Gospels In Harmony – The Washing of the Disciples’ Feet

Mat 26:20-21, Mar 14:17-18, Luk 22:14-30, Joh 13:2-17

[Study Aired October 26, 2021]

Mat 26:20a Now when the even was come, 
Luk 22:14 And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him.
Luk 22:15 And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer:
Luk 22:16 For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God.
Luk 22:24 And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest.
Luk 22:25 And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors.
Luk 22:26 But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.
Luk 22:27 For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.
Luk 22:28 Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations.
Luk 22:29 And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me;
Luk 22:30 That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Joh 13:2 (Rotherham) And, supper, being in progress, the adversary, having already thrust into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot, that he should deliver him up,
Joh 13:3 Jesus knowing that, all things, the Father had given unto him, into his hands, and that, from God, he had come, and, unto God, he was going, 
Joh 13:4 rouseth himself out of the supper, and layeth aside his garments, and taking a linen cloth, girded himself. 
Joh 13:5 Next, he poureth water into the wash-basin, and began to be washing the feet of the disciples, and to be wiping them with the linen cloth wherewith he was girded. 
Joh 13:6 So he cometh unto Simon Peter. He saith unto him—Lord, dost, thou, wash my feet? 
Joh 13:7 Jesus answered, and said unto him—What, I, am doing, thou, knowest not, as yet; howbeit, thou shalt got to know, hereafter. 
Joh 13:8 Peter saith unto him—In nowise shalt thou, ever, wash my feet. Jesus answered him—If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. 
Joh 13:9 Simon Peter saith unto him—Lord! not my feet only, but my hands also, and my head. 
Joh 13:10 Jesus saith unto him—He that hath bathed himself, hath no need save as to the feet to get washed; but is pure, as a whole. And, ye, are, pure, but not ye, all. 
Joh 13:11 For he know the man that was delivering him up; therefore, said he—Not ye all, are pure. (Rotherham)
Joh 13:12 So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?
Joh 13:13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.
Joh 13:14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.
Joh 13:15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.
Joh 13:16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.
Joh 13:17 If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.

Our last study was about the preparation of the feast being a type and shadow of our time in Babylon when the Lord begins to prepare our hearts and minds to become a living sacrifice.

Rom 12:1-2 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. 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.

This study will show us a division must take place in order for us to share in the Lord’s supper. We will see that the passover is for all the chosen, but the Lord’s supper is for those that do not betray the Lord and keep his commandments and continue in his word.

Mat 26:20a Now when the even was come, 
Luk 22:14 And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him.
Luk 22:15 And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer:
Luk 22:16 For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God.

Christ is laying the foundation of our process to the entrance of the kingdom of God. Suffering is His example we all must follow. Before we suffer with Christ, we go through several stages. These stages take place before even receiving the holy spirit. Some of these stages are strife, betrayal, denial, and then finally we receive the spirit. After receiving the spirit, the beginning of our true sufferings starts so that we can fill up that which is ‘behind of the afflictions of Christ’.

Col 1:21-29 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister; 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: Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.

Here is the stage of strife.

Luk 22:24 And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest.

Being carnally minded we desire to be the greatest or consider others to be greater than they actually are, causing division within the church. We do not understand that those that are the least esteemed in the ways of the world are the greatest in God’s eyes.

Rom 12:16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.

Here is what Christ has to say to those that strive with each other in the church.

Luk 22:25 And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors.
Luk 22:26 But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.
Luk 22:27 For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.
Luk 22:28 Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations.
Luk 22:29 And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me;
Luk 22:30 That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

We are to be servants of the body. God has gifted everyone with something. Every member is important, and there are different functions of the members.

1Co 12:20-31 But now are they many members, yet but one body. And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked: That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.

Christ now shows another example of what must take place while eating the Lord’s supper. I have used the Rotherham translation because the KJV shows this happening after supper, but many other translations have this happening during the supper before the breaking of bread. Of course, we care more about the spiritual significance of the message than the order, but it does seem to make sense to be presented in this order.

Joh 13:2 (Rotherham) And, supper, being in progress, the adversary, having already thrust into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot, that he should deliver him up,
Joh 13:3 Jesus knowing that, all things, the Father had given unto him, into his hands, and that, from God, he had come, and, unto God, he was going, 
Joh 13:4 rouseth himself out of the supper, and layeth aside his garments, and taking a linen cloth, girded himself. 
Joh 13:5 Next, he poureth water into the wash-basin, and began to be washing the feet of the disciples, and to be wiping them with the linen cloth wherewith he was girded. 
Joh 13:6 So he cometh unto Simon Peter. He saith unto him—Lord, dost, thou, wash my feet? 
Joh 13:7 Jesus answered, and said unto him—What, I, am doing, thou, knowest not, as yet; howbeit, thou shalt got to know, hereafter. 
Joh 13:8 Peter saith unto him—In nowise shalt thou, ever, wash my feet. Jesus answered him—If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. 
Joh 13:9 Simon Peter saith unto him—Lord! not my feet only, but my hands also, and my head. 
Joh 13:10 Jesus saith unto him—He that hath bathed himself, hath no need save as to the feet to get washed; but is pure, as a whole. And, ye, are, pure, but not ye, all. 
Joh 13:11 For he know the man that was delivering him up; therefore, said he—Not ye all, are pure. (Rotherham)

Christ must bathe our feet so that we can be completely clean and free of sin. Feet represent our walk, and our walk represents our way of life and must be purified.

Lev 16:26 And he that let go the goat for the scapegoat shall wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in water, and afterward come into the camp.

Psa 15:1-2 A Psalm of David. LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.

1Jn 1:5-8 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 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. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 

The water Christ is using to clean our feet is the word.

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

Christ now explains why he is washing their feet.

Joh 13:12 So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?
Joh 13:13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.
Joh 13:14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.
Joh 13:15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.
Joh 13:16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.
Joh 13:17 If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.

So we are to do this with each other. That is the purpose of our gatherings. We share the knowledge and understanding Christ has given us, and therefore we are cleansed by the washing of the water of the word.

Psa 115:2 Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is now their God? 
Psa 115:3 But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased. 
Psa 115:4 Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands. 
Psa 115:5 They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not: 
Psa 115:6 They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not: 
Psa 115:7 They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat. 
Psa 115:8 They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them. 

This part of our study opens with a rhetorical question, “Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is now their God?”. This is a question God’s elect expect to see the world asking in various ways, and Christ identified certain categories of people who would ask “Where is now their God?” in Matthew 16:13-19.

