God’s last words —His best solution to end the curse on earth (six last prophets)

What is God speaking today? Can we hear through the prophets? Today we read some “last words” from God through six prophets as recorded in the Bible (735-430BC). Let the timeless words from God speak to our heart and give us the power and strength and hope we need. I have included the last few prophets here, who were confident to speak because they walked with God closely and listened to Him only.

Note that the book of Malachi closes the time for four hundred years before God speaks again through John the Baptist. The beginning key verse and the last verse reveal the heart of God toward us, His children. He starts by declaring, “I have loved you” and He ends by saying, “and he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and hearts of the children to the fathers.” (1:2, 4:6) It is clear that when men do not reconcile their hearts with God, they fail and the earth continues to suffer the curse that the first fall of mankind brought upon it. The solution from God is, “turn around, turn back” to God. Why? Because mankind were created according to His image and our lives originated from Him, and His ultimate purpose for us is to have that close relationship with Him as father and son. How can this be? God sent His Son.

Micah 735 BC       The Word of the LORD to Micah       1 – 7

Snapshot: Micah confronts the leaders of Israel and Judah regarding their injustice, and prophecies that one day the Lord himself will rule in perfect justice. Micah concludes with the prophet’s call on the Lord as his only source of salvation and mercy (7:7), pointing the people toward an everlasting hope in their everlasting God.

Key Verse: 4:5 For all people walk each in the name of his god,

But we will walk in the name of the Lord our God

Forever and ever.

LAST VERSES: Micah 7:19-20 (NKJV) 19 He will again have compassion on us,

And will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins Into the depths of the sea.

20 You will give truth to Jacob And mercy to Abraham, Which You have sworn to our fathers From days of old.

Habakkuk 625 BC       The Oracle to Habakkuk 1 – 3

Snapshot: Habakkuk pleads with God to stop the injustice and violence in Judah, but is surprised to find that God will use the Babylonians to do so.

Habakkuk was a frustrated prophet. The book contains an extended dialogue between Habakkuk and God (Habakkuk 1–2). The prophet initiated this conversation based on his distress about God’s “inaction” in the world. He wanted to see God do something more, particularly in the area of justice for evildoers. However, he finally turned to praising God regardless of the external circumstances. God actually answered his questioning God. 2:1-2

Key Verse: 2:4 but the just shall live by his faith. (Romans 1:17)

LAST VERSES: 3:17-19 Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls—18 Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.19 The Lord God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer’s feet, And He will make me walk on my high hills.

Zephaniah 638 BC        The Word of the LORD to Zephaniah 1 – 3

Snapshot: God warns that he will judge Israel and the surrounding nations, but also that he will restore them in peace and justice.

The prophet Zephaniah’s main message was concerning the “Day of the Lord” which he mentions continually throughout the book. On that day the Lord will personally deal with those who had forsaken him and become corrupt. The day of the Lord is a day of destruction, a terrible day, a day in which very few will escape. Zephaniah saw in the day of the Lord the destruction of his country Judah, his neighbors, and eventually the whole earth (Zephaniah 1:2,14,15,17; 2:10), and that ultimately it would result in the blessing of God’s presence among His people (3:17).

Key Verse: 3:9 (NKJV) “For then I will restore to the peoples a pure language, That they all may call on the name of the Lord, To serve Him with one accord.”

LAST VERSES: Zephaniah 3:20 (NLT) On that day I will gather you together

    and bring you home again.

I will give you a good name, a name of distinction,

    among all the nations of the earth,

as I restore your fortunes before their very eyes.

    I, the Lord, have spoken!”

Haggai 520 BC The Word of the LORD by Haggai 1, 2

Snapshot: The people have abandoned the work of restoring God’s temple in Jerusalem, and so Haggai takes them to task.

The prophet Haggai was the first of the three prophets during the Persian period who prophesied to the Jews who had returned from captivity, the other two prophets were Zechariah and Malachi. Haggai’s message was directed to the nobles and governor Zerubbabel. The time was 18 years after the king of Persia allowed them to return to rebuild the Temple. Samaritans from the north had caused all the work in the Temple to come to a halt. 16 years had gone by and people were more interested in beautifying their houses than rebuilding the Temple. The prophet Haggai encouraged God’s people to finish rebuilding the Temple that Zerubbabel had started. During the re-building, Haggai continued to preach to the Jews, encouraging them with the hope of future glory in the temple and a victory to come over the enemies of God’s people (2:7–9, 21–22). His message was effective, and the Spirit of the Lord stirred up the leaders and people to continue building and completed. 1:13-14. God speaks through him to the governor Zerubbabel, according to the word that I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt, so My Spirit remains among you; do not fear!’ (2:5)

Key Verse: 2:7 (NLT) I will shake all the nations, and the treasures of all the nations will be brought to this Temple. I will fill this place with glory, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

LAST VERSES: Haggai 2:23 (NLT) 23 “But when this happens, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, I will honor you, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, my servant. I will make you like a signet ring on my finger, says the Lord, for I have chosen you. I, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, have spoken!”

