The Parable Of The Fig Tree

The Parable of the Fig Tree Mitt Jeffords Are you ready for the coming of the Lord? Are you ready to curse the Fig Tree? “Lord, what are the signs of your coming?”…….Jesus said, “Go and learn the Parable of the Fig Tree”. Matthew 24:32 “Jesus said, “Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near: So likewise you, when you shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. Truly I say unto you, “This generation shall not pass until all these things be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. But of that day and hour knows no man, no, not even the angels of heaven, but only my Father… Therefore you be ready also; for in such an hour as you think not, the Son of man comes”. From my very early years of being a Christian, I was told that the fig tree in this parable represented the literal nation of Israel simply because that it was my teachers in those days told me that it represented. Then after I believed that the Holy Spirit was going to teach me all things, I saw that the leaves on the fig tree represented all of the prophetic words or signs that Jesus spoke of in Matthew 24:3-39; the signs that he said would precede his return. Jesus also made it clear that as the world got closer to his return, all of these signs would begin to occur in the same manner as a woman who is in labor about to give birth. For the closer she gets to the time of her delivery, her labor pains get closer and closer together, and her pains become much more intense; and so shall it also be with all of these signs that Jesus spoke of. Everyone knows that throughout the history of this world that we have always had diseases, earthquakes, famines, and wars, but it is only when these things begin to occur all at the same time, with much more intensity than any other time in history, that we will then know that Jesus is about to return. Then, according to the parable, after all these signs appear in such a manner as Jesus described, then we should next to see the fruit appear: the manifestation of the Sons of God. Mark 13:8 AMP “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines and calamities. This is but the beginning of the intolerable anguish and suffering [only the first of the birth pangs]”. I was in prayer when the Lord spoke to me and said, “Stand up; for whatsoever you shall decree out of your mouth will come to pass”. Even though I knew this was the voice of the Lord, I hesitated at first because I did not really understand just what it was that the Lord wanted me to decree. In fact, in all of my years of serving the Lord, he had never before asked me to speak a decree at all. At first, I just thought that decree meant “to proclaim” or

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“to declare”; but not trusting in myself, I sought out the definition of decree through Vines Dictionary, and as soon as I read the definition that said, “To declare a judgment with authority”, the Spirit of the Lord quickened inside of me that this was that which the Lord desired for me to do. I then believed that whatsoever I decreed judgment against, it would come surely come to pass because my decree would be accompanied with the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ. As I meditated on this word, I realized that I was not at all surprised to hear this word this word because the Lord has made it very clear through the words of many prophets we are living in the times where judgment begins with the house of God. Many think that the earthquakes, famines, wars, and diseases are the judgments of God against the world, and though many will perish during these events, they are still only signs that will precede the judgment of the church. Even Jesus said in Matthew 16:1-3 “The Pharisees came also with the Sadducees tempting Jesus because they desired for him to show them a sign from heaven. He answered and said to them, “When it is evening, you say it will be fair weather: for the sky is red. And in the morning, you say that It will be foul weather today because the sky is red and threatening. O you hypocrites, you can discern the face of the sky but you cannot discern the signs of the times?” Sadly, I know many Christians who have made their focus to be the “signs” of the times, and not in coming to know the heart of the Lord. Jeremiah 8:7 "Even the stork in the heavens knows her appointed times; and the turtledove, the swift, and the swallow observe the time of their coming. But My people do not know the judgment of the Lord”. As I mediated more on this word that the Lord had spoken to me, I began to wonder just what it was that the Lord wanted me to decree judgment against; for from the beginning of my walk with the Lord I have obeyed that which is written in I Corinthians 11:19 “Now if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord so that we should not be condemned with the world”. Also, just a few months ago, the Lord asked me to decree judgments against all religious, all governments, all financial, and all educational systems that have not been established by him. I knew that the Lord would not ask for me to decree any judgment against other men because Jesus himself did not judge men after the flesh; and seeing that Jesus gave us the instruction to do as he did, then this was not a possibility. So I then said, “Lord, I am willing to decree judgment, but I want to be right in what I decree judgment against seeing that it is going to be accompanied with your power; so just what is it that you want me to decree judgment against?” The Lord then answered me and said, “The fig tree”. John 13:15-16 Jesus said, “For I have given you an example that you should do as I have done to you”. John 8:15 Jesus said, “You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one”.

