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The Biblical Overview of The Plan of God, Part 7B

Tabernacles:  “The Kingdoms of This World Are Become The Kingdoms of Our Lord and His Christ”

 

This is how we ended our last study:

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

Rev 20:1  And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
Rev 20:2  And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
Rev 20:3  And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.
Rev 20:4  And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
Rev 20:5  But the rest of the dead [who were not reigning with Christ for a thousand years] lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This [reigning with Christ for a thousand years] is the first resurrection.
Rev 20:6  Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
Rev 20:7  And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
Rev 20:8  And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. [“A great multitude which no man could number”, (Rev 7:9)]

We will resume with our study of the spiritual significance of the sixth festival which reveals the sixth step we must take in our study of The Overview of the Plan of God-The Feast of Tabernacles-7B

It is of utmost importance that we remember that  Christ and His Word are not just “is and was”. He and His Word are also that “which is to come”:

Rev 1:4  John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;

Rev 1:7  Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him [future tense], and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail [future tense] because of him. Even so, Amen.
Rev 1:8  I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

Rev 4:8  And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.

Christ Himself emphasized this characteristic of His Word which words are the words of the holy spirit:

Joh 16:12  I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.
Joh 16:13  Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. [Things which “Ye cannot bear… now”]

When we internalize and spiritualize every word of God we are denying the expedient and integral part which the physical realm plays in the plan of God. If we internalize and spiritualize our promised reward of ruling with our Lord over the nations of this world for a thousand years we are essentially saying this present age will never end and death will never be destroyed.

It is common for many to say, “The Word of God is not just ink on paper. It is spirit and it is life.” That certainly is true, but that is not the sum of the Lord’s words concerning the nature of His Word. This part of His Word is also true:

1Co 4:6  Now these things, brothers, I applied to myself and Apollos for your sakes, so that in us ye might learn not to think above that which is written, so that ye may not be puffed up, one over the one against the other. (ACV)

‘Ink on paper’… “that which is written” has its place because it keeps us from leaning to our own understanding as the holy spirit gives us the discernment to rightly divide the sum of ‘that which is written’:

The thousand-year reign will be done through reigning “kings and priests”, and the purpose for that period of rulership “with a rod of iron” is to lead all of mankind into the “short season” of Satan’s deception of the nations, in which “short season” He will persuade them to rebel against Christ and His Christ. This rebellion following a thousand years of being ruled by the Lord’s elect will demonstrate all that is in the hearts of all men and it will give God the occasion He is seeking to destroy death via the annihilation of all flesh, signified by “the nations in the four quarters of the earth” (Rev 20:9). Death simply cannot be eliminated from this earth while physical flesh exists and continues to multiply.

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

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

This “occasion” God is seeking to destroy (death) is symbolized by the feast of tabernacles and the last great day. It is the events that take place in these last two steps in the overview of God’s work with mankind in vessels of clay which provide God with that ‘occasion’. He is seeking to harvest all the rest of mankind who were not part of the first two firstfruit harvest offerings, Christ, the first of the firstfruits, as signified by the Passover, and His Christ, the firstfruits of the summer wheat harvest, as signified by Pentecost and the two leavened loaves. It is an unbreakable Biblical principle that God always gives Himself “an occasion” to do what He has already “determined before to be done.” Here is are just a few examples of God doing just that:

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

Jdg 14:4  But his father and his mother knew not that it was of the LORD, that he sought an occasion against the Philistines: for at that time the Philistines [signifying the flesh of all men] had dominion over Israel. [“The sins of  the (Philistines) was not yet full”]

Act 4:26  The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.  [Christ and “His Christ”]
Act 4:27  For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,
Act 4:28  For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel  determined before to be done. 

God already knows what He is in the process of doing, and it is simply a matter of waiting on him to do what He wills to do:

Job 23:13  But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.

Isa 48:14  All ye, assemble yourselves, and hear; which among them hath declared these things? The LORD hath loved him: he will do his pleasure on Babylon, and his arm shall be on the Chaldeans.

Isa 46:10  Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:

Tabernacles is in the seventh month and is at the time of the third and final harvest “at the year’s end”:

Exo 34:18  The feast of unleavened bread shalt thou keep. Seven days thou shalt eat unleavened bread, as I commanded thee, in the time of the month Abib [The spring barley harvest]: for in the month Abib thou camest out from Egypt.

Exo 34:22  And thou shalt observe the feast of weeks [Pentecost, seven weeks after the first spring harvest] and the feast of ingathering at the year’s end.

Tabernacles is called “the feast of ingathering at the year’s end” because Tabernacles signifies the time the Lord takes to lead mankind to rebel against the reign of Christ and His Christ, and to “compass the camp of saints about [at which point] fire will come down from God out of heaven and it will devour the nations in the four quarters of the earth.”

Rev 20:7  And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
Rev 20:8  And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.
Rev 20:9  And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them [“The nations in the four quarters of the earth”].
Rev 20:10  And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

In the third and last harvest “in the year’s end”, it is in God’s counsel and His “foreknowledge” (Act 2:23) to begin harvesting “all in Adam.” It is the feast of tabernacles with its attendant last great day in which His soul desires to start that final harvest process through which He has declared that He will “destroy death” (1Co 15:26).

Exo 23:16  And the feast of harvest, the firstfruits of thy labours [Pentecost], which thou hast sown in the field: and the feast of ingathering [Tabernacles], which is in the end of the year, when thou hast gathered in thy labours out of the field.

Tabernacles is at a time of harvest, and it is at the time of the final harvest.

