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Trust me when I say that, just like the Patriarchs and the Saints of old, we are truly not of this world. We are like spiritual gypsies who are traveling on the road to Eternal Life; a road which will eventually lead us to a much better place in the Kingdom of Heaven. Therefore, nothing in this current world will ever truly satisfy our hearts and spirits. Wealth, fame, prestige, a great job, an abundance of physical possessions, a sexy girlfriend; it is all meaningless, and merely the unsatisfying enticements of the god of this world, who seeks to ensnare us in his deceptive trap. Consider the following verses:

"No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon."


"If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you."


"And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away."


"While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal."


"Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,"


"If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth."


"But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession; That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:"


"No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier."


"Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God."


"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world."


The fact that the ancient Patriarchs were traveling nomads and shepherds who dwelt in tents should not be overlooked; because it is a clear reflection of our own spiritual status upon this Earth. Even the Ark of the Covenant was originally carried about and kept in a tent -- the Tabernacle -- and God was quite happy with that. As I explain in "Who is Babylon the Great?", at the time that King David petitioned the Lord to build a Temple in His honor, the king was living in a cedar home, while the Ark of the Covenant was still kept in a tabernacle, or tent. Thus, while David's intentions were good in wanting to build a Temple to house the Ark, as we read in the following verses, this was not what the Lord wanted done. In fact, He questioned David regarding why he wanted to build a Temple when the Lord had never required it of him:

"Go and tell my servant David, Thus saith the LORD, Shalt thou build me an house for me to dwell in? Whereas I have not dwelt in any house since the time that I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt, even to this day, but have walked in a tent and in a tabernacle. In all the places wherein I have walked with all the children of Israel spake I a word with any of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people Israel, saying, Why build ye not me an house of cedar?"


It is rather clear from the above verses that the Lord only wanted to dwell in the midst of the people; that is, in the Spiritual Temple of their hearts. He wanted to be a living God to the Israelites, and not a dead god who is bound by time and place in a physical structure, as was the custom of the heathen nations. It is also quite evident to me that the Lord purposely wanted to impress upon the ancient Hebrews -- the "ones from beyond" -- that this world was not their home. By having them live in tents, and travel about with their herds, He ensured that they did not become too attached to this present world and all of its materialistic enticements. After all, one can only carry around so much on camels and mules.

As I likewise explain in such articles as "The Psalm 83 War False Doctrine Exposed!", once the ancient Israelites did settle down in Canaan, once they demanded that the Prophet Samuel provide them with an earthly king -- Saul -- just like the heathen nations around them, once they began to establish their own cities and towns, once they began to acquire more physical possessions, that is when they really began to slide into deep apostasy. In reality, they had already been having such problems from the time that they were liberated from Egypt; but just the simple fact that they stopped moving and living in tents, and began to depend more on themselves than on the Lord, only made the rate of their apostasy increase. Is it any surprise then that by the time King Solomon reached old age, he had begun to worship the false gods of the nations around them? Consider these verses:

"But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites; Of the nations concerning which the LORD said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love. And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart. For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father. For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. And Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD, and went not fully after the LORD, as did David his father. Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon. And likewise did he for all his strange wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods. And the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the LORD God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice, And had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods: but he kept not that which the LORD commanded. Wherefore the LORD said unto Solomon, Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded thee, I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant. Notwithstanding in thy days I will not do it for David thy father’s sake: but I will rend it out of the hand of thy son. Howbeit I will not rend away all the kingdom; but will give one tribe to thy son for David my servant’s sake, and for Jerusalem’s sake which I have chosen."


In the very next chapter of the First Book of the Kings, we discover exactly what mechanism God used to fulfill the above prophecy. Upon King Solomon's death, his son Rehoboam rose to the throne of Israel. He would be the last king to rule over a united Israel for many centuries to come. In reading chapter twelve, we discover that the mechanism which God used to bring about His Divine Decree concerning Israel, was tragically the youthful foolishness of the young king, as is clearly revealed in the following verses:

"And Rehoboam went to Shechem: for all Israel were come to Shechem to make him king. And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who was yet in Egypt, heard of it, (for he was fled from the presence of king Solomon, and Jeroboam dwelt in Egypt;) That they sent and called him. And Jeroboam and all the congregation of Israel came, and spake unto Rehoboam, saying, Thy father made our yoke grievous: now therefore make thou the grievous service of thy father, and his heavy yoke which he put upon us, lighter, and we will serve thee. And he said unto them, Depart yet for three days, then come again to me. And the people departed. And king Rehoboam consulted with the old men, that stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, and said, How do ye advise that I may answer this people? And they spake unto him, saying, If thou wilt be a servant unto this people this day, and wilt serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be thy servants for ever. But he forsook the counsel of the old men, which they had given him, and consulted with the young men that were grown up with him, and which stood before him: And he said unto them, What counsel give ye that we may answer this people, who have spoken to me, saying, Make the yoke which thy father did put upon us lighter? And the young men that were grown up with him spake unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou speak unto this people that spake unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it lighter unto us; thus shalt thou say unto them, My little finger shall be thicker than my father's loins. And now whereas my father did lade you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke: my father hath chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions. So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king had appointed, saying, Come to me again the third day. And the king answered the people roughly, and forsook the old men's counsel that they gave him; And spake to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke: my father also chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions. Wherefore the king hearkened not unto the people; for the cause was from the LORD, that he might perform his saying, which the LORD spake by Ahijah the Shilonite unto Jeroboam the son of Nebat. So when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: to your tents, O Israel: now see to thine own house, David. So Israel departed unto their tents. But as for the children of Israel which dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them. Then king Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was over the tribute; and all Israel stoned him with stones, that he died. Therefore king Rehoboam made speed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem. So Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day."


