You won't get an argument from me, Lifted. I still think Balaam is the perfect bible character to compare VPW to. Over the centuries, people have debated whether or not Balaam was a "true prophet". Whether he was or wasn't, his SIN and greedy, lustful character, that craved all the things that come with money, are written for all time. Not too great a legacy. It's probably gonna stink to be him, at some point in the future.
It took me a long time to put together that the hardness and callousness that was evident in the ministry overall must have come from the actions and direction of those on top.
Old Vicsters actions never did line up with what he spoke. Those actions affected the entire ministry and have basically destroyed it. If he was so good as some say, why didn't the ministry continue to grow and prosper. There was a lot of deception going on. I know personally some very good hearted leaders who were outsted because they didn't want to get into the money issues. And I also know of some who were ousted because they tried to stand up to the infidelity issues.
And it eventually got to the point where anyone who utterered anything contrary to what VP said, you would have your face melted.
Loy followed in the same manner. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree. In any sane environment they should have been put on trial and had their a@@es thrown in jail.
This is a bit long, sorry, but the rebellion of Korah is referenced elsewhere in this thread, and links in well with the story of Balaam. Some comments in blue in the text, some application comments at the very end.
Numbers 16 (KJV)
16 Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men: 2 And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown: 3 And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the Lord?
[So, Korah, who had been anointed as chief of the Levites, inciting rebellion.He had a position of leadership and authority – but rebelled against The Establishment (Moses and Aaron) and thought he wanted a share of the action too.Claimed Moses and Aaron were too big for their boots.Claimed all the congregation was holy, when it was very clear they weren’t. Korah incited other leaders and got them to follow him.]
4 And when Moses heard it, he fell upon his face:
5 And he spake unto Korah and unto all his company, saying, Even to morrow the Lord will shew who are his, and who is holy; and will cause him to come near unto him: even him whom he hath chosen will he cause to come near unto him. 6 This do; Take you censers, Korah, and all his company; 7 And put fire therein, and put incense in them before the Lord to morrow: and it shall be that the man whom the Lord doth choose, he shall be holy: ye take too much upon you, ye sons of Levi.
[Moses reminds them that it’s the Lord’s choice who serves Him – not his, Moses’s choice.]
8 And Moses said unto Korah, Hear, I pray you, ye sons of Levi: 9 Seemeth it but a small thing unto you, that the God of Israel hath separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to himself to do the service of the tabernacle of the Lord, and to stand before the congregation to minister unto them? 10 And he hath brought thee near to him, and all thy brethren the sons of Levi with thee: and seek ye the priesthood also? 11 For which cause both thou and all thy company are gathered together against the Lord: and what is Aaron, that ye murmur against him?
[Moses reminds them that they already have a special role to play.Why should they overreach and demand even more?Demand the role assigned to others?Korah and the others are looking enviously at what they perceive the others have – status, position, power, authority.It’s what Korah lusts after: the control of the fledgling nation of Israel, the control of God’s chosen people.]
12 And Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab: which said, We will not come up: 13 Is it a small thing that thou hast brought us up out of a land that floweth with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness, except thou make thyself altogether a prince over us? 14 Moreover thou hast not brought us into a land that floweth with milk and honey, or given us inheritance of fields and vineyards: wilt thou put out the eyes of these men? we will not come up.
[Those who listened to Korah were caught up in his rebelliousness, resented Moses’s position and authority, and wanted their own fiefdoms.Dathan and Abiram weren’t Levites, but were from other tribes.They were leaders in their own right, but didn’t have special tabernacle responsibilities.But they had been led astray by those who did have tabernacle responsibilities.]
15 And Moses was very wroth, and said unto the Lord, Respect not thou their offering: I have not taken one foot from them, neither have I hurt one of them.
[Moses says he has taken nothing from them.There’s an implication here that these rebels may have taken asses and other property from others.]
16 And Moses said unto Korah, Be thou and all thy company before the Lord, thou, and they, and Aaron, to morrow: 17 And take every man his censer, and put incense in them, and bring ye before the Lord every man his censer, two hundred and fifty censers; thou also, and Aaron, each of you his censer. 18 And they took every man his censer, and put fire in them, and laid incense thereon, and stood in the door of the tabernacle of the congregation with Moses and Aaron.
