The Overview of the Plan of God, Part 8B

Last Great Day:  I Will Put Hooks Into Your Jaws Ezekiel 38

[Study Aired October 5, 2025]

Eze 38:3  And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal:
Eze 38:4  And I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts of armour, even a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords:

We paused our last study on the spirituals significance of the last great day with the verses which demonstrate that the function of that day in the plan of God can be fulfilled only by those who are blessed to have a part in the first resurrection, which occurs at the beginning of the thousand-year reign of our Lord and His Christ. We have learned that the thousand-year reign is the fulfilling of the first part of the double portion which belongs only to the firstborn. The last great day, signifying the last rebellion of “the nations in the four quarters of the earth”, ushers in the great white throne judgment where all men of all time are raised up from their graves and are “judged according to their works”:

Rev 20:12  And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

The “firstborn” possesses the birthright, and the birthright is the double portion.

Deu 21:17  But he shall acknowledge the son of the hated for the firstborn, by giving him a double portion of all that he hath: for he is the beginning of his strength; the right of the firstborn is his.

Chist is called the firstborn of every creature and the firstborn of the dead:

Col 1:15  Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
Col 1:16  For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
Col 1:17  And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
Col 1:18  And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

Reigning and judging the nations of this world for a thousand years is the first part of the blessing of the double portion which is the right of the firstborn. ‘Judging angels’ in the great white throne judgment/lake of fire/ second death is the second part of the double portion which is the right only of the firstborn:

1Co 6:2  Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? [Rev 20:1-6] and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
1Co 6:3  Know ye not that we shall judge angels? [Rev 20:7-15] how much more things that pertain to this life?

Now there are indeed many degrees of glory within both of the two resurrections (1Co 15:35-44), but rulership with Christ over this physical world and the judging of angels in the spiritual realm are promised only to those who are part of that “blessed and holy…first resurrection.”. That is the double portion of the Lord’s firstborn, firstfruits, and it is theirs only:

Rev 14:3  And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.
Rev 14:4  These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the first fruits [“the firstborn”] unto God and to the Lamb.

Rev 20:4  And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
Rev 20:5  But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
Rev 20:6  Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years [the first part of the double portion of the firstborn]

The “lake of fire… is the second death”. No one who is cast into the lake of fire is in the purview of the promise given here in Revelation 20:6 and in Revelation 2:26-27.

Rev 2:26  And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:
Rev 2:27  And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.

Those who are “hurt of the second death” will not be given to rule the nations during the thousand-year reign of “The Lord and His Christ” (Rev 11:15). Only those who are overcomers before the thousand-year reign, those who are symbolized by the 144,000, will be given the honor of being in that “blessed and holy… first resurrection” to rule the nations of this world with Christ:

Rev 2:11  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

Rev 2:26  And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:

Rev 14:4  These [144,000] are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits [“firstborn”] unto God and to the Lamb.

Rev 20:6  Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

Rev 20:14  And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

“It is appointed unto [all] men once to die”, followed by judgment.

Heb 9:27  And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

The fact that we are told “the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God” proves that the death being spoken of in Hebrews 9:27 is death to sin, and the process of “dying daily” which is now taking place only within those who “first trusted in Christ” and who now, in this age, have Christ living within them.

1Pe 4:17  For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

That is a legitimate question, and it deserves a Biblical answer, and we have given that Biblical answer by showing that the lake of fire and the work accomplished therein is the answer to that question.

What Hebrews 9:27 and 1 Peter 4:17 tell us is that the death with which the scriptures concern themselves includes our “dying daily” as the first to die to the sins of our old man. Those who die first to sin are the first to be judged as “the house of God”.

Heb 9:27  And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

“The second death” has to do with those who are not the first to die daily to the sins of their old man in this life. The ‘second death’ is given that name because it is speaking of those who are the second group to die to sin and to be judged in the great white throne judgment.  ‘The second death’ has nothing to do with anyone dying twice. “It is appointed unto man once to die, but after this the judgment” (Heb 9:27). “The second death” has to do with the order in which one dies to the sins of his old man. The first resurrection is the resurrection of those in this age who are the ‘first to trust in Christ’ and ‘die daily… as a living sacrifice… crucified with Christ, nevertheless [a]live’. (Eph 1:12, 1Co 15:31, Rom 12:1, Gal 2:20)

What is the spiritual purpose for the thousand-year reign with a rod of iron?

Now it certainly is not reading into the scriptures to say that being given “power over the nations” is speaking outwardly of a period of time signified by “a thousand years.” It is during this period of time that the firstfruits, also called the firstborn, are given “to rule the nations with a rod of iron.” Yes, “power over the nations” has an inward and present application, which must always be primary to us. However, reigning over the outward nations of this world is given only to those who are given part in the first resurrection. For this reason the thousand-year reign of “the Lord and His Christ” and “the second death” cannot be only an inward experience of those who “overcome the wicked one… [in] this present time.”

Rev 20:6  Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

It is not possible to be in both resurrections because we are told that “the rest of the dead live not again “until the thousand years are finished.”

Rev 20:5  But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.

In this Biblical overview of the plan of God, we are focused on the dispensational application of the power over the nations of this world which is given only to “Him that overcometh.” Only those who “overcome the wicked one” in this age, in “this present time” (Rom 8:18)  will rule with Christ over “the nations of this world… for a thousand years” (Rev 11:15).

We are also focusing upon what we are told of the spiritual condition of those who are populating this earth during that time. Are we anywhere told that the spirit will be dragging them to God? Where are any verses which tell us that “All those who are born during the Millennium… will still have to freely repent and believe the Gospel, personally choosing Christ as Savior and Lord?” The answer is that we are not told anything of the kind.

The fact is that even the sacrifices which are commanded to be offered during the feast of tabernacles point and signify the diminishing appreciation of the rule of God’s elect during the thousand years of their rule with a rod of iron. Notice what offerings are commanded to be offered during the feast of tabernacles:

Num 29:12  And on the fifteenth day of the seventh month ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work, and ye shall keep a feast unto the LORD seven days:
Num 29:13  And ye shall offer a burnt offering, a sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD; thirteen young bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year; they shall be without blemish:
Num 29:14  And their meat offering shall be of flour mingled with oil, three tenth deals unto every bullock of the thirteen bullocks, two tenth deals to each ram of the two rams,
Num 29:15  And a several tenth deal to each lamb of the fourteen lambs:
Num 29:16  And one kid of the goats for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, his meat offering, and his drink offering.
Num 29:17  And on the second day ye shall offer twelve young bullocks, two rams, fourteen lambs of the first year without spot:
Num 29:18  And their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner:
Num 29:19  And one kid of the goats for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, and the meat offering thereof, and their drink offerings.
Num 29:20  And on the third day eleven bullocks, two rams, fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish;
Num 29:21  And their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner:
Num 29:22  And one goat for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, and his meat offering, and his drink offering.
Num 29:23  And on the fourth day ten bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish:
Num 29:24  Their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner:
Num 29:25  And one kid of the goats for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, his meat offering, and his drink offering.
Num 29:26  And on the fifth day nine bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year without spot:
Num 29:27  And their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner:
Num 29:28  And one goat for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, and his meat offering, and his drink offering.
Num 29:29  And on the sixth day eight bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish:
Num 29:30  And their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner:
Num 29:31  And one goat for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, his meat offering, and his drink offering.
Num 29:32  And on the seventh day seven bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish:
Num 29:33  And their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner:
Num 29:34  And one goat for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, his meat offering, and his drink offering.

In the Old Testament, physical wealth symbolizes spiritual wealth as this description of Abraham reveals:

Gen 13:1  And Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the south.
Gen 13:2  And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold.

Not just everyone in Israel was wealthy enough or capable of offering a bullock to God. Those who could do so were usually the leaders of the people. What the diminishing numbers of the offering of the bullocks tells us is that the leaders of the people who are alive during the symbolic one thousand years of the rule of the nations of this world by the elect saints of God, are becoming progressively less appreciative of that rule with a rod of iron. This time of being ruled by God’s elect will be carried out in a no-nonsense manner, just as God used Moses and Aaron to rule over Israel for forty years. That forty years symbolized the time of trials which Israel endured as they demonstrated how little they appreciated the rule of God over that nation with a rod of iron.

Here are just two examples of how God dealt with the rebellions of Israel during this forty years of being ruled with a rod of iron under Christ, through Moses and Aaron, as types of God’s elect rulers of this world:

Exo 32:4  And he [Aaron] received them [golden ear rings] at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
Exo 32:5  And when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation, and said, To morrow is a feast to the LORD.
Exo 32:6  And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play.
Exo 32:7  And the LORD said unto Moses, Go, get thee down; for thy people, which thou broughtest out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves:
Exo 32:8  They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them: they have made them a molten calf, and have worshipped it, and have sacrificed thereunto, and said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which have brought thee up out of the land of Egypt [typifying the ways of man versus the ways of God].
Exo 32:9  And the LORD said unto Moses, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people: [typifying all people “in the four quarters of the earth”]
Exo 32:10  Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation. [This is what God will do after the “little season” of rebellion which follows the millennium]

Those were trying times for Israel, and they grew progressively more rebellious as this time of trial continued. Our next example makes clear that it was the whole “camp of Israel”, signfying “the nations in the four quarters of the earth”, who rose up against Moses and Aaron, the Lord’s appointed leaders who signify “the camp of the saints” at the end of the thousand-year reign.

Num 16:1  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:
Num 16:2  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:
Num 16:3  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?

We covered this story in our last study. The phrase “all the congregation… gathered themselves against Moses and against Aaron” first appears here in verse 3. It is repeated in verse 19 lest we think it was a minority of the congregation who sided with Korah against Moses and Aaron:

Num 16:19  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.
Num 16:20  And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,
Num 16:21  Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.
Num 16:31  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:
Num 16:32  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.
Num 16:33  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.
Num 16:34  And all Israel that were round about them fled at the cry of them: for they said, Lest the earth swallow us up also.
Num 16:35  And there came out a fire from the LORD, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense.

To show us just how foolish and rebellious our own flesh is the phrase “all the congregation of the children of Israel… gathered together against Moses and Aaron” appears a third time, signifying the judgment we must endure for our rebellion against the leaders of God. This is the very next day after the earth opened up and swallowed Korah and company:

Num 16:41  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.
Num 16:42  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.

The Lord Himself has just caused the earth to swallow up the tents of Korah, Dathan and Abiram. The Lord had sent fire to devour the 250 men who had burned incense for Korah’s cause, and yet here we are in type the very next day gathering ourselves against the Lord and His Christ, and “the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against [our] unrighteouness and  ungodliness.”

Rom 1:18  For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

This is what God’s wrath did to rebellious Israel:

Num 16:46  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.
Num 16:47  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.
Num 16:48  And he stood between the dead and the living; and the plague was stayed.
Num 16:49  Now they that died in the plague were fourteen thousand and seven hundred, beside them that died about the matter of Korah.
Num 16:50  And Aaron returned unto Moses unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and the plague was stayed.

These two examples serve to tell us the meaning of these two sections of scripture we mentioned in our last study:

Psa 2:7  I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.
Psa 2:8  Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.
Psa 2:9  Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.

Mic 4:3  And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

In the Old Testament these promises are made to Christ, but in the New Testament we discover that these promises are extended to the overcomers who are the Christ of Christ:

Rev 2:26  And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:
Rev 2:27  And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.

Rev 12:5  And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.

These promises  have no application to any who are not the firstborn firstfruits unto God and the Lamb. They, and they alone, will rule with our Lord a thousand years and then judge angels in the great white throne judgment/lake of fire/ second death.

That time of being ruled with “a rod of iron” becomes less and less appreciated, as the diminishing number of bullocks offered during the seven days of the feast of tabernacles indicates. The physical leaders of those days, just like the “two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown”, will become weary of the rulers whom God had placed over them as signified by Moses and Aaron.

It is also instructive to take note that the number of bullocks offered over those seven days are 70 in total, indicating the completion of what God is doing in the flesh of mankind at the last great day.

It should now be crystal clear that the phrase “the nations in the four quarters of the earth” is not a symbol for a minority of mankind, but it rather signifies “all the congregation” of “the nations in the four quarters of the earth”, and that the thousand-year reign of “our Lord and His Christ” is not intended to be a time of great revival, but is rather a time in which the rebellion of mankind against the rulership of God will come to its zenith and will thereby furnish God with the “occasion” which He is seeking to destroy all flesh and thereby “destroy… death” (1Co 15:26). Mankind has no choice in the matter of the destruction of all flesh because God tells us:

Eze 38:2  Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him,
Eze 38:3  And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal:
Eze 38:4  And I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts of armour, even a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords:

These words here in Ezekiel 38  are the foundation for the inspired words of John who gives us the knowledge of what Gog and Magog signify:

Rev 20:7  And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
Rev 20:8  And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.
Rev 20:9  And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. [“The nations in the four quarters of the earth”]

There is yet one more step to be taken in the overview of the plan of God for all mankind, and there is yet one more commandment of God which Israel was to observe which reveals the all-in-all goal which God has as the outcome of His dealings with the flesh of all of mankind.

1Ti 2:4  Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

In our next study we will show that many of the prophecies which the churches of Babylon apply to the thousand-year reign have been misapplied to that period of time, and are in reality to be applied to the kingdom of God which is even now in “earnest” within God’s elect, and to the time that follows the thousand-year reign. This is the time when God will be all in all.

1Co 12:6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.

1Co 15:28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.

Eph 1:22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
Eph 1:23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

[Click here to go to the next chapter.]

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“Journey Through the Kingdom to God’s Throne” – Part 2

The Gates of Jerusalem

[Study Aired Nov 12, 2024]

Our previous study established the foundational pattern for approaching God’s presence, demonstrating how physical structures reveal spiritual realities. Beginning with the city gates,  “Let us go into the house of the LORD Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem” (Psalm 122:1-2), we learned that Christ is the only door and entrance (John 10:9), accessed through a narrow way (Matthew 7:13-14). The study then progressed to the temple courts, examining the significance of the middle wall of partition that separated Gentiles from Jews, and how Christ broke down this wall (Ephesians 2:14-15). Within these courts stood the altar and laver, representing our purification in Christ. Moving inward to the temple building itself, we saw how the golden candlesticks represented churches, and the veil represented Christ’s flesh, revealing progressive stages of drawing near to God.

The study then detailed the requirements for spiritual entrance, emphasizing spiritual poverty and humility, internal transformation through new birth, the holy spirit’s crucial role, and Christ’s indwelling through His Father’s spirit. This process of seeking entrance demands whole-hearted seeking, stripping away false dependencies, engaging in spiritual warfare, maintaining persistent prayer, and participating in fellowship with believers.

Finally, the study outlined evidences of having found the entrance: new spiritual understanding, a changed relationship to sin, the presence of divine love, a new relationship with God’s Word, transformed prayer life, changed priorities, different responses to trials, and Christ’s increasing manifestation in our lives. Throughout, the study emphasized that these physical patterns reveal internal spiritual realities in our approach to God, as we are transformed through Christ’s work in us.

Building on these foundations, we now focus specifically on the gates of Jerusalem. These gates served as entrances to the physical city, but in reality they are types and shadows of the New Jerusalem, which John describes in Revelation: “And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel” (Revelation 21:12).

The spiritual significance of these gates connects to Christ as “the door” through which we must enter: “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved” (John 10:9). He further warns against attempting to enter by any other means: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber” (John 10:1). Christ’s body is part of Him: “For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones” (Ephesians 5:30), and “Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular” (1 Corinthians 12:27).

In this age, the elect (Christ’s body) enter through these spiritual gates, as Christ declares “strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (Matthew 7:14). In the ages to come, the rest of mankind will enter through these gates via Christ and His body, for “the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day… And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it” (Revelation 21:25-26). This aligns with God’s purpose that all will eventually come to Christ: “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me” (John 12:32), through His body, which is “the fulness of him that filleth all in all” (Ephesians 1:23).

The number of gates being twelve itself carries deep spiritual significance, representing foundation and completion. As Paul declares, “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 3:11). Just as there were twelve tribes of Israel according to divine purpose, and twelve apostles chosen by Christ, these twelve gates represent God’s complete and perfect work within us, for He is “working all things after the counsel of his own will” (Ephesians 1:11). “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6).

God reveals these spiritual truths progressively, as He declared through the prophet Isaiah: “Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little” (Isaiah 28:9-10). Through this principle, we see these gates not merely as historical structures but as patterns revealing Christ’s complete work in us. As Hebrews confirms, “the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things” (Hebrews 10:1).</P.

The gates are described in several scriptural accounts – Nehemiah details their rebuilding in a circular pattern beginning and ending with the sheep gate, Ezekiel’s vision reveals their arrangement (Ezekiel 48:31-34), and John describes them in Revelation.

We must remember that Christ Himself fulfills what each gate represents, for “in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily, and ye are complete in him” (Colossians 2:9-10). These gates together represent the complete foundation of our spiritual experience in Christ, who works all things according to His perfect will.

The Sheep Gate

Our journey begins with the Sheep Gate, holding unique significance as both the starting and ending point in Nehemiah’s account: “Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brethren the priests, and they builded the sheep gate” (Nehemiah 3:1). Seeing that this gate appears both first and last reveals a profound spiritual truth – all spiritual experience begins and ends with Christ.

The Sheep Gate served as the entrance through which sacrificial animals were brought into Jerusalem for offerings at the temple. This physical purpose points us to Christ, who declared, “I am the door of the sheep” (John 10:7). The connection between this gate and sacrifice is not incidental, for Jesus is “the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).

That priests built this gate carries additional significance, for Christ is both our sacrifice and High Priest: “For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself” (Hebrews 7:26-27).

This gate teaches us that all spiritual experience begins with sacrifice and death – Christ’s sacrifice and death for us and our sacrifice and death with Him. As Paul declares, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me” (Galatians 2:20). This principle of sacrifice continues in our walk, for Paul urges, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service” (Romans 12:1).

