Matthew 15:21–39 The Faith of a Canaanite Woman

[Study Aired July 21, 2025]

The study for today is focused on the faith of a Canaanite woman, the healing of many with diverse issues near the sea of Galilee and the feeding of the four thousand. 

The Faith of a Canaanite Woman

Mat 15:21  Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon. 
Mat 15:22 And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.

It is important to note that Jesus coming into the coast of Tyre and Sidon is significant in the sense that this is the first time that Jesus’ ministry stepped outside the boundaries of Israel. As we are aware, Jesus’ ministry was centered on Israel. In other words, He came for the lost sheep of the house of Israel. His coming to Tyre and Sidon is therefore, to show us that the Gentiles, or those who are not of Jewish descent, are also going to be part of the commonwealth of Israel. 

Eph 2:11  Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; 
Eph 2:12  That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
Eph 2:13  But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. 
Eph 2:14  For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 
Eph 2:15  Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
Eph 2:16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: 

Spiritually, we can say that both Tyre and Sidon were part of the multitude that sought after Jesus.

Mar 3:7  But Jesus withdrew himself with his disciples to the sea: and a great multitude from Galilee followed him, and from Judaea, 
Mar 3:8 And from Jerusalem, and from Idumaea, and from beyond Jordan; and they about Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, when they had heard what great things he did, came unto him.  

As indicated in previous studies, the multitudes represent our brothers and sisters in the churches of this world who are not given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of Heaven. We were part of the multitude until Jesus came and dragged us to Himself and therefore we became part of the church of the firstborn or the Jerusalem above. 

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

As stated in verse 2, the woman of Canaan was from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon and therefore was part of the multitude. The woman therefore represents the church of the Lord’s elect during our captivity in Babylon or the churches of this world. When Christ came our way during this period of our walk, we were tormented by a demon, and therefore we pleaded with the Lord to have mercy on us. To be tormented by a demon means we were tortured by our false doctrines. The doctrine of burning forever in the lake of fire, the giving of tithes, the prosperity doctrine, etc., all served to torment us. We opened our mouth wide to receive the blessings of the Lord but nothing happened. We kept on failing to live righteously and were therefore worried about going to hell. 

Psa 81:10  I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.
Psa 81:11 But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me. 

Our lives in the churches of this world were therefore characterized by torment because of our false doctrines. 

Act 15:10  Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? 

Mat 15:23  But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. 
Mat 15:24  But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 

Jesus not answering the woman in verse 23, implies that during this period of our walk in the churches of this world, we were not able hear from the Lord since our eyes were closed and our ears were dull of hearing. 

Mat 13:13  Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. 
Mat 13:14  And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: 
Mat 13:15 For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. 

As shown in verse 23, the disciples at this time of their walk with Christ, did not know Him, and therefore they represent our leaders in the churches of this world who send us away because we questioned them about our belief system, just as the woman cried after them. 

In our desperation, the Lord came to us to make us understand that His focus is on the lost sheep of the house of Israel. That was when we came to know that there is a special group of people to whom the Lord is ministering, but unfortunately, we were not part of this group. This reminds me of what happened to Elijah, when in his desperation, he told the Lord that he had been very jealous of Him, and He was the only one left. That was when the Lord told him that He has reserved 7,000 of His elect who had not bowed their knees to the doctrines of the church system of this world.

1Ki 19:14  And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away. 
1Ki 19:15  And the LORD said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria: 

1Ki 19:18 Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him. 

Coming back to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, we need to understand that it was the sheep which left the 100 sheep and got lost that the Lord pursued after, while leaving the 99 sheep in the wilderness without a shepherd. That one sheep is the lost sheep of the house of Israel. The fact that it was only one sheep means that those whom the Lord is dragging to Himself all have one mind and one judgment. 

1Co 1:10  Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 

Remember that the number one means unity. The fact that it was only 1 out of 100 sheep that got lost and was saved means that those who are being saved by the Lord in this age are few. The 99 sheep represent our brothers and sisters in the churches of this world who think they are all right and therefore need no repentance.

Luk 15:4  What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? 
Luk 15:5  And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 
Luk 15:6  And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. 
Luk 15:7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

Mat 15:25  Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. 
Mat 15:26  But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs. 
Mat 15:27  And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.

The woman coming to worship the Lord and asking for help from the Lord means that we came to see at a certain stage of our walk that without the Lord’s intervention, we could not help ourselves. That means we were helpless in pleasing the Lord. 

Psa 51:16  For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. 
Psa 51:17  The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. 
Psa 51:18 Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem. 

The Lord’s answer to the woman that it was not right to take the children’s bread and to cast it to the dogs is to show us that during our time in the churches of this world, we were dogs. Being dogs means that we were evil workers who walked according to the law of Moses. In other words, we tried to die to our flesh by our own effort, but we were not successful.

Php 3:2  Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision. 
Php 3:3 For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.  

In verse 27, the acceptance of the woman that she was indeed a dog is to show us that we must humble ourselves before the Lord to accept the fact that we had gone astray at a certain stage of our walk with Christ. Our acceptance of the fact that we have been receiving crumbs or pieces of His words during our time in the Babylonian system is what paves the way for us to start enjoying children’s bread, that is, the truth of His words. 

Gal 3:26  For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 
Gal 3:27  For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 
Gal 3:28  There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 
Gal 3:29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Mat 15:28  Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

We know from the sum of the word of the Lord that the woman’s great faith is the Lord’s faith given to us as we leave Babylon to become part of the church of the first born or Jerusalem which is above.

Php 3:9  And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: 

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

We must understand that Christ’s faith comes to us by hearing the truth of the word of the Lord.

Rom 10:17  So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.  

