Men of Renown
Part xxxv
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The Woman Arrayed in Purple
Part 1
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Mystery, Babylon The Great
The Woman
CONTINUES
in the Third and Last Woman in the book of the Revelation
There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown. (Genesis 6:4) And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. (Genesis 6:5)
This series called Men of Renown will begin with these verses in Chapter 6 of the book of Genesis because it is the perfect scene setter for whatever and whoever follows that enables men of renown to act in conflict against God and His Word. Verses 4 and 5 are an accurate definition of men of renown.
What you missed . . . . too much to catch up with . . . . it may be a bit confusing for new comers to this site to understand that The Genesis Epic is not only about the first book of the Bible but how the book of Genesis is the foundation to everything that follows; therefore we are now in the last book of the Bible, the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ. We are dealing with the last mention of the words a woman and the woman in Revelation Chapter 17.
  The game plan is to cover all SIX mentions of a woman, and the woman in Revelation Chapter 17 of Revelation.
1. So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. (Revelation 17:3) (Part xxxi, xxxii, xxxiii, xxxiv)
2. And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: (Revelation 17:4)
3. And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration. (Revelation 17:6)
4. And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns. (Revelation 17:7)
5. And here [is] the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth. (Revelation 17:9)
6. And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth. (Revelation 17:18)
Arrayed in Purple and Scarlet
  I suggest that you first begin at the beginning of why this woman is sitting on a scarlet colored beast so CLICK HERE. After dealing with the scarlet colored beast, let us now consider the woman ostentatiously ARRAYED in purple and scarlet color. The woman in scarlet has already been addressed in previous articles (xxxi, xxxii, xxxiii and xxxiv). Purple is now added to describe more about this woman. This woman is religion and the apostate church. She thinks of herself as being of royalty . . . above the common man. . . . and above all government (both natural and spiritual) . . . and above God Himself; therefore, let’s follow the word purple.
  The first mention of purple is in Exodus 25:4. It was the LORD who selected the items and the colors that would be used in the construction of His Tabernacle in the wilderness which was made after the pattern of the Tabernacle in the heavenlies.
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, (Exodus 25:1) Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering: of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering. (Exodus 25:2) And this is the offering which ye shall take of them; gold, and silver, and brass, (Exodus 25:3) And blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats’ hair, (Exodus 25:4) And rams’ skins dyed red, and badgers’ skins, and shittim wood, (Exodus 25:5) Oil for the light, spices for anointing oil, and for sweet incense, (Exodus 25:6) Onyx stones, and stones to be set in the ephod, and in the breastplate. (Exodus 25:7) And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them. (Exodus 25:8) According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it. (Exodus 25:9)
  The blue, the purple and the scarlet all represent Christ: scarlet (His sacrificial blood, the Redeemer/Savior), the purple: His Kingship, and His Priesthood, Even he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both. (Zec 6:13) His Kingly Glory, King eternal, King of kings: His Lordship, Lord of lords and Lord and Master (John 13:14); His existence as the Eternal God (Deuteronomy 33:27) and His eternal power and Godhead (Romans 1:20) The blue represents the faithful Creator God in Christ sent from heaven to earth and who now sits on His heavenly throne. (1st Peter 4:19; Hebrews 1:3; Colossians 1:16; 1st Timothy 1:17, Revelation 19:16; Deuteronomy 10:14, Nehemiah 9:6, Hebrews 1:2). The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. (Psalm 19:1) The heavens [are] thine, the earth also [is] thine: [as for] the world and the fulness thereof, thou hast founded them. (Psalm 89:11) The Redeemer, King, Eternal God, and Christ (the fullness of the Godhead bodily and the possessor of heaven and earth) are all summed up together in three colors: blue, and purple, and scarlet.
  In the book of Exodus, the combinations of these colors are listed for a total of twenty-six (26) times in this exact order: first, blue; then purple, and lastly scarlet. It is important even in how the Holy Spirit arranges these colors in a hidden message into the unseen hidden realm of God: and blue, and purple, and scarlet.
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God Introduces Himself Through
Blue, and Purple, and Scarlet
• THE BLUE: First, in the book of Genesis, God introduced Himself to mankind . . . In the beginning GOD <‘elohiym> . . . BLUE. (Genesis 1:1) In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. The heavens reflect the glory of God . . . BLUE.
• THE PURPLE: Then God introduced Himself as ROYALITY , DIVINITY in action . . . PURPLE. In Genesis 2:4 God proclaimed His Eternal Godhead and His Self-Existent presence as Jehovah (LORD) <Y@hovah> God <‘elohiym> . . . . PURPLE. These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD <Y@hovah> God <‘elohiym> made the earth and the heavens, (Genesis 2:4). His Kingly Glory as a King and a Priest upon His throne.Â
• THE SCARLET: Lastly, God revealed that He would be the scarlet offered freely to mankind through His own blood (Genesis 22:8). The scarlet first flowed from the opened veins of two lambs to clothe Adam and Eve with the skins of death so that they would carry death with them through their journey on a cursed earth (Genesis 3:21). In Genesis 3:15 and 21 we have the first mention of ‘enmity, two seeds, coats of skins’ and pain, and suffering through the word ‘bruise’ (a wound, an injury related to a breakdown of blood). And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. (Genesis 3:15) Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them. (Genesis 3:21) Notice what words are not recorded, for instance the word ‘blood’ is not mentioned until Genesis Chapter 4. The word ‘lamb’ is not recorded until Genesis 22:7 and 8, And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here [am] I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where [is] the lamb for a burnt offering?And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together. The word scarlet does not appear until Genesis Chapter 38, (part 1) that introduces the line of scarlet, the line of the generation that would lead to the Christ as the Lamb of God who offered His soul as an offering for sin. Now, let us place SCARLET as the last word in the combination of BLUE, PURPLE and SCARLET into the place of the third mention of color in the twenty-six verses in Exodus. Why is scarlet the third mentioned (blue, purple, and scarlet), why is scarlet not mentioned until the 38th Chapter, why do we not have the words lamb or scarlet in the first few Chapters of the book of Genesis? Simply because He who IS scarlet, the Sacrifice (the Lamb) and the Sacrificer (the Priest) would come in the fullness of time . . . God’s time . . . approximately four thousand years later the line of the blood of sacrifice in the Lord Jesus Christ would shed His blood on the tree at Calvary. So, therefore, the word scarlet had to be last in the list of colors and the word had to be placed far away from the other written colors of blue and purple. But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, (Galatians 4:4) He is the first and the last, the Alpha and the Omega, and as the blue and the scarlet blended together at the cross of Calvary through the fullness of the Godhead bodily (the purple), Christ proclaimed, It is finished. Therefore, because Christ came in the FULNESS of time, God’s time frame, this is why the word scarlet is always listed last in the book of Exodus because its placement had to signify distance in time. (Also, for those of you who may be curious, there is still much more about the word BLUE. CLICK HERE and you will be safely redirected to the article about BLUE.
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Following Purple Through the Old Testament
  After the book of Exodus where the word purple is documented twenty-six times, the word purple is recorded thirteen (13) times in the remaining books of the Old Testament. (Numbers 4:13; Judges 8:26; 2nd Chronicles 2:7, 14; Esther 1:6; 8:15; Proverbs 31:22; Song of Songs 3:10, 7:5; Jeremiah 10:9; Ezekiel 27:7, 16) Curious yet? how can this number (13) that represents evil possibly connect to purple if the color purple represents the Eternal Godhead and His Self-Existent presence as Jehovah (LORD) <Y@hovah> God <‘elohiym>? Then purple is recorded nine (9) times in the New Testament. How is that possible? for we know that the number nine is the number that marks the end, the finality and it is also connected to God’s judgment on all unrighteousness. We have a lot of ground to cover, and I have never been this way before . . . so let us begin our journey following the word purple.