The Fish Gate

Once we have entered through Christ’s sacrifice (Sheep Gate), we naturally begin to manifest His heart for others. The Fish Gate is described in Nehemiah 3:3: “But the fish gate did the sons of Hassenaah build, who also laid the beams thereof, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof.”

Matthew 4:19 states “And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” This commission to be fishers of men aligns powerfully with Mark 16:15: “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”

The Fish Gate also teaches us about divine provision and multiplication. When Christ fed the multitudes, He used fish as part of the miracle: “And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes… And they did all eat, and were filled” (Matthew 14:17,20). This shows how God multiplies our small offerings in His service to others.

The Old Gate

After experiencing Christ’s sacrifice (Sheep Gate) and beginning to manifest His heart for souls (Fish Gate), we come to the Old Gate: “Moreover the old gate repaired Jehoiada the son of Paseah, and Meshullam the son of Besodeiah; they laid the beams thereof, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof” (Nehemiah 3:6).

While “old” often carries a negative connotation in scripture, as in “the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts” (Ephesians 4:22), it also represents established truth and wisdom when referring to God’s ways. This positive meaning appears in God’s call through Jeremiah: “Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls” (Jeremiah 6:16). These “old paths” represent foundational truths that never change, just as Christ Himself “is the same yesterday, and today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).

The Old Gate thus teaches us the importance of established, foundational truth. As Paul warns, “Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines” (Hebrews 13:9). These ancient truths aren’t meant to be modified or modernized but preserved and protected, for “the words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation forever” (Psalm 12:6-7).

The Ephraim/Corner Gate

Moving forward from foundational truths, we come to the Ephraim Gate, also known as the Corner Gate: “From above the gate of Ephraim, and above the old gate” (Nehemiah 12:39), and “Moreover Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the corner gate” (2 Chronicles 26:9).

The name Ephraim carries great spiritual significance. Joseph named his son Ephraim saying, “For God hath caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction” (Genesis 41:52). This speaks to spiritual multiplication even in times of trial, a principle Paul confirms: “But we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope” (Romans 5:3-4).

As the Corner Gate, this entrance represents Christ as the chief cornerstone: “And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone” (Ephesians 2:20). This corner stone function joins walls together, revealing how spiritual growth and body unity work together: “But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love” (Ephesians 4:15-16).

The Valley Gate

After experiencing fruitfulness and unity, we come to the Valley Gate: “The valley gate repaired Hanun, and the inhabitants of Zanoah; they built it, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof” (Nehemiah 3:13). This gate’s name suggests lowliness and humility.

True spiritual growth requires descent before ascent, following Christ’s own pattern: “And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven” (John 3:13). “For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me” (John 6:38). Following this pattern, Christ teaches us “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3). The Valley Gate reminds us of David’s words: “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise” (Psalm 51:17).

This brokenness is not an end in itself but a means of experiencing God’s presence: “Thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones” (Isaiah 57:15).

The Valley Gate teaches that true spiritual authority comes through humility: “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up” (James 4:10). This principle was demonstrated perfectly in Christ, who “being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself… Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him” (Philippians 2:8-9).

The Dung Gate

Following the path of humility, we encounter the Dung Gate: “But the dung gate repaired Malchiah the son of Rechab, the ruler of part of Bethhaccerem; he built it, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof” (Nehemiah 3:14). This gate served for removing waste from the city, teaching profound truths about purification and cleansing.

True humility leads to honest recognition of what must be purged from our lives. Paul demonstrates this principle: “But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but dung, that I may win Christ” (Philippians 3:7-8).

This cleansing process is both initial and ongoing. God promised through Ezekiel: “Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you” (Ezekiel 36:25). Christ Himself speaks of this purging work: “Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit” (John 15:2).

The Fountain Gate

After purging comes the Fountain Gate: “But the gate of the fountain repaired Shallun the son of Colhozeh, the ruler of part of Mizpah; he built it, and covered it, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof” (Nehemiah 3:15). The sequence is significant – only after purging can we fully experience the flow of living water.

Christ revealed the spiritual significance: “If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive)” (John 7:37-39).

The prophet Jeremiah identified two serious problems: “For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water” (Jeremiah 2:13). The Fountain Gate teaches us to return to the true source – Christ Himself.

This living water produces continual freshness and fruitfulness: “And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper” (Psalm 1:3).

The Water Gate

Following the flowing fountain, we come to the Water Gate: “Moreover the Nethinims dwelt in Ophel, unto the place over against the water gate toward the east” (Nehemiah 3:26). Uniquely, this is the only gate not mentioned as needing repair, suggesting the eternal, unchanging nature of God’s Word.

At this gate, Ezra read God’s Word to the people: “And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded to Israel” (Nehemiah 8:1).

The Water Gate represents the cleansing power of God’s Word: “That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word” (Ephesians 5:26). As David asked, “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word” (Psalm 119:9).

The location “toward the east” is significant, as east in Scripture represents God’s glory and Christ’s coming. God’s Word always points us to Christ: “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me” (John 5:39). “And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east: and his voice was like a noise of many waters: and the earth shined with his glory.” (Ezekiel 43:2).

The Horse Gate

After experiencing the washing of the Word, we come to the Horse Gate: “From above the horse gate repaired the priests, every one over against his house” (Nehemiah 3:28). In Scripture, horses are often associated with warfare: “The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD” (Proverbs 21:31).

The placement after the Water Gate is significant, as God’s Word equips us for battle. Paul describes this as “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:17). Our warfare is spiritual, not carnal: “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:3-5).

Christ Himself leads us in this warfare: “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war” (Revelation 19:11). Our victory comes through Christ dwelling in us by His Father’s spirit: “ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4).

The East Gate

After spiritual warfare comes the East Gate. Scripture reveals specific truths about this gate through Ezekiel’s vision: “Then he brought me back the way of the gate of the outward sanctuary which looketh toward the east; and it was shut. Then said the LORD unto me; This gate shall be shut, it shall not be opened, and no man shall enter in by it; because the LORD, the God of Israel, hath entered in by it, therefore it shall be shut” (Ezekiel 44:1-2).

The glory of God approaches from this direction: “And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east: and his voice was like a noise of many waters: and the earth shined with his glory” (Ezekiel 43:2), and enters through this gate: “the glory of the LORD came into the house by the way of the gate whose prospect is toward the east” (Ezekiel 43:4). Christ also connects His coming to the east: “For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be” (Matthew 24:27).

This gate’s unique characteristic of being shut after the Lord enters reveals profound truth about Christ and His elect. Just as the gate is shut with the Lord inside, our union with Christ is secured by the Father’s will: “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one” (John 10:28-30).

The Miphkad Gate

Following the East Gate, we come to the Miphkad Gate: “After him repaired Malchiah the goldsmith’s son unto the place of the Nethinims, and of the merchants, over against the gate Miphkad, and to the going up of the corner” (Nehemiah 3:31). This gate is also known as the Prison Gate: “and they stood still in the prison gate” (Nehemiah 12:39).

The word ‘Miphkad’ relates to appointment, numbering, or inspection, connecting to judgment. Christ is the judge: “For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son” (John 5:22). Yet for Christ’s elect, this judgment perfects us in this age: “But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world” (1 Corinthians 11:32).

That this gate was repaired by “the goldsmith’s son” points to Christ’s purifying work: “But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap: And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver” (Malachi 3:2-3).

Return to the Sheep Gate

Finally, we return to where we began – the Sheep Gate. This return represents a deeper experience of Christ’s sacrifice. As Paul describes: “Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body” (2 Corinthians 4:10).

This circular journey reflects Christ’s declaration: “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty” (Revelation 1:8). Each return finds us knowing Him more fully so we are able to: “grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18).

The elect’s journey through these gates does not represent aimless repetition but spiral growth – each return to the Sheep Gate brings us to a higher level of experiencing Christ, “till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:13).

All spiritual experience leads back to and flows from Christ’s sacrifice. As John saw in his vision, all worship centers around “the Lamb that was slain” (Revelation 5:12). Through His Father’s spirit dwelling in us, He continues working until completion: “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6). Each circuit through these gates represents another layer of this perfect work.

This completion of the circle teaches us that our deepest spiritual experiences always bring us back to deeper appreciation and experience of Christ’s death working in us, that His life might be more fully manifested. For He is “the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2), working all things according to His perfect will.

Conclusion: The Complete Journey

Having examined each gate’s spiritual significance, we understand that these gates represent internal spiritual realities that Christ works in us through His Father’s spirit. As Christ declared, “the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:20).

The complete journey through these gates reveals progressive aspects of Christ’s work in His elect. We begin at the Sheep Gate, representing Christ’s sacrifice and our death with Him, then move to the Fish Gate where His heart for others manifests through us. The Old Gate grounds us in foundational truth, leading to the Ephraim/Corner Gate of spiritual fruitfulness and unity. Through the Valley Gate we learn true humility, followed by the Dung Gate’s purging and cleansing work. The Fountain Gate brings the Spirit’s flow, while the Water Gate provides washing by the Word. At the Horse Gate we engage in spiritual warfare, before coming to the East Gate where Christ’s glory is revealed. The Miphkad Gate brings His judgment and deliverance, finally returning us to the Sheep Gate for a deeper experience of death and resurrection.

This progression isn’t merely sequential but cyclical and deepening. As Paul describes, “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Corinthians 3:18).

The internal nature of these gates means we cannot progress through our own effort. Christ Himself, through His Father’s spirit, must work these realities in us: “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13).

As we look ahead to studying the Temple Mount and its courts, we remember that this progression leads to deeper communion with God. As David wrote, “One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple” (Psalm 27:4).

Like the physical temple pattern, our spiritual journey reveals Christ dwelling in His elect through His Father’s spirit. As God promised, “I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people” (2 Corinthians 6:16).

All these types and shadows find their fulfillment in Christ and His work in us, “for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy” (Revelation 19:10). As Paul declares, “For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us” (2 Corinthians 1:20), and “Christ is all, and in all” (Colossians 3:11).

As we move to our next studies of the Temple Mount, its courts, furnishings, and progression to the Most Holy Place, we’ll discover more about our spiritual journey into fuller knowledge and experience of Christ. “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” (John 17:3).

Daniel 1:1-7 Carried into the Land of Shinar to the House of his God

[Study Aired February 1, 2024]

God’s elect can understand the prophetic messages in the book of Daniel by comparing spiritual things with spiritual (1Co 2:7-13). It is by looking at the natural events that lay the groundwork for us, and comparing spiritual with spiritual, that we can understand the hidden meaning of all the symbolic places, peoples, times, dreams and events that have been hiding from the world today and given to God’s children to rightly divide “by His spirit” that gives us the honor of searching out those things to the glory of God (Pro 25:2). 

Those truths were no less hidden from Nebuchadnezzar (Dan 2:26) and even Daniel himself who was told “Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end” (Dan 12:9-10). Daniel’s revelation of the dream to Nebuchadnezzar is a type and shadow of how the elect by the spirit of God can rightly divide the word and see those seals opened in our life through Christ at “the time of the end”, which is another way of saying the day of the Lord when Christ comes into the temple we are (1Co 3:16) to open the seals which have been hidden from all the generations until God’s holy spirit was given on Pentecost to take away that blindness (Rev 5:5-10). 

God’s word is spoken in a mystery

1Co 2:7  But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
1Co 2:8  Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
1Co 2:9  But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

[Those who love God are those who are blessed to read, hear and keep the sayings of the prophecy (Rev 1:3), including the commandments of God which demonstrate our love toward God and each other (1Jn 5:2-3)] 

1Co 2:10  But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

Those books are being opened now if Christ is dwelling within us as our hope of glory (Col 1:27) as He prevails “to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.” He is our wisdom (1Co 1:30) and the author and finisher of our faith (Php 1:6).

1Co 1:30  But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

Php 1:6  Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

The vision of all

What we do know and believe is that “the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed“, so of course all the book [the whole bible] is prophetic and sealed (Isa 29:10-11) just as Isaiah was told, and as Daniel was told with these words, “shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased” (Dan 12:4). 

Isa 29:10  For the LORD hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered.
Isa 29:11  And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed:

Dan 12:4  But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.

Physical knowledge and spiritual knowledge is increasing, but to whom God has given that spiritual knowledge is only typified by the prophets who prophesied not to themselves but to us (1Pe 1:12, 1Co 10:11). Daniel told King Nebuchadnezzar that this knowledge would come from God who would make known the interpretation of the dream for Daniel to give to Nebuchadnezzar (Dan 2:22, Rev 1:3, Mat 13:16-17). This witness of Daniel to Nebuchadnezzar is a type of how the manifest knowledge would be made known through the church (Eph 3:10) and preached in all nations until the end of the age (Mat 24:14). In both Daniel 12 and Revelation 12 we are told what God will do in the church through Christ (Dan 12:1, Rev 12:7, Php 2:12-13) both to will and to do, and all according to the counsel of His own will (Eph 1:11).

Dan 12:1  And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.

Rev 12:7  And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, 
Rev 12:8  And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.

Dan 1:1  In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it.
Dan 1:2  And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god.

The siege that took place by Nebuchadnezzar was in “the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim” which demonstrates that there is a process of judgment [3] that is about to unfold upon the nation of Judah. It is the Lord who gives us over to our enemies at an appointed time, “And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand” (Pro 16:4). This captivity of Judah represents our time of being held captive by our Babylonian captors, and yet if we are God’s elect determined from the foundation of the world (Eph 1:3-4), we will go into that captivity God has purposed with “part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god.” This is all telling God’s people that we must go into Babylon to ‘come out of her my people’ and yet He is always with us providing and protecting the manchild that will, at an appointed time, come out from under the tutors and governors, the schoolmaster that is being symbolized by this captivity of Judah into “the land of Shinar to the house of his god” where we bring “the vessels into the treasure house of his god” (Gal 4:1-3).

Eph 1:3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 
Eph 1:4  According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

Gal 4:1  Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;
Gal 4:2  But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.
Gal 4:3  Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: 

Dan 1:3  And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king’s seed, and of the princes; 
Dan 1:4  Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans. 
Dan 1:5  And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king’s meat, and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king. 

Here we have king Nebuchadnezzar speaking to Ashpenaz,^H828 who is a Babylonian eunuch that represents Babylon today with no stay of bread or water, no ability to be born again or mature in Christ (Isa 3:1, Joh 3:3), and Nebuchadnezzar asks him “that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king’s seed, and of the princes.“

We are brought into a relationship with another Jesus (2Co 11:4) is what this symbolizes, and it is all ordained by God to take “of the children of Israel, and of the king’s seed, and of the princes.” So we are compelled by God’s hand to go into Babylon as one of “the king’s seed, and of the princes” (Gal 3:16). Christ is our sufficiency in this life (2Co 3:5), even in our immature status in Babylon where we come behind in no gift as demonstrated by this verse where we read the seed was “skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans” (1Co 1:7, 1Co 3:3).

While we are in Babylon we are promised liberty by the food of the king, with the end goal of being healthy and able to stand before him. “The king appointed them a daily provision of the king’s meat, and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king.” This is the lie of Babylon that cannot bring us to perfection (2Pe 2:19) and is an experience of evil we must go through to bring us to our wits’ end, and then, Lord willing, be given a hunger for the true manna from heaven like the prodigal sons that we are, if called and chosen in this age to be brought to that place of ‘coming to yourself’ in Babylon (Luk 15:17). We come to ourselves by the grace of God and realize that three years of being nourished by the meat and wine of this king is nothing less than empty calories, no stay of bread or water (Isa 3:1). As such we would never be able to stand before the true King with such a diet (Rev 6:17, Eph 6:11-13).

2Pe 2:19  While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. 

Luk 15:17  And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!

Rev 6:17  For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

Eph 6:11  Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Eph 6:12  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Eph 6:13  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

These children represent the elect who have “no blemish“, meaning no condemnation in Christ (Rom 8:1), and are “well favoured” to have the life of Christ within us as Mary was told about herself by the angel (Luk 1:28).

Rom 8:1  There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Luk 1:28  And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.

God has called His people to be witnesses of these things from the foundation of the world symbolized by the way that the children of Judah were infiltrated into a Babylonian system that God purposed for a season until His people were called out from among them (Luk 24:48-49, 2Co 6:17-18).

Luk 24:48  And ye are witnesses of these things.
Luk 24:49  And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

2Co 6:17  Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 
2Co 6:18  And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

Dan 1:6  Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: 
Dan 1:7  Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave unto Daniel the name of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abednego.

Verse 6 is interpreted by verse 7, as seen in the meaning of the names of “Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah” to become “Belteshazzar, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.”  These men represent the seed of the woman that goes into Babylon and comes out of her by the grace of God (Rev 18:4). 

Rev 18:4  And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

God knows those who are His, and they are given a new name, even from the foundation of the world (Eph 1:3-4), and even as they are going into Babylon to soon be called out of it by the hand of God (Hos 11:1). Four men going into Babylon also represent the whole world that has gone into Babylonian captivity represented by Adam and Eve being driven out into the wilderness (Gen 2:23-24). “Belteshazzar”, “Shadrach”, “Meshach” and “Abednego” typify therefore the whole world who will be reinstated to partake of the tree of life (representing the life of Christ) that is in the midst of the paradise of God (Rev 2:7).

Gen 2:23  And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.
Gen 2:24  Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

Rev 2:7  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

All mankind start off with a carnal name, the mark and name of the beast (Rev 13:17) that is represented by the whole four names “Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah“ and represent the seed that has to fall into the ground and die and become a new creation represented by the names “Belteshazzar“, “Shadrach“, “Meshach” and “Abednego.” It is through the destruction of the old that the new man is born, and so in type and shadow we see in Daniel 3:26 where “Shadrach“, “Meshach“ and “Abednego“, along with “Christ” our new name (Act 9:4-6), are being purified in the fiery furnace, through a process of judgment [3] that Christ [1] is working within his elect both to will and to do of His good pleasure, as we work out our own salvation with fear and trembling (Php 2:11-12). Daniel is a type of Christ in that regard as well, making up the fourth man in this group of three Hebrew men. He is kind of the head of the group, at least the first mentioned of the group of men typifying Christ, who is our head who has preeminence in all things (1Co 11:3, Col 1:18).