Zechariah 520 BC    The Word of the LORD to Zechariah  1 – 14

Snapshot: The prophet Zechariah calls Israel to return to God, and records prophetic visions that show what’s happening behind the scenes. His name means, “Yahweh (God) remembers.”

He is both a priest and a prophet. Zechariah’s message is very messianic and future-looking, and reveals much about the end times in which we are living. Looking at the eight visions together, you can see it is God’s message to restore Israel and the nations to their right relationship to one another, and to Him as the God of the world.

The re-building of the Temple was halted for 16 years. Two months after Haggai delivered his first sermon, Zechariah began his prophetic ministry (Hag. 1:1 and Zech. 1:1). He encouraged the people to spiritual renewal and motivated them to rebuild the Temple by revealing to them God’s plans for Israel’s future. With this encouragement, the Temple reconstruction was completed in 515 BC, five years later.

Key Verse: 4:6 (NKJV) So he answered and said to me: “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the Lord of hosts.

LAST VERSE: Zechariah 14:21 (ERV) In fact, every dish in Jerusalem and Judah will have the label, holy to the lord all-powerful. All the people offering sacrifices will come, take those dishes, and cook their special meals in them. At that time there will not be any merchants buying and selling things in the Temple of the Lord All-Powerful.

Malachi 430 BC       The Word of the LORD by Malachi    1 – 4

Snapshot: God has been faithful to Israel, but they continue to live disconnected from him—so God sends Malachi to call them out.

Malachi prophesied during the Persian Empire. The Temple in Jerusalem was rebuilt and many Jews had returned but they had neglected the things of God. They were skimping on their sacrifices and failing to give their tithes, and the priests of God did nothing to encourage them. There were mixed marriages and divorce had become a common practice. He told them not to neglect the things of God and repent right now if they ever expect to receive the blessings of God and prosper.

Malachi also speaks of the coming day of the Lord, and prophesied the coming of John the Baptist (who came as the fulfillment of his prophecy about Elijah preparing the way for the Messiah) (Matthew 3:1-12 and 11:14). The Book of Malachi closes the Old Testament and there was not another prophet for nearly 400 years until John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness.

Key verse: God reminds that Israel is the Beloved of God: 1:2 (NKJV) “I have loved you,” says the Lord. “Yet you say, ‘In what way have You loved us?’ Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” Says the Lord. “Yet Jacob I have loved;

LAST VERSE: Malachi 4:6 (AMPC) And he shall turn and reconcile the hearts of the [estranged] fathers to the [ungodly] children, and the hearts of the [rebellious] children to [the piety of] their fathers [a reconciliation produced by repentance of the ungodly], lest I come and smite the land with a curse and a ban of utter destruction.

Kainotes, 2021-01-21

free from discrimination

Does God have favoritism? Genesis 3-15 shows us who are God’s beloved. Sufferings come from man and not God. The first man reacted to an inbuilt conscience of guilt and shame and started the blame culture after eating the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The following verses sum up what happened after the fall of Adam: denial of own failures and responsibilities by blaming others. Adam blamed his wife Eve and God for giving him a wife. Eve blamed snake who successfully lied to her and cheated her. Their eldest son Cain blamed God and parents for imagined favoritism, rebelled against parents and God and murdered his own brother Abel and left the presence of God and parents. The rebellious mankind then tried to build a name for themselves and finally became “Babel”. As quoted from an online source: “Babel, the kingdom of earth, is hell-bent on de-throning the God of the universe. It is a kingdom of pride, self-sufficiency, and defiance to the Creator.”