  The book of Exodus records purple in twenty-six (26) verses; in these verses God sets the primary tangible application of the color purple: this color represents His sanctuary, His Tabernacle, His veils and hanging that separated, His High Priest, Melchisedec; therefore, purple defines the Godhead bodily as Divine Royalty. After the twenty-six verses in Exodus, God the Holy Spirit then adds a tremendous fact to our understanding of purple in Numbers 4:13.
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A Purple Cloth
And they shall take away the ashes from the altar, and spread a purple cloth thereon. (Numbers 4:13)
  In order to appreciate the importance of this verse you should read what the sons of Kohath were responsible for in their role of Levites. Remember, all priests of Israel were Levites, but not all Levites were priests. CLICK HERE to read about their responsibilities and CLICK HERE to see their failure.
And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, (Numbers 4:1)
Take the sum of the sons of Kohath from among the sons of Levi, after their families, by the house of their fathers, (Numbers 4:2)
From thirty years old and upward even until fifty years old, all that enter into the host, to do the work in the tabernacle of the congregation. (Numbers 4:3)
This shall be the service of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation, about the most holy things: (Numbers 4:4)
And when the camp setteth forward, Aaron shall come, and his sons, and they shall take down the covering vail, and cover the ark of testimony with it: (Numbers 4:5)
And shall put thereon the covering of badgers’ skins, and shall spread over it a cloth wholly of blue, and shall put in the staves thereof. (Numbers 4:6)
And upon the table of shewbread they shall spread a cloth of blue, and put thereon the dishes, and the spoons, and the bowls, and covers to cover withal: and the continual bread shall be thereon: (Numbers 4:7)
And they shall spread upon them a cloth of scarlet, and cover the same with a covering of badgers’ skins, and shall put in the staves thereof. (Numbers 4:8)
And they shall take a cloth of blue, and cover the candlestick of the light, and his lamps, and his tongs, and his snuffdishes, and all the oil vessels thereof, wherewith they minister unto it: (Numbers 4:9)
And they shall put it and all the vessels thereof within a covering of badgers’ skins, and shall put it upon a bar. (Numbers 4:10 )
And upon the golden altar they shall spread a cloth of blue, and cover it with a covering of badgers’ skins, and shall put to the staves thereof: (Numbers 4:11)
And they shall take all the instruments of ministry, wherewith they minister in the sanctuary, and put them in a cloth of blue, and cover them with a covering of badgers’ skins, and shall put them on a bar: (Numbers 4:12)
And they shall take away the ashes from the altar, and spread a purple cloth thereon: (Numbers 4:13)
And they shall put upon it all the vessels thereof, wherewith they minister about it, even the censers, the fleshhooks, and the shovels, and the basons, all the vessels of the altar; and they shall spread upon it a covering of badgers’ skins, and put to the staves of it. (Numbers 4:14)
And when Aaron and his sons have made an end of covering the sanctuary, and all the vessels of the sanctuary, as the camp is to set forward; after that, the sons of Kohath shall come to bear it: but they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die. These things are the burden of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation. (Numbers 4:15)
  And they shall take away the ashes from the altar, and spread a purple cloth thereon. (Numbers 4:13) Every item within the Tabernacle and in the courtyard of the Tabernacle HAD to be covered with a specific-colored cloth. Each colored cloth represented a specific character of the Godhead bodily. In verse 4:13, these ashes were taken from the last animal sacrificed on the brazen altar that was situated in the courtyard before the command came to journey forward in the blowing of trumpets.
  The courtyard spoke of the earth/the world, and the brazen altar was the place where God viewed the sacrifice as the sacrifice to come by the Son of His love: Jesus Christ. Therefore, the ashes, and the altar speak of the finished work of Christ on earth on the altar of Calvary. The purple cloth speaks of the finished work of redemption through the death (the ashes) of the Godhead bodily as God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit totally committed and totally united in their determinate counsels when they offered together the soul of Christ, as the offering for sin. (Remember so they went both of them together in Genesis 22:8.) Here in the earthly sphere, the purple covered the ashes of the great Sacrificer. The purple cloth also speaks of Christ’s presenting Himself to mankind as the Eternal God covered by the cloth of His Body that was prepared for Him in the heavenly realm of God BEFORE His manifestation as GOD on earth. Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: (Hebrews 10:5) Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. (Matthew 1:23)　
  As God is ONE LORD, it was ONE sacrifice by ONE LORD GOD. The pain, the agony, the death was experienced by THE ONE LORD GOD; thus, the evidence of the pain, agony and death in the ashes had to be covered with the purple cloth of the God Eternal, and King Eternal. Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen. (1st Timothy 1:17) In the prophetic scene of the crucifixion of Christ on Calvary in Isaiah Chapter 53, the word ‘soul‘ is recorded THREE times. Does this not reveal the ONENESS of a triune suffering? (Remember so they went both of them together in Genesis 22:8.)Â
Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put [him] to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see [his] seed, he shall prolong [his] days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. (Isaiah 53:10) The work of God the Son.
He shall see of the travail of his soul, [and] shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. (Isaiah 53:11) The work of God the Father.
Therefore will I divide him [a portion] with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. (Isaiah 53:12) The work of God the Holy Spirit.
  That is why the cloth that covered the ashes HAD to BE PURPLE because it represented the Godhead in their joint role as Sovereign LORD and GOD in their Divine sacrifice viewed in the evidence of death. It was GOD in His manifested visible image as MAN dying for man as MAN, and the end of man is that he returns to the dust of the ground . . . ashes to ashes, dust to dust. God IN Jesus Christ put sinful man away. He buried man through His own death.
   The New Testament confirms the Old Testament connection of purple to death and ashes and adds to the Old Testament the mention of A CROWN. And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his [head], (Mark 15:17) Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And [Pilate] saith unto them, Behold the man! (John 19:5) Although the crown was a crown of thorns, it was nevertheless a CROWN revealing that it took a KING, a ROYAL KING, a KING of greatness, an ETERNAL KING to conquer sin and death . . . to free man and his realm from the curse of sin and death.
  Then in Mark 15:20 we read, And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple from him, and put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucify him. (Mark 15:20) Notice another connection between the Old and the New Testaments. In the Old Testament, we read . . . And the priest shall put on his linen garment, and his linen breeches shall he put upon his flesh, and take up the ashes which the fire hath consumed with the burnt offering on the altar, and he shall put them beside the altar. (Leviticus 6:10) And he shall put off his garments, and put on other garments, and carry forth the ashes without the camp unto a clean place. (Leviticus 6:11) The priest changed his garments between presenting the ashes to God and bringing the ashes outside the parameters of the Tabernacle to a clean place. There was also another change of garments in the New Testament that relates to the priests actions in Leviticus Chapter 6, And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his [head], (Mark 15:17) And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple from him, and put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucify him. (Mark 15:20) Leviticus Chapter 6 verses 10 and 11 were also a prophecy that there would be a change of clothing by the true High Priest of God at the sacrifice of Himself. See how the words ashes (death of man and the death of the GodMan) and the crown of thorns (the curse of the earth on the head of man and the curse placed on the head of the Eternal God King) the placing of a robe of purple (the garment worn by kings was placed on the King of kings) and then the Spirit of God deliberately informs us they took off the purple from him, and put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucify him and connects this to the prophecy of And he shall put off his garments, and put on other garments, and carry forth the ashes without the camp unto a clean place. The clean place would, of course, be the new clean tomb as He was placed in a virgin womb so He was placed in a virgin tomb.
