Importance of the Eighth Day

     God worked for six days creating the heaven and the earth. On the seventh day God rested. He took a sabbatical from work; it is the Lord's Day and belongs to the Lord, and those faithful to the Lord are commanded to keep it holy. The first six days are for mankind, but the seventh is for God. Certainly, if God is God, and He Is, He can create in six days. He didn't need our assistance and nothing happened by itself. The existence of creation is evidence of God (Rom 1:20). Thus, six days is significant. It's "our time". On the other hand, the seventh day is time for God; on the seventh day God no longer need work.

     Although "days" are the only time a real God would need to create, it has spiritual significance as well. I believe that from the beginning of time at the creation until the end of time is seven days. The first six days are for people, with God working in the world to fight sin, and the seventh day is for God resting from the fight. 

     In spiritual time, according to Peter, one day is as a thousand years, and vice-versa (2 Pet 3:8), and of that Christians should not be ignorant. Peter said that! As a Christian I have knowledge of the significance of that. It is a clue: there is a relationship between the creation days and the longevity of existence. From the beginning until the apocalypse (cosmic cataclysm) is six days. At that time evil is destroyed and Satan is bound for one-thousand years. Theologians call that the Millennial Reign of Christ. It's when God rests from fighting the iniquity of the world, and Satan can no longer taunt Him.

     The Millennial Reign is God's one-thousand year "Sabbath". Therefore, God works wonders for the first six days, keeping his children safe from the evil one, rebuking Satan, building and destroying kingdoms, longsuffering for mankind, and washing the world clean of sin with water and then with fire. It's a magnificent task, and hard work; God deserves a break on His day - the thousand-year reign.

     From sacred literature, Adam was to be reprieved after 5-1/2 days. That is 5500 years, which I assume is from the time of original sin. When will Adam again have a re-genesis? At the rapture of Christians:

For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first... (1 Thes 4:16).

     Adam is one of the billions of those "dead in Christ". The Word promised Adam reprieve right after he sinned. (Gen 3:15). That covenant came to fruition at the crucifixion when Satan vicariously died and God gave up his worldly flesh as a living sacrifice for Adams. However, the 5500 years is not complete until Adam is re-created at the rapture - "the snatching up" by Christ.

      For now, I won't define all the benchmarks for the six "days". That will take much time and prayer. Some of the benchmarks for time is the creation (the beginning of time), Adam's sin in day one (0 to 930 years), and Adam's rapture (day 5-1/2 or 5500 years). The events of the Book of revelation up to Christ's reign completes the six days of tribulation with the Great Tribulation the sign the end is near. 

     After that the Millennial Reign commences, a new day (succeeding 6000 years or the seventh spiritual day.) After that time, New Jerusalem will come down to its foundation on old Jerusalem and eternity commences. Thus, eternity is the eighth spiritual day, but unlike the other "days" it is never-ending. Eternal life begins on the eighth day, and by plan, the eighth day is at the same location as at the beginning - in Jerusalem whose navel is the foundation stone on the Temple Mount.

     Before time began there was only God, but each and every person had a place. God knew everyone before the foundation of the world (Ephes 4:1). "Time" before the beginning was zero days, a sort of negative eternity. I believe mankinds' souls existed before the first day, and was made flesh sometime before the end of the sixth day. That makes sense scripturally because our "day" ends after 6000 years or the sixth "day." 

     The creation of the heaven and the earth was laid out as the "boilerplate" for the longevity of the world. The zeroth day was before the beginning  and the eight day after the end of the heaven and the earth as we know it.

     Usually, I comment on one verse, and really focus. This time I offer many passages on the significance of the eighth day for your perusal:

And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed. (Gen 17:12)

The firstborn of thy sons shalt thou give unto me. Likewise shalt thou do with thine oxen, and with thy sheep: seven days it shall be with his dam (mother); on the eighth day thou shalt give it me. And ye shall be holy men unto me: (Exod 22:29-31)

But it shall be on the seventh day, that he shall shave all his hair off his head and his beard and his eyebrows, even all his hair he shall shave off: and he shall wash his clothes, also he shall wash his flesh in water, and he shall be clean. And on the eighth day he shall take two he lambs without blemish, and one ewe lamb of the first year without blemish, and three tenth deals of fine flour for a meat offering, mingled with oil, and one log of oil. And the priest that maketh him clean shall present the man that is to be made clean, and those things, before the Lord, at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. (Lev 14:9-11)

Seven days ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord: on the eighth day shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord: it is a solemn assembly; and ye shall do no servile work therein. (Lev 22:36)

On the eighth day ye shall have a solemn assembly: ye shall do no servile work therein. (Num 29:35)

And in the eighth day they made a solemn assembly: for they kept the dedication of the altar seven days, and the feast seven days. (2 Chron 7:9)

Also day by day, from the first day unto the last day, he read in the book of the law of God. And they kept the feast seven days; and on the eighth day was a solemn assembly, according unto the manner. (Neh 8:18)

Upon the eighth day, and so forward, the priests shall make your burnt offerings upon the altar, and your peace offerings; and I will accept you, saith the Lord God. (Ezek 43:27)

And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called Jesus, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb. (Luke 22:21)

And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray. (Luke 19:28)

After eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. (John 20:26)

Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. (1 Pet 3:20)

     It is to be noted that seven days are always for mankind, but the eighth day is given to the Lord: it is specifically said it be "holy convocation unto the Lord" and "a solemn assembly."  A convocation is a call to meeting. I contend that commences from salvation from the Devil when the Serpent is physically destroyed.  I use "physically" because Christ's own crucifixion represented the Serpent's death on his own tree. The Devil wasn't on one of the crosses, but the unrepentant thief was his vicarious death. The solemn assembly would be the outcome of the convocation, and would be glorified existence on the eighth day!

     When Jesus was born he came to bring peace on earth, albeit it brought dissension. Because scripture is inerrant, there will be peace on earth. The convocation is on the seventh day and those assembled continue on through the eighth day, or for eternity. After eight days, Jesus came unto the disciples and said (from above)," Peace be unto you." That occurred at the end of the eighth day but the eighth spiritual day never ends.

