The Spiritual Significance of the Color Green – Part 2

[Study Aired November 30, 2025]

Gal 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

A brief summary

Green is the first color mentioned in scripture which is a combination of two of the three primary colors of the material realm. It is the combining of the primary color blue with the primary color yellow. We have shown that the spiritual significance of blue is its association in scripture with the things of the heavens. All that binds together Christ’s tabernacle is the blue loops at the ends of the curtains that make up the tabernacle. The robes of the priests were blue, and all of the holy things were wrapped in blue.

Yellow, on the other hand, in its negative application is associated with the deadly disease of leprosy. It is described with two different words, but both of those words are associated with the deadly disease of leprosy, and leprosy was prevented by keeping oneself clean of pollutions.

So the combining of the two primary colors of blue and yellow produce green. Green, therefore is a scriptural word which will always be a reference to the combining of these two colors with the goal of turning that which is born in a yellow and dying condition into an immortal, blue spiritual body.

Last week we saw how God in our immaturity gives us only “every green herb” for food until we are truly baptized “with the washing of water by the word.”

Gen 1:30 And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein [there is] life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so.

Eph 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

Only after we have begun to be crucified with Christ, have endured the waters of baptism, the Lord begins to raise us up in newness of spirit. Only then are we given “everything that moveth” as strong meat to nourish us:

This is the menu given Noah after the baptism of the flood:

Gen 9:3 Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.

So “every green herb” is just another way of saying that we are not yet able to accept the “strong meat” of the word of God. The green herbs may be a little better than the milk of God’s Word, but it is no more the stage of maturity than is the ‘milk.’ Both are, in God’s Word, for those who “are weak in the faith.”

Rom 14:1 Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, [but] not to doubtful disputations.
Rom 14:2 For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.

So we saw that it is only the strong in the faith, who are able to receive “strong meat.”

Heb 5:12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which [be] the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat

Heb 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Introduction – Green as Both Positive and Negative in Scripture

Today we will look at how the color ‘green’ is used in the New Testament, and we will again see that green, in the physical realm, is the result of the very beginning of the process of the work of the spirit, signified by the color blue, upon the dying flesh, which is signified by the color yellow. We will see that as that process is being completed, physical life, signified  in nature by green plant life, is born within us. Plant life is ‘life’, but it is not life which has been given “the breath of life”, such as living, breathing creatures possess. It is so very instructive to know that the coming together of the three primary colors  of the material realm, blue, red, and yellow, the realm in which paints are mixed to produce all the many hues and colors we all see and enjoy, when those three colors are combined produce the color black, signifying darkness and death.

God has ordained that all in Adam must “pass from death unto life.”

Joh 5:24  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

The mind of Christ does not consider mere physical life to be life at all. Just as blue, red and yellow, the three primary colors of the material realm, produce the color black, signifying darkness and death, the mind of Christ considers this physical, material realm to be the realm of  death in need of “passing from death unto life” (Joh 5:24). Christ blatantly refers to the ‘life’ of this dying red clay vessel as death itself:

Mat 8:22  But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.

Luk 9:60  Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.

Revelation 8 speaks of the blowing of the first trumpet in the beginning of our judgment:

Rev 8:7  The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of [green] trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.

“All green grass was burned up” is in the ongoing aorist tense. The Lord wants us to know that our judgment is a process which takes time to accomplish. We are not judged in ten seconds, rather we are being “crucified with Christ” (Gal 2:20), and we are in the process of “dying daily” (1Co 15:31).

1Co 15:31  I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.

Gal 2:20  I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

We will also see that as “all the green grass is [being] burned up” there is another later crop of many “green things in the trees, and in the herbs of the field, through all the land of Egypt” which had not even come up yet when “all the green grass was burned up” at the beginning of our deliverance from Egypt.

Exo 10:15 For they [the locusts which came after the hail had already destroyed “every herb of the field, and brake every tree of the field.”] covered the face of the whole earth, so that the land was darkened; and they did eat every herb of the land, and all the fruit of the trees which the hail had left: and there remained not any green thing in the trees, or in the herbs of the field, through all the land of Egypt.

This is all in different forms of the Qal stem in Hebrew. ‘Hiphil’ “expresses the causative action of Qal.  Niphal is the passive of Qal.  The Qal stem in Hebrew is the equivalent of the Aorist tense in Greek. Both can and often do denote an ongoing process. The vast majority of verbs in both languages are in this ongoing tense. The process of photosynthesis in nature which produces all the green we see in our ecosystem, signifies this ongoing process of passing from the black, dark death realm of the material realm into the life giving white light of the intellectual spiritual realm.

Gal 2:20  I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

The verbs ‘loved’ and ‘gave’ are both in the ongoing aorist tense.

Understanding this Is, Was and Will Be principle in God’s Word helps to clear up many apparent contradictions in the book of Revelation and throughout God’s Word. For example…

Rev 8:7 The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.

…Is followed in the very next chapter with this apparently contradictory statement:

Rev 9:4 And it was commanded them [the locusts] that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.

Why only a third part of the trees in chapter eight? Why all the grass? The answer is that all of the signs and symbols used by the holy spirit have both a positive and a negative application. All the increments mentioned in the book of Revelation, “the fourth part” (Rev 6:8), “the third part” (Rev 8:12), reveal the fact that salvation is a lifelong process. It demonstrates the truth that we must all “keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

Rev 1:3 Blessed [is] he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand. [In every generation]

Why would God want to “burn up” that with which He is working? Here is why:

1Pe 1:24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:

Because the Word of God has both a positive and a negative application, “the natural man receives not the things of the spirit of God: for they are foolishness to him: neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned.”

1Co 2:14  But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Why must the “glory of man… wither and … fall away” (1Pe 1:24)? Here is why:

1Co 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

“Flesh and blood” are sinful, signifying the negative application of the non-oxygen breathing vegetative spiritual state of our old man.

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:

Psa 51:5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

Sinful flesh, even the flesh of Christ, “cannot inherit the kingdom of God.” The only reason the flesh of Christ did not rot into the earth is that He was resurrected from the dead and was “changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye.”

It was after Christ had been tried and condemned, after being beaten within an inch of His life, that he made this statement:

Luk 23:26 And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus.
Luk 23:27 And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him.
Luk 23:28 But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children.
Luk 23:29 For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck.
Luk 23:30 Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us.
Luk 23:31 For if they do these things [Crucify Christ] in a green tree [when the Lord was with them and giving them His Word], what shall be done in the dry [When the Lord sends a famine of His Word, (Amos 8:11)] ?

Amo 8:11  Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD: [“In the dry” famine]

What is the “green tree” and what is “the dry?” Christ had “come to His own [with His “gospel of the kingdom of God”, signified by “the green tree”], and His own received Him not:”

Joh 1:11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

Nevertheless, multitudes were following Christ, listening to His parables, being healed of their diseases and eating of His loaves and fishes.

Mar 6:34 And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.
Mar 6:35 And when the day was now far spent, his disciples came unto him, and said, This is a desert place, and now the time [is] far passed:
Mar 6:36 Send them away, that they may go into the country round about, and into the villages, and buy themselves bread: for they have nothing to eat.
Mar 6:37 He answered and said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they say unto him, Shall we go and buy two hundred pennyworth of bread, and give them to eat?
Mar 6:38 He saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? go and see. And when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes.
Mar 6:39 And he commanded them to make all sit down by companies upon the green grass.
Mar 6:40 And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties.
Mar 6:41 And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave [them] to his disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all.
Mar 6:42 And they did all eat, and were filled.

Why did Christ tell His disciples “Give you them to eat?” Does this mean that He now expects us to perform this miracle just as He performed miracles of healing? Absolutely not! What this is telling us is that God wants His disciples to give His followers spiritual nourishment. “Give ye them to eat… their daily bread.”

Mat 6:11 Give us this day our daily bread.

Christ gives us His Word day by day, as He determines is best for fulfilling His purpose in us. This is what Christ was doing for the people. He did it daily. This was “the green tree.”

“He began to teach… much people… He commanded them to make all sit by companies upon the green grass… they did eat and were filled.” But they were still “in a green tree,” sitting on “green grass”, signifying the living vegetative state of a “carnal… babe in Christ” (1Co 3:1-4).

It was this very group of people who would soon be without His teachings. They would then be “in the dry” and calling for Christ’s crucifixion only days later:

Luk 23:31 For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?

Here is the answer to that question:

Lam 4:10 The hands of the pitiful women have sodden their own children: they were their meat in the destruction of the daughter of my people.
Lam 4:11 The LORD hath accomplished his fury; he hath poured out his fierce anger, and hath kindled a fire in [“the sinners in”] Zion, and it hath devoured the foundations thereof.

Isa 33:14  The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?
Isa 33:15  He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil;

What is “the destruction of the daughter of my people?” Do we think this signifies a physical invasion and the physical loss of national sovereignty? No, that is not what “the destruction of my people” means. Here is what really is destroying God’s own people to this day:

Hos 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.

These are not just words which “will be.” This is the state of God’s own people today. This is what is within each of us when we are “in the dry.” While we are blinded to our blindness, we are unaware that “every green herb” is being eaten by the locusts in our lives; we are literally starving to death and devouring our own flesh as we continue in our blindness and our rebellion against the Word of God:

Deu 28:53 And thou shalt eat the fruit of thine own body, the flesh of thy sons and of thy daughters, which the LORD thy God hath given thee, in the siege, and in the straitness, wherewith thine enemies shall distress thee:

Deu 28:22 The LORD shall smite thee with a consumption, and with a fever, and with an inflammation, and with an extreme burning, and with the sword, and with blasting, and with mildew; and they shall pursue thee until thou perish.

Jer 2:30 In vain have I smitten your children; they received no correction: your own sword hath devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion.

Amo 4:9 I have smitten you with blasting and mildew: when your gardens and your vineyards and your fig trees and your olive trees increased, the palmerworm devoured them: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD.

Hag 2:17 I smote you with blasting and with mildew and with hail in all the labours of your hands; yet ye turned not to me, saith the LORD.

“The green”, on the other hand, is that time in our lives where God’s spirit is still dealing with us, still in the process of turning the yellow we are into the blue we are all to become:

Rev 9:3 And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.
Rev 9:4 And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.

The key to understanding the book of Revelation is Revelation 1:3, 22:6-7:

Rev 1:3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

Rev 22:6 And he said unto me, These sayings [are] faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.
Rev 22:7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed [is] he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.

Rev 22:18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
Rev 22:19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

What do locusts do? Locusts eat up “all the green things which the hail had not destroyed.” Green signifies a process which has an end. It is a process which, like the flesh in which it is working, must one day come to its consummation.

Exo 10:14 And the locusts went up over all the land of Egypt, and rested in all the coasts of Egypt: very grievous [were they]; before them there were no such locusts as they, neither after them shall be such.
Exo 10:15 For they covered the face of the whole earth, so that the land was darkened; and they did eat every herb of the land, and all the fruit of the trees which the hail had left: and there remained not any green thing in the trees, or in the herbs of the field, through all the land of Egypt.

Had not every herb and all the fruit trees already been destroyed by the hail?

Exo 9:23 And Moses stretched forth his rod toward heaven: and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and the fire ran along upon the ground; and the LORD rained hail upon the land of Egypt.
Exo 9:24 So there was hail, and fire mingled with the hail, very grievous, such as there was none like it in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation.
Exo 9:25 And the hail smote throughout all the land of Egypt all that was in the field, both man and beast; and the hail smote every herb of the field, and brake every tree of the field.

The destruction of Egypt within us is a process which gets more intense as it progresses. There are many who fear God, and yet they are still “in Egypt:”

Exo 9:18 Behold, to morrow about this time I will cause it to rain a very grievous hail, such as hath not been in Egypt since the foundation thereof even until now.
Exo 9:19 Send therefore now, [and] gather thy cattle, and all that thou hast in the field; [for upon] every man and beast which shall be found in the field, and shall not be brought home, the hail shall come down upon them, and they shall die.
Exo 9:20 He that feared the word of the LORD among the servants of Pharaoh made his servants and his cattle flee into the houses:
Exo 9:21 And he that regarded not the word of the LORD left his servants and his cattle in the field.

Why did Israel live through all of this? Was it all simply an historical event? Is that why all of this was written? Was it written so we could know what happened? Here is what Paul tells us:

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 [for this reason] let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

“Happened to them and are written for our admonition?” Why? So we can be prepared for a plague of hail to be followed by a plague of locusts? No, that this is an incremental spiritual process is revealed in this very same chapter:

Exo 9:27 And Pharaoh sent, and called for Moses and Aaron, and said unto them, I have sinned this time: the LORD [is] righteous, and I and my people [are] wicked.
Exo 9:28 Intreat the LORD (for [it is] enough) that there be no more mighty thunderings and hail; and I will let you go, and ye shall stay no longer.
Exo 9:29 And Moses said unto him, As soon as I am gone out of the city, I will spread abroad my hands unto the LORD; and the thunder shall cease, neither shall there be any more hail; that thou mayest know how that the earth [is] the LORD’S.
Exo 9:30 But as for thee and thy servants, I know that ye will not yet fear the LORD God.
Exo 9:31 And the flax and the barley was smitten: for the barley [was] in the ear, and the flax [was] bolled.
Exo 9:32 But the wheat and the rie were not smitten: for they [were] not grown up.
Exo 9:33 And Moses went out of the city from Pharaoh, and spread abroad his hands unto the LORD: and the thunders and hail ceased, and the rain was not poured upon the earth.
Exo 9:34 And when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunders were ceased, he sinned yet more, and hardened his heart, he and his servants.
Exo 9:35 And the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, neither would he let the children of Israel go; as the LORD had spoken by Moses.

“The hail smote every green herb of the field, and brake every green tree of the field” and yet there was still much work to be done with the flesh because “the wheat and the rie were not smitten: for they were not grown up.” Here is what this Old Testament type is telling us:

Mat 13:30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

“Let both grow together until the harvest” is not a once in a lifetime statement. The flax and the barley are smitten first, but the wheat and the rye have yet to be dealt with. Neither the barley and flax nor the wheat and the rye are smitten before they “are grown up”, or as Christ put it, “until the harvest:”

Exo 9:31 And the flax and the barley was smitten: for the barley was in the ear, and the flax was bolled.
Exo 9:32 But the wheat and the rie were not smitten: for they [were] not grown up.

Christ is working with us at every step of our spiritual development.

Our sins are not judged until they have matured. Otherwise the needed lessons will not have been learned. So letting the tares grow with the wheat “until the harvest” is an inward statement of how “judgment begins at the house of God” (1Pe 4:17).

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?
1Pe 4:18  And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
1Pe 4:19  Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

Here is another type and shadow of this same spiritual principle:

Gen 15:16 But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.

The “giants in the land” who Israel confronted after their time in the wilderness, are nothing but a later, more mature type and shadow of the “green things” of Egypt. The natural man sees the fact that Israel was not affected by the last seven plagues and turns a type of God’s dealing with carnal babes still in Egypt into a type of His dealings with grown sons. It amounts to spiritual suicide which takes away the elect’s part in the sayings of the prophecy of this book.

Heb 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son [Greek: uihos – grown son] whom he receiveth.

Rev 22:19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

The point the spirit is making is that our judgment continues within us just as it did with Christ, until we draw our last breath in these ‘green… things’ which are still mere vessels of corruptible clay and dust.

We will break here for now. In our next study we will see how this color, and its significance as the working of the spirit in this dying vessel of clay, is applied in the book of Revelation.

Gal 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

[The next study in this series is here.]

The Biblical Overview of The Plan of God – Part 7

The Feast of Tabernacles-A

“The Kingdoms of This World are Become The Kingdoms of Our Lord and His Christ”

[Study Aired September 19, 2025]

Introduction

Thus far we have covered the spiritual meaning and the spiritual functions of the first five of the seven festivals which God gave to ancient Israel. The Feast of Tabernacles is the sixth of the seven holy days the Lord ordained to be observed by ancient Israel. In our last study we saw that the three annual holy days that follow the Passover and the days of unleavened bread… Pentecost, Trumpets, and Atonement all foreshadow the next three steps in the overview of the plan of God as well as revealing the three functions which are being performed by Christ’s ‘firstfruits’. These firstfruits, unlike Christ our sinless Savior, are repentant sinners and as such are symbolized by a firstfruit-offering that is leavened, a Biblical symbol which in its negative application typifies sin. Christ’s firstfruits are also symbolized by the scapegoat which is another symbol for sin.

Lev 16:9  And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the LORD’S lot fell, and offer him for a sin offering.
Lev 16:10  But the goat, on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat, shall be presented alive before the LORD, to make an atonement with him [with the Lord’s goat], and to let him go for a scapegoat into the wilderness.

Unlike Christ, who is signified by “the Lord’s goat”, which is a slain sacrifice, Christ’s firstfruits are symbolized as “a living sacrifice” which is accepted as such only upon the sacrifice of the passover lamb Himself. So the passover Lamb symbolizing the first of the firstfruits, is the same in symbol, and in type as “the Lord’s goat”, which is first slain and offered to God on the day of atonement, before the scapegoat, which is “let go in the wilderness. Both are “for a sin offering”. (Rom 12:1)

Lev 16:5  And he shall take of the congregation of the children of Israel two kids of the goats for a sin offering, and one ram for a burnt offering.

We are told both goats are part of “a sin offering…. [to] make an atonement [for] all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins”:

Lev 16:21  And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness:
Lev 16:22  And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited: and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness.

The first goat signifies Christ in His not  yet perfected, corruptible, yet not corrupted, flesh, while the “living sacrifice” signifies us as the scapegoat of the day of atonement and as the two leavened loaves of the feast of firstfruits.

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

“The third day” symbolizes the completion of the process of judgment which had to be completed in Christ’s Adamic flesh, which is indeed traced all the way back to Adam through His mother. The connection of Christ’s flesh to the flesh of Adam is the very purpose for giving us His long genealogy which ends with these words:

Luk 3:38  Which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God.

That is also the reason Christ is symbolized by a goat in the sacrifices of the day of Atonement. So there we have it. The first Adam is as much a “son of God” as is the last Adam. Both had bodies of sinful flesh, and there is no other way Christ could possibly offer Himself up to His Father as a “sin offering.”

The negative symbolism of goats in scripture is the flesh and the carnal mind of the flesh, which is unworthy to be part of the kingdom of God (1Co 15:50):

Mat 25:33  And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

1Co 15:50  Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

Making an atonement for sin is the purpose for offering both goats. The two goats symbolize two separate functions of that atonement process, and those differences are qualified and delineated for us. The first, “the Lord’s goat”, is slain, and then, after and upon the blood of the first goat, the second goat is released alive in the wilderness. This second goat also symbolizes the sin offering, but this second goat is capable of also being a trespass offering, which our sinless Savior could not be because though He was in a body of sinful flesh He had never sinned nor trespassed His Fathers will:

2Co 5:21  For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we [we who have trespassed, are therefore, through Christ, now becoming a living trespass offering which] might be made the righteousness of God in him.

That is why these two goats are sacrificed on the day of atonement, when God’s elect as a living sacrifice, must afflict their souls, “to make and atonement… for His body which is the church.”