And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed. (Matthew 27:60) And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid. (Luke 23:53) Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid. (John 19:41)
  Thus, the ceremony of disposing the ashes of the sacrifice outside of the camp in the wilderness was much more than a ceremony, it pointed to a time in the future when this very act would be accomplished . . . therefore, it was also a prophecy. And he shall put off his garments, and put on other garments, and carry forth the ashes without the camp unto a clean place. (Leviticus 6:11)
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The Tragedy of the Purple Raiment
And the weight of the golden earrings that he requested was a thousand and seven hundred shekels of gold; beside ornaments, and collars, and purple raiment that was on the kings of Midian, and beside the chains that were about their camels’ necks. (Judges 8:26) Purple is the color of Divine Rule, Divine Royalty, Divine Righteousness, and the ultimate in Godness: GODHEAD.
  Let us set aside the first mention of purple in the book of Exodus as it was totally related to God and His heavenly sanctuary and to His divine and holy High Priest, Melchisedec, the Lord Jesus Christ. Purple is the color of Divine Rule, Divine Royalty, and Divine Righteousness, the ultimate in Godness. When the purple raiment in the book of Judges is mentioned, it represents mankind’s attempt to rule over others as kings, monarchs, emperors, and Caesars and Presidents; thus, purple worn by earthly men symbolizes mankind attempting to usurp the rights of God. Again, I repeat, in order to fully comprehend the significance of the word of the Holy Spirit of God it is needful to read the complete following section about Gideon in the 8th Chapter of the book of Judges.
Then the men of Israel said unto Gideon, Rule thou over us, both thou, and thy son, and thy son’s son also: for thou hast delivered us from the hand of Midian. (Judges 8:22)
And Gideon said unto them, I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you: the LORD shall rule over you. (Judges 8:23)
And Gideon said unto them, I would desire a request of you, that ye would give me every man the earrings of his prey. (For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.)Â (Judges 8:24)
And they answered, We will willingly give them. And they spread a garment, and did cast therein every man the earrings of his prey. (Judges 8:25)
And the weight of the golden earrings that he requested was a thousand and seven hundred shekels of gold; beside ornaments, and collars, and purple raiment that was on the kings of Midian, and beside the chains that were about their camels’ necks. (Judges 8:26)
And Gideon made an ephod thereof, and put it in his city, even in Ophrah: and all Israel went thither a whoring after it: which thing became a snare unto Gideon, and to his house. (Judges 8:27)
  Gideon (Gedeon) was a man of God, selected by God to serve Him. And herein, there is the tragedy that many servants of God have been ensnared with. Although Gideon had stated in Judges 8:23, I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you: the LORD shall rule over you. (Judges 8:23) He inwardly sought a higher plain, a ‘higher calling’ beyond what God had blessed him with. Gideon asked for wealth, and he was given wealth. He also accepted ornaments, and collars, and purple raiment. And added to this vanity and pride of ornaments and collars we have the mention of purple raiment. Not any purple raiment but the purple raiment that was on the kings of Midian. These were robes worn by the robbers of the authority of God: Midianites, much as the attempted robbery of God’s Righteous Right to Rule over His spiritual realm in the heavenlies by the angel of seditiousness: Lucifer. What first began in the UNSEEN realm surfaced in the SEEN realm through man’s obsessive need to RULE OVER THE THINGS OF GOD. As Lucifer was the first robber to endeavor to rob God and failed, nevertheless, Lucifer/Satan lied to mankind, and mankind blindly followed Lucifer’s failed GREAT STEAL. Stealing God’s words (Jeremiah 23:30, 31), stealing God’s rights to rule over His creation, stealing His Holy Priesthood from His High Priest in Melchisedec, stealing the Church from the Head of the Church (Jesus Christ), stealing the rights of priesthood from believers in Christ Jesus. Stealing and robbing what rightfully belongs to others first occurred in the throne room of God. Then this same evil characteristic became embedded into man’s DNA when Adam sinned against God.
Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, (Colossians 2:18) And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God. (Colossians 2:19)
And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. (Colossians 1:18) For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; (Colossians 1:19)
  In past articles there is much written about the Midianites; therefore, I will try to keep this brief. The Midianites were from the line of Abraham through his second wife Keturah (after Hagar was banished and after Sarah died). Keturah’s name means ‘incense,’ and ‘perfumed,’ and here the scent of a woman eased Abraham’s pain of loneliness. Through the root of incense there is also the connection to worship. Keturah’s origin is a bit foggy. She is called the wife of Abraham (Genesis 25:1) and Abraham’s concubine. (1st Chronicles 1:32. IMHO, I suggest that although Abraham called her his wife, God looked on her in a lesser role as a concubine. She bore Abraham six (6) sons, and again we see the unseen message in the number connecting sinful man. Although Keturah’s sons came from the loins of the great patriarch called by God His friend in Isaiah 41:8, But thou, Israel, [art] my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend . . . . they were not given the one thing that they desired ‘Heirship.’ From all of Abraham’s eight sons ONLY ONE son was considered the heir, and that was Isaac. And Abraham gave all that he had unto Isaac. (Genesis 25:5) But unto the sons of the concubines, which Abraham had, Abraham gave gifts, and sent them away from Isaac his son, while he yet lived, eastward, unto the east country. (Genesis 25:6) This is the CRUX from which the original sin in the heavenlies occurred, and the CRUX of the problem that exists in the tangible world between Israel and the world: the battle of inheritance: HEIRSHIP and SONSHIP.
  Back now to Keturah, through the roots ‘incense,’ and ‘perfumed’ of her name it leads further back in time to the women in the line of Cain. The same characteristics within the three women mentioned in scripture in the line of Cain can also describe Keturah’s appeal to Abraham. Keturah had six sons by Abraham, Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah. But we are only following Midian, whose name means ‘strife,‘ and/or ‘contention.’ You may want to click on the following links. CLICK HERE to follow Midian to the Kenites to Jethro who was the father-in-law to Moses. CLICK HERE to understand generational hatred of the people of the East for Israel.
  Anyone with the name of Strife and Contention is certainly going to be a problem for neighbors. Midian and the majority of his descendants have always been a thorn to Israel, yet, Gideon, confiscated the purple garments signifying royalty and kingship and made an ephod (a linen garment like apron that covered the blue robe of the high priest of God) which was a garment only to be worn by the high priest of Israel. To get a grasp of the significance of this garment read these verses: Exodus 28:4, 6, 8, 12, 25, 28; 35:9; 39:7 and Hosea 3:4. This article is NOT a treatise about the ephod; therefore, we will only mention what is pertinent regarding the theme of this article.) The one who led Israel into victory also led them into abominable idolatry. Gideon committed a grave trespass against the Almighty God by assuming that he had the right to form a holy garment made from an unholy source: the purple raiment that was on the kings of Midian. He took a garment that was worn by abominable men and used it as the foundation to build a garment to represent God and His High Priest. He placed on this purple garment items that were only meant to represent God’s beauty and glory in His holiness. Sadly, many do not see the importance of a true foundation which has become a lost principle in building. Every true structure must be based and founded on a perfectly set foundation; thus, Gideon created another abominable garment under the guise that it was pure and true because it resembled the original ephod of Aaron for glory and for beauty: the glory and beauty of the Godhead bodily in His office and role as Priest. And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother for glory and for beauty. (Exodus 28:2)
  How was the infant church overtaken by the Nicolaitans? It was through the same method that Satan used with Gideon to draw Israel away from their Creator God, Jehovah (LORD) <Y@hovah> God <‘elohiym> . . . . the true PURPLE. Thus were they defiled with their own works, and went a whoring with their own inventions. (Psalm 106:39) And Gideon made an ephod thereof, and put it in his city, even in Ophrah: and all Israel went thither a whoring after it: which thing became a snare unto Gideon, and to his house. (Judges 8:27) Let us see the connection between the ephod of Gideon and the Nicolaitans in the infant Church. (The deeds and doctrines of the Nicolaitans have become a part of the apostate church and of every religion and denomination of our current age . . . . the age of the world church.) Now, your golden ox is about to be gored . . . . as the infant church began to affect lives and society men came in to reshape its direction. The first Christians were, of course, Jewish and Acts 15:5 informs that there was a sect of the Pharisees who proclaimed their salvation through Jesus Christ. But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses. Then there were men from Judaea who came and TAUGHT the brethren, but they could not leave the Law of Moses behind, And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved. (Acts 15:1) As the church grew it became a magnet for many unruly and vain talkers, especially those who were glued to the Law. Opportunists found a home in the church. Read Titus 1:10 and 11, For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake. Peter vehemently fought against the onslaught in Acts 15:24, Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment. The conflict between grace and Law was a battle that still rages today. This strife not only separated and divided the church, but it overtook the church in the age of Antipas in Revelation 2:13, I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, [even] where Satan’s seat [is]: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas [was] my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth. Again, allow me to place this question in your thoughts, How does this relate to Gideon’s ephod?