     In Moses time, eight souls were saved. I believe that those eight "souls" represent eternity because souls are eternal. Souls are saved when the Devil is finally destroyed, although Christians are effectually saved when they can no longer sin. The end of tribulation is when Satan is destroyed because then the havoc ends. That occurs on the end of the seventh day, so salvation is existence on the eight day which is to never perish!

     The eighth day is laid aside for peace offerings as we can read from the passages. Peace cannot exist until the eighth spiritual day after Satan is destroyed. Satan has a pre-existence before time in God's spiritual realm, but he and his demons will cease to exist in the heavenly realm. He will be dying forever in the fiery pit along with his demons. Spiritual existence is before time begins and after it ends,  pre-existence to the eighth day. 

     On the first six days God worked. That represents him dealing with mankind. He rested on the seventh day. Scripture indicates that the eighth day is for our rest (Lev 22:26 and Num 29:35). Those who were born again will, at the time of salvation, rest forever throughout the eighth day.

     Circumcision was commanded on the eighth day. That represents mankinds' cut-off from sin. Christians are baptized to signify the circumcision of the heart. It is a representation of when we are made holy. Holiness is doing God's will in earth as in heaven, according to the Lord's Prayer. That won't happen until New Jerusalem comes down at the end of time. God's will be done for eternity can only be in the eighth day - an eternity without sin which circumcision represents. It seals the perpetual deal with God, and never terminates. I believe circumcision on the eighth day is the eternal covenant and looks to the spiritual eighth day.

     I believe in the six days of creation because that validates God. The seventh day was for God, and the eighth day for Christians. That day will continue as we approach the time of our salvation, being nearer than when we first believed. I think that refers to the eighth "day" after mankind is saved from the cunning of the Devil. The eighth day is Christians' day because it commences the day of salvation.

Decisions

     Everyone has a purpose. When all seems lost, God sends someone to change the course of events. Isaiah wrote the prophecy in chapter 41 when the nation of Israel was overcome with evil practises. They had other Baals - gods - in God's face and were facing the consequences. The nation was in despair, and all hope seemed lost. The Abrahamic Covenant - Jewish prosperity and a Messiah - seemed to be at its conclusion. 

     The Babylonians also had a purpose. God built that nation to thresh the world, specifically His chosen people. The Israelites had to make a decision:

And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word. (1 Kings 18:21).

     Calvinists may not appreciate it, but all the Hebrew people were "elected" even before the foundation of the world (Ephes 4:1). Likewise, as Paul was speaking to Gentiles, everyone was chosen before time began. Those chosen were "elected" (eklektos) to be Christians.  Thus the election of Christians is synonymous with the Hebrew "chosen."
     Everyone is chosen, "for God so loved the world... that whosoever believeth in him should not perish" (John 3:16). Part of the mystery of God is that not only were Hebrews chosen for grace but the Gentile nations as well. In his parable of the wedding feast, Jesus said, "For many are called, but few are chosen." (Mat 22:14), and for those not chosen, "take him away, and cast him into outer darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth" (Mat 22:13).
    But are not all chosen? It seems that everyone is but there is a stipulation; everyone must decide whether to follow Baal or God. Ba'al means "owner". God calls us, but Satan does too. A decision must be made by everyone: Who owns us? Is it God or is it Baal?
     In scripture, Baal came to be generic for "gods." Those who faithfully read my commentary by now should realize that Baals are not solar entities or masters of ancient wisdom, but those who esteem themselves more so than Yahweh.
     Elijah was actually pointing out that everyone - all those chosen - make a decision. Everyone is of two opinions: Is there a God or not? Owning Baal is owning ourselves, for as the Serpent acknowledged, mankind perceives themselves as gods, "for God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods ('elohiym; or Baals)" (Gen 3:5; parenthesis mine).
    The opening of the eyes is what the world calls enlightenment. There was a period in history called that. The Enlightenment refers to "The Age of Reason" described by Thomas Paine. That was a period in the west when its citizens again stood under the wrong tree; what I call "the false wisdom tree" (Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil). Eating of the forbidden tree imbued Adam and Eve with knowledge of two philosophies: good and evil. From that time on, all mankind has used logic and reason for decision making. Since the tree had two philosophies - good and evil - mankind could use their own thought processes, and choose either God or Baal - Yahweh or themselves.
     Many people think that Baals are Satan. Not so; they are us! Choosing ourselves defaults to being owned by Satan; he can become the master of even those who are chosen. Regeneration, the process of being "born again" is choosing "good" over "evil"; God is chosen superior to ourselves. That's what Jesus was speaking of when he said, "Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again" (John 3:7). Why not be amazed? That's what Elijah said in the passage above! Nicodemus should have known that!
     The purpose of Nebuchadnezer, the Babylonian king, was to thresh the Hebrews for not choosing God over Baal. They seemed to always lip-serve God but serve themselves, doing what is right in their own eyes. Elijah said that they must choose; they did not and Nebuchadnezzar gave them a good threshing and winnowed them away to Babylon. That city is symbolic of a harlot (Rev 17:5), and since the Hebrews fornicated with Baal, Jerusalem became a harlot in Satan's brothel. When the Hebrew Babylon is washed clean by fire in the end, the old foundation will be prepared for a New Jerusalem.
     In the interim, God was merciful. Isaiah spoke of that:

Behold, I will make thee a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth: thou shalt thresh the mountains, and beat them small, and shalt make the hills as chaff. Thou shalt fan them, and the wind shall carry them away, and the whirlwind shall scatter them: and thou shalt rejoice in the Lord, and shalt glory in the Holy One of Israel. (Isa 41:15-16)

