…And Good Evil

“Woe to those who call evil good and good evil.” When Isaiah the prophet spoke these words nearly 2,800 years ago, he warned the people of his day about moral and spiritual blindness. The moral compass becomes so distorted that people, in their pride and shrewdness, would mislabel good and evil. Here we are, nearly three millennia later, and not only is most of humanity in a moral free-fall, but it’s normative for evil to be called good and good called evil. Let’s explore the personal implications and how we should respond to a world full of people who think Christians are the bad guys (Isaiah 5:20).

Our society is full of agendas and narratives, many of which are false, if not downright evil. Given our days of unbridled wokeness, virtue signaling, and skewed morality, it would be easy to blame CNN, MSNBC, The View, BBC, or any other outlet, especially social media, for stoking hatred against Christians. That’s not to diminish the role of mainstream media and platforms like Facebook, X, and TikTok in stirring up a mob mentality against anything deemed a threat to a morally decadent society, because that’s precisely what’s being done (1 Peter 4:4).

But mobs are made up of individuals who have a choice to make. These fellow humans have a heart, mind, and volition to act. The choice is simple: Do I think for myself and form an opinion about Christians based on evidence and truth, or do I allow my opinion of others to be formed by pop culture, social media, and ultimately controlled by the mob?

When a mob-ruled society is making decisions based on a distorted view of good and evil, it can decide who the good and bad guys are. They can also stir up bullies to shame, coerce, intimidate, or harm people who won’t go along with their worldview.

Here are a few examples of what the mob wants everyone to agree with, followed by what true Christians believe:

• Love is love. – True Christians love all people, including everyone in the gay community.
• Born this way. – True Christians care deeply for all people, no matter who they are, and believe children should be protected from indoctrination and gender ideology confusion.
• My body, my choice. – True Christians care about the well-being of all women and unborn babies.
• From the river to the sea… – True Christians love the Jewish people and the Muslim people but stand against antisemitism.
• Globalize the Intifada. – True Christians believe all people deserve dignity and respect but see the reality of a concerted effort to destroy the Jewish people.
• All religions lead to God. – True Christians love people of all faiths and want to share the truth about Jesus and the gospel, which leads to eternal life.

If you deviate from the script, you might be canceled, vilified, verbally and physically accosted, harmed, or worse. This is mob rule by a relatively small group of people who persuade an otherwise rational large part of the population to join (Romans 1:32). Take a biblical stand for marriage, life, the protection of children, love for Jewish people, or Jesus as the only way, and watch what happens (Matthew 5:11).

Every mob needs an enemy. The group of “tolerance” has nothing but intolerance for people of faith, and the primary object of their hate is Christians. When the mob wants to demonize believers, they whip up the masses against “right-wingers,” “conservatives,” or worst of all, “those evangelical Christians.” When the mob speaks of evangelicals, they make you exhibit A for everything wrong in the world. Recently, I saw an interview with Bono, the lead singer of U2. Here’s what he says about evangelicals:

I had grown up with more than a few bumps with evangelicals. I found it so difficult to be around evangelicals because they were just so literal about everything. On a tour, I ended up at Wheaton, a big evangelical college in Chicago. They were really helpful. I realized these were kind of, not to be at all dismissive of some incredible people, but it was like I felt they were sort of narrow-minded. –Bono, on the Joe Rogan Experience Podcast -May 30, 2025

Bono talked about the literal vs. metaphoric Bible interpretation to be fair and contextual. His view of scripture is obviously flawed, and he overtly lauds the social gospel. But when a person with Bono’s influence says that it’s hard to be around evangelicals, and they are narrow-minded, he creates a false narrative about a large segment of Christians to his listeners. If Bono’s view of evangelicals comes off as uncomfortably tolerant of them, then author Stephen Geist is anything but tolerant. Here’s what he writes about evangelicals:

I call your attention to this movement within American Christianity because it plays a dangerous role in our politics and culture. I consider Evangelicals among the most fanatical religious groups in America today. And here is my ‘word salad’ to encapsulate Evangelicals: far-right white, hypocritical, ignorant, gullible, naive, bigoted, racist, intolerant, anti-gay, and anti-science — basically a large part of the MAGA minions. This is the subset of American citizenry who feels obliged to impose their bizarre beliefs upon everybody else — by force. –Stephen Geist article, America’s Pseudo-Christian Evangelicals