As God warned Cain, beware that sin is a spiritual creature that lurks at the door of our soul and seizes opportunity given by human to conquer and control human. Cain failed to be alert and turn around back to God because he persisted in believing his own deceptive prideful imagination and the lies of the devil. He could have easily turned back to God because at that time God was speaking to him and he could hear and talk back! But he chose to be consumed by defiance, envy and hatred. I believe he was unspiritual and could not believe in a spiritual God. This is still the main problem with many today. Sin is the thief that Jesus has described with the purpose to steal, kill and destroy mankind. Sin seeks to destroy a person’s peace. (Genesis 4:6; John 10:10)

But human is not left helpless and defenseless. Jesus has brought victory over sin and broken the power of death. He has brought super-abundant life to mankind. Man is not destined to be eternal slaves to sin and the power of death. Every born again believer has a new beginning in life. A born again spirit that is joined to the Lord’s Spirit. The wisdom who is Christ in us. The authority of the name of Jesus. The power in us is the same power that raised Christ from the dead. This mighty power of the Holy Spirit now gives life to our mortal bodies. The children of God can rely on the Holy Spirit to lead us to live a victorious life. (Read Romans 5-8) We have every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ. (Ephesians 1:3) We can put on the whole armor of God and stand against the wiles of the devil. (Ephesians 6:10-18)

When we read the Bible verses we can see God’s love and mercy everywhere. He is love. He gives warning to help us not to fall into the many snares set by the devil after the first man’s fall. In ancient days (as recorded in the Old Testament) people could even hear God talking directly to them. Today we can hear Him too through listening in our heart to the Holy Spirit and reading His words.

(All Scriptures are quoted from New King James Version (NKJV) unless otherwise indicated)

Genesis 3:12 Then the man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.”

Genesis 4:5-7 5 but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell.

6 So the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? 7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.”

Genesis 4:16 The Family of Cain 16 Then Cain went out from the presence of the Lord and dwelt in the land of Nod on the east of Eden.

Genesis 6:5 5 Then the Lord[God] saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

Genesis 7:1 The Great Flood: Then the Lord said to Noah, “Come into the ark, you and all your household, because I have seen that you are righteous before Me in this generation.

Genesis 9:1 God’s Promise to Noah: So God blessed Noah and his sons, and said to them: “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth.

Genesis 11:1,4,6,9 The Tower of Babel 11:1 Now the whole earth had one language and one speech. 4 And they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.”6 And the Lord said, “Indeed the people are one and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them.9 Therefore its name is called Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth; and from there the Lord scattered them abroad over the face of all the earth.

GOOD NEWS TO ALL MANKIND: God does not have favoritism. You can be His beloved.

God seeks reconciliation and continuing relationship with human. He found a man who was faithful, not a nation, just one individual who could hear God and responded to God positively by faith. The good news is God intends Abraham to bless all mankind and not just his own biological descendants and tribe. The same blessings that God has given to him are to be given too to the rest of the world at all time. Who can qualify and how to receive? Read on.

Genesis 12:1-4 Promises to Abram (Abraham)1 Now the Lord had said to Abram: “Get out of your country, From your family And from your father’s house, To a land that I will show you.2 I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing.3 I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”4 :1 So Abram departed as the Lord had spoken to him, and Lot went with him. And Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.

Genesis 15:1,6 God’s Covenant with Abram1 After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.”6 And he believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.

Romans 4 on justification by faith: The Promise Granted Through Faith

13 For the promise that he would be the heir of the world not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all. 20 He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. 22 And therefore “it was accounted to him for righteousness.” 23 Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, 24 but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, 25 who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification.

Galatians 3:5-9 You can have the faith of Jesus, the Son of God in you. You can have the Holy Spirit God gives to every believer as a guarantee of His blessings. Just believe and you will receive.

5 Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? —6 just as Abraham “believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” 7 Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. 8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, “In you all the nations shall be blessed.” 9 So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham.

Acts 10:34-36,42-44

Then Peter replied, “I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism. In every nation he accepts those who fear him and do what is right. This is the message of Good News for the people of Israel—that there is peace with God through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. And he ordered us to preach everywhere and to testify that Jesus is the one appointed by God to be the judge of all—the living and the dead. He is the one all the prophets testified about, saying that everyone who believes in him will have their sins forgiven through his name. ”Even as Peter was saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the message.

Daily Word: Numbers 2323 curses or blessings? You choose!

Today’s word is confirmed by two witnesses. I opened my Bible and was led to read this: Numbers 23:23 in which God declares: “No curse can touch Jacob; no magic has any power against Israel.” After reading and meditating on its implication today, I looked at emails that came through during the night and found a reader’s request to comment on a book, Derek Prince’s “Blessing or Curse: You can Choose” . I found the book and when opened it showed chapter 13, and the same reference to Numbers 22, 23 and 24 (alerting me to read Numbers 23:23).

