WHY DO THE WICKED PROSPER?

One of the most common things you hear when talking about God is, why do the innocent suffer and why do the wicked prosper? From the outside, it appears these two questions are the big stumbling blocks as to why people aren't letting God into their lives. Those two questions are not the problem. Sin is the problem. Moreover, unrepented sin in our lives is what's keeping people away from God. The thing we have to keep in mind is, our righteousness is like filthy rags in God's eyes. (Isaiah 64:6) To give you an idea, the word filthy in the Hebrew comes from menstruation, i.e. stained garment. We have to see our sin in the light of God’s righteousness. To us, we aren’t so bad. To us, cheating on taxes, adultery, stealing from your employer, telling dirty jokes, keeping extra change a clerk accidentally gives you, and driving drunk, aren’t anything God really concerns Himself with.

One of the things that perplexed me most as a new police officer was how the criminals could run, with seeming impunity. We've all known them. Guys (mostly) that were always doing things that should have gotten them into lots of trouble, but somehow escaped. I think most of their safety comes from people that know what they have done, but neglect or refuse to say anything to the authorities.

I used to say they were denizens of the devil. But as I started to observe the regularity and boldness of their actions, I described them as somehow having an "aura" of protection around them. It was several years before I found my first Biblical proof of - not only that they are protected, but it was God that has given them that protection. On January 8, 1987 while reading the book of Job, I found in the 12th Chapter, 6th and 16th verses: 6, "The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God bringeth abundantly." 16, "With him is strength and wisdom: the deceived and the deceiver are his." Let's not suppose that God is a partner in crime with them, but let's look at the possibility that those people are being used as tools of judgment against the rest of the so-called honest citizens. I found about 36 more scriptures in two of my subsequent readings through the Bible.

The following scriptures hopefully will point out three things: (1) There is no such thing as an innocent person. (2) The wicked will have more problems than outsiders can see, and (3) the final end of those people will be like that of the "rich man", in Luke 16:19-31.

Genesis 4:11, 15

11. And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand; 15. And the Lord said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the Lord set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.

The Scofield Bible has a good note concerning Cain in Genesis 4:1. It notes 6 negative attributes and the 7th says: "is, nevertheless, the object of the divine solicitude." He had God's protection.

Deuteronomy 28:29 And thou shalt grope at noonday, as the blind gropeth in darkness, and thou shalt not prosper in thy ways: and thou shalt be only oppressed and spoiled evermore, and no man shall save thee.
Sounds like street people to me.

1 Samuel 26:9-11

9. And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not: for who can stretch forth his hand against the Lord's anointed, (SAUL) and be guiltless? 10. David said furthermore, As the Lord liveth, the Lord shall smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall descend into battle, and perish. 11. The Lord forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand against the Lord's anointed: but, I pray thee, take thou now the spear that is at his bolster, and the cruse of water, and let us go.
Actually vss.9, 11 are anti-assassination scripture. If someone is anointed of the Lord for a certain purpose, we had better let the Lord handle him, verse 10. It seems even the bad guys have protection uttered in verse 23, "but I would not stretch forth mine hand against the Lord's anointed." By that I mean (in the sense of police or vigilante hit squads) it would be wrong to kill the scrotes that beat the system on a technicality. The court system etc, is part of what "We the People" deserve. (See: The Bible and the Badge - Criminal Justice System Has Aids).

2 Samuel 22:26-27

26. With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful, and with the upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright. 27. With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself unsavoury.
I think these are keys to understanding God's "personal" judgment in the everyday lives of unbelievers-even though they think themselves to follow God. They think their sin is not sin so they go right ahead and do that which is "right in their own heart," and think they have the blessing of God.

2 Samuel 22:42 They looked, but there was none to save; even unto the Lord, but he answered them not.
This is what they have waiting for them in times of trouble, or at least, in the end times of their lives.

Job 3:23 Why is light given to a man whose way is hid, and whom God hath hedged in?
There are a lot of wicked people that are very smart but they can’t see God and His truth.