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The fig tree? What in the world are you talking about Lord? Then the Lord immediately brought into my remembrance that which is written: Mark 11:12-30 “Now the next day, when they were come from Bethany, Jesus was hungry; and seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet. And Jesus said unto it, “No man shall eat the fruit of you hereafter forever”. And his disciples heard it...20 And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. And Peter, calling into remembrance said unto him, “Master, behold, the fig tree which you cursed is withered away”. And Jesus answered saying to them, “Have faith in God. For truly I say unto you that whosoever shall say unto this mountain, “Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea”; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe those things which he says, it shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he says. Therefore I say unto you, “Whatsoever things that you desire, when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you shall have them”….27 And they came again to Jerusalem: and as he was walking in the temple, there came to him the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders, and they said unto him, “By what authority do you do these things? And who gave you this authority to do these things?” And Jesus answered and said to them, “I will also ask of you one question, and if you answer me, then I will tell you by what authority I do these things; the baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men? Answer me”. As I considered this passage of scripture, I realized that the Lord wanted me to do as he did, to decree the same judgment, accompanied with his authority, against this “fig tree”; for once Jesus decreed his judgment, that fig tree immediately began to wither and die. The Lord also allowed for me to see that it was not the fruit of that tree that the Lord cursed, but rather it was the entire tree. I then asked, “But Lord, what does this fig tree really represent?” The Lord then first brought into my remembrance the choice that he has laid at the feet of every Christian whom he calls: Matthew 12:33-37 “Jesus said "Either (you) make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree corrupt and its fruit corrupt; for a tree is known by its fruit. O generation of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the Day of Judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned." As I was considering this word, the Lord then asked me, “Would I have cursed a good tree?” I obviously knew that the Lord would not have done such a thing, so I knew that this fig tree had to represent that not only the evil, but the corruption from which the evil comes forth from, from the fig tree. That is, the fig tree represents the corrupt tree and its corrupted fruit. It was then that Lord said to me, “Now learn the parable of the Fig Tree”. As I turned to Matthew 24 and began to examine this parable, I suddenly got really

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excited when my eyes saw exactly where this parable was placed in this 24th chapter of Matthew; right after the signs that identify his coming and right before the words that speak of his coming. It is only after Jesus reveals what the signs are that he then says, “Learn the parable of the Fig Tree”. In other words, it is only after all these other signs have started occurring as the labor pains of woman who is about to deliver, that the parable of the “Fig Tree” can be understood. The parable of the “Fig Tree” is not a sign, but rather it is a mystery that only the Lord himself is able to reveal; a mystery that must be understood by those who the Lord is going to glorify with the fullness of his glory when he appears. Matthew 13:10,11 “And the disciples came and asked Jesus, “Why do you speak unto them in parables? He answered and said to them, “Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given”. 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10 “And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance (the judgment that begins with the house of God) on them that do not know God and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ (those who made light of their calling and did not prepare); who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power when he shall come to be glorified in his saints (those who were prepared and ready), and to be admired in all them that believe”. As I mediated more on these things, I recalled how the Lord had previously taught me that the many time the Lord has used trees, especially in his parables, to represent man and the condition of his heart; such as in the parable of the sower where the Lord reveals that it is impossible for anyone to make the tree good and his fruit good without first understanding the scriptures. Many will receive their seed, the word of the Lord, along either the roadside, or in the rocks, or amongst thorns; and none who receive the word in such manner will be able to make the tree good. The word of God, when it is understood and believed, is so powerful that it is able to separate a man’s soul from the spirit of this man, which is also the spirit of this world. But when the same word is not understood, it is powerless to bring forth any of the good fruits of the Spirit. Many will not seek after the Lord’s understanding but will instead sow the seed of the word, and then fertilize it with their own understanding and wisdom; and the only fruit that comes forth is that which is corrupted with the flesh: hypocrisy. Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is living, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart”. Luke 8:11 “Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God”.