In verse 28, the Lord told the woman that what she wanted will be done for her. In this case, the woman wanted the Lord to deliver her daughter from being tormented by the devil. Indeed, the false doctrines in our heavens are being dealt with by the truth of His words in our lives, as we grow to know Him and experience the power of His resurrection in our lives.

Isa 28:17  Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place. 

Php 3:10  That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 
Php 3:11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.   

Jesus Heals Many

Mat 15:29  And Jesus departed from thence, and came nigh unto the sea of Galilee; and went up into a mountain, and sat down there. 
Mat 15:30  And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus’ feet; and he healed them: 
Mat 15:31  Insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see: and they glorified the God of Israel.

Jesus departing from Tyre and Sidon and going near to the sea of Galilee where a great multitude came to Him where He healed them of all kinds of disease indicates that the Lord will surely save our brothers and sisters in the churches of this world who are represented by the multitude. At a certain stage of our walk with Christ, we were part of this multitude. The fact that these multitudes are closer to the sea of Galilee shows us that they were influenced by the deeds of the flesh of mankind. That is another way of saying that they are dominated by the flesh. This was our situation when we were part of the church system of this world. We could not please the Lord as we were captivated by the things of the flesh.

Rom 8:5  For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 
Rom 8:6  For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Rom 8:7  Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 
Rom 8:8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 

In verse 30, we are shown the consequences of focusing on the flesh. We became lame. Being lame means that we had difficulty walking due to a condition affecting our legs or feet. Spiritually, this implies that we were not able to please the Lord with our walk because of our flesh dominating us.

Gal 5:17  For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 
Gal 5:18  But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. 
Gal 5:19  Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 
Gal 5:20  Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
Gal 5:21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.  

We are also told in verse 30 that among those brought to Jesus were the blind. We were spiritually blind at a certain stage of our walk with Christ, and therefore we could not understand the mysteries of the kingdom of Heaven. This is what the Lord says about our condition when we were under the yoke of our flesh:

Isa 42:18  Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see.
Isa 42:19  Who is blind, but my servant? or deaf, as my messenger that I sent? who is blind as he that is perfect, and blind as the LORD’S servant? 
Isa 42:20  Seeing many things, but thou observest not; opening the ears, but he heareth not.
Isa 42:21  The LORD is well pleased for his righteousness’ sake; he will magnify the law, and make it honourable. 
Isa 42:22 But this is a people robbed and spoiled; they are all of them snared in holes, and they are hid in prison houses: they are for a prey, and none delivereth; for a spoil, and none saith, Restore. 

The third condition described in verse 30 is that we were dumb. In other words, we could not open our mouth to speak about the truth of His words. Although we are designated as His elect or watchmen before the foundation of this world, we were made dumb by the Lord when we were under captivity of the evil one in the churches of this world.

Isa 56:10  His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber.

Psa 38:13  But I, as a deaf man, heard not; and I was as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth.

The last condition described in verse 30 is being maimed or wounded. It was because our sins had increased that was why the Lord wounded us.

Jer 30:14  All thy lovers have forgotten thee; they seek thee not; for I have wounded thee with the wound of an enemy, with the chastisement of a cruel one, for the multitude of thine iniquity; because thy sins were increased.

The Lord used the very people who should have been our watchmen, to wound us when we were in the churches of this world.

Son 5:7  The watchmen that went about the city found me, they smote me, they wounded me; the keepers of the walls took away my veil from me.

In the fullness of time, the Lord came to us while we were part of the church system of this world to heal us of all our diseases so that we can serve the Lord in spirit and in truth. That was when we started to glorify God with our members.

1Co 6:19  What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 
1Co 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s. 

Jesus Feeds the Four Thousand

Mat 15:32  Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way. 
Mat 15:33  And his disciples say unto him, Whence should we have so much bread in the wilderness, as to fill so great a multitude? 

In verse 32, we see the Lord showing compassion to the multitude because they had been with Him for three days without food. It is reassuring to note that the Lord was determined not to send the multitude away without food. The Lord’s compassion never fails and is available not only to us, His elect, but the whole of humanity who are His children.

Lam 3:22  It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. 
Lam 3:23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

As we have indicated earlier, the multitude represents our brothers and sisters in the churches of this world. This verse therefore shows us that in the fullness of time, the Lord will show mercy to our brothers and sisters in the churches of this world and all of humanity as He heals them of every disease of the flesh. That is to say that the salvation of the Lord will also be theirs. 

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

What is said in verse 32 is in direct opposition to the false doctrine of Babylon which says that the Lord will burn all of humanity who do not know Him. The number three means the process of spiritual maturity through judgment. Jesus being with the multitude for three days therefore refers to the process of the second death through judgment in the lake of fire age, designated for all humanity including our brothers and sisters in the churches of this world. It is reassuring to know that in verse 32, the Lord has given His word that He will not send them away without food, lest they faint along the way. That is to say that all humanity shall come to know Christ through His word (food for the multitude).

1Ti 2:3  For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 
1Ti 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. 

1Ti 4:9  This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation. 
1Ti 4:10 For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe. 

With our carnal minds, the thought of the Lord saving the whole of the human race is impossible because our minds cannot perceive how all humanity, including Satan and His cohorts, will come to know the Lord. That was demonstrated clearly by the disciples as they questioned Jesus in verse 33 of how they could have bread in the wilderness to feed the multitude. In other words, they wondered how the whole of humanity shall be fed with the word of the Lord. Remember that the disciples at that point in time were not converted and therefore behaved like us during our time in Babylon.

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

Mat 19:25  When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? 
Mat 19:26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible. 

Mat 15:34  And Jesus saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven, and a few little fishes. 

