Israel shortly before Canaan – Apostasy – Parallels to the present

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The people of Israel, shortly before entering Canaan, once again fell massively away from God’s righteous path. A parallel that once again confirms that history repeats itself on a grand scale. The seductive arrival of paganism is another example of why it is definitely worthwhile to examine the Bible in detail, to ponder every written word, and not simply skim through one chapter after another like a mantra. Understanding the events of ancient Israel in the Old Testament is very helpful in understanding the developments surrounding God’s people today.

Balaam and Balak

When reading the Book of Revelation, one will certainly come across the passage containing the seven epistles to the churches (Revelation 2 and 3). These letters, written by John to the still young churches, contain the praise dictated by Jesus Christ to John to be written down, much encouragement, but also strong rebukes.

These letters were addressed to the then literally existing churches in the seven towns within the Roman province of Asia and also represent a prophetic perspective on the development of the people of God (churches) for the period from the apostles to the last church in modern times (Info).

The third church addressed, Pergamum, contains an important and insightful passage. A firm rebuke that reads as follows:
“But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.” (Revelation 2:14)

Apostasy of the people of Israel shortly before Canaan

The “children of Israel” are still easy to identify in this verse, but who is Balaam and who is Balak? Here, it’s helpful not only to look to the Old Testament for the answer, but also to approach it with the mindset that the New Testament, as an antitype, is in many respects the fulfillment of the Old Testament. Thus, some insights emerge when considering past and present developments, as it is essentially a repetition on a grand scale.

Balaam, a (fallen) prophet, entered the scene when the people of Israel were still wandering in the desert toward the promised land of Canaan. However, the people were just about to enter, thus the final events of their 40-year journey. On their journey, the people repeatedly encountered hostile pagan nations. But the Lord stood by them.

The king of Moab, Balak, an enemy of the people of Israel, also recognized this. He knew he couldn’t accomplish much with shield and sword. He had witnessed what had happened to other nations who positioned themselves against Israel. Therefore, Balak relied on spiritual support. He sent ambassadors to the prophet Balaam. Balaam lived in Pethor, a city on the Euphrates River, i.e. the area of ​​Babylon.. According to the Moabite king’s ideas, he was to curse the land of Israel, naturally in return for payment (Numbers 22:4-6).

From curse to blessing – Now seduction

But God turned things around in such a way that Balaam’s prophecy “against” the people of Israel actually turned out to be a blessing. Much to Balak’s chagrin. Balaam, however, explained to Balak more than once beforehand that he would only say what the Lord instructed him to say. And Balaam did so. Nevertheless, the prophet had fallen into God’s disfavor because he had set out to fulfill the Moabite king’s wish to impose a curse on God’s people.

Balaam came up with a new idea. He advised Balak to seduce the people and cause them to fall into sin, so that God would turn away from the people of Israel and thus withdraw His protection. Without God’s shield, the Moabites would be victorious. No sooner said than done. The strategy was to send beautiful Moabite women among the people, naturally disguised as a friendly gathering. Today we would call this “cultural exchange.”

Pagan customs introduced

The Moabite women, pagan women, performed their rites, customs, and festivals and invited the Israelites to simply join in. This wasn’t difficult, because the music and dances of the beautiful women were too tempting to stay away from their enticing activities. Most of the Children of Israel simply joined in, crossing a clear red line.

For the traditional customs of the Moabites also included idolatry and rituals in honor of their “gods.” In fact, the people of God also began to worship the Moabites’ “god,” Baal-Peor. This blatant apostasy of the people of God, despite the fact that idolatry was strictly forbidden several times, actually resulted in God turning away from His people.

God answered without delay

But the pagan customs didn’t last long, for punishment followed immediately. The people of Israel were struck by a plague. Ultimately, 24,000 Israelites died from the disease (Numbers 25). While the people were still plagued by the raging plague, it dawned on the Israelites that they had committed a grave sin and hastened remorsefully to the tabernacle. They repented of their deeds and therefore wanted to offer guilt and atonement offerings.

But beforehand, God commissioned His faithful servant Moses to gather the leaders(!) of the people and hang them before the people of Israel. He also ordered that all those who bowed down before Baal-Peor be killed.

But there was still one among the people who showed no insight, let alone any remorse. In full view of the people mourning outside the tabernacle, he brought a Midianite woman to his brothers’ camp. Phinehas, a grandson of Aaron, saw the two going into their tent together. He rushed after them, spear in hand, and pierced them both in their shared tent. Only then did God relent from His punishment against His people. The cause of the apostasy was removed.

