By Jim Stockstill
November 3, 2022
Cosmic Geography – The War and The Time of Jacob’s Trouble
There are two Kingdoms we should be concerned with: One of Darkness, and One of Light
Proverbs 25:2-3 “2 It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, But the glory of kings is to search out a matter. 3 As the heavens for height and the earth for depth, So the hearts and minds of kings are unsearchable.”
§ The ancient rabbis explained this as a reference to the countless details of government that are a king’s responsibility. This is one of the reasons we have been talking about government – there are two. The government of the kingdoms of Light and Darkness.
There is an ongoing war between these governments of kingdoms. Good and Evil are in spiritual/Physical realms since the fall of Adam, continue in the fallen angels [which we will talk about] and Nimrod the King of Babel at Shinar.
Bereans, let us look at what Yeshua declared (a declaration of a King to the spiritual realm) when Peter had a revelation of the Messiah by the Holy Spirit.
The Grotto of god Pan
Caesarea Philippi was located north of Galilee, near Mount Hermon, in the region of Bashan and King Og as we will review. That area was known as the place of the serpent and was the center of Greek worship. They believed the half-goat, half-man God Pan, lived in this mystical cave.
Josephus writes “… the place is called Panium, where is a top of a mountain that is raised to an immense height, and at its side, beneath, or at its bottom, a dark cave opens itself; within which there is a horrible precipice, that descends abruptly to a vast depth; it contains a mighty quantity of water, which is immovable; and when anybody lets down anything to measure the depth of the earth beneath the water, no length of the cord is sufficient to reach it.”
Deuteronomy 3:1,4,8,11,13 “1 Then we turned and went up the road toward Bashan, and at Edrei, Og king of Bashan, with all his people came out to meet us in battle. 4 We captured all his cities at that time; there was not a city which we did not take from them: sixty cities, the whole region of Argob, the kingdom of Og in Bashan. 8 “So we took the land at that time from the hand of the two kings [Sihon and Og] of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, from the valley of the Arnon to Mount Hermon. 9 (the Sidonians call Hermon Sirion, and the Amorites call it Senir in 1 Chronicle 5:23): 10 all the cities of the plain and all Gilead and all Bashan, as far as Salecah and Edrei, cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan.” 11 For only Og king of Bashan was left of the remnant of the [the giants known as the] Rephaim. Behold, his bed frame was a bed frame of iron; is it not in Rabbah of the Ammonites? It was nine cubits (12 ft.) long and four cubits (6 ft.) wide, using the cubit of a man [the forearm to the end of the middle finger].) 13 The rest of Gilead and all of Bashan, the kingdom of Og, I gave to the half-tribe of Manasseh, that is, all the region of Argob (concerning all Bashan, it is called the land of Rephaim.”
The geographic area, with the cities and Mount Hermon, was ruled by King Og, the last of the Rephaim [offspring of Nephilim] was considered gateways to the underworld. The imposing cliff [77 yards long and 44 yards high] above the area of Caesarea Philippi is where Jesus took his disciples and made his declaration to the spirit realm.
- Matthew 16:18-20 “18 And I say to you that you are Peter [G 4074: Petros – a small, detached stone], and on this rock [G 4073: Petra – cliff, ledge, and bedrock or a huge rock] I will build My church; and the gates of Hades (death) will not overpower it [by preventing the resurrection of the Christ]. 19 I will give you the keys (authority) of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind [forbid, declare to be improper and unlawful] on earth will have [already] been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose [permit, declare lawful] on earth will have [already] been loosed in heaven.” 20 Then He gave the disciples strict orders to tell no one that He was the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed).
- Later, as we studied last week, Peter refers believers to as “living stones,” 1 Peter 2:5-6
- Build [G 3618]: from the ground up.
- Church [G 1577]: Ekklesia. Finally, to this point after all the teaching. The whole body of Christians scattered throughout the earth; collectively, all who worship and honor God and Christ in whatever place they may be.
- Gates [G 4439] (10x): The gates of hell (likened to a vast prison). Metaphor – access or entrance into any state.
- Hell [G 86] (11x): The grave, death, hades.
- Overpower (actual Prevail Against) [G 2729] (2x): Meaning, ‘not even the gates of Hades — than which nothing was supposed to be stronger — shall surpass the church in strength.
The significance of the setting cannot be minimized: Jesus is taking the fight directly to the symbolic stronghold of Satan’s kingdom. So, when he says, “Upon this rock, I will build my church,” that phrase is filled with meaning, referring to both Peter’s confession and Mount Hermon. Quoting Michael Heiser, “Gates are defensive structures, not offensive weapons. The Kingdom of God is the aggressor. Jesus begins at ground zero in the cosmic geography of both testaments to announce the great reversal. It is the gates of hell that are under assault—and they will not hold up against the Church. Hell will one day be Satan’s tomb.”
