Proverbs 26 “To know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge” Part 4  

(Pro 26:13-16)

[Study Aired March 5, 2026]

Pro 26:13  The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.
Pro 26:14  As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed.
Pro 26:15  The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth.
Pro 26:16  The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.

In this study of (Pro 26:13-16) we’ll review how Christ who is our wisdom (1Co 1:30) works within our hearts and minds (Jer 17:9) to lead us unto repentance (Rom 2:4) by the power of God’s holy spirit. God’s words which are spirit (Joh 6:63) become a lamp unto our path (Psa 119:105), that helps us discern His will that takes us out of a direction of spiritual slothfulness into a liberty in Christ, that produces a zealousness to do what is right in the temple of God that is being cleansed as we are “changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord” (Rom 8:14-17, 2Co 7:9-11 ,  2Co 3:17-18).

2Co 7:11  For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.

Paul beseeches us (Rom 12:1-3) to present our lives a living sacrifice in order to overcome this slothful spirit, and John also explains the same message of not loving the world or being conformed to it so that we can discern the will of God (1Jn 2:15-17) which, when accomplished by God’s holy spirit within us (Zec 4:6, 2Co 3:17), will lead us into the glorious liberty of the children of God, even now (Joh 2:17, Rom 8:21, 1Jn 3:1).

1Jn 2:17  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. (Joh 17:3)

Joh 2:17  And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up. (1Co 3:16, Php 2:12-13)

Rom 8:21  Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

1Jn 3:1  Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

In order “to know the love of Christ that passes knowledge”(Joh 17:3), we must be granted to see all these negative traits found in these proverbs, within our own heavens first (Pro 16:4), and continue to overcome them by the goodness of God that is expressed in “the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering” (Rom 2:4) traits of our heavenly Father that are used to continue to receive his children in this age (Heb 12:6, Tit 2:12-13).

Pro 26:13  The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.

This verse can be seen as referring to Christ who is the lion of the tribe of David who is the way, the narrow way in the streets, meaning in life, where God willing we are being consumed by His zealous spirit that is working within us both to will and to do of our Father’s good pleasure (Rev 5:4-5, Mat 7:13-14, Php 2:12-13).

Adam and Eve hid themselves in the garden and did not want to be judged by Christ who is the lion in the streets (Gen 3:8). God’s elect are being dragged to the altar which is the cross, where we die daily (Joh 6:44, 1Co 15:31) for the purpose of being cleansed by that light that is Christ within us, our hope of glory who is able to cleanse the temple from all sin (1Jn 1:6-10, 1Jn 3:1-3).

1Jn 1:6  If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:(Heb 10:25)
1Jn 1:7  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

1Jn 3:1  Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
1Jn 3:2  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
1Jn 3:3  And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.(Col 1:27, Rom 8:9)

The lion in the street can also be taken as meaning Satan who is the god of this world going to and fro seeking who he may devour in the streets (Job 1:7, 1Pe 5:6-8).

Job 1:7  And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.

1Pe 5:6  Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
1Pe 5:7  Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
1Pe 5:8  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

The solution to overcoming the second lion is found by drawing close to Christ who is greater than him who is in the world (Jas 4:7-10, Luk 18:1, 1Pe 5:6-7, Php 4:6-7, Luk 22:31-32, 1Jn 4:4).

Jas 4:9  Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
Jas 4:10  Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

Luk 18:1  And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

1Pe 5:6  Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
1Pe 5:7  Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

Php 4:6  Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
Php 4:7  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Luk 22:31  And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
Luk 22:32  But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not:(Luk 18:1, 1Jn 4:17) and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

1Jn 4:4  Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

Pro 26:14  As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed.

There is a negative and positive use of a door and a bed, and the negative door is the one that “the door turneth upon his hinges” like “the slothful upon his bed”.

Pro 26:14  Lazy people turn over in bed. They get no farther than a door swinging on its hinges. (GNB)

Positively, the “bed” is undefiled in Christ because our labours in Him are holy and undefiled, and predestined from the foundation of the world (Heb 4:3, Eph 1:3-5, Heb 6:1).

Heb 4:3  For we which have believed [Joh 6:28-29] do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.

Heb 4:9  There remaineth therefore a rest [a predestined work] to the people of God.
Heb 4:10  For he that is entered into his rest [Php 2:12-13], he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
Heb 4:11  Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest [Php 2:12-13], lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

[not acknowledging Christ doing the work within us is equated with slothful unbelief, and doing the work is equated with the faith of Christ “we which have believed [Joh 6:28-29] do enter into rest”].

Eph 1:4  According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
Eph 1:5  Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, [Luk 12:32, Luk 17:21]

Those works are being accomplished not by might or power but by God’s holy spirit, via the “door” (Php 2:12-13) who makes a way for us to bring forth much fruit through that door, that vine that Christ is to us.

If we contrast Jonah (Jon 1:4-6) with Christ (Mar 4:38-41) who are both asleep in ships in these stories it will help us understand how we are to enter into Christ’s rest through labouring in the word (Heb 3:18, Heb 4:11)

Jon 1:4  And the Lord sent out a great wind on to the sea and there was a violent storm in the sea, so that the ship seemed in danger of being broken.
Jon 1:5  Then the sailors were full of fear, every man crying to his god; and the goods in the ship were dropped out into the sea to make the weight less. But Jonah had gone down into the inmost part of the ship where he was stretched out in a deep sleep.

[We all start off as the foolish virgin as typified by Jonah in this story, and if we are God’s elect He deals with our spiritual inattentiveness, or slothfulness (Mat 25:5, Mat 26:40-41)]

Jon 1:6  And the ship’s captain came to him and said to him, What are you doing sleeping? Up! say a prayer to your God, if by chance God will give a thought to us, so that we may not come to destruction.

[trim your lamp by chance your God will give a thought to us]

Mar 4:37  And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.
Mar 4:38  And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?
Mar 4:39  And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

[Christ (Mat 25:4) our hope of glory within (Col 1:27), is in the hinder part of the ship G4403, the area where the stern is, which is critical for the navigation of the ship Psa 107:13, Psa 107:19, Php 2:12-13]

Mar 4:40  And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?

[Christ’s rhetorical question because no faith had yet been given]

Mar 4:41  And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

[they were still focused on the outward miracle and not able to answer Christ as to why they have no faith. This all representing us before we were given the faith of Christ that makes it possible for us to enter into Christ’s rest]

Heb 3:18  And to whom did he make an oath that they might not come into his rest? was it not to those who went against his orders?
Heb 3:19  So we see that they were not able to go in because they had no belief. (1Jn 5:4)

Pro 26:15  The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth.

A strong illustration of (Pro 26:15) is found in the Parable of the Talents in (Mat 25:24-30). The servant who received one talent hid it in the ground, did nothing with it, and excused his inaction. This mirrors the proverb well: the sluggard hides his hand, and the servant hides his talent in the earth, earth, earth that we are (Jer 22:29). Both avoid exertion, and both suffer loss because of their unwillingness to act. It takes God’s process of judgements in our earth, earth, earth for us to become a special people who are zealous of good works (Tit 2:14).

Tit 2:14  Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

The servant was not asked to do something extreme—only to use what he had been given—yet even that felt like too much. His inactivity is a parable telling us what Christ told us, that we could of our own selves do nothing without him (Joh 5:30, Joh 15:5).

Joh 5:30  I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me

Joh 15:5  I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

Those works, are works which are being done in the earth where the talent was buried. This is the point of the proverb and that parable of Christ, that the world does not understand and neither do God’s elect until were given to see that it is only Christ who can do those works through us as we continue to abide in the vine (Joh 15:5).

If we don’t acknowledge that it is Christ, and that we don’t have free will, those works are yet talents in the earth, symbolized by the unaccepted wheat offering of Cain that was not upon a burnt offering as his brother Abel’s was (Gen 4:3-7).

Gen 4:7  If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.

A similar pattern appears in the account of the foolish virgins in (Mat 25:1-13). They brought lamps but failed to bring oil. They began the process but did not prepare fully. Like the sluggard who will not finish lifting food to his mouth, they started but did not follow through, and their lack of readiness cost them dearly and is an admonition that by God’s grace and the faith of Christ (Eph 2:8-9), God’s elect will take heed in this age and be made ready and scarcely be saved through a process of judgement (1Pe 4:17-18).

This again is another parable that admonishes God’s elect and reminds us that we are being received of God to burn this spirit of the sluggard out of us (Heb 12:6, Tit 2:11-12), so that ultimately we can glorify God with the predestined works that He has called the body of Christ unto.

Eph 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9  Not of works, lest any man should boast.

In our appointed time we are the first to say ‘haven’t I done many wonderful works, haven’t I trimmed my lamp’, etc. The truth is that once that man of perdition is destroyed from the temple of our hearts where we boast in our flesh,  then all such boasting is done away by the brightness of Christ’s coming into our heavens that tries our faith, so that it becomes precious in God’s sight (2Th 2:3-8,  Rom 3:27, 1Pe 1:7).

It is Christ’s tried faith that puts an end to that boastful spirit and then we begin to no longer hide our talent in the earth but rather lay up treasure in heaven through Christ (Mat 6:20). The only works that are accepted of God are those that are accompanied with a burnt offering that symbolizes our acknowledging that Christ is the one doing the work through us. The many who come up in the great white throne, lake of fire judgement, second resurrection, are the majority of humanity who did not have God’s spirit within them, and like the rich young ruler whom Christ loved (Mar 10:21), cannot follow Christ in this age, and will come up in the second resurrection claiming they have done many wonderful works, not knowing that those works were all hidden in the earth, like the talent that was buried in the earth (Mat 19:23, Mat 25:18).

Mat 19:23  Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Mat 25:18  But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.

Another vivid example is the neglected field described in (Pro 24:30-34). The field is overgrown with thorns, the wall broken down, and everything deteriorated through neglect. The owner likely once intended to tend it, but repeated small acts of avoidance that led to ruin. This captures the “it grieveth him” mindset—where even necessary effort feels burdensome. In each case, what was needed was not extraordinary strength, but simple, faithful action that was continually put off.

Once again the story was written for God’s elect today to remind us that if we are faithful in little we will be faithful in lots (Luk 16:10), and that faithfulness will stem from our being given to not neglect so great a salvation, as God drags us to Christ, who permits us to bring forth much fruit to His glory in whom we first trusted (Heb 6:3, Eph 1:12). In other words we bring nothing to the table, and despite ourselves what God has started in us He will finish through the author and finisher of our faith, not by our might, or power, but by God’s holy spirit (Zec 4:6).

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.

Pro 26:16  The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.

It takes a miracle for us to finally confess that we ‘are the man’ (2Sa 12:7) and that all our wise indictments of others’ bad behaviour is pointless and hypocritical if we don’t see ourselves as the chief of sinners in need of going through much tribulation, all the seals, trumpets, and vials, in order to enter into His rest. We can’t naturally do this in our flesh which does not have the power or might to open those seals without Christ giving us the power to do so. A process of judgement is being granted to the body of Christ in this age that can only be accomplished through Christ (Rev 13:4, Rev 5:1-5, 1Pe 4:17-18).

2Sa 12:7  And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;

Rev 13:4  And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?

Rev 5:1  And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.
Rev 5:2  And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?
Rev 5:3  And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.
Rev 5:4  And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.
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.(Col 1:27)

The sluggard who is wise in his own conceits is each one of us, who can’t hear  “seven men that can render a reason” because of that conceit in our hearts that needs to be burnt out by the seals, the trumpets and the vials of God so that we can enter into the temple of God (Rev 15:8).

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.

The seven men represent the complete counsel of the church which the spiritual sluggard in me cannot receive until that spirit is burnt out of me through judgement. We are confident in our flesh that we can do what God asks of us, but in reality it is only Christ in us as, our hope of glory who can make a way where there seems to be none so that we can drink the cup that we are called unto (Mat 20:22-23).

Mat 20:22  But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able.
Mat 20:23  And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.

Pro 8:1-36 “Does not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?

[Study Aired Jan 9, 2024]

In this study we will look at some answers in God’s word to the questions “Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?” (Pro 8:1).

Christ is our wisdom (1Co 1:30, 2Co 3:3-5) who cries out to us and beseeches us to present our lives a living sacrifice to him (Rom 12:1-2), as we hold fast our profession of faith (Heb 4:14, Heb 10:23, 1Co 9:25).

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

2Co 3:3 Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ (Rev 20:12) ministered by us (Eph 3:10), written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.
2Co 3:4 And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward:(Eph 1:11-12)
2Co 3:5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;

Heb 4:14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

Heb 10:23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)

If we are granted to cleave to our Saviour and resist the lies of the devil as the body of Christ (Jas 4:7, Joh 6:44), which is the church (Col 1:24), then we will be blessed to put forth our voice, which will be reflecting the mind of Christ, the voice of living waters (Zec 14:8, Joh 7:38, Rev 14:1-2).

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:

Zec 14:8 And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; (Gal 4:26) half of them toward the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea: in summer and in winter shall it be.

Joh 7:38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

Rev 14:1 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads.
Rev 14:2 And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps:
Rev 14:3 And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.

This process of bringing forth of living waters is accomplished by resisting the lies of the devil represented by the crown of thorns (Mat 13:22, Gen 3:18, Heb 6:8, Job 2:9) around Christ’s head (Heb 12:4, Mat 27:29). We must hold fast to the crown of life that God has given us through Christ that represents his mind, and resist the lies, or the thorns and briers of the devil (Rev 3:11, 1Co 2:16).

Heb 12:4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.

Mat 27:29 And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!

Rev 3:11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. 

1Co 2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

The body of Christ are the first to come to trust in God (Eph 1:11-12) and acknowledge and recognize that all the work being done in us is His workmanship that we are blessed to be a part of (Eph 2:10).

Eph 1:12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

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.

We give glory and honour to God as we die daily and learn obedience through that dying process that requires judgement (1Pe 4:17). Ultimately that process of judgement will lead to the blessed and holy first resurrection where the saints will cast back the crowns of righteousness forged in their lives at Christ’s feet. These actions symbolize our acknowledging that we were his workmanship, who were prepared from the foundation of the world to accomplish those works of God to His glory, works that required that we overcome the powers and principalities that we wrestle against in our heavens and gain victory over through Christ alone (Rev 4:8-11, Php 2:12-13).

Rev 4:8 And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy,(Joh 17:17) Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.
Rev 4:9 And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,
Rev 4:10 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
Rev 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

Pro 8:1 Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?

These straightforward questions are really a declaration of the truth that wisdom does cry out and understanding does put forth her voice. Christ is the head of the church whose voice is contrasted with that of John the baptist of whom we read, “The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it”. Christ’s voice, was connected to baptizing with fiery trials and contrasted with John the baptist who baptized with water unto repentance (Joh 1:23, Mat 3:11, Heb 12:25-26)

Joh 1:23 He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.