     Isaiah was speaking of the coming of Cyrus the Great and the Persian Empire. They threshed Babylon, and cast them to the wind. Cyrus was a type of savior.  He was tolerant of Judaism, and thanks to him, Jerusalem and the temple were restored. The Book of Nehemiah chronicles the prophecy made by Isaiah.
     Isaiah had a divinely inspired knack for prophesying two things at once. He knew of Ornan's threshing floor where the Threshing Instrument - God - threshed the grain from the chaff and winnowed it away into the pit below. On that rock was where the first Church building was constructed; it's on the Temple Mount and was the place of both Solomon's and the second Temple.  (In my book Killing God I explain the Church as a threshing place. It's where the chosen choose between God and Baal.)
     Threshing grain from the chaff is what having church is all about. The winnowing fan is the Holy Spirit calling. If  the grain is not good, then it is cast unto the abyss below the threshing stone. Beneath the Foundation Stone of the Temple Mount is an abyss. It is alleged to go to the center of the earth. Not by accident, in degrees Celsius, the center of the earth, by my calulations, is seven times hotter than a kiln furnace. It must be that Hell is below that abyss.
     Jesus was crucified in sight of the Temple. It was there that God used a "threshing instrument having teeth." What would that be? Perhaps the cross which had not been used in the world until Christ's time! The death of Jesus was the whirlwind as he "gave up the ghost": "And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost" (Luke 23:46).  Isaiah spoke of the Holy Ghost whom Jesus gave up, and soon came down: "And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting... And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost" (Acts 2:2,4). 
     Cyrus was the type of Christ of whom Isaiah spoke, but it seems obvious that Cyrus was not the Savior; that title belongs to Jesus (Yahweh saves).  Why would they rejoice Cyrus as the holy one? He was Zoroastrian in faith. God uses crooked sticks, but obviously Isaiah was referring to Jesus when he wrote, "thou shalt rejoice in the Lord, and shalt glory in the Holy One of Israel."
     Solomon had written, "Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked?" (Ecc 7:13).  God used Nebuchadnezzar to thresh out His chosen people, then he used Cyrus to thresh the Babylonians. Not to end there, God put on a Face and used Jesus to thresh the world, both His chosen and the elect. Nebuchadnezzar and Cyrus were both "crooked" but God used them for correction. God uses Satan in the same manner. He is the crooked stick who tempts people for the threshing (Job 1). When Satan no longer has utility, he will be destroyed just as Nebuchadnezzar and Cyrus. 
     God didn't die on the cross! Only the Son of Man died thereon. The Son of God is still alive, and his Holy Ghost still comforts all the "peculiar people" who made the decision to choose God over Baal.
   