The seven loaves that the disciples had means that the Lord’s elect shall be equipped with the complete knowledge of His word to be able to become saviors of humanity. Remember that the number seven means complete, and the loaves represent the word of the Lord.

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. 

Fishes signify mankind as shown by the fact that Jesus likened the kingdom of God to a dragnet cast into the sea that gathered fish of every kind – both good and bad fishes. In His interpretation, Jesus said that at the end of the age, His angels will come forth and take out the wicked from among the righteous. 

Mat 13:47  Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind: 
Mat 13:48  Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away. 
Mat 13:49  So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, 
Mat 13:50  And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 

The few little fishes that the disciples had therefore means that at that time, they considered themselves too little or incapable of being saviors of the whole of humanity. When we look at ourselves, we do not see how we shall rule the nations and become saviors of all humanity. However, with God, all things are possible. These fishes being few means that those whom the Lord is saving in this age to become saviors of humanity are few.

Mat 15:35  And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground. 
Mat 15:36  And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. 

The Lord commanding the multitude to sit down implies that we must be at rest if we are to receive from the Lord. It is when we are at rest that we cease from using our own effort and depending on Him only. 

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

It is instructive to note that the seven loaves and the few little fishes must be broken by the Lord, and given to the disciples first, before the multitude are given their share through the disciples. As indicated, the loaves represent the word of the Lord which must be broken by the Lord. Breaking the loaves means rightly dividing the word of truth. By implication, this means making us understand the mysteries of the kingdom of the Lord. The Lord giving the broken loaves to the disciples first is to show us that in this age, it is only the Lord’s elect who are given to understand the mysteries of the kingdom. 

2Ti 2:15  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

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

The few little fishes were also broken and given to the disciples first. This symbolizes that the elect shall be judged first in this age. Just as horses have to be broken before they submit, we, His elect, must go through the Lord’s judgment or suffering as the Lord puts our rebellious flesh to death.

Later, in an age to come (the lake of fire age), the whole of the Lord’s creation shall also be given to know the mysteries of the kingdom through us, His elect, as we share the broken loaves of bread to them. That is the period when they shall be broken or judged. In the final analysis, every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus is Lord.

Php 2:10  That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
Php 2:11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 

Mat 15:37  And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets full. 
Mat 15:38  And they that did eat were four thousand men, beside women and children. 
Mat 15:39 And he sent away the multitude, and took ship, and came into the coasts of Magdala. 

Everyone shall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord in the fullness of time.

Hab 2:14  For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea. 

The fragments of seven baskets that remained signify the complete false doctrines in the hearts and minds of all humanity which shall be destroyed by the truth of the word of the Lord. 

The number of those fed was four thousand men. The number four thousand consists of four times three tens (4,000 = 4x10x10x10). The number four means the whole of the matter under discussion, and the number 10 signifies the fullness of the flesh. The three tens refers to the process of our spiritual maturity through judgment. The number four thousand therefore shows us that it is when the whole of the flesh of humanity has reached its fullness or their sins have reached the heavens, that the Lord will come to judge them in the lake of fire age, to become His children.  

The fact that the children were not counted implies that all will mature to become sons of the Lord and therefore there will not be children, who are tossed by every wind of doctrine, to be counted. 

Eph 4:14  That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 
Eph 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 

The women who were not counted indicates that there will be one church as all humanity shall have the same mind and the same judgment. 

1Co 1:10  Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

In this age, however, the Lord is sending the multitude away as He goes to Magdala which means a tower. This implies that the Lord is focusing on His elect in this age as He becomes like a strong tower for us to run into, to become safe in this life.

Pro 18:10  The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe. 

May His name be glorified in our lives. Amen!!

Matthew 14:1–21 Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand

[Study Aired June 30, 2025]

Today’s study highlights the circumstances leading to the death of John the Baptist and the feeding of the five thousand with five loaves of bread and two fishes. 

The Death of John the Baptist

Mat 14:1  At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus, 
Mat 14:2  And said unto his servants, This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead; and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him. 

Herod the Tetrarch is the same as Herod Antipas or simply, King Herod of the New Testament. He bore the title of tetrarch, which means ruler of a fourth part of a country. He represents the earthly kings of this world who are in league with the harlot woman or the physical churches of this world (Babylon) and therefore have committed fornication with her.

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: 
Rev 17:2 With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication. 

In verses 1 and 2, Herod, who heard of the fame of Jesus, thought that He was John the Baptist risen from the dead. This was because of the mighty work of signs and wonders that Jesus was doing. In other words, Herod was implicitly predicting the resurrection of Jesus Christ. John the Baptist signifies the Lord’s elect, and it was through the Lord’s disciples or elect that Jesus manifested Himself with signs and wonders when He rose from the death.

Act 4:33 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. 

Just as Jesus spoke through a donkey to Balaam, Jesus sometimes speaks through those who do not know Him, and it is only the elect who are able to recognize the voice of the shepherd when Jesus speaks through an unfamiliar vessel. This speaking may come in various forms such as a direction in life, a solution to a problem or what the Lord wants to achieve in us, etc. There are several examples in the Bible.

Joh 11:49  And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all, 
Joh 11:50  Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.
Joh 11:51  And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation; 
Joh 11:52 And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.

Mat 27:19  When he (Pilate) was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.

There is this lady friend of mine who was going through a series of challenges when she graduated from university. Her friend took her to a witch doctor to help solve her problems. However, immediately after she arrived at the premises of the witch doctor, the witch came out of her house screaming at the top of her voice asking, “Why are you here? Don’t you know that you don’t belong here? Get out of my sight immediately before God comes to punish me!!” My lady friend fled from the scene, and not long after, she had an encounter with Jesus. All of these show us how the Lord is in total control of His creation and uses it according to the purpose of His will for our good.

