2-- Pfhl 310-- For Intimate Communion With God

Preparation for Heavenly Living Correspondence School http://www.geocities.com/bibleloverbill PFHL Course 310-- Upward For Intimate Communion with God for Intercessory Purposes (by Bill Stevenson) Directions:

Use the Bible passages to carefully answer the questions. This assignment is worth 4 units, so write at least 7 quality pages (single spaced lines). Lessons from Mount Sinai Exodus 19

True prayer is more for the needs of others than for ourselves, and requires special preparation by concerned, compassionate individuals who are called to be intercessors. The best place to commune with God is to mentally place ourselves on the mount of prayer. We can also do this by going up a hill or a mountain, but our main objective should be to get away from the distractions of the world so we may focus on God. We may kneel, sit, stand, or walk while we intercede for others in prayer. To be focused, we need to be comfortable. The following is a Bible study guide of how Moses learned to intercede for God’s people. Moses had led the Israelites through the Red Sea to where they were camped at the foot of Mt Sinai. Three months after their deliverance, Moses was engaged from morning to evening in intercession and judgment for the people. Jethro his father-in-law advised him to delegate this work amongst the leaders of the Israelites, or he would wear himself out. Moses needed time to go to a higher place from the Desert of Sinai to commune and receive important information from God.         

The Israelites were thankful after being delivered from the Egyptians but were they righteous? Why did they need judges to be trained and appointed by Moses? Is our society any better when law enforcement officers and judges are essential for our safety? Are the Ten Commandments believed and lived in our community? Why do our churches and community need us to intercede for them in prayer? What do we need to do before leaving the “Desert of Sin” to go to the ‘mountain’? (1 John 1:9) Why is such preparation necessary? In what ways are we different to Moses? How can we be like him and learn from his life the secrets of intercessory prayer?

Exodus 19:1-6 “[1] In the third month after the Israelites left Egypt-on the very day-- they came to the Desert of Sinai. [2] After they set out from Rephidim, they entered the Desert of Sinai, and Israel camped there in the desert in front of the mountain. [3] Then Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain and said, ‘This is what you are to say to the house of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: [4] ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles' wings and brought you to Myself. [5] Now if you obey Me fully and keep My covenant, then out of all nations you will be My treasured possession. Although the whole Earth is Mine, [6] you will be for Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.’” 1

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How do you think Moses knew exactly where to meet God? What do we learn from Proverbs 3:5-6 and Romans 8:16 that can help us know? Has God spoken to you as He did to Moses about the good of the people you are concerned about? [Usually parents will be quick to tell their children of their mistakes and sins, rarely about their good qualities or good behavior.] In verse 5 God prefaces His first Mt Sinai message for the Israelites? What type of response did He want? (Every promise of God has a condition, ie. Romans 8:28 requires loving God.)

Exodus 19:7-8 “[7] So Moses went back and summoned the elders of the people and set before them all the words the LORD had commanded him to speak. [8] The people all responded together, ‘We will do everything the LORD has said.’ So Moses brought their answer back to the LORD.” 

When the Israelites promised to obey God in the First Covenant Commitment, do you think they meant what they said?

Exodus 19:9-13 “[9] The LORD said to Moses, ‘I am going to come to you in a dense cloud, so that the people will hear Me speaking with you and will always put their trust in you.’ Then Moses told the LORD what the people had said. [10] And the LORD said to Moses, ‘Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. Have them wash their clothes [11] and be ready by the third day, because on that day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. [12] Put limits for the people around the mountain and tell them, ‘be careful that you do not go up the mountain or touch the foot of it. Whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death. [13] He shall surely be stoned or shot with arrows; not a hand is to be laid on him. Whether man or animal, he shall not be permitted to live.’ Only when the ram's horn sounds a long blast may they go up to the mountain.’”   

Why do you think the people had to take special precautions and prepare themselves, before God would come down on Mt. Sinai? What was the difference between them and Moses? Have you ever needed proof that God has spoken to you when praying for others? If you did receive proof, were they convinced your message was from God?

Exodus 19:14-23 “[14] After Moses had gone down the mountain to the people, he consecrated them, and they washed their clothes. [15] Then he said to the people, ‘Prepare yourselves for the third day. Abstain from sexual relations.’ [16] On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled. [17] Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. [18] Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the LORD descended on it in fire. The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace, 2

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the whole mountain trembled violently, and the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder.