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Matthew 13:23 “But he that receives seed into the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it; which then bears fruit and brings forth some a hundred-fold, some sixty, and some thirty”. 1 Timothy 4:1-2 “Now the Spirit speaks expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; speaking lies in hypocrisy and having their conscience seared with a hot iron”. The last act that Jesus did before he ascended above was that which is written in Luke 24:45 “Then Jesus opened their understanding and they understood the scriptures”; which then enabled the disciples to make the tree good and its fruit good. The good ground is found in the heart of those who not only have no desire to listen to men’s interpretations of the scriptures, but they also have spurned their own opinions of the scriptures in their quest to know the truth of God. Paul spoke of these things in 2 Timothy 2:6-7 “The husbandman that labors must first be a partaker of the fruits. Consider what I say; and may the Lord give you understanding in all things”. Without spiritual understanding, the scriptures are nothing but a playground for Satan; a playground that equips all men with the darkness of ignorance whereby the word of God is completely corrupted with men’s opinions; thus enabling man to conceive false doctrines and dead works that bring forth deceitful illusions of righteousness that entice and seduce all whose hearts, minds, and eyes are blinded by their own natural senses. Colossians 1:9-10 “For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that you might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding so that ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God”. Hebrews 13-14 “For everyone that uses milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongs to them who are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil”. The Lord taught me fairly early in my walk that if I submitted myself to those false pastors or false teachers who taught only the opinions of man to be the truth of the scriptures, then I would be foolish to have any expectations that the Lord was going to bring forth any change in my life, whether it be in my heart or in my thoughts; for it is when the scriptures are mixed with the natural understanding and wisdom of men, the word of God becomes corrupted; and corruption is and is powerless to bring forth anything other than corruption. This is the tradition of man; the tradition where man teaches what he knows naturally to others; the tradition that keeps the tree corrupt and its fruit corrupt. It is not possible for the incorruptible fruits of the Spirit of Life to come forth except by the Spirit of Life itself; for it is as it is written, “Not by might (of the flesh), not by power (of the flesh), but by his Spirit”. Just as the tares are an imitation of the wheat, so also are the corrupted fruits that come forth from the corrupted tree also an imitation of the works, the righteousness, and the

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words of God; but they have no life in them. That which is corrupt brings only an illusion of appearances that imitate the things of God so as to deceive all those who choose death. Is there anything that can be more deceiving to a man than the scriptures that are interpreted with the natural understanding and wisdom of man? Mark 7:13 “Making the word of God of no effect through your tradition, which you have delivered: and many such like things you do”. Galatians 5:4 “Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you, who are justified by the law; you are fallen from grace”. Truly, these corrupt trees have a form of godliness, but they have denied the Lord by fashioning themselves according to that corrupted image that comes forth of their own understanding of the scriptures; for the corrupted tree is only an idol that is made by the works of their own hands, fashioned according to the carnal knowledge that comes forth when the scriptures are joined to the natural understanding of man. Truly, if any man sows the word of God to his flesh, then he can be sure that the fruit that he reaps will only be that which has been corrupted by the thinking that is rooted in that cursed “Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil”. Did not Paul confirm these things which that which is written in 2 Corinthians 2:17 “For we are not as many who corrupt the word of God…”? And did not Peter also confirm that which Paul said with that which is written in 2 Peter 2:10 “But those who walk after the flesh in the lust of unclean-ness (self-righteousness)… 12 …these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they do not understand; and they shall utterly perish in their own corruption”? And of that was not enough confirmation, Jude also expounded on these very things in that which is written in Jude 10 “But these speak evil of those things which they do not know: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves”. Nothing that comes forth of man is anything other than corrupt”, says the Lord. I Corinthians 8:1-2 “Now as touching things offered unto idols (the works and words of man), we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies; and if any man thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know”. Jeremiah 10:12-16 (AMP.) “God made the earth by His power; He established the world by His wisdom and by His understanding and skill stretched out the heavens. When He utters His voice, there is a tumult of waters in the heavens, and He causes the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth. He makes lightnings for the rain and brings forth the wind out from His treasuries and from His storehouses. Every man has become like a brute, irrational and stupid (beast), without the knowledge [of God]; every goldsmith is brought to shame by his graven idols; for his molten images are frauds and falsehood, and there is no breath (no abundant life) in them. They are devoid of worth, usefulness, or truth, a work of delusion and mockery. In their time of trial and punishment they shall [helplessly] perish. The Portion of Jacob [the true God on Whom Israel has a claim] is not like these, for He is the