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

Mat 14:3  For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias’ sake, his brother Philip’s wife.
Mat 14:4  For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her.
Mat 14:5  And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.

Herod divorced his first wife in favor of Herodias, who had formerly been married to his half-brother. It was John the Baptist’s condemnation of this marriage which caused Herod to imprison him. On one hand, John the Baptist signifies the Lord’s elect. During our time in the churches of this world, we were bound or put in prison by the devil, represented here as Herod through the harlotry of Herodias, who signifies Babylon. Our nourishment during this period was the great river Euphrates which signifies the false doctrines of the enemy. 

Rev 9:14  Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates. 

The question is, “Was John the Baptist right in criticizing Herod regarding his marriage to his brother Philip’s wife?” In the word of the Lord, we are called to hold each other accountable and not to judge those outside the faith.

1Co 5:12  For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? 
1Co 5:13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore, put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

Again, from the perspective of being part of the Lord’s army, we are not to involve ourselves in the affairs of this world.

2Ti 2:3  Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 
2Ti 2:4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. 

Initially, Herod wanted to put John the Baptist to death, but because the multitude considered John to be a prophet, he refrained from killing John. As we have indicated in previous studies, the great multitude that followed Jesus represents those who are not given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of Heaven. They signify our brothers and sisters in the physical churches of this world who are not given to understand the spiritual reality of the word of the Lord. At a certain stage of our walk with Christ, we were part of the multitude when we were in the churches of this world. Therefore, Herod fearing the multitude in verse 5 is to attest to the fact that the kings of this world have committed fornication with Babylon and are therefore are under her spell.

Rev 17:2 With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication. 

Mat 14:6  But when Herod’s birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod. 

This verse reminds me of the devil pursuing the woman who gave birth to the manchild in the Book of Revelation. Whenever the devil cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, the earth swallowed the flood. 

Rev 12:13  And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child. 
Rev 12:14  And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. 
Rev 12:15  And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. 
Rev 12:16 And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth. 

As indicated, Herod represents the devil, and Herodias and her daughter signify Babylon or the churches of this world. The earth is also another symbol for Babylon. What verse 6 implies is that this issue of birthday celebration or church anniversaries, etc. are all doctrines spewed out of the devil as a flood as we see Herod celebrating his birthday and the churches of this world (Herodias’ daughter) dancing to it, that is, the earth swallowing the flood. We are clearly admonished by the Lord to refrain from birthday celebrations as follows:

Gal 4:9  But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?
Gal 4:10  Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. 
Gal 4:11 I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.  

As we are aware, the Lord’s elect is compared to a soldier in a war or a stranger on a journey in this world. As Paul said, a military man does not meddle with the affairs of this world. In a similar vein, a stranger on a journey does not become distracted by birthday celebrations and other issues of this world.

Heb 11:13  These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

1Ch 29:15  For we are strangers before thee, and sojourners, as were all our fathers: our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is none abiding. 

In the Bible, there were few instances where birthdays were celebrated, and they all ended up with the death of someone. It is insightful to note that the birthday celebrants were people of the world and not the Israelites. The Jews never celebrated birthdays. The death associated with the birthday celebration is to show us that the Lord is more interested in the death of our old man and not the birth of the flesh.

Ecc 7:1  A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one’s birth. 
Ecc 7:2 It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart. 

One example was Pharoah, the king of Egypt who celebrated his birthday and ended up killing the cook.

Gen 40:20  Three days later, while the king was celebrating his birthday with a dinner for his officials, he sent for his personal servant and the chief cook. 
Gen 40:21  He put the personal servant back in his old job 
Gen 40:22 and had the cook put to death. Everything happened just as Joseph had said it would, 

Another instance of birthday celebration is this story of King Herod celebrating his birthday that we are discussing. This birthday celebration resulted in the death of John the Baptist as we see in the next verses as follows:

Mat 14:7  Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask. 
Mat 14:8  And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist’s head in a charger. 
Mat 14:9  And the king was sorry: nevertheless for the oath’s sake, and them which sat with him at meat, he commanded it to be given her. 
Mat 14:10 And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison. 

The previous verse indicated that Herod was pleased with the dance performed by Herodias’ daughter, and therefore, in verse 7, Herod promised with an oath to do anything that she would ask. In consultation with her mother, she asked for the head of John the Baptist. This is to show us the hatred of the Lord’s elect by Babylon or the churches of this world, just as the High priest and the people of Israel asked for the head of Jesus instead of Barabbas.   

Luk 23:20  Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spake again to them. 
Luk 23:21  But they cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. 
Luk 23:22  And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him, and let him go. 
Luk 23:23 And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed. 

As He is, so are we. To our brothers and sisters in Babylon, we are spiritually dead. In the Book of Revelation, the rejoicing and making merry of the people because of the death of the Lord’s elect (the two witnesses), attest to the hatred that we face from the churches of this world.

Rev 11:8  And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. 
Rev 11:9  And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves. 
Rev 11:10 And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth. 

Mat 14:11  And his head was brought in a charger, and given to the damsel: and she brought it to her mother. 
Mat 14:12  And his disciples came, and took up the body, and buried it, and went and told Jesus. 

The fact that the head of John the Baptist was brought to Herodias’ daughter and she passed it on to her mother is to tell us that the churches of this world are responsible for the death of the Lord’s elect or saints. We must remember that we were part of the church system of this world at a certain stage of our walk with Christ, and therefore we were responsible for the death of the Lord’s prophets. In other words, we have lived through a period of our lives where the Lord required the blood of the Lord’s prophets from us, just as He required the blood of Stephen from Paul. This is what the Lord is doing to every generation of those who claim to know God.  