Mat 16:13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? 
Mat 16:14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one ofthe prophets. [the 4 groups represent the whole of the deceived world with the emphasis on the religious world, who God says “blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in” (Rom 11:25, Eze 16:55)]
Mat 16:15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 
Mat 16:16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 
Mat 16:17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee [those four groups ] , but my Father which is in heaven. [Christ says the same thing to Thomas as he did to Simon Barjona(Joh 20:29).God’s elect see God doing this invisible work within our hearts and minds and are granted to continue in the faith (Joh 8:31-32, Rom8:14-16)]
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. 
Mat 16:19 And I will give unto theethe 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. [the foundation of God’s government ‘the body of Christ’ must have their eyes open from our Father in heaven so that we can believe without seeing, and in so doing be built upon “this rock” that we know represents Christ, our Lord, who is working in us both to will and to do, the binding and loosing on this earth within our heavens (Php 2:13, Php 4:13) which is why “the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” the mind of Christ (1Co 2:16) within the church, which is Christ’s body (Col 1:24)].

Humanity has been blinded by the god of this world “from the beginning of the creation” (2Co 4:4-5) as per God’s will (Eph 1:11), keeping them from being able to recognize His sovereignty which is being acknowledged in the first verse of this Psalm (Psa 115:1). God has predestined the deception and strong delusion the world finds itself in today, and prophecy, along with the signs and wonders in the heavens where prophecy is perceived correctly or incorrectly (Rev 13:13-16, Mat 24:24, Jud 1:17-19), has been used to deceive humanity as a parable that causes our fleshly reasoning to continue to look without ourselves to interpret and understand the inward significance of what prophecy is supposed to be telling us about ourselves (Mat 13:17, Mat 13:34-35). 

Rev 13:13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, 
Rev 13:14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. 
Rev 13:15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. [we do not worship the image of the beast any longer, considering ourselves dead to sin and alive in Christ (Rev 11:8, Rom 6:11)]
Rev 13:16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: 

When understood with the mind of Christ, prophecy should encourage, enlighten, comfort and quicken God’s people (1Co 14:3, Joh 6:63) as we learn how all the symbolic imagery explained in His word reveals what is within ourselves, while at the same time we see it create strong delusion toward those who are looking outwardly to interpret where the beast and the false prophet and the anti-Christ are now residing (2Th 2:9-10, 1Jn 2:18-25). Overcoming the mark of the beast, the man of perdition within us, is a gift given to those whose names are written in the book of life (Rev 15:2, Rev 20:13-15). Christ prophesied from the cross to two thieves who witness against our flesh and its natural tendency to doubt and deny Christ who won’t deny himself (2Ti 2:13). God has made provision through Christ in the midst of these two men to prophecy to us (1Co 10:11), to encourage us, as we see ourselves now as all three men in this story, hearing words that apply to us inwardly (Luk 23:39-43, Gal 2:20, Mat 4:4). The patience and faith of the saints is the gift which will give us victory over this flesh that must endure until the end as we learn to be confident that Christ will finish this work of faith within us, even while we are imprisoned in these weak and marred vessels which need be this way for the time being (Php 1:6, Rev 2:10, 1Co 15:52).

In regard to the man of perdition:

2Th 2:9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders (Mat 24:24),
2Th 2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. [if we are blessed to have eyes and ears that receive and love the truth, it will be a witness that we have the hope of glory within us who is able to destroy that man of perdition by the brightness of his coming within us (Col 1:27)].

1Jn 2:18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
1Jn 2:19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us (1Co 11:19) For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you]
1Jn 2:20 But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.
1Jn 2:21 I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it,and that no lie is of the truth.
1Jn 2:22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son (Joh 17:3)
1Jn 2:23 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father:(but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also. 
1Jn 2:24 Let that therefore abide in you,which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son (Joh 8:31), and in the Father (Joh 17:3).
1Jn 2:25 And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life (Joh 17:3)

Having done all stand:

Rev 15:2 And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass (Eph 6:13, 1Co 16:13], having the harps of God.

Eph 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 

1Co 16:13 Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. 

Rev 20:13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; anddeath and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 
Rev 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 
Rev 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. 

Having not yet received the mercy and truth that we are blessed to continue in today, those who are not yet dragged to Christ (Joh 6:44) cannot become those disciples indeed of whom Christ talks in the book of John (Joh 8:31-32), having been blinded for our sakes (2Co 4:15). God’s mercy is expressed by His giving us eyes to see and ears to hear what is now hidden from the rest of the world as we suffer for his name’s sake (Mat 10:22), to the end that we will be able to show mercy to rest of the world with Christ (Mat 13:11, Php 1:29, 1Jn 4:17, Mat 16:21, Rom 11:29-33).

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

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

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. 

Php 1:29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ,not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake; 

1Jn 4:17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness (Heb 4:16 , Rom 8:15) in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. 

Heb 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. 

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. 

Mat 16:21 From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. 

Christ was showing his disciples by going “unto Jerusalem” what we would all do as His witnesses in this age, being as he is in this world, being hated of all men, God using that hatred for our sakes as we go through a process of judgment at the hands of these three groups [the elders, chief priests and scribes] just as Christ did (Rev 11:3-8, 1Jn 4:17). We are comforted by knowing that all we must endure to the end of this life is made possible through Christ as we abide in Jerusalem above (Gal 4:26, Eph 2:6) and witness to Jerusalem below in “the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified” (Rev 11:8). We can endure all things through Christ who will never leave or forsake us in this process of salvation unto which God has called us (Php 4:13, Heb 13:5).

God’s elect are blessed to be those kind of first fruits who first understand that “Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty” that gives us victory over the man of sin within our members and makes it possible for us to partake of the “the fast that I have chosen” spoken of in Isaiah 58:6-10. That fast represents the life of Christ within us which makes it possible to see these words fulfilled in our life – “the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not” (Isa 58:11).

Psa 115:2 Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is now their God?

This opening question sets the stage for the next few verses which are going to explain why this question has to be asked in the first place, and where we are spiritually when we ask “Where is now their God?”.