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Fashioner and Maker of all things, and Israel is the tribe of His inheritance-the Lord of hosts is His name”. Psalm 39:5-6 “…verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah. Surely every man walks in a vain show…” 2 Timothy 3:1-8 (These are the corrupted fruits that come forth from the “Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil) “Know this also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their ownselves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection (no spiritual love), trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with various lusts, ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith”. 1 Timothy 6:3-5 “If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; he is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof comes envy, strife, railings, evil suspicions, perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself”. I could not help the excitement that was growing in me, for the Lord has spoken several times through prophecy in our fellowship saying, “What is coming is far greater than anything that you can imagine…do not be left behind”. I also know that the only thing that hinders the Lord from fulfilling all of all of his promises is that he himself must first reveal them; for the Lord does nothing except that he reveals his secrets to the prophets first; then the prophets, having seen these things that is going to do are not only able to believe them for themselves, but they will be enabled to minister these things to all those who are able to hear and understand them; then receive them unto themselves; then believe for themselves the promises that the Lord desires to perform. Then through this oneness of belief, the prophets and the people are then able to pray and ask the Lord to perform all those things which he has revealed. Amos 3:6 “God does nothing except that he first reveals his secrets to the prophets”. I cannot explain the excitement that I was feeling within, knowing that the Lord is revealing secrets that are going to open the doors that are going to allow for the kingdoms of this world to become the become of God. Then the Spirit of the Lord brought into my remembrance that which is written in I Corinthians 15: 50-54 “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood

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cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I show you a mystery; for we shall not all sleep but we shall all be changed (that is, all who are ready), 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. For this corruption must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, “Death is swallowed up in victory”. As I considered this passage, a question arose in my heart; “Lord, why do you say here that “Death” is swallowed up in victory instead of “corruption and mortality” being swallowed up in victory? Is it this corruption and mortality that death consists of? For this word does not say, “Corruption” is swallowed in victory, but that it is death that is swallowed up in victory. Ephesians 4:21-24 “If it so be that you have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus, that you put off concerning the former conversation the old man, who is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that you put on the new man, who after God is created in righteousness and true holiness (holiness of the truth)”. It was then that the Lord reminded of what he had asked for me to do. I then asked, “Lord, are you saying that you want me to decree a judgment against “Death”, or is it “Corruption” that you desire for me to curse? Are you now giving me authority to speak this judgment in your name?” As I pondered these questions, the Spirit of the Lord brought back into my remembrance a word that the Lord said to me about a year ago, “Be ready; for LIFE is getting ready to swallow up DEATH”. Wow! This certainly confirms that which is written in I Corinthians 15:54. Then the Lord brought into my remembrance things that he had taught to me about things that happened at the beginning, in the garden with Adam and Eve; for there the Lord had placed to two trees in the midst of the garden: the “Tree of Life” and that cursed “Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil”. The Lord then reminded me that “Tree of Life” is a shadow, or an example, of the spiritual mind; for the thoughts of the spiritual mind are filled with life and peace. On the other hand, the “Tree of the knowledge of Good and Evil” represents the thinking of the carnal mind; for the thoughts of the carnal mind are death; the death that came into Adam and Eve after they disobeyed God and ate the fruit that he had commanded them not to eat.….“The Tree of Death”. The Lord then reminded me that it was when Adam and Eve both ate of this cursed tree, their eyes were opened, they saw that they were naked, they were then ashamed, and they covered themselves with leaves; but not with just any leaves. For it was here that the Lord asked, “If you were suddenly ashamed and greatly embarrassed for the first time in your life, would you run to and fro from tree to tree trying to decide which leaves to cover yourself with, or would you just quickly pick the leaves of from the tree that is right before you?” FIG LEAVES!!!! They covered themselves with Fig leaves!!! I

