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THE WHOLE ARMOR OF YAHWEH
By
Bertrand L. Comparet
There is one passage in the scriptures, which is often
quoted, but seldom understood. It was written by the apostle Paul, and is found
in Ephesians 6:11-18, "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood,
but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness of
this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you
the whole armor of Yahweh, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil
day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt
about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness:
and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all,
taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the
fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the
sword of the spirit, which is the word of Yahweh."
How many who quote these verses, know what they really
mean? Even the first part of it that our opposition is really sponsored and
directed by superhuman forces, is no longer believed in most churches. Those who
like to consider themselves very modern and sophisticated consider all
references to anything supernatural to be only primitive superstition, and they
reject it as such. There are many references to these angelic beings, both good
and bad, from sources whose inspiration we cannot reject, even including our
Redeemer, Yahshua. Those who do scornfully reject all this are correctly
described as sophisticated. The dictionary defines sophisticated as adulterated
with some inferior substances!
Those who have made any really thorough study of present
day conditions, political, economic, social, and military, certainly must agree
that all the world is in the grip of a tremendous conspiracy. All the powers of
human organization everywhere are twisted and perverted out of their natural
purpose and function. They are all directed toward the accomplishment of one
huge, sinister purpose. This is the enslavement of all mankind, under the most
cruel and evil system ever known.
To this end, our schools forbid the mention of the name
of Yahweh. These evil people teach our children that patriotism is reactionary
and evil. They teach it is the highest good to destroy our own nation and put it
under the limitless tyranny of the barbarian and outright savage nations, who
are in the majority. Some professors, as reported from time to time in our
newspapers, teach even the grossest immorality. Who are these evil people that
are trying to destroy modern day Israel? As throughout history, they are the
Canaanite Jews. These evil people have been thrown out of just about every
country in the world because of their treachery and nefarious ways.
All this corruption of our children is defended as being
the rightful academic freedom of the professors. Those who have gained control
of our economic system, have led us deeper and deeper into debt, until it is now
admitted the debt is well over 5 trillion dollars, maybe even as high as 17
trillion dollars.
The moneychangers have so involved every industry in this
system of usurious debt, that when we falter under the hopeless burden, as we
must, our entire economic system will all crash into ruin at the same time. This
ruin is what they intend and desire to accomplish. Those who control our
political system are taxing us into bankruptcy and using our wealth to
strengthen our enemies. At the same time, they oppose and betray our only real
friends in the world. The result is what you have seen over many decades, the
steady advance of Christ hating Jewish communism.
Those who brought communism to Russia and the world are
now ruling the country through lawless gangs, just as they are doing here in the
United States. It is quite impossible that such an extensive and perfectly
organized, worldwide conspiracy has come about by accident or coincidence. As
one of our most notorious politicians once said, we planned it that way! As the
apostle Paul said, "There is spiritual wickedness in high places!"
To beat this conspiracy, it is not sufficient that we shall oppose it with only
human resources. Our resources are not sufficient to oppose a conspiracy which
shows not only human, but actually diabolic cleverness.
We are told, "Wherefore take unto you the whole
armor of Yahweh, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having
done all to stand." Nothing less will suffice. Here Paul uses the simile of
the Grecian armor, so well known in his day. "Your loins girt about with
truth * * the breastplate of righteousness * * your feet shod with the
preparation of the gospel of peace * * the shield of faith * * the helmet of
salvation * * and the sword of the spirit".
In the Greek armor the girdle, or military belt, was used
to brace the armor tight against the body, and to cover the space where the two
parts of the breastplate joined. This girdle was also used as a belt on which to
suspend a dagger or a short sword. The breastplate consisted of two parts. One
part reached from the neck to the navel, the other part hung from the navel to
the knees, then the girdle joined the two parts. The lower legs and feet were
protected by greaves made of gold, silver, brass or iron.
A helmet, made of various metals, protected the head. The
shield was carried on the left arm, and was sometimes made of thick, strong sole
leather, or sometimes was a frame of wood covered with brass or iron. All these
things were defensive armor. Then there was a sword, an offensive weapon. He,
who had all this armor, was completely armed for combat.
This was a good simile for Paul to use. We must have
defensive armor, so that the forces of evil don=t overcome us. We must also have the sword to destroy our enemies. As
Paul indicated, it is not enough that we have only material armor and weapons,
which will not suffice against the kind of enemies who are now attacking us. We
must also have the spiritual weapons, if we are to win.