19 And Korah gathered all the congregation against them unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and the glory of the Lord appeared unto all the congregation.
[Korah gathered “all the congregation.”He was only told to gather all those who colluded in his rebellion - "all thy company."But Korah wants to make a big show of his power.
Notably Moses doesn’t gather everyone.Implication is he’d rather be a bit more private about it, not make too much of a show.]
20 And the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, 21 Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.
[God sounds really pi$$ed off.]
22 And they fell upon their faces, and said, O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and wilt thou be wroth with all the congregation?
[Genuine leaders, making genuine intercession.]
23 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 24 Speak unto the congregation, saying, Get you up from about the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. 25 And Moses rose up and went unto Dathan and Abiram; and the elders of Israel followed him. 26 And he spake unto the congregation, saying, Depart, I pray you, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest ye be consumed in all their sins.
[God’s giving the congregation the opportunity to repent, not be caught up in this aspect of the spiritual battle.]
27 So they gat up from the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, on every side: and Dathan and Abiram came out, and stood in the door of their tents, and their wives, and their sons, and their little children.
[But the rebels stood firm.Dathan and Abiram, not being Levites, weren’t at the temple, but hung back at their tents.Leaders of some sort, perhaps, but cowardly ones.]
28 And Moses said, Hereby ye shall know that the Lord hath sent me to do all these works; for I have not done them of mine own mind. 29 If these men die the common death of all men, or if they be visited after the visitation of all men; then the Lord hath not sent me. 30 But if the Lord make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth, and swallow them up, with all that appertain unto them, and they go down quick into the pit; then ye shall understand that these men have provoked the Lord.
31 And it came to pass, as he had made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that was under them: 32 And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods. 33 They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation.
[Wow, what a display of power! Very scary!]
34 And all Israel that were round about them fled at the cry of them: for they said, Lest the earth swallow us up also.
[Everyone who saw this was scared witless.]
35 And there came out a fire from the Lord, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense.
[These are rebellious Levites, false servants who wanted the power and authority and kudos.]
…
41 But on the morrow all the congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron, saying, Ye have killed the people of the Lord.
[It only just happened, and already the people have forgotten, and blamed those with the real power and authority.]
42 And it came to pass, when the congregation was gathered against Moses and against Aaron, that they looked toward the tabernacle of the congregation: and, behold, the cloud covered it, and the glory of the Lord appeared.
43 And Moses and Aaron came before the tabernacle of the congregation. 44 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 45 Get you up from among this congregation, that I may consume them as in a moment. And they fell upon their faces.
[Genuine leaders, making more genuine intercession.]
46 And Moses said unto Aaron, Take a censer, and put fire therein from off the altar, and put on incense, and go quickly unto the congregation, and make an atonement for them: for there is wrath gone out from the Lord; the plague is begun.
[God deals with the people and there is a fatal plague among them]
47 And Aaron took as Moses commanded, and ran into the midst of the congregation; and, behold, the plague was begun among the people: and he put on incense, and made an atonement for the people. 48 And he stood between the dead and the living; and the plague was stayed.
49 Now they that died in the plague were fourteen thousand and seven hundred, beside them that died about the matter of Korah. 50 And Aaron returned unto Moses unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and the plague was stayed.
[How gruesome!The leaders of the rebellion died in horrible ways – fell into earthquake cracks, or were consumed by the very fire that they themselves had offered in their own righteousness.
And those leaders had led astray many others, who themselves died in the plague.]
To me, this smacks of the desire to usurp legitimate spiritual authority.VPW wanted to be a preacher-man, because he saw what power the local minister appeared to have.
Having started his own ministry, he then leads others astray, incites rebellion, takes wannabe leaders and trains them up as Way Corps, and tries to take over a large number of God’s people and pervert them from God’s own way and God’s chosen ministers.The rebels wanted “their” own ministries too.Their own “splinter groups.”