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then understood that the Fig Tree in the natural was a representation for the “Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil”. Wow!!! I then knew that this was the tree that the Lord desired for me to decree a judgment against; the tree that he desired for me to curse in the same manner that Jesus cursed that Fig Tree. I then realized that it is of this tree that all of the curses of death and corruption have come upon all men; all from Adam until now. I then realized that no man is able to make the tree good and its fruit good unless judgment is first decreed against this corrupt tee; the tree which represents the corrupted “old man” which we are instructed to put off so that we can put on the Lord Jesus Christ. Who then is willing to die to the corruption of sin and death except he that desires to transformed into the image of the Son of God, Jesus Christ? Genesis 3:7 “ And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings for themselves”. Romans 8:29 “For whom he did foreknow, he did also predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren”. I remembered how the Lord had also previously shown to me how that it was in this act of disobedience by Adam and Eve that death entered in and proceeded to corrupt man with both mortality and sin; and all of God’s creation with mortality. Mortality found its place in the body of Adam and Even, and death found it’s home in the thinking of the carnal mind; and the darkness of ignorance proceeded to blind the heart, the mind, and the eyes of man to all things of God; and it was this ignorance that then separated man from the life of God that God had created man to be partakers of. For the God that they once communed and fellowship with daily, suddenly became the God that they were now afraid of; yet, God never changes. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, the darkness of ignorance came in, and they were changed; from life into death. Their nakedness, which had previously been no shame, became that which they felt compelled to hide from God. The fruits of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil brought forth the darkness of ignorance; for it is by this ignorance that man was transformed into a being where “SELF” became his god. All who worship this idol delight doing their own will; and they delight in walking after their own thoughts; and they delight in satisfying their own “self” desires; and they delight in judging others; and they delight in making their own righteousness to be after those things which seem right in their own eyes. Isaiah 47:10 “For you have trusted in your wickedness and you have said, “None see me”. Your wisdom and your knowledge have perverted you; and you have said in your heart, “I am, and there is none else beside me”. I Corinthians 8:1 “Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up (to be your own god), but love edifies; and if any man think that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know”.

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Acts 17:30 “And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commands all men every where to repent”. I then remembered asking once, “Lord, how is it that we are still continually eating from this “Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil” (the knowledge that dwells in the carnal mind)? The Lord answered me and said, “Every time you delight in doing your own will, then you are eating the fruit of this cursed tree. Every time that you trust in your own understanding, then you are eating the fruit of this cursed tree. Every time that you seek to justify yourself with your own words or with your own deeds, then you are eating the fruit of this cursed tree. Every time you judge yourself, or others, to be either good or to be evil, then you are eating the fruit of this cursed tree. Every time you choose to be wise in your own eyes to just in that thing that seems right in your own sight, then you are eating the fruit of this cursed tree. Every time you try to interpret God, or the things of God, through your own opinions, then you are eating the fruit of this cursed tree. Every time you yield to your desires to glorify and to exalt yourself, then you are eating the fruit of this cursed tree. Every time you seek counsel from your own heart, or from other men, and not from me”, says the Lord, “then you are eating the fruit of this cursed tree. For those who eat continually the fruit of lies that come forth from the “Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil”, they delight in being their own gods, and they are mindful of me. But the truth is that there is only one God, and all others gods/idols that are worshipped are only the illusions of lies that blind the hearts, the eyes, and the minds all of all who have been corrupted from eating from this cursed “Tree of Death”. Psalm 1:1-4 “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law does he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he does shall prosper. The ungodly are not so, but are like the chaff which the wind drives away”. Isaiah 65:2 “My hands are stretched out all the day long unto a people who walk in the way that is not good, after their own thoughts (thoughts from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good & Evil), who provoke me continually to anger to my face…” Matthew 7:21 Jesus said, “Not everyone who calls me “Lord, Lord” shall enter into heaven; only those who do the will of my Father who is in heaven”. Hosea 10:13 “You have plowed wickedness; you have reaped iniquity. You have eaten the fruit of lies, because you trusted in your own way, in the multitude of your mighty men”. Isaiah 47:10 “For you have trusted in your wickedness: you have said, “None see me”. Your wisdom and your knowledge has perverted you; and you have said in your heart, “I am, and there is none else beside me”.