Celebrities, pundits, and authors are the tip of the iceberg, because countless millions of regular people make up the mob majority who openly despise true Christians. Space doesn’t permit me to list the thousands of hateful comments, but here are a few examples:

• Evangelicals interpret the Bible literally. Talking animals, walking on water, a man living in the body of a whale, a 90-year-old woman giving birth…they believe this stuff literally.
• Evangelicals are hypocrites – they will march against abortion rights but never to support the rights of the desperately poor.
• Religious people publicly adoring Trump and calling him the most god-like president ever, and other total nonsense about his completely anti-Christian behavior, nauseates me.
• They are cultists. They are delusional. They want to force their religion on others. They are welcome to their beliefs but should keep them to themselves.
• They are an embarrassing blemish on the face of America, hating everything not themselves.
• About 80% are hypocrites, and the other 20% are dangerous.

This type of inflammatory rhetoric is becoming commonplace on mainstream media, social media, and numerous other platforms, and it’s intended to spread the same hateful, false narrative consistently: Born-again Christians are the problem. If the mob is honest, the real issue they have with true Christians is our very existence. To the mob, authentic born-again Christians are a danger to modern society (John 15:18-19).

Many people are calling evil good. The mob says homosexuality is good. Abortion is good. The massacre of Jews is good. Brainwashing innocent children about their sexuality is good. Worldwide religious unity regarding the way to heaven is good. When Christians take a stand against aborting babies, antisemitism, brainwashing children, and spiritual deception, the mob calls good evil.

The world has a lot of false ideas about who Christians are. Many people have bought into the mob’s lies that we’re all Trump worshipers, want to make America a Christian utopia, hate gay people, hate foreigners, consider women second-class, don’t care for the poor, among many other fabrications.

Here’s the truth about real Christians: We vote pro-life and conservative values, and although I’ve seen many cultural Christians idolize Donald Trump, many true Christians don’t. Cultural Christians are consumed with enriching themselves by following the prosperity gospel, but true Christians care for the needy. Cultural Christians are very combative and vocal (especially on social media) about abortion and homosexuality, while virtually ignoring the greed, materialism, pride, gossip, and adultery that have invaded many Western churches. Let me give you a few more differences between cultural Christians and true Christians:

• I’ve seen cultural Christians scream at women entering abortion clinics. On the other hand, I’ve seen firsthand true Christians pray with women outside those clinics and offer tangible help, biblical wisdom, and love.
• I’ve seen cultural Christians say awful things about people with different political views. They become so mesmerized by trying to bring America back to Jesus and change the world through human efforts and politics that they ignore the great commission entirely. But I’ve seen true Christians vote for biblical values, render to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and then continue focusing on God’s kingdom come instead of trying to create it in the here and now.
• I’ve personally witnessed some of the most unloving, prideful, arrogant preaching directed at homosexual people and their supporters. I’ve heard cultural Christian preachers in churches, online, and especially in the public square say things so vulgar that have no place in the mouth of a preacher of the gospel. Far from being a loving warning and plea to repent and come to faith in Jesus, I’ve seen cultural Christian preachers bask in the commotion they were causing through inflammatory words.

On the other hand, I’ve personally known and witnessed true Christians preach the gospel to the homosexual community in the boldness and love of Jesus. Far from being combative, these preachers reasoned with them through the scriptures about sin, repentance, and forgiveness. They pleaded with them so respectfully that, whether the crowd agreed or not, there was no doubt that the motive was the love of Jesus, not having to win an argument.

To be certain, Christians here in the West haven’t had to deal with intense, widespread persecution like our brothers and sisters in Africa, Asia, and other areas. As we are literally entering a time of global moral collapse, I expect the intolerance of the mob toward true Christians will only worsen as we get closer to the end of the age.

Authentic Christians must either acquiesce to the worldly mob or stand firm in the faith. This means standing even if other so-called Christians betray you or side with the mob. It means lovingly warning people about repentance, judgment, and eternity. Standing for the truth will make you a target for the mob. This is how it was for the prophets, apostles, early Christians, and millions of other believers through the centuries. The mob has always been an enemy of the remnant church, and it has always called evil good and good evil. Our response should be love, the gospel of peace, and Holy Spirit-wrought boldness as we pray for and witness to them. Discerning the lateness of the hour we live in should encourage us to endure to the end and finish well (Philippians 1:28).