Please notice in the previous verses that we are told that "the cause was from the LORD". In other words, God actually put it in Rehoboam's heart to make such a foolish mistake, because He had already decreed that the kingdom was to be rent from Rehoboam, due to his father Solomon's blatant sin of disobedience and backslidden condition.

This is just one example of how bad the situation became in Israel, after the ancient Hebrews -- or Israelites -- forsook their nomadic life in tents, settled down, and became just as materialistic and self-satisfied as the world around them. In articles such as "The Fruits of Disobedience" I go into quite a bit of detail regarding how the Lord was forced to deal with His backslidden children time and time again -- quite often by raising up enemies against them -- and yet they never seemed to learn for very long. Prior to the destruction of Solomon's Temple by the forces of Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar, the Lord issued this stinging rebuke through the mouth of the Prophet Jeremiah:

"And I brought you into a plentiful country, to eat the fruit thereof and the goodness thereof; but when ye entered, ye defiled my land, and made mine heritage an abomination."


To reiterate what I stated earlier, the fact that the ancient Hebrews traveled about as nomads and shepherds who dwelt in tents should not be overlooked; because it is a reflection of our own status upon this Earth. Just like them, we must also recognize that we are spiritual nomads upon this Earth, and that this planet is not our final resting stop, destination or home.

Furthermore, as I also mention in such articles as "The True Tabernacle of God", we are told in the Scriptures that our physical bodies are the temples and tabernacles -- or tents -- within which God's Spirit resides. This message is so very clear in the Bible, yet so many people are either ignorant of this wonderful fact, or else they purposely choose to ignore it, because they prefer to build their cold, dead churches, temples and mosques. Not only does God's Word inform us that our bodies are the temples of His Spirit, but it also reveals to us how someday we will abandon this weak tabernacle of the flesh, in order that we might inhabit a body very similar to that of Jesus Christ Himself. The Apostle Paul refers to it as "our house which is from heaven", as we see by the verses below:

"What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's."


"But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us."


"For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him."


"And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty."


"Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance; Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me."


"Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:"


"Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:"


"For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren."


"Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself."


"Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is."


"There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed."


It should be clear to you then that we have a higher calling in Heaven, where God the Father and the Lamb have prepared wonderful things for us which we cannot possibly even begin to imagine. You must be "one from beyond" -- a Hebrew of the Spirit -- who has grasped the Heavenly Vision, in order to even begin to understand these marvellous truths. As is written:

"In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."


"But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him."


So tell me; like the Patriarchs of old, and the Saints of old, are you a true Hebrew of the Spirit? Do you truly have the forward-looking Heavenly Vision? Are you looking beyond this current life? Do you have your feet set firmly on the Path of Salvation? Are your eyes looking directly ahead upon Jesus Christ who is the Author and the Finisher of our Faith, and who will lead us to our final goal and destination? May you be greatly encouraged by the following verses:

"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us. Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith: who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds."


"Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee. Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil."


"Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."


"Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore."


"But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day . . . Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established."


One man in particular who clearly was a Hebrew -- or "one from beyond" -- and who grasped the forward-looking Heavenly Vision, was the Apostle Paul. In fact, in his Epistle to the brethren at Philippi, Paul outright declares that he is a "Hebrew of the Hebrews". He was clearly looking beyond this current life and was running the race with patience, as we see by the following verses:

"Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown: but we an incorruptible: I therefore so run, not as uncertainly: so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway."


"Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain."


"Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee . . . Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."


"For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing."


Like Paul, are you also running the race with patience? Do you have your eyes set upon the goal? Brethren, His reward is in His hand, and He is ready, willing and able to give it to you, but the prize is only given to the winners. But be glad, because we are all more than winners and conquerors through Jesus Christ our Lord. He has already run the race Himself, and He knows the enemy's tricks, traps, dangers and pitfalls; so please keep your eyes on Him, and finish your course with patience and perseverance, and you will not be ashamed. You will reap if you faint not. Consider these inspiring verses:

"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."


"Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us."


"And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not."


". . . be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life."


"And, behold, I come quickly: and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be."


With these thoughts, I will bring this article to a close. It is my hope that you have found it informative, enlightening, and I pray that it has been a blessing in your life as well. If you have an account with Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr or with any other social network, I would really appreciate if you'd take the time to click or tap on the corresponding link that is found on this page. Thanks so much, and may God bless you abundantly!

For additional information and further study, you may want to refer to the list of reading resources below which were either mentioned in this article, or which contain topics which are related to this article. All of these articles are likewise located on the Bill's Bible Basics web server. To read these articles, simply click or tap on any link you see below.

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