1Co 11:3  But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.

Col 1:18  And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

First names and seond names

Daniel = “God is my judge” to “Belteshazzar” = “lord of the straitened’s treasure”

Hananiah = “God has favoured” to “Shadrach“= “royal” or “the great scribe”

Mishael = “who is what God is” to “Meshach” = “guest of a king”

Azariah = “Jehovah has helped” to “Abednego” = “servant of Nebo”   let him be servant of all

Daniel = “God is my judge” to “Belteshazzar” = “lord of the straitened’s treasure”:

The body of Christ must be judged by God in this age in order to make strait the ways of the Lord in the wilderness of this life which is the progression being shown with the names Daniel and Belteshazzar.

Hananiah = “God has favoured” to “Shadrach”  “royal” or “the great scribe”

God’s children are shown God’s grace or favor in this life. That favor is demonstrated by His judgment upon us that teaches us to forsake ungodliness and worldly riches in this life (Tit 2:11-12, Heb 12:6). Through Christ we become a royal priesthood (1Pe 2:9) and his scribes who have the honor of knowing His words are eternal, that we read, hear and keep (Rev 1:3) and will be sought after by all of humanity in time (Joh 6:68, Joh 15:20-22).

Mishael = “who is what God is” to “Meshach” = “guest of a king”

The Jews wanted to stone Christ for making Himself out to be the Son of God, which is another way of saying “who is what God is”, and we read Christ’s answer to their explaining why they felt he should be stoned in these verses (Joh 10:33-38). 

Joh 10:33  The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God. 
Joh 10:34  Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?  (Luk 3:38)
Joh 10:35  If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;
Joh 10:36  Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?
Joh 10:37  If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not.
Joh 10:38  But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.

Adam was the son of God (Luk 3:38), so in that way all mankind are sons of God. God is concerned with our spirit however, and when we are subject to the devil we are still sons of God, but of our father the devil (Joh 8:37, Joh 8:39) who was a murderer from the beginning (Rom 6:16). 

Joh 8:37  I know that ye are Abraham’s seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you. 
Joh 8:38  I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.
Joh 8:39  They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham.

Joh 8:44  Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

If we become a new creation in this life through Christ our spirits are changed, a new heart is given, and we become a “guest of a king” invited to the wedding supper to partake of His life (Rev 19:9). We see God’s love toward us in that when we were yet sinners He died for us and came to us and was our guest (Rom 5:8-10, Luk 19:5-7). 

Rom 5:8  But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 
Rom 5:9  Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 
Rom 5:10  For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

Luk 19:5  And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.
Luk 19:6  And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully.
Luk 19:7  And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.

Azariah = “Jehovah has helped” to “Abednego” = “servant of Nebo”  let him be servant of all

The mostly unknown ultimate goal for all of humanity is to be as Christ who thought it not robbery to be equal with God (1Jn 4:17, Php 2:6), the servant as his master (Mat 10:24, Joh 14:28), and it is only through our Father and Christ that this goal can be obtained (Joh 14:20) as He is our helper, and we are His workmanship that is being fashioned into a new creation that fits perfectly into God’s plan, because He is the one who put us there to be blessed to learn that it is more blessed to give than to receive (Psa 54:4, Psa 127:1, Eph 2:10, Act 20:35). 

Next week we will look at Daniel 1:8-21, a section of scripture that is very much a type and shadow event of how we are to walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise (Eph 5:15-16), “Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”

Eph 5:15  See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
Eph 5:16  Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

When we are desirous of the Lord’s meat, His words, His truth, His portion, His will in our lives (Eph 5:17) as typified by Daniel not wanting to be defiled with “the portion of the king’s meat [Babylon (Isa 3:1)]” but rather he wanted to eat what he knew would be healthier for him and Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. This dietary carefulness on Daniel’s part typifies for us a blessed people being given a “hunger and thirst after righteousness” for the true bread of life Jesus Christ (Mat 5:6) who satiates God’s people today in fulfilling the will of God in our lives, consuming the old man, the first temple, and building a new creation that will stand forever (Joh 2:19-21). We are standing healthy before the King when we fulfill His will (1Jn 2:16-17).

Eph 5:17  Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

Mat 5:6  Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

Joh 2:19  Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.
Joh 2:20  Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?
Joh 2:21  But he spake of the temple of his body.

1Jn 2:16  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
1Jn 2:17  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: [the first temple Forty and six years [6+4= 10 flesh]] but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever [Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. A process of judgment [3] is needed to create a new temple (1Pe 4:17), his body that will last forever (1Co 3:16]. 

In our next study we will examine this next section of Daniel:

Dan 1:8  But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
Dan 1:9  Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs. 
Dan 1:10  And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse liking than the children which are of your sort? then shall ye make me endanger my head to the king.
Dan 1:11  Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,
Dan 1:12  Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink.
Dan 1:13  Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king’s meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants.
Dan 1:14  So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days.
Dan 1:15  And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king’s meat. 
Dan 1:16  Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse. 
Dan 1:17  As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.
Dan 1:18  Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.
Dan 1:19  And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king. 
Dan 1:20  And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.
Dan 1:21  And Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus.

Numbers 35:1-34 Cities for Levites and Cities for Refuge

[Study Aired January 8, 2024]

Introduction

Today’s study of Numbers chapter 35 looks at the Lord’s command for the people of Israel to give the Levites, out of their inheritance, cities to dwell in and also to designate some of the cities as cities of refuge. This was dependent on the people of Israel overcoming the various tribes living in the land of Canaan.

In order to understand the spiritual interpretation of this chapter, we need to look at what cities and cities of refuge represent. Cities represent places where we live and raise our families. In the Bible, we know that we all live in Christ. 

Act 17:28  For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.

The Bible therefore uses a city to represent the church of Christ. A good city symbolizes the assembly of the elect, and a bad city represents Babylon or the physical churches of this world who have strayed from the Lord’s ways. Here are examples of a good city and a bad city as used in the Bible:

Isa 1:21  How is the faithful city become an harlot! it was full of judgment; righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers. 
Isa 1:22  Thy silver is become dross, thy wine mixed with water: 
Isa 1:23  Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them. 
Isa 1:24  Therefore saith the Lord, the LORD of hosts, the mighty One of Israel, Ah, I will ease me of mine adversaries, and avenge me of mine enemies:
Isa 1:25  And I will turn my hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy dross, and take away all thy tin:
Isa 1:26  And I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counsellors as at the beginning: afterward thou shalt be called, The city of righteousness, the faithful city.
Isa 1:27  Zion shall be redeemed with judgment, and her converts with righteousness. 

Rev 17:3  So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.
Rev 17:4  And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: 
Rev 17:5  And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. 

Rev 17:18  And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.

Rev 21:1  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. 
Rev 21:2  And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
Rev 21:3  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.

The cities of refuge represent our Lord Jesus Christ as it is in Him that we are kept safe from the evil one who seeks to destroy us. 

Psa 46:7  The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

Psa 9:9  The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. 
Psa 9:10  And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee. 

Heb 6:18  That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:
Heb 6:19  Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;

Towns for the Levites

Num 35:1 And the LORD spake unto Moses in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho, saying, 
Num 35:2  Command the children of Israel, that they give unto the Levites of the inheritance of their possession cities to dwell in; and ye shall give also unto the Levites suburbs for the cities round about them.
Num 35:3  And the cities shall they have to dwell in; and the suburbs of them shall be for their cattle, and for their goods, and for all their beasts.

The suburbs in verses 2 and 3 means pasturelands. These verses are to show us the Lord’s provision for His people. The Levites in this case represent the chosen people of God’s house. While we were still in Babylon or the churches of this world, signified by Moses and the people of Israel in the plains of Moab, as the spirit of the Lord was stirring us to leave, the Lord had already provided for us a place to dwell where there are abundant pastures for us to grow in Him. The word “Israel” means He will rule as God. In other words, it is the Lord who does everything through the people of Israel. Therefore, the children of Israel represent our Lord Jesus Christ who, through His victory on the cross, gave to His elect cities to dwell and pasturelands to feed on His words when He gave birth to the church.

Psa 100:1  A Psalm for giving thanks. Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth! 
Psa 100:2  Serve the LORD with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! 
Psa 100:3  Know that the LORD, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 

We are not brought into the church of the firstborn to hunger and thirst after the word of the Lord. The Lord has also provided us with pasturelands in the assembly of His elect (cities to dwell), where just like sheep, we feed on the word of the Lord with what every joint supplies. That is where we grow in spiritual stature such that we are no longer tossed to and fro or carried about with every wind of doctrine. 

Eph 4:11  And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 
Eph 4:12  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 
Eph 4:13  Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
Eph 4:14  That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
Eph 4:15  But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
Eph 4:16  From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. 

In verse 3, we can see the Lord’s provision of pasturelands for all kinds of beasts. As we are aware, we are beasts before the Lord, thus confirming the Lord’s provision for us to be fed with His words.

Ecc 3:18  I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.

Psa 73:22  So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee. 

Eze 34:14  I will feed them in a good pasture, and upon the high mountains of Israel shall their fold be: there shall they lie in a good fold, and in a fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel. 
Eze 34:15  I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord GOD. 
Eze 34:16  I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but I will destroy the fat and the strong; I will feed them with judgment. 
Eze 34:17  And as for you, O my flock, thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I judge between cattle and cattle, between the rams and the he goats.

Num 35:4  And the suburbs of the cities, which ye shall give unto the Levites, shall reach from the wall of the city and outward a thousand cubits round about.
Num 35:5  And ye shall measure from without the city on the east side two thousand cubits, and on the south side two thousand cubits, and on the west side two thousand cubits, and on the north side two thousand cubits; and the city shall be in the midst: this shall be to them the suburbs of the cities. 

The pasturelands that the Lord has provided in the midst of His children have dimensions of two thousand cubits in every direction. This implies that the provision of the Lord for us to be fed by what every joint supplies is to bring us to grow to become witnesses of Christ, as the number two signifies a witness.

2Co 13:1  This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.

When the Lord was departing from His disciples physically, He gave them the promise to wait for the Holy Spirit which would come and make them witnesses of Christ.

Act 1:4  And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.
Act 1:5  For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

Act 1:8  But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Cities of Refuge

Num 35:6  And among the cities which ye shall give unto the Levites there shall be six cities for refuge, which ye shall appoint for the manslayer, that he may flee thither: and to them ye shall add forty and two cities. 
Num 35:7  So all the cities which ye shall give to the Levites shall be forty and eight cities: them shall ye give with their suburbs. 
Num 35:8  And the cities which ye shall give shall be of the possession of the children of Israel: from them that have many ye shall give many; but from them that have few ye shall give few: every one shall give of his cities unto the Levites according to his inheritance which he inheriteth.

About six of the cities which were to be given to the Levites were to be designated as cities for refuge. This was for the purpose of protecting those who flee to these cities because they had mistakenly murdered someone. As indicated in the word of the Lord, we see that our refuge is in Christ. The number six refers to man. On a negative note, therefore, these six cities of refuge represent the church of Christ dominated by man’s wisdom instead of Christ. These six cities of refuge therefore represent Babylon. After we left the world or Egypt, we came to Babylon where we had taken refuge in Christ as we had a murder charge on our heads as we unknowingly assisted in the death of Christ and His elect. These verses below show how we were all guilty of murder when we came to Babylon.

Luk 11:49  Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall slay and persecute: 
Luk 11:50  That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation; 
Luk 11:51  From the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, which perished between the altar and the temple: verily I say unto you, It shall be required of this generation.

In verse 6, the number of cities to be given to the Levites was 48. The number forty-eight signifies the whole of the elect of every generation who are given a new beginning in Christ. In verse 8, the Lord establishes a principle that those who have many shall give many and those who have few shall give few. This principle is in line with the parable of the talents where the person with five talents was able to get or produce five more talents. The same goes for the one with two talents. However, the one with a talent was not able to give back a talent.

Mat 25:14  For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. 
Mat 25:15  And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. 
Mat 25:16  Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. 
Mat 25:17  And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. 
Mat 25:18  But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.

This principle also implies that the little truth that is given to our brothers and sisters in Babylon shall be taken away and given to the Lord’s elect.

Mat 13:10  And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? 
Mat 13:11  He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. 
Mat 13:12  For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.

Num 35:9  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 
Num 35:10  Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come over Jordan into the land of Canaan; 
Num 35:11  Then ye shall appoint you cities to be cities of refuge for you; that the slayer may flee thither, which killeth any person at unawares.
Num 35:12  And they shall be unto you cities for refuge from the avenger; that the manslayer die not, until he stand before the congregation in judgment.
Num 35:13  And of these cities which ye shall give six cities shall ye have for refuge.
Num 35:14  Ye shall give three cities on this side Jordan, and three cities shall ye give in the land of Canaan, which shall be cities of refuge.
Num 35:15  These six cities shall be a refuge, both for the children of Israel, and for the stranger, and for the sojourner among them: that every one that killeth any person unawares may flee thither.

As indicated, these cities of refuge represent our Lord Jesus Christ in whom we have taken refuge. These cities of refuge were safe places for those who had unintentionally committed murder and were being pursued by an avenger to put them to death. As we said earlier, we are the murderers. How did we become unintentional murderers of the Lord’s elect?  When we hate them because of what they say we are murderers. In the new covenant, hating our brother or sister is regarded as murder. We are therefore murderers who need to take refuge in Christ (cities of refuge) to escape from the devil (the avenger) who seeks to put us to death spiritually. 

1Jn 3:15  Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. 

Act 4:27  For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, 
Act 4:28  For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.

As our Lord Jesus said, in this world we shall have tribulations, which makes it imperative to have a refuge apart from our sin of being murderers of our Lord Jesus Christ and His prophets. The things we go through in this life are very stressful, and unless we take refuge in Christ, we shall be meat for the devil. For example, David went through heart-breaking and stressful circumstances in his life but was sustained because he took refuge in Christ. His example is for our admonition that we must run to take hold of Christ, who is our city of refuge (positive application)!!

1Sa 30:4  Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep.
1Sa 30:5  And David’s two wives were taken captives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite.
1Sa 30:6  And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.

Num 35:16  And if he smite him with an instrument of iron, so that he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death. 
Num 35:17  And if he smite him with throwing a stone, wherewith he may die, and he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death. 
Num 35:18  Or if he smite him with an hand weapon of wood, wherewith he may die, and he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death. 
Num 35:19  The revenger of blood himself shall slay the murderer: when he meeteth him, he shall slay him. 
Num 35:20  But if he thrust him of hatred, or hurl at him by laying of wait, that he die; 
Num 35:21  Or in enmity smite him with his hand, that he die: he that smote him shall surely be put to death; for he is a murderer: the revenger of blood shall slay the murderer, when he meeteth him. 

As we are aware, the Law of the Spirit of life which sets us free from the Law of Sin and Death (the Law of Moses) is of higher standards in every aspect. We do not need to physically commit physical adultery or fornication before we become guilty of adultery. Just looking lustfully at a woman makes one guilty of fornication or adultery under the Law of the Spirit of Life.  In a similar vein, just being angry with a brother or sister can make one liable of murder as shown in these verses below.

Mat 5:21  “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’
Mat 5:22  But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire. 
Mat 5:23  So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 
Mat 5:24  leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 

With this in mind, verses 16–21 above, which show us the list of cases where the murder charge was appropriate, as all the culprits here deserve death sentences, are all indications of the guilty verdict of our old man or the flesh which must of necessity die.  The slayer or the revenger of blood in these verses represents the devil who aids in the death of our old man. The devil therefore plays a role in our salvation. That is why Apostle Jude said that those who do not know Christ well tend to blaspheme everything that they do not understand about its spiritual significance including insulting the devil.

Jud 1:8  Yet in like manner these people also (those who do not Christ), relying on their dreams, defile the flesh, reject authority, and blaspheme the glorious ones.
Jud 1:9  But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you.”
Jud 1:10  But these people blaspheme all that they do not understand, and they are destroyed by all that they, like unreasoning animals, understand instinctively. (ESV)

The Lord has shown us in His word the role the devil has as follows:

Isa 54:16  Behold, I have created the smith who blows the fire of coals and produces a weapon for its purpose. I have also created the ravager (the devil) to destroy (our old man); 
Isa 54:17  no weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD and their vindication from me, declares the LORD.”

As stated, the Law of the Spirit of Life has far higher standards than the Law of Sin and Death, that is, the Law of Moses.  You may wonder then; how would we be saved then with such high standards which we cannot attain? We must realize that it is the Lord’s work to start with us and to complete what He started. Of ourselves, we can do nothing.

Php 1:6  Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

Secondly, we must realize that salvation is a process. While we live here on earth in this tent of flesh, we cannot be perfected. We may make mistakes but as we grow in the things of God, such mistakes become more rare. It is after death that we are perfected, just as the Lord Jesus was perfected when He rose from death. 

Luk 13:32  And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.

One will say that since we cannot be perfected, then we can continue to make mistakes. As shown in the last study concerning the boundaries of the kingdom of God within us, the kingdom of God is confined within the boundaries of the flesh. This implies that if we do not take care, we can easily drift toward being dominated by the flesh and as a result, lose all that we have achieved spiritually.  This is the Lord’s warning for our admonition:

Heb 6:4  For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, 
Heb 6:5  And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 
Heb 6:6  If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
Heb 6:7  For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: 
Heb 6:8  But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.
Heb 6:9  But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.