Socialism- As Old as the World

      Conservatism and liberalism are more than social or political philosophies. Conservatism is not promoting but protecting traditions, culture, civilization, and religious institutions. Liberalism, on the hand, is promoting a movement away from what exists. One might say, both are good. Indeed, the society in which one lives determines which is good.
     The two philosophical terms arose from the French Revolution but the philosophies themselves are as ancient as mankind is old.
     Europe, before the nineteenth century, was a continent consisting of nations each with monarchies. Traditionally, monarchs owed allegiance to the Roman Catholic Church, or in the case of the east, allegiance to the Orthodox faith of Constantinople. Kings answered to the pope in Rome or to the patriarch in Russia (at that time). The institution of the church had not only spiritual but political control over the monarchs. Oftentimes evil monarchs were either anointed by or tolerated by the pope. That condition kept Europe in bondage even until the time of the Third Reich.
     For the most part, with few exceptions, monarchies were good for the king but bad for the subjects. On the other hand, monarchies changed the face of the world for the better. They brought civilization to uncivilized people but force and war were required. Colonialism was the process by which the world became civilized but civilization enslaved the barbarians who were accustomed to almost unlimited freedom. Usually, nations in the middle east and the dark continent despise the western world because of colonization by monarchs from the western world. For example, King Leopold II of Belgium personally owned the Congo. That situation made less developed countries despise those which were more civilized.
     Within monarchies, the hatred was of the same magnitude. Kings enslaved commoners with the institution of feudalism where royalty and nobility owned the land, and serfs were merely laborers who lived on the fiefs (land) for a meek sustenance.
     Now, for some commentary on modern times: Marxism (aka socialism and communism) is essentially a return to feudalism. The only things which have changed are that commoners are the "kings" and the masses (people) are the serfs who are held in bondage to those who own the land. In Marxism, the government is the landowner ( the elite nobility) and the people are the peasants who live for mere sustenance. Because people live for their bellies (Phil 3:19) enough that self-satisfaction becomes their "god."
     Socialism is built on that one idea: self-indulgences of the masses. Socialists have been known to call that "the stupidity of the people." As long as people seem to be well-off, whether they really are is inconsequential. Prosperity is the outcome of capitalism but the vision of more prosperity is the deception of socialism. As long as the peasants think that they are prosperous, socialism is safe. Therefore, a tactic of Marxism is deception. The people must truly believe they are better off with a socialist economy than capitalism. Because the nobility were traditional owners of the land makes them the bad guys as the blindness of the masses fail to realize that the government is just the new nobility.
     Why do government "servants" obtain great wealth? Because they are the new nobility - the elite. Servants work for sustenance. Nobility works for riches. (The only true servant who works without pay at this moment is President Trump who declines his salary.) Modern politicians who claim to be progressive (i.e., socialist and even communist) are the worst crony capitalists. "Crony capitalism is an economy in which businesses thrive not as a result of risk, but rather as a return on money amassed through a nexus between a business class and the political class. This is done using state power to crush genuine competition in handing out permits, government grants, special tax breaks, or other forms of state intervention" (Wikipedia, "crony capitalism").
     Crony capitalism is an alliance of business leadership and politicians. When Germany was a republic, the cronies were business and the capitalists. When Hitler took power, the cronies were the Third Reich government and business. Because business goes with the flow of money, the alliance is always between business and those who have political power.
     As on the television show Survivor, those seeking to benefit the most go with the ones in power. Power and reward always belongs to those who ally themselves around how they can best obtain. On Survivor, most of the tribe owes allegiance to the one who has the most power, and then when the prize is awarded, the servants find they have merely been duped. They have felt power for a time but they soon find that they were powerless. That's how crony capitalism works. Business is always in the alliance, but the other tribe members change with who is in power. Right now, socialists are the crony capitalists while the people believe it is the conservatives. That is "the stupidity of the American voter," according to socialist Jonathan Gruber, Obama's architect of Obamacare.
     Conservatism, as maintaining traditional institutions, was a bad thing when the system was bad. Kings and the established church used the people for their own prosperity. Because the pope and the kings were the crony capitalists, they were hated by the people. Liberalism, at that time, was a movement away from the abusive cronyism of church, state, and land owners. In the 1840s Marx developed his own type of feudalism. He created enemies for the people to hate. Socialism is based on division without regard to who is divided. Progress is made through dissatisfaction of nearly all institutions. Marx was not even dissatisfied with capitalism; he merely desired to control the prosperity from capitalism, and deceive the people to believe it is they who are in control.
     Marxism defined the enemies; those who stood in the way of his version of progress. Note that by that time the industrial revolution was in progress, and Marx wanted a piece of the that. As such, industry became one of the enemies which was added to those who owned the land. Marx saw that the church had grown in wealth, so religion became another enemy of socialism. In Marxism, division is progress. It is taking from those who have and giving it to those who have not. That was a gross deception! Wealth was taken from those who had and given to the state. Socialist leaders became the new royalty. Hitler is one example, Stalin another, and Castro another. Socialism is a return to feudalism, and the peasants even cheer it on!
     The reformation in the church was religious liberalism. Luther saw the crony capitalists in the Roman Catholic Church, and decided it was wrong. The payment of indulgences to the church is a good example of cronyism. Those who have within the church pays to those who want what they have, and everyone seems happy. The cronies are happy, but the congregants are deluded into believing that they can pay for their forgiveness. Luther was the liberal who defied cronyism in the church. That was a good thing! The pope wanted to maintain his power and great wealth at the expense of the people. The kings were allied with the pope. If they sought to disagree with the church, they were threatened with excommunication. The nobility and the bishops were the cronies.
     The church was the "first estate" and the nobility the "second estate" as the church held more power than the king or nobility. Since both held sway over the people, the commoners became the "third estate". The first and second were the crony capitalists against the third estate. Thus socialism evolved to end cronyism and enemies became the wealthy and the religious. Mostly landowners and industrialists were the wealthy, and socialists are even against automation (progress) as the enemy of the people. You see, even the term "progressive" is a deception! Socialism is regression to crony capitalism with only a change in the cronies!
     The Abrahamic Covenant - God's promise to Abraham - is a promise of prosperity; namely the promised land to their people and eternal prosperity to those who are faithful. Judaism became the enemy of Marx who was an ethnic Jew and the grandson of a rabbi. He knew all about the Abrahamic Covenant. Satan seems to easily deceive secular Jews. He always has. Satan desires to usurp the Abrahamic Covenant, and the main part of that covenant is the promise of a Savior through Abraham's genes. As such, Marx included the church in his enemies list, and referred to religion (Judaism and Christianity) as the" opiate of the people." That accusation made Christ into a delusion, and was blasphemous.
     Since Marx divided the world into the religious vs. the irreligious, Judaism and Christianity has been under attack. Because the Jewish people have a history of syncretism, they easily blended this new "religion" and its false god - Marx - into their belief system. Many of the Jewish nationality have been the most deceived by socialism. To wit, the Bolsheviks of Russia's leadership was the Jew Lenin, and before long, Jews became the enemies of Stalin. They are merely co-lateral damage for power hungry socialist autocrats.
     The new method of deception is called "social justice." That is an alliance between the cronies of the elite and the liberal "Christian" church gaining power in the name of socialistic justice. Jesus rejected socialism: "For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always" (Mark 14:7).
     Therein, Jesus conveyed three crucial thoughts: (1) He recognized the existence of poverty and could have done "social justice" with a miracle, (2) that his followers should value him over the poor, and (3) that they should be charitable to the poor. He laid the responsibility on the disciples to willingly give. He didn't say, "Caesar should take care of them by taxation," but that his followers voluntarily do so out of generosity. Marx didn't like that type of "justice." He didn't want that the new "Caesars" do the "giving" through governmental coercion.
     There is no such that as Christian Socialism or even Democratic Socialism. Socialism is the antithesis of Christianity because their fault is the "love of money" - what belongs to others. Socialism is merely legalized theft, and Democratic Socialism is farcical since it is an endeavor to get the people to vote for the theft of their own money. Christian Socialism is the twisting of the Doctrine of Christ to suit Marxism. Imagine if you will, Marx in the tree back in the Garden, saying, "Eat of the fruit of  my tree; you surely won't die!" God's "Tree" is nearby, jealous that his children are eating of Marx's tree although they say that they honor God's Tree!
     Socialism (aka liberalism and progressivism) uses the existence of poverty as their pretense to capture the minds of common people. Adam and Eve had all they could eat in God's Garden. The Serpent deceived them into thinking that his fruit is better, and somehow they were doing without things they could have. That was the serpent Marx's method; he deceived people into believing they deserved more.
     God penalized Adam and Eve for believing the "socialist" lie that they deserved better than what God provided. As a result, God withheld what he had given. Capitalism is the source of modern prosperity and was ordained by God to Abraham and his people. That includes Christianity as we are benefactors of his covenant. The penalty for Adam's sin was poverty: "In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return" (Gen 3:19).
    By grace, God returned the Jews to the "paradise" from which they had been expelled. Abraham was granted the deed to the Promised Land - a land of milk and honey, or prosperity. Prosperity is not a Marxist gift but by the grace of God who Marx despised so much!
    When powerful elite people claim to be progressive, keep in mind that it is a deception. They benefit from your gullibility. Their method is to turn people away from the author of prosperity - God - and have them look toward mankind for goodness. George Orwell was correct: newspeak and doublethink will deceive the people who fall for socialism. A recent example of newspeak is Nancy Pelosi calling the wall immoral, yet favoring the abortion of babies. Liberalism institutes a new morality with new values. Destroying one's offspring in the womb becomes a "right" instead of a "wrong." Do people really think that liberals even care about their rights? It is their own gain which they care about. The nation is divided right now by pro-lifers and those anti-life. That is a mere tactic to institutionalize socialism.
    People who fall for deception are not in harmony with God's will. They fail to understand that the promise of good things to come from bad trees is Satan's method. Most men are Adams and most women are Eve's. You are being deceived and think it is liberal enlightenment.