Luk 11:47  Woe unto you! for ye build the sepulchres of the prophets, and your fathers killed them.
Luk 11:48  Truly ye bear witness that ye allow the deeds of your fathers: for they indeed killed them, and ye build their sepulchres. 
Luk 11:49  Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall slay and persecute: 
Luk 11:50  That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation;
Luk 11:51 From the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, which perished between the altar and the temple: verily I say unto you, It shall be required of this generation. 

We must understand that to hate a brother or a sister means that we are murderers, and therefore, we were guilty of murder at a certain stage of our walk with Christ.

1Jn 3:13  Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you. 
1Jn 3:14  We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. 
1Jn 3:15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. 

John the Baptist, in a negative context, represents the law of Moses. His death therefore signifies the doing away of the law of Moses when Jesus, who is a symbol of faith, comes into our lives while we were still in Babylon. 

Gal 3:23  But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 
Gal 3:24  Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 
Gal 3:25  But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. 
Gal 3:26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.   

Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand

Mat 14:13  When Jesus heard of it, he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart: and when the people had heard thereof, they followed him on foot out of the cities. 
Mat 14:14 And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick. 

When Jesus heard of the death of John the Baptist, He retreated by ship to a desolate place, where the multitude followed Him there out of their cities. If we are to serve the Lord, then we must go outside the camp of Christianity or the cities to meet Jesus. 

Heb 13:13  Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. 
Heb 13:14 For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. 

The multitude going by foot to meet Jesus means that they were exerting their energies to know the Lord. That is to say that the multitude or the churches of this world, worship the Lord in their own strength. The purpose of the law of Moses is to show us that we cannot by our own strength be obedient to the Lord. 

Gal 2:16  Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. 

As we shall see later in the next study, Jesus constraining his disciples to get into a ship while the multitude walked away is to show that it is the Lord who constrains us from the pull of the sea of flesh.

Mat 14:22  And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away. 

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

In verse 14, we see the Lord showing compassion for the multitude and therefore, healing them of their diseases. The Lord’s compassion never fails and is available not only to us, His elect, but the whole of humanity who are His children.

Lam 3:22  It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. 
Lam 3:23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

As we have indicated earlier, the multitudes represent our brothers and sisters in the churches of this world. This verse therefore shows us that in the fullness of time, the Lord will show mercy to our brothers and sisters in the churches of this world as He heals them of every disease of the flesh. That is to say that the salvation of the Lord will also be theirs. 

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

Mat 14:15  And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals.
Mat 14:16  But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat.  

To understand these verses, we need to know that the disciples of Jesus at that time were just like our brothers and sisters in Babylon who think that it is impossible for the Lord to save all humanity signified by the multitude. The disciples telling Jesus to send the multitude away so that they can buy food for themselves therefore shows our mentality when we were in the churches of this world where we taught that salvation depends on us and that we can understand the word of the Lord by ourselves. The Lord telling the disciples to give the multitude food to eat implies that the salvation of the multitude is dependent on the Lord’s elect. We are therefore saviors of humanity. 

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. 

Rom 8:19  For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. 
Rom 8:20  For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, 
Rom 8:21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

Mat 14:17  And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes. 
Mat 14:18  He said, Bring them hither to me. 

These verses highlight how the Lord will save the people of the world including our brothers and sisters in Babylon signified by the multitude, through us, His elect. Prior to verse 17, the Lord told the disciples that the multitude must not be sent away, but that the disciples should feed them. In response, the disciples told Jesus that they have five loaves and two fishes. In other words, what will save the multitude and the people of this world are five loaves and two fishes. As we know, the loaves represent the word of the Lord. The loaves being five shows us that it is grace through faith that the Lord will save the whole of the human race through His word. 

Rom 5:1  Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Rom 5:2  By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Fishes signify mankind as shown by the fact that Jesus likened the kingdom of God to a dragnet cast into the sea that gathered fish of every kind – both good and bad fishes. In His interpretation, Jesus said that at the end of the age, His angels will come forth and take out the wicked from among the righteous. 

Mat 13:47  Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind: 
Mat 13:48  Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away. 
Mat 13:49  So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, 
Mat 13:50  And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

The number two symbolizes being a witness. Therefore, what the two fishes represent is that the Lord will save the multitude through His witnesses who are His elect.

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

In verse 18, the Lord telling the disciples to bring both the five loaves and the two fishes to Him is to show us that everything that happens is through our Lord Jesus Christ. It is through Him that everything consists. The term “consists” in this context means to hold together. 

Col 1:17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. 

This verse therefore indicates that Jesus is not only the creator of all things but also the sustainer and preserver of the universe. Without Him, nothing works.

Mat 14:19  And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. 

The Lord commanding the multitude to sit down implies that we must be at rest if we are to receive from the Lord. It is when we are at rest that we cease from using our own effort and depend on Him only. 

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

It is instructive to note that the five loaves and the two fishes must be broken by the Lord, and given to the disciples first, before the multitude are given their share through the disciples. As indicated, the loaves represent the word of the Lord which must be broken by the Lord. Breaking the loaves means rightly dividing the word of truth. By implication, this means making us understand the mysteries of the kingdom of the Lord. The Lord giving the broken loaves to the disciples first is to show us that in this age, it is only the Lord’s elect who are given to understand the mysteries of the kingdom. All of this is done by grace through faith. 

2Ti 2:15  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 

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

The two fishes broken and given to the disciples symbolize our judgment in this age. Just as horses have to be broken before they submit, we, His elect, must go through the Lord’s judgment or suffering as the Lord puts our rebellious flesh to death. 