Num 35:22  But if he thrust him suddenly without enmity, or have cast upon him anything without laying of wait, 
Num 35:23  Or with any stone, wherewith a man may die, seeing him not, and cast it upon him, that he die, and was not his enemy, neither sought his harm: 
Num 35:24  Then the congregation shall judge between the slayer and the revenger of blood according to these judgments: 

These verses show us that it is the intent of the heart which matters and not the action which results. In these verses, although the person has committed murder, the fact that it was not intentional means that the person does not face a death sentence immediately and that there must be a congregation to judge on the matter. These provisions show us that even within the Law of Moses, there were provisions that point to the intent of the heart which directs us to the Law of the Spirit of Life. Jesus’ coming was to bring in this Law of the Spirit of Life.

Heb 9:8  The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle (with its law of Moses) was yet standing: 
Heb 9:9  Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; 
Heb 9:10  Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.

Num 35:25  And the congregation shall deliver the slayer out of the hand of the revenger of blood, and the congregation shall restore him to the city of his refuge, whither he was fled: and he shall abide in it unto the death of the high priest, which was anointed with the holy oil.

To understand this verse, we need to see the city of refuge in a negative sense. It is stated that the congregation shall deliver the slayer out of the hand of the revenger of blood and restore him to the city of his refuge. This shows us the role that the church (Babylon) plays in our walk with the Lord. Through the churches of this world, we are delivered from the devil (the revenger of blood) when we flee from the world to be given hope in the Lord as our refuge. During our time in Babylon, we end up crucifying the Lord again and putting Him to open shame, that is, putting Christ our High Priest to death. However, it is when we see Christ within us being put to death signified by the death of the High Priest, that we get out of our city of refuge (Babylon) and become free to worship the Lord. 

Heb 6:5  And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 
Heb 6:6  If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

Num 35:26  But if the slayer shall at any time come without the border of the city of his refuge, whither he was fled; 
Num 35:27  And the revenger of blood find him without the borders of the city of his refuge, and the revenger of blood kill the slayer; he shall not be guilty of blood: 
Num 35:28  Because he should have remained in the city of his refuge until the death of the high priest: but after the death of the high priest the slayer shall return into the land of his possession. 
Num 35:29  So these things shall be for a statute of judgment unto you throughout your generations in all your dwellings.

On a positive note, coming into the city of refuge represents coming to hide in Christ our King as our stronghold or tower. It is in Him that we lay hold of the hope that is set before us.

Heb 6:18  That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: 
Heb 6:19  Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;

In verses 26-27, we are warned that if we leave our city of refuge or Christ, we become mincemeat for the devil. This means that we shall end up becoming spiritually dead. It is when Christ within us is put to death through the doctrines that we imbibe in Babylon that we have to leave to become spiritually free to worship the Lord in truth and in spirit. 

Joh 8:31  Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 
Joh 8:32  And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Num 35:30  Whoso killeth any person, the murderer shall be put to death by the mouth of witnesses: but one witness shall not testify against any person to cause him to die. 

In verse 30, we are being taught the principle of having two or more witnesses before a thing is established. One witness is not sufficient testimony to establish the matter. What this implies is that no Bible verse has its own interpretation. We need other witnesses in the Bible to establish what the Spirit is saying to us.

2Pe 1:20  knowing this first, that every prophecy of Scripture did not come into being of its own interpretation; 

2Co 13:1  This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established. 

Num 35:31  Moreover ye shall take no satisfaction for the life of a murderer, which is guilty of death: but he shall be surely put to death. 
Num 35:32  And ye shall take no satisfaction for him that is fled to the city of his refuge, that he should come again to dwell in the land, until the death of the priest. 
Num 35:33  So ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye are: for blood it defileth the land: and the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it. 
Num 35:34  Defile not therefore the land which ye shall inhabit, wherein I dwell: for I the LORD dwell among the children of Israel. 

The King James version of verse 31 which we just read did not bring out clearly what the verse means. In other versions of the Bible, we are told the following:

Num 35:31  Moreover, you shall accept no ransom for the life of a murderer, who is guilty of death, but he shall be put to death. 
Num 35:32  And you shall accept no ransom for him who has fled to his city of refuge, that he may return to dwell in the land before the death of the high priest. (ESV)

Our old man or our flesh who belongs to the devil, the murderer, must surely be put to death. There is no ransom for the flesh. It was made of dust, and to dust it must return.  In verse 32, there is no ransom for those who have fled to a city of refuge. If we come to Christ as our refuge, and we continue to sin, there is no ransom since Christ has already been sacrificed. 

Heb 6:4  For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, 
Heb 6:5  and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, 
Heb 6:6  and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt.

In verse 33 and 34, we are told not to pollute the land that we dwell in by committing murder since blood pollutes the land. The land refers to our bodies. We are therefore not to fill our hearts with hatred for our brothers and sisters as hatred is regarded as murder according to the Law of the Spirit of Life. We are to love our brothers and sisters, even as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for us. In relation to Christ, love to us means obedience. In our relationship with one another as brothers and sisters, love means that we serve one another. 

1Jn 5:2  By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments.
1Jn 5:3  For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.

Gal 5:13  For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

May the Lord help us as we take refuge in Him to lay hold of the hope set before us. Amen!!

Book of Obadiah – Oba 1:2 Thou art Greatly Despised

[Study Aired December 13, 2023]

Oba 1:2  Behold, I have made thee small among the heathen: thou art greatly despised

Oba 1:2  Behold,^H2009 I have made^H5414 thee small^H6996 among the heathen:^H1471 thou^H859 art greatly^H3966 despised.^H959 

The seven Hebrew words used are:

H2009 – Hinneh, behold, lo, see, if, prolongation for a primitive particle H2005, Hen, behold, lo, if

H5414 – Nathan, (Qal) to give, put, set, bestow, grant, permit, ascribe, employ, devote, consecrate, dedicate, pay wages, sell, exchange, lend, commit, entrust, give over, deliver up, yield produce, occasion, produce, requite to, report, mention, utter, stretch out, extend, put on, put upon, appoint, assign, designate, make, constitute, a primitive root

H6996 – Qatan, young, small, insignificant, unimportant, from a primitive root 

H6962, Koot, to loathe, be grieved, feel a loathing, detest, loathe oneself

H1471 – Goy, nation, people, swarm of locusts, other animals, from the same root as 

H1465, Gevah, the back, behind, from H1460, Gev, the back, back, midst, from a primitive root H1342, Ga’ah, to rise up, grow up, be exalted in triumph, be lifted up, be raised up, be exalted

H859 – Attah, you (second pers. sing. masc.) a primitive pronoun of the second person

H3966 – Meod, Vehement, exceedingly, much, might, force, abundance, muchness, greatly, very, up to abundance, to a great degree, with muchness, from the same as H181, Ood, brand, fire brand, from an unused root meaning to rake together a poker (for turning or gathering embers) (Root word used three times in OT)

H959 – Bazah, (Qal) to despise, hold in contempt, a primitive root

Here is a literal translation of verse 2 including the root words:

Oba 1:2 Behold (you are) given to be small [to loathe yourself], [you will] be raised up, you, a firebrand, held in contempt.

The new man loathes the old man, because they are opposites (in opposition) and will hold it in contempt just as the new man is held in contempt by the flesh. In Paul’s letter to the Romans, he refers to this conflict:

Rom 8:1  There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Rom 8:2  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
Rom 8:3  For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
Rom 8:4  That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Rom 8:5  For they that are after the flesh do mind [G5426] the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
Rom 8:6  For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

It is the carnal mind (false doctrines) which make up the old man and it is the carnal mind that is enmity (hostility) against God.

Rom 8:7  Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

As we mature in Christ we begin to place much more emphasis on understanding the things of the spirit, by spending time in the Word, because we know that focusing on the flesh does not please God. 

Rom 8:8  So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God

The Greek word used in Romans 8:5 for mind (for they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit) is:

G5426 
phroneō [fron-eh’-o]

From G5424; to exercise the mind, that is, entertain or have a sentiment or opinion; intensively to interest oneself in (with concern or obedience): – set the affection on. From a root word G5424 “the faculty of perceiving and judging”.

As the elect we are interested in understanding the Word of God, and we are very concerned with being obedient to His Words. This is what makes us “able ministers” as shown in 2 Corinthians.

2Co 3:6  Who also hath made us able ministers [G1249] of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life

The elect are “able ministers”:

G1249
diakonos

Thayer Definition:

1) one who executes the commands of another, especially of a master, a servant, attendant, minister

1a) the servant of a king

We are, and are to be, servants of Christ, our King. He is the true King of kings and Lord of lords. He chose us to be servants; we didn’t choose to be invited to be a servant in his Kingdom because it is He who appoints us to this role.

Joh 15:16  Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

Rev 17:14  These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

Isa 43:10  Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me

Good servants, primarily are obedient to their King. This is how we can keep every word of Christ and at the same time apply the spiritual principle of not keeping every “letter” which has been written in the Bible, instead discerning truth from error as we start to put away the idols from out of all our land. As servants we are given the keys to the Kingdom so we may better understand the spirit behind the letter of what has been written:

Rom 12:1  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Rom 12:2  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

It is our reasonable service to present our bodies as a living sacrifice. This is achieved by renewing our mind (putting away the flesh/the idols and giants out of our land).

2Ch 15:6  And nation was destroyed of nation, and city of city: for God did vex them with all adversity.
2Ch 15:7  Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded.
2Ch 15:8  And when Asa heard these words, and the prophecy of Oded the prophet, he took courage, and put away the abominable idols out of all the land of Judah and Benjamin.

Nations are destroyed within us (false doctrines) as Christ (true doctrines) increases in us. Christ is moulding us into a firebrand, a “new sharp threshing instrument having teeth” that is comfortable in fire, discerning truth from error:

Isa 41:13  For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.
Isa 41:14  Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the LORD, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.
Isa 41:15  Behold, I will make thee a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth: thou shalt thresh the mountains, and beat them small, and shalt make the hills as chaff.

Sharp denotes the Word and how we use it in conjunction with the Holy Spirit 

H2742 chârûts (khaw-roots’), incised or incisive; hence a trench (as dug), gold (as mined), a threshing sledge (having sharp teeth); (figuratively) determination; decision

Heb 4:12  For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

God has three seasons in which he is harvesting all of mankind to himself so he may be all in all (1Co 15:28).

The first season of harvesting is the first of the firstfruits which is Christ.

1Co 15:20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.

Col 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

The second season is the harvest where the firstfruits are brought to God. The elect are a type of firstfruits.

Jas 1:18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth [That is Christ], that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures

The third season is the “feast of ingathering” which occurs at the end of the year and is when all in Adam will be dragged to their Creator.

Here is how it appears in Exodus:

Exo 34:22  And thou shalt observe the feast of weeks, of the firstfruits of wheat harvest, and the feast of ingathering at the year’s end.

Ultimately this work of harvesting will bring both the sower and the reaper joy. We find our peace and joy in being a servant of the King of kings and Lord of lords.

Joh 4:34  Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.
Joh 4:35  Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.
Joh 4:36  And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.

It is also comforting to know that Christ also thinks of us as more than just servants. He calls us His friend.

Joh 15:11  These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
Joh 15:12  This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
Joh 15:13  Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
Joh 15:14  Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
Joh 15:15  Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.

Conclusion

Spiritual principle: We are to keep every word of scripture, but also understand the letter kills, but it is the spirit that giveth life.

Because of Christ in us, he is making us “able ministers” of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

Conscience – An Answering Conscience, Part 9

[Study Aired December 9, 2023]

The only place an ‘answering conscience’ is mentioned is in parentheses in 1 Peter 3:21, indicating the translator’s attempt to clarify the scripture ~ and it does, to the spiritual eye. 

1Pe 3:21  The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh [thinking that our works save us], but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: 
1Pe 3:22  Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers [the Elect with that knowledge] being made subject unto him.

So, of the possible seventeen exhaustive nuances of one’s “conscience” for study,  I planned on skipping the prospective ‘answering conscience’ study since the spirit and intent of the heart before God without uttering a word is inherently an “answer” of all versions of the underlying conscience. However, on closer inspection, Proverbs 16:1-2 changed my mind, particularly since all scripture, including the translator’s inclusions, is of the Lord:

Pro 16:1  The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD.
Pro 16:2  All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits.

The mind of man is unconsciously flooded with a million vain thoughts a day, most of which are, thankfully, spontaneously washed out in a millisecond.

Pro 30:12  There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their own filth. 

Since Christ on the cross, we are that generation in Babylon, pure in our own eyes. Our Lord has chosen his minimal Elect since before the foundation of the world and has placed each of them in a particular age and generation in contemporary Babylon to be dragged to himself and washed of their spiritual uncleanliness.

Amo 3:6  Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it? 
Amo 3:7  Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.

The entire Bible is effectively a “secret”, and the Lord surely is revealing the secrets of His word through the collective Body of Christ and its teachers. The many called in this world can hear His trumpet blast, but it is only the ‘Sauls’ (who became Paul), the budding Elect of God, who are struck down blind before they are given eyes that see (Act 9:3-18). It takes an earthquake to shake us to our core to get our attention, and it is a profound preparation of our hearts to cause us to fearfully whimper, “Who art thou, Lord?”

Yet, those million vain and often evil thoughts a day flit through our minds, with some being more lustfully titillating than others held constant and likely repeated that guarantee an answer from the Lord via our tongue. 

Pro 16:1  The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD.

Gen 6:5  And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

A rash utterance is extracted from a multitude of probably worse thoughts from which the ‘rash’ best of a bad bunch is carelessly declared. It all sounds pretty hopeless, and to our former Babylonian selves, it was when we relied on being saved by our illusory self-will for being accountable for our sins. We are not accountable; our Lord is accountable for the workmanship He has engaged to bring us eventually, through much trial and suffering, into the fullness of the Father as experienced by Job and narrated by Elihu, the Lord’s spokesman. ‘Righteous Job’, representing you and me, is incited by Elihu with the most profound thud back to earth with the inescapable truth and concurrence of an “answering conscience” recorded for our mutual fiery benefit. Elihu, upon listening to both Job and Job’s other three ‘miserable comforter’ friends, is the foil, the inescapable answer of Job’s conscience:

Job 33:12 [God through Elihu says…] Behold, in this you [Job] are not right; I will answer you, for God is greater than man. 
Job 33:13  Why do you fight against Him? For He does not give account for any of His matters.
Job 33:14  For God speaks once, yea, twice, but not one takes notice. (Joh 8:43  Why do you not know My speech? Because you cannot hear My Word. [… why, because God has blinded everybody in their time, and their conscience is not convicted to answer with the truth])
Job 33:15  In a dream, a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men; while they slumber on the bed; 
Job 33:16  then He opens the ear of men and seals their teaching,
Job 33:17  so that He may turn man from his act, that He might hide pride from man.

Hidden pride is a thoroughly humiliated pride that even stops the mouths of the powerful lions we depict as we slink into the bushes, savaged and naked. Elihu narrates the devastation of our withering shame for our unaccountable blindness for our predestined and guaranteed account for our God-given nakedness. Job, with an inescapable truthful answering conscience, gives that account upon contemplating Elihu’s lengthy speech and God’s still small voice, both of which left Job inwardly stoned, ground to powder in Job 40:4. But first, we will continue with Job 33 and Elihu’s reproach forecasting our Lord’s severe trials before the cross.

Job 33:18  He keeps back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.
Job 33:19  He is also chastened with pain on his bed, and enduring strife in his bones;
Job 33:20  so that his life is sick of bread, and his soul desirable food. 
Job 33:21  His flesh wastes away, not seen; and his bones laid bare; they were not seen. 
Job 33:22  Yea, his soul draws near to the Pit, and his life to the dealers of death. 
Job 33:23  If there is a messenger for him, a mediator, one among a thousand, to declare for man his uprightness, 
Job 33:24  then He [the Father] is gracious to him and says, Deliver him from going down to the Pit; for I have found a ransom [Christ!].
Job 33:25  His flesh shall be fresher than in vigor [bloom of youthfulness]; he shall return to the days of his youth; 
Job 33:26  he shall pray to God, and He will be gracious to him; and he shall see His face with joy, for He will restore to man his righteousness (Col 1:27 “…Christ in you, the hope of glory”).
Job 33:27  He will observe to men, and say, I have sinned and perverted righteousness; and it was not equally repaid to me, [Not equally paid since Christ didn’t deserve death for not sinning; thus there is a seeming disparity of justice between Him and man.] 
Job 33:28  He has redeemed my soul from passing over into the Pit, and my life shall see the light.
Job 33:29  Lo, all these things God does two or three times with a man, 
Job 33:30  to bring back his soul from the Pit, to be lighted with the light of the living. 
Job 33:31  Hear this, Job, listen to me; be silent and I will speak. 
Job 33:32  If you have anything to say, answer me; speak, for I [Christ] desire to justify you. [… incredible hope amid devastation to be retrieved from death]
Job 33:33  If not, listen to me; be silent, [stop ‘answering with an “accusing and excusing conscience”!] and I will teach you wisdom. 

Job 35:16, [Elihu says ~] Therefore doth Job [you and Grant Squelch] open his mouth in vain; he multiplieth words without knowledge.

Job’s deeply wounded pride endures four more chapters of Elihu’s devastating speech, and while raw from Elihu’s address, the Lord performs a series of natural phenomenons to tremble Job by God’s sovereign power. Job’s pride, in 40:4, is backed into a corner, and he finally submits in (temporarily dichotic) joyful humiliation to a righteously ‘answering conscience’ when he says:

Job 40:4 Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth. 
Job 40:5  Once have I spoken; but I will not answer: yea, twice; but I will proceed no further”.

The Lord continues to thoroughly grind Job’s stony pride to powder with 52 additional verses until he is like water spilled on the ground that cannot be recollected. Job is compelled to answer with his conscience by saying:

Job 42:1  And Job answered Jehovah and said, 
Job 42:2  I know that You can do all, and not any purpose is withheld from You. 
Job 42:3  Who is he who hides counsel without knowledge? Therefore I have spoken what I did not understand; things too wonderful for me; yea, I did not know.