Job 4:7 Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent? or where were the righteous cut off?
This is a New Testament truth, "there is none righteous."

Job 5:12-14

12. He disappointeth the devices of the crafty, so that their hands cannot perform their enterprise. 13. He taketh the wise in their own craftiness: and the counsel of the froward is carried headlong. 14. They meet with darkness in the daytime, and grope in the noonday as in the night.
This is what is facing the crafty at the end of the tunnel.

Job 8:20 Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man, neither will he help the evil doers:
See Job 9:4 comment.

Job 9:4. He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered?
NOTE: Job 8:20 and Job 9:4 seem to speak against this "protection" that the unrighteous seem to have. What they have is temporary. It fits the class of "the rain falling on the just and the unjust."

Job 9:21-24

21. Though I were perfect, yet would I not know my soul: I would despise my life. 22. This is one thing, therefore I said it, He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked. 23. If the scourge slay suddenly, he will laugh at the trial of the innocent. 24. The earth is given into the hand of the wicked: he covereth the faces of the judges thereof; if not, where, and who is he?
If there is any scripture that says we get the government we deserve (and there is) this must be near the top. We are subject to this judgment when we look at our righteousness through our eyes and not God’s.

Job 11:20 But the eyes of the wicked shall fail, and they shall not escape, and their hope shall be as the giving up of the ghost.
They think they shall escape pain of judgment through death. Not so. Not even (especially) if they kill themselves. See: Anti Suicide.

Job 12:6,16

6. The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God bringeth abundantly. 16. With him is strength and wisdom: the deceived and the deceiver are his.
NOTE: Bildad's second discourse (18:1-21) is very lengthy but it is the end of the sinner. No matter what kind of life he had here on earth, the "end" will make it worthless. Forever is a long time.

Job 20:4-5

4. Knowest thou not this of old, since man was placed upon earth, 5. That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment?
Actually, Vs. 4-29 are well worth reading.

Job 21:7-20,30.

7. Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power? 8. Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes. 9. Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them. 10. Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf. 11. They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance. 12. They take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ. 13. They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave. 14. Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways. 15. What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him? 16. Lo, their good is not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is far from me. 17. How oft is the candle of the wicked put out! and how oft cometh their destruction upon them! God distributeth sorrows in his anger. 18. They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away. 19. God layeth up his iniquity for his children: he rewardeth him, and he shall know it. 20. His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty. 30. That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath.
Read on through v. 34. The wicked will have, for all intents and purposes, a full and happy life. Remember the rich man in Luke 16.

Job 22:12-20

12. Is not God in the height of heaven? and behold the height of the stars, how high they are! 13. And thou sayest, How doth God know? can he judge through the dark cloud? 14. Thick clouds are a covering to him, that he seeth not; and he walketh in the circuit of heaven. 15. Hast thou marked the old way which wicked men have trodden? 16. Which were cut down out of time, whose foundation was overflown with a flood: 17. Which said unto God, Depart from us: and what can the Almighty do for them? 18. Yet he filled their houses with good things: but the counsel of the wicked is far from me. 19. The righteous see it, and are glad: and the innocent laugh them to scorn. 20. Whereas our substance is not cut down, but the remnant of them the fire consumeth.
Here is more "rain on the unjust." When you read vss. 13-14, it seems as though people thought of God as a spy satellite that can be affected by the clouds.

Job 24:22-24

22. He draweth also the mighty with his power: he riseth up, and no man is sure of life. 23. Though it be given him to be in safety, whereon he resteth; yet his eyes are upon their ways. 24. They are exalted for a little while, but are gone and brought low; they are taken out of the way as all other, and cut off as the tops of the ears of corn.