Psychosis and Psychotic Episodes:
Psychosis is a condition that affects the way your brain processes information. It causes you to lose touch with reality. You might see, hear, or believe things that are not real. Psychosis is a symptom, not an illness. It can be triggered by a mental illness, a physical injury or illness, substance abuse, or extreme stress or trauma.
Psychotic disorders, like schizophrenia, involve psychosis that usually affects you for the first time in the late teen years or early adulthood. Young people are especially likely to get it, but doctors do not know why. Even before what doctors call the first episode of psychosis (FEP), you may show slight changes in the way you act or think. This is called the prodromal period and could last days, weeks, months, or even years. Sometimes you can lose touch with reality even when you don’t have a primary psychotic illness such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. When this happens, it is called secondary psychosis.
These episodes stem from something else, like drug use or a medical condition. Whatever the reason, they tend to disappear in a brief time, and they often stay away if you treat the condition that caused them.
Symptoms of Psychosis
Psychosis does not suddenly start. It usually follows this pattern:
- Warning signs before psychosis: It starts with gradual changes in the way you think about and understand the world. You or your family members may notice:
- A drop in grades or job performance
- Trouble thinking clearly or concentrating
- Suspiciousness or unease around others
- Lack of self-care or hygiene
- Spending more time alone than usual
- Stronger emotions than situations call for
- No emotions at all
- Signs of early psychosis: You may:
- Hear, see, or taste things others do not
- Hang on to unusual beliefs or thoughts, no matter what others say
- Pull away from family and friends
- Stop taking care of yourself
- Not be able to think clearly or pay attention
- Symptoms of a psychotic episode: Usually you will notice all of the above plus:
- Hallucinations:
- Auditory hallucinations: Hearing voices when no one is around
- Tactile hallucinations: Strange sensations or feelings you cannot explain
- Visual hallucinations: You see people or things that are not there, or you think the shape of things looks wrong
- Delusions: Beliefs that are not in line with your culture and that do not make sense to others, like:
- Outside forces are in control of your feelings and actions.
- Small events or comments have huge meanings.
- You have special powers, are on a special mission, or are a god.
- Hallucinations:
- Mental illness: Hearing voices is very common with schizophrenia. The voices may seem to come from inside your head or outside, like from the TV. And they could argue with you, tell you what to do, or just describe what is happening. It can sometimes happen with other mental illnesses as well, including:
- Bipolar disorder
- Borderline personality disorder
- Major depressive disorder
- Posttraumatic stress disorder(PTSD)
- Schizoaffective disorder
The terms and definitions are only a reference to actual spiritual events as recorded in the Bible and many other sources. The treatment is often horrendous.
Dr. Freeman who invented lobotomies
As early as the 16th century, doctors also performed intense surgeries on patients exhibiting mental health concerns. Historical documents show that these surgeries often involved invasive measures, such as creating holes in one’s skull. During this time, non-surgical approaches to treatment also began to surface. However, these methods also had serious repercussions on patients. In many scenarios, these treatments worked at a socioeconomic level to shut out mentally ill people from society. For example, people with mental illnesses would often find themselves in jail and would never receive proper treatment in their new lives as convicted criminals. Before the 18th century societal removal also included lifetime internment in mental hospitals that often became cruel environments of isolation.
The Mysterious Rhoda Derry
It was during her stay at the Alms House that Rhoda began to become very violent and had to be restrained on numerous occasions. At one point, she claimed she had seen “Old Scratch” and proceeded to blind herself to make the visions stop. She then lived in a world of darkness, but her violent streaks continued. The staff at the Alms House felt Rhoda was a danger to both herself and the other patients so they decided to restrain her by placing her in a box covered with a canvas tarp. She could not escape this wooden prison and was confined to it for forty years. Her limbs shriveled due to lack of exercise and when she was finally released from the box, she began to walk with her hands because her legs had atrophied.