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Then Moses spoke and the voice of God answered him. The LORD descended to the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the top of the mountain. So Moses went up and the LORD said to him, ‘Go down and warn the people so they do not force their way through to see the LORD and many of them perish. Even the priests, who approach the LORD, must consecrate themselves, or the LORD will break out against them.’ Moses said to the LORD, ‘The people cannot come up Mount Sinai, because You Yourself warned us, ‘Put limits around the mountain and set it apart as holy.’” The LORD replied, ‘Go down and bring Aaron up with you. But the priests and the people must not force their way through to come up to the LORD, or He will break out against them.’ So Moses went down to the people and told them.”

What made the people afraid as God descended on the mountain? Have you ever been afraid of God? …………… Why? Should we show respect for the sanctuary area of our churches? Why should we have a special, private place where we can commune without interruption and focus on God, a place that cannot be unsanctified by others? Why did God have to rewrite the Ten Commandments on stone again? Do you think that we displease God in the way we sometimes respond to the actions of others? Has God had to repeat situations in our lives to teach us how to relate correctly to those who anger or upset us? What precautions do we need to make when preparing to commune with God in relation to those we are praying for? 2 Chronicles 7:14, Matthew 7:1, Mark 11:26, Ephesians 6:10-18 What was Moses’ greatest quality that made him such an outstanding leader and one whom God used mightily? Lessons from the Sermon on the Mount Matthew 5-8

So far, we have learned that a intercessory prayer warrior needs to have a special place to commune with God like Moses did on Mt. Sinai, desire to know Jesus Christ more and more, and be willing to pray for others and sacrifice as He did. Only with Bible study and Holy Spirit guidance, can we do this, in this anti-Christian world. What the Son of God taught on a mountain to the multitude in the beginning of His ministry as Jesus Christ, and later to His disciples just before He died for our sins, (John 14-17) can help us become better Christians and know what and who to pray for. (The latter Bible reference will not be in this study, but I recommend that you read it for the indicated purposes.)   

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List the highlights of Matthew 4:1 to 5:1. Have you experienced temptations, challenges to your faith, sad news about persecution of other true Christians, and others wanting supernatural help from you? Have such experiences encouraged you to share wonderful truths and promises from the Bible that would encourage others to make changes in their thinking and behavior that would be more pleasing to God like Jesus did in “The Sermon of the Mount”? When doing such sharing, did you feel that you had to temporarily go upward on a spiritual mountain before sharing? What did Jesus do before he began teaching? 4

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How can such sharing of God’s Word help you pray better? Why is Matthew 4:17 so important, even before interceding for others? Remember what John the Baptist’s preaching emphasis was? (See Matthew 3 & Romans 14:17.) What is lacking in most churches?

In a sermon on this topic delivered by a Pastor Mark Mitchell of the Central Peninsula Church in Foster City, CA, USA, he introduced these important Beatitudes as follows: “What does it mean to be blessed? The most obvious thing about this passage is that it is a list of who it is that can be called blessed. Eight times Jesus begins with that same word. What did Jesus mean when He said they are blessed? Did He mean they are happy? This is what we often are told He meant, but that doesn’t seem to fit, at least in the way we use the word. How can those who mourn be happy? That's like Jesus saying, ‘Happy are the unhappy, for they shall be made happy.’ Happiness is determined by circumstances. Happiness is an emotion that goes up and down like a roller coaster. Jesus is talking about something deeper and more constant than happiness. It seems to me that Jesus is making a declaration, not about how these people feel, but about what they are in God’s eyes. In the Old Testament, when God blessed people He was giving them His approval. It's almost a way of saying ‘congratulations’. In secular Greek, the island of Cyprus was called the ‘blessed Isle’. That's the exact same word that Jesus uses here. The idea behind this word was that those who lived there never had to leave its shores because they had all they needed to be content; the island was self-contained. When we are blessed by God we are in a sense self-contained; our joy does not come from circumstances, it comes from the fact we stand approved before God. To be called ‘blessed’ by God in this way certainly impacts how we feel about our lives. It results in a kind of ‘sacred delight’ that no one or nothing can take away from us. We all want to be called ‘blessed’ in this way. We want to be affirmed. We want our lives to be worthy of God's congratulations.” So how can we be divinely blessed? By being the type of Christian that the Beatitudes indicate. So this first part of the “The Sermon of the Mount” is very important. The character qualities seem very good, but despised by most secular people. Also, as we reread the Beatitudes, (thinking of them in chronological order), we will see that they indicate what the formation of every conviction is that we have. They first require internal thinking, then external living, (where we apply what we believe to our actions). Read again Matthew 5:3-12 in these two ways (internal thinking and external living) and write whatever comes to mind as indicated by the following suggestions:   