Now, let's take a look at these spiritual defenses and
weapons, of what do they consist? Paul uses one word to describe each of them,
but what is the complete reality of which this is only the name? Certainly no
man made doctrines and dogmas will suffice. We must turn to the source of all
great truth, the Bible. This is where Paul begins, "having your loins girt
about with truth". In John 18:38 Pontius Pilate asked Yahshua,
"What is truth?" In John 17:17 Yahshua said Yahweh's word is
truth, and is the only truth that matters.
Remember that Yahweh's word to us has been mostly the
rules by which our personal and national lives should be governed, by these laws
and His commandments. Psalm 119:142,151 tells us, "Thy righteousness
is an everlasting righteousness, and Thy law is the truth. * * Thou art near O
Yahweh, and all Thy commandments are truth". How many of our churches today
remember all Yahweh's commandments are the truth?
The churches teach that the Old Testament is just the
record of Yahweh's well-meant failure to accomplish what He wanted to do, after
which He gave up and started over on something within His means, in the New
Testament. Some of them even apologize for the Old Testament as just a
collection of the myths of a primitive people! Can such churches as this ever
say they are putting on the whole armor of Yahweh? No wonder they are failures!
Let's see what Yahweh has said about those who won't accept all of His word.
Isaiah 5:24 says, "Therefore, as the fire
devoureth the stubble, and as the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall
be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up in dust: because they have cast
away the law of Yahweh, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel. Proverbs
28:9 warns us, "He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even
his prayer shall be abomination".
Hosea 4:6 gives us this terrible warning. "My
people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected
knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to Me: seeing
thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children."
Surely our forgetting of Yahweh's laws has resulted in our forgotten children
dying in the fever-ridden swamps of the tropics and the freezing mud of Korea.
They have been forgotten in the scorpion-infested deserts of Africa and amid the
burning cities of Europe. Our children have been forgotten in wars, which only
accomplished the evil purposes of that hidden hand, which manipulates our
politicians as its puppets. Only the whole armor of Yahweh is enough when we
meet these enemies.
In Ephesians 6:11-18 Paul tells us, "We
wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers,
against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness
in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of Yahweh, that ye may
be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand,
therefore having your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all
the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword
of the Spirit, which is the word of Yahweh."
Certainly what we see about us confirms Paul's statement
that all these evil conditions are not merely the result of the individual
efforts of wicked men. They are all parts of one gigantic, marvelously organized
conspiracy, too huge and too expertly devised to be just the product of human
malice. Its origin and direction are truly diabolical. Nothing short of the
whole armor of Yahweh is enough for us to withstand it.
Previously I started to analyze what makes up the whole
armor of Yahweh. We see that Paul starts first with truth and he compares
this to the girdle, which holds the rest of the armor together. We also can see
that all the commandments of Yahweh are the truth as Psalm
119:151 says. Therefore we can't throw any part of it in the rubbish heap,
as some of the churches do with the Old Testament. We must take both the Old and
New Testaments as one book.
Yahshua confirms this in Matthew 5:17-19 where He
says, "Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets: I am
not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, till heaven and
earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law till all be
fulfilled. Whosoever, therefore, shall break one of these least commandments,
and shall teach men so, he shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but
whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom
of heaven." This is to remain true until heaven and earth pass. You will
find in Revelation 21:1 this is not within this age, but not until after
the end of the millennium and the final judgment. So, the girdle of truth is to know
Yahweh's word, all of it.
Next Paul mentions the breastplate of righteousness. This
we might say is to do Yahweh's truth; this is not a new idea in the Bible.
Speaking of Yahweh Isaiah 59:17 says, "He put on righteousness as a
breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon His head". Paul carries this
same simile into Ephesians, which we have quoted.
The Bible has much to say about righteousness and what it
will do for us. Isaiah 48:18 records, "O that thou hadst hearkened
to My commandments! Then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as
the sea." Isaiah 32:16-18 fills out this picture. "Then
judgment shall dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness remain in the fruitful
field; and the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of
righteousness, quietness and assurance forever. And My people shall dwell in a
peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places."
How very different this is from the conditions we see
about us today! The reason for this is we have abandoned Yahweh's truth and lost
our righteousness thereby. We are not yet able to say what Isaiah 26:1-2
says. "We have a strong city; salvation will Yahweh appoint for walls and
bulwarks. Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth
may enter in!" Isn't this due, in a very significant part, to the fact that
many churches have sounded the trumpet so uncertainly, that their followers have
not prepared for battle?