It is Christ Himself who has revealed to us that “The field is the [whole] world”:

Mat 13:38  The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;

Christ’s crucifixion is signified by the first firstfruit barley harvest. Here are the other two harvests as they are presented to us in “the Revelation of Jesus Christ”:

Rev 14:6  And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, [The gospel which has been preached since Christ]
Rev 14:7  Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. [This is the judgment which “begins at us… at the house of God”, (1Pe 4:17)].
Rev 14:8  And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. [God’s elect come out of Babylon, (Rev 18:4)]
Rev 14:9  And the third angel [3rd signifying the process of judgment] followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, [The previous chapter tells “all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond… receive a mark in their right hands and in their foreheads”, (Rev 13:16)]
Rev 14:10  The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: [God’s elect suffer the torment of the seven last plagues. That torment is signified by the same “fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb” which those in the lake of fire endure. The difference between these two groups is a matter of timing and a matter of reward].
Rev 14:11  And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. [What are these verses, 6-11 telling us? Here it is:]
Rev 14:12  Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
Rev 14:13  And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.

This “wrath of God” mentioned in Revelation 14:10 which is poured out as “fire and brimstone” upon those who have “the patience of the saints… that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus” is reiterated in the last verse of the very next chapter of Revelation:

Rev 15:7  And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever.
Rev 15:8  And the temple [1Co 3:15-16] was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled. [Aorist tense… ‘being fulfilled’]

Those who are fulfilling the seven plagues of the seven angels are the same “blessed and holy… few” who will “have part in the first resurrection”:

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

In this same 14th chapter we also have the final harvest “at the year’s end”. This is the harvest of those who are called “a great multitude which no man could number, those who had not yet “died in the Lord”, but who also  must “come up through great tribulation [in the lake of fire], and wash their robes… white in the blood of the Lamb” (Rev 7:14). Here is the harvest of the feast of Tabernacles and the Last Great Day, which is contrasted with the Pentecost harvest of verses 6-13.

Rev 14:14  And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man [Christ the first firstfruit], having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. [The Word of God, also called “fire from God out of heaven”, (Rev 20:9)].
Rev 14:15  And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. 
Rev 14:16  And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.
Rev 14:17  And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle.
Rev 14:18  And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe. [Grapes are the third and last harvest “in the end of the year”].
Rev 14:19  And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. [“The lake of fire”]
Rev 14:20  And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs. [“Fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them” (Rev 20)]

Rev 19:15  And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

Rev 19:21  And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.

Revelation 19:15 demonstrates that “the winepress” signifies “the wrath of Almighty God.” That wrath is on display for all men in both resurrections.

Does any of this sound anything remotely like a doctrine which teaches that “at the beginning of the millennium only believers will be alive… it will be a time of peace unparalleled in history… a time of “heaven on earth”??? Nothing is farther from the Truth. At the beginning of the thousand years the ten kings signified by ten horns on the beast will be at war with Christ and He will dash them to pieces as a potter’s vessel:

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

Rev 17:12  And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.
Rev 17:13  These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.
Rev 17:14  These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

That is how the thousand year reign begins and the “rod of iron” continues its work throughout  the thousand years in the hands of the Lord’s elect.

That is not how many Christians think of the one-thousand-year reign of Christ. They can see the words “He shall rule them with a rod of iron”, but they cannot perceive nor understood nor teach in the churches of the great harlot that Christ and His Christ will rule the nations with a rod of iron throughout the thousand years. The ministers of Babylon are convinced of the false doctrine of a thousand years of great revival and of peace and prosperity. Many acknowledge the rebellion at the end of the thousand years, but they do not see that “the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth” are annihilated by the fire that comes down from God out of heaven:

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

 Here is a typical example of what is generally taught in the churches of this world:

“At the beginning of the Millennium, only believers will be alive (Revelation 19:17-21), some who live through the Tribulation Period, and some who come back with the Lord at His second coming. It will be a time of peace unparalleled in history (Isaiah 2:4; Joel 3:10; Micah 4:3). Jesus will be ruling on the throne of David, imposing a benevolent theocracy on all of His creation. Jesus will ensure that everyone has every need fulfilled, while not tolerating the sin so prevalent in today’s society (Psalm 2:7-12; Revelation 2:26-29; 12:5; 19:11-16). We can only imagine such a time of “heaven on earth.”

“The believers who live through the Tribulation will be mortal. They will live and repopulate the earth during the Millennial Kingdom. Without the devastation of sin taking its toll, we can imagine the population increase during the Millennium will be enormous, almost incomprehensible. All those who are born during the Millennium will enjoy the benefits and blessings of Christ’s reign on the earth, but they will still be born with a sin nature, and they will still have to freely repent and believe the Gospel, personally choosing Christ as Savior and Lord.

“Yet, at the end of the Millennial Reign, Satan is loosed and is able to deceive a vast multitude to follow him in one final rebellion against the Lord of glory and His saints! It seems that the further humanity gets from the end of the Tribulation and the start of the Millennium, the more they will “take for granted” how good they have it, and some may even harbor doubts about the goodness of God. Even though the number who rebel with Satan are said to be “as the sand of the sea” (Revelation 20:7), they may still be a minority compared to the number who do not rebel. It will still be a large number of souls who join Satan. Undoubtedly, one of the primary reasons God gives us this picture of what will happen in time is to demonstrate the deep-seated sin nature inherent in all of humanity (Jeremiah 17:9).

“Additionally, God is trying to tell us something about His nature as displayed during the Millennium. His grace and goodness will be on display continually. But at the end of the 1000 years, He will have zero tolerance for rebellion. When it happens, He will show no mercy and offer no “second chances.” At that time He will be quick to judge, and the final rebellion of Satan and sinful man will be over in a flash of fire. After this, the final judgment of the dead takes place (the Great White Throne Judgment, Revelation 20:11-15). Eternity can thus begin with every aspect of sin gone for all time.