   
   

What Is Truth?

     Philosophy is the love of wisdom. There are several basic philosophical questions. Among them are: (1) What is the meaning of life? or better phrased, Why am I? and (2) What is truth? Philosophers love to ponder those thoughts, use logic and reason, and hypothesize. I'm not sure that many have concluded because there remains uncertainty.

Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us, Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word; It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus, That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed. (Luke 1:1-4)

     Luke wrote that to Theophilus. Luke's conversation with him is not coincidental; as philosophy is the love of wisdom, Theophilus is the love of God. Luke spoke of declaring things delivered to them from the beginning. Luke was Jewish; the beginning in his mind was surely the Creation. Luke didn't really write from the beginning, though, but John did. The first chapter of John actually commences with Jesus's existence from the beginning.
    With that said, the love of wisdom and the love of God were from the beginning. The entire Bible is about those conflicting loves: The Tree of Life offered theophilus and the Tree of Knowledge philosophy.
     Adam, representing mankind, was given the freedom to choose whom to love. Ironically, his God-given free will was his faculty for making his choice. Adam was not only God's Creation but His elected (Ephes 1:4). Adam was peculiar in that everyone's existence is by God's election. Election is entry into the "race" of life, but requires qualification for the "prize" (1 Cor 9:24). The creation was creating men to run the race.
     Of all the philosophical questions, What is truth? is imperative. Sages of all ages wondered if existence was truly reality, and if they really existed. (Those same two questions.) In other words, are men just a shadow projected onto a screen, and not physical existence in a multi-dimensional universe.
      Paul confronted King Herod Agrippa to persuade him. Of what? "That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles" (Acts 26:23), using the Old Testament as for an argument. Seeing the light is the philosophical persuasion of the truth. What is truth? That Jesus is the first to be raised from the dead! Think on the profundity of that truth! What natural man could ever believe that anyone, even Jesus, was resurrected? Faith is believing that happened with Jesus and can happen with anyone! What is the qualifier for resurrection - the prize? Jesus made it clear to doubters: "Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again" (John 3:7). In his own words, Paul was telling Agrippa the same thing.
    The governor Festus, who was also there, accused Paul of being a madman (Acts 3:24). Paul knew that Agrippa believed the prophets; why would he not believe that their prophesies had come to fruition? "Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian" (Acts 26:28). Paul used logic and reason in his attempt to convert Agrippa. He used the faculty derived from the Tree of Knowledge to convince Agrippa that the Doctrine of Christ from the Tree of Life was truth.
     Jesus had also used logic and reason from the Tree of Knowledge to persuade Pilate, "That I should bear witness unto the truth" (John 18:37). To that, Pilate asked, "What is truth?" (John 18:38). Pilate was persuaded as he said, "I find in him no fault at all." We know that Agrippa was not converted but history is uncertain about Pilate! Jesus seemed to have convinced him of truth. Surely Pilate's wife who had heard the correspondence was persuaded:

When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him. But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus. (Mat 27:19-20).

     Some were persuaded but most were not; Jesus had to die due to the Philosophy Tree - the Tree of Knowledge of Good and evil. Jesus knew that philosophy would kill him. He knew that back in the beginning. When God endowed mankind with his own will, he knew that same will would be what killed him. The two trees represent theophius and philosophy; would it be the love of God or the love of wisdom? Philosophy killed Jesus because persuasion failed to convince. What does it take to be convinced? Regeneration which is being persuaded of the truth. The one thing necessary to be born again is to know the truth (John 8:32). What was the truth it takes to be persuaded or born again?

They understood not that he spake to them of the Father. Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things. And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him. As he spake these words, many believed on him. (John 8:27-30)

    The truth is that men are not truly gods as they are convinced: "For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil" (Gen 3:5). If they are not gods, then who is? Jesus answered that: He is the Father, and when he is lifted up the Father is. The convincing argument was that the Father Creator is Jesus, and as such, Jesus can recreate or regenerate to the original condition of Adam - a re-genesis. Regeneration is diminishing oneself and lifting up Jesus. That's what the brazen serpent on the pole held high by Moses represents (John 3:14). Jesus had used logic with Nicodemus that he should know the truth.
     Of course, the brazen serpent did not represent Jesus for that icon was destroyed. It represented Jesus's purpose - he came to step on the serpents head as promised to Adam (Gen 3:14). Jesus came to kill the Serpent because we can't as we are not truly gods as we think.
     Jesus was there in the Garden. It was he of whom the Tree of Life represents. He looked on the philosophy tree and was jealous. He was real and wanted to be loved - the theophilus tree. God's plan was that men use reason and logic and decide of their own volition what is the truth. Was it to be the One True God or the unknown god of which Paul spoke in Athens?

For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, To The Unknown God. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you. (Acts 17:23).