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/the-mysterious-rhoda-derry#/
What are not mental issues:
Luke 8:26-33 “26 Then they sailed to the country of the Gerasene’s, which is east of Galilee. 27 Now when Jesus stepped out on land, He was met by a man from the city [of Gerasa] who was possessed by demons. For a long time, he had worn no clothes and was not living in a house but among the tombs. 28 Seeing Jesus, he cried out [with a terrible voice from the depths of his throat] and fell before Him [in dread and terror], and shouted, ‘What business do we have [in common] with each other, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You, do not torment me [before the appointed time of judgment].” 29 Now He was [already] commanding the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For it had seized him [violently] many times, and he was kept under guard and bound with chains and shackles, but he would break the bonds and be driven by the demon into the desert. 30 Then Jesus asked him, ‘What is your name? And he answered, ‘Legion’ [5,200 – 5,600 infantry and 300 Cavalry: Wikipedia] because many demons had entered him. 31 They continually begged Him not to command them to go into the abyss. 32 Now a large herd of pigs was feeding there on the mountain. The demons begged Jesus to allow them to enter the pigs, and He permitted them. 33 Then the demons came out of the man and entered the pigs; and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.”
- With this example, we can reasonably state that with the power [G 1411: (doonamis) power for performing miracles] of the Holy Spirit a member of the Ecclesia could not command a brain, abnormality, or psychosis to go into a herd of swine/pigs.
Luke 11:24-26 “24 When the unclean spirit comes out of a person, it roams through waterless places [disembodied spirits from the flood – upcoming session] in search [of a place] of rest; and not finding any, it says, ‘I will go back to my house (person) from which I came.’ 25 And when it comes, it finds the place swept and put in order. 26 Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil [G 4191 (2x): wicked] than itself, and they go in [the person] and live there, and the last state of that person becomes worse than the first.”
Acts 19:13-16 “13 Then some of the traveling Jewish exorcists also attempted to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, ‘I implore you and solemnly command you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.’ 14 Seven sons of one [named] Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. 15 But the evil spirit retorted, ‘I know and recognize and acknowledge Jesus, and I know about Paul, but as for you, who are you?’ 16 Then the man, in whom was the evil spirit, leaped on them and subdued all of them and overpowered them so that they ran out of that house [in terror, stripped] naked and wounded.”
- While a man with psychosis or schizophrenia may be able to overpower and beat and tear the clothes off of seven men, the answer of knowing about Paul and acknowledging Jesus makes it unlikely. When dealing with exorcisms in the past, the ability to make particular body movements, changing vocalization, the sudden stench of sulfur, speaking in a foreign language, or a type of garbled demonic language certainly did not seem to be within the theory or evaluation of a mental disorder.
Jesus: walking on water, disguise (miraculously not recognized), eating, etc.
Water Walker
Mathew 14:25-27 “25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said and cried out in fear. 27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage. It is I AM. Do not be afraid.”
- Matthew, Mark, and John, three of Jesus’ disciples, recounted the story but Luke was not a disciple of Jesus during his earthly ministry, so his gospel does not mention that Jesus walked on the lake.
The Road to Emmaus
[Miraculously not Recognizable and Disappears]
Luke 24:1,12 “1 But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, the women went to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared [to finish anointing the body]. 12 But Peter got up and ran to the tomb. Stooping [at the small entrance] and looking in, he saw only the linen wrappings; and he went away, wondering about what had happened.”
Luke 24:13-21 “13 And then, that very day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 And they were talking with each other about all these things which had taken place. 15 While they were talking and discussing it, Jesus Himself came up and began walking with them. 16 But their eyes were [miraculously] prevented from recognizing Him. 17 Then Jesus asked them, “What are you discussing with one another as you walk along?” And they stood still, looking brokenhearted. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, answered Him, “Are you the only stranger visiting Jerusalem who is unaware of the things which have happened here in these [recent] days?” 19 He asked, “What things?” And they replied, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet powerful in deed and word in the sight of God and all the people, 20 and how the chief priests and our rulers handed Him over to be sentenced to death and crucified Him. 21 But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel and set our nation free. Indeed, besides all this, it is the third day since these things happened.”
Luke 24:25-32 “25 Then Jesus said to them, “O foolish men, and slow of heart to trust and believe in everything that the prophets have spoken. 26 Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and [only then to] enter His glory?” 27 Then beginning with Moses and [throughout] all the [writings of the] prophets, He explained and interpreted for them the things referring to Himself [found] in all the Scriptures. 28 Then they approached the village where they were going, and He acted as if He were going farther. 29 But they urged Him [not to go on], saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening, and the day has just about ended.” So, He went inside to stay with them. 30 And it happened that as He reclined at the table with them, He took the bread and blessed it, and breaking it, He began giving it to them. 31 Then their eyes were [suddenly] opened [by God] and they [clearly] recognized Him, and He vanished from their sight.”