Job 27:13-14

13. This is the portion of a wicked man with God, and the heritage of oppressors, which they shall receive of the Almighty. 14. If his children be multiplied, it is for the sword: and his offspring shall not be satisfied with bread.
This is a-kind-of the rest of the story to sinners that we don't really pay much attention to, especially if they are successful. Make no mistake about it, wars and famine gobble up sinners and children of sinners. That is not to say that everyone that died in the Vietnam war was a “sinner” or the child of a sinner, because the sinner’s sin can also take out other people around them. God will make that right in the future.

Psalms 10:3-4

3. For the wicked boasteth of his heart's desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the Lord abhorreth. 4. The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.

Psalms 17:14 From men which are thy hand, O Lord, from men of the world, which have their portion in this life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure: they are full of children, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes.

Psalms 18:25-27

25. With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright; 26. With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward. 27. For thou wilt save the afflicted people; but wilt bring down high looks.

Psalms 31:23 O love the Lord, all ye his saints: for the Lord preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer.
In the KJV it appears it's a good reward, but rest assured it isn't. See NIV, NAS, and others. That "reward" may not be right away or after every time he sins, but it is coming.

Psalms 32:10 Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the Lord, mercy shall compass him about.

Psalms 37:1-2, 7-10, 28

1. Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. 2. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. 7. Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. 8. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. 9. For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth. 10. For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be. 28. For the Lord loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved forever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.
These tell both sides of the story. They are never cut down as soon as we would like, but it is coming.

Psalms 49:11-14, 16-20

11. Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue forever, and their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands after their own names. 12. Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish. 13. This their way is their folly: yet their posterity approve their sayings. Selah. 14. Like sheep they are laid in the grave; death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their beauty shall consume in the grave from their dwelling. 16. Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased; 17. For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him. 18. Though while he lived he blessed his soul: and men will praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself. 19. He shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see light. 20. Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.

Psalms 50:16-23

16. But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth? 17. Seeing thou hatest instruction, and castest my words behind thee. 18. When thou sawest a thief, then thou consentedst with him, and hast been partaker with adulterers. 19. Thou givest thy mouth to evil, and thy tongue frameth deceit. 20. Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother; thou slanderest thine own mother's son. 21. These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes. 22. Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver. 23. Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God.
I think lawyers could fit into verses 18-20 very easily.

Psalms 68:18 Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell among them.

Psalms 69:33 For the Lord heareth the poor, and despiseth not his prisoners.

Psalms 73:1-22, 27

1. Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart. 2. But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped. 3. For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. 4. For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm. 5. They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men. 6. Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment. 7. Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish. 8. They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily. 9. They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth. 10. Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them. 11. And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High? 12. Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches. 13. Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency. 14. For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning. 15. If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children. 16. When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me; 17. Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end. 18. Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction. 19. How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors. 20. As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image. 21. Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins. 22. So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee. 27. For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.

Psalms 74:10   O God, how long shall the adversary reproach? shall the enemy blaspheme thy name forever?

Psalms 92:7  When the wicked spring as the grass, and when all the workers of iniquity do flourish; it is that they shall be destroyed forever:

Psalms 94:3-13,23

3. Lord, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph? 4. How long shall they utter and speak hard things? and all the workers of iniquity boast themselves? 5. They break in pieces thy people, O Lord, and afflict thine heritage. 6. They slay the widow and the stranger, and murder the fatherless. 7. Yet they say, The Lord shall not see, neither shall the God of Jacob regard it. 8. Understand, ye brutish among the people: and ye fools, when will ye be wise? 9. He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? he that formed the eye, shall he not see? 10. He that chastiseth the heathen, shall not he correct? he that teacheth man knowledge, shall not he know? 11. The Lord knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity. 12. Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O Lord, and teachest him out of thy law; 13. That thou mayest give him rest from the days of adversity, until the pit be digged for the wicked. 23. And he shall bring upon them their own iniquity, and shall cut them off in their own wickedness; yea, the Lord our God shall cut them off.