Lev 16:29  And this shall be a statute for ever unto you: that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, ye shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger that sojourneth among you:
Lev 16:30  For on that day shall the priest make an atonement for you, to cleanse you, that ye may be clean from all your sins before the LORD. 

2Co 1:6  And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.

Col 1:24  Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church: 

The priest “mak[ing] an atonement for you” typifies Christ as our high priest, and if we are in Him and He is in us, then we, too, are now priests who are also making an atonement for others:

Heb 5:5  So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee. [God has glorified Christ to be our high priest].

Heb 5:9  And being made perfect [“on the third day”], he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
Heb 5:10  Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec. 
Heb 5:11  Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.

Heb 6:20  Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec

What made “the order of Melchisedec” different from the Aaronic order? The two differences we are given is that Melchisedec was before Aaron, and therefore not of Aaron, and Melchisedec was both a king and a priest as Christ is:

Gen 14:18  And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.

Heb 7:1  For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;
Heb 7:2  To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace; 

Heb 8:1  Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;

If we fail to see ourselves as also being kings and priests in the Lord’s service, then we will never completely understand how we can serve as kings and priests during the thousand year reign which is signified by the feast of Tabernacles.

One of those “many things [which are] hard to be uttered” (Heb 5:11) about Christ as our high priest is that in Him we, too, become “saviors” who are also kings and priests. Paul could not utter that fact to the Hebrews at the time of this writing of Hebrews 5:11, but as we have noted, he did tell the Colossians that we are to “fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of the Christ for His body’s sake, which is the church” (Col 1:24), and as we just noted, he also told the Corinthians that our afflictions are ‘for the salvation of others.’

2Co 1:6  And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.

Paul wants us to know that we are expected  to “endure the same suffering which [he] also suffers”.

It was given to the apostle John, in the book of Revelation, to come right out and tell us that we, too, are priests who, like Melchisedec, are now both “kings and priests… unto our God.”

Rev 1:4  John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;
Rev 1:5  And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth.  Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
Rev 1:6  And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Rev 5:10  And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

These spiritual positions are not just some distant spiritual promise, though they certainly are not yet ours in their fullness. Nevertheless all these promises are already ours in what the scriptures call “the earnest of our inheritance”:

Eph 1:12  That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first [as in “firstfruits”] trusted in Christ. 
Eph 1:13  In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 
Eph 1:14  Which is the earnest [Greek: down-payment] of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession [meaning our resurrection to rule and reign with Him], unto the praise of his glory.

So Christ has already given to us a down-payment of our inheritance by giving us His Father’s spirit. In that position we can and must claim and confess who we are in Him and where we stand as His emissaries on this earth. If we deny who we are in Christ, He will deny us before His Father:

Mat 10:32  Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 10:33  But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.

Because that is true here are six verses which bear repetition. These verses tell us why our heavenly Father sent Christ into this world as His emissary, and they also tell us what is the commission which Christ, in turn, has placed upon us as His emissaries.

Joh 3:17  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 

Joh 17:18  As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.

Joh 20:21  Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. 

Act 22:8  And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.

1Jn 2:2  And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

1Jn 4:17  Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. 

Our old man cannot receive the depth of what Christ means when He tells us that He has sent us into the world “as [His] father has sent [Him].” We cannot, in our flesh, comprehend the depth of “as He is, so are we in this world.” What is Christ “in this world”? The answer is, “He is the propitiation for our sins, not for ours only, but for the sins of the whole world.” It is as spiritual kings and priests, in “earnest” meaning in down-payment form, that we as the anointed of Christ fulfill the functions of the three steps that follow the passover which we have covered thus far. In Christ as our passover we are 1) the feast of weeks (Pentecost), also called the feast of firstfruits. We are the two leavened loaves offered to God at Pentecost. If there were any difference in these two loaves, we would have been told so as we were with the two goats at atonement. But we are not told that ‘one loaf is Christ and the other is us’ as so many claim. Those two loaves are both Christ within His “two witnesses”, witnessing to and lying dead in the streets of Babylon (Rev 11). In Christ it is we who are the “seven priests” (Jos 6, and Rev 8-11) who fulfill  2) the day of blowing of trumpets, and in Christ, it is we who fill up in our bodies what is behind of the afflictions of the Christ as portrayed in 3) the fasting and afflicting of our souls, as the living scapegoat sin offering on the day of atonement.

The last two steps in the overview of the plan of God

There are yet two more annual holy days that fill out and finish the overview of God’s plan for all mankind of all time. These last two holy days continue to be “types of us”, and they continue to reveal how Christ through us, as “the firstfruits unto God and the Lamb”, will effectuate the salvation of all men of all time.

Num 28:26  Also in the day of the firstfruits, when ye bring a new meat offering unto the LORD, after your [seven] weeks be out, ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work:

This study does not deny that mankind must live by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God (Mat 4:4). Rather this study confirms that ‘living by every word’ means believing and teaching every word. That is why in these studies we are declaring that there is an order to God’s plan for the salvation of all and the destruction of death, and that we are focusing on that order in this overview of that plan.

1Co 15:22  For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
1Co 15:23  But every man in his own order: (1^st harvest) Christ the firstfruits; (2^nd  harvest) afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.[The 2^nd harvest and yet it is called “the firstfruits of your (summer) harvest”, signifying the “first resurrection”, (Rev 14:4, Rev 20:6)]
1Co 15:24  Then [after the first two harvests] cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.
1Co 15:25  For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
1Co 15:26  The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
1Co 15:27  For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him.
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.

These last two holy days are the seven days of the Feast of Tabernacles, and “the eighth day, the last great day of the feast” are shadows and types of how we will be used by Christ to bring the ages to their predestined consummation via the agency of “the church, which is His body, [becoming] the fulness of Him that fills all in all”, by bringing all men to Christ (Eph 1:22-23).

Here we read of the work of those two leavened loaves as they are revealed to us again, in the book of Daniel:

Dan 2:34  Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces.
Dan 2:35  Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.  [“God… all in all”]

Here is this same message concerning God becoming all in all in the New Testament:

Luk 13:20  And again he said, Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God? 
Luk 13:21  It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened. [“God… 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 1:18  The eyes of your understanding being enlightened;  that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, 
Eph 1:19  And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
Eph 1:20  Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
Eph 1:21  Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world [G165: ‘aion’, age], but also in that [world, aion] which is to come: [“Ye shall rule the world… and angels”, (1Co 6:2-3)]
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. 

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. [All men, God “all in all”]

Christ has been granted by His Father to be the head of the church, which is His body, [which church is] “the fulness of Him that fills all in all”. God being “all in all” is the goal, the ‘telos‘, of His plan. That which “fills [God]” and brings about the goal of God’s plan for all men is Christ and the church. It is we who are the firstfruit fullness of Him that fills all in all.”

Before this can be accomplished, Christ and His body must first destroy death because we are informed that death is “the last enemy to be destroyed.”

1Co 15:25  For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
1Co 15:26  The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. 

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

This brings us to a revelation from which our old man recoils in utter disgust. I have yet to find a commentary which understands the meaning of:

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”].

The simple fact is that to destroy death, you simply must annihilate all flesh that is upon the earth, and it is with the destruction of death in view that we are given to rule the nations of this world for a thousand years. That is the spiritual significance of the feast of tabernacles and the last great day. The seven days of the feast of Tabernacles symbolizes the millennium, and the last great day symbolizes the “short season” which follows the millennium, in which Satan is released from his prison and is sent out “to deceive the nations in the four quarters of the earth”, leading to the destruction of all flesh.

Here is the holy spirit itself giving us the correct order of events as they are preordained to take place  after “the marriage supper of the Lamb” which takes place at the beginning of the thousand year reign (Rev 19:7):

Rev 20:1  And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
Rev 20:2  And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
Rev 20:3  And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.

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 [who were not reigning with Christ for a thousand years] lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This [reigning with Christ for a thousand years] 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.
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.

We will pause at this point and resume our study of the Overview of The Plan of God in our next study on the spiritual significance of the Feast of Tabernacles-B.

]]> https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/valley-of-the-shaow-of-death/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=valley-of-the-shaow-of-death Tue, 22 Jul 2025 22:03:58 +0000 https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/?p=33705 Audio Download

Valley of the Shadow of Death

[Study Aired July 22, 2025]

Introduction

The phrase “the valley of the shadow of death” appears in one of Scripture’s most beloved passages, Psalm 23:4. Yet this profound imagery extends far beyond David’s pastoral metaphor, revealing spiritual truths that resonate throughout the entire biblical narrative. Through careful examination of Scripture interpreting Scripture, we discover that this valley represents both our present experience in this world as God created it and the process by which Christ leads us through death unto life.

The Foundation: Psalm 23:4

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4).

The Hebrew phrase “gey tsalmaveth” (H1516, H6757) literally means “valley of deep darkness” or “valley of death-shadow.” The word “tsalmaveth” combines “tsel” (H6738, shadow) with “maveth” (H4194, death), creating an image of death’s overshadowing presence. This is not merely physical death but encompasses the realm where death’s influence pervades – fundamentally, the condition of not understanding God’s realm.

David’s declaration reveals confidence not in avoiding this valley but in walking through it with heavenly companionship. The preposition “through” indicates passage, not permanent residence. This suggests a journey with a destination beyond the valley itself.

The Spiritual Nature of Death

To understand the valley of the shadow of death, we must first comprehend what Scripture means by death itself. Paul provides the essential definition: “For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace” (Romans 8:6). Death, in its deepest biblical sense, is the condition of spiritual blindness – the inability to perceive or understand God’s realm, truth, and purposes.

This spiritual death manifests as the natural man’s limitation: “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Corinthians 2:14). The “death” condition is fundamentally about being cut off from spiritual understanding and sacred perception.

Christ illustrated this when He told the Pharisees: “And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind” (John 9:39). The blindness represents the death state – the inability to perceive God’s kingdom reality.

Scriptural Precedent: Death’s Shadow Throughout Scripture

Scripture consistently portrays our present existence under death’s shadow of spiritual blindness. Job declares, “Are not my days few? cease then, and let me alone, that I may take comfort a little, before I go whence I shall not return, even to the land of darkness and the shadow of death” (Job 10:20-21). The phrase “shadow of death” appears repeatedly in Job (3:5, 10:21-22, 12:22, 16:16, 24:17, 28:3, 34:22, 38:17), emphasizing humanity’s predicament under death’s dominion of spiritual darkness.

The prophet Isaiah employs this imagery prophetically: “The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined” (Isaiah 9:2). Matthew’s Gospel applies this directly to Christ’s ministry: “The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up” (Matthew 4:16).

Isaiah’s prophecy, quoted by Christ, reveals the universal condition: “By hearing ye shall hear, and shall in no wise understand; And seeing ye shall see, and shall in no wise perceive” (Matthew 13:14). This spiritual blindness and deafness represents the very essence of the death state that overshadows the valley.

The Valley as Our Present Condition

From a spiritual perspective, this valley represents the world itself as God created it to serve His purpose. Scripture reveals that we are born into this valley, as Paul confirms: “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned” (Romans 5:12). Death’s shadow encompasses not merely physical mortality but the condition God ordained for His redemptive purposes – the state of not comprehending His realm.

This world was created exactly as God intended, subject to vanity for a sovereign purpose: “For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God” (Romans 8:20-21). The valley experience is not an accident or deviation from God’s plan but an essential part of His redemptive design, where spiritual understanding is veiled until He chooses to reveal it.

The valley imagery appears throughout Scripture describing our earthly experience. Ezekiel’s vision of the valley of dry bones (Ezekiel 37:1-14) portrays humanity’s spiritual condition: “The hand of the LORD was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones, And caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry. And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord GOD, thou knowest” (Ezekiel 37:1-3). This valley represents death’s dominion over humanity as God created it – the condition of spiritual deadness and lack of understanding – yet also God’s power to bring life from death.

Jeremiah speaks of “the valley of the son of Hinnom” (Jeremiah 7:31-32), which becomes “the valley of slaughter” – a type of death’s realm. These valleys represent places where death reigns, paralleling the spiritual condition of unregenerate humanity trapped in spiritual blindness.

The First Passage: Abel’s Walk Through Death’s Valley

Scripture reveals the first recorded passage through the valley of the shadow of death in the account of Abel, whose righteous blood established the pattern for all who would follow. “And it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him. And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper? And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground” (Genesis 4:8-10).

Abel’s death reveals that even the first righteous martyr walked through death’s valley, yet his blood continues to speak from the ground. The Hebrew word “tsaaq” (H6817) means to cry out or call for help, indicating that Abel’s blood perpetually appeals to God for justice. This establishes the foundational truth that the death of the righteous is never silent before God – it cries out with ongoing significance.

The blood of Abel typifies the blood of Christ, while the struggle between Cain and Abel represents the ongoing conflict between the first Adam and the last Adam within every believer. Paul writes, “The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit” (1 Corinthians 15:45). This inward conflict reveals the old man resisting the new, yet the quickening Spirit prevails. Abel’s acceptance by God through his sacrifice of “the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof” (Genesis 4:4) prefigures all whose deaths are precious in God’s sight because they approach Him through faith rather than works.

Hebrews confirms Abel’s continued witness: “By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh” (Hebrews 11:4). Abel’s passage through death’s valley demonstrates that death cannot silence the testimony of the righteous – they speak even beyond the grave.

The Preciousness of Death in God’s Sight

Scripture reveals God’s perspective on our passage through death’s valley in Psalm 116:15: “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.” The Hebrew word “yaqar” (H3368) means valuable, costly, or weighty – indicating that what appears as loss to human eyes holds immense value in God’s sight. This preciousness encompasses both the physical death of saints and their spiritual death to self.

The context of Psalm 116 illuminates this truth: “The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow. Then called I upon the name of the LORD; O LORD, I beseech thee, deliver my soul” (Psalm 116:3-4). The psalmist’s deliverance came not by avoiding death’s valley but by crying out within it, discovering that even there, God’s presence transforms sorrow into salvation.

This heavenly perspective reframes our understanding of the valley experience. What the world sees as tragedy, God sees as treasure. The apparent darkness becomes the very place where His light shines brightest, where His saints are most precious to Him.

Typological Significance: The Pit and Prison

Scripture frequently associates valleys with pits, representing death and captivity. The psalmist cries, “I am counted with them that go down into the pit: I am as a man that hath no strength: Free among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, whom thou rememberest no more: and they are cut off from thy hand” (Psalm 88:4-5).

Joseph’s experience in the pit (Genesis 37:24) typifies descent into death’s realm, while his subsequent elevation prefigures resurrection and exaltation. Similarly, Daniel in the lions’ den and the three Hebrew children in the fiery furnace represent passages through death’s valley with supernatural preservation.

The Hebrew word “sheol” (H7585), often translated as “hell” or “grave,” represents the realm of death. This corresponds to the valley’s depth, where death’s shadow is darkest. Yet Scripture reveals that even sheol cannot inhibit God’s presence: “If I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there” (Psalm 139:8).

Christ as the Good Shepherd Through the Valley

David’s confidence in Psalm 23:4 stems from the Shepherd’s presence. “A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.” (Psalms 23:1). This finds its ultimate fulfillment in Christ, who declares, “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep” (John 10:11). Christ not only leads us through the valley but enters it Himself as an example of our journey.

The rod and staff that comfort represent Christ’s dual nature as both protector and guide. The rod (Hebrew “shebet,” H7626) signifies authority and protection, while the staff (Hebrew: “mish’eneth,” H4938) represents support and guidance. Together, they symbolize Christ’s complete provision for our journey through death’s domain.

Christ’s own words confirm His role as our guide through this valley: “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:3). He precedes us through death’s valley to prepare our way.

Most significantly, Christ brings light to dispel the spiritual blindness that characterizes the valley. As He declared: “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life” (John 8:12). Through Christ, the valley of spiritual death and blindness becomes the pathway to spiritual life and understanding.

The Valley as Spiritual Transformation

Beyond representing our earthly condition, the valley of the shadow of death symbolizes the process of spiritual death to self that every believer must experience. Paul describes this transformation: “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).

This spiritual death involves walking through the valley where our old nature dies and Christ’s life emerges. The shadow of death becomes the means by which we pass from death unto life: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life” (John 5:24).

The transformation includes movement from spiritual blindness to spiritual sight. Christ explained: “For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind” (John 9:39). This heavenly paradox reveals the fundamental nature of spiritual transformation – the old man, who thinks he sees, must be blinded and put to death, while the new man, who acknowledges his blindness, is given spiritual sight and life.

The “I” that is crucified represents the old man who walks in spiritual darkness, confident in his natural understanding yet blind to God’s realm. The “I” that lives represents the new man to whom spiritual sight is granted. This death and resurrection occurs within the valley experience, where God “calleth those things which be not as though they were” (Romans 4:17), giving life to the spiritually dead and sight to the spiritually blind.

The valley experience becomes the place where spiritual eyes are opened and sacred understanding is granted to the new man, while the old man’s presumed sight is exposed as blindness and put to death. As Christ declared, “For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted” (Matthew 13:15). The valley strips away the old man’s false confidence in natural understanding, preparing the heart for the new man’s spiritual sight.

Cross-References: Walking Through Death

Scripture provides numerous examples of God’s people walking through death’s shadow with supernatural protection. The Israelites’ passage through the Red Sea typifies passage through death: “And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left” (Exodus 14:22). The sea, representing death’s waters, parts to allow safe passage.

Similarly, their crossing of Jordan into the Promised Land symbolizes passing through death into resurrection life: “And it came to pass, when the people removed from their tents, to pass over Jordan, and the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people; And as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water… That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap” (Joshua 3:14-16).

Natural and Spiritual Applications

Naturally, the valley of the shadow of death encompasses every believer’s earthly experience. We live in a world under death’s dominion, facing mortality, suffering, and separation. Yet spiritually, this valley represents the transformative process by which Christ leads us from spiritual death to spiritual life.

The preciousness declared in Psalm 116:15 extends to both aspects. Our physical trials and eventual death are precious to God because they conform us to Christ’s image: “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren” (Romans 8:29). Our spiritual death to self is equally precious as it allows Christ’s life to emerge within us.

The promise extends beyond mere survival to victory: “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:55-57).

This victory finds its ultimate expression in Paul’s declaration: “So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory” (1 Corinthians 15:54). Here Paul quotes from Isaiah’s ancient prophecy: “He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it” (Isaiah 25:8).

The Hebrew word “bala” (H1104) means to swallow completely, to engulf entirely. Death is not merely defeated or pushed aside – it is completely consumed and absorbed by victory itself. This represents the total reversal of the valley experience, where death’s shadow gave way to life’s substance, corruption yielded to incorruption, and mortality surrendered to immortality.

This valley, though dark, becomes the pathway to glory: “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:17-18).

Conclusion: The Shadow That Leads to Light

The valley of the shadow of death reveals God’s redemptive purpose woven throughout Scripture. This valley is not our destination but our passage – the place where death’s shadow gives way to resurrection light. Through Christ’s presence and guidance, what appears as the darkest valley becomes the pathway to eternal life.

As we walk through this valley, whether in its natural manifestation through earthly trials or its spiritual reality through death to self, we discover that death’s shadow cannot overcome the light of Christ’s presence. Paul reveals the heavenly pattern: “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6).