The natural tendency for all flesh is to doubt God, when we stop seeing the physical evidence of Him working in our life, via miracles by way of healings or having physical events which we see unfolding for our good. It takes a greater work of faith to be able to see Christ in the midst of our trials from which we are not immediately being delivered, and that proving of our faith is a precious gift from God that is required if we are going to go on to maturity in this life. It is the time we must come boldly before the throne of grace and ask God to help our unbelief (Joh 20:29, 1Pe 1:7, Heb 4:16, Joh 6:27-29, Mar 9:24). It is by way of the grace of God which chastens and scourges us that we stop trusting in our flesh and obtain mercy by way of increased faith which helps us in our time of need. Christ cried out with strong tears as our example of what we can expect to go through, as God helps us in our unbelief and hears us in that we fear him. This is what is required of God’s elect in order to become kings and priests under our “high priest” Jesus Christ (Heb 5:7-10).

Joh 20:29 Jesus saith unto him,Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. 

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: 

Heb 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. 

Joh 6:27 Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed. 
Joh 6:28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? 
Joh 6:29 Jesus answered and said unto them,This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent (Col 1:24 , Col 1:27).

Mar 9:24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief. 

Heb 5:7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; 
Heb 5:8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; 
Heb 5:9 Andbeing made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvationunto all them that obey him; 
Heb 5:10 Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec. 

Psa 115:3 But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.

Where we look and how we think is what will define how we see, and if we are looking for signs and wonders outwardly, then we are being drawn away with what Christ called “a wicked and adulterous generation” that “demands a sign” (Mat 16:4), as opposed to being convinced that “our God is in the heavens” of our hearts and minds.

We must look to the cloud of witnesses, ‘the church/Christ’s body’, to help us overcome the sin that so easily besets us, and we are to present every part of our body [the church] including our eyes, which belong to God, a living sacrifice (Heb 12:1-2, Rom 12:1).

Job is a shadow of the elect looking to God in the heavens and said to his wife, who represents the churches of this world, “Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity^H8538? [“innocence” — In regard to this question of our innocence: Rom 10:9-10, Eph 1:6, Rom 8:1] curse God, and die. But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips” (Job 2:9-10). In other words, we can say of God “he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased” in the heavens, of our hearts and minds, and if we are convinced of this, then when the iniquity of this world waxes worse and worse at the end of this age, or when we endure fiery trials as Christ did (1Pe 4:12), we can remain assured that God is in perfect control of all of those events, of the wars and rumors of wars inwardly and outwardly (Mat 24:6) that Christ prophesied would come about and cause the love of many to wax cold, even while His beloved were witnessing that they are more than conquerors through Christ (Mat 24:12, Rom 8:37-39).

This miracle of having that extra faith, or oil in our lamps, at this time of great trouble which Christ said would come upon the earth, is an is-was-and-will-be event that will have an outward culmination at the end of the age, and specifically in the lives of those with whom God is working now, as well as the rest of the world (Mat 24:22). God is the one who gives us the ability to identify the foolish virgin within ourselves, so “confession is made unto salvation”, and we can go on and become that wise virgin, who also must trim their lamp, and be blessed of God to receive His goodness (Rom 2:4) which requires a contrite and broken heart that God gives us (Eze 36:26, Isa 66:2) along with faith and strength (Eph 2:8, Php 4:13) needed to endure until the end of our age, making it possible for us to not love our own life, but rather lose it for Christ’s sake (Mat 25:1-13, Mat 10:39). This is all true and possible because God “is in the heavens: [and] he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased“.

Mat 10:39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: andhe that loseth his life for my sake shall find it (Mat 10:22).

That “for my sake” is the keeping of the commandments of God [Mat 19:17 “but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments”]. God gives His spirit to them who obey Him (Act 5:32) and that extra oil which is given to the wise servant in the parable of Matthew 25 quickens us and causes us to be able to drink the cup that God gives (Joh 6:63, Mat 24:13, Mat 20:23). Christ admonishes us if you will enter into life you must “keep the commandments” and we know that those who keep His commandments love Him and have their names written in the book of life (Mat 19:17, Rev 20:15, 1Co 14:37).

Mat 19:17 And he said unto him,Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life , keep the commandments. 

Rev 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. 

1Co 14:37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual,let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.

Psa 115:4 Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands.

God causes us to have an idol of our heart, and likens that idol unto silver and gold knowing that His word is the idol in question (Pro 2:4-5, Pro 3:14-15) which will remain so until it is purified through fiery trials (1Pe 4:12). Because of the proximity to our carnal minds and the influence that our deceitful flesh has on God’s word (Jer 17:9), He calls this relationship with His silver and gold, “the work of men’s hands“.

Pro 2:4 If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; 
Pro 2:5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. 

Pro 3:14 For the merchandise of itis better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. 
Pro 3:15 Sheis more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her. 

Psa 115:5 They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not:

This verse reminds us that we can have a lot to say, even unto the Lord and declare that we can see and yet remain in the dark (Joh 9:21) if we do not keep the commandments of God (Luk 6:46). As discussed earlier, the beast which represents our yet carnal relationship speaks and has influence over others, and these following verses (Rev 13:15-16, Mat 24:24, 2Co 11:13-15) demonstrate the ultimate example of a Nicolaitan spirit which rules over the unsuspecting laity. These false prophets and apostles “have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not“.

Rev 13:15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast,that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beastshould be killed. [this is where we want to be among those who “should be killed” (Rev 11:8, Rom 6:11)]

Rev 13:16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: 

Mat 24:24 For there shall arisefalse Christs, andfalse prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. 

2Co 11:13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 
2Co 11:14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 
2Co 11:15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. 

Psa 115:6 They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not:

By now it should be very apparent to us that the idols which are being spoken of here in this Psalm are not specifically physical idols like a statue of Jesus or Buddha, but rather it is a parable discussing the idols that are naturally attached to the heart of every man who does not yet know “THE UNKNOWN GOD” as Paul expressed to a group of men in Athens (Act 17:22-23). These men really did have physical idols and altars that were devotions to various gods, and they were outward expressions of their inward deception and longing but were ever learning and not able to come to the knowledge of the truth (2Ti 3:7).

2Ti 3:7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 

When the scripture says “They have ears, but they hear not” or “noses have they, but they smell not” we are simply being told what Paul said to the Athenians in regard to their current relationship “TO THE UNKNOWN GOD” where he says “Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you”.

Christ cannot be defined with a carnal fleshly mind, and when we do He remains spiritually unknown unto us. With the mind of Christ we can discern the good and the evil, or judge matters in our heavens through God’s holy spirit, which gives us the ability to hear the voice of the true Shepherd as the comforter leads us into all truth and helps us try the spirits whether they are of God or not (Joh 10:27, Joh 16:13, 1Jn 4:1). The holy spirit gives us a mind that is described this way: “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” and that spirit helps us judge righteous judgment, because we are not judging after the flesh, but seeking our Lord’s judgment continually, whose judgment is not affected by the appearance, which is why the scripture says the new creature in Christ can say “Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more” (2Co 5:16-17). Judgment begins at the house of God, the temple that we are, as our Lord helps us examine ourselves to make sure that the plank is not in our own eye as we mature in our ability to judge righteous judgment that will have us not knowing any man after the flesh (2Co 5:16, Joh 5:30, 2Co 10:5, 1Jn 4:17, Joh 7:24). 