In the Old Testament around 1407 BC a famous proficient “witch doctor” called Balaam was commissioned by a powerful rich king Balak to curse the people of God, the Israelites. But God says, NO CURSE CAN TOUCH JACOB, NO MAGIC HAS ANY POWER AGAINST ISRAEL. Balaam was a man well versed in using curses and magic power. But he could not use them against the chosen people of God.  God did not take it lightly. He turned the intended curses into blessings despite Balaam’s intention to curse as he commanded a high fee for his job and the terrified Moab king was willing to pay. Of course, when God intervened supernaturally, Balaam did not get his pay. He died a terrible death in the end.

Let us read some of the passages in Numbers 22, 23, 24. I deliberately quoted the blessings which still apply to God’s people today. The Christians who are the descendants of Abraham by faith. In spiritual reality, Jesus has accomplished the breaking of two major curses: the curse from the Law of Moses, and the curse from Adam’s fall. (Galatians 3:13-14) (The curses from the Law of Moses are recorded in Deuteronomy 28:15-68)

Numbers 22-24 New Living Translation (NLT)

Balak Sends for Balaam
22:1 Then the people of Israel traveled to the plains of Moab and camped east of the Jordan River, across from Jericho. 2 Balak .., the Moabite king, had seen everything the Israelites did to the Amorites…“This mob will devour everything in sight, like an ox devours grass in the field!”
So Balak, king of Moab, 5 sent messengers to call Balaam …6 Please come and curse these people for me because they are too powerful for me…

Balaam Blesses Israel
23:7 This was the message Balaam delivered:
8 “But how can I curse those
whom God has not cursed?
How can I condemn those
whom the Lord has not condemned?
…Let me die like the righteous;
let my life end like theirs.”

Balaam’s Second Message
16 And the Lord met Balaam and gave him a message. Then he said, “Go back to Balak and give him my message.”
18 This was the message Balaam delivered:…
19 God is not a man, so he does not lie.
He is not human, so he does not change his mind.
Has he ever spoken and failed to act?
Has he ever promised and not carried it through?
20 Listen, I received a command to bless;
God has blessed, and I cannot reverse it!
21 No misfortune is in his plan for Jacob;
no trouble is in store for Israel.
For the Lord their God is with them;
he has been proclaimed their king.
22 God brought them out of Egypt;
for them he is as strong as a wild ox.
23 No curse can touch Jacob;
no magic has any power against Israel.
For now it will be said of Jacob,
‘What wonders God has done for Israel!’
24 These people rise up like a lioness,
like a majestic lion rousing itself.
They refuse to rest
until they have feasted on prey,
drinking the blood of the slaughtered!”
25 Then Balak said to Balaam, “Fine, but if you won’t curse them, at least don’t bless them!”
26 But Balaam replied to Balak, “Didn’t I tell you that I can do only what the Lord tells me?”

Balaam’s Third Message
24:2 Then the Spirit of God came upon him, 3 and this is the message he delivered:
“This is the message of Balaam son of Beor,
the message of the man whose eyes see clearly,
4 the message of one who hears the words of God,
who sees a vision from the Almighty,
who bows down with eyes wide open:
5 How beautiful are your tents, O Jacob;
how lovely are your homes, O Israel!
6 They spread before me like palm groves,[e]
like gardens by the riverside.
They are like tall trees planted by the Lord,
like cedars beside the waters.
7 Water will flow from their buckets;
their offspring have all they need.
Their king will be greater than Agag;
their kingdom will be exalted.
8 God brought them out of Egypt;
for them he is as strong as a wild ox.
He devours all the nations that oppose him,
breaking their bones in pieces,
shooting them with arrows.
9 Like a lion, Israel crouches and lies down;
like a lioness, who dares to arouse her?
Blessed is everyone who blesses you, O Israel,
and cursed is everyone who curses you.”

24:10 King Balak flew into a rage against Balaam…

Galatians 3:13-14 New Living Translation (NLT)
13 But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.”[a] 14 Through Christ Jesus, God has blessed the Gentiles with the same blessing he promised to Abraham, so that we who are believers might receive the promised[b] Holy Spirit through faith.

Footnotes:
3:13 Deut 21:23 (Greek version).
3:14 Some manuscripts read the blessing of the.

FREEDOM FROM CURSES IS BASED ON ONE CONDITION
Galatians 3:22 New Living Translation (NLT)

22 But the Scriptures declare that we are all prisoners of sin, so we receive God’s promise of freedom only by believing in Jesus Christ.

Revelation 22:3

And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him.