This verse connects the original creation command with our personal transformation in the valley. “And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.” (Genesis 1:2-3). Just as God spoke light into primordial darkness on the first day of creation, He speaks spiritual light into the darkness of our hearts while we walk through death’s valley. The “knowledge of the glory of God” (2 Corinthians 4:6) represents the very understanding that death’s condition lacks – comprehension of God’s realm and character. This light shines specifically “in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6), our Good Shepherd who guides us through the valley.

The ultimate destination of our journey through the valley is revealed in John’s vision: “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away” (Revelation 21:4). This promise encompasses the complete resolution of every aspect of the valley experience – death itself abolished, sorrow replaced with joy, crying silenced by perfect peace, and pain transformed into eternal glory.

The tears God wipes away are the very tears shed while walking through death’s valley. The death that will be “no more” is the death whose shadow we currently traverse. The sorrow and crying that will cease are the emotional companions of our present valley experience. When John declares that “the former things are passed away,” he includes the valley of the shadow of death among those former things that give way to the new creation.

Most profoundly, the spiritual blindness and lack of understanding that characterizes the valley will be replaced with perfect knowledge and comprehension of God’s realm. Paul reveals this glorious transformation: “For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known” (1 Corinthians 13:9-12). Where once we walked in the shadow of spiritual death, unable to perceive sacred truth, we will see Him face to face and know even as we are known.

In Christ, the valley of the shadow of death becomes not a place of fear but of faith, not of ending but of beginning, not of separation but of union with our heavenly Shepherd who leads us safely home to that place where shadows flee away and we dwell in His marvelous light forever.

In the light of Christ, the valley of the shadow of death becomes the path of life.

“Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law” (Psalm 119:18). Amen

Numbers 20:1-29  The Death of Miriam and Aaron

[Study Aired September 18, 2023]

Num 20:1  Then came the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, into the desert of Zin in the first month: and the people abode in Kadesh; and Miriam died there, and was buried there. 
Num 20:2  And there was no water for the congregation: and they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron. 
Num 20:3  And the people chode with Moses, and spake, saying, Would God that we had died when our brethren died before the LORD! 
Num 20:4  And why have ye brought up the congregation of the LORD into this wilderness, that we and our cattle should die there? 
Num 20:5  And wherefore have ye made us to come up out of Egypt, to bring us in unto this evil place? it is no place of seed, or of figs, or of vines, or of pomegranates; neither is there any water to drink. 
Num 20:6  And Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they fell upon their faces: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto them.
Num 20:7  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 
Num 20:8  Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink.
Num 20:9  And Moses took the rod from before the LORD, as he commanded him. 
Num 20:10  And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock? 
Num 20:11  And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also.
Num 20:12  And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them. 
Num 20:13  This is the water of Meribah; because the children of Israel strove with the LORD, and he was sanctified in them. 
Num 20:14  And Moses sent messengers from Kadesh unto the king of Edom, Thus saith thy brother Israel, Thou knowest all the travail that hath befallen us: 
Num 20:15  How our fathers went down into Egypt, and we have dwelt in Egypt a long time; and the Egyptians vexed us, and our fathers: 
Num 20:16  And when we cried unto the LORD, he heard our voice, and sent an angel, and hath brought us forth out of Egypt: and, behold, we are in Kadesh, a city in the uttermost of thy border: 
Num 20:17  Let us pass, I pray thee, through thy country: we will not pass through the fields, or through the vineyards, neither will we drink of the water of the wells: we will go by the king’s high way, we will not turn to the right hand nor to the left, until we have passed thy borders. 
Num 20:18  And Edom said unto him, Thou shalt not pass by me, lest I come out against thee with the sword. 
Num 20:19  And the children of Israel said unto him, We will go by the high way: and if I and my cattle drink of thy water, then I will pay for it: I will only, without doing any thing else, go through on my feet. 
Num 20:20  And he said, Thou shalt not go through. And Edom came out against him with much people, and with a strong hand. 
Num 20:21  Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his border: wherefore Israel turned away from him. 
Num 20:22  And the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, journeyed from Kadesh, and came unto mount Hor. 
Num 20:23  And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron in mount Hor, by the coast of the land of Edom, saying,
Num 20:24  Aaron shall be gathered unto his people: for he shall not enter into the land which I have given unto the children of Israel, because ye rebelled against my word at the water of Meribah. 
Num 20:25  Take Aaron and Eleazar his son, and bring them up unto mount Hor: 
Num 20:26  And strip Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Eleazar his son: and Aaron shall be gathered unto his people, and shall die there. 
Num 20:27  And Moses did as the LORD commanded: and they went up into mount Hor in the sight of all the congregation. 
Num 20:28  And Moses stripped Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Eleazar his son; and Aaron died there in the top of the mount: and Moses and Eleazar came down from the mount. 
Num 20:29  And when all the congregation saw that Aaron was dead, they mourned for Aaron thirty days, even all the house of Israel. 

Introduction

In order to understand this chapter, we need to note that it begins the history of the fortieth year (which was the last year) of the Israelites’ wandering in the wilderness. Finally, after going round in circles in the wilderness for almost forty years as a result of the Lord’s judgment, they were now at Kadesh, near the border with Edom. This Kadesh is not the same as Kadesh-barnea which was near the borders of Canaan. They were therefore on the right way toward the land of Canaan and were not far off from the place where they were when, by the righteous judgment of the Lord, they were made to begin their wanderings.  

Psa 95:10  For forty years I loathed that generation and said, “They are a people who go astray in their heart, and they have not known my ways.”
Psa 95:11  Therefore I swore in my wrath, “They shall not enter my rest [the promised land].”

This chapter gives an account of the death of Miriam, the fetching of the water out of the rock when the people of Israel were in distress as a result of lack of water, the negotiation with Edom and finally, the death of Aaron, the High Priest upon Mount Hor.

To understand spiritually what the Lord is telling us regarding this chapter, we need to know that the people of Israel were getting closer to leaving the wilderness and entering the promised land. This means we are going to learn from this chapter what happened to us which necessitated our exit from Babylon, or the physical churches of this world, in order to possess our bodies (land) for Christ. Remember that the word of the Lord has a past application, a present reality and a future perspective. That is the “is”, “was” and “will be” nature of the word of the Lord. This is what happened to Apostle John at Patmos when he encountered our Lord Jesus Christ:

Rev 1:9  I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. 
Rev 1:10  I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, 
Rev 1:11  Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea. 
Rev 1:12  And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; 

In Revelation 1:10, John heard behind him a great voice, like that of a trumpet. The voice behind him refers to the “was” part of the word of the Lord. The fact that the voice was like that of a trumpet means that John cannot mistake the voice for any other than the true shepherd, who is Christ. When he turned to see the voice, he saw the seven golden candlesticks. In a similar pattern, it is when, through the word of the Lord, we look back, that we see clearly the deplorable state of the complete church system of this world (Babylon) from which the Lord has delivered us. 

Today’s study, therefore, gives us more insight into how the Lord caused our exit from Babylon as we come to see the deplorable state of the churches of this world and some lessons we need to learn to keep us from being disqualified after calling others to the contest.

1Co 9:27  I harden my body with blows and bring it under complete control, to keep myself from being disqualified after having called others to the contest. (GNT)

Num 20:1  Then came the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, into the desert of Zin in the first month: and the people abode in Kadesh; and Miriam died there, and was buried there. 

The significance about this verse is the death of Miriam. As we are aware, a woman represents the church. Remember that this death of Miriam occurred just a year before the Israelites entered the land of Canaan. The death of Miriam therefore shows us that it was when the Lord was preparing us for our exit from Babylon to possess our bodies (the land of promise) that we saw the spiritually dead state of the church, symbolized by the death of Miriam. Without the Lord showing us the spiritual state of the churches of this world, we would have continued to be in Babylon. We must remember that the last thing we heard of Miriam before her death was that she became leprous as a result of her action together with Aaron to usurp the authority of the Lord’s elect, Moses. The people of Israel had to wait until she was healed before they continued their journey. 

Num 12:1  And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman.
Num 12:2  And they said, Hath the LORD indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us? And the LORD heard it. 

Num 12:9  And the anger of the LORD was kindled against them; and he departed.
Num 12:10  And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle; and, behold, Miriam became leprous, white as snow: and Aaron looked upon Miriam, and, behold, she was leprous.

Num 12:15  And Miriam was shut out from the camp seven days: and the people journeyed not till Miriam was brought in again.

By making Miriam leprous, the Lord was showing us that the problem with the church is sin. The death of Miriam was therefore a symbol of the spiritually dead state of the church which the Lord showed to His elect just before their exit from Babylon.

Isa 1:4  Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward. 
Isa 1:5  Why should ye be stricken anymore? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. 
Isa 1:6  From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.

Num 20:2  And there was no water for the congregation: and they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron. 
Num 20:3  And the people chode with Moses, and spake, saying, Would God that we had died when our brethren died before the LORD! 
Num 20:4  And why have ye brought up the congregation of the LORD into this wilderness, that we and our cattle should die there? 
Num 20:5  And wherefore have ye made us to come up out of Egypt, to bring us in unto this evil place? it is no place of seed, or of figs, or of vines, or of pomegranates; neither is there any water to drink. 

As the Israelites were close to entering the land of Canaan, it became obvious to them that there was scarcity of water in the wilderness, and without the Lord’s intervention, they would surely die together with their cattle. In this wilderness of life, there is a lack of the truth of the word of the Lord, and it is even worse as we see the end of this age approaching. This is what Jesus told us regarding His coming:

Luk 18:8  I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

We know faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. This means that if there are scarcely people with faith in this life, then it implies that the word of the Lord is extremely scarce in this life.  

One of the key factors that pushed us out of Babylon was the realization that there is a lack of the truth of the word of the Lord (absence of water) in the churches of this world. It is as the Lord is preparing us to leave Babylon to possess our bodies (land) that we come to see the scarcity of the truth of the word of the Lord in the churches of this world. Therefore, we came to the conclusion that if we do not leave, we shall die.

Amo 8:11  Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD: 
Amo 8:12  And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it.
Amo 8:13  In that day shall the fair virgins and young men faint for thirst.

Num 20:6  And Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they fell upon their faces: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto them. 
Num 20:7  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 
Num 20:8  Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink. 
Num 20:9  And Moses took the rod from before the LORD, as he commanded him. 

Two conditions must be satisfied if the elect, symbolized by Moses and Aaron, are to make available the truth of the word of the Lord to all humanity (the people of Israel) in an age to come. We must take the rod from the presence of the Lord and also speak to the rock before the presence of the people of Israel before we can be given the opportunity to feed all humanity with the word of the Lord. The rod in the hand of Moses symbolizes our judgment by the Lord in this life. Speaking to the rock which is Christ and also His words means that our walk in this life must be characterized by faith in His words. It is this faith in His words which translates into works which act as a witness to the whole world (people of Israel) that we are indeed His children. That is what will qualify us to feed all humanity in the lake of fire with the word of the Lord. 

Psa 89:32  Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes.

Pro 22:15  Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.

Lam 3:1  I am the man that hath seen affliction by the rod of his wrath.

Jas 2:14  What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? 

Jas 2:17  Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
Jas 2:18  Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

Num 20:10  And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock? 
Num 20:11  And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also.
Num 20:12  And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them. 
Num 20:13  This is the water of Meribah; because the children of Israel strove with the LORD, and he was sanctified in them.

To understand what we are being told spiritually in these verses, we need to note that Moses and Aaron, apart from representing the elect, also represent the law of Moses. This law is not by faith. It is when we leave Babylon that we begin our walk of faith and therefore the law of Moses becomes irrelevant in our walk since the law which is taught in Babylon is not of faith. 

Gal 3:23  But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 
Gal 3:24  Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 
Gal 3:25  But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

Whenever we walk not according to faith, we sin against the Lord. That was what happened to Moses and Aaron. 

Rom 14:23  And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

Moses and Aaron should have exercised faith in the Lord and spoken to the rock to bring out water. But as explained, the law of Moses is not of faith, and therefore, the Lord allowed them to fail to show us the limitation of the law. Moses smiting the rock twice before the people spiritually implies crucifying the Lord Jesus again and putting Him to public shame. If we adhere to the law, we make the sacrificial death of Jesus of no significance. Incidentally, it is those who have been enlightened, like Moses and Aaron, who end up crucifying to themselves the son of God afresh when they fall away.  This is to serve as a warning to us, His elect.

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.

In Psalm 106:32-33, we are told that Moses spoke unadvisedly because the people of Israel made him bitter. The Lord has warned us to look diligently lest the root of bitterness springs up in us to defile many. 

Psa 106:32  They angered him at the waters of Meribah, and it went ill with Moses on their account, 
Psa 106:33  for they made his spirit bitter, and he spoke rashly with his lips. (ESV)

Heb 12:15  Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; 

In verse 11, we are told that when Moses struck the rock twice, there was plenty of water for the people of Israel to drink together with their beasts. The feeding of the beasts together with the people of Israel signifies that the word of the Lord which comes out of the law strengthens the beast within. It is not like the fire of the word of the Lord that destroys the beast within us. In other words, the word of the Lord in Babylon does not profit them that hear.

Heb 4:2  For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.

Num 20:14  And Moses sent messengers from Kadesh unto the king of Edom, Thus saith thy brother Israel, Thou knowest all the travail that hath befallen us: 
Num 20:15  How our fathers went down into Egypt, and we have dwelt in Egypt a long time; and the Egyptians vexed us, and our fathers: 
Num 20:16  And when we cried unto the LORD, he heard our voice, and sent an angel, and hath brought us forth out of Egypt: and, behold, we are in Kadesh, a city in the uttermost of thy border: 
Num 20:17  Let us pass, I pray thee, through thy country: we will not pass through the fields, or through the vineyards, neither will we drink of the water of the wells: we will go by the king’s high way, we will not turn to the right hand nor to the left, until we have passed thy borders. 
Num 20:18  And Edom said unto him, Thou shalt not pass by me, lest I come out against thee with the sword. 
Num 20:19  And the children of Israel said unto him, We will go by the high way: and if I and my cattle drink of thy water, then I will pay for it: I will only, without doing any thing else, go through on my feet. 
Num 20:20  And he said, Thou shalt not go through. And Edom came out against him with much people, and with a strong hand.
Num 20:21  Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his border: wherefore Israel turned away from him.

The Edomites were the descendants of Esau, the firstborn son of Isaac and the twin brother of Jacob. The Edomites were therefore close relatives of the people of Israel.

Deu 23:7  “You shall not abhor an Edomite, for he is your brother. You shall not abhor an Egyptian, because you were a sojourner in his land. 

In spite of Edomites being close relatives of Israel, we can see in these verses that they were ready to fight the Israelites instead of assisting them to pass through their land. Therefore, they signify our flesh, and as we know, our flesh is in enmity with the spirit the Lord has given us.

Gal 5:16  This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
Gal 5:17  For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
Gal 5:18  But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

It is when the Lord is preparing us to leave Babylon that we come to see the formidable opposition of our flesh and our helplessness in fighting back, just as the Israelites saw they could not overcome the Edomites. It was when the Israelites were in the land of Canaan as they walked by faith that they defeated their enemies and possessed the land the Lord had promised them. We all go through similar experiences as the Israelites did. This was the experience of Paul when he said the following:

Rom 7:14  For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. 
Rom 7:15  For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
Rom 7:16  If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.
Rom 7:17  Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
Rom 7:18  For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
Rom 7:19  For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. 
Rom 7:20  Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 
Rom 7:21  I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
Rom 7:22  For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
Rom 7:23  But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
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.

Num 20:22  And the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, journeyed from Kadesh, and came unto mount Hor. 
Num 20:23  And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron in mount Hor, by the coast of the land of Edom, saying, 
Num 20:24  Aaron shall be gathered unto his people: for he shall not enter into the land which I have given unto the children of Israel, because ye rebelled against my word at the water of Meribah. 
Num 20:25  Take Aaron and Eleazar his son, and bring them up unto mount Hor: 
Num 20:26  And strip Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Eleazar his son: and Aaron shall be gathered unto his people, and shall die there. 
Num 20:27  And Moses did as the LORD commanded: and they went up into mount Hor in the sight of all the congregation. 
Num 20:28  And Moses stripped Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Eleazar his son; and Aaron died there in the top of the mount: and Moses and Eleazar came down from the mount. 
Num 20:29  And when all the congregation saw that Aaron was dead, they mourned for Aaron thirty days, even all the house of Israel. 

Aaron, who represents the Levitical priesthood, is a symbol of the priesthood in Babylon. The death of Aaron therefore signifies the fact that the priesthood in Babylon brings about the ministration of death. Again, it is when we are about to leave Babylon that we begin to see the nature of the priesthood in Babylon – a ministry of death. 

2Co 3:5  Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, 
2Co 3:6  who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
2Co 3:7  Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses’ face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end, 
2Co 3:8  will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory?
2Co 3:9  For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory. 

Rom 7:6  But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code.

This is what the word of the Lord has to say about the spiritually dead state of the priesthood in Babylon:

Eze 22:25  The conspiracy of her [Babylon] prophets in her midst is like a roaring lion tearing the prey; they have devoured human lives; they have taken treasure and precious things; they have made many widows in her midst. 
Eze 22:26  Her priests have done violence to my law and have profaned my holy things. They have made no distinction between the holy and the common, neither have they taught the difference between the unclean and the clean, and they have disregarded my Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them. 
Eze 22:27  Her princes in her midst are like wolves tearing the prey, shedding blood, destroying lives to get dishonest gain. 
Eze 22:28  And her prophets have smeared whitewash for them, seeing false visions and divining lies for them, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD,’ when the LORD has not spoken. 
Eze 22:29  The people of the land have practiced extortion and committed robbery. They have oppressed the poor and needy, and have extorted from the sojourner without justice. 
Eze 22:30  And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none.

Jer 5:30  An appalling and horrible thing has happened in the land [Babylon]:
Jer 5:31  the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule at their direction; my people love to have it so, but what will you do when the end comes?

The stripping of Aaron’s garments by Moses and putting them on Eleazer in verse 28 means that we do not have our own righteousness and that our righteousness is of Christ who puts it on whomsoever He chooses. 

1Co 1:30  And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 
1Co 1:31  so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” 

2Co 5:21  For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

In verse 29, when the congregation of the Israelites saw that Aaron was dead, they mourned him for thirty days. It is in the lake of fire age that Babylon, signified here by the congregation of Israel, will see that the law of Moses is an administration of death. Just as the elect are mourning (wearing sackcloth) in this life as a result of the judgment of their old man, the people of Israel or Babylon will mourn as they are judged in the lake of fire for thirty days. The 30 (3×10) days signifies that at the fullness of the flesh, the world, including Babylon, will become mature through the process of judgment in the lake of fire. 

Rev 11:3  And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth [mourning].” 

May the Lord help us to walk by faith but not by sight as we see the day approaching. Amen!!

2Ki 7:1-20  “A measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria”

[Study Aired October 6, 2022]

In this section of Kings, we will see how God deals with the negative messenger within us (2Ki 6:33) who represents our lack of faith, our oh-you-of-little-faith part of us (Mat 14:31) which must be destroyed (2Ki 7:20) in order for the new man of faith to come forth (1Pe 1:7).