They, and all those that follow them, will ultimately perish.They don't enter into the "more abundant life," but into death. But God continually listens to pleas for mercy, and allows those who repent to live.
Hadn't read this thread that I can remember. Great work WordWolf, and also Twinky. That is an interesting topic to study in scripture. How the lust for money and power in the heart of a prophet turns bad.
This is a bit long, sorry, but the rebellion of Korah is referenced elsewhere in this thread, and links in well with the story of Balaam. Some comments in blue in the text, some application comments at the very end.
Numbers 16 (KJV)
16 Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men: 2 And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown: 3 And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the Lord?
[So, Korah, who had been anointed as chief of the Levites, inciting rebellion.He had a position of leadership and authority – but rebelled against The Establishment (Moses and Aaron) and thought he wanted a share of the action too.Claimed Moses and Aaron were too big for their boots.Claimed all the congregation was holy, when it was very clear they weren’t. Korah incited other leaders and got them to follow him.]
4 And when Moses heard it, he fell upon his face:
5 And he spake unto Korah and unto all his company, saying, Even to morrow the Lord will shew who are his, and who is holy; and will cause him to come near unto him: even him whom he hath chosen will he cause to come near unto him. 6 This do; Take you censers, Korah, and all his company; 7 And put fire therein, and put incense in them before the Lord to morrow: and it shall be that the man whom the Lord doth choose, he shall be holy: ye take too much upon you, ye sons of Levi.
[Moses reminds them that it’s the Lord’s choice who serves Him – not his, Moses’s choice.]
8 And Moses said unto Korah, Hear, I pray you, ye sons of Levi: 9 Seemeth it but a small thing unto you, that the God of Israel hath separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to himself to do the service of the tabernacle of the Lord, and to stand before the congregation to minister unto them? 10 And he hath brought thee near to him, and all thy brethren the sons of Levi with thee: and seek ye the priesthood also? 11 For which cause both thou and all thy company are gathered together against the Lord: and what is Aaron, that ye murmur against him?
[Moses reminds them that they already have a special role to play.Why should they overreach and demand even more?Demand the role assigned to others?Korah and the others are looking enviously at what they perceive the others have – status, position, power, authority.It’s what Korah lusts after: the control of the fledgling nation of Israel, the control of God’s chosen people.]
12 And Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab: which said, We will not come up: 13 Is it a small thing that thou hast brought us up out of a land that floweth with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness, except thou make thyself altogether a prince over us? 14 Moreover thou hast not brought us into a land that floweth with milk and honey, or given us inheritance of fields and vineyards: wilt thou put out the eyes of these men? we will not come up.
[Those who listened to Korah were caught up in his rebelliousness, resented Moses’s position and authority, and wanted their own fiefdoms.Dathan and Abiram weren’t Levites, but were from other tribes.They were leaders in their own right, but didn’t have special tabernacle responsibilities.But they had been led astray by those who did have tabernacle responsibilities.]
15 And Moses was very wroth, and said unto the Lord, Respect not thou their offering: I have not taken one foot from them, neither have I hurt one of them.
[Moses says he has taken nothing from them.There’s an implication here that these rebels may have taken asses and other property from others.]
16 And Moses said unto Korah, Be thou and all thy company before the Lord, thou, and they, and Aaron, to morrow: 17 And take every man his censer, and put incense in them, and bring ye before the Lord every man his censer, two hundred and fifty censers; thou also, and Aaron, each of you his censer. 18 And they took every man his censer, and put fire in them, and laid incense thereon, and stood in the door of the tabernacle of the congregation with Moses and Aaron.
19 And Korah gathered all the congregation against them unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and the glory of the Lord appeared unto all the congregation.
[Korah gathered “all the congregation.”He was only told to gather all those who colluded in his rebellion - "all thy company."But Korah wants to make a big show of his power.
Notably Moses doesn’t gather everyone.Implication is he’d rather be a bit more private about it, not make too much of a show.]
20 And the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, 21 Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.
[God sounds really pi$$ed off.]
22 And they fell upon their faces, and said, O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and wilt thou be wroth with all the congregation?
[Genuine leaders, making genuine intercession.]