“They have ears, but they hear not “because they can hear, but what anyone hears when they are deceived is a lying spirit that God sends to keep that person from hearing the voice of the true Shepherd (Eze 14:9-10, Joh 12:40).

Eze 14:9 And if the prophet be deceived when he hath spoken a thing, I the LORD have deceived that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand upon him, and will destroy him from the midst of my people Israel. 
Eze 14:10 And they shall bear the punishment of their iniquity: the punishment of the prophet shall be even as the punishment of him that seeketh unto him; 

Joh 12:40 He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see withtheir eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them. 

“Noses have they, but they smell not “because they can smell, but what we initially smell from true believers is the smell of death, even as we cannot recognize our own odious spiritual condition that has yet to be healed (2Co 2:16, Rev 3:17). Lazarus and the rich man perfectly portray this principle of how God’s elect are perceived by those who are “clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day” (Luk 16:19-25). 

2Co 2:16 To the onewe are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things? 

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: 

Psa 115:7 They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat.

We can do many wonderful works with our hands, but still not handle the word of God correctly, but as we will see with these following scriptures, it’s not just about what we do with our hands, but what is in our hearts when we are handling the word of God (Php 1:15-19, Php 2:3-7, 2Co 4:5-6). If our hearts are not being changed by God whose love must be shed abroad in our hearts (Rom 5:5), then it won’t matter how much we handle the word, because from God’s perspective “but they handle not” is not speaking of those who don’t handle the word, but rather those who don’t have the love of God that must be accompanied with every relationship we have in this life (Mar 12:30-31).

2Co 4:5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake (1Co 3:4-7).
2Co 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness (Luk 18:19), hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 

We can have all truth and understand all mysteries, but if we don’t have love for one another and for our neighbour and for our enemies, for whom we are to pray, then we are not yet among those who are being given to handle the word of God correctly (Mat 7:22, Tit 2:14-15, 1Co 13:2-10). 

Mat 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? [the following verse in Titus 2:14-15 demonstrates that we must be redeemed from iniquity, and be purified if we are going to understand every work that we do is being done completely to the glory and honor of God who is working through the unprofitable servant who is doing that which is our duty to do (Luk 17:10)]

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. 
Tit 2:15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

Luk 17:10 So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things [the many wonderful works done in your name (3 times mentioned “in thy name“)] which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do. 

“They have hands, but they handle not” because we can handle the word, but it is only through the grace and faith of Christ (Eph 2:8) that anything we do will be understood in our hearts as something that Christ is doing through us, both to will and to do of His good pleasure (Php 2:13).

Christ said to Thomas “Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.” This statement of Christ is a parable that reminds us that we will remain as Thomas and those described in these terms “They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not” if we are not made whole by being given the spiritual healing that we need from Christ (Joh 5:8). Our walk is our way of life, and it is our communion with Christ that is once again typified by Christ having Thomas behold the hands and feet of Christ that we are to handle (1Co 10:16, Isa 58:6-7).

1Co 10:16 The cup of blessing which we bless,is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?

Isa 58:6 Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? 
Isa 58:7 Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? [Eph 5:28-30]

Eph 5:28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. 
Eph 5:29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: 
Eph 5:30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. 

“Neither speak they through their throat” is once again a reminder that when our words come through our mouth without being governed by the mind of Christ who gives us the ability to bring “into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (2Co 10:5) then our words are vain and as if they don’t exist in God’s ears as described so thoroughly in these verses (Mat 15:11, 1Co 13:1-3).

Mat 15:11 Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man. 

1Co 13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 
1Co 13:2 And though I havethe gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 
1Co 13:3 And though I bestow all my goods to feedthe poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

Psa 115:8 They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them. 

Finally the point is just stated plainly that when we make these physical idols reflect our creation, we are void of any real life that we come to know can only be found in Christ (Joh 14:6). If we follow after empty idols in the hearts of men, and trust them at their word without examining those words against the word of God then we will be “like unto them” because we “trusteth in them“.

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.

When we are granted that new life of Christ, everything changes (2Co 5:17, Rom 8:9); as we go from being children to becoming mature sons of God who can truly glorify God and worship him through this life, with the spirit that He gives us that will in time produce these fruits mentioned in (1Co 13:4-10). It is that spirit that is missing within the hearts and minds of humanity that we long to see be given (Rom 8:21-23), and yet we know that God’s plan calls us to be patient like the husbandman our Father is likened unto waiting for “the early and latter rain” that God has promise will occur, resulting in the salvation all mankind, that will be accompanied with those good fruits (Luk 21:19, Jas 5:7-9).

2Co 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 

Rom 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. 

1Co 13:4 Charity suffereth long,and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 
1Co 13:5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 
1Co 13:6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 
1Co 13:7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. 
1Co 13:8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. 
1Co 13:9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 
1Co 13:10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. 

Rom 8:21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
Rom 8:22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. 
Rom 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. 

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

Jas 5:7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. 
Jas 5:8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. 
Jas 5:9 Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door. 

In time all of God’s creation will understand that “Thine, O LORD,is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty” for ever and ever.

Next week, Lord willing, we will look at the last part of Psalm 115:9-18 which has a very big emphasis on trusting God, which will result in an abundant spiritual life that He alone can provide through Jesus Christ.

Psa 115:9 O Israel, trust thou in the LORD: he is their help and their shield. 
Psa 115:10 O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield. 
Psa 115:11 Ye that fear the LORD, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield. 
Psa 115:12 The LORD hath been mindful of us: he will blessus; he will bless the house of Israel; he will bless the house of Aaron. 
Psa 115:13 He will bless them that fear the LORD, both small and great. 
Psa 115:14 The LORD shall increase you more and more, you and your children. 
Psa 115:15 Ye are blessed of the LORD which made heaven and earth. 
Psa 115:16 The heaven,even the heavens,are the LORD’S: but the earth hath he given to the children of men. 
Psa 115:17 The dead praise not the LORD, neither any that go down into silence. 
Psa 115:18 But we will bless the LORD from this time forth and for evermore. Praise the LORD.