Mat 14:31  And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? 

2Ki 7:20  And so it fell out unto him: for the people trode upon him in the gate, and he died. 

1Pe 1:7  That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

Right after the messenger, in  verses 32 and 33 of last week’s study, demonstrates his lack of faith, Elisha gives us the solution to what will be needed to be helped in our unbelief, and the solution is “a measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria.” The “two measures of barley for a shekel” represents the life of Christ, our head, and the “measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel” represents the body of Christ which is steadily becoming more and more refined through the fiery trials of this life that bring forth the fine flour that represents God’s word within us that strengthens and nourishes us (1Pe 4:12,15).

1Pe 4:12  Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 

Php 2:15  That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

The two principal characters in every story God has inspired in His word, are the old man and the new man within us, and keeping that principle in mind we will see in this story there is a progression that takes place for the new man who has to become convinced of God’s favor and come to believe that nothing can separate us from His love – not famine, not war, not disease. These type-and-shadow stories that were written for our sakes upon whom the end of the world has come are a great encouragement for God’s elect as they show us how God tries our faith to bring us to the only right conclusion – He is working all things according to the counsel of His own will. Within our lives as first fruits this means that all things will work together for good because of the love of God shed abroad in our hearts to His glory and honor (1Co 10:11, Rom 5:5, Rom 8:32.

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. 

Rom 5:5  And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

Rom 8:32  He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

2Ki 7:1  Then Elisha said, Hear ye the word of the LORD; Thus saith the LORD, To morrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria.

The above verse is talking about a specific purpose statement out of the mouth of God’s prophet, boldly prophesying that there will be spiritual meat given in due season. As earlier discussed, it will come from Christ who is represented by “two measures of barley for a shekel” and made manifest in the church the body of Christ represented by “a measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel” (Eph 3:10). Three “measures” in total complete the process of judgment [3] upon the body of Christ. All of this takes place at the “gate of Samaria” which represents our yet carnal minds which need to be ruled over at the gate through the power of God’s holy spirit, His word, that quickens and judges us in this age if we are part of God’s elect – “a remnant according to the election of grace” (1Pe 4:17, Rom 11:5).

Eph 3:10  To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,

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?

Rom 11:5  Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

2Ki 7:2  Then a lord on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God, and said, Behold, if the LORD would make windows in heaven, might this thing be? And he said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof.

This section of God’s word is an admonition showing us that evil communications corrupt good manners, and the king leaning on the lord’s hand symbolizes how outside influences can bring about a doubting heart (Act 13:40-41, 1Co 15:33, Pro 3:3, Pro 3:5-7).

Act 13:40  Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets; 
Act 13:41  Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you.

1Co 15:33  Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. 

Pro 3:3  Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: 

Pro 3:5  Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
Pro 3:6  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. 
Pro 3:7  Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

The Lord rewards us according to the idol of our own hearts, and so Elisha tells this lord that “Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof” regarding, in type, God’s spiritual provision which is given to those who are granted to believe and do the work of God (Joh 6:28-29, Rom 2:13, Jas 1:22).

Joh 6:28  Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? 
Joh 6:29  Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

Rom 2:13  (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.

Jas 1:22  But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

2Ki 7:3  And there were four leprous men at the entering in of the gate: and they said one to another, Why sit we here until we die? 
2Ki 7:4  If we say, We will enter into the city, then the famine is in the city, and we shall die there: and if we sit still here, we die also. Now therefore come, and let us fall unto the host of the Syrians: if they save us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall but die.
2Ki 7:5  And they rose up in the twilight, to go unto the camp of the Syrians: and when they were come to the uttermost part of the camp of Syria, behold, there was no man there.

Our physical life is all vanity (Ecc 12:8), and the whole of our vain imaginations is being expressed with this statement: “And there were four leprous men at the entering in of the gate” where that fleshly mind conjures up all sorts of ideas about what we think the Lord is going to do in our lives and what the end result of this trial and that trial is going to be. In the end we learn that God will deliver us from them all (Psa 34:18-19), and even our lack of faith plays perfectly into that which God has ordained for us to experience in this life – “and they said one to another, Why sit we here until we die?” The rhetorical question is asked therefore over and over as we learn to trust Christ through the weakness and lack of faith on our part so that we give all glory to our Father when we are delivered from the storms He raises in our lives (Mat 14:31, Psa 107:25-29). This is the ‘doubting Thomas’ moment of these four leprous men expressed this way: “If we say, We will enter into the city, then the famine is in the city, and we shall die there: and if we sit still here, we die also. Now therefore come, and let us fall unto the host of the Syrians: if they save us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall but die.” Their words are very comparable to what Thomas spoke while with Christ (Joh 11:15-17).

Psa 34:18  The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. 
Psa 34:19  Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.

Mat 14:31  And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

Psa 107:25  For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof. 
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.

Joh 11:15  And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him. 
Joh 11:16  Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellowdisciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him. 
Joh 11:17  Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already. [The four days are again a symbol of how God brings us to a point of feeling utterly and wholly hopeless so He can deliver us in such moments because of our crying out in fear (Heb 5:7)].

Heb 5:7  Who in the days of his flesh [Eph 5:30, 1Jn 4:17, 1Jn 4:3], when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;

Eph 5:30  For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. 

1Jn 4:17  Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. 

1Jn 4:3  And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh [Col 1:27] is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

The end result of our unbelief, (“And they rose up in the twilight, to go unto the camp of the Syrians: and when they were come to the uttermost part of the camp of Syria, behold, there was no man there“), results in the Lord telling us to be believing and be still and behold the salvation of the Lord, “Behold, there was no man there.” (Mat 21:21, Exo 14:13)

Mat 21:21  Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.

Exo 14:13  And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.

2Ki 7:6  For the Lord had made the host of the Syrians to hear a noise of chariots, and a noise of horses, even the noise of a great host: and they said one to another, Lo, the king of Israel hath hired against us the kings of the Hittites, and the kings of the Egyptians, to come upon us. 
2Ki 7:7  Wherefore they arose and fled in the twilight, and left their tents, and their horses, and their asses, even the camp as it was, and fled for their life. 

We don’t want to be the troubled Syrian any longer who hears “a noise of chariots, and a noise of horses, even the noise of a great host” remembering Christ’s admonition, “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.” The end result of the Syrians being driven away by “the sound of a shaken leaf” (Lev 26:36) is that Israel could now be supernaturally provided for as these spoils of the Syrians were now there for the taking. This supernatural provision toward Israel is a shadow for God’s elect of how the Lord will always supply our every need through Christ, and this event with Israel and Syria is like the spoiling of the Egyptians: “Wherefore they arose and fled in the twilight, and left their tents, and their horses, and their asses, even the camp as it was, and fled for their life” (Exo 12:36).

Lev 26:36  And upon them that are left alive of you I will send a faintness into their hearts in the lands of their enemies; and the sound of a shaken leaf shall chase them; and they shall flee, as fleeing from a sword; and they shall fall when none pursueth. 

Exo 12:36  And the LORD gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them such things as they required. And they spoiled the Egyptians.

2Ki 7:8  And when these lepers came to the uttermost part of the camp, they went into one tent, and did eat and drink, and carried thence silver, and gold, and raiment, and went and hid it; and came again, and entered into another tent, and carried thence also, and went and hid it. 
2Ki 7:9  Then they said one to another, We do not well: this day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace: if we tarry till the morning light, some mischief will come upon us: now therefore come, that we may go and tell the king’s household.

This story demonstrates the wavering faith that God has called us to overcome in our lives. We must fight a good fight of faith, and that means staying in the word and coming together often as the body of Christ (1Ti 6:12, Heb 10:25).

1Ti 6:12  Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

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.

The lepers represent our sinful nature, and although we are hidden in Christ, Who brings us into the camp of our enemies to show us that they have no defense and that He will provide for us [“And when these lepers came to the uttermost part of the camp, they went into one tent, and did eat and drink, and carried thence silver, and gold, and raiment, and went and hid it; and came again, and entered into another tent, and carried thence also, and went and hid it“], instead of our being convinced of this, we lack faith and start to doubt God’s purpose and faithful provision for us in this life, at least initially (Mat 17:16-17, Php 2:15).

Mat 17:16  And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him. 
Mat 17:17  Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me.

Php 2:15  That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

That wavering faith is what this section of the story is about, and so instead of being convinced of God’s mercy and faithfulness toward them in this early stage of our journey, they utter these words: “Then they said one to another, We do not well: this day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace: if we tarry till the morning light, some mischief will come upon us: now therefore come, that we may go and tell the king’s household.”

2Ki 7:10  So they came and called unto the porter of the city: and they told them, saying, We came to the camp of the Syrians, and, behold, there was no man there, neither voice of man, but horses tied, and asses tied, and the tents as they were. 
2Ki 7:11  And he called the porters; and they told it to the king’s house within. 
2Ki 7:12  And the king arose in the night, and said unto his servants, I will now shew you what the Syrians have done to us. They know that we be hungry; therefore are they gone out of the camp to hide themselves in the field, saying, When they come out of the city, we shall catch them alive, and get into the city.

To confirm the point made earlier, we see the end result of these suspicious lepers who having brought the details of the story to the porter of the city: “So they came and called unto the porter of the city: and they told them, saying, We came to the camp of the Syrians, and, behold, there was no man there, neither voice of man, but horses tied, and asses tied, and the tents as they were.” This gatekeeper brings this information to King Ahab who also lacks faith, and so we see this corroding effect that is happening as a result of the little leaven of the lepers who are doubting in type and shadow the promises of God which tells us we will be delivered and that nothing can separate us from the love of God (Rom 8:35-37).

Rom 8:35  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 
Rom 8:36  As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 
Rom 8:37  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

Caleb and Joshua are the type and shadow people God wants us to be like who had a different spirit (Num 14:24) and did not speak as Ahab who was full of doubt and suspicion regarding these supernatural events that had unfolded for Israel’s sake, for their good and not for their hurt (Jer 29:11):  “And the king arose in the night, and said unto his servants, I will now shew you what the Syrians have done to us. They know that we be hungry; therefore are they gone out of the camp to hide themselves in the field, saying, When they come out of the city, we shall catch them alive, and get into the city.“

Num 14:24  But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it.

Jer 29:11  For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

2Ki 7:13  And one of his servants answered and said, Let some take, I pray thee, five of the horses that remain, which are left in the city, (behold, they are as all the multitude of Israel that are left in it: behold, I say, they are even as all the multitude of the Israelites that are consumed:) and let us send and see. 
2Ki 7:14  They took therefore two chariot horses; and the king sent after the host of the Syrians, saying, Go and see.
2Ki 7:15  And they went after them unto Jordan: and, lo, all the way was full of garments and vessels, which the Syrians had cast away in their haste. And the messengers returned, and told the king. 
2Ki 7:16  And the people went out, and spoiled the tents of the Syrians. So a measure of fine flour was sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, according to the word of the LORD.

Finally, a voice of reason arises in the midst of all this chaos and lack of faith, and that servant represents a believer whose symbolic request explains the one event which will be common to all men, and that event is judgment, which is a result of the grace through faith God grants to His elect in this age: “I pray thee, five of the horses that remain, which are left in the city, (behold, they are as all the multitude of Israel that are left in it: behold, I say, they are even as all the multitude of the Israelites that are consumed:) and let us send and see.“

Wisdom: if you lack the confidence to send out all of Israel, then send out an entourage. Try the spirits, in other words, to determine if they are of the Lord (1Jn 4:1). The good news is that as a result of this wisdom which came forth from the servant, “The people went out, and spoiled the tents of the Syrians. So a measure of fine flour was sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, according to the word of the LORD.” What they discovered as “they went after them unto Jordan” was that “all the way was full of garments and vessels, which the Syrians had cast away in their haste. And the messengers returned, and told the king.“

There are leaders in our lives whom the Lord has given us who God uses to inspire us and give us the courage to do the same thing they do as we follow them as they followed Christ (1Co 11:1-3). That is what this snippet of scripture is telling us. We should be so grateful for those who have labored before us, leaving a way for us to build upon what God wrought through them (Joh 4:38). The end result of their courageous acts, for which God receives all the glory, is just as it was with the people of Israel who now were reassured that these spoils of the Syrians were put there for our sakes, just as all the spoils of Babylon have been set in the earth for our benefit: “And the people went out, and spoiled the tents of the Syrians. So a measure of fine flour was sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, according to the word of the LORD.” (Mat 25:29)

1Co 11:1  Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.
1Co 11:2  Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.
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. 

Joh 4:38  I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours.

Mat 25:29  For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.

2Ki 7:17  And the king appointed the lord on whose hand he leaned to have the charge of the gate: and the people trode upon him in the gate, and he died, as the man of God had said, who spake when the king came down to him. 
2Ki 7:18  And it came to pass as the man of God had spoken to the king, saying, Two measures of barley for a shekel, and a measure of fine flour for a shekel, shall be to morrow about this time in the gate of Samaria: 
2Ki 7:19  And that lord answered the man of God, and said, Now, behold, if the LORD should make windows in heaven, might such a thing be? And he said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof. 
2Ki 7:20  And so it fell out unto him: for the people trode upon him in the gate, and he died.

Being trodden under foot represents the death of our old man, and our old man must be trodden under foot 1260 days even as Christ increases and witnesses to us that we are dead to sin and alive in Him (Rev 11:2, Luk 21:24, Rom 6:11).

Rev 11:2  But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.

Luk 21:24  And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem [Gal 4:26] shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.

Rom 6:11  Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, [“Jerusalem (Gal 4:26) shall be trodden down of the Gentiles“] but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Verses 18 and 19 recap this story for us as it explains that the curse which had come upon the servant at the start of the story was from a lack of faith and inability to believe that God would make provision with “Two measures of barley for a shekel, and a measure of fine flour for a shekel“. His faithless response to the prophet Elisha is this: “Now, behold, if the LORD should make windows in heaven, might such a thing be?” What God tells us to do in order to prevent such a faithless mindset is found in Malachi (Mal 3:9-12). That is the crux of the story – present your life a living sacrifice to God. He will do His part; He will provide for His beloved in this life, and there is nothing to fear on the morrow!

Mal 3:9  Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. [Our lack of faith robs God: “behold, if the LORD should make windows in heaven, might such a thing be?“]
Mal 3:10  Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse [Rom 12:1], that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. 
Mal 3:11  And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts. 
Mal 3:12  And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts. 

Gospels In Harmony

Matt 27:45-56, Mark 15:33-45, Luke 23:39-49, John 19:25-37

Our Lord’s Death is the Beginning of Our Life

[Study Aired September 20, 2022]

Luke 23:39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.
Luke 23:40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?
Luke 23:41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.
Luke 23:42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
Luke 23:43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee To day, shalt thou be with me in paradise. 
John 19:25 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. 
John 19:26 When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!
John 19:27 Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.
Luke 23:44 And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. 
Matt 27:46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
Matt 27:47 Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calleth for Elias.
John 19:28 After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.
John 19:29 Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth.
Matt 27:48 and gave him to drink.
Matt 27:49 The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him.
Matt 27:50 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, 
John 19:30 It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
Matt 27:51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;
Matt 27:54 (a) Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, 
Luke 23:47 Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man.
Matt 27:54 (b) Truly this was the Son of God.
Luke 23:48 And all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, smote their breasts, and returned.
Mark 15:40 There were also women looking on afar off: among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome;
Mark 15:41 (Who also, when he was in Galilee, followed him, and ministered unto him;) and many other women which came up with him unto Jerusalem.
John 19:31 The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.
John 19:32 Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him.
John 19:33 But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs:
John 19:34 But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.
John 19:35 And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe.
John 19:36 For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken.
John 19:37 And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced.

In our last study we learned Christ did not come to save himself but to save the world. He makes a promise to those who are called to follow His ways. The promise is, “You will be with me in paradise.”

Luke 23:39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.
Luke 23:40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?
Luke 23:41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.
Luke 23:42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
Luke 23:43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee To day, shalt thou be with me in paradise.

Christ now faces his final moments experiencing the flesh. He issues the following proclamation to “the disciple standing by”.

John 19:25 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.
John 19:26 When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!
John 19:27 Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.

What do the four women represent? As we all know, women represent the church, and the number four represents the whole of whatever is mentioned. These women represent the church of Christ; His body. The disciple standing by represents the elders of the church. Christ’s proclamation given as He hangs on the cross dying is that the elders are to take care of the church.

Rom 12:3-5 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

1 Cor 12:27-31 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.

Eph 4:11-16 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of 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: 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; 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.

Now comes the sixth hour, representing our time in the flesh as carnal people.

Luke 23:44 And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.
Matt 27:46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
Matt 27:47 Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calleth for Elias.

Christ hangs on the cross for three hours, darkness is over all the earth, and He cries to his Father, “Why hast thou forsaken me?”

While we are in this time of spiritual judgment and everything around us makes no sense, we are experiencing what is happening to Christ here on the cross. The scriptures must be fulfilled.

Isa 54:6-8 For the LORD hath called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when thou wast refused, saith thy God. For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee. In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer.

For a small moment Christ is forsaken, but that is not the end. That statement is followed by a promise, “but with great mercies will I gather thee” and “with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee.”

Though Christ is forsaken for a moment, this is not the end of life. It is actually the beginning of life. We all must go through this in order to be born again.

John 3:3-6 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Christ is aware that He must endure this judgment. He understands that the scriptures written must be fulfilled.

Matt 25:52-56 Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be? In that same hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves for to take me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on me. But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled.

Here are the final moments of our Lord’s life in the flesh.

John 19:28 After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.
John 19:29 Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth.
Matt 27:48 and gave him to drink.
Matt 27:49 The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him.
Matt 27:50 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, 
John 19:30 It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

“It is finished” is Christ’s final statement. What is finished? Has Christ done everything his Father sent him to do? Is Christ saying there is nothing that must happen to the rest of us? No, this is only the end of the old man. There is much that must be accomplished in order for the fullness of God’s plan to be complete. This is the beginning of the new man, and it starts with the following.

Matt 27:51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;

The veil of the temple is torn, the earth quakes, and the rocks break. This is the beginning of our eyes being opened. We are the temple, the earth and the rocks.

1 Cor 3:16-17 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

Jer 22:29 O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the LORD.

Matt 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

We realize what Christ is at this time in our walk just as those here.

Matt 27:54 (a) Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, 
Luke 23:47 Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man.
Matt 27:54 (b) Truly this was the Son of God.
Luke 23:48 And all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, smote their breasts, and returned.
Mark 15:40 There were also women looking on afar off: among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome;
Mark 15:41 (Who also, when he was in Galilee, followed him, and ministered unto him;) and many other women which came up with him unto Jerusalem.
John 19:31 The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.
John 19:32 Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him.
John 19:33 But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs:
John 19:34 But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.
John 19:35 And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe.
John 19:36 For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken.
John 19:37 And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced.

Finally, the scriptures are fulfilled that were written about Christ’s death.

Exo 12:46 In one house shall it be eaten; thou shalt not carry forth ought of the flesh abroad out of the house; neither shall ye break a bone thereof.

Zec 12:10-14 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn. In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem, as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon. And the land shall mourn, every family apart; the family of the house of David apart, and their wives apart; the family of the house of Nathan apart, and their wives apart; The family of the house of Levi apart, and their wives apart; the family of Shimei apart, and their wives apart; All the families that remain, every family apart, and their wives apart.

