Fool’s Gold
The serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, to sweep her away with a flood. But the [Land] came to the help of the woman, and the [Land] opened its mouth and swallowed the river that the dragon had poured from his mouth. (Revelation 12:15-17)
Satan mimicked the expanding gospel dominion with counterfeits at every step. Here, not only did he forge the water chariots of the true Temple (a false baptism), he would bring Noahic “rest” to the Land by destroying God’s mighty men. He would bring about his own twisted “new earth” by deluging the church with bogus teaching.
His plan backfired. “The Land” swallowed the false worship, alluding to Korah’s rebellion. These Jews had heard the gospel but would not obey it. They could not stomach an undefiled religion that stood against oppression (James 1:27). Israel was specifically accountable before God in a way that other nations were not: for her treatment of the poor (Exodus 22:21-24). This was the major charge Amos had brought against a previous Israel, and the reason for the death of that nation.
Like the saints, the unbelievers had drunk the pure water of Christ (2 Peter 1:4), but in their lusts their faith was choked by thorns and thistles. The true woman passed the jealous inspection by eating the scroll and becoming fruitful. However, to the false woman the riches of Christ became a cup of destruction (Numbers 5). Instead of living waters flowing from her belly (John 7:38), she vomited up the kingdom and her subsequent barrenness exposed her adultery.
For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt. For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned. (Hebrews 6:4-8)
The rich desired a different cup—a glory they could see. Like Esau, they gobbled down fool’s gold—false glory—and sold their eternal inheritance—resurrection “mansions”—for houses and lands. They “ascended” to receive Satan’s Oral Law scroll from Herod’s throne for a religion they could stomach, and sent out Wormwood chariots (Jeremiah 23:15). But they would not be able to keep down this false gospel, the gold and silver for which they sold the Son of God. Like Judas, their bowels would be torn open for buying land with the rewards of iniquity (Acts 1:18). In AD70, Jews—dead or alive—were cut open and searched by Syrians and Romans scavenging for the gold that many had swallowed before attempting to escape the siege.1
…Though evil is sweet in his mouth, though he hides it under his tongue, though he is loath to let it go and holds it in his mouth, yet his food is turned in his stomach; it is the venom of cobras within him. He swallows down riches and vomits them up again; God casts them out of his belly. He will suck the poison of cobras; the tongue of a viper will kill him. He will not look upon the rivers, the streams flowing with honey and curds. He will give back the fruit of his toil and will not swallow it down; from the profit of his trading he will get no enjoyment. For he has crushed and abandoned the poor; he has seized a house that he did not build. (Job 20:12-19)
This was a charge from Zophar, who accused Job of being a self-exalting hypocrite, one who in his head arrogantly ascended “to the clouds” in defiance of death, but who would perish like his own dung (Job 20:1-11). Like the boys from Bethel, these Jews ridiculed the ascension of Christ and scoffed at God’s prophets, the men who reminded them of Jesus’ words concerning the real flood that was coming to bring a real new Land with true peace (Daniel 9:26; Luke 17:26-27).
For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labour pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. (1 Thessalonians 5:3)
Like Adam, they lost both the flowing “honey and curds” kingdom and the riches they had sold Him for.
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See Josephus, The Jewish War, 5:13:4. Available for download from www.ccel.org