Psalm 1:1-6 gives the rules. "Blessed is the
man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of
sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law
of Yahweh; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be
like a tree planted by the rivers of water that bringeth forth his fruit in his
season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff, which the wind driveth away.
Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the
congregation of the righteous. For Yahweh knoweth the way of the righteous: but
the way of the ungodly shall perish."
The laws of Yahweh were not intended for the salvation of
our soul in the next life, but for our guidance in this life. The dietary laws
were concerned with your health here and now, not after death. The economic laws
were to give us prosperity now, with money we spend here, and don't take to the
grave with us.
Salvation, redemption and immortality we never could have
gained in any way other than by the sacrifice Yahshua made for us on the cross.
The law, properly understood, does not conflict with this. If we had been taught
to obey the laws of Yahweh, we would have had a more prosperous nation. A nation
that is enjoying good health and free of the terrible plagues of cancer and
heart disease, tuberculosis and polio. We would be a nation so powerful that no
enemy could hope to stand before us. If we had put on the breastplate of truth,
and obeyed the laws of Yahweh, we wouldn't have our present troubles.
Next Paul says that our feet should be shod with the
preparation of the gospel of peace. Not the false satanic hope of peace by
reliance upon the pagan, Christ hating countries of the United Nations. Peace
never comes from leaders of these pagan countries; they don't even know the
meaning of peace. However, many churches of today teach that our only hope of
peace is in surrendering to the United Nations. Have they never heard the Prince
of peace is Yahshua?
Peace can only come on Yahweh's own terms, after Yahweh's
kingdom has been established. Yahshua confirms this for in Matthew 10:34
He said, "Think not that I am come to send peace on the earth: I came not
to send peace, but a sword." Only under the rule of Yahweh will peace come,
the scriptures verify this throughout the Bible.
In Isaiah 52:7 we read these famous words.
"How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of Him that bringeth good
tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that
publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, thy God reigneth!" It is only
when the kingdom of Yahweh has become an effective reality on earth, the good
tidings of peace can be published, and not otherwise.
Isaiah 9:6-7 records, "For unto us a child is
born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulders:
and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The
everlasting Father, The Prince of peace. Of the increase of His government and
peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon His kingdom, to
order it and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth-even
forever. The zeal of Yahweh will perform this."
It is only of Yahweh's government and peace that there
shall be no end. The scriptures have never promised us any other peace. Peace
certainly cannot come under the United Nations which recognizes no god but the
stone idol of Zeus, which stands in the lobby of its building in New York City.
We are told to have our feet shod with the preparation of
the gospel of peace. We are to be ready for our part in bringing our nation in
joyous obedience to Yahshua our Redeemer, from whom alone can we ever hear the
good news of peace. If we aren't ready, so much the worse for us!
In Mark 13:34-37 Yahshua warned us, "For the
Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave
authority to his servants, and to every man his work and commanded the porter to
watch. Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh:
at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: lest coming
suddenly, he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all: Watch!"
How many are really watching and are ready for His coming?
Paul says we need the shield of faith. In the original
Greek, from which this was translated, it says the faith. This is
important, not just faith, not just belief in something, but the faith.
The pagans who worshiped Moloch and Baal certainly had faith. They offered their
first-born sons as bloody sacrifices on the altar, but it was the wrong faith.
There is far too little true faith, the faith, in the world. In Luke
18:8 Yahshua sorrowfully asks, "When the Son of man cometh, shall He
find the faith on the earth?"
What is
the faith? After His resurrection Yahshua defined the faith. He
rebuked two of His disciples for their failure to understand what had happened,
it is recorded in Luke 24:25. "O fools, and slow of heart to believe
all that the prophets have spoken." Today, most churches believe
only the gospel of personal salvation. They despise all the rest that the
prophets have spoken; they do not have the faith. Paul says that with the
shield of the faith we will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the
wicked. In ancient times, fiery darts were slender, hollow reeds, filled with
combustible materials, which were ignited and shot from bows. This was for the
purpose of setting fire to tents and buildings in a besieged city.
Many people believe Yahweh exists, but comparatively few
believe Him in all that He has spoken through His prophets. These people are
going into battle without a shield, and the enemies' missiles will take a heavy
toll. In Hebrews 11:6 we are told, "Without faith it is impossible
to please Him: for he that cometh to Yahweh must believe that he is, and that He
is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him."