Our Lord has now finished and accomplished everything His Father sent him to do while in the flesh. He has given us the example of what will happen once we have our eyes and ears opened to see and hear the truth. There are few that will be given this prize, and, Lord willing, we will all endure until the end.

Matt 9:27-30 And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou Son of David, have mercy on us. And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord. Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you. And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straitly charged them, saying, See that no man know it.

Luke 12:22-30 And he went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem.  Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out. And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God. And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last.

Luke 8:10 And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.

Php 3:11-14 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Matt 10:22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

1Ki 21:17-29  “For we must needs die, and are as water spilt on the ground” – Part 2

[Study Aired June 30, 2022]

For we must die, and are as water spilled on the ground, and with no way to be redeemed except through Christ’s blood that was spilled on the earth, which can sanctify the body of Christ as it represents His Words which are Life, or a seed, that brings death to our old man (Eph 1:7, Joh 17:17, Joh 12:24).

Eph 1:7  In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; 

Joh 17:17  Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. 

Joh 12:24  Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. [-to believe is to do the work- Joh 8:31]

The water of the word that washes us (Eph 5:26-27) proceeds from the vine Jesus Christ, who is the Word (Joh 1:1), and He is the reason we can be sanctified and cleansed of our old Adamic nature “with the washing of water by the word (wine – blood [Mat 26:28])”

Eph 5:26  That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 
Eph 5:27  That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. 

Mat 26:28  For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

If we hear that word and are convicted by that word and act upon that word, proving all things and holding fast to that which is good (1Th 5:21), then we will be saved through that process of judgment in which we continue until our last breath (Joh 8:31-32) symbolized by the words “O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the LORD” of Jeremiah 22:29. With God’s words being sanctified within us, we can then in turn sanctify each other with those words and play a part in saving one another in this life as we fill up what is behind of the afflictions of Christ “for his body’s sake, which is the church” (Col 1:24, Eph 5:30).

1Th 5:21  Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. 

Jer 22:29  O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the LORD. 

Col 1:24  Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church: 

Eph 5:30  For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. 

“We must needs die”, just as “we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God” (Act 14:22), and the life of Elijah the Tishbite typifies for us what is expected of God’s elect who are dying daily and learning to patiently possess our souls (Jas 5:10, Luk 21:19) as we are led by God’s spirit (Rom 8:14-16).

Act 14:22  Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

Jas 5:10  Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. 

Luk 21:19  In your patience possess ye your souls.

Rom 8:14  For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 
Rom 8:15  For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 
Rom 8:16  The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

We can only say ‘our yes is yes’ and ‘our no is no’ of Matthew 5:37 if we are being obedient to the commandments of God.  So, when God tells Elijah “go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, which is in Samaria“, he does so and does not make any excuse as to why he cannot; excuses , “What if the king doesn’t like what I have to say?” God tells us in situations of duress “take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak” (Mat 8:21-22 ,  Mat 10:19).

Mat 5:37  But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil. 

Mat 8:21  And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. 
Mat 8:22  But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.

Mat 10:19  But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.

Each of the wise and foolish virgins are “bidden to the wedding” (Mat 22:3) but it is only those who are given to receive the counsel “buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed” (Rev 3:18) who have those garments washed or sanctified by the blood of the lamb who is the author and finisher of that “more precious than of gold” process of having our faith tried in fire in this life through God’s judgments that are upon His house (Rev 19:7, Heb 12:2, 1Pe 1:7, 1Pe 4:12, 1Pe 4:17, Jas 1:2-4). Satan did exactly what God required of him.  The point is that a prophet going where he is supposed to go, as Elijah did, is not a conclusive event that shows that the vessel is one of honor or dishonor, any more than Judas who kept following Christ when others had already denied him (Joh 6:67).

Mat 22:3  And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. 

Rev 19:7  Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 

Heb 12:2  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 

1Pe 1:7  That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 

1Pe 4:12  Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:

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? 

Jas 1:2  My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 
Jas 1:3  Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 
Jas 1:4  But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

The reason I’m bringing up this subject of ‘tried faith’ in this story is because we can easily read about the faithful prophets of old and not realize the life and death situations God put them in was for our sakes, showing us that we are “more than conquerors through him that loved us” (1Co 10:11, Rom 8:37). These stories of the faithful prophets are typical examples of the faith of Jesus Christ that we have today, which tell us nothing can separate us “from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom 8:38-39).

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. 

We need to look at these situations of the prophets and all the examples of faith in Hebrews 11:1-40, and remember these things were written for our sakes to encourage us and to remind us that nothing can separate us from the love of God as we are given the ability to endure the trials of this life with the very faith of Jesus Christ and the love of God that is shed abroad in our hearts (Rom 5:5). That God-given faith gives us the power we need to be obedient even as we deny ourselves every day and follow Christ by carrying our cross, which is how we deny ourselves and ultimately overcome by enduring to the end (Luk 22:32, Gal 2:20, 2Ti 1:7, Heb 5:8, Mat 16:24, Mat 24:13).

Luk 22:32  But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

Gal 2:20  I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: [Col 1:27] and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. 

2Ti 1:7  For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 

Heb 5:8  Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; 

Mat 16:24  Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 

Mat 24:13  But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

1Ki 21:17  And the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, 
1Ki 21:18  Arise, go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, which is in Samaria: behold, he is in the vineyard of Naboth, whither he is gone down to possess it.
1Ki 21:19  And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith the LORD, Hast thou killed, and also taken possession? And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith the LORD, In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick thy blood, even thine.

Elijah gets his marching orders from “the LORD“, and as mentioned, he goes straightway to go do the work of the Lord (Mat 4:20, Heb 11:8, Rom 8:14).

Mat 4:20  And they straightway left their nets, and followed him. 

Heb 11:8  By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. 

Rom 8:14  For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 

We are God’s workmanship, and Elijah’s meeting “Ahab king of Israel, which is in Samaria, in the vineyard of Naboth, whither he is gone down to possess it” is symbolic of where God meets our old man of sin who must be confronted straightway by the prophet for the death of Christ, for which we are guilty, symbolized in this story by the life of Naboth that was taken. The dogs licking the blood of a dead man is symbolic of our returning to our own vomit, our own blood, or words, which are not words of life that can sanctify the earth like the words or Christ but are rather consumed by the beast that we are, to give nourishment to the beast. To clearly witness to that point, both Naboth’s and Ahab’s blood are mentioned as being spilled on the ground and licked up by dogs to remind us that flesh and blood does not inherit the kingdom of God (1Co 15:50) and only Christ can redeem us with His blood (Pro 26:11, Mat 7:6).

Pro 26:11  As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.

Mat 7:6  Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.

The prophet Elijah does not shun to declare the whole gospel (Act 20:27) in type and shadow to Ahab with these words that paint a gruesome story of what is going to befall Ahab: “And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith the LORD, Hast thou killed, and also taken possession? And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith the LORD, In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick thy blood, even thine.“

Act 20:27  For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. 

1Ki 21:20  And Ahab said to Elijah, Hast thou found me, O mine enemy? And he answered, I have found thee: because thou hast sold thyself to work evil in the sight of the LORD.

We all “sell ourselves” or “deny Christ” when we “work evil in the sight of the LORD“, and the good that we would we don’t do, but the evil that we don’t want to do that’s what we do (Rom 7:14-17), and if Christ’s spirit is within us, we will overcome this struggle in our heavens, because the Son of man sets us free from sin so we can be free indeed (Joh 8:36). This freedom does not happen all at once, and is a dying daily process that brings us to learn of God’s faithfulness to finish what He has started in His workmanship through Jesus Christ (Heb 12:2, Eph 2:10). Elijah is the enemy of Ahab just as the spirit of God is against the flesh, and the flesh against the spirit (Gal 5:17), and what we sow in that flesh we will reap and be found out: “Hast thou found me, O mine enemy?” (Gal 6:7)

Rom 7:14  For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. 
Rom 7:15  For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. 
Rom 7:16  If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. 
Rom 7:17  Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 

Joh 8:36  If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. [ultimately freed from this double-minded man of Romans 7:13-17 on the third day (Luk 13:32)]

Heb 12:2  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 

Eph 2:10  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. 

Gal 5:17  For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would [Rom 7:14-17].

Gal 6:7  Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap [Rom 9:19-21].

1Ki 21:21  Behold, I will bring evil upon thee, and will take away thy posterity, and will cut off from Ahab him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel, 
1Ki 21:22  And will make thine house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah, for the provocation wherewith thou hast provoked me to anger, and made Israel to sin. 
1Ki 21:23  And of Jezebel also spake the LORD, saying, The dogs shall eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel. 
1Ki 21:24  Him that dieth of Ahab in the city the dogs shall eat; and him that dieth in the field shall the fowls of the air eat. 
1Ki 21:25  But there was none like unto Ahab, which did sell himself to work wickedness in the sight of the LORD, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up. 
1Ki 21:26  And he did very abominably in following idols, according to all things as did the Amorites, whom the LORD cast out before the children of Israel. 

The evil that God is going to bring upon Ahab is to take away from him his “posterity”^H310, a symbol for us of God taking away our talent and giving it to someone else (Mat 25:28-29). In the physical sense, it represents everything that is ‘behind’ Ahab, everything that has been established in his life including “him that is shut up and left in Israel“, meaning in type and shadow the things he has bound on earth and in heaven are all being destroyed, the whole root and branch, because that ‘posterity’ represents what our old man builds and develops in this life, our many wonderful works with no acknowledgement of God’s sovereignty over it all (Mal 4:1).

Mal 4:1  For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.

H310
‘achar 
posterity  
akh-ar’

From H309; properly the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjugation, after (in various senses): – after (that, -ward), again, at, away from, back (from, -side), behind, beside, by, follow (after, -ing), forasmuch, from, hereafter, hinder end, + out (over) live, + persecute, posterity, pursuing, remnant, seeing, since, thence [-forth], when, with.

Total KJV occurrences: 714

Mat 25:28  Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. 
Mat 25:29  For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.

Notice that the curse which comes upon Ahab and Jezebel is spoken of as being against the wall, and by the wall of Jezreel^H3157. This wall of Jezreel, in the negative sense, is a symbol of the idols of our heart, and the word means “God will sow“, telling us that God is the one who is sovereign over this whole process of light and dark and good and evil (Isa 45:7) about which we are learning in this story of Ahab and Jezebel. He created us to be a marred vessel in the Potter’s hand that is either redeemed in this life or the next, which reminds us of 2 Samuel 14:14 and Romans 9:22-23.

Jezreel – H3157 
yizr
e‛ê’l 
yiz-reh-ale’

From H2232 and H410; God will sow; Jizreel, the name of two places in Palestine and of two Israelites: – Jezreel.

Total KJV occurrences: 36

H410  
‘êl  
ale

Shortened from H352; strength; as adjective mighty; especially the Almighty (but used also of any deity): – God (god), X goodly, X great, idol, might (-y one), power, strong. Compare names in “-el.”

Total KJV occurrences: 242

Isa 45:7  I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things. 

2Sa 14:14  For we must needs die, and are as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again; neither doth God respect any person: yet doth he devise means, that his banished be not expelled from him.

Rom 9:22  What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: [“yet doth he devise means, that his banished be not expelled from him“]
Rom 9:23  And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,

For further contrast, Ahab is compared to his proteges telling him that he is no better, and in fact is worse, than them: “like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat (1Ki 14:1-12), and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah (1Ki 15:33-34, 1Ki 16:1-4), for the provocation wherewith thou hast provoked me to anger, and made Israel to sin“. Even as Ahab is digesting these strong rebukes from the prophet, he is further told “And of Jezebel also spake the LORD, saying, The dogs shall eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.“

1Ki 14:10  Therefore, behold, I will bring evil upon the house of Jeroboam, and will cut off from Jeroboam him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel, and will take away the remnant of the house of Jeroboam, as a man taketh away dung, till it be all gone. 
1Ki 14:11  Him that dieth of Jeroboam in the city shall the dogs eat; and him that dieth in the field shall the fowls of the air eat: for the LORD hath spoken it. 

1Ki 16:2  Forasmuch as I exalted thee out of the dust, and made thee prince over my people Israel; and thou hast walked in the way of Jeroboam, and hast made my people Israel to sin, to provoke me to anger with their sins; 
1Ki 16:3  Behold, I will take away the posterity of Baasha, and the posterity of his house; and will make thy house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat.

Jezebel is the wife of Ahab, and therefore they are one, and she represents his spiritual state of mind which is corrupt like hers, and therefore he is pronounced with the same fate: “Him that dieth of Ahab in the city the dogs shall eat; and him that dieth in the field shall the fowls of the air eat.” Again, it is not just Ahab who is going to die but all those who are connected to him, and the death, although physical, is represented to us in the terms used to show us that those to whom we are joined in our folly and our disobedience are devoured by dogs, which is a symbol of spiritual depravity (Tit 1:12). The fowls of the air show the dream-is-one principle in that it is speaking of the same point. “The field” is the world, and the fowls represent the evil spirits which are going to destroy those connected to Ahab in the world (Deu 28:15, Deu 28:26).

Deu 28:15  But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee: 

Deu 28:26  And thy carcase shall be meat unto all fowls of the air, and unto the beasts of the earth, and no man shall fray them away.

The casting “out before the children of Israel” of “the Amorites” is typical language that says these same words of Christ: “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed” as He delivers us from every abominable idol of our hearts, the most persistent one being that we don’t see that these words of God are speaking of the chief of sinners, who we are (1Ti 1:15), along with Jezebel who represents our inability without Christ to be seduced by Babylon out of which God alone can drag us. “But there was none like unto Ahab, which did sell himself to work wickedness in the sight of the LORD, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up.” It is when God brings us to see our hopeless and helpless situation as a result of the fullness of the sins of the “Amorites” being fulfilled in our life that we are then delivered from ourselves (Gen 15:16).

1Ti 1:15  This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

Gen 15:16  But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.

1Ki 21:27  And it came to pass, when Ahab heard those words, that he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly.
1Ki 21:28  And the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, 
1Ki 21:29  Seest thou how Ahab humbleth himself before me? because he humbleth himself before me, I will not bring the evil in his days: but in his son’s days will I bring the evil upon his house.

Although God did postpone the evil that would come upon Ahab’s house due to his repentant heart, the “posterity” of Ahab that God said he would take away from him was inevitable, and so God’s judgments were temporarily withheld and then unleashed as prophesied “in his son’s days” did God “bring the evil upon his house”, similar to king Solomon whose curse was visited in the generation after him with his son king Rehoboam (Deu 5:9, 1Ki 11:11-12). In both kings’ lives, Ahab and Solomon, there was an abuse of power and an entitled spirit that had little and no regard for the commandments of God as they sowed to their flesh. The end result of that disobedience is always the same and is written for our sakes (1Co 10:11) to help us learn that God is a just God who tells us what we sow we will reap. He is the one who orchestrates all of it at the appointed time (Gal 6:7).

The reason God delays these punishments at certain times is to remind us that when one member of the body of Christ sins, we are all affected by that behavior, and “visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me” is an old covenant expression of telling us that sin can have long-term consequences for all those who commit sin, and for those who are in the midst of the leaven that can leaven the whole lump (Gal 5:9, 1Co 5:13, Heb 12:15).

Deu 5:9  Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me, 

Gal 6:7  Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 
Gal 6:8  For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. 

Gal 5:9  A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. 

1Co 5:13  But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person. 

Heb 12:15  Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;

In the end, the prophetic words of Elijah come to pass as we will read in the last chapter of first Kings, where we learn of how Ahab died in battle, this telling us again that God is a just God who judges us for our sins (1Ki 22:38). It would seem very pointless to be reading these stories if we were not given to understand that we are looking at events that reflect the one event that is common unto all man, each man in his order, and that being the judgment of God (Ecc 3:9). That judgment and the blessing it will ultimately bring upon all the world, is the salvation of all which leads us back to our title “For we must needs die, and are as water spilt on the ground” in order to become that means-to-an-end body of Christ that God will use to save the rest of the world “that his banished be not expelled from him” (Oba 1:21).

2Sa 14:14  For we must needs die, and are as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again; neither doth God respect any person: [Rom 9:19-21] yet doth he devise means [Oba 1:21], that his banished be not expelled from him. 

Oba 1:21  And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the LORD’S.

[Study Aired May 30, 2022]

Exo 12:12  For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD. 
Exo 12:13  And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt. 
Exo 12:14  And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever. 
Exo 12:15  Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel. 
Exo 12:16  And in the first day there shall be an holy convocation, and in the seventh day there shall be an holy convocation to you; no manner of work shall be done in them, save that which every man must eat, that only may be done of you. 
Exo 12:17  And ye shall observe the feast of unleavened bread; for in this selfsame day have I brought your armies out of the land of Egypt: therefore shall ye observe this day in your generations by an ordinance for ever. 
Exo 12:18  In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at even, ye shall eat unleavened bread, until the one and twentieth day of the month at even. 
Exo 12:19  Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses: for whosoever eateth that which is leavened, even that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he be a stranger, or born in the land. 
Exo 12:20  Ye shall eat nothing leavened; in all your habitations shall ye eat unleavened bread. 
Exo 12:21  Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said unto them, Draw out and take you a lamb according to your families, and kill the passover. 
Exo 12:22  And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the bason, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the bason; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning. 
Exo 12:23  For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the LORD will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you. 
Exo 12:24  And ye shall observe this thing for an ordinance to thee and to thy sons for ever. 
Exo 12:25  And it shall come to pass, when ye be come to the land which the LORD will give you, according as he hath promised, that ye shall keep this service. 
Exo 12:26  And it shall come to pass, when your children shall say unto you, What mean ye by this service? 
Exo 12:27  That ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the LORD’S passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses. And the people bowed the head and worshipped. 
Exo 12:28  And the children of Israel went away, and did as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they. 
Exo 12:29  And it came to pass, that at midnight the LORD smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle. 
Exo 12:30  And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt; for there was not a house where there was not one dead. 
Exo 12:31  And he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, Rise up, and get you forth from among my people, both ye and the children of Israel; and go, serve the LORD, as ye have said. 
Exo 12:32  Also take your flocks and your herds, as ye have said, and be gone; and bless me also. 

Today’s study continues with the plague of the death of the firstborn and the Passover. The tenth plague, which is the death of the firstborn, completes the Lord’s judgment of Pharaoh which caused the release of the people of Israel. As we know, the number ten signifies the completeness of the flesh. It is when the sins of the flesh have reached their apex that we come to see clearly the old man or Pharaoh in our lives. That is when the Lord comes with His judgment (the plagues) to destroy Pharaoh (the old man) to set us free to worship the Lord in the wilderness (this world).

2Th 2:8  And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 

The ten plagues are the same as the seven plagues of the seven angels which we must fulfill to enter the temple to worship the Lord. The seven angels here represent the elect, or Moses and Aaron who administered the ten plagues.

Rev 15:8  And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.

Exo 12:12  For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD.

The plague of the death of the firstborn affected both man and beast. As we know, all mankind are like beasts before the Lord. This means that this judgment affects all humanity. However, in this age, it is only the elect who are being judged. The rest of humanity will be judged in the lake of fire age.