     Paul told the philosophers that they were barking up the wrong tree. The Tree of Life represents Jesus on his cross which scripture refers to as "a tree" (Acts 5:30). Translating that as "tree" rather than "cross" is imperative (KJV) because "tree" points back to the Tree of Life. On the other hand, the Tree of Knowledge represents the Serpent's Tree. The brazen serpent on the pole was symbolic of the crucifixion of the Serpent on his philosophy tree - the tree of non-persuasion.
     The three "trees" on Golgotha - the place of Adam's skull - represents the trees in the Garden: The Tree of Life (Jesus) in the middle, the Tree of Knowledge with the unrepentant thief on one side and the repentant thief on the other side; one of whom was persuaded and the other who was not!
     Christians are represented by Barrabbas who was set free by grace. He represents the other trees of the Garden which Adam was to "dress and keep" (Gen 2:15). Jesus as the second Adam kept Barabbas, and dresses us in fine linen and keeps us from the evil one.
     Jesus answered the question, What is truth? What is the answer to the question, Why am I? Jesus's purpose was to save mankind, or to re-create people to the original condition of mankind. As such, mankind was created to love God. That is the Greatest Commandment. Mankind was created to "dress and keep" the Garden. We are to love the Tree of Life in the midst of the Garden. That is why we are! To operationalize that love, we are to "dress and keep" the other trees which is to love others as ourselves.
     The Tree of Knowledge represents self-love, what is called self-esteem in philosophy. The Tree of Life the love of God with all the heart, mind, soul, and strength - theophilus.


   

Seeing God's Face

     Moses had talked to God, who appeared as a cloud at Moses's tabernacle, "face to face" (Exod 33:11). Each Hebrew saw the cloud from their own tabernacle. To this day, Jews still celebrate Sukkot - the Feast of the Tabernacles - because that was a time when God's presence was with them in the form of a cloud by day and a fire by night. They all saw God, heard His voice, but God had yet to put on His "face." 

      God is a personal God and talked audibly and directly to many patriarchs and prophets. Moses was particularly interesting because over the centuries God remembered Moses:      

And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid. And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid. And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only. (Mat 17:1-8)

     That occasion was the "transfiguration of Jesus." Of course, God had put on His "face" with the birth of Jesus, endowed Him with the Holy Spirit at John's Baptism of him, and now Jesus received new incorruptible flesh as God glorified him. The transfiguration was sort of Jesus's coming-out ceremony, and Moses and Elijah were there to witness God manifest His glory to the three apostles. The transfiguration was a peak experience for mankind and Moses because by grace; God finally showed His face unlike when Moses saw him centuries before:

And the Lord spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory. And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy. And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live... It shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by... And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen. (Exod 33:11,18-20, 22-23)

     Ironically, before God incarnated Himself, if anyone could have looked on his face, they would have died. That seems to be because Jesus - "Yahweh saves" - had yet to come to save mankind. That is not to say that Moses didn't know Jesus but that he had yet to see him clearly. His vision was cloudy so to speak. On the other hand, Moses had seen God's glory. At the transfiguration, it was God's glory that came down and glorified Jesus, endowing him with eternal flesh which would shortly defeat death for all mankind. It is still God's face in Jesus that is the salvation of mankind. Moses had a peek at God's glory long before he saw Jesus in his glory.
     It is imperative to acknowledge that Jesus is God. He is God showing his face to mankind. Peter asked Jesus if they should build tabernacles: one for him, one for Moses, and one for Elijah; just as they had long ago in the wilderness! Christians should celebrate Sukot (pronounced Sukos) as well because that celebrates the transfiguration.
     Isaiah knew all about God's coming out party: He came long after Moses but understood the significance of God's face entirely:

Isa 40:5 And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.

     Isaiah was speaking of Jesus, the face of God in the flesh. Jesus was not born of a virgin in a natural manner. He was created within Mary's womb and Mary was merely a surrogate. God's Holy Spirit came down  on Mary just as it had on the dust of the ground, and  God re-created "Adam" only that time perfect and beyond temptation.
     We don't even know if God used Mary's ovum. He certainly didn't need to, and Jesus's conception was certainly not by coitus or then, like David, he would have been born in iniquity (Psalm 51:5). On the other hand, Jesus was "shapened" by God just as David was. It seems the Creator created a new perfect man! (Note: The creation is important because to regenerate, God re-creates, which is a re-genesis of mankind.)
     When Jesus was transfigured his re-creation was completed. He had Adam's body, God's Holy Spirit, and finally glorified flesh which was necessary to save mankind and provide glorification for our own resurrections!
    Moses, Elijah, and the three apostles saw God preparing Jesus as a lamb for slaughter. God took away the contamination of the world to make it a fitting sacrifice, not that Jesus had any blemishes, but that transfiguration was a type of spiritual washing in the presence of his Father. Again, we should not look at Jesus as a different person than his Father, but THE Person of God. God in three homeostasis (not persons)was ordained there on the mountain top as three identities of God became One.

(More about Elijah at a later time.)