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1 Corinthians 8:1-2 “Now concerning things offered to idols: we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know. I Corinthians 15:33 “Do not be deceived: evil communications corrupt good character. Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.” Ephesians 4:29 “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. Hosea 4:6 “My people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge…..” The Lord then brought into my remembrance all of the dreams and the visions that he has given to me since he asked me to sell my house and my business 7 years ago; dreams and visions such as “A Man Is As He Thinks”; “The Castle Vision”; “The Darkness And The Light”; and “Keep It Or Delete It”; and as I began to meditate on these, the Lord suddenly allowed for me to see that all these words had one thing in common; that is, they were all revelatory of how the Lord sees the natural state of man’s mind and heart, as well as how the powers, the principalities, the rulers of darkness, and the wicked spirits all had their habitation in the natural senses of man; and they all had their entrance into man when eats the lies that come forth from the “Tree of the Knowledge of Good & Evil”; or, in the natural, that cursed Fig Tree. For it is only by this cursed tree that fruits come forth that deceive men to esteem and exalt themselves into the role of being god over their own lives; and they have no desire to have the true Lord for being their God. For it is by this cursed tree that all men have become alienated and separated from the life that God had planned for man. I then realized that it is this tree that all men have need to repent of; or rather, it is this tree that we need to curse if we desire to come into the kingdom of God. It is this tree that all who desire to come into fellowship, into communion, and into friendship with God, must first repent of. I Corinthians 4:5 “Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who will then both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God”. The Lord then reminded who I was in Jesus Christ, one of the beloved; and the Lord has proved his love for me every time that I have come before him asking for him to show me his love, his grace, his forgiveness, and his mercy. I have seen the mighty hand of his love in all the times that he has forgiven me; in all the times that he has healed me; in all those times that he has cleansed me; in all those times that he has taught me; in all those times he has delivered me; and in all those times that he has given me repentance from the death that I was familiar with in my natural thinking. I am not good in

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the sight of the Lord, and neither am I evil; for by the blood of Christ, and belief in his faithfulness, I have become one of the beloved. Romans 5:20 “..but where sin abounded, grace abounded even more”. 2 Thessalonians 2:13 “But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you brethren, beloved of the Lord; because God has from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth”. Then the Lord said to me, “Now do you understand? Now do you comprehend that all that which a man knows naturally, it is nothing but the death and the corruption that comes forth into this world through the “Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil”? Now do understand that it is by this tree that all men are born into sin and death? Do you now understand why it is necessary for a man to be born again? For that which is flesh comes forth from the “Tree of the Knowledge of Good & Evil”; and that which is spirit comes forth from the Tree of Life; for the Spirit gives life. I am the Tree of Life; I am the Spirit of Life; I am the new birth. But for you to live, you must die; you must die to eating the fruits that come forth from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good & Evil. You must die to the natural desire to love to believe lies. Are you now willing to curse this tree so that you may live? Are you ready to declare a decree against this entire tree so that no fruit should come forth of it ever again?” Psalm 51:5 “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me”. Job 3:1-10 “After this Job opened his mouth and cursed his day; and Job said, “Let the day perish wherein I was born, and the night in which it was said, “There is a man child conceived”. Let that day be darkness; let not God regard it from above, neither let the light shine upon it. Let darkness and the shadow of death stain it; let a cloud dwell upon it; let the blackness of the day terrify it. As for that night, let darkness seize upon it; let it not be joined unto the days of the year, let it not come into the number of the months. Lo, let that night be solitary, let no joyful voice come therein. Let them curse it that curse the day who are ready to raise up their mourning. Let the stars of the twilight thereof be dark; let it look for light, but have none; neither let it see the dawning of the day: because it shut not up the doors of my mother's womb, nor hid sorrow from mine eyes”. Revelation 12:11 “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. Romans 8:2 “For the law of the Spirit of Life has set me free from the law of sin and death” John 6:63-64 “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh (fleshy words from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good & Evil) profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life”.