“Finally, God is trying to reinforce some very important lessons concerning Satan himself, especially for believers. First, that he has been and always will be the enemy of humanity. As God has fixed His love on us, Satan has for us a special hatred. Ever since Satan’s fall (Isaiah 14, Ezekiel 28), he has been the adversary of believers, and he is aptly described as the ultimate deceiver of mankind (John 8:44; 1 John 2:22). All he can give or promise man is death and destruction (John 10:10a). Satan is also shown here to be a truly defeated foe, and his ultimate doom is certain, along with the doom of all who follow him. God is trying to remind us that Satan is a created being who is powerless before Him (2 Corinthians 12:7). All this should encourage believers today to take God at His Word concerning our position in Christ with respect to the devil (Matthew 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13; 1 Corinthians 10:13; 2 Corinthians 4:1-7; James 4:6-8; 1 John 2:15-29; 1 John 4:1-3), especially as we remember this grand truth: “…greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4).” [This excerpt is taken from this link: 

http://www.gotquestions.org/release-Satan.html#ixzz3Kr4TUNoo]

Here are the verses that were given to prove his statement that “At the beginning of the Millennium, only believers will be alive (Revelation 19:17-21), some who live through the Tribulation Period, and some who come back with the Lord at His second coming.”:

Rev 19:17  And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;
Rev 19:18  That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.
Rev 19:19  And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.
Rev 19:20  And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
Rev 19:21  And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.

You have to be spiritually blind if you fail to see that this is the last half of Revelation 19 which manifestly tells us it is speaking of the lake of fire which is first seen only after the thousand-year reign is finished.

This “supper of the great God” takes place after the thousand-year reign, and it is contrasted with “the marriage supper of the Lamb” in the first part of Revelation 19. ‘The marriage supper of the Lamb takes place at the first resurrection at the beginning of the thousand years.

Rev 19:6  And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. [“For a thousand years]
Rev 19:7  Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.

 “The supper of the great God” is referring to the destruction of “the nations in the four quarters of the earth” and the casting of the beast and the false prophet “into a lake of fire… when the thousand years are expired” as is demonstrated in the following 20th chapter:

Rev 20:7  And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
Rev 20:8  And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.
Rev 20:9  And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.
Rev 20:10  And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

The entire thousand-year reign separates these two contrasting “suppers”, yet this commentator is telling us that “the supper of the great God” at the time of “the lake of fire” proves that “only believers will be alive at the beginning of the millennium”.

So there it is. We have seen what the Bible says about the last two steps of the plan of God for all men of all time, and we seen how the scriptures are contrasted with what the churches of this world tell us the Bible says.

We did not get to what the scriptures reveal about why the leaders of this world will be made to hand over their rulership to us, and we did not get to what leads up to the rebellion against our rulership at the end of the millennial rule signified by the diminishing number of bullocks being offered throughout the seven days of the feast of Tabernacles.

In our next study we will examine the spiritual significance of the fact that seventy bullocks are offered and the fact that the rams, lambs and a goat for a sin offering remain constant while the number of bullocks decline throughout the seven days of the feast of Tabernacles.

In everything God is doing we will find that He is doing it “through Christ… by the church”:

Eph 3:9  And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
Eph 3:10  To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, 
Eph 3:11  According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:

]]> Rev 21:13-17 Four Walls, Twelve Gates, Twelve Foundations https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/rev-2113-17-four-walls-twelve-gates-twelve-foundations/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rev-2113-17-four-walls-twelve-gates-twelve-foundations Fri, 25 Jul 2025 15:48:26 +0000 https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/?p=33727 Audio Download

Rev 21:13-17 Four Walls, Twelve Gates, Twelve Foundations

[Study Aired July 25, 2025]

Rev 21:13 On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.
Rev 21:14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
Rev 21:15 And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof.
Rev 21:16 And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal.

Introduction

As we saw in our last study, this ‘city’ signifies you and me, “the bride the Lamb’s wife”. If indeed we are the first to be judged in this present time, and the first to die to our old man, then we will not be judged at the great white throne judgment after the thousand-year reign, and we will not be hurt of the second death. We saw that as the bride and wife of the Lamb, we are secured by “a wall great and high”, which ‘wall’ signifies “the doctrine of Christ” (2Jn 1:9).

Rev 21:12 And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:

Why would those who are “the bride the Lamb’s wife” have upon their twelve gates the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel? The reason God’s elect have the names of the twelve tribes is that they are “the Israel of God” (Gal 6:15-16) and are part of “the commonwealth of Israel”, the very foundation of God’s government for the next thousand years: https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/numbers_twelve/

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 [12 tribes] of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

God’s elect were “in time past Gentiles”. What are they now?

Eph 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

Just how near does “the blood of Christ” make these Ephesians who were “in time past Gentiles in the flesh?” Are they near enough to be called “the holy Jerusalem, the bride the Lamb’s wife?” What do the scriptures teach?

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:

Both physical Jews and physical Gentiles are now “in Christ… both… made one… commonwealth of Israel”, because God is not saving mankind via a dual channel of a physical chosen people along with a spiritual chosen people. The way God is reconciling both Jews and Gentiles to Himself is “in one body by the cross” by “making of twain one new man.” God most assuredly is not making twain of twain.

What does this have to do with “the holy Jerusalem, the bride the Lamb’s wife” with “a wall… lying four square, great and high, and the twelve gates with the names of the twelve apostles?”

Rev 21:12 And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:

Rev 21:16  And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal.