We are told Abraham believed Yahweh, and his faith was
counted to him for righteousness. Abraham believed Yahweh in something, which
appeared impossible to him. This is the kind of faith, which is counted for
righteousness. How few of our churches, and the people who attend them, have
this faith today! They have read Psalm 91:2-8 which says, "I will
say of Yahweh, he is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
Surely he will deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome
pestilence. He shall cover thee with His feathers, and under His wings shalt
thou trust: His truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid
for the terror by night; nor for the sorrow that flieth by day; nor for the
pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at
noonday. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand;
but it shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see
the reward of the wicked."
The people don't believe this; they would rather hazard
their lives on a treaty with Russia or China, than on the word of Yahweh! No
wonder they are so luke warm they have no faith for which they would be willing
to die. The ministers and priest don't preach from the gospel of John or the
epistles of John. They reduce their Savior to the gentle carpenter of Nazareth
and apologize for His strong teachings. These pseudo Christians serve on joint
committees with His enemies, and eagerly raise great sums of money for those who
blaspheme Yahshua's name. They deny their Savior to avoid offending the Jews!
If they will just read the Bible, they will read
Yahshua's reply to them for doing these things. It is recorded in Revelation
3:15-16. "I know thy works, that thou are neither cold nor hot: I would
that thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold
nor hot, I will spew thee out of My mouth." As always, Yahshua is right.
Christians, who are lukewarm, are not fit for this last great battle of the
great day of Yahweh the Almighty.
Next Paul lists the helmet of salvation; it is
fifth on the list. You must have the first four parts of armor, before you are
ready for this one. In the Old Testament, four Hebrew words are translated
salvation. In the New Testament, two Greek words are translated salvation; all
six have the primary meaning of safety. This is not only safety for the
individual; it must also be safety for the nation. If you voluntarily let your
nation lose its salvation, do you think that you as an individual can keep
yours? Among our ancient ancestors, those whose indifference allowed Baal
worship to enter the land, perished with it. Personal salvation by itself is not
enough. Today most Christians are running around unarmed and naked except for
just a helmet.
We can't stand passively by while this battle rages.
Besides the defensive armor of Yahweh, we must also have the sword of the
spirit, which Paul tells us, is the word of Yahweh. If you know this, and are
not afraid to use it, you can drive the enemy out of our schools, churches
and our government, even out of our land.
Satan has disarmed most people by subverting the
churches. These churches are now teaching Christians must avoid anything, which
is controversial, and teaching Christians they should love everybody, good or
evil. Truth, justice and righteousness are always controversial, because the
wicked always oppose them. Yahshua was the most controversial figure in all of
history, and still is.
If you are ashamed of Yahshua, because He never cringed
before controversy, remember you will have to explain this to Yahweh one of
these days! The word of Yahweh must advance boldly against evil. In Psalm
139:21-22 David says, "Do not I hate them O Yahweh, that hate thee? And
am not I grieved with those that rise up against Thee? I hate them with a
perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies". In Acts 13:22 Paul tells
that Yahweh said, "I have found David, the son of Jesse, a man after
Mine own heart, which shall fulfill all My will". No other man in all
of history received that honor, a man after Mine own heart.
Love of the wicked, and giving help to them, is always
wrong. In ancient times Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, made an alliance with the
wicked King Ahab. Because of this, King Jehoshaphat was rebuked by Yahweh, as we
read in II Chronicles 19:2. "Should you help the wicked and love
those who hate Yahweh? For this reason, wrath has come upon you from
Yahweh."
Yahshua was always uncompromising about wickedness. Sure, He lost the votes of the left wing and the alien
minority groups. But before you are tempted to sacrifice truth for the sake of
popularity, remember who it was that was resurrected. A thousand generations of
popular politicians are still dust in their graves.
There can be no neutrality in the battle between good and
evil. Yahshua never retreated He always attacked. His words are a ringing call
to battle now! You ignore them at your peril, for He said in John 12:48,
"He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth
him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last
day."
As a real Christian, you are armed with the girdle of truth,
the breastplate of righteousness, and your feet are shod with the
preparation of the gospel of peace. In addition you have the shield of the
faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the spirit. What
are you armed for? To do battle courageously against all wickedness.
Let's go! With these arms, and under the leadership of Yahshua, YOUR DESTINY
IS VICTORY!!!
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