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List first the character traits and the rewards. Then write a personal response to each. Then go back to verse 3 and think about how your conviction or belief about intercessory prayer developed in your life. Write a statement or two describing each development step (when in your life and why). If this is too difficult, you might try doing it backwards from verse 12. Finally, read the rest of “The Sermon of the Mount” to clearly determine the importance of Matthew 5:20 for you as a member in God’s spiritual army of unselfish, intercessory, prayer warriors ready to share God’s truth and expectations. Personally relate to each point Jesus spoke about. Think in relation to what is happening today in the secular world and in churches. The more time you spend in doing all of the above exercises, the more your prayers will improve too. Lessons from the Mount of Transfiguration Matthew 17:1-13

Another very important requirement for prayer intercessors is to have a correct understanding of the divinity of Jesus Christ. Peter, James, and John had to learn this before they could become leaders and intercessors of the Christian church after the death and resurrection of Jesus. 

What happened six days before the Mt Transfiguration event? 5

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What was Jesus’ major concern that He really wanted to make sure His disciples believed and understood? [See Matthew 16:13-28] Why do you think Jesus only chose Peter, James and John to accompany Him to this high mountain? (Think about how they were mentioned later in Acts and Revelation). What happened to Jesus? Why do you think this proved His deity? Why do you think that Moses and Elijah appeared? How had they each left Earth? What were the highlights of their ministries as spokesmen for God while they were on Earth? What was Peter's response to this glorious sight? Why do you think he responded as he did? Do we need to be in tabernacles to pray or live like Christ? Why do you think that God the Father responded the way He did? When else did He make an almost identical statement? Have you ever had a wonderful experience while communing with God in prayer and did not want to come out of it? Can you imagine just how Peter must have felt when he spoke as he did? What did the voice and touch of Jesus do for the three disciples? How does 1 John 4:18 relate to Jesus’ response to their fear? How can our intercessory prayer help others living in fear in different situations and places around this world? Why do you think that Moses and Elijah disappeared before the disciples looked up again? What do you think their thoughts may have been as they walked down the mountain? [See verses.1013.] Why do you think that Jesus told them not to report what they had seen until after His Resurrection? Do you think it would have been difficult keeping the vision secret even though they did not understand the significance or meaning of the whole experience? Is it important to obey God's voice when we cannot understand why? How do you think you would find holding a vision like that in your heart without sharing it with anyone? Have you had to keep some of your wonderful “mountain top” prayer experiences a secret (except from your prayer partners)? Why? Why do you think Jesus’ answer to their question about the prophecy concerning Elijah coming before the Messiah was important? Is there a relationship between Paul’s passionate plea to really know Jesus Christ as a top priority, and the Mt. Transfiguration event? Phil. 3:10 How will learning more about the greatness and deity of Jesus Christ help us to be better intercessory prayer warriors in our anti-Christian world? Can we relate this wonderful experiential knowledge of Jesus Christ within our hearts to the Mt Transfiguration event? Lessons from Mount Calvary Luke 23:33-49, Matthew 27:33-54, & John 19:17-37 Our next very important requirement for prayer intercessors is to have a high understanding and

appreciation of what Jesus Christ did for us. (What He went through in the last week before His sacrificial and undeserved death makes whatever we go through in being persecuted for our Christian faith, very minor.) Jesus had to humbly come into Jerusalem for the P____________________ celebration. Then He had to teach some very difficult doctrine to His t______________ main disciples, most of which they would not believe until later. It wasn’t just P__________ who had a problem with 6

prophecies in Isaiah about Jesus conquering the Romans. Judas wasn’t the only one who had difficulty with Jesus’ teachings about His resurrection and the future K______________, and the resurrection of believers at the Second Coming. So, as a teacher, Jesus could be considered a failure in teaching the twelve to understand His mission. There were further difficulties and pressures mounted against Jesus in the last week: His treasurer betrayed Him by informing the authorities about where they could f___________ Him for a very small amount of money and committed t______________ in a shameful way. Jesus had to undo Peter’s misuse of his s___________, knowing that Peter would deny even knowing Him t___________ times. He was subjected to a farce of a legal t___________ in which over 60 civil and criminal laws were violated. This was by far the worst injustice in history. Can you imagine how Jesus must have felt when the crowd responded to Pilate’s attempt to set Him free, shouted, “c____________ Him”, instead? Soon after, Jesus was terribly b______________ and m______________ by Roman soldiers before having to take that long walk to Calvary where He was to be crucified on a c__________ (this was considered the worst form of capital punishment). So, what can we learn about prayer in that horrible but necessary event on Mt. Calvary? It included Jesus Christ’s last prayers before He experienced the horrors of our sins, separation from His Father, and finally, physical death. There is no greater love!!!                        