It is manifested by the fact we are told that this ‘city’ signifies “the Lamb’s wife” that nothing being said here is literal or physical. It is all “signified” language, as is made crystal clear in the very first verse of this prophecy:

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

Four walls each being 12,000 furlongs, has everything to do with the fact that “the bride, the lamb’s wife” signified by this city whose wall is “great and high” is the very foundation upon which all men will be brought to God. That great high wall is constructed of the rejected doctrines of our Lord and His Word. It is Christ’s doctrines which keep “that which is defiled” out of His body, which body is this holy Jerusalem. The doctrine that he is “making of twain one new man… that He might reconcile both Jews and Gentiles unto God in one body” is only one of those doctrines which make up the great and high wall of that holy Jerusalem, who is the bride the Lamb’s wife. The whole orthodox Christian world ridicules this doctrine, insisting instead that God has both a physical and a spiritual chosen people through whom He will reconcile a few of humanity. On the other hand, God does not even consider physical descent as a factor in determining who is and who is not a Jew. This holy Jerusalem has no one in it who believes contrary to this Truth:

Rom 2:28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
Rom 2:29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

“The bride, the Lamb’s wife… is not a Jew, which is one outwardly… but [she] is a Jew… of the commonwealth of Israel… which is one inwardly… of the heart, in the spirit.” That is the very reason we are told this in this same chapter:

Rev 21:9  And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife.
Rev 21:10  And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,

This holy Jerusalem and its great high wall is made up only of those who are Jews inwardly and whose circumcision is that of the heart in the spirit.

Add to that doctrine the doctrine of loving your enemies, turning the other cheek, wives submitting themselves to their husbands as unto the Lord, husbands faithfully loving their wives as themselves, women not teaching in the church, and following Christ’s example of refusing to keep the established traditions of His day, and the wall of the holy Jerusalem is indeed “great and high.”

Isa 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
Isa 55:9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

So we now know what a great high spiritual wall does. It protects those who are within that wall from all the false doctrine of the “many false prophets [who] are gone out into the world.”

1Jn 4:1  Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

What more does our Lord want us to know about this “great high wall” which protects the holy Jerusalem, the Lamb’s wife?

Rev 21:13 On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.

Remember that this holy Jerusalem is “the bride the Lamb’s wife.” There are three numbers with which we are dealing as we read of the description of ourselves as this holy Jerusalem. Those three numbers are three, four and twelve. We will be reminded of the spiritual significance of both the numbers three and four, but the number twelve dominates our thoughts as we read and hear the description of this great city. Let’s go back to verse 12 to demonstrate how many times the holy spirit repeats, for our benefit, the number twelve in this one verse:

Rev 21:12 And [the Lamb’s wife] had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:

The four sets of three gates on each of the four walls of this ‘city’, “the Lamb’s wife”, are the twelve gates mentioned here in verse 12. So regardless of how you approach this city, there will be three gates through which all who come into her must pass. As we have demonstrated, the spiritual significance of this number three is the process of judgment which our Lord is working with all of mankind.

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

Job 23:13  But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth [1Ti 2:4], even that he doeth.

Isa 26:8  Yea, in the way of thy judgments, O LORD, have we waited for thee; the desire of our soul is to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee.

Isa 26:9  With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.

Those being judged now are “learning righteousness…  [in] this present time” (Rom 8:18). Those who will be judged at the “great white throne… judgment… will learn righteousness… [at that time]… for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness”.

‘Harvests’ in scripture, signify judgment. That is why we are told that the false doctrines of Babylon are not removed from our lives until “judgment… begins at the house of God… which temple [we] are.”

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

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

It is the judgment which is now on the house of God to which Christ referred when giving us the parable of the wheat and the tares growing together “until the harvest.”

Mat 13:30  Let both [the wheat, signifying The Truth] and the tares, signifying the lies of Babylon] grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat [Those who know Christ who is The Truth] into my barn.

This process of the judgments of God is demonstrated by the three judgment harvest seasons of ancient Israel: 1) Passover immediately followed by the Days of Unleavened Bread, 2) Pentecost called “the feast of firstfruits” (Exo 34:22), and 3) Tabernacles and the last great day. These three harvests complete the ingathering of all people to our Lord.

Egypt was in “thick darkness” for three days, as Egypt was being judged. Jonah was in the belly of the great fish for three days and three nights as he was being judged for his disobedience. Saul of Tarsus was blind for three days while he was being judged for persecuting the disciples of Jesus. Of course we continue being judged, but the number three always reminds us of the process of being judged. This “revelation of Jesus Christ” comes to us in the three stages of our judgment which are called 1) ‘seven seals’, 2) ‘seven trumpets’, and 3) ‘the seven last plagues of the wrath of God’.

The fact that the city is four square reveals to us that this city will, in time, encompass the whole of God’s elect. Four is the number that speaks of “the four quarters of the earth, the four winds of heaven and the four beasts around the throne of God. Each case speaks of the whole of each: https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/numbers_four/

The number which is stamped upon every part of this city, and which is mentioned most in relationship to the holy Jerusalem as the wife of the Lamb, is the number twelve.

Rev 21:14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

Now let’s place verse 12 beside this 14th verse, and see just how prominent this number twelve is as it relates to “the Lamb’s Wife.”

Rev 21:12 And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:

So now besides the twelve gates, the twelve angels, and the twelve tribes of the children of Israel, here in this 14th verse we are told that we, as this holy Jerusalem, the wife of the Lamb, have twelve foundations named after the twelve tribes of Israel. That is just the beginning of the application of this number twelve to us as this city.

Rev 21:15 And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof.

You and I, “the Lamb’s wife”, are measured with “a golden reed.” The holy Jerusalem as the wife of the Lamb must measure up to the exact measurements required of her. Here is this same statement as it is presented to us in the Old Testament. Here is how careful God is in the construction of this city where he dwells.

Exo 25:8 And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.
Exo 25:9 According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.

Exo 25:37 And thou shalt make the seven lamps thereof: and they shall light the lamps thereof, that they may give light over against it.
Exo 25:38 And the tongs thereof, and the snuffdishes thereof, shall be of pure gold.
Exo 25:39 Of a talent of pure gold shall he make it, with all these vessels.
Exo 25:40 And look that thou make them after their pattern, which was shewed thee in the mount.

“The pattern which was shown you in the mount” signifies our pattern which is Christ. He is our city, our wall, our going out and our coming in. He is “the pattern shown us in the mount.” He is both the golden reed and the pattern by which we are all measured.