Later, in an age to come (the lake of fire age), the whole of the Lord’s creation shall also be given to know the mysteries of the kingdom through us, His elect, as we share the broken loaves of bread with them. That is the period that they shall be broken or judged. In the final analysis, every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus is Lord.

Php 2:10  That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
Php 2:11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 

Mat 14:20  And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full. 
Mat 14:21  And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children. 

Everyone shall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord in the fullness of time.   

Hab 2:14  For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea. 

The fragments of twelve baskets that remained signify the false doctrines in the hearts and minds of all humanity which are destroyed by the truth of the word of the Lord. The fact that the remains constituted twelve baskets full is to show us that everything is of the Lord since the number twelve is the number of Christ. In other words, even the false doctrines perpetuated by the devil is of the Lord.

The number of those fed was five thousand men. The number five thousand consists of five times three tens (5,000 = 5x10x10x10). As indicated earlier, the number five means grace through faith and the number 10 signifies the fullness of the flesh. The three tens refers to the process of our spiritual maturity through judgment. The number five thousand therefore shows us that it is when our flesh has reached its fullness or our sins have reached the heavens that the Lord comes to judge us, to become His children by His grace through faith.  

The fact that the children were not counted implies that all will mature to become sons of the Lord and therefore there will not be children, who are tossed by every wind of doctrine, to be counted. 

Eph 4:14  That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
Eph 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 

The women who were not counted indicates that there will be one church as all humanity shall have the same mind and the same judgment. 

1Co 1:10  Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

May the Lord’s name be praised for His wonderful plan of salvation. Amen!!

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

[Study Aired May 16, 2023]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Now Christ appears in the morning.

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

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

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

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

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

Continuing with our verses.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The other disciples come to shore to meet with Jesus.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

We are admonished to be more zealous!

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

In this study we will be looking at how God will prepare the resurrected masses to be made ready for that time of giving an accounting before God and the order of that judgment.

Rom 14:12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

2Co 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

I hope to use this time to encourage us as we’re reminded of the “precious and exceeding great promises” that have been granted to us and the great mercy that God will show to all men in time by bringing about judgment that will “turn away ungodliness from Jacob” and “take away their sins”.

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

Rom 11:25 For I would not, brethren, have you ignorant of this mystery, lest ye be wise in your own conceits, that a hardening in part hath befallen Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in;
Rom 11:26 and so all Israel shall be saved: even as it is written, There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer; He shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
Rom 11:27 And this is my covenant unto them, When I shall take away their sins.
Rom 11:28 As touching the gospel, they are enemies for your sake: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sake.

How does God look at all flesh?

The sinful flesh of Adam, including Christ’s flesh, typifies what an unconverted resurrected spirit-being is in the eyes of our Father and Christ: they are, and all flesh is, spiritually dead in our Father’s eyes and not good.

Rom 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

2Co 5:16 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.

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

Mar 10:18 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.

Rom 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

Rom 4:17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.

In a resurrected and unconverted spirit body in which the world will be found in the second resurrection, the spiritually dead will be burying the dead, as history and all of the experiences of their own life and others will be brought into remembrance and gathered as bread for God’s purpose. They will still know Christ after the flesh at this point in the second resurrection, and the verses in the next section of our study should help explain how that process of judgment in the second resurrection can be likened unto a time when “all the fragments” will be gathered up so that “nothing be lost”.

Joh 6:12 When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.

Nourished and Judged

When the world is finally blessed to sit at the feet of Christ, that nourishing event will be the sweet that must precede the bitterness in our belly which comes after we receive His word. The parables that God gave us in Luke 9:14-17 and Mark 8:6-9 help us see how judgment will unfold and reveal a judgment which all of humanity will experience as they receive the words of Christ that must culminate in a bitter lake of fire experience.

Rev 10:9 And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey.

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

Eze 3:14 So the spirit lifted me up, and took me away, and I went in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit; but the hand of the LORD was strong upon me.

Eze 3:27 But when I speak with thee, I will open thy mouth, and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; He that heareth, let him hear; and he that forbeareth, let him forbear: for they are a rebellious house.

Luk 9:14 For they were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, Make them sit down by fifties in a company.
Luk 9:15 And they did so, and made them all sit down.
Luk 9:16 Then he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them, and brake, and gave to the disciples to set before the multitude.
Luk 9:17 And they did eat, and were all filled: and there was taken up of fragments that remained to them twelve baskets.

Mar 8:6 And he commanded the people to sit down on the ground: and he took the seven loaves, and gave thanks, and brake, and gave to his disciples to set before them; and they did set them before the people.
Mar 8:7 And they had a few small fishes: and he blessed, and commanded to set them also before them.
Mar 8:8 So they did eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets.
Mar 8:9 And they that had eaten were about four thousand: and he sent them away.

There are about 5000 + 4000 people sitting = 9000 in these parables telling us this feeding of bread is talking about the process of judgment (one nine and three tens 9x10x10x10), and how our experience of evil in this life, and the giants within us, will be bread for us. There are twelve baskets gathered, because this is a foundational event that points to the salvation of all men that comes about through the grace and faith of Christ represented by “the five barley loaves”.

Num 14:9 Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the LORD is with us: fear them not.

Joh 6:13 Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten.

These parables of the multitude being fed at which we are looking in Luke 9 and Mark 8 typify that part of the process of judgment where Christ has us sit and be nourished with bread, “when the day began to wear away” “here in a desert place”, after having “been with me three days, and have nothing to eat” “here in the wilderness”, and all this is shown to us to be required in order to put an end to all carnal fleshly thought that cannot inherit the kingdom of God nor defile God’s kingdom.