23 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 24 Speak unto the congregation, saying, Get you up from about the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. 25 And Moses rose up and went unto Dathan and Abiram; and the elders of Israel followed him. 26 And he spake unto the congregation, saying, Depart, I pray you, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest ye be consumed in all their sins.
[God’s giving the congregation the opportunity to repent, not be caught up in this aspect of the spiritual battle.]
27 So they gat up from the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, on every side: and Dathan and Abiram came out, and stood in the door of their tents, and their wives, and their sons, and their little children.
[But the rebels stood firm.Dathan and Abiram, not being Levites, weren’t at the temple, but hung back at their tents.Leaders of some sort, perhaps, but cowardly ones.]
28 And Moses said, Hereby ye shall know that the Lord hath sent me to do all these works; for I have not done them of mine own mind. 29 If these men die the common death of all men, or if they be visited after the visitation of all men; then the Lord hath not sent me. 30 But if the Lord make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth, and swallow them up, with all that appertain unto them, and they go down quick into the pit; then ye shall understand that these men have provoked the Lord.
31 And it came to pass, as he had made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that was under them: 32 And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods. 33 They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation.
[Wow, what a display of power! Very scary!]
34 And all Israel that were round about them fled at the cry of them: for they said, Lest the earth swallow us up also.
[Everyone who saw this was scared witless.]
35 And there came out a fire from the Lord, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense.
[These are rebellious Levites, false servants who wanted the power and authority and kudos.]
…
41 But on the morrow all the congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron, saying, Ye have killed the people of the Lord.
[It only just happened, and already the people have forgotten, and blamed those with the real power and authority.]
42 And it came to pass, when the congregation was gathered against Moses and against Aaron, that they looked toward the tabernacle of the congregation: and, behold, the cloud covered it, and the glory of the Lord appeared.
43 And Moses and Aaron came before the tabernacle of the congregation. 44 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 45 Get you up from among this congregation, that I may consume them as in a moment. And they fell upon their faces.
[Genuine leaders, making more genuine intercession.]
46 And Moses said unto Aaron, Take a censer, and put fire therein from off the altar, and put on incense, and go quickly unto the congregation, and make an atonement for them: for there is wrath gone out from the Lord; the plague is begun.
[God deals with the people and there is a fatal plague among them]
47 And Aaron took as Moses commanded, and ran into the midst of the congregation; and, behold, the plague was begun among the people: and he put on incense, and made an atonement for the people. 48 And he stood between the dead and the living; and the plague was stayed.
49 Now they that died in the plague were fourteen thousand and seven hundred, beside them that died about the matter of Korah. 50 And Aaron returned unto Moses unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and the plague was stayed.
[How gruesome!The leaders of the rebellion died in horrible ways – fell into earthquake cracks, or were consumed by the very fire that they themselves had offered in their own righteousness.
And those leaders had led astray many others, who themselves died in the plague.]
To me, this smacks of the desire to usurp legitimate spiritual authority.VPW wanted to be a preacher-man, because he saw what power the local minister appeared to have.
Having started his own ministry, he then leads others astray, incites rebellion, takes wannabe leaders and trains them up as Way Corps, and tries to take over a large number of God’s people and pervert them from God’s own way and God’s chosen ministers.The rebels wanted “their” own ministries too.Their own “splinter groups.”
They, and all those that follow them, will ultimately perish.They don't enter into the "more abundant life," but into death. But God continually listens to pleas for mercy, and allows those who repent to live.
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ex10
You won't get an argument from me, Lifted. I still think Balaam is the perfect bible character to compare VPW to. Over the centuries, people have debated whether or not Balaam was a "true prophet". Whether he was or wasn't, his SIN and greedy, lustful character, that craved all the things that come with money, are written for all time. Not too great a legacy. It's probably gonna stink to be him, at some point in the future.
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polar bear
WW-Very interesting work. Job well done.
It took me a long time to put together that the hardness and callousness that was evident in the ministry overall must have come from the actions and direction of those on top.