How can we be accountable for something we didn’t know? We, rather, give an account of what the Lord has done and is doing and will complete in every man’s life.

Job 42:4  Hear, I beseech You, and I will speak; I will ask You, and You will cause me to know.
Job 42:5  I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear; but now my eye has seen You.
Job 42:6  Therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.

Job’s vivid story is every man’s inescapable experience in his own time and order to be ground to powder and compelled to answer with a good conscience, knowing who God is, either man (the Beast on His throne) or God.

2Th 2:1  Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ [today, if you hear his voice!], and by our gathering together unto him, 
2Th 2:2  That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. 

Like Job, we most assuredly “Is Was and Will Be” shaken to our core but are now joyful for the subtle meaning in parentheses of 1 Peter 3:21 as we shall continue to see.  

2Th 2:3  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; 
2Th 2:4  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. 

… in continuing to interpret 1 Peter 3:15, and,

1Pe 3:14  But if you also suffer [while in the “filth of the flesh”] for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. And do not fear their fear, nor be troubled, [since we know the glorious truth!]
1Pe 3:15  but sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and be ready always to give an answer to everyone who asks you a reason of the hope [an answering conscience of deep belief] in you, with meekness and fear; 
1Pe 3:16  having a good conscience, that while they speak against you as evildoers they may be shamed, those falsely accusing your good behavior in Christ. 
1Pe 3:17  For it is better, if the will of God wills it, to suffer for well-doing than for evil-doing. 
1Pe 3:18  For Christ also once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, indeed being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit; 
1Pe 3:19  in which also He went  and preached to the spirits in prison, [symbolically, and particularly us while being dragged to Christ. How can He preach to dead people under the Flood since the dead know nothing?]

(Ecc 9:4  For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living [faithful spiritual Caleb realising his sins…] dog is better than a dead [our former pompous Babylonian Christian] lion.
Ecc 9:5  For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. 
Ecc 9:6  Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun.)

Continuing…

1Pe 3:20  to disobeying ones, when once the long-suffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared (in which a few, that is, eight souls were saved through water); 
1Pe 3:21  which figure now also saves us, baptism; (not a putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), by the resurrection of Jesus Christ; [a live Lion!]
1Pe 3:22  who is at the right hand of God, having gone into Heaven, where the angels and authorities and powers are being subjected to Him.

KJV translators used parentheses in the case of 1 Peter 3:21 to enclose additional or supplemental information that supposedly clarifies the verse. This is always the KJV’s rationale. The NKJV removed them.

What comes out of a man, him being made of evil flesh, defiles him; however, his spirit within formulates that answer that is from his heart. Thus, an “Answering Conscience” residing in his heart has already commended or condemned him before he opens his mouth. The Lord knew the machinations of the individual’s heart over six thousand years ago before his conception. And since all things, both good and evil, are for our sakes, our Lord sometimes answers our God-given good or evil conscience ahead of our thoughts, words or actions. So, the eight souls in the Ark to which 1 Peter 3:21 refers, emphatically believed their Lord that the new and confusing concept of an overwhelming flood was to come upon the world, unwittingly heralding the future Savior by a likewise all-consuming fire. John the baptist says,

Mat 3:11  I indeed baptise you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptise you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: 
Mat 3:12  Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. [A wind, the spirit of God, powerfully blows upon our wood, hay and stubble unstoppably]

The following verses in Isaiah 65:23-24 are the future result of Christ completing His workmanship within His Elect today since He has laid the axe to our self-righteous roots and made His righteousness an ultimate default in His very small group of people. The Elect’s conscience is made clean ahead of time, even though their sins decreasingly are/were scarlet (Isa 1:18); thereupon, they are in unity in Him and able to answer with a good conscience, having been given only a downpayment of the (predestinated) purchased possession (Rom 8:30).

Isa 65:23  They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring [all whom he gives his Elect to teach] with them.
Isa 65:24  And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.

1Jn 5:13  These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God [as did the 8 souls in the Ark answering in good conscience in obedience by discounting the filth of the flesh]. 
1Jn 5:14  And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us [before we ask since he gives us our thoughts and words]:
1Jn 5:15  And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

The above scriptures substantiate our Lord’s predestination of us, that is, answered beforehand with His good “answering conscience” in which He perpetually exists without ever bringing to mind Him questioning His conscience. While we exist in evil flesh, as did our ancestors in the flood, we will always be subject to questioning our conscience to check that we are in unity with our Lord and Father. He answers us with the assurance of life “by the resurrection of Jesus Christ” following the flood of baptismal water and, finally, the baptismal fire that laps up the water, leaving only refined gold.

2Pe 3:3  Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days [in our individual timely age, when our Lord’s refining fire laps up the Old Man born of water upon having our Saul-like (Paul) eyes opened] scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 
2Pe 3:4  And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation [Unwittingly remaining at Mt Sinai and Babylon and not moving on to perfection]. 
2Pe 3:5  For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth [you and I, the Beast coming out of the sea] standing out of the water and in the water:
2Pe 3:6  Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water [Noah’s flood and still the world remaining dead in the deep], perished: 
2Pe 3:7  But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men [ALL, evey man, small and great having received the mark of the Beast]. 
2Pe 3:8  But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 
2Pe 3:9  The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 
2Pe 3:10  But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
2Pe 3:11  Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
2Pe 3:12  Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the shall melt with fervent heat [1Ki 18:38].

Christ was created in the very image of the spirit of the Father. He became dust, that is, made of the elements of the earth as we are, and He, too, figuratively melted in the furnace of the cross and brought forth metaphorical pure spiritual gold of His former self.

2Pe 3:13  Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. 

The Lord’s very Elect looks forward with “the answer of a good conscience” to that fiery event happening daily in their lives, bringing forth pure gold. They, like the eight souls on the Ark, are now the figurative same eight souls (new beginnings of the new man in and of Christ) resting paradoxically as lively fiery stones in the fiery ‘Ark’ (chariot) that is Christ, the “chariot of Israel” (2Ki 13:14). 

The answer of a good conscience Christ guarantees will result in the structure of the New Jerusalem within composed symbolically of pure gold, representing the spiritual purity of God, even though the rest of the city is embedded with precious stones, the overall clarity of crystal and twelve gates, each made of a single pearl (Rev 21:9-27).

Rev 21:17  And he measured the wall [the heavenly Jerusalem within, the Lamb’s Wife] thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel [The Bride of Christ].
Rev 21:18  And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass. 

God’s spirit is represented as pure gold, and the precious stones, crystal and the like, symbolise the literal spiritual mass of former humanity who bow down in honor and glorify Christ and His Christs, all highlighting our Father.  

Upon the end of the Eighth Day, the billions of stars, representing the spiritually changed humanity, will all, in trembling delight, gladly “answer” in the Resurrection to Judgment with an immutably “good conscience” just which of them is the God of gods.

Rev 3:14  And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; 

Joh 10:34  Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods? 
Joh 10:35  If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken; 
Joh 10:36  Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God? 

Anything other than answering with a pure conscience is defiled by a lie.

Rev 21:27  And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life. 

Zec 6:1-15  These are the four spirits of the heavens which go forth…

[Study Aired July 6, 2023]

Zec 6:1  And I turned, and lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came four chariots out from between two mountains; and the mountains were mountains of brass. 
Zec 6:2  In the first chariot were red horses; and in the second chariot black horses; 
Zec 6:3  And in the third chariot white horses; and in the fourth chariot grisled and bay horses. 
Zec 6:4  Then I answered and said unto the angel that talked with me, What are these, my lord? 
Zec 6:5  And the angel answered and said unto me, These are the four spirits of the heavens, which go forth from standing before the Lord of all the earth.
Zec 6:6  The black horses which are therein go forth into the north country; and the white go forth after them; and the grisled go forth toward the south country. 
Zec 6:7  And the bay went forth, and sought to go that they might walk to and fro through the earth: and he said, Get you hence, walk to and fro through the earth. So they walked to and fro through the earth. 
Zec 6:8  Then cried he upon me, and spake unto me, saying, Behold, these that go toward the north country have quieted my spirit in the north country. 
Zec 6:9  And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 
Zec 6:10  Take of them of the captivity, even of Heldai, of Tobijah, and of Jedaiah, which are come from Babylon, and come thou the same day, and go into the house of Josiah the son of Zephaniah; 
Zec 6:11  Then take silver and gold, and make crowns, and set them upon the head of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest; 
Zec 6:12  And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD: 
Zec 6:13  Even he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both. 
Zec 6:14  And the crowns shall be to Helem, and to Tobijah, and to Jedaiah, and to Hen the son of Zephaniah, for a memorial in the temple of the LORD. 
Zec 6:15  And they that are far off shall come and build in the temple of the LORD, and ye shall know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you. And this shall come to pass, if ye will diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God.

The natural progression of our sojourning in Christ has been shown in the last three chapters of Zechariah. Chapter four was about the two witnesses who have been given the power of God to prophesy for a time, times and half a time and chapter five explains how God’s elect, by the grace and faith of Christ, come to see Babylon, out of which we are mercifully being dragged in this age. This sixth chapter details for us the four sore judgments (Eze 14:21) we must go through as we come out of Babylon, not by our own might or power but rather by God’s spirit (Zec 4:6). God’s power is used in our lives to overcome the complete beasts we are, typified by four horses, each horse having their own symbolic meaning and presence in our life-long journey of coming out of her my people (2Co 6:17). 

Most people will not love Christ’s appearing and will say to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?” (Rev 6:16-17). Hiding from Christ’s appearing is hiding from His judgments which we need in order to learn of His righteousness, and few are given to desire and endure that process in this life which forges that crown of life we are called to “hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.” (Isa 26:9, Heb 12:6, Psa 107:21-31)]

Zec 6:1  And I turned, and lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came four chariots out from between two mountains; and the mountains were mountains of brass. 

Zechariah turns and lifts up his eyes to typify for God’s elect our believing what God is doing in the midst of His people, “The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing” (Zep 3:17). He looks and behold, “there came four chariots out from between two mountains; and the mountains were mountains of brass.” These chariots typify our weak flesh through which God makes his strength perfect so we can have complete assurance that we can overcome Babylon, represented by the symbols of two brass mountains; brass being the best the flesh can produce (Php 3:3). The negative example of chariots that describes the power of our flesh would be the enemies of Israel who pursued them across the Red Sea to be destroyed by those waters, which typify the destruction of our old man (Deu 11:2-4).

Deu 11:2  And know ye this day: for I speak not with your children which have not known, and which have not seen the chastisement of the LORD your God, his greatness, his mighty hand, and his stretched out arm,
Deu 11:3  And his miracles, and his acts, which he did in the midst of Egypt unto Pharaoh the king of Egypt, and unto all his land; 
Deu 11:4  And what he did unto the army of Egypt, unto their horses, and to their chariots; how he made the water of the Red sea to overflow them as they pursued after you, and how the LORD hath destroyed them unto this day; [Joh 8:36, 1Co 15:31]

Zec 6:2  In the first chariot were red horses; and in the second chariot black horses; 
Zec 6:3  And in the third chariot white horses; and in the fourth chariot grisled and bay horses. 

These four horses are an earlier type of the four horsemen of Revelation 6:1-8.

Rev 6:1  And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, “four chariots out from between two mountains” one of the four beasts saying, Come and see. 

This statement in Revelation 6:1 parallels “And I turned, and lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came four chariots out from between two mountains” (Zec 6:1). As we know, Christ is the one who is riding all of these horses according to the counsel of God’s will (Eph 1:11), and there is a distinction in the old covenant witness in the order that the horses are ridden, versus the order they are shown in the new covenant. 

The old covenant reveals the natural order that precedes the spiritual order in the new covenant, and both are profitable to tell us something about our sojourning in the Lord, as the old covenant prophecies were for our sakes (1Co 15:46, 2Ti 3:16, 1Pe 1:12). The one horse that is common in its order in both recountings of four horses is the grisled and bay and the pale horse, which falls into the fourth category, both horses representing flesh and blood that cannot inherit the kingdom of God. 

Each horse is telling us something about our Adamic nature which only Christ can overcome by riding these horses to their predestined conclusion of not being able to inherit the kingdom of God. So, the fourth horse represents the persistent sickness of flesh that is naturally against the spirit right up until the end of our lives. In the old covenant the fourth horse is described as being spotted and gray (Zec 6:3 CEV),  and in the new covenant, as being pale (Rev 6:8), both symbols of our more mature flesh which still cannot inherit the kingdom of God. 

Right after we learn of the demise of our flesh, typified by these words in Revelation 6:8, “And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth”, we see the glorious outcome for those who are blessed to endure until the end overcoming our enemy, spiritual death, in this life in (Rev 6:9, 1Co 15:55-57, Rom 7:24).

Rev 6:9  And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:

1Co 15:55  O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 
1Co 15:56  The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 
1Co 15:57  But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ [Rom 7:24-25].

Rom 7:24  O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 
Rom 7:25  I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. 

Christ is the one who has power over life and death, heaven and earth, demonstrated by His riding and controlling each of these horses to the glory of God. The statement “which they held” of Revelation 6:9 “And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:” is made possible by the fit man, Jesus Christ (spoken of in Leviticus 16:12) who holds the reigns of our hearts and minds unto salvation as the author and finisher of that faith (Pro 18:21, Rev 1:16, Heb 12:2)

So, what of this order? I’ve taken some excerpts from Mike’s Revelation series to give us a brief description of what each horse represents in the new covenant, which should help us see why the order is different from the old covenant to the new covenant. The meaning of the colors doesn’t change, however the order tells us something about the state of the typical overcomer in the old covenant versus the overcomer in Christ in the new covenant.

OLD COVENANT – 1-red 2-black 3-white 4-grisled and bay (Zec 1:8, Zec 6:2-3)

Christ is the one who causes us to stand, only made possible because He is in the midst of the myrtle trees, which trees represent men (Mar 8:24) specifically the body of Christ in these verses (Neh 8:15, Isa 41:19, Isa 55:13) who know their marred condition, represented by “red horses [Adam, who is without peace], speckled [marred/sin], and white [leprous in the negative sense]” that will be brought into subjection to the rider, Jesus Christ (2Co 10:5) [excerpt from Tony’s study with Zec 1:1-21].

RED – The first old covenant horse Christ rides is red, demonstrating the eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth old-covenant approach of justice for the unconverted world (Mat 5:38) that does in fact typify for us how we are to be merciless against the sin in our lives and destroy everything that breathes within ourselves (Deu 20:16).BLACK – There are equal measures and weights in the old covenant (Deu 25:13-16), but they are not accompanied with the grace and truth which can only come about with Christ coming into our lives (Joh 1:17) changing our hearts so that our judgments in the earth become just and merciful, which is when we are truly measuring up to the mind of Christ (Rom 12:20, Eph 4:32, But I say unto you…. Luk 6:35). The black horse rider carries with him a pair of scales (Rev 6:5) that demonstrates the goodness and severity of God upon all flesh (Rom 11:22), and how that judgment of old typifies the judgment that is upon the body of Christ today, who are being received by our Father through those fiery trials in our lives (Heb 12:6, 1Pe 4:12).
WHITE – The white horse represents the old covenant type and shadow righteousness of Christ that can only be exceeded by Christ abiding in us (Mat 5:20). The white horse is the third horse, demonstrating that this is as far as this process of judgment in the earth can be taken, where flesh learns of Christ’s righteousness, but there is no change of the heart without God’s spirit within (Php 3:9, Rom 8:9).
GRISLED AND BAY – This last horse represents death in both the old covenant and new covenant, to which we are all appointed (Heb 9:27) and cannot avoid being made subject to the vanity of life that can only bring about death (Rom 8:20-21). The difference with this “grisled and bay” horse versus the “pale” horse of the new covenant is that one has a sting (1Co 15:55) that does not accompany the hope of the resurrection, no promise of eternal life as a “grisled and bay” horse. However, the destruction of the pale horses tells us that the new life of Christ is being formed with the destruction of the old, and is accompanied with the promise of eternal life to those who believe in this life to the saving of their souls. Again the old covenant type and shadows, when understood to be prophecies for the body of Christ, make them profitable to us and able to make us wise unto salvation (Rom 14:8, Heb 10:39, 2Ti 3:15).

NEW COVENANT 1-white 2-red 3-black 4-pale

excerpts from Mike’s study (Rev 6:1-4 https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/rev-6_1_4/ and Rev 6:5-8)

WHITE (Rev 6:2, Rev 19:11) – “Christ comes into our lives, and while He is on a white horse here, He still has a bow, an instrument of war. The outcome of this war is not in question, because He also is “given a crown” and “He goes forth conquering, and to conquer.”

There has been a lot of controversy over the years concerning the symbolism of this white horse and his rider. Many ministers and commentators teach that this particular ‘white horse’ symbolizes a false Christ, with a false spirit, and a false gospel. However, there is not one verse of scripture which says that Satan conquers anything. Neither is Satan ever given a crown or a white horse anywhere in scripture. The outcome of this heavenly battle was settled in Eden, and it is reiterated after Adam and Eve are cast out of Eden. It was while still in the garden that the fate of the Adversary was revealed:

Gen 3:15  And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.“

RED (Rev 6:4) – “The second horse was a red horse and we saw that the coming of the white horse rider into our lives, necessarily takes away the peace that we once knew in this world.”
BLACK (Rev 6:5) – “This black horse rider comes with a pair of scales and symbolizes the spiritual famine and the state of spiritual starvation that is our lot as a Babylonian prodigal son.”
PALE (Rev 6:8) – “This fourth seal is revealing Christ to us, just as much as the first seal with the white horse revealed Christ to us. His name is death, not because he is destroying Christ, but because he is destroying the man of sin. Hades, the grave, is the abode and destination of all sinful flesh and blood.” ***end quote ***

Zec 6:4  Then I answered and said unto the angel that talked with me, What are these, my lord? 
Zec 6:5  And the angel answered and said unto me, These are the four spirits of the heavens, which go forth from standing before the Lord of all the earth.