Mat 3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:

Heb 12:25 See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth (John or Christ Luk 7:33-34), much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:
Heb 12:26 Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. (Heb 9:23-24)

Christ is our wisdom who cries out to us in our hearts and minds, and he also uses the church of which He is the head to “put forth her voice”, meaning the manifest knowledge of God is being made known through the church (Eph 3:10) as God gives increase to each joint that supplies in love what is needed for the edifying and building up of the body of Christ (Eph 4:16).

Pro 8:2 She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths.
Pro 8:3 She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors.

Wisdom cries from the highest quarters, “the top of high places” which represents Jerusalem above the mother of us all where God’s people are raised through Christ (Gal 4:26, Eph 2:6).

We are in the world and not of it (1Co 5:10), and so if we are being led by the holy spirit in this life, it will be in “in the places of the path” (Rom 8:14, Psa 1:1-3, Psa 23:2-3). It will be with Christ, who makes a way where their appears to be none, in the sea where we will learn to become more than conquerors through him (Php 2:12-13, Isa 43:16, Psa 107:11-15).

Isa 43:16 Thus saith the LORD, which maketh a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty waters;

Psa 107:11 Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High:
Psa 107:12 Therefore he brought down their heart with labour; they fell down, and there was none to help.
Psa 107:13 Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses.
Psa 107:14 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder.
Psa 107:15 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

The church crying “at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors” are all symbolic locations that point to how Christ in us as our hope of glory gives us the ability to enter into the narrow gate (Mat 7:13-14), at the entry of the city which city represents the church of the first born (Heb 12:23), whose doors can only be opened and closed by Christ (Rev 3:7).

Mat 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
Mat 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Rev 3:7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;

Heb 12:23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,

Pro 8:4 Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man.
Pro 8:5 O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.

God’s existence has been expressed through the Word, Jesus Christ (Mat 11:27, Joh 1:1-3), who made all things (Rom 1:20, 1Co 8:6). All that physical creation reveals a spiritual reality to those who have eyes to see and ears to hear, and are given the ability to compare spiritual with spiritual using the physical realm (Mat 13:16, 1Co 2:12-14). The world will be without excuse once their eyes are opened to these truths, but today very few are given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven (Mat 13:11).

“What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?” of (Psa 8:4), tells us that even though God calls, or is mindful of us, we also know that many are called of God and few are chosen and remain faithful till the end (Mat 22:14, Rev 17:14) as a result of God’s visitation in our life which is His judgement (Luk 19:44). It is those who go onto be judged and are blessed to endure that judgement until the end, who are being blessed to do the work of casting His bread upon the waters that will return in time (Ecc 11:1, Isa 55:11, 1Co 10:16).

The elect are that bread upon the water, the flesh and bones of Christ (bread of life) that is sacrificed for the world today as we are led by our Saviour (Eph 5:30, 1Jn 3:16). Our desire should always be to point people to Christ, with a readiness of mind to speak the truth to anyone who asks us with “meekness and fear” the reason for the hope within us (1Pe 3:15). These two verses were looking at, (Pro 8:4-5), are an invitation to the wedding supper if God is visiting us in this age (Psa 8:4), which means he will judge us in this age, and finish that work of faith in us through Christ (1Pe 4:17-18, Php 1:6).

Pro 8:6 Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things.
Pro 8:7 For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
Pro 8:8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them.
Pro 8:9 They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.
Pro 8:10 Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.
Pro 8:11 For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.

The opening questions of verse one, “Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?”, which are a proclamation of what God’s words are, is answered for us with such statements as, “I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things”, and, “my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips”, as well as, “All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them”.

God is holy (1Pe 1:16), and to those who are blessed to be in pursuit of His mind in this life, a clear and evident truth arises that shows us that God’s words don’t contradict themselves and are “all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge”.

1Pe 1:16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

If we are blessed to receive God’s instruction in this life and lean not unto our own understanding (Pro 3:5-8), we are promised a clarity of mind and peace that is more valuable than any physical things we could desire such as silver or gold (Php 4:7).

Php 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Wisdom is better than rubies, and “all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it”.  These negative uses of gold and silver and rubies and their rejection is just the same as Paul saying, “Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ” (Php 3:8).

Pro 8:12 I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.
Pro 8:13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.

It is God’s wisdom that will bring us to see the beasts that we are (Ecc 3:18), and the fear of the LORD will motivate us to “hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate” within me.

Many translations has “witty inventions” ^H4209 translated in a positive sense, as “discretion” or “sound judgment”. However, H4209 is also defined as ‘an evil plan or thought or mischievous devise or lewdness’, and here is this verse in a couple of those translations:

Pro 8:12 I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.(KJV)
Pro 8:12 I, wisdom, have dwelt with prudence, And a knowledge of devices I find out. [good or evil!] (YLT)
Pro 8:12 I, wisdom, have dwelt with prudence, And I find out a knowledge of purposes. [good or evil!] (LSV)

There is no one who dwelt on this earth that was more prudent and wise than Christ, and this verse, “I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions”, is a reminder to God’s elect that with Christ as our head we can avail ourselves of that prudence that dwells within Christ and receive whatever knowledge we need for “find[ing] out knowledge of witty inventions” [good or evil] by simply asking our Father in heaven for those things we need (Jas 1:5). 

Jas 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. [Solomon, a type of the elect, does not ask amiss (1Ki 3:11-13, Jas 4:3, Mat 6:8)]
Jas 1:6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
Jas 1:7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
Jas 1:8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

Pro 8:14 Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.
Pro 8:15 By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.
Pro 8:16 By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.

This is the great epiphany in our lives when we come to see the strength that we have when we learn of God’s faithfulness to provide for those who ask of Him both counsel and sound wisdom. When we come to see that Christ is our wisdom and our strength, through whom we can endure all things, we acquire great confidence and hope in this life (Joh 14:20).

Joh 14:20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.

It is by Christ that “kings reign, and princes decree justice”, whether they be carnal kings or holy kings who are connected to the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, Jesus Christ. It is also true that by Christ “princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth”. How else can we call God sovereign unless the world itself, including its kings and princes, nobles and judges, are all living and moving and having their being in Christ (Act 17:28)? For God’s elect, the difference with that relationship is that God has earmarked those who are His to be in that blessed and holy first resurrection, which will be attained through much tribulation (Rom 8:28, Act 14:22).

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.

Pro 8:17 I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.
Pro 8:18 Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.
Pro 8:19 My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.
Pro 8:20 I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment:
Pro 8:21 That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.

The bible is redundant, but it is a blessed redundancy for those who see the hope filled message being given.

God loves those who love him, but He loved us first and shed His love abroad in the hearts of those that He softened in this life (1Jn 4:19, Rom 5:5). He also caused us to want to seek Him early in this life as a kind of first fruits who, as a result of this relationship, we are promised we would find Him “and those that seek me early shall find me”.

Only Christ can be Christ, so it is the true Shepherd who leads “in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment”, and he does this so “That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures”.

The treasure or fruits that we receive come about by being connected to the vine, Jesus Christ (Joh 15:5), who gives us “durable riches and righteousness” and promises exceedingly great and precious in this life that are of more value “than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver”.

Pro 8:22 The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.
Pro 8:23 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.
Pro 8:24 When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.
Pro 8:25 Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth:
Pro 8:26 While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world.
Pro 8:27 When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth:
Pro 8:28 When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep:
Pro 8:29 When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth:
Pro 8:30 Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;
Pro 8:31 Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.

All of these verses are talking about Christ and his relationship with the Father prior to the creation as well as after he, Christ, created all of the heavens and earth as the beginning of God’s creation who was given the power to do that (Rev 3:14). 

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

It is also speaking of the predestined work (Pro 8:22) that is unfolding in the body of Christ through God’s spirit that makes it possible for His workmanship (Eph 2:10) to have a start and finish in the lives of those who are being dragged to Christ in this age (Joh 6:44).

Wisdom here is personified, making an intimate relationship more visible for us to embrace (Pro 8:35, Joh 17:26).

Pro 8:35 For whoso findeth me [Wisdom, Christ] findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.

Joh 17:26 And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.

Pro 8:32 Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways.
Pro 8:33 Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.
Pro 8:34 Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
Pro 8:35 For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.
Pro 8:36 But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.

The final admonition to the church in these verses (Pro 8:32-33) is stated this way in (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”.

Verse 34 reminds us of the zealous and faithful approach that must be taken in order to find God (Jer 29:13, Heb 11:6), and when we find Christ we find life and “obtain favour of the LORD”, as opposed to “he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death” (1Jn 3:14).

Jer 29:13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

1Jn 3:14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.

“Journey Through the Kingdom to God’s Throne” – Part 1

Kingdom Fundamentals

[Study Aired Nov 5, 2024]

When beginning our study of our journey to the kingdom’s throne, we must first understand Christ’s fundamental teaching about the kingdom itself: “The kingdom of God cometh not with observation… for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:20-21). This truth establishes that our study of physical approaches to God’s presence – through gates, courts, and the temple itself – must be understood spiritually, for these patterns reveal internal realities in our approach to God.

The journey begins at the city gates: “Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem. Jerusalem is builded as a city that is compact together: Whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, unto the testimony of Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the LORD” (Psalm 122:2-4).

From there we proceed to the temple courts, where a middle wall of partition separated the outer court from the inner courts. This wall represented the law that kept Gentiles separate from Jews: “For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us” (Ephesians 2:14). As Paul further explains, Christ abolished “the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace” (Ephesians 2:15). This wall marked a boundary that Gentiles could not cross, as God commanded: “Thus saith the Lord GOD; No stranger, uncircumcised in heart, nor uncircumcised in flesh, shall enter into my sanctuary” (Ezekiel 44:9). Christ removed this barrier, “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross” (Colossians 2:14). Beyond this wall stood the inner courts: “Thus saith the LORD; Stand in the court of the LORD’s house” (Jeremiah 26:2), with “the glory of the LORD came into the house by the way of the gate whose prospect is toward the east” (Ezekiel 43:4). Within these courts stood the great altar and laver, both speaking of our purification in Christ. The brass altar, where sacrifices were offered, points to Christ’s sacrifice: “We are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (Hebrews 10:10). The laver, where priests washed before service, represents our cleansing by God’s Word: “Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word” (Ephesians 5:25-26).

“Beyond this lay the temple building itself with the Holy Place containing the prescribed furnishings. The golden candlesticks were designed according to God’s specific pattern: “And thou shalt make a candlestick of pure gold… his shaft, and his branches, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers, shall be of the same” (Exodus 25:31). These candlesticks provided light in the Holy Place: “they shall light the lamps thereof, that they may give light” (Exodus 25:37). Their spiritual significance is revealed in the New Testament, where Christ shows that candlesticks represent His churches: “The seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches” (Revelation 1:20). This light must be maintained through obedience, for Christ warns: “Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place” (Revelation 2:5). The prophet Zechariah connects this to the Spirit’s work: “Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts” (Zechariah 4:6).”

Finally, separated by the veil whose colors speak of Christ: “And he made the vail of blue, and purple, and crimson, and fine linen” (2 Chronicles 3:14). Like the tabernacle entrance, the blue represents His heavenly origin, the purple His royalty, the crimson His sacrifice, and the fine linen His perfect righteousness. This veil itself represented Christ’s flesh: “By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh” (Hebrews 10:20).

The biblical pattern reveals progressive stages of drawing near to God’s presence, each with its own spiritual significance as “the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: Which was a figure for the time then present” (Hebrews 9:8-9). This progression follows the pattern described by the psalmist: “They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God” (Psalm 84:7), showing how each stage brings us closer to His presence and transforms us in the process.

The Apostle Paul reveals how we can understand spiritual things through physical things: “For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead” (Romans 1:20). Therefore, to begin our journey to the Most Holy Place, we must first enter through a gate, which is synonymous with door, for Jesus said, “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved” (John 10:9). This isn’t a physical door but a spiritual reality, further emphasized when He says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). Only after passing through this entrance can we proceed along the path that leads to God’s presence, for “through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father” (Ephesians 2:18). As we study these doors and gates, and the path that gives us access to the Most Holy place we seek their spiritual significance, remembering Jesus’ words that “The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63), just as the tribes of Israel entered Jerusalem’s gates to go up to the temple: “Whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, unto the testimony of Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the LORD” (Psalm 122:4).

This spiritual entrance is described as narrow and demanding: “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (Matthew 7:13-14). This narrow way isn’t a physical path but an internal journey of transformation. As Solomon wrote, “The way of life is above to the wise” (Proverbs 15:24), and Isaiah confirms, “And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it” (Isaiah 30:21). This spiritual way was foreshadowed throughout the Old Testament, where God provided physical patterns to teach spiritual truths about entering His presence.

The Old Testament provides several types and shadows that reveal Christ as our entrance to the kingdom. Consider first the door of Noah’s ark: “And the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark… and the LORD shut him in” (Genesis 7:1,16). This single door of salvation foreshadowed Christ, who declared “I am the door” (John 10:9). Just as only those who entered through the ark’s door were saved, spiritual salvation comes only through Christ: “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

The tabernacle entrance deepens this typology: “And thou shalt make an hanging for the door of the tent, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, wrought with needlework” (Exodus 26:36). These colors prophetically speak of Christ. The blue represents His heavenly origin, for “He that cometh from heaven is above all” (John 3:31). The purple signifies His royalty, as He is “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS” (Revelation 19:16). The scarlet points to His sacrifice, for “In whom we have redemption through his blood” (Ephesians 1:7). The fine twined linen shows His righteousness, for He “knew no sin” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

The Psalms reveal spiritual understanding of gates: “Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the LORD: This gate of the LORD, into which the righteous shall enter” (Psalm 118:19-20). These verses point to Christ, who is our righteousness: “But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption” (1 Corinthians 1:30).

The prophet Isaiah foresaw the spiritual nature of these gates: “Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in” (Isaiah 26:2). This righteousness comes not through external observance but through the faith of Christ: “Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe” (Romans 3:22).

Ezekiel’s vision of the temple gate provides further insight: “Then he brought me back the way of the gate of the outward sanctuary which looketh toward the east; and it was shut. Then said the LORD unto me; This gate shall be shut, it shall not be opened, and no man shall enter in by it; because the LORD, the God of Israel, hath entered in by it, therefore it shall be shut” (Ezekiel 44:1-2). This exclusive entrance prophetically speaks of Christ, who alone provides access to God.

These Old Testament types find their complete fulfillment in Christ’s New Testament declaration: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber” (John 10:1). This teaching establishes that there is no legitimate spiritual access except through Christ, the true Door. Jesus further emphasizes this truth: “I am the door of the sheep… by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved” (John 10:7,9). This salvation isn’t merely the future but present reality, for “he that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life” (John 3:36). Having established Christ Himself as the only entrance, we must understand the internal conditions He produces in those entering through Him.

Access to this spiritual kingdom requires specific internal conditions. First among these is spiritual poverty: “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3). This spiritual poverty manifests as humility, for “God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble” (James 4:6). David understood this when he wrote, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise” (Psalm 51:17).