Luk 9:11 And the people, when they knew it, followed him: and he received them, and spake unto them of the kingdom of God, and healed them that had need of healing.
Luk 9:12 And when the day began to wear away, then came the twelve, and said unto him, Send the multitude away, that they may go into the towns and country round about, and lodge, and get victuals: for we are here in a desert place.
Luk 9:13 But he said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they said, We have no more but five loaves and two fishes; except we should go and buy meat for all this people.

Mar 8:1 In those days the multitude being very great, and having nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples unto him, and saith unto them,
Mar 8:2 I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now been with me three days, and have nothing to eat:
Mar 8:3 And if I send them away fasting to their own houses, they will faint by the way: for divers of them came from far.
Mar 8:4 And his disciples answered him, From whence can a man satisfy these men with bread here in the wilderness?
Mar 8:5 And he asked them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven.

All our idle thoughts must be buried like a seed into the baptism of Christ’s death. Giving an accounting is only the beginning of that process of judgment, likened unto a seed dying and being buried, which is why Christ has us sitting and subject to him, listening to his words, the bread of life, sitting at his feet to receive “that good part”. That word or bread or seed being given to those who are sitting, will not return void but precedes that accounting or judgment which we, and all the world, must experience in the order God has ordained.

Rom 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

Mat 12:36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
Mat 12:37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

Luk 10:39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word.

Luk 10:42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

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

Just as surely as feeding someone miraculously did not convert anyone, in the same way the giving to someone the bread of life miraculously in the second resurrection will not change anyone until the trial of their faith occurs in the lake of fire, where that abiding or continuing in His word will sanctify the soul who is being saved through that fiery baptismal process.

Joh 6:26 Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.
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.

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:

Joh 8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word [in the lake of fire for all men in their order], then are ye my disciples indeed;

Luk 11:5 And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight [Mat 25:5-8], and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves;

Joh 15:15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.

All men will be saved

1Co 15:20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
1Co 15:21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
1Co 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
1Co 15:23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.
1Co 15:24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.
1Co 15:25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
1Co 15:26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
1Co 15:27 For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him.
1Co 15:28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.

The group of five thousand and four thousand who were seated and being fed in these parables above also points to the process of the whole of humanity entering into the holy place, the holiest, through the court and the temple (Exo 26:30, 37), and the combined approximate amount of 9000 people reminds us that this entering into the temple is accomplished through judgment (9).

Heb 9:23 It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.
Heb 9:24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:

Heb 10:16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
Heb 10:17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
Heb 10:18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.
Heb 10:19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,

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

Here is a excerpt from Mike Vinson which talks about those pillars in Exodus: 
from the study on the color blue, part 1.

3) The Vail Between The Holy Place And The Holy of Holies Was Also Blue, And Purple, And Scarlet.

Exo 26:30  And thou shalt rear up the tabernacle according to the fashion thereof which was shewed thee in the mount.
Exo 26:31  And thou shalt make a vail of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen of cunning work: with cherubims shall it be made:
Exo 26:32  And thou shalt hang it upon four pillars of shittim wood overlaid with gold: their hooks [shall be of] gold, upon the four sockets of silver.
Exo 26:33  And thou shalt hang up the vail under the taches, that thou mayest bring in thither within the vail the ark of the testimony: and the vail shall divide unto you between the holy place and the most holy.

4) The “Door of The Tent” Was Blue, And Purple, And Scarlet

The door is to be of “blue and purple and scarlet.” All three colors and the significance of all three colors are part of the process of entering through the vail into the presence of God.

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.

Now just as the spirit does in the book of Revelation, notice how the spirit begins in the holy of holies and “looks behind” to see what it took to get there:

Exo 26:34  And thou shalt put the mercy seat upon the ark of the testimony in the most holy place.
Exo 26:35  And thou shalt set the table without the vail, and the candlestick over against the table on the side of the tabernacle toward the south: and thou shalt put the table on the north side.
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.

A baptism by water and then a baptism by fire

Every man will be judged in his own order, and the dream is one in regard to how we all must live by every word and be judged by a baptism of water and then by a baptism of fire (Eph 5:26, Joh 6:63, 1Pe 4:12). The 4000 fed by Christ (Mar 8:9) tells us all the world will be initially baptized in water, and the 5000 fed by Christ in Luke 9:14 tells us that the second baptism is the one which converts us by grace and faith (Eph 2:8). It takes the two combined to complete the process of judgment on a spiritually carnal mind (9000 or 9x10x10x10=9000).

Lev 23:27 Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD.

Jer 23:29 Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?

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

Luk 12:49 I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?

God’s elect go before the world, our sins are “open beforehand” “going before to judgment; “and some men they follow after” but every man will be judged in the order God has ordained. Hebrews speaks of a parable that reminds us of this point that there is a judgment or baptism by water that must precede the baptism of fire, and that we must be born of water and of spirit [a baptism by water and then a baptism by fire]. All this judgment or process of baptisms is for the express purpose of keeping everything out of the kingdom of God that could defile it.

1Ti 5:24 Some men’s sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after.
1Ti 5:25 Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand; and they that are otherwise cannot be hid.

1Co 15:23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.

1Co 14:40 Let all things be done decently and in order.

Heb 12:9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh [baptism by water] which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits [baptism by fire], and live? [Luk 12:5]
Heb 12:10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.

Joh 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
Joh 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

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

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

Let the dead bury the dead

As we said at the beginning of this study, in a resurrected and unconverted spirit body in which the world will be found in the second resurrection, the spiritually dead will be burying the dead.

Part of the process which God will use to bring all of humanity to understand that we are beasts who need to be judged and redeemed is to have the dead bury the dead.

Eph 2:3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

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

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

That burying comes about by having mankind see and understand through the word of God, which will convict everyone in time, that we are the man with the mark of the beast on us who needs to give an accounting for our unconverted life and the actions that God caused us to take throughout that time.