Here is how Christ explains all of this to Ezekiel:

Eze 43:10 Thou son of man, shew the house to the house of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities: and let them measure the pattern.
Eze 43:11 And if they be ashamed of all that they have done, shew them the form of the house, and the fashion thereof, and the goings out thereof, and the comings in thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the laws thereof: and write it in their sight, that they may keep the whole form thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and do them.
Eze 43:12 This is the law of the house; Upon the top of the mountain the whole limit thereof round about shall be most holy. Behold, this is the law of the house [“This is… the bride the Lamb’s wife”].

“If they be ashamed of all that they have done” means they will not be shown “the form or the house” if they are not ashamed of all they have done. Those who are seeking to make the word of God conform to the way they want to live will not be given to see “the forms thereof and the laws thereof.” Here is how Ezekiel is made to express this:

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

“Their thresholds” and “their posts” are not God’s thresholds and posts, and it is this enmity which forms the wall great and high between the world and the Lamb’s wife, the holy Jerusalem.

Rev 21:12 And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:

We are told this city is “foursquare”, and again we are given the number twelve and its multiples as the dimensions of the Lamb’s wife. We will discuss the spiritual meaning of the word “foursquare”, but first let us discuss why it is that the number twelve and multiples of twelve, are stamped all over the Lamb’s wife.

Rev 21:16 And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal.
Rev 21:17 And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel

That the angel showing this all to John is “a man” who is the symbol of John’s brothers in Christ and is John’s fellow servant who is keeping the sayings of this book, is made clear by that same angel telling us “the measure of a man, that is the angel.”

Since all four sides of this city are referred to as a single wall, we will do well to understand the measurements of “the length [and] the breadth” in the same singular way. In other words, twelve thousand furlongs is the measure of each of the four walls around the city. Since a furlong is one eighth of a mile, and the city lies 12,000 furlongs “four square”, this gives us a city which is 1500 miles on each of its four sides or 6000 miles going around the city. The fact that we are told that “the length and the breath and the height of it are equal, while at the same time telling us that the walls are 144 cubits, tells us that the size of the city is not even the point because this is not a city at all. It is rather “the bride, the Lamb’s wife”, and the ‘wall’ simply signifies that nothing unclean will enter this city… “the bride, the Lamb’s wife.”

The Greek word translated as ‘furlong’ is G4712, ‘stadion’ or ‘stadia’.

Here is a cut a paste from :

https://math.answers.com/other-math/How_long_is_12_thousand_furlongs

I typed … “What is the difference between a ‘stadia and a furlong?’ and this is what I learned:

“The stadia and the furlong are both units of measurement for distance, but they belong to different systems and have different lengths.

Stadia

    • Definition: A stadia is an ancient Greek unit of length. It is often used in reference to distances measured in the context of stadiums or racecourses.
    • Length: The length of a stadia can vary historically, but it is commonly accepted as approximately 600 feet (or about 182.88 meters).

Furlong

    • Definition: A furlong is a unit of length in the imperial and U.S. customary systems, primarily used in horse racing and agriculture.
    • Length: A furlong is defined as 1/8 of a mile, which is equivalent to 660 feet (or about 201.17 meters).” (End Quote)

A furlong is 60 feet (almost 20 meters) longer than a stadia, but using either measurement gives us a city that is almost as wide and long and high as the distance from Maine to Florida. Remember this angel has carried John away “in the spirit” and ‘in the spirit’ words have spiritual meaning which is not at all the same as their primary natural outward meaning. The ‘Lion’ and the ‘Lamb’ of these verses are a very good example of this spiritual Truth:

Rev 5:1  And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.
Rev 5:2  And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?
Rev 5:3  And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.
Rev 5:4  And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.
Rev 5:5  And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
Rev 5:6  And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
Rev 5:7  And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.

12,000 stadia is approximately 1,380 miles (2,220.89 kilometers). That is almost exactly the same distance from Maine to Florida, which is 1,368 miles driving a car. It should be obvious that 12,000 stadia signifies a foundation which will support the salvation of all men of all time, from Adam to the great white throne judgment.

The next thing we are told is:

Rev 21:17  And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel.

The shortest cubit to be considered is 18 inches. 144 cubits amounts to 216 ft high. That is the height of the walls of the city which symbolizes the Lamb’s wife, but it is not given to us in feet. I mention this only to demonstrate the absurdity of taking any of this literally. To say that the city is 1,380 miles (2,220.89 kilometers) “four square”, and the breadth and width and height are equal, and then in the very next verse tell us:

Rev 21:17  And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel.

 “The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal”, being 380 miles (2,220.89 kilometers) each, yet the wall of the city is a mere 144 cubits, or 216 feet (65.84 meters) high, is somewhat like telling us that a lion and a lamb are one and the same thing.

It is obvious to anyone who accepts and remembers that this entire prophecy is “signified” that they will know from the sum of the Word (Psa 119:160 ASV) that a ‘Lion’ and a ‘Lamb’ both signify our Lord. In like manner the numbers 12,000 and 144, signify foundations.

The measurements of the city and the measurements of the wall may seem to be absurd or even, for some, to be contradictory, Nevertheless this situation is no different than telling us that “the lion of the tribe of Judah has prevailed to open the seals”, and then when you look to see who is opening the seals you see “a Lamb, as it had been slain…” Well, which is it? Are the seals opened by a lamb or a lion?

Rev 5:4 And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.
Rev 5:5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
Rev 5:6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
Rev 5:7 And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.

Is it a lion or a lamb? It is both, because both symbolize our Lord. The form used to symbolize our Lord is not even the point. So let’s not ask, is the city 144 cubits high, or is it 12,000 furlongs (Greek: ‘stadia’) high? It is both. The wall is “144 cubits, great and high”, and the city is as high as it is long and broad; 12,000 furlongs (‘stadia’).