Psalms 140:8 Grant not, O Lord, the desires of the wicked: further not his wicked device; lest they exalt themselves. Selah.
When God does allow the wicked to prosper, it should never be taken as an endorsement of that person's sin. It should be seen as a shovel with which he is digging his grave.

Psalms 147:6 The Lord lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground.
It seems to us that this is forever in coming, but it will come.

Proverbs 1:22-33

22. How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge? 23. Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you. 24. Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; 25. But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: 26. I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; 27. When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. 28. Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: 29. For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord: 30. They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof. 31. Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices. 32. For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. 33. But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.

Proverbs 10:23 It is as sport to a fool to do mischief: but a man of understanding hath wisdom.

Proverbs 12:21 There shall no evil happen to the just: but the wicked shall be filled with mischief.

Proverbs 15:3 The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.

Proverbs 16:4 The Lord hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.

Proverbs 19:5 A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape.

Proverbs 21:12 The righteous man wisely considereth the house of the wicked: but God overthroweth the wicked for their wickedness.

Proverbs 25:21-22

21. If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: 22. For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall reward thee.
Proverbs 26:10 The great God that formed all things both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors.
What we sow is what we reap.

Ecclesiastes 4:1-3

1. So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter. 2. Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive. 3. Yea, better is he than both they, which hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 5:8 If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for he that is higher than the highest regardeth; and there be higher than they.

Ecclesiastes 7:15 All things have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a just man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his wickedness.

Ecclesiastes 8:11-14

11. Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. 12. Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him: 13, But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong his days, which are as a shadow; because he feareth not before God. 14. There is a vanity which is done upon the earth; that there be just men, unto whom it happeneth according to the work of the wicked; again, there be wicked men, to whom it happeneth according to the work of the righteous: I said that this also is vanity.
Verse 11 is the essence of the Conspiracy of Judgment because it is God that gives us our law makers and the law makers make the powerless, loophole-filled laws that encourage crime.

Isaiah 33:1 Woe to thee that spoilest, and thou wast not spoiled; and dealest treacherously, and they dealt not treacherously with thee! when thou shalt cease to spoil, thou shalt be spoiled; and when thou shalt make an end to deal treacherously, they shall deal treacherously with thee.
What goes around comes around. The young that are out plundering now, will be plundered someday in the future. Although very frustrating, this helps us understand why the plunderer has a purpose. The most frustrating part is - guess who they will call, demanding their rights, that something be done? The police, who they hate with a passion. Don't be surprised if the authorities can't (or for some strange reason, won't) do anything about their trouble. You can count on this being a curse that will be fulfilled.

Isaiah 42:24 Who gave Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to the robbers? Did not the Lord, he against whom we have sinned? For they would not walk in his ways, neither were they obedient unto his law.
This one is made a little clearer in other versions.

Isaiah 48:22 There is no peace, saith the Lord, unto the wicked.
There will be turmoil in their lives all through and up to the final judgment.

Isaiah 51:12-14

12. I, even I, am he that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man which shall be made as grass; 13. And forgettest the Lord thy maker, that hath stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth; and hast feared continually every day because of the fury of the oppressor, as if he were ready to destroy? and where is the fury of the oppressor? 14. The captive exile hasteneth that he may be loosed, and that he should not die in the pit, nor that his bread should fail.

Isaiah 59:15 Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey: and the Lord saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment.
Sounds like anarchy to me. When law and order break down, that's all we can expect.

Jeremiah 12:1-2

1. Righteous art thou, O Lord, when I plead with thee: yet let me talk with thee of thy judgments: Wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper? wherefore are all they happy that deal very treacherously? 2. Thou hast planted them, yea, they have taken root: they grow, yea, they bring forth fruit: thou art near in their mouth, and far from their reins.

Ezekiel 7:24 Wherefore I will bring the worst of the heathen, and they shall possess their houses: I will also make the pomp of the strong to cease; and their holy places shall be defiled.
This is kind of what happened to Kuwait at the hand of Saddam Hussein.