These four horses represent the complete or whole means by which Christ will judge all the world, each horse demonstrating a facet of that judgment which must ride through our heavens as “the four spirits of the heavens” to purify our lives so we, having done all through Christ, can stand “before the Lord of all the earth” (Heb 9:23).

Heb 9:23  It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.

If we endure until the end, the judgment of these horses in our heavens, then we will be used by God to bring about His judgments into the earth upon a white horse, which represents Christ’s power in us giving us the ability to judge all nations with a rod of iron (Rev 19:14).

Rev 19:14  And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.

Zec 6:6  The black horses which are therein go forth into the north country; and the white go forth after them; and the grisled go forth toward the south country. 
Zec 6:7  And the bay went forth, and sought to go that they might walk to and fro through the earth: and he said, Get you hence, walk to and fro through the earth. So they walked to and fro through the earth. 
Zec 6:8  Then cried he upon me, and spake unto me, saying, Behold, these that go toward the north country have quieted my spirit in the north country. 

These black horses, which go forth into the north country, represent the elect who are judged in this age (1Pe 4:17), which judgment is required in order to be received by God being given the righteousness of Christ typified by the white horses that go after the black horses that are first judged:  “the white go forth after them.” (Light comes out of darkness Joh 3:19-21, Mat 5:14, Col 1:27)

The grisled horses going south remind us that we are still in bodies of death which are naturally wretched and do not want to be judged by God (Rom 7:19). Going south symbolizes going away from judgment, which is in the north (Joh 21:18-19). 

The bay horses ‘go forth’ representing our day-to-day living and moving and having our being in Christ like the rest of humanity (Act 17:28), the difference being that God’s elect are being judged and received by God via that chastening and scourging judgment which is endured through His love being shed abroad in our hearts, making is possible for all things, good and bad, to work together for the good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose (Rom 5:5, Rom 8:28). 

When we are judged by God, we come to our senses like the prodigal son and say, “Then cried he upon me, and spake unto me, saying, Behold, these that go toward the north country have quieted my spirit in the north country.” It takes the storms of this life God raises to bring us to our wits’ end, realizing that He alone knows how to “quiet my spirit” and He does this through judgment “in the north country.” This all typifies for us how these horses, representing the powers and principalities against which we wrestle (Eph 6:12), are broken by Christ, the rider, who sits far higher than all those powers and principalities (Psa 107:26-30, Eph 1:21).

Psa 107:26  They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.
Psa 107:27  They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits’ end. 
Psa 107:28  Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses. Psa 107:29  He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. 
Psa 107:30  Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven. 

Eph 1:21  Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: 
Eph 1:22  And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,

Zec 6:9  And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 
Zec 6:10  Take of them of the captivity, even of Heldai, of Tobijah, and of Jedaiah, which are come from Babylon, and come thou the same day, and go into the house of Josiah the son of Zephaniah; 

These next verses typify the reward for those who are judged in this age (1Pe 4:17), and the names and places of those who are taken out of captivity, reveal in type and shadow language, something about the process and the fruit of the lives of those who are being delivered from sin through Christ today (Joh 8:36).

Zec 6:10 Take of them of the captivity, even of “Heldai^H2469, of Tobijah^H2900 of Jedaiah^H3048, “which are come from Babylon, and come thou  the same day, and go into the house of “Josiah^H2977 the son of Zephaniah;^H6846“.

“Heldai of Tobijah, and of Jedaiah” reveal to us that while we were yet sinners and part of the world, the Lord loved us, as we were known of Him from the foundation of the world and are now hidden in Christ (Col 2:3, Col 3:3).

Heldai H2469  khel-dah’-ee
From H2466; worldliness; Cheldai, the name of two Israelites.

Tobijah H2900 to-bee-yaw’, to-bee-yaw’-hoo
From H2896 and H3050; goodness of Jehovah; Tobijah, the name of three Israelites and of one Samaritan.

“Josiah the son of Zephaniah” remind us that we are founded of God from the foundation of the world and that we are hidden in Christ as God’s workmanship (Col 2:3, Col 3:3, Eph 2:10).

Josiah H2977 yo-she-yaw’, yo-she-yaw’-hoo
From the same root as H803 and H3050; founded of Jah; Joshijah, the name of two Israelites.

Zephaniah H6846 – the son of Zephaniah; – tsef-an-yaw’, tsef-an-yaw’-hoo
From H6845 and H3050; Jah has secreted; Tsephanjah, the name of four Israelites.

Zec 6:11  Then take silver and gold, and make crowns, and set them upon the head of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest; 
Zec 6:12  And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD: 

“Josedech” the high priest represents Christ, and “the BRANCH” represents the body of Christ (Joh 15:5). The crown is made of silver and gold, which typify the unwavering desire Christ had and has to accomplish the cleansing of the temple [silver] (Joh 2:17, Mat 21:12) so that the [gold], which represents God’s word in us, can be purified. 

Christ is the one building the temple (Psa 127:1), and He is doing this through the church, through the many joints that supply in love (Eph 4:16) and bear each other’s burdens, fulfilling the law of Christ (Gal 6:2, Joh 13:35, 1Jn 5:2) so that the bride can be made ready for His return (Rev 19:7).

Zec 6:13  Even he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both. 
Zec 6:14  And the crowns shall be to Helem, and to Tobijah, and to Jedaiah, and to Hen the son of Zephaniah, for a memorial in the temple of the LORD. 

God’s elect build the temple by Christ’s [“Josedech”] direction “and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.” The four men, Helem, Tobijah, Jedaiah and Hen, the son of Zephaniah, who is mentioned earlier, represent the whole (4) of the body of Christ who are sent as Christ was sent into the world to save it, if the world will be given to “diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God“, which in time they will.

The crowns “And the crowns shall be to” that are given to “Helem^H2494, and to Tobijah^H2900, and to Jedaiah^H3048, and to Hen^H2581 the son of Zephaniah” are a “memorial in the temple of the LORD” of God’s power that worked in the lives of the very few who were blessed to experience His power working in their lives to the end that they could become kings and priests who would rule under Christ (Mat 22:14, Rev 20:6). The memorial is represented by the crowns that belong to God (Rev 4:10-11) and, like the book of remembrance, serve this same function of reminding the world and ourselves that we are God’s workmanship, and what has been accomplished in our lives was all by the hands of the Almighty and for the salvation to be given to rest of God’s creation (Mal 3:16, Eph 2:8-10, Oba 1:21, Rom 11:31).

Helem  H2494
BDB Definition: Helem = “strength” or “dream”
1) a returned exile in the time of Zechariah; also spelled ‘Heldai’
A Related Word by BDB/Strong’s Number: from H2492

Tobijah  H2900

BDB Definition: Tobiah = “Jehovah is good”
1) head of a family who returned from exile with Zerubbabel but who were unable to prove their connection with Israel
2) the Ammonite who with Sanballat opposed the rebuilding of Jerusalem
3) a Levite in the reign of Jehoshaphat
4) a chief of the returning exiles
A Related Word by BDB/Strong’s Number: from H2896 and H3050

Jedaiah  H3048
BDB Definition: Jedaiah = “Jehovah has known”
1) a priest in Jerusalem
2) a man who returned with Zerubbabel
3) a ruler of the priests in the days of Jeshua
4) a post exilic priest
5) one honoured by Jehovah, perhaps one of the above
A Related Word by BDB/Strong’s Number: from H3045 and H3050

Hen  H2581
BDB Definition: Hen = “favour”
1) a contemporary of Zerubbabel
A Related Word by BDB/Strong’s Number: the same as H2580

Zec 6:15  And they that are far off shall come and build in the temple of the LORD, and ye shall know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you. And this shall come to pass, if ye will diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God.

What that work of God will produce in our lives is saviors that will come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau (Oba 1:21), so that “they that are far off shall come and build in the temple of the LORD, and ye shall know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you.” This will come to pass if the world “will diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God” which is not possible without God’s spirit within. The consummation of the ages is brought about by the lake of fire, which is what it will take for the world to finally hear “the voice of the LORD your God” (Deu 6:4-5).

The world will know that we are blessed to be coming in the name of the Lord (Mat 23:39), and in time the words that the elect fill the world with will accomplish what God has sent them out to do (Isa 55:11). If God will grant us that diligent spirit in this age, we will rule in the next (Pro 12:24). 

Mat 23:39  For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

Isa 55:11  So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. 

Deu 6:4  Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: [1Co 15:28] 
Deu 6:5  And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

The Book of Joshua – Part 17, Chapters 18 – 20

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” – Psa 46:1

Study Aired June 24, 2023

Yet again, this study of Joshua chapters 18-20 continues identifying the geographical boundaries for the remaining tribes’ inheritances. God-inspired (hopefully) spiritual relevance will only be highlighted for study extracted from the inheritances of Benjamin, Simeon, Zebulun, Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, Dan and Joshua. In his Foundational Themes in Genesis studies, Larry Groenewald has extensively detailed the understanding of these tribe’s names as he has with every Israelite name. Therefore, again, a Saint’s personal study into the meanings of the multitude of associated names could no doubt be revealing; however, I shall leave that up to the individual.

Allotment of the Remaining Land

Jos 18:1 And all the congregation of the sons of Israel gathered at Shiloh [shee-lo’

Shiloh [= place of rest. {refuge}1. he whose it is, that which belongs to him, tranquillity. 1. to be at rest, prosper, be quiet, be at ease. 1. a city in Ephraim and temporary home of the Ark of the Covenant and the Tabernacle, the place where Samuel grew up and set up the tabernacle of the congregation there]. And the land was subdued before them. 

Only Christ provides the ultimate and final state of “rest” or “refuge” for humanity; thus, he is represented as Shiloh and highlighted by Judah, the earthy keeper of the oracles of God. 

Shiloh represented Christ and was a pivotal sanctuary city in Samaria, approximately 40 km (25 miles) north of Jerusalem before the first temple in Jerusalem was built (Jdg 18:31; 21:19; 1 Sam 1:3). More will be spoken about the sanctuary cities later in this study.

Jer 7:11 Has this house [Israel], which is called by My name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, I also have seen, says Jehovah. 
Jer 7:12 But go now to My place which was in Shiloh, where I set My name at the first, and see what I did to it for the wickedness of My people Israel. 

Judah was given to hold that priestly state of governance, and his God-given power is symbolised by a lion’s cub, whose parent is a mighty male ‘lion’, Christ and His hierarchical female ‘lion’ under him, his wife, the Body of Christ. Who but his wife, a spiritual Jew, dares to rouse Him up in His timeliness. She learned Christ’s laws at His feet through the torturous exploits of old Israel and grows daily in obedience, knowing that “all things are yours [hers]” (1 Cor 3:21).

Gen 49:9 Judah is a lion’s whelp. My son, you have gone up from the prey. He stooped, he crouched like a lion; and like a lioness, who shall rouse him? 
Gen 49:10 The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a Lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come. And the obedience of the peoples to him.

Son 8:1 Who could give You to me as my brother, who sucked my mother’s breasts? When I find You outside, I would kiss You; yea, they would not despise me.
Son 8:2 I would lead You, and bring You into my mother’s house. You would instruct me; I would cause You to drink spiced wine of the juice of my pomegranate.
Son 8:3 His left hand would be under my head, and His right embrace me. 

Rom 2:28 For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that outwardly in flesh; 
Rom 2:29 but he is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is of the heart; in spirit and not in letter; whose praise is not from men, but from God.

Jos 18:2 And there remained among the sons of Israel seven tribes which had not yet received their inheritance. 
Jos 18:3 And Joshua said to the sons of Israel, How long will you fail to go in to possess the land which Jehovah, the God of your fathers has given you?

Nothing much changes, as seen in Mark 9:14-20 when the disciples couldn’t cast out the unclean spirit when they didn’t have the Lord’s spirit given by His embrace and Shulamite received kisses.

Mar 9:19 He answered him and said, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to Me! 

1Pe 2:9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for possession, so that you might speak of the praises of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 

Jos 18:4 Give from among you three men for each tribe. And I will send them, and they shall rise and go through the land and map it according to the inheritance of them. And they shall come to me. 
Jos 18:5 And they shall divide it into seven parts. Judah shall stay within their border on the south, and the house of Joseph shall stay within their borders on the north.
Jos 18:6 And you shall map the land into seven parts and bring it here to me, so that I may cast lots here for you before Jehovah our God. 
Jos 18:7 But the Levites have no part among you. For the priesthood of Jehovah is their inheritance. And Gad and Reuben and half the tribe of Manasseh have received their inheritance beyond Jordan on the east, which Moses the servant of Jehovah gave them. 

The stage is set for the northern tribes to eventually be captured by Assyria and Judah by Babylon – though Assyria, Egypt, Sodom and Jerusalem symbolise the World’s collective by the name Babylon (Rev 11:8 particularly 16:19).

Jos 18:8 And the men arose and went away. And Joshua charged those who went to map the land, saying, Go and walk through the land, and map it, and come again to me so that I may here cast lots for you before Jehovah in Shiloh. 
Jos 18:9 And the men went and passed through the land, and mapped it by cities into seven parts in a book, and they came to Joshua, to the host at Shiloh. 
Jos 18:10 And Joshua cast lots for them in Shiloh before Jehovah. And Joshua divided the land to the sons of Israel there, according to their divisions. 

Following begins the more detailed geographical inheritances of the eight tribes above, beginning with Benjamin and for your personal study. We will resume in Joshua chapter 20 studying the sanctuary cities. 

The Inheritance for Benjamin

Jos 18:11 And the lot of the tribe of the sons of Benjamin came up by their families. And the border of their lot came forth between the sons of Judah and the sons of Joseph. 
Jos 18:12 And their border on the north side was from Jordan. And the border went up to the side of Jericho on the north side, and went up through the mountains westward. And their boundary was at the wilderness of Beth-aven. 
Jos 18:13 And the border went over from there toward Luz, to the side of Luz, which is Bethel, southward. And the border went down to Ataroth-adar, near the hill that lies on the south side of the lower Beth-horon. 
Jos 18:14 And the border was drawn from there, and went around the corner of the sea southward, from the hill that is in front of Beth-horon southward. And its boundary was at Kirjath-baal; it is Kirjath-jearim, a city of the sons of Judah. This was the west quarter.
Jos 18:15 And the south quarter was from the end of Kirjath-jearim; and the border went out westward, and went out to the spring of the waters of Nephtoah; 
Jos 18:16 and the border went down to the end of the mountain that is before the valley of the sons of Hinnom, which is the Valley of the Giants northward, and went down the valley of Hinnom to the side of the Jebusite on the south, and went down to En-rogel. 
Jos 18:17 And it was drawn from the north and went out to En-shemesh, and went out toward Geliloth, which is across from the ascent of Adummim, and went down to the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben, 
Jos 18:18 and passed along toward the side over against Arabah northward, and went down to the Arabah. 
Jos 18:19 And the border passed along to the side of Beth-hoglah northward. And the boundary was at the north tongue of the Salt Sea, at the south end of Jordan. This was the south border. 
Jos 18:20 And Jordan was the border of it on the east side. This was the inheritance of the sons of Benjamin, according to its borders all around, according to their families. 
Jos 18:21 And the cities of the tribe of the sons of Benjamin according to their families were Jericho, and Beth-hoglah, and the valley of Keziz, 
Jos 18:22 and Beth-arabah, and Zemaraim, and Bethel, 
Jos 18:23 and Avvim, and Parah, and Ophrah, 
Jos 18:24 and Chephar-haam-monai, and Ophni, and Gaba; twelve cities and their villages;
Jos 18:25 Gibeon, and Ramah, and Beeroth, 
Jos 18:26 and Mizpeh, and Chephirah, and Mozah, 
Jos 18:27 and Rekem, and Irpeel, and Taralah, 
Jos 18:28 and Zelah, Eleph, and Jebusi, which is Jerusalem; Gibeath, Kirjath; fourteen cities and their villages. This is the inheritance of the sons of Benjamin according to their families.

The Inheritance for Simeon

Jos 19:1 And the second lot came forth to Simeon, for the tribe of the sons of Simeon according to their families. And their inheritance was inside the inheritance of the sons of Judah.
Jos 19:2 And they had in their inheritance Beer-sheba, or Sheba, and Moladah, 
Jos 19:3 and Hazar-shual, and Balah, and Azem, 
Jos 19:4 and Eltolad, and Bethul, and Hormah, 
Jos 19:5 and Ziklag, and Beth-marcaboth, and Hazar-susah, 
Jos 19:6 and Beth-lebaoth, and Sharuhen; thirteen cities and their villages; 
Jos 19:7 Ain, Remmon, and Ether, and Ashan; four cities and their villages, 
Jos 19:8 and all the villages that were around these cities to Baalath-beer, Ramah of the south. This is the inheritance of the tribe of the sons of Simeon according to their families. 
Jos 19:9 The inheritance of the sons of Simeon was out of the portion of the sons of Judah. For the part of the sons of Judah was too much for them; therefore the sons of Simeon had their inheritance within their inheritance. 

The Inheritance for Zebulun

Jos 19:10 And the third lot came up for the sons of Zebulun according to their families. And the border of their inheritance was to Sarid. 
Jos 19:11 And their border went up toward the sea, and Maralah, and reached to Dabbasheth, and reached to the river that is before Jokneam, 
Jos 19:12 and turned from Sarid eastward toward the sunrise to the border of The Flames of Tabor, and then goes out to Daberath, and goes up to Japhia, 
Jos 19:13 and from there it passes on along on the east to Gittah-hepher, to Ittah-kazin, and goes out to Rimmon-methoar, to Neah. 
Jos 19:14 And the border compasses it on the north side to Hannathon. And its edges were in the valley of Jiphthahel, 
Jos 19:15 and Kattath, and Nahallal, and Shimron, and Idalah, and Bethlehem; twelve cities with their villages. 
Jos 19:16 This is the inheritance of the sons of Zebulun according to their families, these cities with their villages. 