Suddenly Appears (Jesus)
Luke 24:36-43 “36 While they were talking about this, Jesus Himself [suddenly] stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be to you.’ 37 But they were startled and terrified and thought that they were seeing a spirit [Ghost]. 38 And He said, ‘Why are you troubled, and why are doubts rising in your hearts? 39 Look at [the marks in] My hands and My feet, [and see] that it is I [Myself]. Touch Me and see; a spirit [G 4151] does not have flesh and bones, as you see that I have.’ 40 After saying this, He showed them His hands and His feet. 41 While they still did not believe it because of their joy and amazement, He asked them, ‘Do you have anything here to eat?’ 42 They gave Him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and He took it and ate it in front of them.”
John 20:19-23 “19 So when it was evening on that same day, the first day of the week, though the disciples were [meeting] behind barred doors for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them, and said, ‘Peace to you.’ 20 After He said this, He showed them His hands and His side. When the disciples saw the Lord, they were filled with extraordinary joy. 21 Then Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace to you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you [as My representatives].’ 22 And when He said this, He breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of anyone they are forgiven [because of their faith]; if you retain the sins of anyone, they are retained [and remain unforgiven because of their unbelief].’
John 20:24-25 “24 But Thomas, one of the twelve [disciples], who was called Didymus (the twin), was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples kept telling him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the marks of the nails, and put my finger into the nail prints, and put my hand into His side, I will never believe.”
John 20:26-29 “26 Eight days later His disciples were again inside the house, and Thomas was with them. Jesus came through the doors which had been barred, and stood among them and said, ‘Peace to you.’ 27 Then He said to Thomas, ‘Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and put out your hand and place it in My side. Do not be unbelieving, but [stop doubting and] believe.’ 28 Thomas answered Him, ‘My Lord and my God.’ 29 Jesus said to him, ‘Because you have seen Me, do you now believe? Blessed are they who did not see [Me] and yet believed [in Me].’”
John 21:4-14 “4 As morning was breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; however, the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 So Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish [to eat along with your bread]?” They answered, “No.” 6 And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right-hand side of the boat and you will find some.” So, they cast [the net], and then they were not able to haul it in because of the great catch of fish. 7 Then that disciple (John) whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord.” So, when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer tunic and threw himself into the sea [and swam ashore]. 8 But the other disciples came in the small boat, for they were not far from shore, only about a hundred yards away, dragging the net full of fish. 9 So when they got out on the beach, they saw a charcoal fire set up and fish on it cooking, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish which you have just caught.” 11 So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net to land, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three [of them]; and although there were so many, the net was not torn.”
Jesus Appears on the Beach
12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared to ask Him, “Who are You?” They knew that it was the Lord. 13 Jesus took the bread and gave it to them, and likewise the fish. 14 This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after He had risen from the dead.”
The Apocrypha Books
The Apocrypha is a collection of pre-New Testament works by Jewish writers, many collected in the Septuagint, a Greek translation of Hebrew texts including the 39 canonical [authorized] books of the Old Testament. These books are considered Scripture by the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church, but not by Protestant denominations.
There are a number of councils throughout early church history where church leaders discussed what books were divinely inspired and part of the Old Testament or the New Testament. While the alleged “later Gospels” (or Gnostic Gospels) were consistently rejected and not included in the New Testament, a variety of councils, perhaps most notably the Council of Hippo in 393, included apocryphal books in the Old Testament.
During the fourth century, the most notable objection to the Apocrypha came from St. Jerome when he was translating the Septuagint into Latin. While comparing the Septuagint with earlier Hebrew manuscripts, Jerome concluded there was a problem with the Apocrypha and advised against considering them as Scripture. Others disagreed, and the Council of Rome in 382 included the Apocrypha in its list of canonical Scripture. The Council of Trent (which took place over multiple meetings from 1545 and 1563) reiterated that the Roman Catholic Church considered the Apocrypha to be canonical Scripture.
When the Protestant Reformation took place, Martin Luther released his German Bible translation with the Apocrypha as a separate section. Luther believed the Apocrypha “are not considered equal to the Holy Scriptures but are useful and good to read.” Most Protestant denominations (including high church denominations like the Church of England) have agreed with this stance. There are a variety of minor denominations (such as the Ethiopian Orthodox Church) which have their own opinions about the matter, some holding individual apocryphal works as Scripture.