Old Vicsters actions never did line up with what he spoke. Those actions affected the entire ministry and have basically destroyed it. If he was so good as some say, why didn't the ministry continue to grow and prosper. There was a lot of deception going on. I know personally some very good hearted leaders who were outsted because they didn't want to get into the money issues. And I also know of some who were ousted because they tried to stand up to the infidelity issues.
And it eventually got to the point where anyone who utterered anything contrary to what VP said, you would have your face melted.
Loy followed in the same manner. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree. In any sane environment they should have been put on trial and had their a@@es thrown in jail.
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CONNERRON
Greetings and God bless you;
Excellent disertation, **** four stars!.
Thanks,
connerron
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WordWolf
According to Mike, vpw should be compared to Balaam. Hey, Mike and I agree on something again!
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Rocky
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Twinky
This is a bit long, sorry, but the rebellion of Korah is referenced elsewhere in this thread, and links in well with the story of Balaam. Some comments in blue in the text, some application comments at the very end.
Numbers 16 (KJV)
16 Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men: 2 And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown: 3 And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the Lord?
[So, Korah, who had been anointed as chief of the Levites, inciting rebellion. He had a position of leadership and authority – but rebelled against The Establishment (Moses and Aaron) and thought he wanted a share of the action too. Claimed Moses and Aaron were too big for their boots. Claimed all the congregation was holy, when it was very clear they weren’t. Korah incited other leaders and got them to follow him.]
4 And when Moses heard it, he fell upon his face:
5 And he spake unto Korah and unto all his company, saying, Even to morrow the Lord will shew who are his, and who is holy; and will cause him to come near unto him: even him whom he hath chosen will he cause to come near unto him. 6 This do; Take you censers, Korah, and all his company; 7 And put fire therein, and put incense in them before the Lord to morrow: and it shall be that the man whom the Lord doth choose, he shall be holy: ye take too much upon you, ye sons of Levi.
[Moses reminds them that it’s the Lord’s choice who serves Him – not his, Moses’s choice.]
8 And Moses said unto Korah, Hear, I pray you, ye sons of Levi: 9 Seemeth it but a small thing unto you, that the God of Israel hath separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to himself to do the service of the tabernacle of the Lord, and to stand before the congregation to minister unto them? 10 And he hath brought thee near to him, and all thy brethren the sons of Levi with thee: and seek ye the priesthood also? 11 For which cause both thou and all thy company are gathered together against the Lord: and what is Aaron, that ye murmur against him?
[Moses reminds them that they already have a special role to play. Why should they overreach and demand even more? Demand the role assigned to others? Korah and the others are looking enviously at what they perceive the others have – status, position, power, authority. It’s what Korah lusts after: the control of the fledgling nation of Israel, the control of God’s chosen people.]
12 And Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab: which said, We will not come up: 13 Is it a small thing that thou hast brought us up out of a land that floweth with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness, except thou make thyself altogether a prince over us? 14 Moreover thou hast not brought us into a land that floweth with milk and honey, or given us inheritance of fields and vineyards: wilt thou put out the eyes of these men? we will not come up.
[Those who listened to Korah were caught up in his rebelliousness, resented Moses’s position and authority, and wanted their own fiefdoms. Dathan and Abiram weren’t Levites, but were from other tribes. They were leaders in their own right, but didn’t have special tabernacle responsibilities. But they had been led astray by those who did have tabernacle responsibilities.]
15 And Moses was very wroth, and said unto the Lord, Respect not thou their offering: I have not taken one foot from them, neither have I hurt one of them.
[Moses says he has taken nothing from them. There’s an implication here that these rebels may have taken asses and other property from others.]
16 And Moses said unto Korah, Be thou and all thy company before the Lord, thou, and they, and Aaron, to morrow: 17 And take every man his censer, and put incense in them, and bring ye before the Lord every man his censer, two hundred and fifty censers; thou also, and Aaron, each of you his censer. 18 And they took every man his censer, and put fire in them, and laid incense thereon, and stood in the door of the tabernacle of the congregation with Moses and Aaron.
19 And Korah gathered all the congregation against them unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and the glory of the Lord appeared unto all the congregation.
[Korah gathered “all the congregation.” He was only told to gather all those who colluded in his rebellion - "all thy company." But Korah wants to make a big show of his power.