I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. (Revelation 2:9)
Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. (Revelation 3:9) The budding church was strangled by the umbilical cord of Jewish traditionalism.
  It was more than stating their Jewishness, by their insistence of being Jews they were saying that Christianity was falsely being labeled, for it MUST follow all Jewish ceremonies and traditions and in doing so it MUST become even more Jewish than Jewishness itself; thus, the budding church was strangled by the umbilical cord of Jewish traditionalism. Practically every outward form of ‘worship’ that is seen today in Rome, and in most Protestant denominations and even in multitudes of cults have been stolen from the blue, purple and scarlet sanctuary of the Tabernacle in the wilderness. And these are the garments which they shall make; a breastplate, and an ephod, and a robe, and a broidered coat, a mitre, and a girdle: and they shall make holy garments for Aaron thy brother, and his sons, that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office. (Exodus 28:4) The Nicolaitans took the foundation that Christ had set aside in the old covenant and refashioned it and reshaped it in the garments that blatantly imitated the beauty and glory of God, and falsely claimed it as ‘the new covenant.’
For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:Â (Hebrews 8:8)
In that he saith, A new [covenant], he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old [is] ready to vanish away. (Hebrews 8:13)
And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than [that of] Abel. (Hebrews 12:24)
  The New Covenant was NOT to be a replica or an imitation of the old covenant. The New Covenant was not to be draped in the robes of Aaron, the high priest of Israel. The New Covenant was and is the BETTER COVENANT. The New Covenant was the fulfillment of the old covenant because it was SEALED with the blood of God. Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. (Acts 20:28) Refusing to let go of the things of the old covenant is blasphemy. What is so difficult to understand about the word NEW?Â
No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse. (Matthew 9:16) Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved. (Matthew 9:17)
And no man putteth new wine into old bottles: else the new wine doth burst the bottles, and the wine is spilled, and the bottles will be marred: but new wine must be put into new bottles. (Mark 2:22)
And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish. (Luke 5:37) But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved. (Luke 5:38)
  The simplicity of these words cannot be understood by those who worship ceremony and ritualism. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. (John 4:23) God [is] a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship [him] in spirit and in truth. (John 4:24)
Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (2nd Corinthians 5:17)
Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. (Hebrews 10:9)
  You cannot deny that the robes, the incense, the miter fish hats, and all the ceremonial ornaments of religion have not been copied from the Old Testament. The ministers of Satan have taken the purple garments of the kings of the Midianites and have made an ephod as a means to draw man away from God’s true center and foundation, the Lord Jesus Christ . . . . and the people love to have it so. Lucifer/Satan is a counterfeiter of great expertise. The Nicolaitans built a religion on a foundation that had become corrupted by the enemies of God. The foundation that was constructed to serve as an avenue for God to dwell among His chosen nation became corrupted by the very men who were entrusted with the purple garments of God’s glory and beauty. . . . the sins within the priesthood of the sanctuary were the enemies of God and the enemies of God’s people . . . as the kings of the Midianites were the enemies of God so also the corruption within the Jewish priesthood was caused by the strife and contention against God’s sovereignty over His own house.
  Gideon placed his counterfeit ephod in his city called Ophrah. Why? His action was to assume control over the worship of the things of God. Although he stated I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you: the LORD shall rule over you, he refused to see the sin within himself as desiring to control or to rule over the worship center of the nation of Israel. (Notice that in this early stage of Israel entering into the land of her promise, Israel desired a king, as the kings as the corrupt nations around her.) Although Gideon refused kingship, he desired the priesthood. He was fully cognizant of what constructing an ephod of the high priest entailed. Knowing that he could never assume any role of a Levite or priest, he then took control over the main outward garment that the high priest wore. Was this not an attempt to steal from God? . . . . and all Israel went thither a whoring after it: which thing became a snare unto Gideon, and to his house. The sin of Lucifer is ever with mankind. Man loves to worship. Give mankind an old piece of wood and say that it is from Noah’s ark, and thousands will flock to kiss it and pay good money to touch it. Place a piece of old cloth under glass and call it The-Original-Diaper-of-Dagon and without question, thousands will trample over others to falsely proclaim that it has the power to transform not only from one sex to the other sex, but it can also transform anyone from one race to another race. Man loves to worship. Although mankind loves the ostentatiousness of so-called earthly royalty, his greater love is his need to worship at the altar of his own deification . . . ye shall be as gods. Man yells, Bring it on, I am a god! This was the downfall of Lucifer; he believed his own lie. Even when he walked among the stones of fire, he believed that he could be as GOD. Thus, the tragedy of Gideon transforming the purple garment into an EPHOD, making this false ephod a thing of worship became a snare unto Gideon, and to his house.Â
   The ephod of Aaron is described in Exodus 39:2 and 3, And he made the ephod of gold, blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen.And they did beat the gold into thin plates, and cut it into wires, to work it in the blue, and in the purple, and in the scarlet, and in the fine linen, with cunning work. It was not one solid color, but gold (signifying God’s righteousness) was woven into the blue, purple and scarlet threads creating a robe of exquisite beauty. An original work of art in fabric denoting God’s handiwork in the heavenlies.Â
  This snare not only affected Gideon, but it affected his house. Think of this spiritual application not only as spiritually applying to Gideon, and to his house, and to whoring Israel, but think of how this same spiritual snare has affected the Church. What is the snare? The snare to the infant Church was in taking the things of the past, the things of ceremonial Jewish priesthood and attempting to use the things of the past as the foundation for the things of the new, and also not truly seeing that the foundation had become corrupted; consequently, they built on that which had become unholy. If the foundation is unholy then the whole edifice is unholy!
Side Note: The Foundation is the most important part of every structure. I learned this principle from personal experience. Decades ago, my husband, Michael, built our home from electrical, to plumbing, from the foundation to the roof and every nail, every board, and every wire was from his calloused cut hands. I helped in my small way, but all the labor and all the pain were his. And this is what I learned: the foundation is the most important part of every structure.
We he labored for what seemed months to lay the foundation sure. That was before lasers and the measuring tools of today’s builder. Every day, he would direct me to hold the measuring tools that he had set up (the ancient Egyptian method, not because we were history buffs but because we could not afford anything else and every cent had to be carefully spent with the end in mind) and together we would measure and measure and measure and measure and measure until I wanted to scream, Stop measuring and let’s begin building! But, oh, no . . . . we continued to measure and measure and measure. He instilled in me the importance of our measuring that if we were off by 1 inch on the foundation that by the time that we got to the 2nd story roof we would be off by feet . . . and so we measured. I thank and praise God for I live in a lovely strong home, built by a strong and loving husband who laid a true and sure physical and spiritual foundation. ♦ End of Side Note: The Foundation.