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

Rev 13:18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.

Gen 4:15 And the LORD said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.

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

That giving an account only comes about through judgment however, as Mike makes clear using these verses in an FAQ letter done some years ago explaining the difference between giving an accounting versus being held accountable.

I have gone to great lengths in the past to point out the fact that Joseph caused his brothers to GIVE an accounting of what they had done. That is all God wants you and me to do. Joseph did not HOLD his brothers ACCOUNTABLE; he simply brought them to see themselves as the instruments of evil God has created us all to be. We are all “marred in the Potter’s hand. What do we think that means the Potter’s hand has formed? It means the Potter has formed a sinning machine which He has designed for the very purpose of destruction so that the spirit can be saved in the day of the Lord.

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

Christ told the steward, “Give an accounting of your stewardship…”

Luk 16:1 And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods.
Luk 16:2 And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward.

And so we are again told:

1Co 3:13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest [to himself as well as others]: 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. 
1Co 3:14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
1Co 3:15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
1Co 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and [that] the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
1Co 3:17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which [temple] ye are.
1Co 3:18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.
1Co 3:19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.
1Co 3:20 And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.
1Co 3:21 Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;
1Co 3:22 Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours;
1Co 3:23 And ye are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s.

“All things come alike to all:”

Ecc 9:1 For all this I considered in my heart even to declare all this, that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, [are] in the hand of God: no man knoweth either love or hatred by all that is before them.
Ecc 9:2 All things come alike to all: there is one event to the righteous, and to the wicked; to the good and to the clean, and to the unclean; to him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not: as [is] the good, so [is] the sinner; [and] he that sweareth, as [he] that feareth an oath.
Ecc 9:3 This is an evil among all things that are done under the sun, that there is one event unto all: yea, also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead.

Next week, Lord willing, we will finish our study on the second Resurrection and tie all these thoughts together, ending with an email that helps give a good overview of all the points brought out this week and next.

T___ wrote:
In listening to the Dallas conference video the first talk a verse stuck out at me.
Gen 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of
the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. Now I like this analogy: God gives us for the sea. I know from Revelation that the sea is all of mankind, God tells us that directly. Taking what Christ said, “I will make you fisher’s of men”. Anyway, God creates all the fish of the sea just as he calls whom he will to the church/ Christ. Then just as men draw in a fish, so God draws each of us right?
 
Also in reading Pro 19, it is speaking about talking with perverse lips or hastening our feet, and it hit me that the church world are the people this is talking about.  They speak perverse things, a lying tongue, false doctrines because 1. it’s not given to them to understand and 2. the hunger for God’s word isn’t given them. Then in thinking of an example of this, Proverbs18 came to light. In professing these false doctrines they become talebearers, professing doctrines they do not know or understand (have never looked into) bearing witness of ‘gossip’ they have heard from their pastors.
I realize these are pretty basic biblical concepts, but it always refreshing when these little nuggets are given, and I always feel like sharing them with everyone.
T____

Hi T____,
I am happy that you are listening to the audios of the conference talks.
That is exactly right. It is God who drags us to Himself just like Peter and the apostles drug the net full of fish to the shore. We cannot come any other way:

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

Thank you also for sharing with me the revelations which the Lord has given you. I must confess that I had never made the connection between “I will make you fishers of men” and the ‘sea.’ Yes, it is indeed elementary. But “iron sharpens iron,” and we all learn from each other. I feel so blessed to be the recipient of so many revelations via this web page. It is not just from letters like yours, but it is also from the questions which I am forced to consider and answer every day. I have to depend on Christ every day and for His Words to give scriptural answers. There are those who believe that we can give answers from what they call a “word of knowledge” or “the proceeding word.” Both are nothing more than “thinking above what is written,” and it is condemned by both Christ and Paul:

Joh 6:63  It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
1Co 4:6  And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think [ of men] above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.

Leave out the ‘of men.’ It is not in the Greek. Neither Paul or Apollos would ever have attempted what is so very common today. Many, if not most, ministers are more than willing to think and speak “above what is written,” and to attach the words ‘Thus saith the Lord” to what they are saying. And it is these very same people who point the finger at those who are faithful to God’s words and accuse them of thinking that they “know it all and are never wrong.” I personally am being corrected every day of my life, but this does not mean that the written word of God is not to be trusted as our bar against which we “try the spirits” which are doctrines, to see whether they be of God.” 
So if indeed we want to know what is the Truth of God’s spiritual mind we must “acknowledge that the things…[ written] are the commandments of the Lord.”

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.
1Co 14:38  But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.

“If any man [ or woman] think himself to be a prophet or spiritual” then that person will happily “acknowledge that the written word is as Christ told us “spirit and life.” It is not the conflicting so called ‘words of knowledge’ or ‘the proceeding word’ which contradicts the written words of either Christ or His apostles.

1Ti 6:3  If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ , and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;
1Ti 6:4  He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,
1Ti 6:5  Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.

“From such withdraw yourself.” Now there are some words which are indeed hated by those with ‘words of knowledge’ and ‘the proceeding word.’ Both are words from their own hearts which despise “the wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ” and of His apostles. Without God’s written words, we can neither “try the spirits” nor have any idea from whom we should “withdraw ourselves.” We are a ship without a rudder adrift in a sea of people who preach love and practice hatred toward God’s Word and all those who will not compromise that Word. All who refuse to compromise God’s Word will indeed be “hated of all men…”

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.

Christ’s ‘name’ and His ‘voice’ are both His Word.

Joh 10:4  And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.
Joh 10:5  And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers

Thanks again for sharing your epiphanies with me.
Stay in touch.
Mike>