Beyond humility, entering the kingdom requires profound internal transformation. Jesus declared, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). This new birth is an internal reality, as David prayed, “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10). Paul describes this as being “renewed in the spirit of your mind” (Ephesians 4:23).

The holy spirit plays a crucial role in this kingdom access. Jesus promised, “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things” (John 14:26). This Spirit guides us into truth: “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13). The Spirit also helps in our weaknesses, “for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered” (Romans 8:26).

The ultimate reality of kingdom access is Christ’s indwelling through the Spirit. Paul reveals this mystery as “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27). Jesus Himself promised this intimate dwelling: “If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him” (John 14:23). He later prayed for this reality: “I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one” (John 17:23). This indwelling is so essential that Paul declares, “Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his” (Romans 8:9).

Now that we understand Christ as the Door, we must learn how to seek and find this entrance. Jesus provides the key principle: “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33). This seeking isn’t physical but spiritual, for “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24).

The nature of this spiritual seeking is revealed in Christ’s words: “The kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field” (Matthew 13:44). This parable teaches that finding the kingdom’s entrance requires valuing it above all else. As Solomon wrote, “If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God” (Proverbs 2:4-5).

This seeking involves the whole heart. God promises, “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13). Half-hearted seeking won’t suffice, for “The kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force” (Matthew 11:12). This “violence” refers not to physical force but to the intensity of spiritual pursuit – a complete denial of self, as Christ taught: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23).

The process of seeking requires spiritual discernment, which itself is a divine gift. As Solomon prayed, “Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad” (1 Kings 3:9). Paul explains this necessity: “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). Therefore, we must pray as David did, “Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law” (Psalm 119:18).

Finding the entrance requires divine revelation. Jesus declared, “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw (drag) him” (John 6:44). This dragging comes through the Spirit’s work: “For as many as are led (brought) by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God” (Romans 8:14). We can’t find the entrance through natural wisdom but only through God’s revealing Spirit.

The seeking process involves stripping away false dependencies. Jesus taught, “If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:26). This doesn’t mean literal hatred but rather putting Christ above all other relationships and dependencies.

This seeking requires persistence. Jesus illustrated this through the parable of the widow: “And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?” (Luke 18:7). He taught this parable specifically that “men ought always to pray, and not to faint” (Luke 18:1).

Our entrance through Christ requires putting away old patterns of thinking and living. Paul emphasizes this: “That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness” (Ephesians 4:22-24). This transformation happens as we are given to yield to Christ’s indwelling life.

The Spirit leads us to diligently search the Scriptures, as Jesus commanded: “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me” (John 5:39). Yet this searching must transcend mere intellectual study. As Paul explains, “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God” (1 Corinthians 2:12).

Our seeking involves intense spiritual warfare. We face opposition from our flesh, for “the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh” (Galatians 5:17). The world system opposes us, hence John’s warning: “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world” (1 John 2:15). Beyond these, we face spiritual opposition, 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.” (Ephesians 6:12). Therefore we must “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” (Ephesians 6:11). This armor includes “having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness… taking the shield of faith… and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:14,16-17).”

Throughout this seeking, persistent prayer becomes our lifeline. Jesus promises, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it (the door, Jesus Christ) shall be opened unto you” (Matthew 7:7). This prayer must flow from faith, align with God’s will, and persist without ceasing. As Paul instructs, we should be “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit” (Ephesians 6:18).

Our journey isn’t solitary. God places us in fellowship with other believers, warning us against “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” (Hebrews 10:25). Through this fellowship, we experience mutual edification and growth, for the body is “fitly joined together” (Ephesians 4:16).

As we consider the evidences of having found the kingdom’s entrance, we must remember Christ’s foundational teaching that “the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:20-21). Therefore, the evidence appears first in our internal spiritual condition before manifesting in external ways. Jesus taught, “Every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit” (Matthew 7:17).

The first evidence is a new spiritual understanding. Paul describes this transformation: “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed(ing) away; behold, all things are become(ing) new” (2 Corinthians 5:17). This new understanding comes through the Spirit, for “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).

A clear evidence appears in our relationship to sin. John writes, “Whosoever is born of God (the new man) doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he (the new man) is born of God” (1 John 3:9). This doesn’t mean sinless perfection, but rather a fundamental change in our relationship to sin. Paul explains this transformation: “For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under (chastening) grace” (Romans 6:14), for “whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth” (Hebrews 12:6).

The presence of divine love provides another crucial evidence. John states plainly, “We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death” (1 John 3:14). This love isn’t natural affection but supernatural, flowing from God Himself: “the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us” (Romans 5:5).

Evidence appears in a new relationship with God’s Word. Where once the Scriptures might have seemed dry or confusing, now they become our essential nourishment. As Jeremiah testified, “Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart” (Jeremiah 15:16). Job expressed similar devotion: “I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food” (Job 23:12). The psalmist declares, “How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” (Psalm 119:103). This fulfills what God taught Israel: “man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live” (Deuteronomy 8:3).

A transformed prayer life provides further evidence. Paul describes this change: “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” (Romans 8:15). Prayer becomes communion rather than obligation, for “the Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God” (Romans 8:16).

Changed priorities mark those who have found the kingdom’s entrance. As Paul testifies, “But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord” (Philippians 3:7-8). Worldly attractions lose their appeal, for “if any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (1 John 2:15).

Evidence appears in our response to trials. James writes, “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience” (James 1:2-3). Rather than being defeated by difficulties, we find them working spiritual growth, “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” (2 Corinthians 4:17).

Perhaps the most profound evidence is Christ’s increasing manifestation in our lives. Paul describes this process: “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 manifestation brings increasing conformity to His image, “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son” (Romans 8:29).

Finally, true entrance into the kingdom produces an earnest anticipation of Christ’s return. Paul describes believers as those who “love his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:8). This hope purifies us: “And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure” (1 John 3:3).

Having understood how we enter the kingdom through Christ, our next study will examine the gates of Jerusalem as they reveal deeper aspects of our spiritual journey. As the psalmist declares, “The LORD loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob. Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God” (Psalm 87:2-3). Each gate in Jerusalem’s walls held specific purpose and position, providing profound insights into our ongoing spiritual walk. From the Sheep Gate where sacrifices entered the city, to the Water Gate where Ezra read the law, to the Valley Gate representing humility – each entrance teaches vital spiritual truth.

As Paul explains, “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” (1 Corinthians 10:11). Lord willing we will discover how these ancient gates, arranged by divine wisdom, illuminate our path of spiritual growth and transformation in Christ.

[Study Aired October 28, 2021]

1Ki 6:29  And he carved all the walls of the house round about with carved figures of cherubims and palm trees and open flowers, within and without. 
1Ki 6:30  And the floor of the house he overlaid with gold, within and without. 
1Ki 6:31  And for the entering of the oracle he made doors of olive tree: the lintel and side posts were a fifth part of the wall.
1Ki 6:32  The two doors also were of olive tree; and he carved upon them carvings of cherubims and palm trees and open flowers, and overlaid them with gold, and spread gold upon the cherubims, and upon the palm trees.
1Ki 6:33  So also made he for the door of the temple posts of olive tree, a fourth part of the wall. 
1Ki 6:34  And the two doors were of fir tree: the two leaves of the one door were folding, and the two leaves of the other door were folding.
1Ki 6:35  And he carved thereon cherubims and palm trees and open flowers: and covered them with gold fitted upon the carved work.
1Ki 6:36  And he built the inner court with three rows of hewed stone, and a row of cedar beams.
1Ki 6:37  In the fourth year was the foundation of the house of the LORD laid, in the month Zif:
1Ki 6:38  And in the eleventh year, in the month Bul, which is the eighth month, was the house finished throughout all the parts thereof, and according to all the fashion of it. So was he seven years in building it.

The works which God produces in each member of Christ’s body by faith reveals the changed life of Christ in us that endures the carving out of the old man and the fashioning of the new man, Christ within us, on a cross of wood (Gal 2:20). The altar is the cross, and the communion we have in Christ, the trials and much tribulation, are needful so that “whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you” (Joh 15:16).

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

This section of the book of Kings points to that hope of glory within us regarding His faithfulness in every aspect of our life in Christ of which Christ is the author and finisher (Heb 12:2):

The cherubim and palm trees on the doors of the temple represent Christ in us, and as such, the doors that lead into the holiest place of all are understood by God’s elect as a place where we can boldly come before Him to “obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need”. Christ in us as our hope of glory tells us, “These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth” to give us great hope that our anointed prayers are going to avail much and open that door with Christ in us (Rev 3:7-8).

Rev 3:7  And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;
Rev 3:8  I know thy works: [Jas 2:18, Joh 15:16, Php 2:12-13] behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name [because Christ cannot deny himself if we are his and are bound to the altar through our high priest (2Ti 2:13, Psa 118:27, Lev 3:2, Heb 9:7)].

Each fervent and continual prayer of faith of the saints therefore helps open up this relationship with our Father and Christ in each other that is part of the process of provoking one another unto love and good works in the Christ. The door in our relationship with Christ is opened through our fervent prayers that avail much for each other (Jas 5:16, Eph 6:18, Rev 8:4, Luk 22:32, 1Ti 2:1, Php 4:6, 2Co 1:9-11, Luk 22:44, 1Jn 4:17).

Jas 5:16  Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much [It is those who have been humbled in their flesh who, by the grace of God offer up these prayers at the door (Psa 84:10). I’d rather pray five words with my understanding (1Co 14:19)].

This is the process that God’s elect have been blessed to be called unto, and it is a blessing (1Pe 3:9), and it can only be made possible by God dwelling among His people and not forsaking His people – which He won’t (1Ki 6:13).

1Pe 3:9  Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.

The workmanship we will examine in the temple in this study is getting into the more intricate and detailed work which shows us how God is truly in every one of the minutest details that brings us from being marred vessels to vessels of honour fit for the master’s use (2Ti 2:21, 2Ti 2:12).

2Ti 2:21  If a man therefore purge himself from these [carved^H7049], he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.

1Ki 6:29  And he carved^H7049 all the walls of the house round about with carved^H6603 figures of cherubims and palm trees and open flowers, within and without.

All the walls of the house round about having carved figures of cherubims, palm trees and open flowers within and without represents the elect of God who are His workmanship that witnesses to all who come into the temple. Having these carved images both “within and without” is a shadow of the truth that it takes God’s judgments in our life represented by the carving in order for us to be able to reflect a “house round about with carved figures of cherubims and palm trees and open flowers” (Rev 4:1-6).

Rev 4:1  After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.
Rev 4:2  And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.
Rev 4:3  And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.
Rev 4:4  And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.
Rev 4:5  And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
Rev 4:6  And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind [like the carvings that are “within and without“].

People can believe because of what they see in the temple of God, and say such things as they did to Christ, who we are like in this life, however, what is not understood is that the fruit of our life, represented by the blossoming open flowers on the walls of the temple, could never have manifested unless we were judged (1Pe 4:17, 1Jn 4:17), and it is only by continuing in the truth that the palm tree will grow and that the fruit represented by the open flowers will manifest (Joh 8:31-36).

Joh 8:31  Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
Joh 8:32  And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
Joh 8:33  They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?
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 [Php 2:12-13].

Knowing the definitions of these two words in this one verse…

“carved”H6603
engraving, carving [BDB]
sculpture, carved work  [Strong]

“carvedH7049
to sling, hurl forth; to carve [BDB]

to sling; also to carve (as if a circular motion, or into light forms): – carve, sling (out). [Strong]

…shows us that the carving taking place in the heavens of God’s elect is symbolic of the judgment of our old man who must be destroyed in order for the new man to manifest in our heavens. The new heart is formed and fashioned, or ‘carved’ into us by the sharper than any two edged sword, which is what is going to be required in order to have His righteousness formed in our heavens (Heb 4:12, Eze 36:26).

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

Eze 36:26  A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.

H6603  pittûach
Total KJV Occurrences: 11
engravings, 5
Exo_28:11, Exo_28:21, Exo_28:36, Exo_39:14, Exo_39:30
carved, 2
1Ki_6:29, Psa_74:6
graving, 2
2Ch_2:14, Zec_3:9
grave, 1

2Ch 2:7 [the “cunning man” who is sent to us is Christ who we are dragged to by our Father as His workmanship (Joh 6:44)]

work, 1
Psa_74:6

H7049  qâla‛  Total KJV Occurrences: 7
carved, 3 
1Ki_6:29, 1Ki_6:32, 1Ki_6:35
sling, 3
Jdg_20:16, 1Sa_25:29, Jer_10:18
slang, 1
1Sa_17:49

That first instance of the word “carved”^H7049 in this verse therefore has to do with the judgment of our old man (1Ki 6:29), and the seven hundred who were left-handed and chosen to go to battle of (Jdg 20:16) represent the elect of God, and David who represents Christ who slays Goliath with one stone of five (1Sa 17:49). The one stone is Christ, and the five represents how we are saved by grace through faith. The four remaining stones remind us that all men will be saved by grace through faith (Eph 2:8).

The picture of how we are being carved into the image of God gets clearer with this verse (1Sa 25:29). When we know that the “Yet a man is risen to pursue thee, and to seek thy soul” is the old man we see in the mirror every morning, we can take great comfort in knowing the second part of this verse which reminds us that our Father and Christ at that day (Joh 14:20) will overthrow the enemy within: “but the soul of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of life with the LORD thy God; and the souls of thine enemies, them shall he sling out^H7049, as out of the middle of a sling.”

1Sa 25:29  Yet a man is risen to pursue thee, and to seek thy soul: but the soul of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of life with the LORD thy God; and the souls of thine enemies, them shall he sling out, as out of the middle of a sling.

God is in the process of making a new creation through a process of judgment that is likened to a carving process which produces fruit. He has ordained from the foundation of the world that this fruit would be part of the witness shown to the world of His elect who are represented by the temple of God which we are (Joh 15:16, 1Co 3:16, Joh 13:35).

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

1Co 3:16  Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

Joh 13:35  By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

1Ki 6:30  And the floor of the house he overlaid with gold, within and without.

When we walk through this life as the temple of God which we are with Christ within us as our hope of glory (Col 1:27), we are given the power to fulfill these verses that can only manifest by our dying daily and by daily overcoming the powers and principalities we wrestle against through Christ (Eph 6:12, Eph 1:21) as we are led by His spirit that bears witness we are His sons and daughters who are being given that power to overcome by grace through faith, which is what “the floor of the house he overlaid with gold, within and without” represents.

It is “within and without” the temple because we are in the world and not of the world without. Yet we are to walk circumspectly, redeeming the times in which we are living because they are evil (Eph 5:15-18), and we are to be ambassadors for Christ (2Co 5:20) who are to be walking on that gold everywhere the Lord takes us “within and without” (1Jn 2:6-12, Rom 8:14-17).

Eph 5:15  See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
Eph 5:16  Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
Eph 5:17  Wherefore be ye not unwise, but  under standing what the will of the Lord is [1Jn 2:16-17].

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.