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.

Here in verse 1, we are given additional information that this plague also affects the gods of Egypt. The gods here refer to the works of our hands or simply, our works, as shown in the following scripture:

Hos 14:3  Asshur shall not save us; we will not ride upon horses: neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, Ye are our gods: for in thee the fatherless findeth mercy.

We know that our works relate to the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life. All these are destroyed during the plague of the firstborn.

1Jn 2:15  Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 
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: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. 

As indicated in the previous study, the firstborn signifies the might or strength and the source of power:

Gen 49:3  Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power:

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.

The plague of the death of the firstborn, therefore, signifies the destruction or the stripping of the power or the strength of the old man (Pharaoh) who dominates us. This is achieved by the coming of the Lord with His words (the spirit of His mouth) into our lives after we have come to see clearly the old man or the beast within us.

2Th 2:8  And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

Exo 12:13  And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt. 

The blood of the lamb was supposed to be used to mark the doorposts of the houses where the Israelites were eating the lamb. The houses where we are feasting on the word of the Lord are our bodies. The significance of the application of the blood of Jesus to our bodies (houses) is to purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

Heb 9:11  But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; 
Heb 9:12  Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. 
Heb 9:13  For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: 
Heb 9:14  How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 

Heb 9:22  And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. 
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. 
Heb 9:24  For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: 

In addition to purging our conscience from dead works, we are justified through the blood of Jesus, forgiven and spared from the wrath of God through Jesus.

Rom 5:9  Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 

Eph 1:7  In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

Exodus 12:13 says that when the Lord sees the blood, He shall pass over us and that the people of Israel shall not be destroyed by the plague of the firstborn. This is not to say that we are not to be judged, for we cannot enter the kingdom of God without persecution.

Jer 25:27  Therefore thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Drink ye, and be drunken, and spue, and fall, and rise no more, because of the sword which I will send among you. 
Jer 25:28  And it shall be, if they refuse to take the cup at thine hand to drink, then shalt thou say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Ye shall certainly drink.

However, verse 13 is another way of saying that in every temptation or judgment, the Lord will provide us with a way of escape so that we may be able to bear it.

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.

Exo 12:14  And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever. 
Exo 12:15  Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel.
Exo 12:16 And in the first day there shall be an holy convocation, and in the seventh day there shall be an holy convocation to you; no manner of work shall be done in them, save that which every man must eat, that only may be done of you.
Exo 12:17  And ye shall observe the feast of unleavened bread; for in this selfsame day have I brought your armies out of the land of Egypt: therefore shall ye observe this day in your generations by an ordinance for ever.

According to Strong’s Dictionary, the word “feast” can also mean ‘sacrifice’ as shown in the following scripture in which the Hebrew word for feast is translated as sacrifice:

Exo 23:18  Thou shalt not offer the blood of my sacrifice with leavened bread; neither shall the fat of my sacrifice remain until the morning.

Once the source of our strength or power of the old man is dealt with by the Lord through judgments of the death of the firstborn, we are able to offer a sacrifice of unleavened bread throughout the rest of our lives, which is signified by the seven days of the feast of eating unleavened bread. The unleavened bread here signifies sincerity and truth. This means that through judgment, our understanding of the word of the Lord is deepened and is accompanied by a life of sincerity and truth. In other words, our life then reflects the righteousness of Christ.

Isa 26:8  Yea, in the way of thy judgments, O LORD, have we waited for thee; the desire of our soul is to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee. 
Isa 26:9  With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.

1Co 5:7  Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: 
1Co 5:8  Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

The seven days of unleavened bread refers to the complete period of our lives that we offer our bodies as a living sacrifice to the Lord by living a life of Christ’s righteousness.

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.

We are warned here in verse 15 that if we continue to eat leavened bread, we shall be cut off from Israel. In other words, if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, we shall be cast out into outer darkness.

Heb 10:26  For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, 
Heb 10:27  But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. 

Mat 8:12  But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Mat 25:30  And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Exo 12:18  In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at even, ye shall eat unleavened bread, until the one and twentieth day of the month at even. 
Exo 12:19  Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses: for whosoever eateth that which is leavened, even that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he be a stranger, or born in the land. 
Exo 12:20  Ye shall eat nothing leavened; in all your habitations shall ye eat unleavened bread.

The number fourteen signifies spiritual progression. It is when we have progressed spiritually through the Lord’s judgment that we are able to eat for a period of seven days the unleavened bread of living a life of sincerity and truth. The seven days refer to the complete period of our walk with the Lord in sincerity and truth. Verse 18 says that the eating of unleavened bread ends on the twenty-first day. The number twenty-one is a multiple of seven and three (21=7×3). This means that the number twenty-one signifies the fact that this complete period of the eating of unleavened bread brings us to spiritual maturity through the Lord’s judgment.

Again, here we are warned of the consequence of continuing to eat leavened bread of malice and wickedness. Doing this will cause us to be cut off from the people of Israel which is another way of saying that we shall be cast into outer darkness.

Mat 8:12  But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Mat 25:30  And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Exo 12:21  Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said unto them, Draw out and take you a lamb according to your families, and kill the passover. 
Exo 12:22  And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the bason, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the bason; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning. 
Exo 12:23  For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the LORD will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you. 

Our whole life here on earth is one long night as we observe the Passover.

Psa 17:3  Thou hast proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night; thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.

Rom 13:12  The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. 
Rom 13:13  Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.

We are instructed in verse 22 not to go out of the door of the house where we are eating the lamb until the morning. On another perspective, the house where we are eating the lamb, or our understanding being enlightened by the word of the Lord, is the church of the firstborn or the elect. This means that during our walk here on earth, while we are getting more understanding of the word of the Lord, we are not to dissociate from the fellowship of the saints. If we come out of the house, or the fellowship, the Lord will not pass over us. Not being passed over means that we do not have any regard for the blood of the lamb which we have sprinkled on our door post. This blood is the shed blood of Christ, and so we are basically trampling on the blood of Christ.

Heb 10:29  Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? 
Heb 10:30  For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. 
Heb 10:31  It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Exo 12:24  And ye shall observe this thing for an ordinance to thee and to thy sons for ever.
Exo 12:25  And it shall come to pass, when ye be come to the land which the LORD will give you, according as he hath promised, that ye shall keep this service. 
Exo 12:26  And it shall come to pass, when your children shall say unto you, What mean ye by this service?
Exo 12:27  That ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the LORD’S passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses. And the people bowed the head and worshipped.

Verses 24 and 25 stress the need to keep the Passover in every generation. This means that every elect of every generation is required to observe the Passover throughout our lives through faith. Every day of our walk with the Lord is the feast of the Passover.

Heb 11:28  Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.

The question is, “What does it mean to keep the passover?” First and foremost, we need to understand the sacrificial offering of the Lord on our behalf.

1Co 5:7  Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:

Secondly, we need to know that our lives were spared by the Lord from destruction. This has nothing to do with anything we have done. It was just the mercies of the Lord that He showered on us.

Rom 9:18  Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.

Thirdly, we need to know that the blood of Christ purges our conscience from dead works to serve the living God. In spite of our wickedness and flaws, the Lord has chosen us and purged us of our sins so that we can worship him acceptably.

Heb 9:14  How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 

The Passover also commemorates our eating of the lamb. This lamb is Christ who is also the Word. This means that through the mercies of the Lord, our eyes are being enlightened to understand the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven.

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 13:16  But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. 
Mat 13:17  For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

The enlightening of our understanding is accompanied by the Lord’s judgment which destroys the power and influence of the old man or the flesh in our lives. This is signified by the roasting of the lamb eaten at the Passover.

Exo 12:8  And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it.

Mat 13:21  Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.

Observing the Passover also means that we are eating the lamb with unleavened bread and with bitter herbs. The unleavened bread here signifies sincerity and truth. This means that our understanding of the word of the Lord must be accompanied with a life of sincerity and truth. In other words, our life must reflect the righteousness of Christ. When our lives reflect the righteousness of Christ, then we are observing the Passover in our lives.

1Co 5:8  Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

It is so exciting when the Lord reveals some aspects of the truth of the word of the Lord to us. In other words, it is sweet in our mouth. However, when it enters our belly, it is bitter. The bitter herb that must accompany the eating of the unleavened bread refers to the bitter experience we must go through to actualize the word we have received.

Rev 10:10  And I took the little book out of the angel’s hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter.

Exo 12:28  And the children of Israel went away, and did as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they. 
Exo 12:29  And it came to pass, that at midnight the LORD smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle. 
Exo 12:30  And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt; for there was not a house where there was not one dead.

The coming of the plague of the death of the firstborn took place at midnight. Midnight spiritually refers to the period of the coming of Christ into our lives with His judgment as shown in the following scriptures:

Job 34:20  In a moment shall they die, and the people shall be troubled at midnight, and pass away: and the mighty shall be taken away without hand.

Psa 119:62  At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgments.

Mat 25:6  And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.

As we have said earlier, the death of the firstborn of the Egyptians and the death of the firstborn of cattle or beast represents the same thing. It refers to the death of the old man or the flesh within us. The fact that not one house was spared in Egypt means that the elect of every generation is destined to be judged. There is no exception. Another way of saying this is that we must pass through the flaming sword of the Cherubims which turns in every way such that no one can escape the flaming sword in accessing the tree of life.

Gen 3:24  So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

The agony we go through as the Lord judges us is represented here in verse 30 by the great cry in Egypt. This is also exemplified by David’s mourning of Saul’s death. Here David represents the elect, and Saul signifies the old man within us which must die.

2Sa 1:11  Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and likewise all the men that were with him:
2Sa 1:12  And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the LORD, and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the sword.

2Sa 1:17  And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son: 

2Sa 1:19  The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen! 
2Sa 1:20  Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.

Exo 12:31  And he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, Rise up, and get you forth from among my people, both ye and the children of Israel; and go, serve the LORD, as ye have said.
Exo 12:32  Also take your flocks and your herds, as ye have said, and be gone; and bless me also.

Without the death of the old man or the flesh signified by the death of the firstborn, we are not free to serve the Lord in the wilderness (in this world). This is what the Lord meant when He said that if the son sets you free, you shall be free indeed!! Our liberation from the power of the old man within us is the beginning of the period of our walk where sin has no dominion over us.

Joh 8:34  Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
Joh 8:35  And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. 
Joh 8:36  If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

Remember that in one of the previous studies, we discussed what it means to go into the wilderness to serve the Lord with our women, children and our flocks. Going into the wilderness to serve the Lord with the women means being part of the church of the firstborn or the New Jerusalem. The importance of the church in our spiritual development cannot be overemphasized. It is through what every joint supplies that we become mature in our relationship with the Lord. Without the church, we will be blown about by every wind of doctrine. We are perfected by the church.

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: 

Going to the wilderness to serve the Lord with the children is also significant. Children are the result of the union between a husband and wife. Thus, children spiritually represent the righteousness of Christ which we attain through our union with Christ.

1Jn 3:10  In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.

Rev 19:8  And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

Serving the Lord with our cattle means maintaining our livelihood as we serve the Lord.

Zec 13:5  But he shall say, I am no prophet, I am an husbandman; for man taught me to keep cattle from my youth.

Recognizing the need to work for a living while serving the Lord is one of Paul’s main messages to the churches He ministered.

Act 20:34  Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me. 
Act 20:35  I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

Our prayer is that the Lord grants us the grace so we continue to keep the Passover!! Amen!!

[Study Aired May 23, 2022]

Exo 11:1  And the LORD said unto Moses, Yet will I bring one plague more upon Pharaoh, and upon Egypt; afterwards he will let you go hence: when he shall let you go, he shall surely thrust you out hence altogether. 
Exo 11:2  Speak now in the ears of the people, and let every man borrow of his neighbour, and every woman of her neighbour, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold. 
Exo 11:3  And the LORD gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh’s servants, and in the sight of the people. 
Exo 11:4  And Moses said, Thus saith the LORD, About midnight will I go out into the midst of Egypt: 
Exo 11:5  And all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sitteth upon his throne, even unto the firstborn of the maidservant that is behind the mill; and all the firstborn of beasts. 
Exo 11:6  And there shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as there was none like it, nor shall be like it any more. 
Exo 11:7  But against any of the children of Israel shall not a dog move his tongue, against man or beast: that ye may know how that the LORD doth put a difference between the Egyptians and Israel. 
Exo 11:8  And all these thy servants shall come down unto me, and bow down themselves unto me, saying, Get thee out, and all the people that follow thee: and after that I will go out. And he went out from Pharaoh in a great anger. 
Exo 11:9  And the LORD said unto Moses, Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you; that my wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt. 
Exo 11:10  And Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh: and the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, so that he would not let the children of Israel go out of his land. 

Exo 12:1  And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, 
Exo 12:2  This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you. 
Exo 12:3  Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house: 
Exo 12:4  And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbour next unto his house take it according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb. 
Exo 12:5  Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats: 
Exo 12:6  And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening. 
Exo 12:7  And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it. 
Exo 12:8  And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it. 
Exo 12:9  Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water, but roast with fire; his head with his legs, and with the purtenance thereof. 
Exo 12:10  And ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; and that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall burn with fire. 
Exo 12:11  And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the LORD’S passover.

Chapter 11 and the whole of chapter 12 talk about the last plague which is the death of the first born of the Egyptians and that of beasts together with the preparation for the passover. This last plague resulted in Pharaoh relinquishing his hold on the people of Israel in Egypt. It was the last straw that destroyed the resistance of our old man (Pharaoh) and resulted in the people of Israel (the elect) ready to serve the Lord in the wilderness (the world). The death of the old man is the birth of the new man within us who is after the image of Christ. The effect of the plagues (tribulations) is the birthing of the new man within us. It is the same as Christ coming to His temple (within us).

Mat 24:29  Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: 
Mat 24:30  And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 
Mat 24:31  And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

Exo 11:1  And the LORD said unto Moses, Yet will I bring one plague more upon Pharaoh, and upon Egypt; afterwards he will let you go hence: when he shall let you go, he shall surely thrust you out hence altogether.

The last plague here is the tenth plague which completes the Lord’s judgment of Pharaoh, which caused the release of the people of Israel. As we know, the number ten signifies the completeness of the flesh. It is when the sins of the flesh have reached their apex that we come to see clearly the old man or Pharaoh in our lives. That is when the Lord comes with His judgment (the plagues) to destroy Pharaoh (the old man) to set us free to worship the Lord in the wilderness (this world).

2Th 2:8  And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

The ten plagues are the same as the seven plagues of the seven angels which we must fulfill to enter the temple to worship the Lord. The seven angels here represent the elect, or Moses and Aaron, who administered the ten plagues.

Rev 15:8  And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.

Exo 11:2  Speak now in the ears of the people, and let every man borrow of his neighbour, and every woman of her neighbour, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold. 
Exo 11:3  And the LORD gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh’s servants, and in the sight of the people.

Remember that Egypt can signify Babylon out of which the people of the Lord (Israel) must come to serve the Lord. Thus, the borrowing of jewels of silver and gold from the Egyptians is another way of saying that the little knowledge of the word of the Lord (silver and gold) is taken away from our brothers and sisters in Babylon and given to us.

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.

In verse 3, the Lord giving the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians is another way of saying that when a man’s ways please the Lord, He makes His enemies to be at peace with him.

Pro 16:7  When a man’s ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.

The Plague of the Death of the Firstborn

Exo 11:4  And Moses said, Thus saith the LORD, About midnight will I go out into the midst of Egypt:
Exo 11:5  And all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sitteth upon his throne, even unto the firstborn of the maidservant that is behind the mill; and all the firstborn of beasts.
Exo 11:6  And there shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as there was none like it, nor shall be like it any more.

As we can see in the following verses, the firstborn signifies the might and the source of power:

Gen 49:3  Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power:

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.

The plague of the death of the firstborn, therefore, signifies the destruction or the stripping of the power or the strength of the old man (Pharaoh) who dominates us. This is achieved by the coming of the Lord with His words (the spirit of His mouth) into our lives after we have come to see clearly the old man or the beast within us.

2Th 2:8  And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 

In verse 4, the coming of the plague of the death of the firstborn took place at midnight. Midnight spiritually refers to the period of the coming of Christ into our lives with His judgment as shown in the following scriptures:

Job 34:20  In a moment shall they die, and the people shall be troubled at midnight, and pass away: and the mighty shall be taken away without hand.

Psa 119:62  At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgments.

Mat 25:6  And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.

In Job 34:20 above, it is at midnight that we experience trouble, and it is through this that the mighty (the old man or Pharoah) is taken away ‘without hand’. The phrase “without hand” means that we play no part in the death of the old man. It is purely the work of the Lord!! In Psalm 119:62 above, it is as we experience the Lord’s righteous judgements that we can offer a pleasing sacrifice of thanks to the Lord.

In Exodus 11:6 the effect of the plague of the death of the firstborn is expected to cause a lot of suffering as there shall be a great cry throughout Egypt such that there was none like it. This is another way of saying that this great tribulation is incomparable to anything we have or will experience.

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.

Exo 11:7  But against any of the children of Israel shall not a dog move his tongue, against man or beast: that ye may know how that the LORD doth put a difference between the Egyptians and Israel.

In the scriptures dogs signify the assembly of the wicked or evil workers.  This verse, therefore, highlights the benefit of the Lord’s judgment in the life of His elect. Through the Lord’s judgment of the plague of the death of the firstborn, we are kept by the Lord against all that comes against us from the assembly of the wicked or evil workers.

Psa 22:16  For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.

Php 3:2  Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.

Verse 7 also says that through the plague of the death of the firstborn, the Lord puts a difference between the Egyptians and Israel. This is to let us know that there is a great chasm between us and the people of the world, including our brothers and sisters in Babylon. This chasm or great gulf is what our Lord Jesus mentioned in the parable of the rich man and Lazarus.

Luk 16:24  And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. 
Luk 16:25  But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. 
Luk 16:26  And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.

This chasm or great gulf is His judgments which distinguish between the elect and other people making it impossible for one to cross easily into another. Those who have taken hold of the tree of life (Christ) have passed through the flaming sword of His judgments (the plague of the death of the firstborn) which is this chasm administered by the Cherubims (His elect) to protect the way of the tree of life!!

Gen 3:24  So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

Exo 11:8  And all these thy servants shall come down unto me, and bow down themselves unto me, saying, Get thee out, and all the people that follow thee: and after that I will go out. And he went out from Pharaoh in a great anger. 
Exo 11:9  And the LORD said unto Moses, Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you; that my wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt. 
Exo 11:10  And Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh: and the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, so that he would not let the children of Israel go out of his land. 

Verse 8 lets us know that in the fullness of time the old man or the beast within us shall be overcome. It is the same as Saul’s admission that David would become king. This is to give us hope that what the Lord starts, He is able to bring to completion!!

1Sa 24:16  And it came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept. 
1Sa 24:17  And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil. 
1Sa 24:18  And thou hast shewed this day how that thou hast dealt well with me: forasmuch as when the LORD had delivered me into thine hand, thou killedst me not. 
1Sa 24:19  For if a man find his enemy, will he let him go well away? wherefore the LORD reward thee good for that thou hast done unto me this day. 
1Sa 24:20  And now, behold, I know well that thou shalt surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thine hand.

