"Pride goes before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

" (Proverbs 16:18) The word pride according to the Bible is seen as arrogant and disdainful. (Greek hyperphana excessive shining, i.e. self-exaltation or self-absorption, which carries its own self-destructive vanity). The word haughty is defined as disdainfully proud; snobbish or scornfully arrogant. (Obsolete haught a spelling variant of late Middle English haute < Middle French < Latin altus high, with h < Germanic; compare Old High German hok high). We know that God hates pride, and resists the proud in spirit. (Proverbs 8:13; 1 Peter 5:5; James 4:6) It is the exact opposite of His character. Through pride, sin entered the universe. Here are some examples of it in history. Never forget that God never changes, and that history always repeats itself. Satan (called Lucifer or light-bearer before his fall) was lifted up in himself before his fall from grace. He was perfect and magnificently made, but sinned because of desire exalt himself above God (the five "I Will's). One day he will become as nothing. "Thy pomp is brought down to the grave, and the noise of thy viols: the worm is spread under thee, and the worms cover thee. How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High." (Isaiah 14:11-14) Nimrod was a mighty hunter, builder and ruler of cities. He also formed his own cultic religion, and tried to make a name for himself with the building of Babel (the gate of gods). God later changed it's name to Babylon (confusion), and cut off this first Antichrist type from the earth (by the hand of Shem). The people with him wanted self-glorification but instead were confounded and scattered abroad. "And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech. And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there. And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter. And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded. And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech. So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city. Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth." (Genesis 11:1-9) Goliath was from Gath (a Philistine city) and a giant (approximately 10 foot 6 inches). For forty days (a biblical point of testing or judgment) he challenged Israel to send forth a champion, winner take all. Goliath cursed God, reproached Israel and disdained David. This little shepherd boy took up his challenge under the anointing of God, eliminating this enemy with a sling and a stone (afterwards using Goliath's sword to decapitate the fallen giant). "And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and drew nigh to meet David, that David hasted, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth. So David prevailed over the

Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David. Therefore David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled." (1 Samuel 17:48-51) Saul (desired) breathed out threats to the Christians and persecuted them unto their deaths. While he was seeking to round up more of them, Saul was knocked off his high horse by the glory of the Lord. He blinded him, and sent strait street to receive salvation. Saul was then baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus, and immediately preached Christ everywhere. Later, his name was changed to Paul (meaning little or small). "And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks." (Acts 9:1-5) "And I said, What shall I do, LORD? And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do. And when I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of them that were with me, I came into Damascus. And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there, Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him. And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth. For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard. And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord." (Acts 22:10-16) The Antichrist will proclaim himself to be God, sitting on the temple throne in Jerusalem during the tribulation period of seven years (that signifies completion). His servants will say who can fight against him and win? This evil tyrant will seek to wear out the saints of God with propaganda, and change the times (calling good evil and evil good). "And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time." (Daniel 7:25) "Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God." (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4) "And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." (Revelations 13:4-8) "And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. And the beast was taken, and with him