[When we don’t understand the will of the Lord, it is because we are drunken on the excess of the world within us; the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life represented and outwardly manifested by this drunkenness on wine. When we are being led of the spirit or filled with the spirit then we can discern the times we are in and fulfill His will (1Jn 2:12, Rom 8:14-16)]

Eph 5:18  And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

1Jn 2:6  He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
1Jn 2:7  Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning.
1Jn 2:8  Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.

NEGATIVE: 1Jn 2:9  He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now [drunkenness].

POSITIVE: 1Jn 2:10  He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him [sobriety].

NEGATIVE: 1Jn 2:11  But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes [drunkenness].

POSITIVE: 1Jn 2:12  I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake [(Joh 8:36) sobriety].

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 [Rom 8:9]:
Rom 8:17  And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

1Ki 6:31  And for the entering of the oracle he made doors of olive tree: the lintel^H352 and side posts were a fifth part of the wall.

The “entering of the oracle” represents that starting point or entry point of our communion with Christ, which communion is based on the body and blood of Christ (1Co 10:16), and therefore it is no surprise that the imagery surrounding this section of the temple is connected with the grace and faith we need to come boldly before the throne of grace in our time of need. Along with the symbol of God’s power in our lives, His holy spirit represented by an “olive tree“, makes it possible for us to do that. He “made doors of olive tree” as a symbol of the elect who, with the life of Christ in them, become the door or porter or shepherd along with Christ, ministering to each other’s needs as the Lord guides and directs our lives to that end (Joh 10:9, 1Jn 4:17).

Joh 10:9  I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

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.

The ‘by grace through faith” aspect of Ephesians 2:8 is represented by “the lintel^H352 and side posts were a fifth part of the wall“, and the word “lintel” reveals to us again the power that is ours through Christ to be able to accomplish the will of God on earth as it is done in heaven (Mat 6:10). Christ is that lintel or ram through whom we are accepted (Eph 1:6), and it is not by might or power but by God’s holy spirit (Zec 4:6-9) that we are able to come boldly before the throne of grace to obtain help in time of need (Heb 4:16) as “the hands of Zerubbabel [type of Christ] have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you.”

Lintel H352 ‘ayil   ah’-yil
From the same as H193; properly strength; hence anything strong; specifically a chief (politically); also a ram (from his strength); a pilaster (as a strong support); an oak or other strong tree: – mighty (man), lintel, oak, post, ram, tree.

Total KJV Occurrences: 171

ram, 90
Gen_15:9, Gen_22:13 (2), Exo_29:15-20 (8), Exo_29:22 (2), Exo_29:26-27 (2), Exo_29:31-32 (2), Lev_5:15-16 (2), Lev_5:18, Lev_6:6, Lev_8:18 (2), Lev_8:20-22 (5),  Lev_8:29, Lev_9:2, Lev_9:4, Lev_9:18-19 (2), Lev_16:3, Lev_16:5, Lev_19:21-22 (2), Num_5:8, Num_6:14, Num_6:17, Num_6:19,  Num_7:15, Num_7:21, Num_7:27, Num_7:33, Num_7:39, Num_7:45, Num_7:51,Num_7:57, Num_7:63, Num_7:69, Num_7:75, Num_7:81, Num_15:6, Num_15:11, Num_23:2, Num_23:4, Num_23:14, Num_23:30, Num_28:11-12 (2), Num_28:14, Num_28:19-20 (2), Num_28:27-28 (2), Num_29:2-3 (2), Num_29:8-9 (2), Num_29:14, Num_29:36-37 (2), Ezr_10:19, Eze_43:23, Eze_43:25, Eze_45:24, Eze_46:4-7 (4), Eze_46:11, Dan_8:3-4 (2), Dan_8:6-7 (5), Dan_8:20

rams, 49
Gen_31:38, Gen_32:14, Exo_29:1, Exo_29:3, Exo_35:23, Lev_8:2, Lev_23:18, Num_7:87-88 (2), Num_23:1, Num_23:29, Num_29:13-14 (2), Num_29:17-18 (2), Num_29:20-21 (2), Num_29:23-24 (2), Num_29:26-27 (2), Num_29:29-30 (2), Num_29:32-33 (2), Deu_32:14, 1Sa_15:22, 2Ki_3:4,  1Ch_15:26, 1Ch_29:21, 2Ch_13:9, 2Ch_17:11, 2Ch_29:21-22 (2),  2Ch_29:32, Ezr_8:35, Job_42:8, Psa_66:15, Psa_114:4, Psa_114:6,  Isa_1:11, Isa_60:6-7 (2), Jer_51:40, Eze_27:21, Eze_39:17-18 (2), Eze_45:23, Mic_6:7

posts, 17

Eze_40:9-10 (2), Eze_40:14, Eze_40:16, Eze_40:21, Eze_40:24, Eze_40:26, Eze_40:29, Eze_40:31, Eze_40:33-34 (2), Eze_40:36-38 (4), Eze_40:49, Eze_41:1

rams’, 5
Exo_25:5, Exo_26:14, Exo_35:7, Exo_36:19, Exo_39:34

post, 4
Eze_40:14, Eze_40:16, Eze_40:48, Eze_41:3

mighty, 2
Exo_15:15, Eze_17:13

trees, 2
Isa_61:3, Eze_31:14

lintel, 1
1Ki_6:31

oaks, 1
Isa_1:29

1Ki 6:32  The two doors also were of olive tree; and he carved upon them carvings of cherubims and palm trees and open flowers, and overlaid them with gold, and spread gold upon the cherubims, and upon the palm trees. 

The “two doors also were of olive tree” representing the elect of God who are typified by the two witnesses who are given power to “prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth” (Rev 11:3). The power given to them is God’s holy spirit represented by olive oil, which is burned in the temple to give light to the entire house (Zec 4:3-14, Mat 5:14-16). “These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth” is speaking of God’s elect witnesses (The world will learn how precious the prayers of the saints were for their sakes as well – Rev 11:3, Mat 24:22, Mal 4:5-6).

It is by that power the elect of God can fill up the second half of Christ’s three and a half year ministry making a complete seven-year witness to the world of how God can take weak carnal flesh, and by His power and might these things are accomplished: “and he carved upon them carvings of cherubims and palm trees and open flowers, and overlaid them with gold, and spread gold upon the cherubims, and upon the palm trees“.

God’s elect are the first to have God “turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers” in perfect order, to save the natural flesh of mankind that would otherwise be smitten [smite^H5221] with a curse (Mal 4:6). This event of saving mankind in their natural flesh at the beginning of the reign of the saints precedes their being saved spiritually in the lake of fire. Then, at the end of the thousand-year reign, the event of Gog and Magog (Rev 20:9) is when all the earth will be smitten with a curse and destroyed to then be resurrected and saved in the lake of fire.

Mal 4:5  Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:
Mal 4:6  And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.

The natural precedes the spiritual in both events (1Co 15:45-46). The earlier type and shadow of this is also found with Moses and Israel, and all of this tells us how the natural becomes a quickening spirit (Exo 32:10-11).

1Co 15:45  And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
1Co 15:46  Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.

Exo 32:9  And the LORD said unto Moses, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people:
Exo 32:10  Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation.
Exo 32:11  And Moses besought the LORD his God, and said, LORD, why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people, which thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power, and with a mighty hand?
Exo 32:12  Wherefore should the Egyptians speak, and say, For mischief did he bring them out, to slay them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth? Turn from thy fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against thy people.
Exo 32:13  Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou swarest by thine own self, and saidst unto them, I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken of will I give unto your seed, and they shall inherit it for ever.
Exo 32:14  And the LORD repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people.

It takes God’s power in our lives in order to have all this gold overlaid in the temple of God that we are, and so it is only through the ongoing judgment, the fiery trials, our afflictions in this life, our persecutions, our suffering in the Lord that this gold can be made more malleable so it can be skillfully laid and adorned in the temple of God. Covering the carved cherubims, the palm trees and open flowers reminds us that there are processes unfolding in our judgement, purifying of our faith.

We can believe and have faith increase in us as we are judged by the word of God via the milk doctrines of Hebrews 6:1-3 that fashions our understanding in our heavens like the carvings of cherubims, palm trees and open flowers, but it is the trial of our faith that is precious to God, which is represented by all this gold overlaid upon the cherubims, the palm trees, and the open flowers (1Pe 1:7).

1Pe 1:7  That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire,[1Pe 4:12] might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

1Ki 6:33  So also made he for the door of the temple posts of olive tree, a fourth part of the wall.
1Ki 6:34  And the two doors were of fir tree: the two leaves of the one door were folding, and the two leaves of the other door were folding.

Our life hinges (Heb 6:3 “if God permit“) on the mercy of God being extended to His remnant through Christ’s life in us (Rom 11:5) represented by “the temple posts of olive tree“.

A “fourth part of the wall” reminds us that God’s mercy will be extended to the whole world [“fourth part” = 4]  through those who are being granted that blessing first in this life (Rom 11:30-32).

The “two doors were of fir^H1265 tree” representing the spiritually stately and noble tree we are when our life is framed on the door frame of olive wood which represents Christ in us (Gal 2:20): the “temple posts of olive tree“.

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.

H1265  berôsh

BDB Definition:
1) cypress, fir, juniper, pine
1a) a noble tree (literally)
1b) of stateliness (figuratively)
1c) material for temple

– Strong’s: Of uncertain derivation; a cypress tree (perhaps); hence a lance or a musical instrument (as made of that wood): – fir (tree).

Total KJV Occurrences: 20 
•fir, 7

2Sa_6:5; 1Ki_5:8; 1Ki_5:10; 1Ki_6:15; 1Ki_6:34; 1Ki_9:11; 2Ch_3:5 

•tree, 5
Isa_41:19; Isa_55:13; Isa_60:13; Hos_14:8; Zec_11:2 

•trees, 8
2Ki_19:23; 2Ch_2:8; Psa_104:17; Isa_14:8;  Isa_37:24; Eze_27:5; Eze_31:8; Nah_2:3

With Christ as our hope of glory within us symbolized by this olive tree, “the door of the temple posts of olive tree” (Col 1:27), the “two doors were of fir^H1265 tree” can now reflect a life that can, by God’s goodness (Rom 2:4), be led unto repentance and as a result speak words that are fitly framed as apples of gold in pictures of silver (Eph 2:8, Pro 25:11). The two bi-fold doors are comprised of four leaves telling us that all the world will come to know the truth through the church, the bride of Christ who will witness to the world how we can work in conjunction with each other (Php 2:1-2, 1Pe 3:8), in unison like the bi-fold doors operate (Heb 6:19, Rom 11:19-28).

Heb 6:19  Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;

Luk 12:32  Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Rom 11:22  Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: [Rom 2:4] otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

1Ki6:35  And he carved thereon cherubims and palm trees and open flowers: and covered them with gold fitted upon the carved work.

The “the door of the sheep” spoken of in the gospels is Christ who lays his life down for us, and God is making a way for us to lay down our lives for each other with the life of Christ in us who is the door in our lives (Joh 10:7-9) who has “carved [is carving – Qal ^H7049] thereon cherubims and palm trees and open flowers: and covered them with gold fitted upon the carved work.”  (Joh 10:7-16, 1Jn 4:17) upon that door.

Joh 10:7  Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.
Joh 10:8  All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.
Joh 10:9  I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

1Ki 6:36  And he built the inner court with three rows of hewed stone, and a row of cedar beams.
1Ki 6:37  In the fourth year was the foundation of the house of the LORD laid, in the month Zif:

The “inner court” is built with “three rows of hewed stone, and a row of cedar beams“. The three rows of “hewed stones” represent the process of judgment that we go through as the ‘inward man’ (the “inner court“) that is renewed day by day going from glory to glory (2Co 4:16-17, 2Co 3:18) as the outward man perishes.

2Co 4:16  For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
2Co 4:17  For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

2Co 3:18  But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

The “row of cedar beams” is a reminder to us that God’s elect are the only ones who are judged in their flesh in this life and brought to perfection by being built upon the Rock, Jesus Christ (Mat 16:18) who is our strength and the reason we can endure all things to the end in order to be saved (Php 4:13, Mat 24:13). As strong cedar beams, none shall pluck us out of our Father’s hand (Joh 10:28).

How we are being saved today

Gen 4:7  If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted [Php 2:12-13, Eph 1:6]? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.

Rom 6:14  For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

Mat 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.

God’s desire to save all (4) the world is expressed by the words “In the fourth year was the foundation of the house of the LORD laid“, and that salvation will come by the brightness [month of Zif^H2099 =brightness] of his coming into every life (2Co 4:4-6)

2Co 4:4  In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
2Co 4:5  For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.
2Co 4:6  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.

1Ki 6:38  And in the eleventh year, in the month Bul, which is the eighth month, was the house finished throughout all the parts thereof, and according to all the fashion of it. So was he seven years in building it.

All of the watering and planting that Paul and Apollos did in their lives was accompanied with the promise that God would give the increase (1Co 3:7-9). The “eleventh year, in the month Bul” represents this transition (11) of labouring in the Lord, as we work out our own salvation with fear and trembling, knowing it is God who is working in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure that includes giving the increase “in the month of Bul^H945“, which word means ‘increase’.

This increase results in the new man being formed within us, which happens in “the eighth month“, which month (8) symbolizes the new creation within us that God is fashioning.

H945
bûl

BDB Definition:
Bul = “increase: produce”

1) the eighth Hebrew month, corresponding to modern Nov-Dec

Strong’s: the same as H944 (in the sense of rain);
Bul –  the eight hebrew month: – Bul.  

[H944: For H2981; produce (of the earth etc.): – food stock]

Total KJV Occurrences: 1 

Bul, 1
1Ki_6:38

The “house finished throughout all the parts thereof, and according to all the fashion of it” tells us that the bride will be made ready (Rev 19:7), and the “eighth month” that symbolizes the new creation within us happens as a result of the seven years of building the temple. “So was he seven years in building it“, which symbolically is telling us ‘the eighth is of the seven’, meaning the new man is formed out of the complete experience gives His elect in the complete or seven symbolic year period of construction (Rev 17:11).

1Co 3:7  So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
1Co 3:8  Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.
1Co 3:9  For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.

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.

Rev 17:11  And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.

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Awesome Hands - part 114 Discussion

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Awesome Hands – Part 114, “Wash your hands and your feet”

March 31, 2017

Many biblical concepts come up when examining the act of washing our hands and feet. Of course there are sanitary reasons to wash our feet and hands, but from a biblical perspective, we know that the Lord was very particular about this washing before approaching Him in the tabernacle.

In our study today, we are going to examine some of the reasons why this commandment was given to the priests and Moses and also why and how it is spiritually applicable to us today.

Closing our Exodus and moving to the “laws”

As with all of the “Awesome Hands” studies we find ourselves moving to the next mentioning of the Hebrew word “yad”, but we are actually going to cover the next few times it is mentioned so that we can build upon a biblical theme within this particular study.