Verses 9 and 10 are to caution us that it is not an easy road to overcome due to the hardening of Pharaoh’s (the old man) heart. However, at the end of the day, it all works for our good as the resistance of our old man provides the occasion for the Lord to perform His signs and wonders (the plagues) to work a great salvation for us!!

Heb 2:3  How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; 
Heb 2:4  God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will? 

This is what we said in our previous study regarding the hardening of Pharaoh’s heart:

The hardening of Pharaoh’s heart, or our old man, by the Lord is for our benefit. This is shown as follows:

Rom 9:15  For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. 
Rom 9:16  So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. 
Rom 9:17  For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.

So, the Lord hardening Pharaoh’s heart, or causing the old man within us to resist Him, is for us to appreciate the mercies of the Lord and to learn to show mercy as a result. This is not obvious when we are frustrated by our old man within us as we resist the Lord. However, in the final analysis, we shall come to know His mercies. One of the qualities the Lord is inculcating within us is being merciful. This is because it is through the mercies we have received we can show mercy to the masses of humanity which will result in the ultimate salvation of the whole world. Therefore, inasmuch as we need the Lord’s mercy, we must also show mercy to others in our daily lives.

Rom 11:30  For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: 
Rom 11:31  Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. 
Rom 11:32  For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

Another lesson that we can learn from the hardening of Pharaoh’s heart is that we come to see that this battle against the flesh is not our fight. It is the work of the Lord to deliver us from the old man or the flesh. By ourselves we can do nothing. As we can see, the resistance put up by Pharaoh is incomprehensible. That is why the beast within, or the old man, is compared to a mountain. A mountain can only be removed, not by might nor by power, but by the spirit of the Lord!! It is the word of Christ that destroys this mountain or the old man.

Zec 4:6  Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.
Zec 4:7  Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it.

The Passover

Exo 12:1  And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, 
Exo 12:2  This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you. 

The adjective “first” represents Christ as shown in the following verses:

Rev 1:11  Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.

Rev 1:17  And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:

The coming of the plague of the death of the firstborn signifies the first month of the year for the Israelites. This implies the beginning of our union with Christ as we journey in this life. In other words, the death of the old man is the birth of the new man who is after the image of Christ.

Exo 12:3  Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house: 

The lamb that every man is required to take symbolizes Christ as shown in the following verses:

Joh 1:29  The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” 

Rev 17:14  They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.

The fact that it was in the tenth month that every Israelite was expected to take a lamb is to make us aware that it is when sin had run its course in our lives (the significance of the number 10) that Christ came to be offered as a lamb on our behalf. For all have sinned and fell short of the glory of God and therefore every man needed Jesus to be offered as a lamb on our behalf to atone for our sins.

Rom 3:23  For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 
Rom 3:24  Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 
Rom 3:25  Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 

The meaning of the house of their fathers.

Luk 2:49  And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”

Joh 2:16  And he told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; do not make my Father’s house a house of trade.”

Here Jesus was referring to the temple as His father’s house which is our bodies. A lamb for every house, therefore, means that every individual (elect) must be cleansed by the blood of Christ (the lamb) before one can worship the Lord acceptably in this life (wilderness).

Heb 9:24  For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:

Exo 12:4  And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbour next unto his house take it according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb.

The lamb to be killed must be eaten with the blood to be sprinkled with hyssop on the door post. As we are aware, the lamb is Christ and Christ is the word of the Lord. The eating of the lamb is being granted the understanding of the mysteries of the word of the Lord. As verse 4 states, some households were too little to eat a whole lamb. In that case, their neighbor must join them to share the lamb according to the number of people in their households. The neighbor here represents an elect as portrayed by the Lord as follows:

Luk 10:29  But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?
Luk 10:30  And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.
Luk 10:31  And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 
Luk 10:32  And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. 
Luk 10:33  But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, 
Luk 10:34  And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 
Luk 10:35  And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. 
Luk 10:36  Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? 

So, what is being said in verse 4 is another way of saying that we must support those who are weak in our midst.

Rom 15:1  We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.
Rom 15:2  Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. 
Rom 15:3  For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me. 
Rom 15:4  For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

Exo 12:5  Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats: 
Exo 12:6  And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening. 

The lamb being without blemish means that Jesus Christ was without sin and therefore, was a perfect sacrifice to God on our behalf.

2Co 5:21  For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Heb 7:26  For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;

The number fourteen signifies spiritual progression. Keeping the lamb until the fourteenth day to kill it means that it is when we have progressed spiritually (fourteen days) in our walk with Christ that we come to realize that we are responsible for the death of Christ (the killing of the lamb).

Act 4:10  Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.

This is what Jesus had to say about the fact that we are guilty of the death of the men of God whom the Lord sent to us.

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.

Exo 12:7  And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it. 

In verse 7, the blood of the lamb was supposed to be used to mark the door posts of the houses where the Israelites were eating the lamb. The houses where we are feasting on the word of the Lord are our bodies. The significance of the application of the blood of Jesus to our bodies (houses) is to purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

Heb 9:11  But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; 
Heb 9:12  Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. 
Heb 9:13  For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: 
Heb 9:14  How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 

Heb 9:19  For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people, 
Heb 9:20  Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you. 
Heb 9:21  Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry. 
Heb 9:22  And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. 
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. 
Heb 9:24  For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: 
Heb 9:25  Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; 
Heb 9:26  For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

In addition to purging our conscience from dead works, we are justified through the blood of Jesus, forgiven and spared from the wrath of God through Jesus.

Rom 5:9  Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 

Eph 1:7  In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

Exo 12:8  And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it.

The flesh of the lamb must be roasted with fire and eaten in the night. This is to let us know that we cannot separate the judgment of the Lord (roasting with fire) from His words. As we are being given insight into the mysteries of the kingdom of God, we are being judged to conform to His image.

Mat 13:21  Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.

The lamb must be eaten with unleavened bread and with bitter herbs. The unleavened bread here signifies sincerity and truth. This means that our understanding of the word of the Lord must be accompanied by a life of sincerity and truth. In other words, our life must reflect the righteousness of Christ.

1Co 5:8  Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

It is so exciting when the Lord reveals some aspects of the truth of the word of the Lord to us. In other words, it is sweet in our mouth. However, when it enters our belly, it is bitter. The bitter herb that must accompany the eating of the unleavened bread refers to the bitter experience we must go through to actualize the word we have received.

Rev 10:10  And I took the little book out of the angel’s hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter.

Eze 3:1  Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, eat that thou findest; eat this roll, and go speak unto the house of Israel. 
Eze 3:2  So I opened my mouth, and he caused me to eat that roll. 
Eze 3:3  And he said unto me, Son of man, cause thy belly to eat, and fill thy bowels with this roll that I give thee. Then did I eat it; and it was in my mouth as honey for sweetness. 
Eze 3:4  And he said unto me, Son of man, go, get thee unto the house of Israel, and speak with my words unto them.

This bitter experience includes the words of those we are sent to minister to, as shown in Ezekiel’s case.

Eze 2:6  And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house.
Eze 2:7  And thou shalt speak my words unto them, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear: for they are most rebellious.

Exo 12:9  Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water, but roast with fire; his head with his legs, and with the purtenance thereof. 

Eating the lamb raw or boiling the lamb in water means trying to understand the word of the Lord but excluding the suffering aspect or the Lord’s judgment as a necessary part of the walk with Christ. This is what our brothers and sisters in Babylon believe and teach. As indicated in verse 9, the head, the legs and the inner parts must be roasted. The fire of the word of the Lord burns false doctrines from our heavens (head), destroys the beast within (inner parts or purtenance) and anything that negatively affects our walk with Christ (legs).

Exo 12:10  And ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; and that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall burn with fire. 

Letting nothing remain of the lamb means we must not neglect any part of the word of the Lord. We must endeavor to understand the whole counsel of God through His words.

Act 20:27  For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.

Burning with fire what remains is the same as saying that if we neglect the whole counsel of the Lord or neglect parts of the word of the Lord, we shall suffer loss through the lake of fire.

1Co 3:15  If any man’s work shall be burned (the burning of the remains of the lamb), he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

Exo 12:11  And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the LORD’S passover.

This verse tells us about how we should prepare as our eyes are being opened to the mysteries of the word of the Lord. Ephesians chapter 6 verses 10-18 makes us aware of how we should prepare.

Eph 6:10  Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 
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. 
Eph 6:14  Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 
Eph 6:15  And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 
Eph 6:16  Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 
Eph 6:17  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 
Eph 6:18  Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

So, girding our loins as we eat the Passover lamb means we must uphold the truth of the word of the Lord. Shoes on our feet reflect the need for us to be ready with the preparation of the gospel of peace. Peter puts it this way:

1Pe 3:15  But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

Our staff in our hands signifies the sword of the spirit which is the word of God. Eating in haste means the time is far spent or the time is at hand.

Rom 13:12  The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
Rom 13:13  Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.

May the Lord continue to show mercy to us as we learn to walk with Him!! Amen!!

1Ki 14:1-31 “…He revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets” (Amo 3:7)

[Study Aired April 14, 2022]

1Ki 14:1  At that time Abijah the son of Jeroboam fell sick. 
1Ki 14:2  And Jeroboam said to his wife, Arise, I pray thee, and disguise thyself, that thou be not known to be the wife of Jeroboam; and get thee to Shiloh: behold, there is Ahijah the prophet, which told me that I should be king over this people. 
1Ki 14:3  And take with thee ten loaves, and cracknels, and a cruse of honey, and go to him: he shall tell thee what shall become of the child. 
1Ki 14:4  And Jeroboam’s wife did so, and arose, and went to Shiloh, and came to the house of Ahijah. But Ahijah could not see; for his eyes were set by reason of his age. 
1Ki 14:5  And the LORD said unto Ahijah, Behold, the wife of Jeroboam cometh to ask a thing of thee for her son; for he is sick: thus and thus shalt thou say unto her: for it shall be, when she cometh in, that she shall feign herself to be another woman. 
1Ki 14:6  And it was so, when Ahijah heard the sound of her feet, as she came in at the door, that he said, Come in, thou wife of Jeroboam; why feignest thou thyself to be another? for I am sent to thee with heavy tidings. 
1Ki 14:7  Go, tell Jeroboam, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Forasmuch as I exalted thee from among the people, and made thee prince over my people Israel, 
1Ki 14:8  And rent the kingdom away from the house of David, and gave it thee: and yet thou hast not been as my servant David, who kept my commandments, and who followed me with all his heart, to do that only which was right in mine eyes; 
1Ki 14:9  But hast done evil above all that were before thee: for thou hast gone and made thee other gods, and molten images, to provoke me to anger, and hast cast me behind thy back: 
1Ki 14:10  Therefore, behold, I will bring evil upon the house of Jeroboam, and will cut off from Jeroboam him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel, and will take away the remnant of the house of Jeroboam, as a man taketh away dung, till it be all gone. 
1Ki 14:11  Him that dieth of Jeroboam in the city shall the dogs eat; and him that dieth in the field shall the fowls of the air eat: for the LORD hath spoken it. 
1Ki 14:12  Arise thou therefore, get thee to thine own house: and when thy feet enter into the city, the child shall die. 
1Ki 14:13  And all Israel shall mourn for him, and bury him: for he only of Jeroboam shall come to the grave, because in him there is found some good thing toward the LORD God of Israel in the house of Jeroboam. 
1Ki 14:14  Moreover the LORD shall raise him up a king over Israel, who shall cut off the house of Jeroboam that day: but what? even now. 
1Ki 14:15  For the LORD shall smite Israel, as a reed is shaken in the water, and he shall root up Israel out of this good land, which he gave to their fathers, and shall scatter them beyond the river, because they have made their groves, provoking the LORD to anger. 
1Ki 14:16  And he shall give Israel up because of the sins of Jeroboam, who did sin, and who made Israel to sin. 
1Ki 14:17  And Jeroboam’s wife arose, and departed, and came to Tirzah: and when she came to the threshold of the door, the child died; 
1Ki 14:18  And they buried him; and all Israel mourned for him, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by the hand of his servant Ahijah the prophet. 
1Ki 14:19  And the rest of the acts of Jeroboam, how he warred, and how he reigned, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel. 
1Ki 14:20  And the days which Jeroboam reigned were two and twenty years: and he slept with his fathers, and Nadab his son reigned in his stead. 
1Ki 14:21  And Rehoboam the son of Solomon reigned in Judah. Rehoboam was forty and one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city which the LORD did choose out of all the tribes of Israel, to put his name there. And his mother’s name was Naamah an Ammonitess. 
1Ki 14:22  And Judah did evil in the sight of the LORD, and they provoked him to jealousy with their sins which they had committed, above all that their fathers had done. 
1Ki 14:23  For they also built them high places, and images, and groves, on every high hill, and under every green tree. 
1Ki 14:24  And there were also sodomites in the land: and they did according to all the abominations of the nations which the LORD cast out before the children of Israel. 
1Ki 14:25  And it came to pass in the fifth year of king Rehoboam, that Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem: 
1Ki 14:26  And he took away the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king’s house; he even took away all: and he took away all the shields of gold which Solomon had made. 
1Ki 14:27  And king Rehoboam made in their stead brasen shields, and committed them unto the hands of the chief of the guard, which kept the door of the king’s house. 
1Ki 14:28  And it was so, when the king went into the house of the LORD, that the guard bare them, and brought them back into the guard chamber. 
1Ki 14:29  Now the rest of the acts of Rehoboam, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? 
1Ki 14:30  And there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all their days. 
1Ki 14:31  And Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David. And his mother’s name was Naamah an Ammonitess. And Abijam his son reigned in his stead. 

What God reveals to the prophets of old (Amo 3:7) is typical of what He reveals to the body of Christ today, and what is being revealed to God’s elect is that a trumpet, which represents God’s judgments, must be blown in the heavens of those who are being sanctified through judgment in this age (1Pe 4:17, 1Pe 4:12).

Amo 3:7  Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.

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? 

1Pe 4:12  Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:

That trumpet spoken of in the book of Amos represents the day of the Lord, and these verses (Amo 3:6-8, Amo 3:14-15) parallel very well with the events that are going to unfold now in the life of Jeroboam who represents the judgments and wrath of God which are being poured out upon our old man of sin who must be destroyed by the brightness of Christ’s coming into our heavens (2Th 2:8).

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. 
Amo 3:8  The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the Lord GOD hath spoken, who can but prophesy? 

Amo 3:14  That in the day that I shall visit the transgressions of Israel upon him I will also visit the altars of Bethel: and the horns of the altar shall be cut off, and fall to the ground. 
Amo 3:15  And I will smite the winter house with the summer house; and the houses of ivory shall perish, and the great houses shall have an end, saith the LORD. 

It all just sounds so dire, and it is for the old man within us, but God encourages the body to exhort one another daily “lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin” (Heb 3:12-13) as we die daily and overcome sin through Christ who gives us the power to endure His judgments and make sense of the fiery trials and much tribulation we are promised through this life (Act 14:22).

This time of great trial upon Jeroboam and his family and the nation of Israel symbolizes the fiery trials of our life in this age of judgment that is upon God’s elect (1Pe 4:17), and yet there is always hope being shown in the midst of these tragic events that were befalling Israel, expressed through the life of king David who typifies Christ “and yet thou hast not been as my servant David, who kept my commandments, and who followed me with all his heart, to do that only which was right in mine eyes“. So we look to Christ today (Heb 12:1-2) with the confidence that He is the one who is raising these storms in our lives, or blowing the trumpet in the city, that brings us to see the evil in our city which causes us to fear God. This fear is a good thing because then we will cry out and are heard as a result of that Godly fear which God is working within His workmanship that we are (Heb 5:7, Eph 5:30, Eph 2:10). God is showing us through this story of Israel and Judah’s division what great division and sickness there is when Christ is not on the throne of our hearts ruling and reigning as He ought (Isa 1:5-6).

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,
Heb 12:2  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 

Heb 5:7  Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; 

Eph 5:30  For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. 

Eph 2:10  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Below are some inspired examples of how the word exhort is used in God’s word.  All of these profitable words (2Ti 3:16) have been given to the body of Christ today so that we don’t lose heart and start to despise prophecy, and this is truly an ongoing work in the lives of those who are being saved through Christ. It is tragic what befalls mankind throughout history, and perilous times are going to come to a crescendo for this world which we are told to understand (2Ti 3:1). We must remember that and not despise prophecy which can shine for us as a light in a dark place (2Pe 1:19). This happens within us when we are blessed to see how all these prophecies that involve lying and betrayal and murder and covetousness are all for our sakes and reveal to us how God can cause circumstances in our lives that require His judgment which will bring about the peaceable fruit of righteousness in the end (Job 2:10, Ecc 7:8, Mat 28:20, Jer 29:11).

Job 2:10  But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips. 

Ecc 7:8  Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

Mat 28:20  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. 

Jer 29:11  For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

How we can help each other reach that expected end:

Heb 3:12  Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
Heb 3:13  But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 

Act 2:38  Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 
Act 2:39  For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. 
Act 2:40  And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.

1Th 5:14  Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.

Act 14:22  Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. 

1Ti 2:1  I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men.

2Ti 4:2  Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 

Tit 2:6  Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded.

Jud 1:3  Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. 

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: 

Isa 45:19  I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth: [Amo 3:7] I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain [1Co 15:58]: I the LORD speak righteousness, I declare things that are right [Jer 29:11].

All prophecy that is being revealed to the body of Christ today is given to us via the one true Prophet of Israel who all these other prophets only typify. That prophet of course is Christ who edifies, exhorts and comforts us (1Co 14:3) through God’s spirit which is working in the body of Christ “to the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:” (Eph 3:10-11, Rom 8:28).

Rom 8:28  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Christ in us, our hope of glory within (Col 1:27), inspired these words John uttered as a messenger or angel of God which we all are to each other: “I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” (Rev 19:10)

1Ki 14:1  At that time Abijah the son of Jeroboam fell sick. 
1Ki 14:2  And Jeroboam said to his wife, Arise, I pray thee, and disguise thyself, that thou be not known to be the wife of Jeroboam; and get thee to Shiloh: behold, there is Ahijah the prophet, which told me that I should be king over this people. 
1Ki 14:3  And take with thee ten loaves, and cracknels, and a cruse of honey, and go to him: he shall tell thee what shall become of the child. 
1Ki 14:4  And Jeroboam’s wife did so, and arose, and went to Shiloh, and came to the house of Ahijah. But Ahijah could not see; for his eyes were set by reason of his age.

Nothing is hidden from God and nothing is hidden from God’s elect that needs to be revealed from our Father (Heb 4:13), and this is especially true regarding judgment as God knows how to search our reins and try us to see what is within us (Psa 26:2, Psa 139:23-24).

Heb 4:13  Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

Psa 26:2  Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart. 

Psa 139:23  Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: 
Psa 139:24  And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. 