the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone." (Revelations 19:19-20) Here are two other quick examples of people being cut off or destroyed because of vain glory or pride. Herod who vexed the church and killed James, then imprisoned Peter (who was released after much prayer was made on his behalf by the church, through an angel of God) but was killed later on because of his pride. "And Herod was highly displeased with those from Tyre and Sidon. But they came with one accord to him and, having made Blastus the king's chamberlain their friend, they asked for peace, because their country was nourished by the king's country.And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne and delivered an oration unto them.And the people gave a shout, saying, "It is the voice of a god, and not of a man!" And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory; and he was eaten by worms and gave up the ghost." (Acts 12:20-23) Amaziah served God but not with his all, or not with a perfect heart. He went to war and won, but then served the false gods of a defeated enemy. God allowed him to taken in his sin, and be destroyed by a device that He had set in place already. God already knew that this man would betray Him. Anything placed above God is a idol. "Amaziah was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem. And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, but not with a perfect heart. Now it came to pass, when the kingdom was established to him, that he slew his servants who had killed the king his father. But he slew not their children, but did as it is written in the law in the Book of Moses, where the LORD commanded, saying, "The fathers shall not die for the children, neither shall the children die for the fathers, but every man shall die for his own sin." Moreover Amaziah gathered Judah together and made them captains over thousands and captains over hundreds, according to the houses of their fathers, throughout all Judah and Benjamin. And he numbered them from twenty years old and above, and found them three hundred thousand choice men, able to go forth to war, who could handle spear and shield. He hired also a hundred thousand mighty men of valor out of Israel for a hundred talents of silver. But there came a man of God to him, saying, "O king, let not the army of Israel go with thee, for the LORD is not with Israel, to wit, with all the children of Ephraim. But if thou wilt go, do it; be strong for the battle. But God shall make thee fall before the enemy, for God hath the power to help and to cast down." And Amaziah said to the man of God, "But what shall we do for the hundred talents which I have given to the army of Israel?" And the man of God answered, "The LORD is able to give thee much more than this." Then Amaziah separated them (to wit, the army that had come to him out from Ephraim) to go home again. Therefore their anger was greatly kindled against Judah, and they returned home in great anger. And Amaziah strengthened himself, and led forth his people and went to the Valley of Salt, and smote ten thousand of the children of Seir. And another ten thousand left alive did the children of Judah carry away captive, and brought them unto the top of the rock, and cast them down from the top of the rock, so that they all were broken in pieces. But the soldiers of the army which Amaziah sent back, that they should not go with him to battle, fell upon the cities of Judah from Samaria even unto Bethhoron, and smote three thousand of them and took much spoil. Now it came to pass, after Amaziah had come from the slaughter of the Edomites, that he brought the gods of the children of Seir and set them up to be his gods, and bowed down himself before them and burned incense unto them. Therefore the anger of the LORD was kindled against Amaziah, and He sent unto him a prophet, who said unto him, "Why hast thou sought after the gods of the people, which could not deliver their own people out of thine hand?" And it came to pass as he talked with him, that the king said unto him, "Art thou made the king's counsel? Forbear! Why should thou be smitten?" Then the prophet forbore and said, "I know that God hath determined to destroy thee, because thou hast done this and hast not hearkened unto my counsel." Then Amaziah king of Judah took advice, and sent to Joash the son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, king

of Israel, saying, "Come, let us look one another in the face." And Joash king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, "The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, `Give thy daughter to my son as wife'; and there passed by a wild beast that was in Lebanon, and trod down the thistle. "Thou sayest, `Lo, thou hast smitten the Edomites,' and thine heart lifteth thee up to boast. Abide now at home. Why shouldest thou meddle to thine hurt, that thou shouldest fall, even thou and Judah with thee?' But Amaziah would not hear; for it came from God, that He might deliver them into the hand of their enemies, because they sought after the gods of Edom. So Joash the king of Israel went up; and they looked one another in the face, both he and Amaziah king of Judah, at Bethshemesh, which belongeth to Judah. And Judah was smitten before Israel, and they fled every man to his tent. And Joash the king of Israel took Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash, the son of Jehoahaz, at Bethshemesh; and he brought him to Jerusalem, and broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the Gate of Ephraim to the Corner Gate, four hundred cubits. And he took all the gold and the silver, and all the vessels that were found in the house of God with Obededom, and the treasures of the king's house, the hostages also, and returned to Samaria. And Amaziah the son of Joash, king of Judah, lived after the death of Joash son of Jehoahaz, king of Israel, fifteen years. Now the rest of the acts of Amaziah, first and last, behold, are they not written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel? Now after the time that Amaziah turned away from following the LORD, they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem; and he fled to Lachish, but they sent to Lachish after him and slew him there." (2 Chronicles 25:1-27) There are many other examples (such as the story of Pharaoh and Moses in Egypt) that demonstrate the fact that God always reverses the desires of pride. Here are two good examples to think upon now. While King David sinned at times, God called him a man after His own heart. Whatever David had whether it was a harp or a sword, he used it for the glory of God. George Washington was known by his character more so than his military prowess, he was revered by men in his day for it and this continues to be so even two hundred eleven years after his death. May God bless and anoint this study of His holy word, sending it to where it's appointed to bring forth the results that He desires, in the name of Jesus. Amen.