  Why is the Bible divided into two sections: Old Testament and New Testament? Simply because there are two testaments, two covenants: Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: (Jeremiah 31:31) Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: (Jeremiah 31:32) But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. (Jeremiah 31:33) The very first mention of ‘a new covenant‘ in the Old Testament is notably in 31:31. Do you see the repetition in this number? Do you see the numbers that speak of God in the number three (3) and in the number one (1)? Do you see that in this we have the old and the new represented? And the first mention of a new covenant in the New Testament is in 8:8 of Hebrews. The witness (the number two) of a new beginning (the number eight). Tell me that this was just a coincidence where the first mention of a new covenant in the Old Testament is connected to the first mention of a new covenant in the New Testament.
For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:Â (Hebrews 8:8)
In that he saith, A new [covenant], he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old [is] ready to vanish away. (Hebrews 8:13)
And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than [that of] Abel. (Hebrews 12:24)
  Not only did Gideon blaspheme God with a false ephod but notice where he placed this garment of worship . . . And Gideon made an ephod thereof, and put it in his city, even in Ophrah. So what? Ophrah means ‘a female fawn,’ and ‘fawn-like,’ and ‘dustiness.’ Oh . . . a female fawn or fawn-like, how sweet! Nothing to see here except sweetness so let’s move on. NO! What a perfect place to set up another worship center, another Jesus, another gospel, and another Spirit. A place that appears to be nonaggressive, nonthreatening, a safe place, and a place of gentleness: a fawn . . . BAMBI! No one would dare state that this ephod was a false ephod built on an unholy foundation because it was set up in an environment of a baby Bambi . . . the epitome of security and safety. That’s how Lucifer/Satan rolls. The Counterfeiter and the builder of the house of smoke and mirrors and retained illusions’ sinks to the level of the desires of the people to live in their own personalized world of fantasy. How does this Ophrah work? How does the house of smoke and mirrors and illusions draw in the unsuspecting and gullible in the world church today? Simple, sweet fawn like words: love . . . charity . . . love . . . goodwill . . . love . . . we are the world . . . love . . . there are many ways to God . . . love . . . there is no hell . . . love . . . the Bible is not really God’s word . . . love . . . God is a woman . . . love . . . everyone will go to heaven . . . love . . . there is no such thing as sin . . . love . . . a person has the right to love whatever they want to love . . . love. And in between the mirrors, mankind becomes lost in the smoky clouds of the illusion of reality. That is how Ophrah rolls! Yet in the meaning of Ophrah there is also a root of ‘dustiness.’ Why this root? Simply because the city of Ophrah reminds the citizens of their origin, And the LORD God formed man [of] the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. (Genesis 2:7) A city named after dust brings in more than the origin of man, it also describes dryness, dirtiness, uncleanness of soul and spirit. When the founders of Ophrah settled on a name, God gave them the perfect name to describe what they were and what they would become. This city hid their sordidness through an illusion of harmlessness. Lucifer/Satan has been using this exact concept throughout time to place his counterfeit religions.
  Although Gideon’s end was to lay a snare before the people of Israel and to his own house, God remembered Gideon’s obedience and valor in his service to God; therefore, in the New Testament in the book of Hebrews AND in the faith chapter, Gideon (Gedeon) is immortalized in the words of the Holy Spirit. (Hebrews 11:32)
And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: (Hebrews 11:32) Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, (Hebrews 11:33) Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. (Hebrews 11:34)
And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: (Hebrews 11:39) God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. (Hebrews 11:40)
♦
Send me now therefore a man
Cunning and Skillful in Purple
  The next time that we see the word purple documented, it is in 2nd Chronicles 2: 7, 14 and 2nd Chronicles 3:14. Again we have a two-edged sword, but which edge should we use to cut through the threads of purple, and crimson, and blue. Notice that verse 7 places purple first, then crimson, and lastly blue. Yes, the order is relevant. Send me now therefore a man cunning to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, and in iron, and in purple, and crimson, and blue, and that can skill to grave with the cunning men that are with me in Judah and in Jerusalem, whom David my father did provide. (2nd Chronicles 2:7) In the book of Exodus the combinations of these colors are listed for a total of twenty-six (26) times in this exact order: first, blue; then purple, and lastly scarlet through the description of the Tabernacle in the wilderness. However, when the Holy Spirit of God describes the first Temple built in Jerusalem by Solomon, the word scarlet is NEVER mentioned, instead God uses the word crimson. WHY?
Side Note: Crimson. Â The word crimson is only recorded five times in the entire Bible. (2nd Chronicles 2:7, 14; 3:4; Isaiah 1:18. Jeremiah 4:30) It is not mentioned in the New Testament. The scriptural difference between scarlet and crimson plays out through these five mentions. Scarlet represents SIN as it is defined in Isaiah 1:18, Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. The color crimson is a darker and deeper color than scarlet. Notice how Isaiah 1:18 reveals the difference between scarlet and crimson. SIN is SIN, however, the Bible also reveals ‘a greater sin.’
Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee? (John 19:10) Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin. (John 19:11)
  There is no such thing as ‘a little sin,’ or ‘a big sin,’ for SIN is SIN. However, there is a difference in the degree of accountability of the sinner. Crimson represents the greater sin in the degree of accountability. Who delivered the Lord Jesus into Pilate’s hands? It was Satan! Using man (Judas and the religious leaders) didn’t release them from their responsibility in their conspiracy against God for they all were held accountable to God. Yet, it is Satan who was the main influencer behind the earthly scene; therefore, Satan has the GREATER SIN!
  The last mention of crimson is in Jeremiah 4:30, And [when] thou [art] spoiled, what wilt thou do? Though thou clothest thyself with crimson, though thou deckest thee with ornaments of gold, though thou rentest thy face with painting, in vain shalt thou make thyself fair; [thy] lovers will despise thee, they will seek thy life. This Chapter is about the sin of the nations, the sin of Israel, the sin of Jerusalem, and Dan is specially referred to in verse 15, and as you read through this Chapter you see the total desolation of the earth consumed and destroyed by SIN . . . CRIMSON . . . the greater sin. ♦ END of Side Note. Crimson.
   In 2nd Chronicles 7:14 the order is in purple, in blue, and in fine linen, and in crimson. Purple first, then blue, THEN FINE LINEN (purity), and lastly crimson. The son of a woman of the daughters of Dan, and his father was a man of Tyre, skilful to work in gold, and in silver, in brass, in iron, in stone, and in timber, in purple, in blue, and in fine linen, and in crimson; also to grave any manner of graving, and to find out every device which shall be put to him, with thy cunning men, and with the cunning men of my lord David thy father. (2nd Chronicles 2:14)
  The last mention in 2nd Chronicles 3:14 the colors are listed as blue, and purple, and crimson . . . and fine linen. And he made the vail [of] blue, and purple, and crimson, and fine linen, and wrought cherubims thereon.