The Inheritance for Issachar

Jos 19:17 The fourth lot came out to Issachar, for the sons of Issachar according to their families. 
Jos 19:18 And their border was toward Jezreel, and Chesulloth, and Shunem, 
Jos 19:19 and Hapharaim, and Shihon, and Anaharath, 
Jos 19:20 and Rabbith, and Kishion, and Abez, 
Jos 19:21 and Remeth, and En-gannim, and En-haddah, and Beth-pazzez. 
Jos 19:22 And the border reaches to Tabor, and Shahazimah, and Beth-shemesh. And the edges of their border were at Jordan; sixteen cities with their villages. 
Jos 19:23 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the sons of Issachar according to their families, the cities and their villages. 

The Inheritance for Asher

Jos 19:24 And the fifth lot came out for the tribe of the sons of Asher according to their families. 
Jos 19:25 And their border was Helkath, and Hali, and Beten, and Achshaph, 
Jos 19:26 and Alammelech, and Amad, and Misheal; and reaches to Carmel westward, and to Shihor-libnath; 
Jos 19:27 and turns toward the sunrising to Beth-dagon, and reaches to Zebulun, and to the valley of Jiphthah-el toward the north of Beth-emek, and Neiel, and goes out to Cabul on the left hand, 
Jos 19:28 and Hebron, and Rehob, and Hammon, and Kanah, to great Sidon; 
Jos 19:29 and the border turns to Ramah, and to the strong city Tyre. And the border turns to Hosah, and the boundaries of it are at the sea from the line to Achzib, 
Jos 19:30 and Ummah, and Aphek, and Rehob; twenty-two cities and their villages. 
Jos 19:31 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the sons of Asher according to their families, these cities with their villages. 

The Inheritance for Naphtali

Jos 19:32 The sixth lot came out to the sons of Naphtali, for the sons of Naphtali according to their families. 
Jos 19:33 And their border was from Heleph, from Allon to Zaanannim, and Adami, Nekeb, and Jabneel, to Lakum. And its boundaries were at Jordan. 
Jos 19:34 And the border turns west toward Aznoth-tabor, and goes out from there to Hukkok, and reached to Zebulun on the south side, and reaches to Asher on the west side, and to Judah on Jordan toward the sunrise. 
Jos 19:35 And the fortified cities are Ziddim, Zer, and Hammath, Rakkath, and Chinnereth,
Jos 19:36 and Adamah, and Ramah, and Hazor, 
Jos 19:37 and Kedesh, and Edrei, and En-hazor, 
Jos 19:38 and Iron, and Migdalel, Horem, and Beth-anath, and Beth-shemesh; nineteen cities and their villages. 
Jos 19:39 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the sons of Naphtali according to their families, the cities and their villages. 

The Inheritance for Dan

Jos 19:40 The seventh lot came out for the tribe of the sons of Dan according to their families. 
Jos 19:41 And the border of their inheritance was Zorah, and Eshtaol, and Ir-shemesh, 
Jos 19:42 and Shaalabbin, and Ajalon, and Jethlah, 
Jos 19:43 and Elon, and Timnah, and Ekron, 
Jos 19:44 and Eltekeh, and Gibbethon, and Baalath, 
Jos 19:45 and Jehud, and Beneberak, and Gath-rimmon, 
Jos 19:46 and Mejarkon, and Rakkon, with the border before Japho. 
Jos 19:47 And the border of the sons of Dan came out too little for them. And the sons of Dan went up to fight against Leshem, and took it, and struck it with the edge of the sword, and possessed it, and lived in it. And they called Leshem Dan, after the name of their father Dan.
Jos 19:48 This is the inheritance of the tribe of Dan, by their families, these cities and their villages. 

The Inheritance for Joshua

Jos 19:49 When they had made an end of dividing the land for inheritance by their borders, the sons of Israel gave an inheritance to Joshua the son of Nun among them. 
Jos 19:50 According to the command of Jehovah they gave him the city which he asked, Timnath-serah in mount Ephraim. And he built the city and lived in it. 
Jos 19:51 These are the inheritances which Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the sons of Israel divided for an inheritance by lot in Shiloh before Jehovah, at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. And they finished dividing the land.

The Cities of Refuge

Steve Crook presents in this link an excellent study on the cities of refuge to further inspire spiritual understanding: Awesome Hands Part 170 – The Cities of Refuge

Jos 20:1 And Jehovah spoke to Joshua, saying, 
Jos 20:2 Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, Appoint cities of refuge for you, as I have spoken to you by the hand of Moses; 
Jos 20:3 that the manslayer who in innocence strikes anyone mortally, without knowing, may flee there. And they shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood. 
Jos 20:4 And he shall flee to one of those cities, and shall stand at the entrance of the gate of the city, and shall declare his cause in the ears of the elders of that city. And they shall take him into the city to themselves and make him a place, and he shall live with them. 
Jos 20:5 And if the avenger of blood pursues him, then they shall not deliver the manslayer into his hand, for he has struck his neighbor without knowing, and did not hate him in past time. 
Jos 20:6 And he shall live in that city until he stands before the congregation for judgment, until the death of the high priest who is in those days. Then the manslayer shall return and come to his city, and to his house, to the city from where he fled. 
Jos 20:7 And they set apart Kadesh in Galilee, in the hills of Naphtali; and Shechem in the hills of Ephraim; and Kirjath-arba (it is Hebron) in the hills of Judah. 
Jos 20:8 And beyond the Jordan, at Jericho eastward, they gave Bezer in the wilderness, on the tableland out of the tribe of Reuben; and Ramoth in Gilead out of the tribe of Gad; and Golan in Bashan out of the tribe of Manasseh. 
Jos 20:9 These were the appointed cities for all the sons of Israel, and for the alien who was living in their midst, that he who had killed anyone without knowing might flee there, and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood, until he stood before the congregation. 

The rich meaning and interpretation of the above verses are a major prophecy Christ introduced much later: one of forgiveness. Those verses point to Christ the King of His “city”, His Bride on a hill, the New Heavenly Jerusalem above, the mother of us all who is our refuge in Him.

Our dear brother Achan and his distraught family all died under the law of Moses for his sins. In fact, since “all things are yours”, the incredibly humbling and stressful imagery in our minds of all the harrowing torturous deaths from Cain until now is for our sakes. That reality gives us deep compassion, particularly for the World’s leaders (Jews who are not Jews; Rev 2:9) under Satan’s sway, hell-bent on making our lives miserable before killing us all.

Gen 45:8 So now, it is not you [Joseph’s brothers who sold him into Egypt] who sent me here, but God. He has made me an adviser to Pharaoh, lord over all his household, and ruler over all the land of Egypt. 

Mat 24:21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. 
Mat 24:22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the Elect’s sake those days shall be shortened. 

Jos 20:1 The LORD also spake unto Joshua, saying, 
Jos 20:2 Speak to the children of Israel, saying, Appoint out for you cities of refuge, whereof I spake unto you by the hand of Moses: 

Babylon has “cities” (plural) of refuge; they are all ten sons of Jacob’s mixed multitude of wives preaching a different Jesus that they are now saved. Most humiliatingly, they all had to go to the “one” city”, their brother, Joseph representing Christ and his Wife, for refuge from the devasting drought. They represent Babylon today, eating her food and drinking her own water under the deluded joy of worshipping a different Jesus.

The Lord’s Bride has her husband as a singularly powerful refuge for the simple act of heartfelt acknowledgement of her sins without a great fanfare of sweaty works to prove her devotion to his laws. Upon her decreasing defilements to be acknowledged, she symbolically and geographically turns south to Jerusalem, to the Temple of God for the Feast of Tabernacles. The seven-day Feast of Tabernacles represents the One Thousand Year reign under the rod of iron, culminating in the “last great day”, the eighth day of the Feast representing the Lake of Fire refuge, merging the salvation of mankind.

Jer 3:9 And it came to pass through the lightness of her [Israel’s] whoredom, that she defiled the land, and committed adultery with stones and with stocks.
Jer 3:10 And yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah hath not turned unto me with her whole heart, but feignedly, saith the LORD. 

Ironically, and if possible, it is enough to cause her Lord to become bitter against her.

Col 3:19 Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them. 

Jer 3:11 And the LORD said unto me, The backsliding Israel hath justified herself more than treacherous Judah [who represent the Priests, who are us!].
Jer 3:12 Go and proclaim these words toward the north [notice that the rest of Israel is geographically in the north of the Promised Land compared to Judah and Jerusalem in its south], and say, Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the LORD; and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful, saith the LORD, and I will not keep anger for ever.
Jer 3:13 Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the LORD thy God, and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed my voice, saith the LORD. 

Jos 20:3 That the slayer that killeth any person unawares and unwittingly may flee thither: and they shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood. 
Jos 20:4 And when he that doth flee unto one of those cities shall stand at the entering of the gate of the city, and shall declare his cause in the ears of the elders of that city, they shall take him into the city unto them, and give him a place, that he may dwell among them. 

Every one of the Lord’s Elects has, and from time to time, slain their biological family, Babylonians and even spiritual brothers. Sometimes unawares, yet mostly with the avoided niggling still small voice loudly proclaiming in spirit that what they are doing is wrong.

Isa 30:19 For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem [the refuge city of the Body of Christ]: thou shalt weep no more: he will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry; when he shall hear it, he will answer thee. 
Isa 30:20 And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers: 
Isa 30:21 And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left. 

Poor brother Achan would have loved that arrangement. Indeed, the Lord’s Elect are outrageously blessed to “only acknowledge [their] iniquity”.

Jos 20:5 And if the avenger of blood pursue after him, then they shall not deliver the slayer up into his hand; because he smote his neighbour unwittingly, and hated him not beforetime [premeditated hatred and pursuit for vengence].

Christ is our avenger of blood who pursues after us and forgives us for our repented, unwitting and deliberate sins.

Blood, the physical essence of life, prefigures death to the Old Man and life to the New Man. If blood is spilt spiritually, it means the death of the truth or lies. Since the Elect metaphorically kill another person with the fiery sword of God’s word, that action results from them having killed us by their rejection of God’s word just as we killed Christ physically and spiritually – it all is figuratively spilling blood.

Num 35:33 So you shall not defile the land in which you are. For blood defiles the land. And the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed in it, except by the blood of him that shed it. 
Num 35:34 So do not defile the land which you shall inhabit, in which I dwell. For I Jehovah dwell among the sons of Israel. 

Rom 12:17 Repay no one evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. 
Rom 12:18 If it is possible, as far as is in you, being in peace with all men. 
Rom 12:19 not avenging yourselves, beloved, but giving place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 
Rom 12:20  Therefore if your enemy hungers, feed him. If he thirsts, give him drink. For in so doing you shall heap coals of fire on his head. 
Rom 12:21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Jos 20:6 And he shall live in that city until he stands before the congregation for judgment, until the death of the high priest who is in those days. Then the manslayer shall return and come to his city, and to his house, to the city from where he fled. 

It is patently clear to the Lord’s people that they live in Christ who, as that “high priest”, died on the cross, depicting age-lasting unequivocal forgiveness to the first resurrection. The “manslayer” is a non-believer who cannot touch the Lord’s own, and he returns to Babylon, his city and house from which we, forgiven manslayers, likewise fled.

Jos 20:7 And they set apart Kadesh [= holy place] in Galilee, in the hills of Naphtali [= wrestling]; and Shechem [= back or shoulder] in the hills of Ephraim [= double ash-heap]; and Kirjath-arba [keer-yath’ ar-bah’ = city of Arba] (it is Hebron) in the hills of Judah. 
Jos 20:8 And beyond the Jordan [= descender], at Jericho [ = its moon] eastward, they gave Bezer [beh’-tser = gold ore or remote fortress] in the wilderness, on the tableland out of the tribe of Reuben [= behold a son]; and Ramoth [= heights] in Gilead [ = witness heap; stones] out of the tribe of Gad [to invade, attack]; and Golan [ = their captivity: their rejoicing] in Bashan [= fruitful] out of the tribe of Manasseh [= causing to forget].

We can deduce the interpretation regarding the theme of cities for refuge from the compilation of all those names of people and places.

The Lord’s holy people, his Elect, having wrestled in the half-light of the moon she represents, not by the strength of her shoulders and back that descended into becoming an ash-heap but arose as His sons to be set in high places, fruitful in her Lord and set as a stone memorial to this day. The entire saga of taking and then living in the Promised Land is rich in spiritual meaning.

Jos 4:8 And the sons of Israel did as Joshua commanded. And they took up twelve stones out of the middle of the Jordan, as Jehovah spoke to Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Israel, and carried them over with them to the place where they stayed, and laid them down there; 
Jos 4:9 even the twelve stones Joshua lifted up in the middle of Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests who carried the ark of the covenant, stood. And they are there to this day. 

Today, those two stone monuments are likely strewn in unrecognisable disarray. However, the glory of its symbolism points to Christ, the immovable rock of our salvation, the Bride’s inheritance.

Psa 46:1 To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, A Song upon Alamoth. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Psa 46:2 Therefore we will not fear when the earth changes, and when mountains are slipping into the heart of the seas. 
Psa 46:3 Let its waters roar and foam; let the mountains shake with the swelling of it. Selah. 
Psa 46:4 There is a river, its channels gladden the city of God glad, the holy place of the tabernacles of the Most High. 
Psa 46:5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God shall help her at the turning of the morning. 
Psa 46:6 The nations raged, the kingdoms were shaken; He uttered His voice, the earth melted. 
Psa 46:7 Jehovah of Hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah. 
Psa 46:8 Come, behold the works of Jehovah, who makes ruins on the earth; 
Psa 46:9 who makes wars to cease to the ends of the earth; He breaks the bow, and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariots in the fire. 
Psa 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God! I will be praised among the nations, I will be praised in the earth. 
Psa 46:11 Jehovah of Hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah. 

What wonderfully encouraging and emboldening words for the Elect, living in Christ, our refuge in whom we have laid hold!

Heb 6:13 For when God made promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no greater, He swore by Himself, 
Heb 6:14 saying, “Surely in blessing I will bless you, and in multiplying I will multiply you.” 
Heb 6:15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. 
Heb 6:16 For men truly swear by the greater, and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife. 
Heb 6:17 In this way desiring to declare more fully to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, God interposed by an oath, 
Heb 6:18 so that by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us, 
Heb 6:19 which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters into that within the veil, 
Heb 6:20 where the Forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.

The Elect of God’s refuge is Christ in the fiery furnace of refinement. Being purified by Christ, their fire, they are one in Him and the Father and exultantly live in fiery beauty forever.

Eze 28:14 Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. 

Eze 1:12 And they went every one straight forward: whither the spirit was to go, they went; and they turned not when they went. 
Eze 1:13 As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, and like the appearance of lamps: it went up and down among the living creatures; and the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning. 
Eze 1:14 And the living creatures ran and returned as the appearance of a flash of lightning. 

Christ is our refuge, and His wife with Him becomes the refuge of the entirety of mankind in the Lake of Fire, where they, our children, acknowledge their iniquities and become beautiful colorful flashing stones of fire.

Gospels In Harmony, Part 139-Saved by Fire, John 21:1-14

[Study Aired May 16, 2023]

John 20:26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.
John 20:27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.
John 20:28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
John 20:29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

John 21:1 After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself.
John 21:2 There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples.
John 21:3 Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.
John 21:4 But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.
John 21:5 Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No.
John 21:6 And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.
John 21:7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher’s coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea.
John 21:8 And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes.
John 21:9 As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.
John 21:10 Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught.
John 21:11 Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken.
John 21:12 Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord.
John 21:13 Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise.
John 21:14 This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.

In our last few studies we have seen Christ appearing on the “eighth day” to the disciples, which represents a “new beginning” of their process of salvation. He broke bread, fish, and honey with them, representing the intaking of the word of God and His doctrines. As we intake the word of God, our understanding is opened. That is, if we have received the spirit.

Luke 24:41 And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?
Luke 24:42 And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb.
Luke 24:43 And he took it, and did eat before them.
Luke 24:44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.
Luke 24:45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,

In today’s study, Christ once again will appear to the disciples. First, they set out to go “fishing”.

John 21:1 After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself.
John 21:2 There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples.
John 21:3 Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.

The disciples present are Simon Peter, Thomas, Nathanael, James, John (the sons of Zebedee, John also being that disciple whom Jesus loved), and two others not named for a total of seven disciples. Seven represents completion, especially judgment. The names according to Hitchcock’s definitions are the following.

Simon Peter = That hears; that obeys, A rock or stone
Thomas = A twin
Nathanael = The gift of God
James = That supplants, undermines; the heel
John = The grace or mercy of the Lord

Christ is working through His disciples, who are fishermen, to bring the gospel to the world. First however, they must have their minds changed to understand the things of the spirit. Our minds are changed by the preaching of the disciples. By Simon Peter we receive the ability to hear, obey, and build the foundation of Christ doctrines. We receive a witness, (twin), by Thomas believing Christ is risen. By Nathanael the gift of God is given. By James Satan is crushed by the heel. Through John we receive grace and mercy from the Lord. All these names have a deeper spiritual significance to the elect of God. The point of them being fishermen is not to tell they are trying to catch literal fish. Here is the point Christ is making.

Luke 6:46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
Luke 6:47 Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like:
Luke 6:48 He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.
Luke 6:49 But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.

Mark 1:17 And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.

We must always remember the scriptures do not mean what they say, but what they mean spiritually. Christ speaks in parables giving us the meaning line upon line and a little here and a little there.