The cause had a name

The fact that the names of the two are even explicitly mentioned indicates something special:
“Tow the name of the Israelite that was slain, even that was slain with the Midianitish woman, was Zimri, the son of Salu, a prince of a chief house among the Simeonites. And the name of the Midianitish woman that was slain was Cozbi, the daughter of Zur; he was head over a people, and of a chief house in Midian.” (Numbers 25:14-15)

This practically “smells” of something that could play an important role in the antitype, and possibly even today. The 40-year desert journey symbolizes the path of sanctification of the believers, that is, the transformation of character through faith, thanks to God’s power. The salvation of the rest of God’s people at the end of time is equated with Israel’s entry into the promised land of Canaan. The final apostasy by the Moabites and Gentile women took place shortly before the entry into Canaan. Thus, it is certainly an indication of how the people of God will fare at the end of time.

Zimri and Cozbi

Indeed, interesting aspects emerge when one considers not only the “woman” in the prophetic sense as a community, but also takes a closer look at the two names mentioned: Zimri and Cozbi. Their actions, as a single example, ultimately demonstrated the reason for the apostasy of God’s people.

Zimri (זִמְרִי) comes from the Hebrew and means “music or singer.”
Cozbi (כָּזְבִּי) is also from the Hebrew and means “false.”

“Music and falsehood,” or rather, “false music.” The combination of both clarifies the reason for the steep decline of God’s people. Presented by “pagan women,” in the prophetic sense, i.e., pagan churches or religions. Or, if one simply looks around today, former Protestant churches, which, as submissive daughters, have once again clung to the skirts of their mother in Rome (“Mother of Harlots,” Revelation 17:5).

Music – Dances – Customs

Indeed, music plays an enormously large role in what goes on, or should go on, in people’s minds. This isn’t an “esoteric philosophy,” but rather solid scientific evidence of what rhythms and sounds can do to the “brain cortex” (Info). Once brought into a trance-like state, it’s possible to force any nonsense into people’s minds unfiltered.

Many congregations today naturally play music and songs during their services that are virtually indistinguishable from pop music. Structure, rhythm, tonality, everything that’s played up and down the charts. Essentially, you just replace the words “whiskey and dancing” with “Jesus the Savior,” and you’re already calling it a “Christian song.” Some congregations have been doing it for a long time, while others think it’s “great” and introduce this type of music into their services as well. After all, they want to follow contemporary trends, and their congregants expect something sophisticated (2 Timothy 4:3).

Numbed by music, open to false teachings

In this way, once the listeners are in a “good, emotional, and holy mood,” they can also be taught erroneous teachings, such as, “All laws are abolished, only grace remains. Hurrah!” (Info).

It must also be emphasized that Moses was commissioned to first “capture” the leaders of the people and judge them according to God’s decree. In a figurative sense, for present-day application, this means the ladder on the upper levels. God’s judgment begins with His people anyway, and within the people from “top to bottom.”

The “mother-daughter family” is still growing

What still applied to the church of Pergamos in Revelation 2 ultimately culminated in the church of Thyatira, riddled with idolatry and sexual immorality. A type of the Roman Catholic Church (“Jezebel”). From then on, unlike the churches of Ephesus, Smyrna, and Pergamos, there was no transformation of the church each time, but rather, starting at Thyatira, a split of the remnant, that is, the believers who remained faithful to the gospel. The preceding church leads a parallel existence, but without the Spirit of God, but with the spirit of the “opposing side.” These apostate churches form a part of the Babylon of the end times (Revelation 18:2-3).

This also applies to the split from Thyatira to the church of Sardis (Protestants), this separation of a remnant also to the church of Philadelphia (revival), and from this the remnant emerged as the final church of Laodicea. Ultimately, it will be only a remnant from Laodicea who will have the right to enter through the gates of the new city (Revelation 22:14).

Mother and daughters enchant together

The apostasy of the many in favor of a remnant is especially pointed to by the woman mentioned at the end of Revelation 12. It is not she who is persecuted by the dragon, but the (last) remnant that remains of this woman’s descendants (Revelation 12:17). For the woman herself became a harlot clothed in scarlet, purple, gold, pearls, and precious stones (Revelation 17:4-5).

The once “perfect” woman changed so drastically that John, who saw her in his vision, was greatly astonished by her (Revelation 17:6). A harlot with pagan customs who loves to introduce her dances and music to other churches and “incidentally” distributes her poisoned wine of sensual numbness to the kings and merchants of the earth. The “family” of mother and daughters, even those from Laodicea, is still growing. But God will give a just answer.

Bible verses from King James Version (1611)