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Awesome Hands - part 100 Discussion

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Awesome Hands – part 100

“Brass in the outer court”

June 29, 2016

Confirmation is always very important in all aspects of human life and interactions with others. When we are having conversations, confirmations allow us to connect to one another because we are able to relate to each other.

Confirmations also act as a guide post of sorts to allow us to individually gauge where we are with whatever topic or item the confirmation confirms.

For the body of Christ, having confirmations that we are His beloved and He is ours allows is to move through our lives with confidence that no matter what we do or what we go through, we will have Him there with us.

In our study today we are going to continue the awesome hands series with a few more confirmations of why we matter to Jesus Christ and to each other.

It’s all in the details

Isn’t it amazing that the things that tend to bore us as humans are often the most needed yet neglected of all things to which we give our time?

Take for example the verses we will be covering today. There are many repeating and monotonous details in the description of the outer walls of the tabernacle court, yet they hold very instructive details for one of the things most Christians want to know about - namely, our relationship with God and what it means, how it manifests itself and how we can have a better relationship with God.

For brevity's sake, I will not read our verses today from the KJV so that I can help to make these verses more easily understood, but I do not want to skip them either because the Lord is in the details, so I will read them from the CEV translation below.

Exo 27:9  And thou shalt make the court of the tabernacle: for the south side southward there shall be hangings for the court of fine twined linen of an hundred cubits long for one side:
Exo 27:10  And the twenty pillars thereof and their twenty sockets shall be of brass; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets shall be of silver.
Exo 27:11  And likewise for the north side in length there shall be hangings of an hundred cubits long, and his twenty pillars and their twenty sockets of brass; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets of silver.
Exo 27:12  And for the breadth of the court on the west side shall be hangings of fifty cubits: their pillars ten, and their sockets ten.
Exo 27:13  And the breadth of the court on the east side eastward shall be fifty cubits.
Exo 27:14  The hangings of one side of the gate shall be fifteen cubits: their pillars three, and their sockets three.
Exo 27:15  And on the other side shall be hangings fifteen cubits: their pillars three, and their sockets three.
Exo 27:16  And for the gate of the court shall be an hanging of twenty cubits, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, wrought with needlework: and their pillars shall be four, and their sockets four.
Exo 27:17  All the pillars round about the court shall be filleted with silver; their hooks shall be of silver, and their sockets of brass.
Exo 27:18  The length of the court shall be an hundred cubits, and the breadth fifty every where, and the height five cubits of fine twined linen, and their sockets of brass.
Exo 27:19  All the vessels of the tabernacle in all the service thereof, and all the pins thereof, and all the pins of the court, shall be of brass.
Exo 27:20  And thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they bring thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamp to burn always.
Exo 27:21  In the tabernacle of the congregation without the vail, which is before the testimony, Aaron and his sons shall order it from evening to morning before the LORD: it shall be a statute for ever unto their generations on the behalf of the children of Israel.

Instead, I will read these same verses from the CEV (Contemporary English Version).

Exo 27:9  Surround the sacred tent with a courtyard one hundred fifty feet long on the south and north and seventy-five feet wide on the east and west. Use twenty bronze posts on bronze stands for the south and north and ten for the west. Then hang a curtain of fine linen on the posts along each of these three sides by using silver hooks and rods. Place three bronze posts on each side of the entrance at the east and hang a curtain seven and a half yards wide on each set of posts.

Exo 27:10  (SEE 27:9)
Exo 27:11  (SEE 27:9)
Exo 27:12  (SEE 27:9)
Exo 27:13  (SEE 27:9)
Exo 27:14  (SEE 27:9)
Exo 27:15  (SEE 27:9)

Exo 27:16  Use four more of these posts for the entrance way, then hang on them an embroidered curtain of fine linen ten yards long and woven with blue, purple, and red wool.
Exo 27:17  The curtains that surround the courtyard must be two and a half yards high and are to be hung from the bronze posts with silver hooks and rods.
Exo 27:18  (SEE 27:17)
Exo 27:19  The rest of the equipment for the sacred tent must be made of bronze, including the pegs for the tent and for the curtain surrounding the courtyard.

The first thing to keep in mind when listening to or reading anything about the tabernacle is that it is a foreshadowing of who we are in Christ and how we relate to God the Father via Jesus Christ.

Heb 8:1  Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;
Heb 8:2  A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.
Heb 8:3  For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer.
Heb 8:4  For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law:
Heb 8:5  Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.

Heb 10:1  The Law of Moses is like a shadow of the good things to come. This shadow isn't the good things themselves, because it cannot free people from sin by the sacrifices that are offered year after year.
Heb 10:2  If there were worshipers who already have their sins washed away and their consciences made clear, there would not be any need to go on offering sacrifices.
Heb 10:3  But the blood of bulls and goats cannot take away sins. It only reminds people of their sins from one year to the next.
Heb 10:4  (SEE 10:3)
Heb 10:5  When Christ came into the world, he said to God, "Sacrifices and offerings are not what you want, but you have given me my body.

So, as we read about this outer court of the tabernacle what are we being told in all the details of each of the sockets, pillars, curtains, rods and rings?

God wants you to know the details because it is in the details that He reveals Himself. Think about how it is Faith inspires you or hope grasps your heart and mind. You have memories of when God came to you in your darkest times or helped you up when you knew there was no way forward.

It is in these times and the special details of those interactions that you remember God’s presence. Likewise, when we study things like the details in the making of the tabernacle we know that the Lord set in motion all that the Israelites when through, for example, so that He could once again reach out through the vastness of time and touch you with the details He has prepared for His children to know He is and has always been there for them.

Brazen Altar

In Awesome Hands Part 99 the bronze/brazen altar was mentioned. Here in this study we are covering the entrance/gate to the outer court which eventually leads to the tabernacle.

In order to enter the tabernacle, the Israelites had to come through the fine linen gate which was supported by 4 bronze pillars and hanging from silver hooks.

Immediately upon entering the outer court they were presented with the brazen altar which was an immediate reminder that in order to approach the God of Israel at all you need to have a sacrifice prepared.

Of course, there were many Israelites entering into the tabernacle so there would have been blood everywhere in the vicinity of the altar.

Next, is the laver where all the washing would take place with the laver being between the bronze alter and the tabernacle tent. In these two items we can see that Israel was given a glimpse of having privilege with God of being His people yet unless you were a priest you could not enter into the holies nor holy of holies.