Matthew 13:34 All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them:

Isaiah 28:9 Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.
Isaiah 28:10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:
Isaiah 28:11 For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.
Isaiah 28:12 To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.
Isaiah 28:13 But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.

The disciples at this time are still on the “milk of the word” and cannot understand the things of the spirit.

They are going fishing in the sea of Tiberias. They went fishing at night and caught nothing. Tiberias, according to Hitchcock, means good vision, but they went fishing at night when vision is poor. The sea represents mankind.

Revelation 17:14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.
Revelation 17:15 And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.

Now Christ appears in the morning.

John 21:4 But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.
John 21:5 Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No.

Notice “when the morning was come” Jesus appeared. It requires light for us to see Christ. They still did not recognize him at first. Christ gave them the command to cast their net on the “right side” of the ship, and they caught so many fish they were not able to draw it.

John 21:6 And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.

The right side represents where Christ is and what we are commanded to do.

Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
Mark 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Mark 16:17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
Mark 16:18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. 
Mark 16:19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.
Mark 16:20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.

Continuing with our verses.

John 21:7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher’s coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea.

John recognized it was Christ once again appearing in another form. Peter was naked and covered himself, representing the understanding that we are sinful in nature, and our sins must be covered in order to approach Christ. Our sins are covered by love. Love is keeping his commandments.

Proverbs 10:12 Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.

Proverbs 17:9 He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.

James 5:19 Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;
James 5:20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

1Peter 4:6 For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit. 
1Peter 4:7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.
1Peter 4:8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity (love) shall cover the multitude of sins.

1 John 5:1 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.
1 John 5:2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.

The other disciples come to shore to meet with Jesus.

John 21:8 And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes.
John 21:9 As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.
John 21:10 Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught.
John 21:11 Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken.
John 21:12 Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord.
John 21:13 Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise.
John 21:14 This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.

Fire, 153 fish, and the third time are all symbolic of the judgment through grace and mercy and the destruction of the flesh of mankind those who eat with Christ must endure in order to be saved.

1 Corinthians 3:9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.
1 Corinthians 3:10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
1 Corinthians 3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 3:12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
1 Corinthians 3:13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.
1 Corinthians 3:14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
1 Corinthians 3:15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

We must endure the fire in order to be saved. God loves us so much He takes us by the hand and leads us through the fire to teach each of us His love.

Psalms 94:12 Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O LORD, and teachest him out of thy law;
Psalms 94:13 That thou mayest give him rest from the days of adversity, until the pit be digged for the wicked.
Psalms 94:14 For the LORD will not cast off his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance.
Psalms 94:15 But judgment shall return unto righteousness: and all the upright in heart shall follow it.

Proverbs 3:9 Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:
Proverbs 3:10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.
Proverbs 3:11 My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:
Proverbs 3:12 For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

Hebrews 12:7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
Hebrews 12:8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
Hebrews 12:9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
Hebrews 12:10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
Hebrews 12:11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

Revelation 3:18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

We are admonished to be more zealous!

Revelation 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

Faith – The Response of the Elect in These Perilous Times

[Study Aired November 21, 2022]

Introduction

This is a follow-up of what Brother Mike wrote on “Our Faith Overcomes the World” for the recent conference. Before the conference I was thinking of writing to encourage the participants of the conference regarding the stressful times in which we live. Unfortunately, I was not able to write due to my workload. I was therefore glad to see that Mike had written on the theme I had in mind which touched on our faith, being what will cause us to overcome in these trying times. I will therefore call this the second part of what Mike wrote.

There is no doubt in the mind of all of us that the times we live in are very challenging. The reason the world is getting worse as we get close to the end of this age is that men will get worse in character because of deception by the devil.

2Ti 3:13  But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. 

Rev 12:9  And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

Apostle Paul gave us insight into what it means when men grow worse in character.

2Ti 3:1  This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 
2Ti 3:2  For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 
2Ti 3:3  Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 
2Ti 3:4  Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 
2Ti 3:5  Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

The outcome of men’s behavior is seen in the worsening of the economies of various countries making lives unbearable as we see the general rise in prices resulting from the greed of men and the desire to control the world. Apart from conflicts or wars plaguing the world, there is increased polarization of political parties in various countries. It is therefore becoming increasingly difficult to live in these perilous times.

In spite of all these occurrences, we must bear in mind that it is all part of the grand scheme of God to humble humanity to intensify their desire for the revealing of the sons of God at the end of this age. This desire will culminate in the first resurrection of the Lord’s elect to rule the world.

Eph 1:11  In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: 

Rom 8:19  For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. 
Rom 8:20  For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, 
Rom 8:21  Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 
Rom 8:22  For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. 

Ecc 1:13 I applied my heart to inquiring and exploring by wisdom concerning all that is done under the heavens: it is an experience of evil Elohim has given to the sons of humanity to humble them by it.    

Rev 20:6  Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

All of what the world is going through is the beginning of sorrows as indicated by our Lord Jesus Christ.

Mat 24:6  And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
Mat 24:7  For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. 
Mat 24:8  All these are the beginning of sorrows.

In trying to understand our response to these perilous times, two examples will be provided – one from the New Testament and one from the Old Testament. These examples show us the desperate situation in which the Lord’s elect found themselves and how the Lord wrought deliverance on their behalf. As we look at these examples closely through the Lord’s eye, the Lord will grant us the grace to know our response in these perilous times.

1Co 10:11  Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
1Co 10:12  Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
1Co 10:13  There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

Our Response – New Testament

Let’s now take a look at the response of Paul when he was traveling with other prisoners by sea to Rome to face trial as the ship encountered a storm.

Act 27:8  And, hardly passing it, came unto a place which is called The fair havens; nigh whereunto was the city of Lasea.
Act 27:9  Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now dangerous, because the fast was now already past, Paul admonished them, 
Act 27:10  And said unto them, Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage, not only of the lading and ship, but also of our lives. 
Act 27:11  Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul. 
Act 27:12  And because the haven was not commodious to winter in, the more part advised to depart thence also, if by any means they might attain to Phenice, and there to winter; which is an haven of Crete, and lieth toward the south west and north west. 
Act 27:13  And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, loosing thence, they sailed close by Crete. 
Act 27:14  But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon. 
Act 27:15  And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive. 
Act 27:16  And running under a certain island which is called Clauda, we had much work to come by the boat: 
Act 27:17  Which when they had taken up, they used helps, undergirding the ship; and, fearing lest they should fall into the quicksands, strake sail, and so were driven.
Act 27:18  And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next day they lightened the ship; 
Act 27:19  And the third day we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the ship.
Act 27:20  And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away.
Act 27:21  But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss. 
Act 27:22  And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man’s life among you, but of the ship. 
Act 27:23  For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, 
Act 27:24  Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee. 
Act 27:25  Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me. 
Act 27:26  Howbeit we must be cast upon a certain island. 
Act 27:27  But when the fourteenth night was come, as we were driven up and down in Adria, about midnight the shipmen deemed that they drew near to some country;
Act 27:28  And sounded, and found it twenty fathoms: and when they had gone a little further, they sounded again, and found it fifteen fathoms. 
Act 27:29  Then fearing lest we should have fallen upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day. 
Act 27:30  And as the shipmen were about to flee out of the ship, when they had let down the boat into the sea, under colour as though they would have cast anchors out of the foreship, 
Act 27:31  Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved. 
Act 27:32  Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat, and let her fall off. 
Act 27:33  And while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take meat, saying, This day is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried and continued fasting, having taken nothing. 
Act 27:34  Wherefore I pray you to take some meat: for this is for your health: for there shall not an hair fall from the head of any of you. 
Act 27:35  And when he had thus spoken, he took bread, and gave thanks to God in presence of them all: and when he had broken it, he began to eat. 
Act 27:36  Then were they all of good cheer, and they also took some meat.
Act 27:37  And we were in all in the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen souls. 
Act 27:38  And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, and cast out the wheat into the sea. 

As we can see, this was a life and death situation Paul encountered, and he even gave up hope of surviving until an angel of the Lord came to him to assure him that he will survive and that because of him, the Lord has also spared the lives of all those traveling with him (verse 24). One of the lessons we can glean from this situation is that we need the Lord’s words of assurance to survive in these perilous times. We must therefore take consolation in the words of assurance that the Lord has given us in His words.

2Pe 1:3  According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
2Pe 1:4  Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises (words of assurance): that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 

Our Lord Jesus Christ is using what every joint supplies to assure us of His deliverance in these times. We should therefore not take for granted what our brothers and sisters say to us as they represent the angel of the Lord.

Eph 4:16  From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

What is insightful is the fact that the angel of the Lord mentioned that not only will Paul be saved from the storm but also all those with him. It is reassuring to know that in these times, the Lord is not only preserving us but also those we care about (our families).

Act 27:24  Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.

In these perilous times, it is the word of the Lord that shines as light to show us what to do. It is this spiritual food that we are required to eat in these times to give us the strength to continue our journey of life.

Act 27:33  And while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take meat, saying, This day is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried and continued fasting, having taken nothing.
Act 27:34  Wherefore I pray you to take some meat: for this is for your health: for there shall not an hair fall from the head of any of you.
Act 27:35  And when he had thus spoken, he took bread, and gave thanks to God in presence of them all: and when he had broken it, he began to eat. 
Act 27:36  Then were they all of good cheer, and they also took some meat.

When Paul talked about the perilous times in 2 Timothy 3, he also emphasized the need to continue with the word of the Lord. This is the light that shines in our darkness until the day dawns and the morning star (Christ) rises in our hearts.

2Ti 3:14  But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; 

2Pe 1:19  We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: 

Another lesson we can learn from this desperate situation Paul encountered is that we should be of good cheer in these perilous times.

Act 27:22  And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man’s life among you, but of the ship.

The reason we should be of good cheer is that nothing in these perilous times can harm us as we hold on to Christ. Fear of the unknown can stifle our relationship with the Lord as fear undermines faith. Many of our fears in life never materialize, and it is because the Lord knows how to preserve His own. Being of good cheer is anchored on the hope we have in Christ that no matter what happens around us in this life, our lives, together with our families, will be preserved and that we will finish successfully the race marked out for us. If we have this hope, then it necessitates that we wait for it with patience.

Rom 8:25  But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

The third point to note is that in order for Paul and the others to remain safe on the ship, they had to offload many weights such as equipment, cargo, wheat, etc. that may facilitate drowning of the ship in the storm. As we journey in these storms of life, we have to let go of every weight of sin in our lives so that we can run the race of the kingdom of God with patience.

Heb 12:1  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 

As we are aware, letting go of these weights of sin is not our work but that of the Lord. What we have to do is to cry to Him to deliver us as He shows us our weights of sin. Since this is in line with the will of God, our prayers will surely be answered!!

1Jn 5:14  And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. 
1Jn 5:15  And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him. (ESV)

It is worth noting that some of the wheat was thrown away from the ship to lighten the weight. Here the wheat is shown in a negative light. It represents the false doctrines in our heavens that must be cleansed as we journey through the sea of life.

Heb 13:9  Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.

The fourth point to note here is that when finally Paul, and those traveling him on the ship, were getting near land, the sailors wanted to use the lifeboat to run away. Paul noted what the sailors intended to do, and so he warned the centurion and the soldiers about this.

Act 27:30  And as the shipmen were about to flee out of the ship, when they had let down the boat into the sea, under colour as though they would have cast anchors out of the foreship, 
Act 27:31  Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved.

What we can learn from this is that unless we stay on the ship, we shall be lost, that is, the storm of life will sweep us away. The ship is where the miracle of God’s deliverance is taking place, not outside. The ship here represents our gathering together or the church of the firstborn sons of God.

Heb 10:25  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Mal 3:16  Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name. 

The fifth point to observe is that the soldiers cut off the lifeboat to ensure that nobody left the ship. The lifeboat represents all that we depend on that have taken the place of Christ.

Act 27:31  Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved. 
Act 27:32  Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat, and let her fall off.

Jesus warned us against mammon (material wealth) which can easily derail our commitment to the New Jerusalem – the church of the firstborn.

Luk 16:13  No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. 

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The love of money has destroyed many servants of the Lord. We have to depend on the Lord to be content in every situation. That is what will keep us in the “ship” to be saved!!

1Ti 6:6  But godliness with contentment is great gain.
1Ti 6:7  For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
1Ti 6:8  And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
1Ti 6:9  But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 
1Ti 6:10  For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 

Finally, the soldiers took counsel to kill the prisoners, including Paul, lest they run away. However, the captain of the soldiers intervened and saved the prisoners.

Act 27:42  And the soldiers’ counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim out, and escape.
Act 27:43  But the centurion, willing to save Paul, kept them from their purpose; and commanded that they which could swim should cast themselves first into the sea, and get to land: 
Act 27:44  And the rest, some on boards, and some on broken pieces of the ship. And so it came to pass, that they escaped all safe to land. 

In these stressful times, the Lord will cause us to have favor in the sight of men who will help us when the need arises.

Pro 3:3  Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: 
Pro 3:4  So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.

Our Response – Old Testament Example

Let’s now take a look at the response of Mordecai and Esther when they faced being destroyed together with the Jews in Shushan.

Est 4:5  Then called Esther for Hatach, one of the king’s chamberlains, whom he had appointed to attend upon her, and gave him a commandment to Mordecai, to know what it was, and why it was.
Est 4:6  So Hatach went forth to Mordecai unto the street of the city, which was before the king’s gate. 
Est 4:7  And Mordecai told him of all that had happened unto him, and of the sum of the money that Haman had promised to pay to the king’s treasuries for the Jews, to destroy them.
Est 4:8  Also he gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that was given at Shushan to destroy them, to shew it unto Esther, and to declare it unto her, and to charge her that she should go in unto the king, to make supplication unto him, and to make request before him for her people. 
Est 4:9  And Hatach came and told Esther the words of Mordecai.
Est 4:10  Again Esther spake unto Hatach, and gave him commandment unto Mordecai; 
Est 4:11  All the king’s servants, and the people of the king’s provinces, do know, that whosoever, whether man or woman, shall come unto the king into the inner court, who is not called, there is one law of his to put him to death, except such to whom the king shall hold out the golden sceptre, that he may live: but I have not been called to come in unto the king these thirty days. 
Est 4:12  And they told to Mordecai Esther’s words. 
Est 4:13  Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king’s house, more than all the Jews. 
Est 4:14  For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this? 
Est 4:15  Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer,
Est 4:16  Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.

The situation facing the Jews in Shushan was precarious as Haman had obtained a writ from the king which empowered him to destroy all the Jews in Shushan, including Mordecai and Esther. As we are aware, Esther was the king’s wife and therefore was uniquely privileged to intervene on behalf of the Jews. We, His elect, are also the bride of Christ, and therefore are in the same position as Esther in the sense of being favored by the King (our Lord Jesus) as we navigate through the storms of this life.

The first thing Esther suggested to Mordecai was that he should assemble all the Jews together. This is echoing the need to meet regularly as it is through our assembling together that we know the mind of Christ regarding what we should do in these distressing times.

Heb 10:25  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. 

Mal 3:16  Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.

The second thing Esther suggested was that the Jews must fast. We know that the spiritual significance of fasting is to keep ourselves from taking in false doctrines and to walk in righteousness as the Lord breaks the yoke of sin in our lives through the judgment of our old man (fasting for three days). That is what the Lord wants us to do as we “fast” in these stressful times.

Isa 58:6  Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?
Isa 58:7  Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? 
Isa 58:8  Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward. 
Isa 58:9  Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity;  

These distressing times are all part of the Lord’s design for the elect with the view to perfect His work in us. As we are aware, all things are ours, that is, all things are designed by the Lord for our sakes, and that includes what is happening in this world now and what is to come. It is all for our good!!

1Co 3:21  Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;
1Co 3:22  Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; 
1Co 3:23  And ye are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s.

The third observation here is that when Esther was faced with death, she was prepared to lose her life in a bid to save the Lord’s people. Her statement that day, “If I perish, I perish” shows us her resolve to lose her life to gain it one day.

Mat 16:25  For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

To lose your life in this sense means to die to the flesh. To gain your life means to inherit the promises of God. So, what this means is that Esther was prepared to die to the deeds of the flesh so that she will inherit the promise of eternal life. Dying to the deeds of the flesh is the work of God which is achieved through the trials that we face. The confidence we have is that what the Lord starts, He is able to complete!!

Nobody is saying that living in these times is easy. However, we have an advantage in the sense that the Lord is with us. This reminds me of what my mother told me about her life. She had just buried her son and was very apprehensive about what the future held for her family and was getting ready to sleep when my dad (a Minister of the Methodist church) told her that they should pray before they sleep as was their habit. My mum’s response to my dad was that if Jesus really is alive and well, why didn’t He intervene in their circumstance but allowed her son to die? This was about the third son she had lost.

After saying this, she turned and slept without praying, leaving my dad to pray alone. Immediately as she slept, she had a dream in which she was traveling on a journey and came to a big river and was wondering how to cross when she heard a voice saying to her, “You say that the crocodile in this river is dead but I want you to know that the crocodile is alive and well. The light you see at the end of the river is his light.” My mum then lifted up her head and saw a great light at the end of the river. Suddenly, she saw a great army on her right and left come to escort her and her family across the river to the other side. Immediately, she woke up and woke my dad up saying, “Jesus is Alive!! Let us pray!!” This experience impacted greatly on my Mum and Dad’s lives, and it influenced the way my siblings and I were raised.  This is all to let us know that the eye of the Lord is on us, His elect, and will never fail us!!

2Ch 16:9  For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.

I will end with this encouragement from the Lord that whatever the circumstances we find ourselves in, the Lord is with us and will see us through these perilous times!! May His name be praised!!

Psa 46:1 To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, A Song upon Alamoth. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Psa 46:2  Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; 
Psa 46:3  Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.
Psa 46:4  There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. 
Psa 46:5  God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.
Psa 46:6  The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted. 
Psa 46:7  The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.