Government and Liberterianism

     We Americans think of Patrick Henry saying, "Give me liberty or give me death," in 1775 before the quest for independence. Indeed, I was raised believing political liberty was a God-given right, and as such was sacrosanct. I still cherish what remains of the liberty we Americans enjoy. But just as Ben Franklin forewarned, "We have a republic, if we can keep it!" Liberty has endured for 230 years or so, but has lessened each day. It has been difficult to keep our republic which is our source of liberty.
     Westerners are spoiled; we seem to think that democracies are the ideal. Truly our democratic-republic remains much superior to even England's faux monarchy. We are much better off than those in the Saudi monarchy. However, we are being controlled as they are under control; they are more transparent with their repression. Covert forces repress this nation.
     I think of Popper's Paradox of Tolerance: "In order to maintain a tolerant society, the society must be intolerant of intolerance." ( Popper, Karl, The Open Society and Its Enemies, volume 1, The Spell of Plato, 1945 (Routledge, United Kingdom); ISBN 0-415-29063-5 978-0-691-15813-6 (1 volume 2013 Princeton ed.) That paradox is the process to the loss of freedom. Intolerance apply to those who cannot endure others for whatever reason. Usually, intolerance is for obvious characteristics such as race, nationality, language, or even gender. The less obvious but more profound intolerance is people's world-view, or even cosmic-view.
     Historically, nearly all societies have been intolerant of Judaism, It doesn't matter why, to them, but it is because of JHWH. Yahweh is an intolerant God, to wit: (1) "Thou shalt have no other gods before me" (Exod 20:3) and (2) " Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:12), complemented by, "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (John 14:6).
     God is so intolerant in that regard that the penalty for disbelief in that is death (Rom 6:23). The Law of God condenses to accepting those truths or not. Non-acceptance of God's conditions for salvation is extreme and enduring. The world rightfully sees God as intolerant. Therefore, the world must apply Popper's Paradox of Tolerance - in order to maintain the world, the world must be intolerant of God's intolerance. That is the situation: People of all ages have been intolerant of the One True God in the guise of tolerance. Of course, Holy Scripture does not teach hyper-tolerance but conditional tolerance.
     Conditional tolerance is a readiness to forgive, and patience for others to come to the truth. Jesus even admonished to "forgive seventy times seven" (Mat 18:22) which was his way of saying long-suffering (Gal 5:22). God's will is tolerance, which Christians call grace. God's justice is intolerant which is a just penalty for rejecting His authority. "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder" (Isa 9:6).
     Jesus was born to rule God's Kingdom. Adam and Eve rejected God's authority and government. That was the original sin. They did what was right in their own eyes" (Jud 17:6). That was spiritual libertarianism. They were not civil libertarians but thought so. They were obedient to the Prince of the Air and his authority!
     The early Hebrews rejected God's Kingship and authority just as Adam did. They repeated the original sin, and to this day mankind's problem is the same rejection of God's will, or the Law of God, in their lives. Jesus told believers to pray, "Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven" (Mat 6:10). The world rejects that teaching! There desire is that mankind's will be done on earth, and that Heaven is mere mythology. The world has a will, and it is in total opposition to God's. The will of the masses is that they be able to do whatever they deem is right. They want liberty even in the face of eternal death.
     Governments - civil control - are ordained by God as evil but necessary:

Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. (Rom 13:1-3).

    People need some type of control! If everyone was free to do what is right in their own eyes, they would be back to the days of Noah. The world was utterly libertarian, everyone save Noah, rejecting God's authority. God knew that even evil governments were better than no government. People are born with the propensity toward evil. For instance, those who utilize Popper's Paradox have good intentions but to evil ends. Their intolerance of the intolerant is hatred, just as the intolerant are hateful. That paradox is in everyday use to this day.
     George Soros uses Popper's Paradox of Tolerance in his effort to change the world. He, as author of tolerance, is the most intolerant of the intolerant! He believes he is doing good with the notion of social justice, but is unjust to those most just; I am referring to those Christians who live righteous lives. God's Non-Paradox of Tolerance is to love one another, as you love yourself (Mat 19:19).
     Popper's Paradox of Tolerance, in spiritual terms, would be destroy those who differ with you. I didn't write, "are different" but "differ" because Soros's brand of intolerance is not based on appearance but ideas. Soros finds Christianity abhorrent, and therefore, Christ must be eliminated from the world. The apocalypse is the Antichrist's attempt to do just that, so Soros is an antichrist. The doctrine of hatred is how antichrists attempt to overthrow God's government, of course disguised as tolerant and loving.
    Americans have been molded to believe in the separation of church and state because the established church institution wasn't faithful to God's command to love. Society stepped in and established a new system of feigned love: socialism. It's not really about charity but power. It is merely a new form of government whose leaders' aims are to control the kingdoms which God claims are His. One of their tenets is that Christianity (religion) is a roadblock to Utopia. Socialism is libertarianism from God under the pretense that it is social justice. It is a return to the same old theme: doing what mankind wills rather than God.
     Without regard to whom our rulers are, God still sits on the throne and reigns. Governments are ordained by Him. Rulers rule because God allows them to do so. Whenever the citizens take to the streets with violence, it is mob rule. We have learned from experience that it isn't love which spawns the mobs but Popper's Paradox of Tolerance. They hate in the name of love. That is Satan's Paradox of Hatred! The mob are libertarians; they care little about anything but the ability to do what they want to do, and force those who disagree to do the same thing! Liberty, huh?
     For instance, the proponents of same-sex marriage demand the liberty of marrying whoever they desire, but don't merely stop there; they demand that everyone else accept their deviancy from the institution of Holy Matrimony.
     Liberals are libertarian to the degree that they abort babies because they love women so much (sic), notwithstanding that half the abortions are female babies. Liberals hate those who disagree so much that they call everyone who disagree haters! Liberals profess social justice (sic) to the extreme that they don't care that mostly black babies are aborted. That's not libertarian in reality but Satan's Paradox of Hatred. Why so? Because hatred and murder are ultimately the same (1 John 3:15).
     I write about those things today because libertarianism and socialism ultimately result in the same thing: rejection of God's authority. They both attack God and the Law of God in favor of human rights. America is more about human rights than it is regulation of human wrongs. Millions have suffered death for human rights sake; that it is the outcome of Popper's Paradox. Seven-hundred thousand people died in the not-so-Civil War because the lawful government process was ignored in favor of the radical mob. Our system of government should have worked without a war. Because a few were intolerant of others, many lost their lives. They did good but wrong was the outcome. Modern-day division and hatred is a remnant of that misguided way to obtain social justice.
     People don't agree with my outlook on that war, but it is true! Even America's attempt to force democracy on ungovernable people is farcical. Only God can rule the pagans, and our attempts to force peace is itself mongering war. Rather than taking missiles to the world, Christian nations should be telling them about the love of Jesus. War is about whose God is stronger. If Americans would honor God's authority, the Abrahamic Covenant ensures our prosperity. The way to change the world is to bring God to all the nations. Someday that time will come. Surely it will come quickly (Rev 22:20).
    On a personal note, I am not socialist (progressive), liberal, conservative or any other secular ideologist. I am a humble Christian who trusts God for He is the One in authority. Any ideologies which stand against God are anathema to me, and of course to God. Some are social conservatives and others economic conservatives. I am merely orthodox to the Doctrine of Christ. Society calls that "conservative" in derision. We find from scripture that liberty does not come from any other government than God's. In that manner, I have spiritual liberty but those with spiritual liberty delight in God's Law of love. That seems to be God's Paradox of Liberty.