Ezekiel 14:9 And if the prophet be deceived when he hath spoken a thing, I the Lord have deceived that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand upon him, and will destroy him from the midst of my people Israel.
God will do the same thing with people in all of life's endeavors. 2 Thessalonians 2:11, backs up this statement.

Ezekiel 35:5-6

5. Because thou hast had a perpetual hatred, and hast shed the blood of the children of Israel by the force of the sword in the time of their calamity, in the time that their iniquity had an end: 6. Therefore, as I live, saith the Lord God, I will prepare thee unto blood, and blood shall pursue thee: sith thou hast not hated blood, even blood shall pursue thee.
This is what I call the Judas principle. Somebody had to do it, but woe unto them that did it. Probably even more important, was how they did it. If God uses you for bringing judgment onto another nation or person, use only the right amount of vengeance, or the tables may be turned.

Daniel 8:10-12

10. And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them. 11. Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down. 12. And an host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practised, and prospered.

Hosea 4:13-14

13. They sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains, and burn incense upon the hills, under oaks and poplars and elms, because the shadow thereof is good: therefore your daughters shall commit whoredom, and your spouses shall commit adultery. 14. I will not punish your daughters when they commit whoredom, nor your spouses when they commit adultery: for themselves are separated with whores, and they sacrifice with harlots: therefore the people that doth not understand shall fall.

Hosea 10:10  It is in my desire that I should chastise them; and the people shall be gathered against them, when they shall bind themselves in their two furrows.

Malachi 3:15  And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered.
Emphasis mine.

Matthew 5:43-48

43. Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 44. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45. That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. 46. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? 47. And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? 48. Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

Matthew 18:6-7

6. But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. 7. Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!
This, and Matthew 13:24-30 give us scope for patience. This kind of covers the Satan induced rebellion of Adam and Eve and tells why we must be patient while waiting for things to be set right.

Matthew 27:15-26

15. Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would. 16. And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas. 17. Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ? 18. For he knew that for envy they had delivered him. 19. When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him. 20. But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus. 21. The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas. 22. Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified. 23. And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified. 24. When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it. 25. Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children. 26. Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.
See, what we will afflict ourselves with, when we are filled with pride and arrogance? (See Holocaust for a further explanation).

Mark 4:12 That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.
When you reject Jesus you invite all sorts of troubles including demons to plague you. This also fits what I call the Job 12:6 model, that being, some of these people will be the "Plunderers" previously mentioned in Isa. 33:1.

Luke 6:35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.
Emphasis mine.

Luke 12:16-21

16. And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: 17. And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? 18. And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. 19. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. 20. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? 21. So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

John 12:6  This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.

Acts 17:5  But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.
The Jews which believed not and the fellows of the baser sort, are all a part of God's overall plan which fits into the Barabbas theme mentioned earlier.

Romans 1:28  And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

Romans 9:18-25

18. Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth. 19. Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will? 20. Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? 21. Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? 22. What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: 23. And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory, 24. Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles? 25. As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved.

Colossians 3:25 But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.
Payday is coming.

1 Thessalonians 4:6 That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.
God does watch and take account of everything.

1 Thessalonians 5:15 See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.
For those that don't follow this, just maybe, the "plunderers" help afflict God's people with that which they deserve. It sure happened in the Old Testament.

2 Thessalonians 2:7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
This kind of says it all. That hidden principle of rebellion against constituted authority. The "plunderers" are sons of rebellion; the chief rebel being Satan.

2 Thessalonians 2:11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
I have referred to this scripture a little earlier. It is one of the scariest in the whole Bible. When you are wrong before God and full of pride, you will be more wrong than ever and still feel you are on the right track.

1 Timothy 4:10 For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.

AMEN

 

 

 

THE TABERNACLES

OF

ROBBERS PROSPER,

AND

THEY THAT PROVOKE GOD

ARE SECURE,

INTO WHOSE HAND

GOD BRINGETH ABUNDANTLY

Job 12:6

 

 

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