Notably Moses doesn’t gather everyone. Implication is he’d rather be a bit more private about it, not make too much of a show.]
20 And the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, 21 Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.
[God sounds really pi$$ed off.]
22 And they fell upon their faces, and said, O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and wilt thou be wroth with all the congregation?
[Genuine leaders, making genuine intercession.]
23 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 24 Speak unto the congregation, saying, Get you up from about the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. 25 And Moses rose up and went unto Dathan and Abiram; and the elders of Israel followed him. 26 And he spake unto the congregation, saying, Depart, I pray you, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest ye be consumed in all their sins.
[God’s giving the congregation the opportunity to repent, not be caught up in this aspect of the spiritual battle.]
27 So they gat up from the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, on every side: and Dathan and Abiram came out, and stood in the door of their tents, and their wives, and their sons, and their little children.
[But the rebels stood firm. Dathan and Abiram, not being Levites, weren’t at the temple, but hung back at their tents. Leaders of some sort, perhaps, but cowardly ones.]
28 And Moses said, Hereby ye shall know that the Lord hath sent me to do all these works; for I have not done them of mine own mind. 29 If these men die the common death of all men, or if they be visited after the visitation of all men; then the Lord hath not sent me. 30 But if the Lord make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth, and swallow them up, with all that appertain unto them, and they go down quick into the pit; then ye shall understand that these men have provoked the Lord.
31 And it came to pass, as he had made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that was under them: 32 And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods. 33 They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation.
[Wow, what a display of power! Very scary!]
34 And all Israel that were round about them fled at the cry of them: for they said, Lest the earth swallow us up also.
[Everyone who saw this was scared witless.]
35 And there came out a fire from the Lord, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense.
[These are rebellious Levites, false servants who wanted the power and authority and kudos.]
…
41 But on the morrow all the congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron, saying, Ye have killed the people of the Lord.
[It only just happened, and already the people have forgotten, and blamed those with the real power and authority.]
42 And it came to pass, when the congregation was gathered against Moses and against Aaron, that they looked toward the tabernacle of the congregation: and, behold, the cloud covered it, and the glory of the Lord appeared.
43 And Moses and Aaron came before the tabernacle of the congregation. 44 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 45 Get you up from among this congregation, that I may consume them as in a moment. And they fell upon their faces.
[Genuine leaders, making more genuine intercession.]
46 And Moses said unto Aaron, Take a censer, and put fire therein from off the altar, and put on incense, and go quickly unto the congregation, and make an atonement for them: for there is wrath gone out from the Lord; the plague is begun.
[God deals with the people and there is a fatal plague among them]
47 And Aaron took as Moses commanded, and ran into the midst of the congregation; and, behold, the plague was begun among the people: and he put on incense, and made an atonement for the people. 48 And he stood between the dead and the living; and the plague was stayed.
49 Now they that died in the plague were fourteen thousand and seven hundred, beside them that died about the matter of Korah. 50 And Aaron returned unto Moses unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and the plague was stayed.
[How gruesome! The leaders of the rebellion died in horrible ways – fell into earthquake cracks, or were consumed by the very fire that they themselves had offered in their own righteousness.
And those leaders had led astray many others, who themselves died in the plague.]
To me, this smacks of the desire to usurp legitimate spiritual authority. VPW wanted to be a preacher-man, because he saw what power the local minister appeared to have.
Having started his own ministry, he then leads others astray, incites rebellion, takes wannabe leaders and trains them up as Way Corps, and tries to take over a large number of God’s people and pervert them from God’s own way and God’s chosen ministers. The rebels wanted “their” own ministries too. Their own “splinter groups.”
They, and all those that follow them, will ultimately perish. They don't enter into the "more abundant life," but into death. But God continually listens to pleas for mercy, and allows those who repent to live.
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chockfull
Hadn't read this thread that I can remember. Great work WordWolf, and also Twinky. That is an interesting topic to study in scripture. How the lust for money and power in the heart of a prophet turns bad.
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WordWolf
This was worth reviewing, also. :)
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