We will pause here for now, and when we continue our study we will consider more closely the spiritual significance of the number 12, and why each gate of the twelve gates of this ‘city’ is “of one pearl”:

Rev 21:18  And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.
Rev 21:19  And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald;
Rev 21:20  The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst.
Rev 21:21  And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.
Rev 21:22  And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.
Rev 21:23  And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
Rev 21:24  And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.
Rev 21:25  And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.
Rev 21:26  And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.
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.

]]> Rev 14:6-12 Part 2, The Patience and Faith of the Saints https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/rev-146-12-part-2-the-patience-and-faith-of-the-saints/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rev-146-12-part-2-the-patience-and-faith-of-the-saints Sun, 16 Feb 2025 05:02:03 +0000 https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/?p=32092 Study Audio Download

Rev 14:6-12 Part 2, The Patience and Faith of the Saints

[Study Aired February 16, 2025]

Rev 14:6  And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,
Rev 14:7  Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
Rev 14:8  And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.
Rev 14:9  And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
Rev 14:10  The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
Rev 14:11  And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
Rev 14:12  Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

We ended our last study asking if verse 9 was suggesting that there is a way to avoid ever taking the mark of the beast. Are we to believe that this “loud voice” is mentioned here so that we will know that this angel is intent on getting the attention of someone else, other than you and me? Not so! It is you and I who are to “read, hear and keep the things written” in this 14th chapter of Revelation. We have firmly established in the previous chapter that all men are born with the mark, number, name and image of the beast.

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

We demonstrated that we are all beasts and are “children of wrath, even as others” by birth and “by nature”.

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.

Eph 2:2  Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
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.

So verse nine is not offering us a way out of “drinking of the wine of the wrath of God”, rather it is simply a statement to the contrary, and is informing us that we shall surely drink of it.

Jer 25:28  And it shall be, if they refuse to take the cup at thine hand to drink, then shalt thou say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts;  Ye shall certainly drink.

Here is how that was done within Peter and within all of Christ’s disciples. Here is Peter being “tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb”:

Mat 26:69  Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee.
Mat 26:70  But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest.
Mat 26:71  And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth.
Mat 26:72  And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man.
Mat 26:73  And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee.
Mat 26:74  Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.
Mat 26:75  And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.

Matthew’s account tells us that Peter actually denied Christ “with an oath” and then with cursing and swearing, telling us that Peter then “remembered the words of Jesus” concerning denying Him before the cock crowed. Luke’s account is far more poignant, and adds many more flames to an already very hot fire.

Luk 22:56  But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him.
Luk 22:57  And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not.
Luk 22:58  And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou art also of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not.
Luk 22:59  And about the space of one hour after another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this [fellow] also was with him: for he is a Galilaean.
Luk 22:60  And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew.
Luk 22:61  And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.
Luk 22:62  And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.

Did any of the apostles avoid drinking of this cup of God’s wrath? I think not:

Mar 10:38  But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?
Mar 10:39  And they said unto him, We can. And Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized:

Mar 14:22  And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body.
Mar 14:23  And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it.
Mar 14:24  And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many.
Mar 14:25  Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God.

1Co 11:24  And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
1Co 11:25  After the same manner also [he took] the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.

“They all drank of it… I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God”. When does Christ again drink of the fruit of the vine? He does so “new in the kingdom of God”. Where is that kingdom where Christ again drinks of that cup and is again crucified? Here are the verses which answer those questions.

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

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.

Christ’s disciples had no idea what Christ was having them to do and admit to when “they all drank of that cup” (Mar 14:23). What they were confessing in drinking that cup was that they themselves were guilty of the shedding of Christ’s blood and would therefore partake of the wrath of God, “even as others”.

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.

Col 3:5  Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
Col 3:6  For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience
Col 3:7  In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.

Who are these children of disobedience who must endure “the wrath of God… even as others”? Here is who they are:

Eph 2:2  Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

Is our denying of Christ something that we do and repent of, never to do that again, or is the wrath of God, always present to burn out of us any wood, hay, or stubble that may reappear within us? In other words, did Peter ever again deny Christ? Well, as a matter of fact he did, and when he did, he again had to repent. Here is the account of that second denial of Christ on the part of Peter who is a type of us all:

Gal 2:11  But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.
Gal 2:12  For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.
Gal 2:13  And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation.
Gal 2:14  But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?

It was “the fear of them which were of the circumcision” which caused Peter to deny Christ the first time, and now here he is doing so again.

Mat 25:40  And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

So don’t permit a lying spirit to tell you that Revelation 14:11 is addressed to those who are the children of disobedience, but Job 23:13 is not.

Job 23:13  But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.
Job 23:14  For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him.

What we will to do and what we actually do has nothing to do with you. You and I are those “children of disobedience” who were born with, and who have lived with, the mark, number, name and image of the beast. It is you and I who must first be judged by “fulfill[ing] the seven plagues of the seven angels” before Christ will begin to take up His residence within us. He is not innately within us. We are innately opposed to having Him sitting on the throne of our hearts and minds, and we must endure the seven plagues of the seven angels before we will begin to be willing to surrender that throne to Him. It is not a matter of free will on our part. It is a matter of being dragged to that decision, ‘through fiery trials (1Pe 4:12), much tribulation (Act 14:22), and through the burning out by fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb’ (Rev 14:11-12), all of the wood, hay and stubble of the lusts of our flesh and the lies of Babylon which are all innately within us.

It is you and I who will be tormented day and night in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb, for the eon of the eons, “till the seven plagues of the seven angels are fulfilled” in our lives (Rev 15:8). We are then being purged of all the lies and uncleanness that is that man of sin who withholds the coming of Christ within us. It is these seven plagues and the torment of Revelation 14:11-12, which will serve to begin to dislodge that man of sin from residing upon the throne of God within us, because the “brightness of Christ’s coming” is the light of His fiery Words, which reveals to us who has been ruling our lives for so long.