Today we are going to mention Exodus 38:21 in passing and then focus on the surrounding verses found in Exodus 40:31 and Leviticus 1:4.

Exo 38:21  This is the sum of the tabernacle, even of the tabernacle of testimony, as it was counted, according to the commandment of Moses, for the service of the Levites, by the hand of Ithamar, son to Aaron the priest.

Exodus 38:21 is actually the next mentioning of the word “yad”, but there isn’t much mentioned here that we haven’t already covered in the previous studies concerning the materials of the tabernacle. However, I did want to mention it before moving to Exodus 40:31.

Now we find ourselves looking at Exodus 40:31, which will be the end of our coverage of Exodus. We will be moving from our Exodus out of Egypt into the laws by which the Lord gives us to live.

The literal laws we are going to read are for the whole of Israel, but we are going to be given very specific laws, which we can also apply to our walks today, which deal only with the priests of the Lord.

Exo 40:30  And he set the laver between the tent of the congregation and the altar, and put water there, to wash withal.
Exo 40:31  And Moses and Aaron and his sons washed their hands and their feet thereat:
Exo 40:32  When they went into the tent of the congregation, and when they came near unto the altar, they washed; as the LORD commanded Moses.
Exo 40:33  And he reared up the court round about the tabernacle and the altar, and set up the hanging of the court gate. So Moses finished the work.

We now find that Moses, Aaron and Aaron's sons all wash their hands before the Lord at the laver and then once again as they come near to the altar. After this washing is accomplished, Moses puts the finishing touches on the tabernacle.

vWhat happens next will help to guide the rest of our walk with the Lord for the remainder of our lives. If we pay close attention, the Lord is going to tell us just how involved in our lives He always is.

Whether we are on the highest peak or in the lowest valley, the Lord is there. Whether we approach death or are in the summer of our lives, the Lord is there. There is simply nothing that can or will separate us from the Love of the Lord, and just what is the Love of God?

Rom 8:33  Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.
Rom 8:34  Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
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.
Rom 8:38  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Rom 8:39  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The focus of Romans 8 is God’s elect and the role Christ Jesus has in their lives. When we know that, and apply everything we read here in Romans 8 (and the rest of the bible) to US, then we should see a great fire of Light go off in our minds at just what the Lord is doing with us.

Before any of us were every born, the Lord reached through the tunnel of time and touched us with the Word of JUST WHO WE ARE TO HIM and what it is he is doing in our lives.

Here at the beginning, just before telling us that He is our Father and His LAWS must be followed, He tells us He will always be with us. What Father DOES NOT give His children RULES to follow in His household?

Exo 40:34  Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.
Exo 40:35  And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.
Exo 40:36  And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys:
Exo 40:37  But if the cloud were not taken up, then they journeyed not till the day that it was taken up.
Exo 40:38  For the cloud of the LORD was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, THROUGHOUT ALL THEIR JOURNEYS.

The act of Moses and Aaron and his sons washing their hands has wonderful significance for us today, because it reminds us that the Lord alone has made us clean so that we can approach Him. I am well aware that Jesus Christ is the God of the old testament, but I am also aware that this is hidden from the world.

However, we must know this Truth if we can ever recognize that without the Lord delivering the Israelites from the Egyptians, and then providing all the materials for the tabernacle, we could never have this laver in which to wash our hands and feet.

Why is this important at all to realize? Well, it shows us that it has all been orchestrated by the Lord 100%.

Why is that important? This is important because it is just like when my wife and I had our children. When they were first conceived, and being nourished in my wife’s belly, they were being cared for. We were doing what we thought was the best for them before they were ever born.

When they were born and couldn’t remember a thing, we were feeding and clothing them, changing their diapers, entertaining them, loving them, and overall preparing for them, as best we could, a life in which they could accelerate and grow.

All of these days and nights of preparation were brought to a point of when our children’s “eyes are opened” to the what their lives are about. Slowly but surely their minds are able to perceive just is happening in their lives and what they are about, memories take hold and “suddenly” they start to decide on things they want to do.

In reality, none of this happened suddenly but moment by moment and step by step. This is how we see the Lord working for all of us, and now at this moment for the Israelites of “here we have this tabernacle thing built” and we are approaching you Lord, the “RULE BOOK” comes out.

This book of laws comes out at the precise time that God’s children can begin to OBEY or NOT the things that are contained within this proverbial book.

Lev 1:1  And the LORD called unto Moses, and spake unto him out of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying,
Lev 1:2  Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, If any man of you bring an offering unto the LORD, ye shall bring your offering of the cattle, even of the herd, and of the flock.
Lev 1:3  If his offering be a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish: he shall offer it of his own voluntary will at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD.
Lev 1:4  And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him.
Lev 1:5  And he shall kill the bullock before the LORD: and the priests, Aaron's sons, shall bring the blood, and sprinkle the blood round about upon the altar that is by the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
Lev 1:7  And the sons of Aaron the priest shall put fire upon the altar, and lay the wood in order upon the fire:
Lev 1:8  And the priests, Aaron's sons, shall lay the parts, the head, and the fat, in order upon the wood that is on the fire which is upon the altar:
Lev 1:9  But his inwards and his legs shall he wash in water: and the priest shall burn all on the altar, to be a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.

The burnt offering is a very intense offering. It is the beginning of the offerings to the Lord that show our connection with the realization that we have to make an offering to the Lord in order to approach Him in any way.

There are many details that are contained within these few verses that really open up to us what this offering is all about.

These burnt offerings have nothing to do with sin but rather open up to us the concepts that will be presented by Jesus Christ and His actions about how it is we approach God the Father. We cannot approach Him empty-handed, and Jesus Christ never sinned yet was MADE SIN.

The burnt offerings could be of a young bull without blemish, a young ram, a young he-goat, a turtle dove or a young pigeon. We are only focused on the offering “of the herd” contained within the above verses, but I wanted to mentioned that there are other animals of various degrees which were used as burnt offerings.

If it were a bull, ram or goat, the offerer had to bring the offerings to the “door of the tabernacle” which happens to be right at the brazen altar. This altar would have been a very bloody scene indeed. Blood, animal parts, very strong odors and fire would all be very present among other things.

When it came time to offer the burnt offering notice that the offeror, as contained within the verses we just read, had very descriptive things that had to be done. The offerer must place their hand on the head of the animal about to be killed. The offeror must kill the animal. The offeror must flay it. The offeror had to wash the intestines and the legs.

Then the priests had their roles as well. They had to gather the blood and sprinkle the altar with it. They had to out the head, fat and remainder of the animals there. The also had to place a meat offering upon the burnt offerings. Then they had to move the ashes to the east of the altar and carry them outside the camp to a clean place.

Obviously, this is a lot of detail, but the offerer had to completely identify with the atonement that was being made by their animal that was being offered.

So, who is this unblemished male? Jesus is a Head that has a body. What does the New Testament tell us about His body, and in particular, how does His body relate to these verses today?

Does the placement of the offerer's hand on the Head tell us anything to help us understand that WE are the ones who sacrifice the King of kings and Lord of Lords?

Eph 1:3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
Eph 1:4  According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
Eph 1:5  Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
Eph 1:6  To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

If it is questioned that it is us who identify with our Head, let us understand that the Lord causes us to be the very offering that is being offered by creating in us a WILLING HEART to be offered up WITH CHRIST.

Rev 3:18  I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
Rev 3:19  As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
Rev 3:20  Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, AND OPEN THE DOOR, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

Lev 1:3  If his offering be a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish: he shall offer it of his own voluntary will at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD.

I contest with you today, you being anyone struggling with giants in your land, that you listen to that faint still voice coming from within you and place your hand on the door and OPEN IT UP.

Jesus Christ is waiting on the other side.

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.
Rom 12:3  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.

Who among us is too good to get their hands dirty in a blood sacrifice? Are you willing, rather, has the Lord given you a willing heart, to sacrifice ALL THAT IS IN YOUR WORLD so that the door may be opened and the Lord may come in to your world?

What exactly is 'the world'? I proclaim to you all that the world is not only, and definitely not mostly, what the world thinks it is. There is something that makes up this world we all live in and here it is:

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.

The “world” out there is of no concern to us. These verses aren’t telling us to not go to work, don’t watch a movie, don’t listen to “worldy songs”, etc., etc.

These verses are telling us to not LOVE the WORLD or the things IN THE WORLD. What is in and of the world? It is nothing more than can be contained in 'the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the PRIDE OF LIFE'.

All that is in the world tells us that not matter what is “out there” it is already “in here” in my world. Therefore, anything “out there” in the world is there because the world is in us all. Picking on one particular thing or one another as a “fine detail” only helps us feel better in some way than another person, when in reality we oftentimes glaze over or ignore the real issues within.

What, then, are we placing our hands on in sacrifice as an atonement to the Lord? We are placing our hands on OUR LORD. We are accepting that HE ALONE can and DID “ENTER INTO PERFECTION”. He alone went to the altar, which is the cross and table of the Lord, and now He asks us to come join Him.

Mal 1:7  Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the LORD is contemptible.
Mal 1:8  And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? offer it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the LORD of hosts.
Mal 1:9  And now, I pray you, beseech God that he will be gracious unto us: this hath been by your means: will he regard your persons? saith the LORD of hosts.
Mal 1:10  Who is there even among you that would shut the doors for nought? neither do ye kindle fire on mine altar for nought. I have no pleasure in you, saith the LORD of hosts, neither will I accept an offering at your hand.
Mal 1:11  For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the LORD of hosts.
Mal 1:12  But ye have profaned it, in that ye say, The table of the LORD is polluted; and the fruit thereof, even his meat, is contemptible.

Isn’t it interesting, to say the least, that the altar and table are interchangeable in these verses and verse 7 tells us that “ye offer polluted bread upon the altar of the Lord”. What BREAD do we offer that is polluted upon the altar of the Lord?

Mat 26:26  And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.

The body follows the Head. Why is it in our lives that it is easy for us to “place our hands on the Head” and “thank Him” for His sacrifice for us, take joy in it, but not actually believe nor think that we ourselves are PART of the SACRIFICE?

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.

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.

Gal 5:24  And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
Gal 5:25  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Gal 5:26  Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

I say nothing in this study to discourage any of us but rather to give HOPE in what our lives can and will be with Jesus ruling our hearts and minds.

How can I make such a claim after stating that lust and pride is in all of us?

Listen, whatever it is you battle within your world Christ has ALREADY DEFEATED. When we place our hands on “the head of an animal sacrifice”, we are placing it ON OURSELVES. The world tells you that Christ sacrificed Himself so that we do not need to be sacrificed, but that is UTTER false doctrine. We are crucified with Him!

The wages of SIN if DEATH. Though we are not talking about the sin offering within this study, we are talking about why it is NECESSARY that we are crucified, but the reason we are crucified is so that we can RISE out of DEATH being shown how to escape it because of Jesus Christ DOING IT FIRST!

Rom 6:1  What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
Rom 6:2  God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
Rom 6:3  Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
Rom 6:4  Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

What is it you struggle with in your life? Is it anger, lust, envy, lack of humility, cruelty, coveting, lack of faith, lasciviousness, slothfulness, gossiping, money, vanity, thievery and on and on it can go? So, what is it you struggle with?

Whatever it is I tell you to LAY IT ON THE ALTAR NOW, because that’s where it is going one way or another. You can continue to live your life with and in it OR you can accept that Christ HAS GIVEN you all things NOW.

Ask the Lord for Faith to believe these things, and He will give it to you, but giving you Faith to believe He can and will deliver you DOES NOT MEAN that you do not still need to die daily to those things that will battle you at ever turn.

Why? It is the TRIAL of YOUR FAITH that is precious to the Lord so He is going to TRY YOU.

1Pe 1:3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
1Pe 1:4  To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
1Pe 1:5  Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
1Pe 1:6  Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
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 1:8  Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
1Pe 1:9  Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

Let me read that again but only this time in a standard English version.

1Pe 1:3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
1Pe 1:4  to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you,
1Pe 1:5  who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
1Pe 1:6  In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials,
1Pe 1:7  so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
1Pe 1:8  Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory,
1Pe 1:9  obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
1Pe 1:10  Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully,
1Pe 1:11  inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories.
1Pe 1:12  It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.

I am preaching to you the good news that the salvation of your souls can be TASTED now in the bread and blood of Christ. The things we read about in Exodus concerning the tabernacle, and the verses in Leviticus pertaining to the burnt offerings, were revealed to the prophets as belonging to US.

Though we will and are tested in various trials, the Lord DOES DELIVER us from these things and will not tempt us without providing a way out. That way out is Jesus Christ, and He is placed on the altar by His priests AFTER He is slain by the one who needs to make atonement.

Atonement is acknowledgment that a sacrifice is needed, but we need to realize that we are a body following the Head onto the altar to be “burned by fire”. I dwell happily there.

Isa 33:13  Hear, ye that are far off, what I have done; and, ye that are near, acknowledge my might.
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;
Isa 33:16  He shall dwell on high: his place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure.
Isa 33:17  Thine eyes shall see the king in his beauty: they shall behold the land that is very far off.

1Jn 3:1  Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
1Jn 3:2  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
1Jn 3:3  And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

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Rev 4:1-3 God’s Throne In Heaven

Updated December 28, 2023

Rev 4:1  After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.
Rev 4:2  And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.
Rev 4:3  And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.

Introduction

Once again, we must constantly be vigilant against the pulls of our flesh to attempt to make this a prophesy that is concerned only with chronological outward events. “After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven” is not telling us that a door was opened in heaven after the message to the church of Laodicea was delivered, in the day when John first wrote these words. Nor does it mean that this “door… in heaven” will be opened after a ‘Laodicean church era’ has come and gone, just before Christ’s return to rule this earth for one thousand years. These words we are reading are all the words of Christ addressed specifically, not only to the symbolic “seven churches in Asia”, but also to “he that hath and ear to hear”, and to whomsoever is given “eyes to see and ears to hear and keep the things written therein” in every generation since these words were first written (Mat 13:10-15, Rev 1:3).

These words are the words of Christ, and like Him they always, and in every generation, are, were, and will be true and applicable to every one who has been given “ears to hear what the spirit says to the churches” (Rev 2:7, 11, 17, 29, Rev 3:6, 13, 22)

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;

Christ “is, was, and is to come,” which is simply a repetition of what our Lord has already told us of His words in Matthew 24:

Mat 24:34  Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things [these words of Christ] be fulfilled.
Mat 24:35  Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

“This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled” in Matthew and “keep those things which are written therein” in Revelation, are both the words of Christ which “shall never pass away” but will be kept by all who read and hear and keep all the things John saw and wrote for those who have ears to hear (Rev 1:3).

Rev 4:1  After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.

We know that the open door is Christ. He has just told us so:

Joh 10:7  Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.
Joh 10:8  All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.
Joh 10:9  I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

We are saved by going through “the door.” There is no other way. Christ did not say, “I know the way.” What He did say is, “I AM the way…”:

Joh 14:5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?
Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Christ and His words judge us and give us life. That is what “I am the door” means. Any time we see the words ‘door’ or ‘open door’, we are being told that our knowledge of Christ is about to be increased exponentially, because He will be both judging us and supping with us. Both actions increase our knowledge of our Lord:

Jas 5:9  Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.

