hatred darkened my mind, and stirred up my soul to kill him.

*3* Love you one another from the heart; and if a man sin against you, speak peaceably to him, and in your soul hold no guile; and if he repents and confesses, forgive him.

*4* But if he denies it, do not get into a passion with him, lest catching the poison from you he takes to swearing and so your sin doubles.

*5* Do not let another man hear your secrets when engaged in legal strife, lest he comes to hate you and becomes your enemy, and commit a great sin against you; for ofttimes he addresses you guilefully or busies himself about you with wicked intent.

*6* And though he denies it and yet have a sense of shame when reproved, get over reproving him.

*7* For he who denies may repent so as not again to wrong you; yes, he may also honour you, and fear and be at peace with you.

*8* And if he is shameless and persist in his wrong-doing, even so forgive him from the heart, and leave it to God to the avenging.

*9* If a man prospers more than you, do not be vexed, but pray also for him, that he may have perfect prosperity.

*10* For so it is expedient for you.

*11* And if he be further exalted, do not be envious of him, remembering that all flesh shall die; and offer praise to God, who gives things good and profitable to all men.

*12* Seek out the judgments of the Lord, and your mind will rest and be at peace.

*13* And though a man becomes rich by evil means, even as Esau, the brother of my father, do not be jealous; but wait for the end of the Lord.

*14* For if He takes away from a man wealth gotten by evil means He forgives him if he repents, but the unrepentant is reserved for eternal punishment.

*15* And for the poor man, if he free from envy he pleases the Lord in all things, is blessed beyond all men, because he does not have the travail of vain men.

*16* Put away, therefore, jealousy from your souls, and love one another with uprightness of heart.

*17* Do you also therefore tell these things to your children, that they honour Judah and Levi, for from them shall the Lord raise up salvation to Israel.

*18* For I know that at the last days your children shall depart from Him, and shall walk in wickedness, and affliction and corruption before the Lord."

*19* And when Gad had rested for a little while, he said again; "My children, obey your father, and bury me near to my fathers."

*20* And he drew up his feet, and fell asleep in peace.

*21* And after five years they carried him up to Hebron, and laid him with his fathers.

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