2Th 2:3  Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day [“of the Christ”, vs 2, the beginning of our day of judgment] shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
2Th 2:4  Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
2Th 2:5  Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
2Th 2:6  And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
2Th 2:7  For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let [will withhold], until he be taken out of the way.
2Th 2:8  And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
2Th 2:9  Even him, [the “two horned beast which speaks as a dragon” within us] whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
2Th 2:10  And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
2Th 2:11  And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
2Th 2:12  That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

We have all “believed not the Truth”, and we have all been damned while in that deception. Here is how this process is described in scripture:

Joh 6:44  No man can come [Aorist tense, can begin coming] to me, except the Father which hath sent me [Aorist tense, is sending me] draw (Greek – dragging) him: and I will raise him up [future tense] at the last day.
Joh 6:45  It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard [Aorist tense, is hearing] , and hath learned [Aorist tense, is learning] of the Father, cometh unto me.

“Hearing” is a necessary gift of God, which gift is an essential part of the dragging process. We are told to “work out our own salvation”, but we are also told why we will work out our own salvation. Is it because of our own free we will choose to serve God? Absolutely not!

Php 2:12  Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
Php 2:13  For [G1063, ‘Gar’, because] it is God which worketh in you both to will [present tense]  and to do [present tense] of his good pleasure.

The willing and the doing are both His present work within us. Neither are of ourselves as the scriptures so abundantly demonstrate:

Job 23:13  But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth [the salvation of all, 1Ti2:4], even that he doeth.
Job 23:14  For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him.

Rom 9:15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
Rom 9:16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

It is God who has willed that “we will live by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God”. It is God who has willed that “all things, things present and things to come, are ours”. It is God who has willed that we will “read, hear, and keep the things which are written in this book”, and this verse is “written in this book”:

Rev 14:11  And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.

What is the product of keeping these verses of God’s Word within our lives? This is the product of keeping those verses and those words in our lives:

Rev 14:12  Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

This is simply repeating what we were told in chapter 13:

Rev 13:4  And they [you and I] worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they [you and I] worshipped the beast, saying, Who [is] like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?
Rev 13:5  And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty [and] two months.
Rev 13:6  And he [All of mankind, Rev 13:10 and 16] opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
Rev 13:7  And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
Rev 13:8  And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
Rev 13:9  If any man have an ear, let him hear.
Rev 13:10  He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

It is the saints who keep the things written in this book, and both chapters 13 and 14 are “written in this book”.

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

That was prophesied many hundreds of years earlier “as he has declared to His servants the prophets”.

He declared all of this in Jer 25, but He also declared it in these verses of scripture:

Isa 54:6  For the LORD hath called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when thou wast refused, saith thy God.
Isa 54:7  For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee.
Isa 54:8  In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer.
Isa 54:9  For this is as the waters of Noah unto me: for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee.

Here is the ultimate fulfillment of these verses:

Mat 27:45  Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.
Mat 27:46  And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

Truly our Lord was “in all ways tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” It was not a sin for Him to recognize that the darkness over all the land was the symbol of God’s rejection of all sinful flesh and blood. That is right, God really had rejected the physical flesh of Christ as “corruptible flesh”. Not even the flesh and blood of Jesus Christ was fit to inherit the kingdom of God and had to be rejected by God. But on “the third day”, Christ was perfected and raised a spiritual body which was capable of appearing as flesh and bone.

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

1Co 15:44  It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
1Co 15:45  And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
1Co 15:46  Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.

Summary

We have seen in this study that there is a three-step process which is essential to bringing us to the “finishing of the mystery of God” within us. We have seen that the three angels of these seven verses of Rev 14 are all one spirit which is working through this process to prepare our hearts and minds for the reception of the King of the kingdom of God to take up His residency within our hearts and minds and upon His rightful throne within our hearts and minds.

What we have learned is that like the three seasons of the festivals of ancient Israel, these three angels are all necessary and essential to prepare us for the “finishing of the mystery of God, which is Christ in you the hope of glory” within us.

We saw that the second angel of these verses proclaimed the fall of Babylon, and the third angel in this process is the pouring out of the wrath of God upon the Babylonian seat of the beastly “man of sin” who we all are by nature within our own carnal hearts and minds.

So we have learned that the torment of these verses 9-11 in Revelation 14 is the same as the pouring out of the seven last plagues of the seven angels in Revelation 15:8.

Rev 14:9  And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive [his] mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
Rev 14:10  The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
Rev 14:11  And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.

Rev 15:1  And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God.
Rev 15:2  And I saw [Aorist tense, am seeing] as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory [Present tense] over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.

Rev 15:6  And the seven angels came out of the temple, [Which temple {we} are, 1Co 3:15-16] having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles.
Rev 15:7  And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever.
Rev 15:8  And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.

Both the torment with fire and brimstone of Revelation 14:9-11, and the seven last plagues of Revelation 15, are “the wrath of God,” upon all the lies and uncleannesses which are the essence of our Babylonian experience. We saw that all of this is just a repeat of the same statement concerning this same experience in the previous 13th chapter concerning the wrath of God upon our two horned beast who speaks as a dragon and gives life to the image of our first beast which he causes us to become. Here is how this same experience is worded in that chapter:

Rev 13:4  And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who [is] like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?
Rev 13:5  And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty [and] two months.
Rev 13:6  And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
Rev 13:7  And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
Rev 13:8  And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
Rev 13:9  If any man have an ear, let him hear.
Rev 13:10  He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

Both events, the events of the 13th chapter and the events of the 14th chapter bring us to the same conclusion:

Rev 14:12  Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus

So we have learned that if we have the patience and the faith of the saints, and if we have the faith of Jesus then we are really the ones who must “read, hear, and keep the things which are written in this book”, including being tormented in the presence of the holy angels and the Lamb, and the seven plagues of the seven angels of the seventh trumpet. In other words, all of these things are ours and are “the patience and faith of the saints”.