My Way

     In life there are two "ways." We may think of many religions, but there are still merely two "ways." Isaiah knew thousands of years ago the ways of life:

The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. (Isa 40:3) Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from the Lord, and my judgment is passed over from my God? (Isa 40:27; italics mine)

     Isaiah was speaking of specific people in these passages. John the Baptist was "the voice":

In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. (Mat 3:1-3).

     Christians know that "the Way of the Lord" is Jesus's Way. Furthermore, Isaiah saw Jesus! Comparing the two passages, Isaiah said "prepare ye the way of the Lord," which we discover in the Book of Matthew that "the Lord" is Jesus. Isaiah saw God's face, and he was called Jesus (Mat 1:25). It turns out that Jesus, also called "the Christ," was called "the Messiah" in Isaiah's time. "The way" in Isaiah's time was the way of Jesus: "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (John 14:6).
     Jesus was the disciples' "way," and Jesus was Isaiah's "way." Jesus - God Himself - said, "No man cometh to the Father, but by me." That includes Isaiah, King David, Adam, Moses, Abraham, and any of those faithful Jews throughout history. Hence, salvation was always by grace, for everyone, and by the only Way - Jesus Christ. Paul referred to that as the "mystery of God"/"the mystery of Christ." Isaiah revealed that mystery long before Paul was ever born.
    One of the first "ways' of which Isaiah spoke was the Doctrine of Christ Jesus: "Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son" (2 John 1:9). Note that "the way" is abiding in the Doctrine of Christ. The Way of Christ is residing in his doctrine thereafter. Believing is merely a commencement of the Way; trusting is continuing in the Way.
     It says that those who "abideth not", inferring that some once believed but failed to trust - they failed to keep the faith (Rev 14:120. The Way, then, is something to be kept. Paul likened it to running a race with the eyes on the prize.
     The Way is not for a short interval, but steadfast faith (Col 2:5). So the Way of Jesus is by him, trusting him, and continuing in him. What about him? His purpose - to save mankind by dying, resurrecting, and living forever. With poetic justice, to live forever Christians must walk the Way until the end; no one can finish the race and end it because the vision of the prize would be fantasy; it can't be obtained without finishing the course! That is God's Way.

     On the other hand, Isaiah speaks of Israel's "way" as "my way," meaning their way. "Israel's way" was syncretic - claiming God but not trusting Him; rather than God's way they did it their way! They had other gods in God's face (The First Commandment forbidding). Isaiah saw the face of the Way and it was Jesus's face he saw! The Israelites saw Baal's face, and did it Baal's way rather than God's Way. Baal isn't real. They created all types of Baals. Effectually, having other gods is putting faces of idols on your own face. That's where "my way" comes in; people assign godhood to other gods, but it is merely them "doing what is right in their own eyes" (Jud 17:6). Those who were not true Jews were their own gods and did it their own way. Thus, the two ways: the Way of Jesus and "my way," in that "my" refers to those on the wrong way.
    In the case of the Israelites their "my way" was having other gods besides God, fighting battles using their own devices, and pleasuring instead of obedience. They most always did things their way, and paid for that dearly: their city and temple were destroyed and they were carried away to other lands.
     Judaism nearly died-out. We know that because in Nehemiah's time, the prophet Ezra found the Book of the Law and taught the returning Jews about God. The Babylonian destruction of their world was their "deluge" in much the same way as Noah's time. The rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem was symbolically building the ark. In this new world, by God's grace, like Noah's family, the Jews got another chance! They were to cease walking the way of the world and walk on God's "water" - God's way. God's way was rebuilding the wall and the temple, thus providing a way forward that the Abrahamic Covenant could be fulfilled.
     Indeed, the Abrahamic Covenant was the Doctrine of Christ; we know that because the faith of Abraham is the type and degree of faith which is the reference for Christians (Rom 4:16). The Jewish Abrahamic faith was the Way just as the Doctrine of Christ is the same Way.
     Let's look at God's Way and some of the "my ways":

• Adam attempted to cover his shame with fig leaves from the Serpent's tree. God removed the poor attempt, and covered him entirely with a coat of animal skins - Adam's way vs. God's Way.
• The world tried to sin and not worry about salvation. Noah's family by faith obeyed God and built an ark - the world's way vs. God's Way.
• Abraham, for safety's sake, used Sara as his sister instead of his wife. Abraham later was willing to sacrifice his son to God - sinful Abraham's way vs. righteous Abraham doing it God's Way.
• Moses killed a man to protect the Hebrew people. Moses allowed God to kill the firstborn - Moses's way vs. God's Way.
• Most of the Hebrew people dodged the poisonous vipers themselves. Others, even those who had been bitten, looked on the dead Serpent which God promised to kill, and were saved - the Hebrew way vs. God's Way. Jesus even indicated that was the Way to eternal life (John 3:14).
• David stole the body of Bathsheba and squandered Uriah's soul. David repented and again became a man after God's own heart - David's way vs. God's Way.
• David killed innocent Uriah but refused to kill guilty Saul - David's way vs. God's Way.
• Nebuchadnezzar robbed and destroyed the temple. Later he saw Jesus in the fiery furnace and ate grass like the beast he was - Nebuchadnezzar's way vs. God's Way.
• Satan tempted Jesus. Jesus entered not into temptation - Satan's way vs. Jesus's Way.
• Jesus died on the cross for the sins of mankind. Unknown to Satan it was the Serpent who really died that day - the Way of Jesus vs. the way of Satan.

     All of Holy Scripture is comparison's of the two ways. Elementarily speaking, there are only two ways: Jesus's Way or "my way" - "your way." Isaiah knew the same two ways which were spoken of in the New Testament:

Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way (my way), that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way (God's Way), which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. (Mat 7:13-14; parentheses mine)

     Jesus said that! Furthermore he validated Isaiah's description of the two ways, as Jesus prefaced this to what was said above:

Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this (the two ways) is the law and the prophets. (Mat 7:12; parenthesis mine)