Rev 3:8  I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.

Rev 3:20  Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

Judgment begins first at the house of God. It is God’s own people with whom He sups and judges and cleanses first. That judgment does not even begin until we have come to see that everything we have just read, and which we have been given ears to hear about the seven churches of Asia, is first and foremost within each of us to be read, heard and kept by everyone who is given ears to hear what the spirit says to the churches. It is all first to be fulfilled within “He that hath and ear to hear” that he is to keep all the things of which John bare record, “all the things written therein… the sayings of the prophecy of this book.” This has been the case for God’s elect in every generation since the day Christ was raised from the dead and came on the day of Pentecost to live His life of dying daily in the lives of all of His elect. We must first recognize that we are guilty of thinking of ourselves as rich and increased with goods, having need of nothing, when in reality all the problems found in all seven of the churches of Asia are within us, and in reality, we are all first miserable and poor and blind and naked:

Rev 3:17  Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

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?

If we do not first see that we are to live by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God, including all the words addressed to the seven churches of Asia, then we will never “look and behold a door opened in heaven.” So we read, “After this [revelation of the spiritual condition of the seven churches of Asia within me] I looked, and behold, a door was opened in heaven.” Where did John go to in order to see what was beyond that open door in heaven?

What and where is heaven?

Where did John go when he saw this open door? How did he get to the point that he was given this ‘open door in heaven’? When Nicodemus came to Christ by night, he confessed that the Jewish leaders knew Christ was a teacher sent from heaven. Here is that discourse between Christ and Nicodemus. It is at the end of this discourse that we learn so much about how John was given to see that open door in heaven and what ‘heaven’ is and where ‘heaven’ is:

Joh 3:1  There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
Joh 3:2  The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
Joh 3:3  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 [a door opened in heaven].
Joh 3:4  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?
Joh 3:5  Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water [flesh] and [of] the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
Joh 3:6  That which is born of the flesh is flesh [water]; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Joh 3:7  Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
Joh 3:8  The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
Joh 3:9  Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?
Joh 3:10  Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?
Joh 3:11  Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.
Joh 3:12  If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?

Here is where Christ tells us of heavenly things. He tells Nicodemus and he tells us of heavenly things, and we all, at first, believe not:

Joh 3:13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.

I used to believe that the words “even the Son of Man which is in heaven” was a parenthetical statement which the apostle John had inserted as he was writing this gospel after the fact. As we are about to see, the scriptures reveal that such is not the case at all. In scriptural terms, Christ was at that very moment “seated with [His Father] in the heavens.” Christ has just revealed to Nicodemus, and to all of us, that He had “come down from heaven”, and yet He is “in the spirit” at the same time “in heaven” just as John and you and I are “seated with Christ in the heavens” at this very moment:

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

Both verbs in that verse… ‘raised together’… ‘sit together’ are in the aorist tense because they never pass away and are true in every generation.

That is how one can be come “down from heaven” and at the same time “be in heaven.” That is the answer to that question posed by Nicodemus… “How can these things be…” Christ was “in heaven” in the same way that we, as His elect, are even now “seated together with Him in the heavens” while we are still on this earth and while we are still in these bodies of sinful flesh. How can that be? Here is how John was “in the spirit” when a door was opened in heaven:

Christ was living a “raised up life” and was “made to sit together with His Father in the heavens” of His own heart and mind. The word ‘places’ is in brackets because it is not in the original Greek translation. The Greek simply says “hath made us sit together in the heavens in Christ Jesus.”

This all demonstrates that ‘heaven’ is not a physical, geographical location which God must occupy in order to have a realm which He controls. ‘Heaven’ is the spiritual realm in which all the struggles of this physical life are fought. It is “in the heavens” that we both lose and win all the battles which seem to us to be so physical. Am I saying there is no physical element to this struggle? Absolutely not! “You sold me into Egypt” was just as true physically as it was that Christ Himself told Moses He would feed Israel with “bread from heaven.” However, Joseph revealed to his brothers and to us that there is a much greater spiritual and heavenly truth to both of those statements, “You sold me into Egypt” and “I will feed you with bread from heaven.”

Joseph twice told His brothers “You sold me into Egypt”:

Gen 45:4 And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt.
Gen 45:5 Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.

Yet there is no contradiction at all when, in the same breath, Joseph reveals the heavenly perspective of how all physical matters are brought about and are worked by God’s power and His spirit “after the counsel of His own will”:

Gen 45:7 And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.
Gen 45:8 So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.

Dan 4:17 This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.

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

The Truth that God is at this very moment ‘ruling in the kingdoms of men’ and is ‘working all things after the counsel of His own will’ is the spiritual Truth which is so superior to the physical appearance of ‘free moral agency’ that the scriptures say the physical shadow is not the truth at all:

Joh 1:17 For the law [a shadow of The Truth (Heb 10:1)] was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Heb 10:1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.

Did God really feed Israel with “bread from heaven” in the form of manna? Of course He did, ‘physically’:

Exo 16:4 Then said the LORD unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no.

According to Him who is “the Truth” physical manna was “not that [true] bread from heaven” at all. This is how that event is viewed from the heavens:

Joh 6:32 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.
Joh 6:33 For the [True] bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.
Joh 6:34 Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.
Joh 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

Revealing that the law of Moses, and everything that happened in that economy, was merely a type and a shadow of the “good things to come… through Christ Jesus our Lord” is not a contradiction anymore than it is a contradiction to say that life comes only “through death”.

Col 1:22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:

Heb 2:14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

It is the scriptures themselves which demonstrate how the “shadow” of the Truth in the physical realm of the Old Testament is not the Truth at all and is actually denied by the overwhelmingly superior truth of the heavenly spiritual perspective:

2Co 3:10 For even that which was made glorious [in the physical realm and in the Old Testament realm] had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth.

The story of Joseph and his brothers reveals how outward physical events are used by the Lord Himself to hide the Truths of the spiritual realm and to keep the multitudes from being given ears to hear or eyes to see an “open door in the heavens”.

Christ is the Creator of both the first and the last Adam, just as He is the author of both the old and the new covenant. Just as the first Adam is dying and is temporal, so also is the first covenant passing and being “done away.”

1Co 15:45 And so it is written, “The first man, Adam, became a living soul,” the last Adam was a life-giving Spirit.

2Co 3:11 For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious.

“That which is done away” said “save alive nothing that breatheth.” The “life giving spirit [of] the last Adam” says “As in [“the first man”] Adam all die even so in [“the last Adam”] Christ shall all be made alive.”

Deu 20:16 But of the cities of these people, which the LORD thy God doth give thee for an inheritance, thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth:

1Co 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

What does this same ‘Lord’ say in the “time of reformation?”

Mat 5:43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
Mat 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

… and this:

Joh 6:30 They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work?
Joh 6:31 Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.
Joh 6:32 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.
Joh 6:33 For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.
Joh 6:34 Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.
Joh 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

“I will rain bread from heaven for you… Moses gave you not that bread from heaven…” Which is the truth? Once again, both are true in their own time, but the physical truth is so inferior to the spiritual that the physical must be recognized as the veil which covers the minds of the multitudes and hides from them “the things of the spirit”:

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.

“Moses gave you not that bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven… I am the bread of life.”

Do we wrestle against our flesh? It sure seems that we are struggling against the flesh:

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.

Gal 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

What is the superior spiritual truth of this matter? Once again, the spiritual truth denies what appears to be true in the physical realm:

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].

Is Paul contradicting what he has told us in Galatians 5:19? No, he certainly is not. Paul is not contradicting himself any more than Joseph contradicts himself when he explains to his brothers that they did indeed sell him into Egypt, but it wasn’t really them who sent him there but God. Paul is not contradicting himself any more than Christ tells Moses that He is feeding Israel with bread from heaven but then tells us He is the true bread from heaven. Physical bread is not the real bread, and physical heavens are not where God really dwells. God dwells in the realm of the spirit. As such God is everywhere at the same time. In Christ we, too, at this very moment are both “made to sit with Him in the heavens, [and at the same time] come down from heaven” inasmuch as we are all “God’s offspring.”

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

Going back to Ephesians 6:12 we need to note that the word ‘places’ is in brackets simply because it is not in the original Greek manuscripts. The Greek reads simply that “we wrestle… against spiritual wickedness in the heavens.” So we can now understand why “the heavenly things themselves must be purified with better things than… the blood of calves and goats.”

Heb 9:6 Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God.
Heb 9:7 But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people:
Heb 9:8 The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:
Heb 9:9 Which [was] a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;

“The way into the holiest of all” was the way into the heart and mind of “him that did the service… as pertaining to the conscience.” The blood that cleansed the tabernacle was “the blood that he offered for himself and for the sins of the people.” The true altars and the true temple, which must be be purified, is “in the [true] heavens”, which ‘heavens’ are the heart, mind, and conscience of him that does the service. That is where Christ dwells. That is “the heavenly things themselves” which require “better sacrifices than… the blood of goats and calves”:

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 [“Ye ARE the temple of God” (1Co 3:16)], now to appear in the presence of God for us:

Both ‘the blood of animals and the holiest place of all’ were just “a figure” for the time then present of the real temple and altar that must be purified”. That true temple is the conscience and heart and mind of God’s people,” and all of the temple ordinances were merely a type of that reality which stood as “a figure for the time then present… until the time of reformation,” the time of the coming of Christ.

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?

What again was the physical temple with all its physical ordinances?

Heb 9:9 Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;

What are the true heavens and the true temple in the true heavens into which Christ enters when He destroys the man of sin within us and takes His rightful position as the king of our hearts and minds and sits on the throne of our hearts, in the heavens of which the tabernacle of Moses was but a type?

1Co 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

2Th 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for [that day shall not come], except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
2Th 2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

What are “the heavenly things themselves?” Where is “heaven itself?” Where is “the temple of God?” This is what the holy spirit has to say in answer to those questions:

2Co 6:16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

‘The heavenly things themselves’ are the true things which were purified by the blood of Christ, which the blood of calves and goats could never purify, and “the heaven itself” is the place into which Christ entered and where He and His father dwell after His death and resurrection. That is where “the presence of God” is, and that is where “Christ has entered and appeared for us.” That is “the house of God… [in] the city of God, the heavenly Jerusalem”:

1Ti 3:15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

Heb 12:22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
Heb 12:23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
Heb 12:24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

So where do the scriptures teach us ‘heaven’ is? Is it really on another planet? Is heaven just another physical planet with physical streets of physical gold and big beautiful physical mansions? Is that what is meant by “a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands?”

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;

No, ‘heaven’ is NOT a physical planet. ‘Heaven’ is the realm of the spirit where “a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands” is recognized as the spiritual temple, where God dwells and where He walks in His people. Our heavenly Father, “into whose presence Christ has entered for us” dwells in us if we are given the faith to believe His own testimony:

Joh 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

There is really no room for speculation or doubt. We are told where God dwells. We are told where His ‘temple in heaven’ is, and we are told what is His temple in heaven is:

1Co 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

We are told where Christ ascended upon His resurrection from among the dead:

Rom 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

It was by being in the spirit and being given to “receive the things of the spirit” that John was given to see “a door opened in heaven” and to share with us the revelation of Jesus Christ there in the heavens where God is sitting on His throne directing the opening of the seven seals, the blowing of the seven trumpets, and the pouring out of the seven vials upon the kingdom of our old man.

Rev 4:2 And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.
Rev 4:3 And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.

It is only after we are given to see what has been “hidden from ages and from generations” behind the “door in the heaven” that our “war in the heavens” begins to be waged against the beast and the dragon who gives the beast his power and seat and great authority:

Col 1:26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
Col 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you [in “the heaven themselves (Heb 9:23)], the hope of glory:

Only after “a door [is] opened in [our] heaven” can we begin to see “Christ [revealed] within” each of His elect. This ‘open door’ is the revealing of “the mystery which has been hid from ages and from generations but now is made manifest to his saints” through this “door opened in [our] heavens”.

This is all “in spirit… on the Lord’s day” and again John hears “a voice as it were a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up here and I will show you things which must be hereafter.” We covered in depth the meaning of the being “in the spirit on the Lord’s day” in chapter 1 verse 10. The “great voice, as of a trumpet” is the same voice in both verses:

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 4:1 After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.

The scriptures make it clear that the open door in heaven reveals to us the day of judgment into which we are entering as our knowledge of the revelation of Jesus Christ is about to be increased exponentially. We will not go back over all the verses which we have already covered, which make this point clear, but we will reference these verses:

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?

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 1:19 Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;

The “open door in heaven” and the “judgment that begins at the house of God” are the same. “The things which shall be hereafter” of Revelation 1:19 are the same “things which must be hereafter” of Revelation 4:1.

Both are the revelation of Jesus Christ within His elect, through the judgments of the seven seals, the seven trumpets, and the seven vials which are poured out upon the kingdom of our old man, which we will see as our studies progress.

We will stop here for today and continue to see the things of the spirit concerning the throne of God, which are being revealed to us through this “door in heaven… the mystery that has been hidden [behind that ‘door’] from generations and from ages, which is Christ in us the hope of glory” (Col 1:27, Rev 4:1).

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Audio Download

Rev 3:19-22  What the Spirit Says to the Angel of the Church of the Laodiceans – Part 3

Rev 3:19  As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
Rev 3:20  Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
Rev 3:21  To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
Rev 3:22  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Introduction

Last week we were reminded that these admonitions are all to the angels of the various churches within “he that reads and keeps the things written therein (and within) he that hath been given an ears to hear.” In other words, every word to all seven churches is addressed to every one of God’s elect down through the centuries which have passed since Christ’s death and resurrection. These messages to these seven angels are the words of Christ, and they are addressed to these seven churches within each of us. They are addressed to the angels of the kingdom of God within us:

Luk 17:20 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:
Luk 17:21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

Once again these words to the “seven churches which are in Asia” all serve to demonstrate the ‘is, was and will be’ nature that is Christ and His words; which words “will never pass away.”

Mat 24:34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
Mat 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

Mat 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

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.

Christ’s words never pass away, including these words.

Joh 5:28  Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
Joh 5:29  And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and [a thousand years later (Rev 20:7)] they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation [Greek: krisis, judgment].

If we “keep the things which are written therein, then we must believe what is “written therein” is the Truth, such as:

Rev 2:11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh [in “this present time”, Rom 8:18] shall not be hurt of the second death.

These are words which must be believed and kept (Reb 1:3) by “he that overcometh”. This promise is repeated in:

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 [Those in “the resurrection of judgment”, Joh 5:29] lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

If we are given eyes that see and ears that hear, then we will believe and “keep the things” written in the above verses. We must be very careful that we do not stretch the meaning of ‘living by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God’ to the extent that we deny that “He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death”, and deny that “the second death has no power over… he that hath a part in the… blessed and holy… first resurrection”.