  I don’t spend the time posting scripture because I have nothing better to do, but because it is NECESSARY for YOU to READ what follows:
And Solomon determined to build an house for the name of the LORD, and an house for his kingdom. (2nd Chronicles 2:1)
And Solomon told out threescore and ten thousand men to bear burdens, and fourscore thousand to hew in the mountain, and three thousand and six hundred to oversee them. (2nd Chronicles 2:2)
And Solomon sent to Huram the king of Tyre, saying, As thou didst deal with David my father, and didst send him cedars to build him an house to dwell therein, even so deal with me. (2nd Chronicles 2:3)
Behold, I build an house to the name of the LORD my God, to dedicate it to him, and to burn before him sweet incense, and for the continual shewbread, and for the burnt offerings morning and evening, on the sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the solemn feasts of the LORD our God. This is an ordinance for ever to Israel. (2nd Chronicles 2:4)
And the house which I build is great: for great is our God above all gods. (2nd Chronicles 2:5)
But who is able to build him an house, seeing the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain him? who am I then, that I should build him an house, save only to burn sacrifice before him? (2nd Chronicles 2:6)
Send me now therefore a man cunning to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, and in iron, and in purple, and crimson, and blue, and that can skill to grave with the cunning men that are with me in Judah and in Jerusalem, whom David my father did provide. (2nd Chronicles 2:7)
Send me also cedar trees, fir trees, and algum trees, out of Lebanon: for I know that thy servants can skill to cut timber in Lebanon; and, behold, my servants shall be with thy servants, (2nd Chronicles 2:8)
Even to prepare me timber in abundance: for the house which I am about to build shall be wonderful great. (2nd Chronicles 2:9)
And, behold, I will give to thy servants, the hewers that cut timber, twenty thousand measures of beaten wheat, and twenty thousand measures of barley, and twenty thousand baths of wine, and twenty thousand baths of oil. (2nd Chronicles 2:10)
Then Huram the king of Tyre answered in writing, which he sent to Solomon, Because the LORD hath loved his people, he hath made thee king over them. (2nd Chronicles 2:11)
Huram said moreover, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, that made heaven and earth, who hath given to David the king a wise son, endued with prudence and understanding, that might build an house for the LORD, and an house for his kingdom. ( 2nd Chronicles 2:12)
And now I have sent a cunning man, endued with understanding, of Huram my father’s, (2nd Chronicles 2:13)
The son of a woman of the daughters of Dan, and his father was a man of Tyre, skilful to work in gold, and in silver, in brass, in iron, in stone, and in timber, in purple, in blue, and in fine linen, and in crimson; also to grave any manner of graving, and to find out every device which shall be put to him, with thy cunning men, and with the cunning men of my lord David thy father. (2nd Chronicles 2:14)
  Before diving into this section let’s just consider that Tyre has three roots to the meaning of its name: ‘conflict,’ ‘adversary,‘ and ‘rock.’ (Save this bit of information about the meaning of Tyre because it connects to Lucifer/Satan in Ezekiel Chapter 28 and the prince of Tyrus.) King Solomon was charged by his father David to build a dwelling place for God; therefore, Solomon had to have the best wood, the best stone, the best of everything and the best craftsman in the Eastern world. Requesting not only supplies but a man skillful in every area of construction, it thus appears that Israel did not have a person with the necessary qualifications to be the director and supervisor over this great undertaking: building an earthly Temple for the Almighty God to dwell. Send me now therefore a man cunning to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, and in iron, and in purple, and crimson, and blue, and that can skill to grave with the cunning men that are with me in Judah and in Jerusalem, whom David my father did provide. (2nd Chronicles 2:7)
  There is no such thing as coincidence in scripture, nor does the Spirit of God make mistakes, or slips up, and because He is omniscient every word is in the perfect place and every name is EXACTLY where it needs to be. Who was this man sent by Hiram of king of Tyre to king Solomon? 1st Kings, Chapter 7, verses 13 and 14 disclose that this craftsman was named Hiram, the same name as the king of Tyre. It is obviously NOT Hiram the king of Tyre!
And king Solomon sent and fetched Hiram out of Tyre. (1st Kings 7:13) He was a widow’s son of the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a worker in brass: and he was filled with wisdom, and understanding, and cunning to work all works in brass. And he came to king Solomon, and wrought all his work. (1st Kings 7:14)
  Then in 2nd Chronicles Chapter 2, verses 11, 13 and 14 the Holy Spirit of God adds more about the artisan from Tyre called Hiram, but He also adds more about Hiram the king of Tyre by just a very simple one letter change, it is Huram the king of Tyre. Huh?
Then Huram the king of Tyre answered in writing, which he sent to Solomon, Because the LORD hath loved his people, he hath made thee king over them. (2nd Chronicles 2:11)
Huram said moreover, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, that made heaven and earth, who hath given to David the king a wise son, endued with prudence and understanding, that might build an house for the LORD, and an house for his kingdom. (2nd Chronicles 2:12)
And now I have sent a cunning man, endued with understanding, of Huram my father’s, (2nd Chronicles 2:13)
The son of a woman of the daughters of Dan, and his father was a man of Tyre, skilful to work in gold, and in silver, in brass, in iron, in stone, and in timber, in purple, in blue, and in fine linen, and in crimson; also to grave any manner of graving, and to find out every device which shall be put to him, with thy cunning men, and with the cunning men of my lord David thy father. (2nd Chronicles 2:14)
  First, let’s tackle the name of the king of Tyre as Hiram and Huram. Same man, two names, it is more than a spelling change that God wants us to grab onto. Many individuals through history have had their names altered due to language difference because of the historians who wrote history. But we are not dealing here with historians, we are dealing with GOD the Holy Spirit. What is the difference, therefore, between Hiram and Huram? Their names mean the same ‘high-born,’ ‘their paleness,’ and a primitive root of ‘to wax pale‘ as in shame, and I found another root ‘my brother is exalted.’ Although the meaning of the names will be made clearer, it’s not the meaning of the names that God is directing our attention to. (Huram as king of Tyre is recorded two times, and Hiram as king of Tyre is recorded three times.) God is directing our attention to THAT particular craftsman that it is this craftsman, this artisan whom God desires us to examine closely. Many reading quickly through 2 Chronicles and 1st Kings will probably miss the significance of the differences in how the Holy Spirit of God treats this skillful craftsman just in the name difference.
And Huram made the pots, and the shovels, and the basons. And Huram finished the work that he was to make for king Solomon for the house of God; (2nd Chronicles 4:11)
And Hiram made the lavers, and the shovels, and the basons. So Hiram made an end of doing all the work that he made king Solomon for the house of the LORD:(1st Kings 7:40)
  God the Holy Spirit has much more to disclose about this man of skill. I find his genealogy intriguing because it reminds me of another personality with interesting roots. The lessons and principles revealed by the Holy Spirit of God concerning this first Temple of the earth built by king Solomon and dedicated to the Almighty God closely resembles the UNSEEN realm of God and the circumstances of the roots of the WAR against God that was initiated by Lucifer. When reading 2nd Chronicles, Chapterb2 and 1st Kings Chapter 7 keep that in the back of your mind . . . think of the broader picture.Â
  And king Solomon sent and fetched Hiram out of Tyre. (1st Kings 7:13) He was a widow’s son of the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a worker in brass: and he was filled with wisdom, and understanding, and cunning to work all works in brass. And he came to king Solomon, and wrought all his work. (1st Kings 7:14) We first learn that his mother was a widow of the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was from Tyre/Sidon/once the capital of Rome’s Syria-Phoenician province.
And now I have sent a cunning man, endued with understanding, of Huram my father’s, (2nd Chronicles 2:13) The son of a woman of the daughters of Dan, and his father was a man of Tyre, skilful to work in gold, and in silver, in brass, in iron, in stone, and in timber, in purple, in blue, and in fine linen, and in crimson; also to grave any manner of graving, and to find out every device which shall be put to him, with thy cunning men, and with the cunning men of my lord David thy father. (2nd Chronicles 2:14)
  This cunning and skillful man was connected to Tyre through his father, but the interesting part is that through his mother she was connected to both the tribe of Naphtali and the city of Dan. God the Holy Spirit didn’t just by accident inform us that this man was the son of a woman of the daughters of Dan. How could she be both related to the tribe of Naphtali and Dan? Get a map. The tribe of Naphtali was situated in the northern most of Israel, and the tribe of Dan was situated further south toward the middle of Israel bordered south of Manasseh and touching the borders of Ephraim, Benjamin and Judah. So, the Dan mentioned with this woman who was the mother of Hiram/Huram the skillful and cunning craftsman was not the tribe of Dan, but the CITY OF DAN. (Later in this article we will hopefully follow the movement of the tribe of Dan when they extended their land by stealthy and murder into a territory that bordered the tribe of Naphtali at its most north-eastern region. There is a book waiting in the reams of empty paper to be written about the tribes of Dan and Naphtali, you are welcome to begin your career as a author, but it is not going to happen here and now with me.)