Heb 10:6  No, you are not pleased with animal sacrifices and offerings for sin."
Heb 10:7  Then Christ said, "And so, my God, I have come to do what you want, as the Scriptures say."
Heb 10:8  The Law teaches that offerings and sacrifices must be made because of sin. But why did Christ mention these things and say that God did not want them?
Heb 10:9  Well, it was to do away with offerings and sacrifices and to replace them. That is what he meant by saying to God, "I have come to do what you want."
Heb 10:10  So we are made holy because Christ obeyed God and offered himself once for all.
Heb 10:11  The priests do their work each day, and they keep on offering sacrifices that can never take away sins.
Heb 10:12  But Christ offered himself as a sacrifice that is good forever. Now he is sitting at God's right side,
Heb 10:13  and he will stay there until his enemies are put under his power.

Being the Jesus Christ is our offering for sin, and that He is the last sacrifice ever needed, what then is our part in the tabernacle as it relates to all the brass/bronze that we initially are confronted with when entering into the outer court?

Heb 10:14  By his one sacrifice he has forever set free from sin the people he brings to God.
Heb 10:15  The Holy Spirit also speaks of this by telling us that the Lord said,
Heb 10:16  "When the time comes, I will make an agreement with them. I will write my laws on their minds and hearts.
Heb 10:17  Then I will forget about their sins and no longer remember their evil deeds."
Heb 10:18  When sins are forgiven, there is no more need to offer sacrifices.

God does not care about our sacrifices to and for Him which come out of our own carnal reasoning. What He does care immensely for is that our covenant is recognized for what it is and that our hearts and minds are renewed towards Him.

How then are our minds renewed?

Eph 4:23  And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
Eph 4:24  And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

2Co 4:12  So then death worketh in us, but life in you.
2Co 4:13  We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;
2Co 4:14  Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.
2Co 4:15  For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.
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 4:18  While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

It is inevitable that we look on the things that are able to be seen, but we must remind ourselves not to dwell on them.

Life in this aion with wear us down to the point that we would perish if we did not think on the LORD, but we will be raised up when all is said and done.

Just like the laver which sits between the brazen alter and the tent of the tabernacle, we must be renewed by the washing of water by the Word so that we do not concentrate on the blood of the cross always but that we move past it into the very presence of God.

I cannot help to quote the Word and go to the scriptures for comfort. I cannot help but read them and present them to you all to show you how it is we all approach the Lord. Do you put these things into practice? If not, then you are robbing your own heart and mind of the peace of God.

Col 3:10  And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
Col 3:11  Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
Col 3:12  Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
Col 3:13  Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
Col 3:14  And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
Col 3:15  And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
Col 3:16  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Col 3:17  And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

With all that being said, there is a price that we will pay for being able to approach and eat at the table of the Lord while in this flesh.

That price is the fiery trials that we must all endure and overcome to the end. There is a reason that the Son of God has brass feet. His feet and His walk are who we ARE to the Lord. We are crucified with Him and it looks something like this. Do you see yourself in Daniel?

Dan 10:4  And in the four and twentieth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, which is Hiddekel;
Dan 10:5  Then I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a certain man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with fine gold of Uphaz:
Dan 10:6  His body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in colour to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude.
Dan 10:7  And I Daniel alone saw the vision: for the men that were with me saw not the vision; but a great quaking fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves.
Dan 10:8  Therefore I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me: for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength.

Even though we of ourselves are just corruption, the Lord still speaks to us.

Dan 10:9  Yet heard I the voice of his words: and when I heard the voice of his words, then was I in a deep sleep on my face, and my face toward the ground.
Dan 10:10  And, behold, an hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands.
Dan 10:11  And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling.
Dan 10:12  Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.

The Lord has the answers we need if we’d only trust in Him to provide them in His timing. Yes, even this is all of the Lord yet we are told to desire the heavenly things and to write His words upon our hearts and minds.

For me, one of the strongest examples in scripture of renewing our minds to what the Lord is doing in our lives is found in Psalm 103.

Psa 103:1  A Psalm of David. Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
Psa 103:2  Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
Psa 103:3  Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
Psa 103:4  Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
Psa 103:5  Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.
Psa 103:6  The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.
Psa 103:7  He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.

The tabernacle is the shadow of His ways and His acts being made know to US!

Psa 103:8  The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.
Psa 103:9  He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.
Psa 103:10  He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
Psa 103:11  For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.
Psa 103:12  As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
Psa 103:13  Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.
Psa 103:14  For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.
Psa 103:15  As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.
Psa 103:16  For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.
Psa 103:17  But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children;
Psa 103:18  To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.
Psa 103:19  The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.
Psa 103:20  Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.
Psa 103:21  Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.
Psa 103:22  Bless the LORD, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the LORD, O my soul.

Brass or bronze is the best that the flesh has to offer and a positive application of bronze is that while we still have to contend with the flesh it is WHILE we are in the flesh that we are able to first approach God.

That simply happens because our old man, the carnal mind and the flesh which produces death that pulls on our hearts and minds, is being destroyed daily has He increase and we decrease. Washing of water by the Word is always needed by those who desire to go into the holy and holy of holies with Christ Jesus.

Fear of the Lord isn’t something that is negative, and spiritual fear of the Lord is not what your carnal reasoning tells you it is. Fear of the Lord is the acknowledgement that you have someone higher up the spiritual food scale than you.

Fear of the Lord is acknowledging that the Lord is, was and will be Lord of all and in all. Fear of the Lord is what CAUSES you and me and anyone else who calls himself a Christian to be able to LOVE!

Keeping His great commandments hinges on our fear of the Lord and fear and respect of whom the Lord our God is, was and will be is the key to understanding how to endure and overcome to the end.

Being that we are being trained up as kings and priests, we must obey the Lord and always have ready the oil that is needed to keep the lights on in the tabernacle.

Exo 27:20  Command the people of Israel to supply you with the purest olive oil. Do this so the lamp will keep burning
Exo 27:21  in front of the curtain that separates the holy place from the most holy place, where the sacred chest is kept. Aaron and his sons are responsible for keeping the lamp burning every night in the sacred tent. The Israelites must always obey this command.

In the next study, we will continue to look at how the Lord works His spiritual hands in our lives to present Himself to us even more with the pattern given to us in all that made up the physical tabernacle of the Jews. In the meantime, keep the Lights on by using the power of the Lord in your lives to present the Lord to others who are in your influence.

Greetings!

Please does anyone have some insight on Eph 6:15? “And having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace.”

I welcome any input.