We will live by every one of the promises made to that “blessed and holy” group, if we are granted to have a part in the first resurrection, and we will keep “every word” promised to us, just as those in the resurrection to judgment will keep every word which applies to them. That is the meaning of “hearing the words of this prophecy and keeping the things written therein.” Properly understanding this is so important to understand that it is so stated at the very beginning of this book of Revelation, and it is repeated again at the very end, along with a very ominous warning:

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.

Which of these words are the revelation of Jesus Christ? Is the revelation of Jesus Christ just what we read in chapter one describing His glorified, risen spiritual body? Or is the revelation of Jesus Christ “every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God?”

Which of these words are the revelation of Jesus Christ? Is the revelation of Jesus Christ just the words we read in chapter one describing His glorified, risen spiritual body? Or is the revelation of Jesus Christ “every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God”? Most of the ministers of the churches of Babylon would have you believe that the revelation of Jesus Christ involves no sin in the flesh of the body of Jesus Christ. As “the head” of “His body, which is the church” (Col 1:24), it is certainly true that even though Christ “emptied himself (and) took on Him the seed of Abraham”, He Himself “knew no sin” (2Co 5:21). It is equally true that the Christ who “knew no sin” was the head of a spiritual body, which is called “His body”, and that “body of Christ” is still alive in physical bodies of “sinful flesh”, also known as “earthen vessels”, still “fill[ing] up that which is behind in the afflictions of Christ.”

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:

2Co 4:7 But we have this treasure [Christ, vs 6] in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

Christ knew this commandment to “keep the things which are written therein” would be ignored and misunderstood by those who do not know that He and His words ‘are, were and will be.’ He also knew that the whole world would be deceived and would never acknowledge that the revelation of Jesus Christ is the revelation of Jesus Christ within those who are His body. Christ knew in advance that the whole church world would one day deny all of this, and the whole world would claim that this is a book about end-time events, having to do only with that generation which would immediately precede His physical rulership and reign over “the kingdom of this world” (Greek, ‘kosmos’, Rev 11:15) meaning this physical earth. So He twice emphatically tells us just exactly how much of this book we are to “keep”, and He does that right here in the book of revelation. The first time is at the very beginning of this book.

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.

“The things that are written therein” is exactly how much we are to keep. As His elect we must keep “[all] the things written therein.” The fact that this statement is repeated at the end of this book demonstrates how important it is that we understand what we are reading:

Rev 22:7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.

This same message telling us that we are to keep all “the sayings of the prophecy of this book?” is twice recorded earlier in the gospels where Christ tells the adversary in a very emphatic way:

Mat 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

Luk 4:4 And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.

There are no scriptural grounds at all to say, as one brother told me, “My beast has only six heads”. Lest there be any doubt that all of this is for all of us, we are seven times told:

Rev 3:22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Rev 1:11 [Christ] 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.

We must note that Laodicea is the seventh of the seven churches, and the sad state of the angel of this church within us tells us that these seven angels signify what we are as carnal babes in Christ who have never gotten past the six milk doctrines of Hebrews six. Let’s look at those doctrines, but before we do, let’s also look at the preceding verses of chapter 5 which demonstrate that these doctrines mentioned in the first two verses of chapter six are, one and all, mere “milk of the word… the first principles of the oracles of God.”

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 5:13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
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.

Those who agree with Christ that we are to “keep the things written therein, [and] live by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God, [and] fill up in our own bodies what is behind of the afflictions of the Christ” will certainly “have their senses exercised to know good and evil.”

“Living by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God” requires that one be able to digest “strong meat.” However, it is given to very few to go beyond these six milk doctrines, which are enumerated immediately after being called “the first principles of the oracles of God… milk, and not strong meat.” Some of us still think that milk is meat:

Heb 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
Heb 6:2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

So many who have discovered the doctrine of “as in Adam all die, so in Christ shall all be made alive” actually believe that they have just stumbled upon a T-bone steak of spiritual “meat of the word.” I certainly felt that way when I first was introduced to this doctrine. The fact is that it was, at first, more than I could stomach or digest. Nevertheless these verses of Hebrews 5:12 through Hebrews 6:2 reveal that eonian judgment, which is the doctrine of universal salvation for all men, is nothing more than a doctrine of milk, which we must go beyond if we are ever to “go on unto perfection.”

What is “going on unto perfection?” That is exactly what “the revelation of Jesus Christ” within us, and keeping the things written therein” are all about. That is what the whole revelation addressed to these seven angels of these seven churches is all about. Only “he that hath an ear can hear what it is that the spirit says to the churches” and only he that has been given an ear to hear will “leave the principles of the doctrine of Christ, and go on unto perfection. All others will stay on the milk of the word, all the while telling themselves they have repented of their sins, accepted Christ as their Savior, and they have been baptized, and they are “rich and increased with goods and have need of nothing.”

Here is just a little bit of what it means to leave and to go beyond the first principles of the doctrine of Christ:

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

These words are addressed to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans. It is not being addressed to a new convert, but to a “Son who is loved by His Father.”

Heb 12:4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
Heb 12:5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
Heb 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
Heb 12:7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
Heb 12:8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

The holy spirit is showing us that there is a connection between “not striving against sin” and “the chastening of the Lord.” When we are not diligent, sober and vigilant against sin and false doctrines in our lives, God chastens and scourges “every son He receives.” There are no exceptions whatsoever. This is going beyond the “first principles of the oracles of God, [and is] going on unto perfection.” This is the very function of grace which is completely hidden from and foreign to all of orthodox Christian doctrine. The Greek word translated ‘chasten’ here is ‘paideuo‘, and ‘chasten’ is a right and proper translation of this Greek word. Let’s see how this word is mistranslated elsewhere in the New Testament in a way that has served to keep hidden what is the very function of grace in the life of the believer and the overcomer:

Tit 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Tit 2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

The word ‘teaching’ here in Titus 2:12 is the same Greek word translated ‘chasten’ in Hebrews 6:12. So grace is seen to be much more than a mere noun, which gives a name to God’s favor and mercy upon us. It is now also ubderstood to be a very active verb, which chastens us to “deny ungodliness and worldly lusts and to live soberly, righteously and godly lives in this present world.”

Both Titus 2:11-12 and Hebrews 12:4-8 describe those who are “going on unto perfection, who do not use the word of righteousness unskillfully” but are able to receive and to digest the strong meat of God’s Word because they have “by reason of use had their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”

Heb 5:13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
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.

I recently heard a minister with a national audience denying every word of this. He actually read Hebrews 6:12 and was explaining that “God is not an abusive Father.” This man was contending that the word chastening here should be translated as “child train.” I personally know of no modern day books on child training which speak of chastening and scourging. However, that is what God does to “every son whom He receives.” God is obviously not intimidated by the Department of Family and Children Services. I am not encouraging anyone to scourge their children, but I do believe what God’s word says about how He deals with “every son He receives.”

Grace chastens us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world, and the Father chastens and scourges every son He receives. Here now, is some more of what is promised to those who have ears to hear what the spirit says to these seven angels of these seven churches within us; to those to whom it is given to overcome all the faults enumerated in all the churches which we have covered thus far:

Rev 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

What does this verse tell us? One thing is certain, this verse does not deny nor contradict the fact that:

Php 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

I was shocked to discover that The Truth of this 13th verse follows the very verse I had erroneously quoted to support the false doctrine of “free moral agency”. Look at what precedes Philippian 2:13:

Php 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

The Lord has miraculously blinded the eyes of the vast majority of mankind, Christians included, to the Truths which are hidden in plain sight right here in His Word.

In our studies on the law of the offerings, we saw Christ presented to us as the Father wants us to see Christ. One of those offering shows us how Christ stands at the door knocking and wanting to come in and sup with us.

There are five different categories of offerings used to show us who the Christ is. The first three of those offerings are called “sweet smelling savor” offerings. Sin and trespass are not so much as mentioned in any of the “sweet smelling savor offerings.” The first is called “the burnt offering” and it is all burnt upon the altar as “an offering made by fire, of a sweet savor unto the Lord.”

Lev 1:11 And he shall kill it on the side of the altar northward before the LORD: and the priests, Aaron’s sons, shall sprinkle his blood round about upon the altar.
Lev 1:12 And he shall cut it into his pieces, with his head and his fat: and the priest shall lay them in order on the wood that is on the fire which is upon the altar:
Lev 1:13 But he shall wash the inwards and the legs with water: and the priest shall bring it all, and burn it upon the altar: it is a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.

The burnt offering was wholly consumed by the fire of God, and was not shared or partaken of by either the priest or the offerer. It was all God’s portion and it is called a sweet savor, and there is not so much as the mention of sin in any of the three sweet savor offerings.

The second offering is the meal offering; called a ‘meat offering’ in the King James Version. This offering was never, ever to be given without first offering a burnt offering. That is what the story of Cain and Abel teaches us. Grain comes out of the ground, which means that grain symbolizes what we as “the dust of the ground” produce for God and for our fellow man. If we fail to recognize that our efforts to serve Christ and His body are not of ourselves, but are of Him, then we have offered a meal offering without first acknowledging the need for a blood offering; that blood being the blood of Jesus Christ upon whose offering we all present our own offerings. We are dead and risen in Him, and by Him we now walk “in newness of life.” We must never think that our own works can save us without the shedding of the blood of Christ to wash away our sins.

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9 Not of [our] works, lest any man should boast.
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.

2Co 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

Rom 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
Rom 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Just as the burnt offering was all to be burnt upon the altar in submission to God, with none of it going to the offerer, so, too, with the meal offering the offerer was not permitted to partake of the meal offering. The priest does receive his portion of this offering.

Lev 2:2 And he [the offerer] shall bring it to Aaron’s sons the priests: and he shall take thereout his handful of the flour thereof, and of the oil thereof, with all the frankincense thereof; and the priest shall burn the memorial of it upon the altar, to be an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD:
Lev 2:3 And the remnant of the meat offering shall be Aaron’s and his sons’: it is a thing most holy of the offerings of the LORD made by fire.

So the meal offering is consumed by God and His priest, and once again, the offerer is excluded from partaking of and being nourished by the offering he has brought to God as an offering made by fire, of a sweet savor unto the Lord.

Now we come to the the third offering. This is the peace offering, and it is in this offering that we sup with both the Father and His priest, our Savior and our Lord. “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”
This is the one offering in which The Father and His priest Son, our Lord and the Son’s son, all partake of and are nourished by the offering of the Christ, and the offering of “His body which is the church.”

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

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:

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.

“I stand at the door and knock” in no way denies God’s sovereignty. “If any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him and he with Me” in no way whatever contradicts the truth of this verse:

Psa 139:16 Thine eyes did see mine unformed substance; And in thy book they were all written, Even the days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was none of them.

We were called in Christ “before the world began,” and while the scriptures also say things like “choose you this day…” and “if any man hear my voice and open the door..,” these verses in no way deny that God “know what the morrow brings” and that He knew it all “before the world began.”

1Co 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:

2Ti 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

Tit 1:2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

Rev 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

What an honor! Those who are known of God “before the world began” will sit with Him in His throne, just as Christ has overcome His sinful fleshly desires and is set down with His Father in His throne.

What is the advantage of being an overcomer? I was just recently chastised as being vain and self-centered for even wanting to be an overcomer and wanting to sit with Christ in His throne. If such foolishness were so, it would certainly make God a fool for making all these promises and for openly exhorting us to strive to overcome the flesh for these very reasons.

Should we aspire to do that which we know to be predestined and “written in thy book” already? What do the scriptures say?

Tit 3:8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.

“Be careful to maintain good works.” These things are good and profitable. Affirm this constantly!” Was Paul self-centered and vain? Or was he simply obedient?

Again we are told:

Php 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

So both “the high calling” and the “pressing toward that mark” are “of God.” There will be no vanity or self-centeredness in any who attain that prize, and any and all accusations to the contrary will not change that Truth. It is rather, to be expected.

Mat 13:45 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:
Mat 13:46 Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

2Co 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

Php 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
Php 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Both the desire and the doing are all of God, and He is working both within us. Nevertheless we need to expect to be falsely accused and denigrated for His name’s sake:

Mat 5:11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Mat 5:12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

Luk 6:26 Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.
Luk 6:27 But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,

So we conclude what the spirit says to the angels of the seven churches of Asia; to”you which hear” and to those who “read and hear and keep the things written therein.”

Rev 3:22  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Conclusion

This is what Christ tells us is within the kingdom of God which is within all who are His. The faults and problems within us, as revealed by the messages to these seven angels of these seven churches, are the same admonitions concerning the kingdom of God within us as revealed to us through the parables of Christ in the gospels. From the parable of the good Samaritan, the parable of Lazarus and the rich man, the parable of the sower, the parable of the prodigal son to the parable of the murderous husbandman of their masters vineyard; all of Christ’s parables had to do with “the mysteries of  the kingdom of God”, and we are plainly told that kingdom is within us:

Mat 13:10 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
Mat 13:11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.

That is what all of Christ’s parables concern, and that is their purpose; to keep those mysteries a secret. It is miraculous their effectiveness in accomplishing that purpose to this very day.

Those parables which all concern “the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven” are full of the descriptions of the murderous sins of those who are to become the heirs of that kingdom. What this reveals is that the heirs of the kingdom of God were once the children of wrath and the children of disobedience, just as men like king David and Saul of Tarsus both demonstrate for us. We are all the tares in God’s field before we have those tares gathered out, tied in bundles and burned out of His kingdom which is within us.

That is the message of all the messages of the seven angels of the seven churches of Asia concerning the purging of the tares out of the kingdom of God within us. Now we are prepared to begin to see the symbols of the heavenly things themselves, and now that we know where that kingdom is, we can begin to see that those symbols and proverbs are no longer speaking to us in proverbs but are showing us plainly the mind of our heavenly Father, because we are now being given an “open heaven”, which means that our understanding is about to be opened up exponentially.

Joh 16:25 These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father.

When the time comes that “a door is opened in heaven,” it is the same time as “the time comes when I shall no more speak to you in proverbs but show you plainly of the Father.”

Joh 16:25 These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father.

Here now are the verses which, Lord willing, we will discuss next week:

Rev 4:1 After this I looked, and, behold, a door [was] opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard [was] as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.
Rev 4:2 And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and [one] sat on the throne.
Rev 4:3 And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and [there was] a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.
Rev 4:4 And round about the throne [were] four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.
Rev 4:5 And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and [there were] seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.

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Revelation 3:7-9 Philadelphia, Part 1

Updated November 29, 2023

Rev 3:7  And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;
Rev 3:8  I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.
Rev 3:9  Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.

Introduction

There are two messages of the spirit to the seven angels, in which “he that hath and ear” will hear of nothing negative. The first was the message of the spirit to the angel of the church of Smyrna, and the second is this angel, the angel of the church of Philadelphia.

