Kingdom Come

“I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation…the faith which was once delivered unto the saints…

Woe unto them [that]…have gone in the way of Cain…Enoch ALSO, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, To execute judgment upon all…ungodly sinners….

To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.” (Jude 1)

Archeology has uncovered documents recording complex subject matters dating approximately a thousand years before Noah’s flood. We can be certain that God’s rulers Adam, Enoch, Noah, Shem, Abraham and Joseph – responsible for keeping the Egyptian world empire’s records – most certainly also kept records of God’s word to mankind.

Job’s address as the land of” Uz” (Job 1:1), one of Shem’s grandsons, his herding lifestyle in what soon became a heavily urbanized area, his experience with the pre-urbanized raiding Chaldeans, and his long lifespan estimated at about 200 years dates him as living during the formative stages of post-flood civilization prior to Moses’ compilation of Genesis. He was not an Israelite. He undoubtedly crossed paths with Shem and Eber, possibly with Abraham who lived 175 years during this same time frame.

Job is the archetype of every psychologically tormented individual who questions the nature of God and his relationship to humanity. He asks the questions every single individual needs to find out. “Are you there? What are you like? Do I matter to you? Can you get me out of this mess I’m in from breaking fundamental laws of human nature (AKA sin)? Is there a purpose to my existence? Is there life after death?”

“I have sinned; what shall I do unto thee, O thou preserver of men? why hast thou set me as a mark against thee, so that I am a burden to myself? And why dost thou not pardon my transgression, and take away my iniquity? for now shall I sleep in the dust; and thou shalt seek me in the morning, but I shall not be.” (Job 7:17-21)

Job proves to us that the way of salvation in their religion in ancient times was exactly the same as that known to us under the terms of our formalized experience of religion in modern times – conviction of sin, repentance and asking forgiveness.

Job’s majestic poem reaches far beyond the feeble efforts of the Epic of Gilgamesh or the Norse tale of Beowulf and teaches a much more fundamental truth than the lame lesson usually drawn from it of how to respond to suffering.

While you’re at it, note the classic poetic drama medium of Job’s account, which was still popular centuries later in Greek plays. and even during Shakespeare’s productions.

What percentage of the ancient population was literate do you think? Envision a live production just like the Epic of Gilgamesh or The Odyssey or Beowulf would have been passed down in the millennia before we had television.

Put some life into it! To help, I’m functioning as the choragos with the italicized headings to the narration, and I’ve left out all the clutter of the chapter and verse references.

Bildad advises Job to find an end to his suffering by consulting the sages from the classical civilization – exemplified by ancient Egypt – preceding their post-apocalyptic dark age. (Obviously, this could only be done through their writings carried through the flood.)

Then answered Bildad the Shuhite…enquire, I pray thee, of the former age, and prepare thyself to the search of their fathers / authorities, instructors…Shall not they teach thee, and tell thee, and utter words out of their heart [as we are taught by Job’s words uttered out of his heart and written down]? 

Job meditates on Eliphaz’s pitiless advise

If God will not withdraw his anger [referencing Enoch’s writings], the proud helpers  [fallen angels, even as powerful and equally hyper dimensional as they are] do stoop under him. How much less shall I answer him, and choose out my words to reason with him?

Then Job remembers how the wicked angels got righteous Enoch to intercede for them.

[Hmmmm] Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer – but! [instead] – I would make supplication [have an advocate plead on my behalf] to my judge.

Job sinks back into self-pity and despair

[After all,] If I had called, and he had answered me; yet would I not believe that he had hearkened unto my voice…For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, and we should come together in judgment. Neither is there any daysman / adjudicator,  betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both [to pronounce judgment in the conflict].”

Not fair! There should be a jury of my peers! 

Hast thou [God] eyes of flesh? or seest thou as man seeth? Are thy days as the days of man? are thy years as man’s days? 

Enter El-i-hu, “He (hu) is my (i) God (El)”

Then was kindled the wrath of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the kindred of Ram:  [unequivocally establishes he is human] against Job was his wrath kindled, because he justified himself rather than God. Also against his three friends was his wrath kindled, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job...

Elihu reminds Job that God DOES understand the human condition because he is IN man via his spirit.

And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said [pointing his finger in outrage]…there IS a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding…The spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.