This sickness of Jeroboam’s son was used by the Lord to bring Jeroboam into judgment for all the evil that he had done in his life. When we first go into Babylon we think that our many wonderful works can cover our transgressions and unchanged hearts. That is what this veiled disguise of Jeroboam’s wife represents who is wearing her own clothes and eating her own food even while she seeks out the counsel of God via the prophet at her husband’s bequest (Isa 4:1). Her own food is represented by the fleshly number ten so it is “ten loaves, and cracknels, and a cruse of honey” that are sent to find out the truth of the matter in regard to what is going to happen to her son who represents the false doctrines that are in the house of Jeroboam (Psa 144:11, Eph 4:14). Going to Shiloh represents going into Babylon where we do encounter kings and prophets who desire to see what we see but they cannot (Luk 10:24). Ahijah is just such a prophet who has been correct in past prophecies (1Ki 11:29-39), and so Jeroboam believes that whatever this prophet says is going to come to pass (Deu 18:22). Another witness that Ahijah was able to prophesy truthfully is given to us in the statement: “But Ahijah could not see; for his eyes were set by reason of his age.” It is with age, or by reason of use (Heb 5:14) we could say, that we gain the ability to see truth which happens as a result of our confession to God that we are blind and in continual need of His healing typified by Ahijah (Joh 9:41, Mar 2:17).

Heb 5:14  But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. 

Joh 9:41  Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth. 

Mar 2:17  When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

1Ki 14:5  And the LORD said unto Ahijah, Behold, the wife of Jeroboam cometh to ask a thing of thee for her son; for he is sick: thus and thus shalt thou say unto her: for it shall be, when she cometh in, that she shall feign herself to be another woman.
1Ki 14:6  And it was so, when Ahijah heard the sound of her feet, as she came in at the door, that he said, Come in, thou wife of Jeroboam; why feignest thou thyself to be another? for I am sent to thee with heavy tidings.

This is the confirmation given to us that nothing is hidden from God who reveals to the prophet via the holy spirit what is coming, and the prophet wastes no time in addressing this lying spirit by asking, “Why feignest thou thyself to be another? for I am sent to thee with heavy tidings.” This situation is reminiscent of Ananias and Sapphira who had this lying spirit that resulted in death that created fear in the church as a result of what God caused to be manifest in the lives of Ananias and Sapphira for our sake (Act 5:11).

Act 5:11  And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things. 

2Co 4:15  For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. 

1Ki 14:7  Go, tell Jeroboam, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Forasmuch as I exalted thee from among the people, and made thee prince over my people Israel,
1Ki 14:8  And rent the kingdom away from the house of David, and gave it thee: and yet thou hast not been as my servant David, who kept my commandments, and who followed me with all his heart, to do that only which was right in mine eyes; 
1Ki 14:9  But hast done evil above all that were before thee: for thou hast gone and made thee other gods, and molten images, to provoke me to anger, and hast cast me behind thy back: 

Keeping in remembrance that Israel represents Aholah and Judah Aholibah (Eze 23:4), when we read these verses we can see that God is showing us, through Jeroboam and his reign, what we do when we become independent of our Head, represented by Judah. It’s not that Judah is better than Israel. To the contrary, as we will see they are both wicked and ruled by wicked idolatrous kings, which shows us that when we initially come out  of ‘Babylon’ or ‘Jerusalem below’, God does not give us the ability to properly rule and reign over our heavens, and that is reflected in our earth, our bodies. As a result of that we reflect a spirit of ‘greasy grace’ which is what Jeroboam’s reign typifies. He was going to do what he wanted with the rulership that was given to him, just like Solomon and just like Rehoboam. The only difference now with Jeroboam and Rehoboam as opposed to Solomon is that these two kings have become two-fold more the child of hell that Solomon was (Mat 23:14-16), and show us the natural state of affairs for our old man who must wax worse and worse before being destroyed.

This separation of Israel and the judgment that must come upon both nations is typical of how God is going to ultimately reconcile all the world making the body and the head one, but only after it has been divided. The old man-head is Judah and the old man-body is Israel in other words, and the new man-Head is Christ the lion of the tribe of Judah, and the new Body is the Israel of God, the elect of God (Rev 5:5, Gal 6:16).

Rev 5:5  And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.

Gal 6:16  And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God. 

1Ki 14:10  Therefore, behold, I will bring evil upon the house of Jeroboam, and will cut off from Jeroboam him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel, and will take away the remnant of the house of Jeroboam, as a man taketh away dung, till it be all gone.

1Ki 14:11  Him that dieth of Jeroboam in the city shall the dogs eat; and him that dieth in the field shall the fowls of the air eat: for the LORD hath spoken it.
1Ki 14:12  Arise thou therefore, get thee to thine own house: and when thy feet enter into the city, the child shall die. 

This is a prophecy of what will happen to us when our old man enters into the city, Shiloh, which represents in the positive sense coming before Christ. It’s not a pretty picture God paints, as nothing is hidden from Him who drags us to Christ (Joh 6:44), and this is done for the express purpose of bringing “evil upon the house of Jeroboam“. This is what must happen to our old man as described in these graphic details that just tell us flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God and how God has very little regard for flesh: “Therefore, behold, I will bring evil upon the house of Jeroboam, and will cut off from Jeroboam him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel, and will take away the remnant of the house of Jeroboam, as a man taketh away dung, till it be all gone.” What we are shown is that nothing will be left of our old man, nothing in our heavens and nothing in our earth, “Him that dieth of Jeroboam in the city shall the dogs eat; and him that dieth in the field shall the fowls of the air eat: for the LORD hath spoken it.” This is what is required in order for all things to become new in Christ, and so we are told, “Arise thou therefore, get thee to thine own house: and when thy feet enter into the city, the child shall die.” It is only when we are raised in heavenly places that this destruction can begin of our old man, symbolized by the child that shall die (2Sa 12:13-14, Eph 2:6).

2Sa 12:13  And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.
2Sa 12:14  Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.

Eph 2:6  And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

1Ki 14:13  And all Israel shall mourn for him, and bury him: for he only of Jeroboam shall come to the grave, because in him there is found some good thing toward the LORD God of Israel in the house of Jeroboam.
1Ki 14:14  Moreover the LORD shall raise him up a king over Israel, who shall cut off the house of Jeroboam that day: but what? even now. 
1Ki 14:15  For the LORD shall smite Israel, as a reed is shaken in the water, and he shall root up Israel out of this good land, which he gave to their fathers, and shall scatter them beyond the river, because they have made their groves, provoking the LORD to anger. 
1Ki 14:16  And he shall give Israel up because of the sins of Jeroboam, who did sin, and who made Israel to sin. 

All the world in time, Israel in type, will lament the death of the old man symbolized by this child of Jeroboam, and God will provide the means for us to endure that death and put it behind us via the “king over Israel” who represents Christ who is the righteous reed (Rev 21:15-16) who knows how to execute judgment in the earth stated this way: “For the LORD shall smite Israel, as a reed is shaken in the water, and he shall root up Israel out of this good land, which he gave to their fathers, and shall scatter them beyond the river, because they have made their groves, provoking the LORD to anger.“

What a telling statement for us! God will “give Israel up because of the sins of Jeroboam, who did sin, and who made Israel to sin.” God is showing us through this example of disobedience in the life of Jeroboam that his sins affected the whole nation of Israel. All the world, in other words, can be affected by the sins of any other person, and this is very clear for the body of Christ as a little leaven can leaven the whole lump (Gal 5:9). We are being admonished through this story to examine ourselves and to understand that our actions have consequences not just for ourselves but for the entire body of Christ. When we sin, it is against God, against His workmanship which we are (Gal 6:7-8, Gen 39:9, Heb 12:15).

Gal 6:7  Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 
Gal 6:8  For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. 

Gen 39:9  There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God? 

Heb 12:15  Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;

1Ki 14:17  And Jeroboam’s wife arose, and departed, and came to Tirzah: and when she came to the threshold of the door, the child died;
1Ki 14:18  And they buried him; and all Israel mourned for him, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by the hand of his servant Ahijah the prophet.

It is at “the threshold of the door” that God’s chastening grace puts to death our false doctrines represented by the death of the child (Eze 43:8, Zep 1:8-17), and the threshing floor is analogous to an area where God’s saving grace unfolds in the life of those who are being crushed in this life under the great millstone, Jesus Christ (Mat 21:44). He is working all these events as a great stone from heaven who is destroying the image of the beast that we all naturally start off as (Dan 2:34, Ecc 3:18).

Eze 43:8  In their setting of their threshold by my thresholds, and their post by my posts, and the wall between me and them, they have even defiled my holy name by their abominations that they have committed: wherefore I have consumed them in mine anger. 

Zep 1:8  And it shall come to pass in the day of the LORD’S sacrifice, that I will punish the princes, and the king’s children, and all such as are clothed with strange apparel. 
Zep 1:9  In the same day also will I punish all those that leap on the threshold, which fill their masters’ houses with violence and deceit. 

Zep 1:16  A day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities, and against the high towers. 
Zep 1:17  And I will bring distress upon men, that they shall walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the LORD: and their blood shall be poured out as dust, and their flesh as the dung. 

Mat 21:42  Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? 
Mat 21:43  Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.
Mat 21:44  And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

What this story of Jeroboam’s son dying tells us is that this child within us must die as a seed in order for life to come out of that experience of death: “And they buried him; and all Israel mourned for him, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by the hand of his servant Ahijah the prophet.” (Joh 12:24)

Joh 12:24  Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
Joh 12:25  He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.

“All Israel” within us will initially mourn the loss of “houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake” that we have forsaken in order to hold onto the words of eternal life (Joh 6:68), and if God will give us the strength through Christ to endure those losses (Php 4:13) and put them in perspective as nothing (Php 3:8) compared to the glory that will be revealed to us (Rom 8:18), it will be because God has ordained that in our lives to His glory to be overcomers through Christ (Mat 19:26-30)).

Rom 8:18  For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

Mat 19:26  But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible. 
Mat 19:27  Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore? 
Mat 19:28  And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 
Mat 19:29  And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. 
Mat 19:30  But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.

1Ki 14:19  And the rest of the acts of Jeroboam, how he warred, and how he reigned, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.
1Ki 14:20  And the days which Jeroboam reigned were two and twenty years: and he slept with his fathers, and Nadab his son reigned in his stead. 

This verse 19 could read: ‘the rest of the acts of our old man, how we warred against God’s spirit, and how our flesh had dominion over us are all documented as a witness against the unconverted kings of Israel within us.’ One day that is what Jeroboam and his wife will intimately come to know of their lives representing our Adamic struggles that can only be conquered through Christ (Rom 8:37). Jeroboam’s reign is a witness of our old man who must die and sleep with our fathers, and so we read: “And the days which Jeroboam reigned were two and twenty years.” The cycle of sin just continues on in our life until the son of God sets us free, which is an ongoing dying daily process (Joh 8:36), and so we see his son Nadab^H5070 who would now reign “in his stead” have a name that represents the unchanged spirit of Jeroboam’s lineage that is going to continue to use their liberties in rulership as an occasion for their own flesh (Gal 5:13), which is what we do until we don’t, through Christ.

Gal 5:13  For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

H5070
nâdâb
naw-dawb’  

From H5068; liberal; Nadab, the name of four Israelites: – Nadab.

H5068 
nâdab
naw-dab’

A primitive root; to impel; hence to volunteer (as a soldier), to present spontaneously: – offer freely, be (give, make, offer self) willing (-ly).

1Ki 14:21  And Rehoboam the son of Solomon reigned in Judah. Rehoboam was forty and one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city which the LORD did choose out of all the tribes of Israel, to put his name there. And his mother’s name was Naamah an Ammonitess. 
1Ki 14:22  And Judah did evil in the sight of the LORD, and they provoked him to jealousy with their sins which they had committed, above all that their fathers had done.
1Ki 14:23  For they also built them high places, and images, and groves, on every high hill, and under every green tree. 
1Ki 14:24  And there were also sodomites in the land: and they did according to all the abominations of the nations which the LORD cast out before the children of Israel. 

Both Jeroboam and Rehoboam do not figuratively inherit the kingdom as they represent our old man in his most depraved state, and so we read first of Jeroboam: “But hast done evil above all that were before thee” (1Ki 14:9), and then of Rehoboam who was the king of Judah: “Judah did evil in the sight of the LORD, and they provoked him to jealousy with their sins which they had committed, above all that their fathers had done.” How can they both be “above all“? Who is the worst here? What we are being shown is that we are all the chief of sinners (1Ti 1:15), and there is no contradiction being made. Both the head is sick (Judah), and the body, from the foot to the head, is sick as well. In other words, “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief” applies to us all.

Isa 1:5  Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. 
Isa 1:6  From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment. 

The Lord is the one who sought the occasion against Rehoboam’s^H7346 flesh, and we only need look at the names and their definitions mentioned in 1 Kings 14:21 to understand why it was inevitable that they would “built them high places, and images, and groves, on every high hill, and under every green tree.” The outward manifestation of this idolatrous controlling spirit, which God will burn out of all mankind in time, has fruits that are demonstrated in (1Ki 14:24) which reads: “And there were also sodomites in the land: and they did according to all the abominations of the nations which the LORD cast out before the children of Israel.“

H7346
rechab‛âm 
rekh-ab-awm’

From H7337 and H5971; a people has enlarged; Rechabam, an Israelite king: – Rehoboam.

H7337
râchab 
raw-khab’

A primitive root; to broaden (intransitively or transitively, literally or figuratively): – be an en- (make) large (-ing), make room, make (open) wide.

Mat 23:5  But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,
Mat 23:6  And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,
Mat 23:7  And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.
Mat 23:8  But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.

It was purposed of the Lord to have Rehoboam reign “forty and one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city which the LORD did choose out of all the tribes of Israel, to put his name there.” This choosing of the Lord was for our sakes to remind us that we all start off as Rehoboam, wanting to control everything, which is all that the man of sin within us knows. The ‘forty one’ represents not just tribulation but tribulation-plus-one seeing this corrupt king who represents the man of sin in us is going to be rooted out and exposed by the day of the Lord, which the ‘one’ added to ‘forty’ represents. ‘Seventeen’ years shows the same principle, seven being the complete judgment upon our flesh by way of the day of the Lord which is what must happen in order for the new man to be formed (1+7=8).

Rehoboam’s mother’s name was “Naamah^H5279 an Ammonitess^H5984” telling us that Rehoboam was born of the pleasures of sin for a season, shapen in iniquity in other words as we all our (Heb 11:25, Psa 51:5) and revealing to us that we all must be in bondage to sin until we are dragged to Christ. We then spend the rest of our time in this life fulfilling these words by the grace through faith process we’ve been called to “Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season.”

H5279 
na‛ămâh 
nah-am-aw’

Feminine of H5277; pleasantness; Naamah, the name of an antediluvian woman, of an Ammonitess, and of a place in Palestine: – Naamah.

H5277
na‛am 
nah’-am

From H5276; pleasure; Naam, an Israelite: – Naam.

H5984
‛ammônı̂y 
am-mo-nee’

Patronymic from H5983; an Ammonite or (adjectively) Ammonitish: – Ammonite (-s).

H5983 
‛ammôn
am-mone’

From H5971; tribal, that is, inbred; Ammon, a son of Lot; also his posterity and their country: – Ammon, Ammonites.

Heb 11:25  Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season.
Heb 11:26  Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. 

1Ki 14:25  And it came to pass in the fifth year of king Rehoboam, that Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem: 
1Ki 14:26  And he took away the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king’s house; he even took away all: and he took away all the shields of gold which Solomon had made. 
1Ki 14:27  And king Rehoboam made in their stead brasen shields, and committed them unto the hands of the chief of the guard, which kept the door of the king’s house. 
1Ki 14:28  And it was so, when the king went into the house of the LORD, that the guard bare them, and brought them back into the guard chamber. 

It is the faith of Christ that is represented by the “shields of gold“, and when it is taken away from us as it was with Rehoboam, the truth is replaced with the lies of the devil “in their stead brasen shields”, showing what happens to us when we trust in our flesh and not in God, who is our buckler and shield (Psa 35:2-3). Satan is the one God causes to take away even that which we thought we had and gives it to another (Mat 25:29). This is part of the chastening grace of God we experience in this life typified by Shishak, a type of Satan that buffets us exactly to the degree God knows our old man needs: “And it came to pass in the fifth year of king Rehoboam, that Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem.” (1Co 5:5, 2Co 12:7)

Mat 25:29  For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.

1Co 5:5  To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

2Co 12:7  And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 

Psa 35:2  Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help. 
Psa 35:3  Draw out also the spear, and stop the way against them that persecute me: say unto my soul, I am thy salvation.

Rehoboam did not just experience the gold shields taken away that represent the faith of Christ, figuratively Shishak took away the whole stay of bread and the whole stay of water: “he took away the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king’s house; he even took away all.” (Isa 3:1)

Isa 3:1  For, behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, doth take away from Jerusalem and from Judah the stay and the staff, the whole stay of bread, and the whole stay of water, 

In their stead, Rehoboam replaced the shields of gold with brasen shields and “committed them unto the hands of the chief of the guard, which kept the door of the king’s house“, showing us that in type and shadow his faith stood in the wisdom of men and not in the power of God (1Co 2:5). These orders and actions of Rehoboam, “And it was so, when the king went into the house of the LORD, that the guard bare them, and brought them back into the guard chamber” is another way of saying the Lord was not building this house or guarding it, seeing it was the arm of man that was protecting it and not the living God (Psa 127:1).

1Co 2:5  That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. 

Psa 127:1  A Song of degrees for Solomon. Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.

1Ki 14:29  Now the rest of the acts of Rehoboam, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? 
1Ki 14:30  And there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all their days.
1Ki 14:31  And Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David. And his mother’s name was Naamah an Ammonitess. And Abijam his son reigned in his stead.

The chapter ends by revealing that “the rest of the acts of Rehoboam, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?“, and in Jeroboam’s case we read: “And the days which Jeroboam reigned were two and twenty years: and he slept with his fathers, and Nadab his son reigned in his stead.” The “chronicles of the kings of Judah” are part of the oracles of God as opposed to Jeroboam of whose death and burial we are told, “and he slept with his fathers.” We’re not comparing Rehoboam and Jeroboam whose flesh cannot inherit the kingdom of God, and so it reads of Rehoboam the same way as it did with Jeroboam: “Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David.” There is one important detail to notice however, and that is that Rehoboam’s lineage is connected to Christ as he was buried in “the city of David“, and Jeroboam has no claim to this Jewish lineage as a reminder to us that salvation is typically of the Jews (Rom 3:1-2, Rom 2:29). Again Rehoboam and Jeroboam were both carnal kings with carnal predecessors, “And there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all their days” symbolizing for us that the spirit is against the flesh and the flesh is against the spirit (Gal 5:17).

Rehoboam’s mother’s name was Naamah, who was an Ammonitess, and 1 Kings 14:30 in the PNBkjv shows the typical origins of Rehoboam’s flesh and blood that reveals to us how God sees us before we ‘come out of her my people’, as being seduced by the pleasures of this world, being spiritually blind inbreds who are of our father the devil who is the god of this world who rules over the sea of humanity negatively.

1Ki 14:31  And Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David. And his mother’s name was Naamah an Ammonitess. And Abijam his son reigned in his stead. 

1Ki 14:31 and (the people grow) slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of (beloved). And his mother’s name was (pleasantness) an (inbred). And (my father’s sea) his son reigned in his stead. [PNBkjv]

We started our study today by considering the title “Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets” (Amo 3:7), and the way God does this is by giving us His spirit that opens our blinded eyes, giving us the ability to compare spiritual with spiritual using the physical (1Co 2:13).