All for Him,

Howard

Podcast link to Calling Evil Good and Good Evil: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/living-for-jesus-in-a-world-that-calls-evil-good-and-good-evil/id1565453348?i=1000712016923

YouTube link to video, Calling Evil Good and Good Evil: https://youtu.be/pyRF3WSj_K0?si=S1orQ7gnoxcn4tQn&t=1

 

 

Introduction

In Numbers 22, Balak, the son of Zippor, king of Moab, made a league with the Midianites, and together they sought after Balaam, son of Beor, to come and curse the children of Israel for fear of them.

After a very eventful courtship, so to speak, and a talking donkey, Balaam finally made his way to the plains of Moab at the behest of Balak. In Numbers 23 and 24, Balaam gave four oracles concerning Israel that are extremely prophetic and Messianic in nature.

This four-part series will look at The Oracles of Balaam and highlight the Messianic content along with references and allusions to the Millennial and Eternal Kingdoms that were presented in the Name of God, by the Spirit of God, through the prophet Balaam of Pethor.

When it comes to Balaam, Balaam seemed to be at one time a true prophet of the LORD. However, later it appears, Balaam became a “soothsayer” or diviner (Joshua 13:22) which certainly deviated his heart toward greed and covetousness and ultimately apostasy from, and opposition to, the LORD Himself when he counseled the Midianites and Moabites to seduce the Israelites (Numbers 31:16) at Baal-Peor (Numbers 25).

Yet, God did use Balaam, despite his fallen prophetic nature, to prophesy of His chosen people, the Messiah, and the Latter Days; to bless, rather than curse, the people of God, the people of Israel.

Previous articles:

The First Oracle of Balaam

The Second Oracle of Balaam

All underlined Scripture passages are my own emphasis.

The Third Oracle of Balaam

Balak and Balaam had a little better of a vantage point when they “saw Israel abiding in his tents according to their tribes,” but the extent of the entire Israelite nation, no matter what mountain Balak and Balaam may have ascended, could ever have given them a full picture of what Israel had become.

“And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel abiding in his tents according to their tribes; and the spirit of God came upon him.” – Numbers 24:2

Once again, “the Spirit of God came upon [Balaam]” and he could only speak that which the Spirit would give him utterance.

“And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said: He hath said, which heard the words of God, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:” – Numbers 24:3-4

Evidently, Balaam had “fallen into a trance” with “his eyes open” when he “heard the words of God, [in] which he saw the vision of the Almighty.”

“How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel! As the valleys are they spread forth, as gardens by the river’s side, as the trees of lign aloes which the Lord hath planted, and as cedar trees beside the waters.” – Numbers 24:5-6

Despite the failings of the children of Israel up to this point in history, God still sees their end and declares His unconditional love for them by declaring through Balaam, “How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel!” This is reminiscent of how God sees those who have put their faith and trust in God’s Son today. He does not see us, per se; He sees first His Son in us through the indwelling Holy Spirit and takes note of our love and service to Him and others by the leading of His Holy Spirit in our lives!

The “gardens by the river’s side, and the trees of lign aloes which the Lord has planted, and as cedar trees beside the waters” should bring to remembrance the garden of God in Eden.

“And the Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.

“And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

“And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became into four heads.” – Genesis 2:8-10

The “gardens by the river’s side, and the trees of lign aloes which the Lord has planted, and as cedar trees beside the waters” should remind us of “the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is,” who “shall [never] cease from yielding fruit” in service to our mighty Creator, Lord, Savior, Redeemer, and King.

“Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.” – Jeremiah 17:7-8

The “gardens by the river’s side, and the trees of lign aloes which the Lord has planted, and as cedar trees beside the waters” should also remind us of coming Messianic Millennial Kingdom.

“And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow all trees for meat, whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed: it shall bring forth new fruit according to his months, because their waters they issued out of the sanctuary: and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine.” – Ezekiel 47:12

The “gardens by the river’s side, and the trees of lign aloes which the Lord has planted, and as cedar trees beside the waters” should finally point us to our ultimate destiny in the eternal New Jerusalem, where both the bride of Christ and redeemed Israel will live together forever, while “the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it” (Revelation 21:24):

“And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.” – Revelation 22:1-2

[Please see Kingdom Foreshadowing Kingdom, for more information on the similarities and distinct differences between the Messianic Millennial Kingdom and the Eternal Kingdom.]

“He shall pour the water out of his buckets, and his seed shall be in many waters, and his king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted.” – Numbers 24:7

From Israel will arise Messiah who is Father God’s “King” whose “kingdom shall be exalted” and “His seed shall be in many waters” as Christ will save many from all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues.