  Why was it so important for the Spirit of God to deliberately connect this man (Hiram/Huram) to the first Temple built and dedicated to the Almighty God on earth with his roots from Naphtali, Tyre, and DAN, a widow’s son of the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, and Dan, the son of a woman of the daughters of Dan? For those who cannot wait for the climax. . . . this skillful and cunning man is a type of Lucifer/Satan! Therefore, it is necessary to keep repeating the words skillful, and cunning, a worker in brass: and he was filled with wisdom, and understanding, and cunning to work all works in brass . . . skilful to work in gold, and in silver, in brass, in iron, in stone, and in timber, in purple, in blue, and in fine linen, and in crimson; also to grave any manner of graving, and to find out every device which shall be put to him. The insidious roots of this skillful cunning man called Hiram/Huram who worked in all works of brass.
  The first mention of brass in scripture sets the tone of its connection to sinful man. And Zillah, she also bare Tubalcain, an instructer of every artificer in brass and iron: and the sister of Tubalcain [was] Naamah. (Genesis 4:22) The line of Cain were artisans in brass and iron.
  Brass has a twofold meaning in scripture. Brass speaks of the righteous judgment of God against unrighteous sinful man. Not only does brass manifest righteous judgment but also a place of justification. And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived. (Numbers 21:9) So, therefore, Godward, the two-fold brass is judgment and justification; manward it is the hardness of man’s heart totally given over to his refusal to acknowledge God’s right as Creator to rule over His creation. Brass describes Satan and his agents of rebellion, such as Goliath covered with the brass of wickedness. And [he had] an helmet of brass upon his head, and he [was] armed with a coat of mail; and the weight of the coat [was] five thousand shekels of brass. (1st Samuel 17:5) And [he had] greaves of brass upon his legs, and a target of brass between his shoulders. (1st Samuel 17:6) And Jeremiah in the 6th Chapter, verse 28 sets the definition of brass. They are all grievous revolters, walking with slanders: they are brass and iron; they are all corrupters. And to summarize the meaning of the word brass, it is mentioned in the New Testament 6 times (the number of sinful man). The book of the Revelation finalizes the two-fold meaning of brass. Twice it refers to the One who judges corruption and sin: And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. (Revelation 1:15) And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet [are] like fine brass; (Revelation 2:18) And twice it describes corrupted mankind and the world of his idolatry, (Revelation 9:20; 18:12). Hiram/Huram was named after a king because his mother, a daughter of Dan, desired to be as God, and passed this lie of Satan onto her son. The lie of Satan was more than a lie to Lucifer, it was a goal, his purpose and his plan to be ‘high-born,’ and to be ‘exalted,‘ but he ‘waxed pale‘ and buried himself in shame. Recognize that the skills of Hiram/Huram were based on the same skills and cunningness of Lucifer: a worker in brass: and he was filled with wisdom, and understanding, and cunning to work all works in brass . . . skilful to work in gold, and in silver, in brass, in iron, in stone, and in timber, in purple, in blue, and in fine linen, and in crimson; also to grave any manner of graving, and to find out every device which shall be put to him. This reference describes Lucifer in his wisdom and beauty (Ezekiel 28:12) and his cunning skillful use of all the things within the Temple of God in the heavenlies.
♦
The History of the Skillful and Cunning Man Called Hiram/Huram
  Remember why we are here. . . . it is because of PURPLE . . . . the Eternal Self-Existent Jehovah (LORD) <Y@hovah> God <‘elohiym> . . . . the true PURPLE. Wherever the Eternal Self-Existent Jehovah Lord God is praised, honored and worshiped there you will also find the Dan’s of the earth, and the counterfeit Dan’s of the spiritual realm, and Lucifer/Satan himself in the midst of those who praise, honor and worship God (Job 1:6). God, therefore, through the mention of the word purple in 2nd Chronicles Chapter 2, verse 7 and 14 draws us to the UNSEEN works of Satan through this man called Hiram/Huram as a man of renown working his skill in the first Temple in Jerusalem through the cunning craft of the illusion of harmlessness. In the midst of the building of His first Temple in Jerusalem by king Solomon, God reveals that the enemy also works in an UNSEEN manner. The artisan Hiram/Huram was not seen as merely representing the UNSEEN enemy, but God used him as a type of how the inconspicuous and most helpful and gentle sources can be agents for Lucifer/Satan. I am not saying that Hiram/Huram, the artisan, did not do an excellent job, it is not the quality of his workmanship that I am writing about, but I want you to understand that God uses him as a type, a shadow, of what occurred in the Temple in the heavenlies, and a precursor and what will yet occur in the last earthly Temple on earth when The Beast, the man of sin sits on the throne of God in Jerusalem before the millennial reign of Christ. Hiram/Huram is used by God to show how close the enemy can come to the things of God. How close the adversary of God can touch the purple garments of God.Â
 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. (2nd Corinthians 11:13) And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. (2nd Corinthians 11:14) Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. (2nd Corinthians 11:15)
  Where are these false apostles, deceitful workers and counterfeit ministers of righteousness found? They are found standing next to purple, handling purple, and touching purple. Why did the Holy Spirit of God write these words of judgment against His own loved city of Jerusalem and against the Church that He died and shed His blood for?
And to the others he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity:Â (Ezekiel 9:5) Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house. (Ezekiel 9:6)
For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? (1st Peter 4:17)
  Those who had been responsible for the things of God . . . the PURPLE . . . and for those who are responsible today for the things of God, who have handled the word of God, and who have tasted the things of God have committed treason against the Eternal Self-Existent Jehovah (LORD) <Y@hovah> God <‘elohiym> . . . . the true PURPLE. He is the ONLY Divine King of Peace and the ONLY divine King of Righteousness and yet men like Dan the cunning craftsman, and Dan of the prophecy of Genesis 49:17 think it is of no importance that they usurp the PURPLE of God and make it their very own to wear. Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder in the path, that biteth the horse heels, so that his rider shall fall backward.
♦
The City of Dan
and the Daughters of Dan
  There is a difference between the tribe of Dan and the city of Dan . . . . and you probably are thinking, So what, and who cares? Well, God cares that all of His words should be thought worthy of consideration and as jewels of spiritual wealth. Let’s begin with this thought: the city of Dan was NOT originally located in the tribe of Dan. Do you sense something unseemly is about to be involved with this tribe of Dan? Remember the principle that what occurs spiritually on the earth first happened in the heavenlies. Everything about Dan points to the spiritual events that began in the rebellion in the throne room of the Almighty God . . . keep that thought in the forefront of your mind and see the connection between the spiritual battle in heaven and the spiritual battle on earth.Â
  When the land of Israel was inherited by the twelve tribes, the seventh lot was assigned to the tribe of Dan. (Joshua 19:40 – 48). Dan was second to the largest tribe of Judah with threescore and two thousand and seven hundred. (Numbers 1:39) Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Judah, were threescore and fourteen thousand and six hundred. (Numbers 1:27) Although Dan in numbers was second to the largest tribe of Judah, Dan was assigned a smaller inheritance, a much smaller territory than many of the other tribes. (See a connection between Dan (whose name means ‘judge’ and whose prophecy is of ‘the serpent’) and the WAR in heaven was centered around Lucifer’s revolt against ‘Judah’ (‘he who shall be praised’), the Son of God, Christ in His position as Melchisedec, the High Priest of God in the battle for spiritual inheritance.) I sense that we are going to be dealing with many connections between the tribe of Dan, Dan, and the city of Dan with the WAR in heaven and the continued WAR on earth.
  Since the tribe of Dan were unable to successfully battle against the Philistines around them, they, therefore, found themselves being squeezed and crushed by their adversary’s losing territory and settlements daily. Dan’s history is one of weakness to maintain what was theirs rightfully given by God and in their weakness, we also see their refusal to faithfully commit themselves to God’ and to plead for His help. Through the meaning of the name of Dan (‘Judge,’ ‘mighty one,’ and ‘domination’) we see man constantly searching for a position and place where he can become a judge in might, completely dominating the world around him. Now tell me truthfully, Is this not the heart and mind of those who rule over us today?