What does this picture reveal to us? John 19:17 states that Golgotha means the “Place of a Skull”. What part of the body is Jesus Christ called a number of times in the New Testament? Where is the main battle held in each human being regarding spiritual beliefs? Where do temptations cause challenges in each of us? In what part of the human body is most prayer made? Why do you think that Jesus’ last prayers before He died had to be in a high place outside of Jerusalem? John 8:28 How would you feel watching the drama unfold? Could you watch the suffering Lamb of God or would you turn away? Can you see the blood flowing from His head, His hands and feet, or taste it in your mouth? Can you hear the labored, gasping breaths, feel the tearing of flesh with each movement? Can you imagine the torture and agony of being suspended in space by nails? Could you name three parts of this crucifixion that would be the hardest for you to watch? Would there have been any good parts of this awful scene? What kind of thoughts and feelings do you think Jesus’ mother had? Mary Magdalene? John? The other missing, fearful disciples? If you had been there, who and what would you have prayed for? What would you have told Jesus if you could have been there? Who was blessed by Jesus and filled with hope just before the sixth hour What happened at the sixth hour and how long did it last? How do you think the people reacted to this? What broke the solemn and fearful scene? Matthew 27:46 What was He experiencing that forced those words from His lips? What was the last prayer of Jesus before He cried out in a loud voice and died? John 23:46 Describe what happened in the temple when Jesus died? What terrifying natural disaster occurred then and what was the result? 7

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Imagine the effect on the centurion and the other soldiers watching. What words escaped from the Centurion’s mouth? If you were facing an unjust death sentence, what would your last prayer be and what would you say to the observers of your execution? What would your prayers be in response to the dramatic, and terrifying physical happenings just before and after Jesus died? i.e. The sudden darkening of the sky; the ripping of the veil in front of the Holy of Holies in the Temple from top to bottom; the earthquake, rocks splitting open and bodies rising up from the graves? Do I see Jesus as the spotless Lamb of God paying the price for my sins? What would you say if you were teaching someone about the significance or meanings of those events? Lessons from Mount Zion

Another very important requirement for Christian intercessory prayer is to have the understanding of important Biblical history and prophecy. Mount Zion is important in both. Directions:

Read the following Bible passages, all but one mention Mount Zion. Figure out why they are in the order they are in and formatted the way they are. How are they related to each other? Then, write a summary about each. And finally write what each passage indicates about God-pleasing living and prayer.

Psalm 78:67-72 “[67] Then He rejected the tents of Joseph, He did not choose the tribe of Ephraim; [68] but He chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion, which He loved. [69] He built His sanctuary like the heights, like the Earth that He established forever. [70] He chose David His servant and took him from the sheep pens; [71] from tending the sheep He brought him to be the shepherd of His people Jacob, of Israel his inheritance. [72] And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them.” Psalm 48:1-14 “[1] Great is the LORD, and most worthy of praise, in the city of our God, His holy mountain. [2] It is beautiful in its loftiness, the joy of the whole Earth. Like the utmost heights of Zaphon is Mount Zion, the city of the Great King. [3] God is in her citadels; He has shown Himself to be her fortress. [4] When the kings joined forces, when they advanced together, [5] they saw her and were astounded; they fled in terror. [6] Trembling seized them there, pain like that of a woman in labor. [7] You destroyed them like ships of Tarshish shattered by an east wind. [8] As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the LORD Almighty, in the city of our God: God makes her secure forever. Selah. [9] Within Your temple, O God, we meditate on Your unfailing love. [10] Like Your name, O God, Your praise reaches to the ends of the Earth; Your right hand is filled with righteousness. [11] Mount Zion rejoices, the villages of Judah are glad because of Your judgments. [12] Walk about Zion, go around her, count her towers, [13] consider well her ramparts, view her citadels, 8

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that you may tell of them to the next generation. For this God is our God for ever and ever; He will be our guide even to the end.”