Water in Scripture, according to Jesus, is also a descriptive metaphor of the Holy Spirit. Here is what we noted in Jacob’s Ladder: Ascending and Descending:

In the Brit Chadashah, Jesus described the Holy Spirit metaphorically as both water and wind when He spoke to “a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.”

“Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” – John 3:5

John 3:5 could literally be read: “Except a man be born of water, even the Spirit…” The Greek word “kai,” translated and, can also be translated even, which makes much more contextual sense in this passage.

Therefore, an alternate metaphorical translation of Numbers 24:7a – by replacing water with the Holy Spirit – could be read:

“He shall pour the [Holy Spirit] out of his buckets, and his seed shall be in many waters [nations]…”

“His seed shall be in many waters [a euphemism for the many nations on Earth]” is seen in many passages in both the Tanakh and the Brit Chadashah, indicating the fullness of God’s salvation offered to the entire world through the Messiah, the Son of God.

Paul stated that Abraham’s “seed” are those who believe in Jesus Christ by grace through faith.

“For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” – Galatians 3:26-29

And one cannot help but remember Isaiah’s description of the suffering servant and His seed:

“Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.” – Isaiah 53:10

As believers in Messiah Yeshua, we are exclusively “His seed!”

[For an interesting study on “the seed of the serpent” (in contrast to “the seed of the woman” and Jesus Christ’s “seed” mentioned above) please see The Seed of the Serpent in the Last Days.]

Moreover, the Millennial Kingdom of Israel’s King, when “his kingdom shall be exalted” with Jerusalem as His capital, is where He will bless the world and His chosen people, Israel, and rule in righteousness, truth, and holiness.

“And in this mountain shall the Lord of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined.” – Isaiah 25:6

“Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the Lord will do great things. Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field: for the pastures of the wilderness do spring, for the tree beareth her fruit, the fig tree and the vine do yield their strength.

“Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.  And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the vats shall overflow with wine and oil.” – Joel 2:21-24

“And it shall come to pass in that day, that the mountains shall drop down new wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the rivers of Judah shall flow with waters, and a fountain shall come forth out of the house of the Lord, and shall water the valley of Shittim.” – Joel 3:18

“God brought him forth out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn: he shall eat up the nations his enemies, and shall break their bones, and pierce them through with his arrows. He couched, he lay down as a lion, and as a great lion: who shall stir him up?” – Numbers 24:8-9a

God, through Moses’ and Aaron’s leadership to the people of Israel, was the One who led Israel out of bondage in Egypt, delivering first the ten plagues on the Egyptians and their land, with Pharoah finally relenting and insisting the Israelites leave their nation.

God, therefore, had brought Israel “forth out of Egypt” into the Promised Land, foreshadowing a later event when God would bring His eternally divine Son, the Messiah of Israel and the world, out of Egypt, which would eventually result – by His sacrificial crucifixion, death, burial, and resurrection – in all who believe in Him being brought into the Promised Land of the New Jerusalem on a newly created Earth, under a newly created heavens!

“And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.

“When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son [Hosea 11:1].” – Matthew 2:13-15

“And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

“And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

“And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

“And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.” – Revelation 21:1-5

And just as God, through Israel, was to “eat up the nations His enemies” when He brought Israel into the Promised Land, so too will the King, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, “eat up the nations His enemies” when He comes back to earth again to set up His glorious Millennial Kingdom for His people, Israel.

“Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles; Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up: Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruninghooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong. Assemble yourselves, and come, all ye heathen, and gather yourselves together round about: thither cause thy mighty ones to come down, O Lord.

“Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about. Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great. Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.” – Joel 3:9-14

“And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.” – Zechariah 12:9

“And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe…

And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe.” – Revelation 14:15, 18

“And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.

For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.” – Revelation 16:13-14

“Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee.” – Numbers 24:9b

Again, God’s promise to Abraham and his descendants are reiterated: “Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee” (Genesis 12:3).

“I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people: I will sing unto thee among the nations.

“For thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and thy truth unto the clouds.

“Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: let thy glory be above all the earth.” – Psalm 57:9-11

Amen!

***

May we all keep Answering the Call of The Great Commission, and giving an answer to every man and woman who so desperately needs Jesus and asks us, “Why Am I Here and What Is It All About?”

Love, grace, mercy, and shalom in Messiah Yeshua, and Maranatha!

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