The message we covered in the last study was to the angel of the church of Sardis. The spirit told the angel of the church of Sardis that even though it had a name that it lived, in actual fact the angel of the church of Sardis is spiritually dead:

Rev 3:1 And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.

The angel of the church at Thyatira was tolerating the teachings of the doctrines of Jezebel, and had come to know the depths of Satan, in his speaking.

Rev 2:18 And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet [are] like fine brass;

Rev 2:20 Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.

Rev 2:24 But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden.

The angel of the church of Pergamos dwells where Satan’s very throne is, has the doctrines of Balaam and the doctrines of the Nicholaitans.

Rev 2:13 I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan’s seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas [was] my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.
Rev 2:14 But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.
Rev 2:15 So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.

The angel of the church at Ephesus has “left his first love.”

Rev 2:4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

Why would the angel of the church in Smyrna or Philadelphia need to hear what the spirit has to say to the other five angels? The answer, once again, is that these angels are all within “he that has an ear to hear… he that reads… and he that keeps the things written therein.” So we are seven times told:

Rev 2:29 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Also, let us never forget the first and last admonition of this prophecy:

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

So “the time is at hand to read, hear and keep these words.”

Rev 3:7  And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;

“He that is holy and true,” Christ, has “the key of David.” It is with this “key of David” that he that is holy and true, “opens and no man shuts,” and it is with this “key of David” that He who is holy and true “shuts and no man opens.” What could this “key of David possibly be? What does this “key of David” open and shut?

The very next verse tells us:

Rev 3:8  I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.

Apparently this ‘key of David’ opens a door that “no man can shut,” but we were just told that it also “shuts and no man opens.” So while verse 8 tells us that “he that hath and ear,” has been given an “open door that no man can shut,” let us not fail to see that this same “key of David” also serves to shut that same door so that no man can open it. What then is this key, and what is this door? What do the scriptures teach us concerning this “key of David,” and what do the scriptures tell us is this door?

In the World Wide Church of God, a church in which I and many others spent some time, we were told that this “key of David” was the understanding of the doctrine of British Israelism. I actually believed that lie for about a whole decade. However, if we were to believe that doctrine, or any of the dispensational doctrines which now permeate the orthodox Christian world, what then would we do with “This generation will not pass away until all these things shall be fulfilled?” Dispensationalism, in all of its various forms, nullifies those words of Christ and make Him nothing more than a common liar. There was no United States or British Commonwealth in the first century A. D. Nor did such things exist until the colonies revolted against the crown in 1776 A.D.

Remember this book of Revelation, like the parables of Christ,  is a book of signs and symbols. After all, this is Christ speaking “unto His servants… signified… unto His servant John:”

Rev 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and sign ified it by his angel unto his servant John:

This “key of David… must shortly come to pass,” means it is “even at the door… [and] this generation will not pass till all these things shall be fulfilled.” So whatever this key and this door are, they are both fulfilled in the life of “he that hath an ear” in every generation since Christ.

Mat 24:33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
Mat 24:34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
Mat 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

These are words which took place in that generation and are taking place in this generation and have “never passed away.”

The force of this particular symbol is taken from Isaiah 22 where the corrupt keeper of the house of David, one Shebna, is prophesied to be replaced by Eliakim, a man who is faithful to God and His people. All those with eyes that see and ears that hear know that these two men represent and signify and symbolize the same two men we see through out all of God’s Word. They are but types and shadows of the first and the last Adam. They are but types and shadows of the old man, Adam and the ‘new Adam,’ Christ. Where do we find the old man, the first Adam, in this prophecy?

Isa 22:15 Thus saith the Lord GOD of hosts, Go, get thee unto this treasurer, even unto Shebna, which is over the house, and say,
Isa 22:16 What hast thou here? and whom hast thou here, that thou hast hewed thee out a sepulchre here, as he that heweth him out a sepulchre on high, and that graveth an habitation for himself in a rock?
Isa 22:17 Behold, the LORD will carry thee away with a mighty captivity, and will surely cover thee.

Shebna had the key to the house of David, and he is, in effect, being told that the key to the house of David, would be taken from him and given to another who would be “faithful in all his house.”

Isa 22:19 And I will drive thee [Shebna] from thy station, and from thy state shall he pull thee down.
Isa 22:20 And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will call my servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah:
Isa 22:21 And I will clothe him with thy robe, and strengthen him with thy girdle, and I will commit thy government into his hand: and he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to the house of Judah.
Isa 22:22 And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.

So now we know through the principle of “the sum of thy word” and the principle of “line upon line and precept upon precept, here a little and there a little,” that the “key of David [which] opens and no man shuts, and shuts and no man opens” is actually the “key of the house of David.”

There has always been much speculation about what is this “key of David” here in Revelation 3:7. The commentaries note Isaiah 22 and conclude that is was a literal key which was carried on a shoulder strap by the man whom King David and his successors placed “over the house.” ‘Over the house’ means over the affairs of the house of David. It was the highest honor that could be bestowed on anyone in the kingdom to be placed next to the king, “over the house” and have “the key of David.” Many of the commentaries even note that Christ ascribes this key to Himself in Revelation 3:7. That is as far as their understanding goes.

The only thing we need to ask now is what is “the house of David?” The literal, physical “house of David,” regardless of the teachings of the false doctrine of British Israelism, is no longer to be found, any more than there is now a physical priest offering physical “sacrifices unto God.”

Jer 33:17 For thus saith the LORD; David shall never want a man to sit upon the throne of the house of Israel;
Jer 33:18 Neither shall the priests the Levites want a man before me to offer burnt offerings, and to kindle meat offerings, and to do sacrifice continually.

If this is a physical statement, where are “the priests the Levites… offering burnt offerings… doing sacrifice continually” today? Where are they??? If there are no physical priests, physically offering sacrifices” then neither is there a physical throne, not in England nor in Israel. So much for the dispensational approach to “Words which never pass away.”

So what do the scriptures tell us constitutes the true “house of David” or “tabernacle of David?” Here is the true “house of David” to which the “key of David” will either open up to us or else shut us out:

Act 15:13 And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me:
Act 15:14 Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.
Act 15:15 And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,
Act 15:16 After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:
Act 15:17 That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.

There is “the tabernacle of David.” There is “the house of David.” That is where are “the residue of men… and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called.” So says the apostle James. That is what is meant by “he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth.” No man can shut Christ out of those to whom He comes, and no man can come to God except the spirit drag him.

Joh 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw [Greek: helkuo, drag] him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

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

How humbling and humiliating to our flesh is the Word of God!

Who is sitting on the throne of that tabernacle? Who is sitting on the throne of the house of David? It is “he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth.” It is Jesus Christ, and according to Isaiah 22, He gives that key to “the keeper of His house.” He gives “the key of David” to His elect who make up that house, who are “seated with Him in the heavens” and who constitute His priesthood “to offer sacrifices before him continually:”

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

1Pe 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

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

Rev 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

The ‘key of David’ is “the keys to the kingdom of heaven… the kingdom of God”, and comparing Matthew 16:19 with Matthew 18:18 we see that this key and these keys are given to all who are in Christ:

Mat 16:19  And I will give unto thee [Peter] the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Mat 18:18  Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye [the twelve] shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Christ both has “the key of David” and He is the key of David, because He is both the key and the door in which the key fits:

Joh 10:7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.
Joh 10:8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.
Joh 10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

The natural man will reason that Christ cannot be both the shepherd of the sheep and the door through which the shepherd enters into the sheepfold. However, Christ so identifies with us as His body that He has no such qualms. In us, He sees Himself as the shepherd of the sheep, the sheep themselves and the door through which the shepherd must pass to enter into the sheepfold.

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

In keeping with what James says in Acts 15, Christ taught the same doctrine. He is not only “the tabernacle of David,” but He is also both the door of the sheepfold and “the good shepherd” who enters by that door:

Joh 10:14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
Joh 10:15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.
Joh 10:16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

“The house of David… the tabernacle of David… the sheepfold… the door of the sheepfold… The keys to the kingdom of God, the key of the house of David, and the key of David,” are one and all Christ and His Christ.” He is the light of the world, and we are the light of the world (Joh 8:12 and Mat 5:14). He is the bread sent down from heaven, and we are one bread (Joh 6:51, 1Co 10:17). As His Father has sent Him, even so He has sent us (Joh 20:21). As he is, so are we in this world (1Jo 4:17). He is the Word, and if His Word is in us, we are His word (Jer 5:14). He is not ashamed to call us His brothers (Heb 2:11).

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.

Heb 2:11 For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,

For thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.

What do we have here? Is this an admonition to have more strength? That is what many of the commentaries will tell you, and we certainly are told to “be strong in the Lord.”

Eph 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

Is it not possible to be “of little strength” and at the same time, be strong in the Lord? Once again, that which seems so contradictory to the mind of the natural man is exactly what the spirit tells us:

2Co 12:10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

How does that work? It works as all things spiritual work. The natural man cannot receive the things of the spirit because they are foolishness to Him.

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.

The natural man cannot receive the things of the spirit because the spirit requires the death of the natural man. It is only when the natural man sees himself as dead that the spirit can live. It is only when the natural man sees himself as chief of sinners that the spirit can be saved, and it is only when we see ourselves as weak and of little strength that we are strong in the spirit of Christ. It is only when we have been humbled and crushed to powder and made to feel so very small that the spirit can come into our lives and give us the needed strength to do His Work. Here is what the spirit has to say about “little things.”

Zec 4:10  For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth.

Mat 18:3  And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Just look at what is promised to those who “have a little strength:”

Rev 3:9  Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.

Who are those who are “of the synagogue of Satan?” It is those who “say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie.” The whole world is blind to the spiritual truth of this one verse and the many others which confirm this verse:

Rom 2:28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:

Who then is a true Jew? Here is what “the natural man cannot receive.”

Rom 2:29  But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

The whole world denies the truth of these verses, and those who declare them as true are despised and rejected by those who actually call themselves God’s spiritual Jews. That’s exactly right. The orthodox Christian world claims to be spiritual Jews, and with the same breath they declare “he which is a Jew outwardly” is also a Jew. God has blinded the eyes of the whole world to the words “he is NOT a Jew which is one outwardly.” The one thing that is consistent about the natural man is that He never denies the flesh a place in the kingdom of God, and that is in spite of this very plain and simple Truth:

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

How will “they of the synagogue of Satan…come and worship before thy feet?” They will do so in great torment of figurative flames of fire, believing, as Joseph’s brothers believed, that their own lives are at stake. This whole scenario, as many of the mysteries of the book of Revelation, is prefigured for us in the book of Genesis, where Joseph is God’s type and shadow of His elect, whose own brothers must be made to see that their father loves his elect Son.. The “synagogue of Satan” is typified by the rejected “seed of Abraham” who persecute and seek to destroy the elect and chosen “seed of Abraham.”

Gen 37:3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours.
Gen 37:4 And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him [I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.].
Gen 37:5 And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more.
Gen 37:6 And he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed:
Gen 37:7 For, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf.
Gen 37:8 And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words.
Gen 37:9 And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me.
Gen 37:10 And he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth?

That’s right! Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were mere carnal types of Christ, just as physical Israel is but a carnal type of God’s elect. The spiritual, true “father of the faithful” is the true ‘Abraham’ who will be “in the kingdom, while the physical Abraham, Isaac and Jacob will “come to bow themselves to thee to the ground.” Who is the true “father of the faithful?” Is it the Abraham of the Old Testament? What do the scriptures teach us?

Isa 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Christ is “the everlasting Father,” but is He really also Abraham?

Gal 3:29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

“Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth?” The answer is yes, Jacob and Rachel, Abraham and Isaac will come and bow down to Christ and His elect, who are typified by Joseph, and they will all come “to know that God has loved us” above all our brothers, who say “they are Jews but are not, but do lie.”

1Pe 1:12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.

That is another “NOT” which cannot be seen by the natural man, nor by those who are of “the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews but are not, but do lie.” To all of this the writer of Hebrews agrees:

Heb 11:39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:
Heb 11:40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

The “better things” of this verse are the same “things which are now reported unto you… the salvation of which the prophets inquired [to which prophets] it was revealed that not to themselves, but to us they did minister…”

The apostle Paul gives us the same message:

1Co 10:11 Now all this befalls them typically. Yet it was written for our admonition, to whom the consummations of the eons have attained. (CLV).

The King James puts it this way:

1Co 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples [Greek: tupos, types]: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

The ends of the ages, or as the Concordant Version puts it, “the consummation of the eons” are come upon us, not on those who typify us in the Old Testament. So Joseph’s father and His mother will not be in the first resurrection, and for that matter, neither will Joseph because Christ said this:

Luk 7:28 For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.

According to our Lord, John the Baptist was as great as Noah or Job or Daniel or King David or any of the prophets. He goes on to say that “He that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than any of the Old Testament patriarchs, kings or prophets or any man “born of women” to that time. All of these verses tell us that the coming of Christ was a time or reformation, at which the Truth about mankind’s relationship with God, and how that relationship was to be attained, was finally and for the very first time revealed as a spiritual relationship. Here is how our Lord Himself worded this wonderful new revelation of Himself and His relationship with us and with His Father:

Joh 4:21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.

When is that hour? Is this a dispensational statement, or is this a spiritual statement which would never pass away?

Joh 4:23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
Joh 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
Mat 24:34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
Mat 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

There is no article in the Greek. It is simply “God spirit,” and should read ‘God is spirit…” Add to this John 6:63, and we have a much clearer picture of what constitutes “spirit and truth.”

Joh 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

So much for the dispensational approach to the Word of God, and so much for the doctrine of a fleshly ‘bodily resurrection.’ It is never to be.

Conclusion

We have seen again that all the messages to all seven of the churches are really all to “he that hath an ear.” We have seen in the scriptures that Christ is both the key of David, and He gives Himself, as that key, to His elect to whom he gives charge of “the house of David.” We saw that the apostle James informed us that “the tabernacle of David” is Christ coming in His own body, comprised of both Jews and Gentiles, and we saw that the only way God will recognize us as being Jews is if we are in Christ. Anything else, including those who really are outward Jews, “is not a Jew” in the eyes of Jesus Christ.

We have seen that having little strength is the only way to be strong in Christ, and that we must never “despise the days of small things” because that is what the scattered flock of Christ is, was and always will be.

Finally, we saw that the only person who is a Jew in Christ’s eyes is the person who is in Christ, and that being an outward Jew alone is to be “NOT a Jew.” We have seen the scriptures which reveal that physical Jerusalem is no longer relevant to the worship of the one and only True God. We saw the scriptures which reveal that the physical pedigrees of all of the Old Testament patriarch, kings and prophets “profit nothing” and that the only way now to worship God is in the spirit and truth, which are Christ and His Word. “Spirit and truth” are the words Christ has spoken, and it is impossible to worship God outside of knowing Christ and living His words.

In the next study, Lord willing, we will learn what is “the word of Christ’s patience,” and how we must “keep the word of Christ’s patience,” and how that ties in with being “kept from the hour of temptation…”

Rev 3:10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.