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John 3:6 “Jesus said, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, “You must be born again”. Again I found myself trying to comprehend the magnitude of all these things that the Lord had just spoken to me when the Lord again spoke to me and said, “What goes around comes around. It is all going back to where it all began; for there is nothing that has an end that did not also have a beginning; and neither death, nor corruption, nor mortality are eternal; they have an end. For as all of these things found their entrance into this world through the Tree of the Knowledge of God and Evil, so also shall all these things come to their end when this tree is cursed. Receive my blessing; receive from me the authority to curse the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil so that you may now eat from the Tree of Life. Do you not desire for me to take you back to that garden so that you can eat of the Tree of Life? I alone am eternal; I am the Tree of Life. I have tried you; I have corrected you; and I cleansed you; and through your faith in my love for you, as well as your belief in my sovereign power, you have overcome this fallen world. I now know your heart, Mitt; I know that you have no desire but to eat of the fruits of the Tree of Life. 1 John 5:4 “For whatsoever is born of God overcomes the world: and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith”. Revelation 2:7 “He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches; “To him who overcomes will I give to eat of the Tree of Life which is in the midst of the paradise of God”. I know that you greatly desire to walk and commune with me, and to be in my presence. Because you have delighted in me only, I am going to give to you authority to curse “The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil”; for in so doing, all the curses of sin and death that have ruled over this fallen world of Darkness shall be broken. As I have revealed to you, you are living in the last days of Daniel’s 70 weeks; that is, the last days of sin. The kingdoms of this world that are filled with lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life must come to their end before the kingdom God shall be established; sin and death must be destroyed at their source, at the “Tree of the Knowledge of the Good and Evil”. Are you ready to receive my authority? Are you ready to curse all that which you have known naturally? Are you ready to lose all of your identity so that you may receive my name? Are you ready to be freed from all death so that I might fill you with the fullness of Life? I am Life. To all those who have overcome the world through their belief of my love and faith in my power, I now give authority to curse the “Tree of the Knowledge of Good & Evil”; and I also now give unto them the authority to eat from the Tree of Life. This blessing comes to all who have overcome. Daniel 9:24 “Seventy weeks are determined upon your people, and upon your holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.

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1 Corinthians 15:26 “The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death”. Romans 8:2 “For the law of the Spirit of Life has set me free from the law of sin and death”. Revelation 22:14-17 “Blessed are those who do His commandments that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. But outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the fornicators, the murderers, and the idolaters, and whoever loves and makes a lie. "I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star." And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely”. Revelation 2:7 “He that has an ear let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches; “To him who overcomes will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God”. It was then that the Lord gave me another vision where I saw the “The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil”, and I cursed it. I then witness this tree as it began to whither; and when it did, I then saw the Darkness, and all the powers of Darkness, and all the spirits of Darkness, and all the principalities of Darkness, and all the rulers of the Darkness of this world all being sucked into this Tree. When I was a little boy, I either saw a story or a cartoon about Pandora’s Box, and how when it was opened, all evil and wickedness suddenly came rushing out of that box into this world. What I was witnessing in this vision was exactly the opposite of that which I had seen as it kid; it was as this cursed and dying tree had become some kind of extremely powerful vacuum cleaner, and it was sucking in all things of the Darkness against their will. It was an incredible sight. Then suddenly, it was over. There was no more Tree, and neither was there anymore Darkness, or any of the things of the Darkness; only the light of Life. Revelation 11:15 “And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever”. I am one of the beloved: I am not cursing my soul, for my soul is me, but rather I am cursing all the natural senses that come forth from the spirit of man; for the spirit of man is the spirit that is of this world; and neither the senses nor the desires of this spirit has any agreement or fellowship with the Spirit of God.

Word given to Mitt Jeffords E-mail: [email protected]

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