  If you read nothing else, READ THE FOLLOWING. This is one of the most intriguing and engrossing chapters in the book of Judges. It is rich in types. It is eye opening to the condition of the current church age. It is steeped in understanding the history of man’s innate desire to achieve a place of prominence, and an exalted position of preeminence. This chapter also reveals that the budding nation of Israel was in a dangerous physical and spiritual state. Therefore, you NEED to READ the complete Chapter, and as you read . . . keep this in the back of your mind . . . . how does this chapter connect to the method that Lucifer used in his sanctuaries to attempt a coup d’état against his Creator? Was there a merchandising method employed in this Chapter? And if so, what is the connection to Lucifer’s method of merchandising that brought iniquity into the throne room of God? Allow me to add one more thing to your burden . . . Revelation Chapter 18 connects to Judges Chapter 18 . . . HOW? AND HOW DOES THIS ALL CONNECT TO PURPLE?) Stay focused and read s.l..o…w….l……y.
In those days there was no king in Israel: and in those days the tribe of the Danites sought them an inheritance to dwell in; for unto that day all their inheritance had not fallen unto them among the tribes of Israel. (Judges 18:1)
And the children of Dan sent of their family five men from their coasts, men of valour, from Zorah, and from Eshtaol, to spy out the land, and to search it; and they said unto them, Go, search the land: who when they came to mount Ephraim, to the house of Micah, they lodged there. (Judges 18:2)
When they were by the house of Micah, they knew the voice of the young man the Levite: and they turned in thither, and said unto him, Who brought thee hither? and what makest thou in this place? and what hast thou here? (Judges 18:3)
And he said unto them, Thus and thus dealeth Micah with me, and hath hired me, and I am his priest. (Judges 18:4)
And they said unto him, Ask counsel, we pray thee, of God, that we may know whether our way which we go shall be prosperous. (Judges 18:5)
And the priest said unto them, Go in peace: before the LORD is your way wherein ye go. (Judges 18:6)
Then the five men departed, and came to Laish, and saw the people that were therein, how they dwelt careless, after the manner of the Zidonians, quiet and secure; and there was no magistrate in the land, that might put them to shame in any thing; and they were far from the Zidonians, and had no business with any man. (Judges 18:7)
And they came unto their brethren to Zorah and Eshtaol: and their brethren said unto them, What say ye? (Judges 18:8)
And they said, Arise, that we may go up against them: for we have seen the land, and, behold, it is very good: and are ye still? be not slothful to go, and to enter to possess the land. (Judges 18:9)
When ye go, ye shall come unto a people secure, and to a large land: for God hath given it into your hands; a place where there is no want of any thing that is in the earth. (Judges 18:10)
And there went from thence of the family of the Danites, out of Zorah and out of Eshtaol, six hundred men appointed with weapons of war. (Judges 18:11)
And they went up, and pitched in Kirjathjearim, in Judah: wherefore they called that place Mahanehdan unto this day: behold, it is behind Kirjathjearim. (Judges 18:12)
And they passed thence unto mount Ephraim, and came unto the house of Micah. (Judges 18:13)
Then answered the five men that went to spy out the country of Laish, and said unto their brethren, Do ye know that there is in these houses an ephod, and teraphim, and a graven image, and a molten image? now therefore consider what ye have to do. (Judges 18:14)
And they turned thitherward, and came to the house of the young man the Levite, even unto the house of Micah, and saluted him. (Judges 18:15)
And the six hundred men appointed with their weapons of war, which were of the children of Dan, stood by the entering of the gate. (Judges 18:16)
And the five men that went to spy out the land went up, and came in thither, and took the graven image, and the ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image: and the priest stood in the entering of the gate with the six hundred men that were appointed with weapons of war. (Judges 18:17)
And these went into Micah’s house, and fetched the carved image, the ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image. Then said the priest unto them, What do ye? (Judges 18:18)
And they said unto him, Hold thy peace, lay thine hand upon thy mouth, and go with us, and be to us a father and a priest: is it better for thee to be a priest unto the house of one man, or that thou be a priest unto a tribe and a family in Israel? (Judges 18:19)
And the priest’s heart was glad, and he took the ephod, and the teraphim, and the graven image, and went in the midst of the people. (Judges 18:20)
So they turned and departed, and put the little ones and the cattle and the carriage before them. (Judges 18:21)
And when they were a good way from the house of Micah, the men that were in the houses near to Micah’s house were gathered together, and overtook the children of Dan. (Judges 18:22)
And they cried unto the children of Dan. And they turned their faces, and said unto Micah, What aileth thee, that thou comest with such a company? (Judges 18:23)
And he said, Ye have taken away my gods which I made, and the priest, and ye are gone away: and what have I more? and what is this that ye say unto me, What aileth thee? (Judges 18:24)
And the children of Dan said unto him, Let not thy voice be heard among us, lest angry fellows run upon thee, and thou lose thy life, with the lives of thy household. (Judges 18:25)
And the children of Dan went their way: and when Micah saw that they were too strong for him, he turned and went back unto his house. (Judges 18:26)
And they took the things which Micah had made, and the priest which he had, and came unto Laish, unto a people that were at quiet and secure: and they smote them with the edge of the sword, and burnt the city with fire. (Judges 18:27)
And there was no deliverer, because it was far from Zidon, and they had no business with any man; and it was in the valley that lieth by Bethrehob. And they built a city, and dwelt therein. (Judges 18:28)
And they called the name of the city Dan, after the name of Dan their father, who was born unto Israel: howbeit the name of the city was Laish at the first. (Judges 18:29)
And the children of Dan set up the graven image: and Jonathan, the son of Gershom, the son of Manasseh, he and his sons were priests to the tribe of Dan until the day of the captivity of the land. (Judges 18:30)
And they set them up Micah’s graven image, which he made, all the time that the house of God was in Shiloh. (Judges 18:31)
  I have never gone this way before; I have never ended an article in the middle of the article. So why am I being led to end here? There is so much more that God wants to convey to us through the connection of PURPLE. God’s spiritual universe can neither be quickly summed up in a few pages, nor can it be encircled and tightly held in our hands to be turned and examined through a microscope. His words may appear as simple words, but within each word there is a universe of beauty ever expanding into the unknown. For the true student of the word of God, His word NEVER ends as The Word of God exists in the power of an endless life, so His written word also exists in the power of an endless life. This is a conundrum for the student of the word of God . . . it continually moves and flows into unknown streams revealing more of the beauties and glories of God’s dear Son . . . . it is infinite and boundless as its Author, Eternal Word of God, the Lord Jesus Christ.
  With this ending, I am beginning to wonder how to continue into the follow up article. Oh, well, I KNOW that the Spirit of God will lead the way. So, to those of you who have gotten this far into this article, I have left enough for you to chew on, but hopefully, you will not choke . . . . (how does this chapter of Judges Chapter 18 connect to the method that Lucifer used in his sanctuaries (Ezekiel 28:18) to attempt a coup d’état against his Creator? Was there a merchandising method employed in this Chapter? And if so, what is the connection to Lucifer’s method of merchandising that brought iniquity into the throne room of God? And how does Chapter 18 of the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ connect to the 18th Chapter of the book of Judges? AND HOW DOES THIS ALL CONNECT TO PURPLE?) See you in . . .
Part 2
of
The Woman Arrayed in Purple
from
Men of Renown
Part xxxv
Men of renown is a companion piece to Giants in the Earth series.
© Copyright 2023, Mary Haigh
This article may be used, but not for gain. Freely ye have received, freely give.
All Scripture references are from the King James Bible. (KJV)