Oh you want an arbitrator, do you? Let’s do it!

If thou canst answer me, set thy words in order before me, stand up [like a man, you wuss!]. Behold, I am according to thy wish in God’s stead: I also am formed out of the clay. 

But I’m taking God’s side – Prosecuting Attorney!

Surely thou hast spoken in mine hearing, and I have heard the voice of thy words, saying, [with lower lip pouting, mocking whiney voice] “I am clean without transgression, I am innocent; neither is there iniquity in me”…[Changes to thundering tone of voice] Behold, in this thou art not just!: I will answer thee, that God is greater than man…

Elihu mockingly throws Job’s words back at him

For God speaketh once, yea twice [euphemism for multiple], yet man perceiveth it not…

But where were YOU when his prophets – like Shem – spoke for him?!

If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his [God’s] uprightness: Then he [God] is gracious unto him, and saith,

• Deliver him from going down to the pit: [salvation!]
• I have found a ransom. [redemption!]
• His flesh shall be fresher than a child’s: [resurrection!] 
• he shall return to the days of his youth [be born again!]: 
• He shall pray unto God, and he will be favourable unto him: he will render unto man his [God’s] righteousness. [restoration!]

He looketh upon men, and if any say, [unlike anything you’ve said so far, Job!]  I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not; He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light. 

This has been witnessed by HOW MANY HUMANS Job? Aren’t you listening?

Lo, all these things worketh God oftentimes with man, To bring back his soul from the pit, to be enlightened with the light of the living. 

You are treading on thin ice, Job.

Job hath spoken without knowledge, and his words were without wisdom. My desire is that Job may be tried unto the end [given time to rethink / repent] because of his answers for wicked men. For he addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth his hands among us, and multiplieth his words against God. 

Enter God.

Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.

Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding…

Significantly – most significantly – God responds to Job’s by directing Job’s attention to his attribute / name of Creator beginning in chapter 38. Notice how it parallels the account of creation in Genesis 1. 

Or who shut up the sea with doors…And brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors, And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?

Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know his place; That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it?

Have the gates of death been opened unto thee?

Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail, Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war?

Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion? Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons? Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth?…

Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? he that reproveth God, let him answer it…

Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous?

Job is put in his place. Anyone who is going to enter into a relationship with Almighty God has to start by acknowledging his infinite power to Create and Recreate ourselves and a world that was made for us that is not only Being but Becoming under humanity’s development of the ability to take dominion through unity with the Creator. 

Then Job answered the LORD, and said,

• “I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not. 
• I know [now] that thou canst do every thing”
  • even deliver me from evil, for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory (Matthew 6:13)
  • and keep me from falling, and to present me faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy (Jude 1:24)…
• Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” (Job 42:1-7)

Job had previously “known about” God, but now he “knows God.” Job’s personal experience brought him into a personal relationship with “the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.” Jude 1:25)

So it must be with every person who would be in a righteous relationship with God.

“And it was so, that after the LORD had spoken these words unto Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath.” Job 42:7)

The known world proves the existence, power and nature of a Creator, in whom we then choose, or not, to place our faith for the unknowable and uncontrollable aspects of our own lives. The opposite of faith is rebellious determined blindness against a Creator’s evident power and authority.

“The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.” (Psalm 19:1-3)

Our faith in God starts with accepting that he is the Creator and Lord of all, develops through listening to his messengers like Eli-hu / My God-he is],  but must progress beyond that to a personal repentance of our resistance to, and a conversion to submission to his authority, which is the only possible right-eous relationship we can have with him.

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools.

And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind…Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.” (Romans 1:16-32)

The most foolish imagination is thinking that becoming a free spirit independent of the Creator is A Good Thing. But as Sellar and Yeatman allude so subtly in their historic text 1066 And All That, this may not in fact be such a good thing.

Who wants to be free when the Titanic is sinking?

“Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book! [As a sure testimony in the day of judgment.] That they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock for ever! [As was Cyrus the Great’s last words.] For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God [resurrection]: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me…Then Job answered the LORD and said…I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent...” (Job 19:23-27)

“the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be…?” (II Peter 3:10-11)

Someone who identifies with, connects with, carries out the LORD God of Creation’s mandate according to his instructions.