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Lamentations 5:1-22 “[1] Remember, O LORD, what has happened to us; look, and see our disgrace. [2] Our inheritance has been turned over to aliens, our homes to foreigners. [3] We have become orphans and fatherless, our mothers like widows. [4] We must buy the water we drink; our wood can be had only at a price. [5] Those who pursue us are at our heels; we are weary and find no rest. [6] We submitted to Egypt and Assyria to get enough bread. [7] Our fathers sinned and are no more, and we bear their punishment. [8] Slaves rule over us, and there is none to free us from their hands. [9] We get our bread at the risk of our lives because of the sword in the desert. [10] Our skin is hot as an oven, feverish from hunger. [11] Women have been ravished in Zion, and virgins in the towns of Judah. [12] Princes have been hung up by their hands; elders are shown no respect. [13] Young men toil at the millstones; boys stagger under loads of wood. [14] The elders are gone from the city gate; the young men have stopped their music. [15] Joy is gone from our hearts; our dancing has turned to mourning. [16] The crown has fallen from our head. Woe to us, for we have sinned! [17] Because of this our hearts are faint, because of these things our eyes grow dim [18] for Mount Zion, which lies desolate, with jackals prowling over it. [19] You, O LORD, reign forever; Your throne endures from generation to generation. [20] Why do You always forget us? Why do You forsake us so long? [21] Restore us to Yourself, O LORD, that we may return; renew our days as of old [22] unless You have utterly rejected us and are angry with us beyond measure.” Zechariah 8:1-8 “[1] Again the word of the LORD Almighty came to me. [2] This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘I am very jealous for Zion; I am burning with jealousy for her.’ [3] This is what the LORD says: ‘I will return to Zion and dwell in Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the City of Truth, and the mountain of the LORD Almighty will be called the Holy Mountain.’ [4] This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘Once again men and women of ripe old age will sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each with cane in hand because of his age. [5] The city streets will be filled with boys and girls playing there.’ [6] This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘It may seem marvelous to the remnant of this people at that time, but will it seem marvelous to Me?’ declares the LORD Almighty. [7] This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘I will save my people from the countries of the east and the west. [8] I will bring them back to live in Jerusalem; they will be My people, and I will be faithful and righteous to them as their God.’” Ephesians 2:1-10 “[1] As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, [2] in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.

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[3] All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. [4] But because of His great love for us, God, Who is rich in mercy, [5] made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions— it is by grace you have been saved. [6] And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the Heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, [7] in order that in the coming ages He might show the incomparable riches of His grace, expressed in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. [8] For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-[9] not by works, so that no one can boast. [10] For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Hebrews 12:22-13:6 “[22] But you have come to Mount Zion, to the Heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, [23] to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in Heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, [24] to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. [25] See to it that you do not refuse Him Who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused Him Who warned them on Earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from Him Who warns us from Heaven? [26] At that time His voice shook the Earth, but now He has promised, ‘Once more I will shake not only the Earth but also the heavens.’ [27] The words ‘once more’ indicate the removing of what can be shaken-that is, created things-so that what cannot be shaken may remain. [28] Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, [29] for our ‘God is a consuming fire’. “[1] Keep on loving each other as brothers. [2] Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. [3] Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering. [4] Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. [5] Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’ [6] So we say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?’”

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Revelation 14:1-16 “[1] Then I looked, and there before me was The Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, and with Him 144,000 who had His name and His Father's name written on their foreheads. [2] And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of rushing waters and like a loud peal of thunder. The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps. [3] And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the Earth. [4] These are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they kept themselves pure. They follow the Lamb wherever He goes. They were purchased from among men and offered as firstfruits to God and the Lamb. [5] No lie was found in their mouths; they are blameless. [6] Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal Gospel to proclaim to those who live on the Earth-to every nation, tribe, language, and people. [7] He said in a loud voice, ‘Fear God and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come. Worship Him Who made the heavens, the Earth, the sea and the springs of water.’ [8] A second angel followed and said, ‘Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great, which made all the nations drink the maddening wine of her adulteries.’ [9] A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: ‘If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives his mark on the forehead or on the hand, [10] he [or she], too, will drink of the wine of God's fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of His wrath. He [or she] will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. [11] And the smoke of their torment rises for ever and ever. There is no rest day or night For those who worship the beast and his image, or for anyone who receives the mark of his name.’ [12] This calls for patient endurance on the part of the saints who obey God's commandments and remain faithful to Jesus.” [13] Then I heard a voice from Heaven say, ‘Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’ ‘Yes’, says The Spirit, ‘they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.’ [14] I looked, and there before me was a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was One ‘like a Son of Man’ with a crown of gold on His head and a sharp sickle in His hand. [15] Then another angel came out of the temple and called in a loud voice to Him Who was sitting on the cloud, ‘Take Your sickle and reap, because the time to reap has come for the harvest of the Earth is ripe. [16] So He Who was seated on the cloud swung His sickle over the Earth, and the Earth was harvested.”

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