Thanks in advance,

YBIC

M____

Hi M____,

Our ‘feet’ symbolize our walk, our way of life, and our message to those around us. Being shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, is living a life which puts the kingdom of God and His righteousness first. If we are not yet given do “do the things [Christ] says” and live by His sayings, then we certainly are not shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. If we do keep Christ’s words, then we are shod with the gospel of peace:

Mat 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Mat 7:24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them [has his feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace], I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
Mat 7:25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
Mat 7:26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
Mat 7:27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

If our words match our walk then we must have our feet properly shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace and Christ will liken us to being built upon a rock, upon Christ Himself.

If our house is built upon shifting, unstable sand, then we are not shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, and this is what we will hear as the Lord deals with us to cleanse us and to bring us to Himself:

Luk 6:46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

Our feet symbolize our walk with Christ, and the preparation of the gospel of peace, is the words of Christ which are intended to guide our steps:

Psa 119:105 NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

I hope this helps.

Your brother in Christ,

Mike

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Revelation 1:15 – Feet Like Unto Brass

Rev 1:15  And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.

As always, we are being taught to “keep the things written therein.” We are being taught the same things all the apostles were taught. What the apostles all learned was what Paul, Peter and John all called “the revelation of Jesus Christ:”

Gal 1:11  But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
Gal 1:12  For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

1Pe 1:13  Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

… and of course this very book, penned by John himself:

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 signified it by his angel unto his servant John:

What we are learning in this study is that as Christ’s elect we are to this world exactly what Christ was when He was in a body of flesh and blood.  We reveal Christ to others in this world through our lives, just as the Father was revealed to us by Christ and His way of life.

Joh 14:8  Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.
Joh 14:9  Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?

As Christ is to us, the revelation of His Father, even so we are to this world “the revelation of Jesus Christ.” What we are learning is that the revelation of Christ takes place within each of us because we are told… “As He is so are we in this world.”

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

We are learning that as we come to see more of “the revelation of Jesus Christ,” what we are seeing is that the revelation of Jesus Christ has to do with Christ in us being Christ in this world.

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

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

So how is it that Christ’s feet are “like unto fine brass,” and why are we told that His feet are “as if they burned in a furnace?” Why are we not told that Christ’s feet are as gold, as if they were in air-conditioned comfort?

“And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace;”

All of these symbols of the book of Revelation come from the Old Testament. For example, Revelation 1:15 comes from Daniel 10:6.

Dan 10:6 His body also [was] like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in colour to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude.

Many months ago we did a study on metals in scripture. That study is to be found in its entirety on iswasandwillbe.com, with the series beginning here. In our study on the base metal copper, we saw that the sockets of the feet of all the boards which made up the tabernacle in the wilderness, were all made of silver, except for the sockets which held the pillars on which the curtains hung, which formed the door of the holy place. What we learned in that study was that God had promised His overcomers that He would make them pillars in His temple, and it just so happens that the sockets which hold the pillars at the door of the tabernacle are not made of silver, but they are made of fine brass.

Exo 26:36  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.
Exo 26:37  And thou shalt make for the hanging five pillars of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold, [and] their hooks [shall be of] gold: and thou shalt cast five sockets of brass for them.

Rev 3:12  Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.

What we learned in that study on metals is what we are learning in this study. We came to see that the only place pillars are found in God’s tabernacle were five pillars at the door of the tent and four pillars at the door of the holy of holies. Only the feet, or the sockets of the pillars at the door of the tent, were to be made of fine brass, which should have been translated ‘copper.’ The message we were given in that study was that it is only through God’s elect that anyone can come into the presence of God because “As He is so are we in this world.”

Eph 3:9  And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
Eph 3:10  To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,

So there is a very good reason why Christ’s feet are “like unto fine brass” instead of fine gold, and there is a very good reason why we are told that they are “as if they burned in a furnace.” That reason has to do with the fact that Christ was “made sin,” and “took not on him the nature of angels, but he took on him the seed of Abraham” and in that body of sinful flesh, He endured the fiery trials of resisting sin and false doctrines as a way of life.

“As He is so are we in this world” is true only because of the truth of the verses quoted in earlier studies concerning the fact that Christ “took not on Him the nature of angels, but He took on him the seed of Abraham.” That “seed of Abraham” was indeed the “the same… flesh and blood… seed of Abraham… made in the likeness of sinful flesh… as the children.” It was not some different kind of flesh and blood.

Rom 8:3  For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

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,
Heb 2:12  Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.
Heb 2:13  And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.
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;
Heb 2:15  And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
Heb 2:16  For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.
Heb 2:17  Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things [pertaining] to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

Here again is why Christ’s feet are “like unto fine brass” instead of fine gold. Here again those who deny the truth of Romans 8:3 and Hebrews 2:3-17 are called “that spirit of antichrist.”

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

So while the whole world is looking for a certain man to come at the end of this age as the Antichrist, we are clearly warned that that prophecy is, was and will be being fulfilled every day that anyone denies that Christ has “come in… the same… sinful flesh and blood… as the children… of Abraham.”  This is a matter of spiritual life and spiritual death. Did Christ come as a man, or does this next verse of scripture contradict what we are told here in 1 John 4:3?

Mat 1:20  But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

This verse has been used since the days of the apostles Paul and John to deny that Christ was really a son of Abraham and thus a son of Adam, as well as being “of the holy ghost.” The whole orthodox Christian world has taken it upon themselves to save Christ from being tainted with the sin that is in all flesh:

Rom 7:17  Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
Rom 7:18  For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but [how] to perform that which is good I find not.

If “no good thing” dwells in our flesh would that not also be true of Christ’s flesh? Let’s let Christ himself answer that question:

Mat 19:16  And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
Mat 19:17  And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.

These words out of the mouth of our Lord accord with the words of Hebrews 2… “the same flesh and blood…like unto sinful flesh…not the nature of angels, but the seed of Abraham, flesh and blood,” which it “behoved Him in all things to be like unto His brothers.” Just as men could not see how Christ could be both “out of Judah” and at the same time be “out of Nazareth”, neither can carnal men understand how Christ can be “born of the holy ghost” and also be “the Son of Man.” Until this very day mankind cannot see how our Savior can be “made sin who knew no sin,” and yet that is the doctrine which is according to godliness, as contrasted to the spirit of Antichrist. Here is a second warning against this millennial old doctrine which has always dominated orthodox Christianity.

2Co 5:21 For the man who knew no sin was made sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in him.