Tobit – Raphael
Tobit 5:4-8 “4 But go now, and seek thee out some faithful man, to go with thee for his hire: that thou mayst receive it, while I yet live. 5 Then Tobias going forth, found a beautiful young man, standing girded, and as it were ready to walk. 6 And not knowing that he was an angel of God, he saluted him, and said: From whence art thou, good young man? 7 But he answered: Of the children of Israel. And Tobias said to him: do you know the way that leadeth to the country of the Medes? 8 And he answered: I know it: and I have often walked through all the ways thereof…”
Tobit 12: 11-22 “11 I discover then the truth unto you, and I will not hide the secret from you. 12 When thou didst pray with tears, and didst bury the dead, and didst leave thy dinner, and hide the dead by day in thy house, and bury them by night, I offered thy prayer to the Lord. 13 And because you are acceptable to God temptation was needed to prove thee. 14 And now the Lord hath sent me to heal thee, and to deliver Sara thy son’s wife from the devil. 15 For I am the angel Raphael, one of the seven, who stand before the Lord. 16 And when they had heard these things, they were troubled and being seized with fear they fell upon the ground on their face. 17 And the angel said to them: Peace be to you, fear not. 18 For when I was with you, I was there by the will of God: bless ye him and sing praises to him. 19 I seemed to eat and to drink with you: but I use an invisible meat and drink, which cannot be seen by men. 20 It is time therefore that I return to him that sent me: but bless ye God and publish all his wonderful works. 21 And when he had said these things, he was taken from their sight, and they could see him no more. 22 Then they were lying prostrate for three hours upon their face, blessed God: and rising, they told all his wonderful works.
2 Esdras: Responding to the Scribe and Priest Ezra
2 Esdras 4:1-6 “1 The angel Uriel, who had been sent to me, replied, 2 “You can’t even understand what happens in this world. Do you think you can understand the ways of God Most High?” 3 “Yes, sir, I do.” I answered. The angel continued, “I have been sent to ask you to solve three riddles about what happens in this world. 4 If you can explain even one of them to me, I will answer your questions about God’s ways and teach you why the human race has an evil impulse.” 5 “I agree, sir,” I said. Then he said to me, “Good. How do you weigh out a pound of fire? How do you measure a bushel of wind? How do you bring back a day that has passed?” 6 I answered, “Why do you ask me such questions? No human being could answer them.”
Invisible Power of the Heavenly [spirit] Realm [Dimension]
Colossians 1:15-20 “15 He is the exact living image [the essential manifestation] of the unseen God [the visible representation of the invisible], the firstborn [the preeminent one, the sovereign, and the originator] of all creation. 16 For by [In] Him all things were created in heaven and on earth, [things] visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities; all things were created and exist through Him and for Him. 17 And He [Himself] existed and is before all things, and in Him, all things hold together. 18 He is also the head [the life-source and leader] of the body, the church [past, present, and future]; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead so that He [Himself] will occupy the first place [He will stand supreme and be preeminent] in everything. 19 For it pleased the Father for all the fullness [of deity] to dwell [permanently] in Him (the Son), 20 and through [the intervention of] the Son to reconcile all things to Himself, making peace [with believers] through the blood of His cross; through Him, [I say,] whether things on earth or things in heaven.” [AMP]
Colossians 1:16 “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him.” [KJV]
- Thrones [G 2362]: To judges i.e., tribunal or bench. Elders. One who holds dominion or exercises authority, thus in the plural of angels:
- Dominions [G 2962] (3x): Used of Angels. Dominion, power, lordship. (Ephesians 1:21 and Jude 1:8]
- Principalities [G 746] – [Rulers AMP]: the first place, principality, rule, magistracy [cf. English ‘authorities’]: Luke 12:11; Luke 20:20; Titus 3:1. Office given in charge (Genesis 40:13, 21; 2 Macc. 4:10, etc.), Jude 1:6. Hence the term is transferred by Paul to angels and demons holding dominions entrusted to them in the order of things.
- Powers [G 1849] – [Authorities AMP]: The leading and more powerful among created beings superior to man, spiritual potentates; used in the plural of a certain class of angels. 1 Peter 3:22
1 Peter 3:22 “Who is gone into heaven and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.” [KJV]
- God [G 2316] Theh’os: The Godhead Trinity. The Supreme Being.
- Angels [G 32] Angelos: Envoy or messenger of God
- Authorities [G 1849] Power above.
- Powers [G 1411] Angels, as excelling in power, are called [δυνάμεις]: dúnamis or dynámeis – power, a level of angels.
Blessings in Christ,
Joseph “Jim” Stockstill 
“National War Council” – Founder and Chairman
Jim5555@nationalwarcouncil.org
P.O. Box 931
Argyle, TX 76226
nwc@nationalwarcouncil.org
Jim5555@nationalwarcouncil.org
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“The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.”
Mark Twain
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