2Jn 1:7  For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist

Just as the Adversary has always done, he speaks with a forked tongue. He admits that God is love, and with the same tongue and in the same breath, he tells you that this loving God and heavenly Father, will burn His children in hell for all eternity. So it is with this doctrine of Christ coming in “the same flesh and blood as the children of Abraham.” All of orthodox Christianity proclaims that Christ came in the flesh, and with the same forked tongue of their father the devil (Joh 6:44) they deny that it is “the same flesh as that flesh and blood of the children of Abraham.”

Here is the doctrine of a dear brother who bought into this body the heretical doctrine which denies that the flesh of Christ is the same as ours:

“Your point about Psalm 51:5 is again out of line with the scriptures. You say my take on this scipture is “Catholic orthodoxy”. No, Mike, that’s just plainly not true. It is you that deny the Gospel of Matthew, and the Gospel of Luke and call those Gospels’ “false doctrines.” The Gospel accounts of both Matthew and Luke tell us that Christ was born of a virgin mother, not conceived in sin as you state. Christ was born Holy, not shapen in iniquity as you state, and both of those statements by Matthew and Luke are in line with all the prophecies of Christ in the O.T. Psalm 51:5 is clearly David talking about himself, and about all of mankind. It is not in reference to Christ. Christ did not come in the “same” flesh as we do, he came in the LIKENESS of our flesh.”

“There is no scripture anywhere that says Christ was either carnally minded, sinful, conceived in sin or shapen in iniquity. Jesus Christ is, was and will be our spotless, unblemished sacrifice and savior, He was perfect just as His Father is in Heaven.”

That is how the phrase “likeness of sinful flesh”  is twisted to make it say that “Christ did not come in the same flesh as we do.” Compare those words to these words of our Lord, and then try the spirits to see whether they are of God:

Mat 19:17  And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.

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

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

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;

Do any of those scriptures say “[Christ] was perfect just like His Father in heaven”? I think not!

Why are Christ’s feet as brass? Because they represent “His body… in the likeness of sinful flesh.”

Rom 8:3  For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

Christ’s body, His true church, is always walking in fiery trials:

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

Christ is now in “our flesh.” We are now His body and His feet, which move his body. We are now “His flesh and His bones”:

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

Isa 52:7 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!

As if they burned in a furnace, Christ’s feet are what move “His body” as He walks. Christ is now walking in the same sinful flesh and blood in which He came to this earth. He is now in you and in me, and if we are faithful to His doctrines, we are even now “as if we were in a furnace.” Here is the scripture which tells us this is so:

1Co 3:12  Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
1Co 3:13  Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.

What day is “the day?” “The day” is the day of judgment. It is a fiery day which will burn up all that cannot withstand the fire. It will burn out all of the “wood, hay, and stubble” that is in our lives.

1Pe 4:12  Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
1Pe 4:13  But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
1Pe 4:14  If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy [ are ye]; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.

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?

God’s word is the ‘fire’ which judges all flesh. Yes, it even declares that the flesh and blood of our spotless Savior cannot inherit the kingdom of God, and even Christ had to be “perfected on the third day,” the day of His resurrection.

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

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

It takes time for the wood, hay and stubble to be burned out of our lives, to bring us to perfection. When we read that His feet burned in a furnace, it is interesting to note that the only other place that this Greek word translated ‘burned’ appears in the book of Revelation is in Revelation 3:18, and here it is translated ‘tried’.

Rev 3:18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried [G4448: ‘puroo’]  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 1:15  And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned [G4448: ‘puroo’] in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.

The same word is also translated ‘fiery’ in Ephesians 6:15-16.

Eph 6:15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
Eph 6:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

The ‘fiery’ in 1 Peter 4:12 is also from the root of this same Greek word.

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

Rev 1:15  … And his voice as the sound of many waters.

What is meant by the phrase “many waters?” Why is the voice of Christ said to be “as the sound of many waters? The scriptures demonstrate that the phrase “many waters” is another way of saying the people of God, whether God’s people are being ruled over by a “great whore” or whether they are around the throne of God in heaven. Wherever we see this phrase, we are seeing a reference to the people of God. Here is how the spirit has inspired this phrase to be used:

Rev 17:1  And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters:

That is the negative application of this phrase. Look now at these entries for this phrase:

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:

As we will soon come to see, “the voice of many waters and the voice of a great thunder and the voice of harpers harping with their harps” are all one and the same. All three are symbols of God’s people.

Rev 19:6  And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.

Once again, “the voice of a great multitude and the voice of many waters and the voice of mighty thunderings” are all the voices of God’s elect “ saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.”

Conclusion

Rev 1:15  And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.

We have seen that the feet “as fine brass” are the feet of Christ and His Christ. We have seen that the feet of Christ are always “as if they burned in a furnace” as we carry the body of Christ through the fiery trials which are “the things which are written therein.” We have also seen that the sound of many waters is also Christ and His elect, speaking the fiery words of Christ which judge this world in us and burn out of us all that cannot withstand that fire.

We have seen that “as He is so are we in this world” (1Jo 4:17).

Does the world need Christ?

Joh 3:16  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Joh 3:17  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Yes, the world needs Christ. No matter how popular Oprah may be, the Truth will always remain that the name of Jesus Christ is the only name by which men can be saved.

Act 4:12  Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

What does “the name of Christ” mean? What does “as He is so are we in this world” mean? Can we carry that thought through to the extent that we can be called saviors? Yes, we have already established that fact with these verses:

Neh 9:27  Therefore thou deliveredst them into the hand of their enemies, who vexed them: and in the time of their trouble, when they cried unto thee, thou heardest them from heaven; and according to thy manifold mercies thou gavest them saviours, who saved them out of the hand of their enemies.

“You gave them saviors.” Is this the only verse which brings this out? No, it is not. Here it is again:

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

What kingdom shall be the Lord’s? Is this talking exclusively about the millennial kingdom, or do these “saviors” include you and me as that “kingdom of God within you?”

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.

If ‘saviors come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau’ and if “the kingdom is the Lord’s” and if that “kingdom is within us,” then it follows that mount Zion and the mount of Esau, must also be within us, the former judging the latter, within us. Is this not what we are being told in these verses of God’s Word?

Joh 17:14  I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
Joh 17:15   I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
Joh 17:16  They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
Joh 17:17  Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
Joh 17:18  As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.
Joh 17:19  And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.
Joh 17:20  Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
Joh 17:21  That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
Joh 17:22  And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
Joh 17:23  I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

In our next study, Lord willing, we will discover what is the meaning of the symbolism of our next verse:

Rev 1:16  And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance [was] as the sun shineth in his strength.