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.

Next week, Lord willing, we will learn how clearly the scriptures speak of the work of Christ and the work of His Christ. It is revealed to us in the angels who are used of God to reap the harvest of the earth. Here are the verses we will be covering in our next study:

Rev 14:13  And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.
Rev 14:14  And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.
Rev 14:15  And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.
Rev 14:16  And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.
Rev 14:17  And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle.
Rev 14:18  And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe.
Rev 14:19  And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast [it] into the great winepress of the wrath of God.
Rev 14:20  And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand [and] six hundred furlongs.

]]> Exo 12:33-51  This is the Ordinance of the Passover: There Shall no Stranger eat Thereof https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/exo-1233-51-this-is-the-ordinance-of-the-passover-there-shall-no-stranger-eat-thereof/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=exo-1233-51-this-is-the-ordinance-of-the-passover-there-shall-no-stranger-eat-thereof Mon, 06 Jun 2022 19:13:31 +0000 https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/?p=25822 Exo 12:33-51  This is the Ordinance of the Passover: There Shall no Stranger eat Thereof
[Study Aired June 6, 2022]

Exo 12:33  And the Egyptians were urgent upon the people, that they might send them out of the land in haste; for they said, We be all dead men.
Exo 12:34  And the people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneading troughs being bound up in their clothes upon their shoulders.
Exo 12:35  And the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses; and they borrowed of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment: 
Exo 12:36  And the LORD gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them such things as they required. And they spoiled the Egyptians. 
Exo 12:37  And the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand on foot that were men, beside children. 
Exo 12:38  And a mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, even very much cattle. 
Exo 12:39  And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they brought forth out of Egypt, for it was not leavened; because they were thrust out of Egypt, and could not tarry, neither had they prepared for themselves any victual. 
Exo 12:40  Now the sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years. 
Exo 12:41  And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even the selfsame day it came to pass, that all the hosts of the LORD went out from the land of Egypt. 
Exo 12:42  It is a night to be much observed unto the LORD for bringing them out from the land of Egypt: this is that night of the LORD to be observed of all the children of Israel in their generations. 
Exo 12:43  And the LORD said unto Moses and Aaron, This is the ordinance of the passover: There shall no stranger eat thereof: 
Exo 12:44  But every man’s servant that is bought for money, when thou hast circumcised him, then shall he eat thereof. 
Exo 12:45  A foreigner and an hired servant shall not eat thereof. 
Exo 12:46  In one house shall it be eaten; thou shalt not carry forth ought of the flesh abroad out of the house; neither shall ye break a bone thereof. 
Exo 12:47  All the congregation of Israel shall keep it.
Exo 12:48  And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land: for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof.
Exo 12:49  One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you. 
Exo 12:50  Thus did all the children of Israel; as the LORD commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they. 
Exo 12:51  And it came to pass the selfsame day, that the LORD did bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their armies.

The effect of all the ten plagues meted out to the Egyptians resulted in the release of the children of Israel to go into the wilderness to serve the Lord. The review today focuses on the exit of the children of Israel and the ordinance of the Passover that we are to keep by faith, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch us.

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

Exo 12:33  And the Egyptians were urgent upon the people, that they might send them out of the land in haste; for they said, We be all dead men.

The assertion by the Egyptians that they were all dead men is to let us know the extent of the impact of the ten plagues of the Lord’s judgment of the old man (Pharaoh) within us. The judgment of the Lord destroys or puts to death the old man within us. The fact that the Egyptians were so eager to send the Israelites out of their land in haste to go into the wilderness to serve the Lord is another way of saying that the death of the old man gives rise to the birth of the new man within us. This new man enables us to worship the Lord acceptably in this world (wilderness) as we offer our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to our Lord.

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

Exo 12:34  And the people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneading troughs being bound up in their clothes upon their shoulders. 

In the scriptures, leaven signifies what is sinful, evil, corrupt and unclean in the eyes of the Lord.

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

The use of leaven is to make something softer or easier to eat. For example, if there is no yeast (leaven) in bread, it would be hard to chew. The function of yeast spiritually, is to make sin easier to commit. The teachings of man’s wisdom is a kind of yeast in this world and in the physical churches of this world which makes sin easier to commit.

Because the children of Israel were driven out in haste from Egypt, they had no time to bring leavened food as shown in verse 34. This is because leavened bread takes time to prepare. This indicates that apart from judging us to put to death the old man within, the Lord also deals with our environment to such an extent that it gives us no time to commit sin. The process of committing sin takes time. First, we are drawn away by our own lust, then lust is conceived and after this conception, sin is produced.

Jas 1:14  But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 
Jas 1:15  Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

It is significant to note that the kneading troughs which were used to prepare both leavened and unleavened bread were all bound up in their clothes upon their shoulders. As we are aware, both the old man and the new man are within, representing the kneading trough. This kneading trough within us produces either leavened or unleavened bread depending on whether the trough is that of the old man or the new man. The death of the old man, giving birth to the new man, is this kneading trough which is wrapped by clothes. We know that clothes represent the righteousness of the saints. This righteousness is that of Christ given to us. So, the kneading troughs bound up in clothes means the new man within us is clothed in Christ righteousness making it difficult for us to carry leaven as we journey through this world (wilderness).

Rev 19:8  it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. (ESV)

Exo 12:35  And the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses; and they borrowed of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment: 
Exo 12:36  And the LORD gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them such things as they required. And they spoiled the Egyptians. 

As we indicated in an earlier review, the borrowing of the jewels of silver and gold is another way of saying that the little knowledge of the Lord that the churches possess have been taken away and given to us.

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

The Lord giving the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians is another way of saying that when a man’s way pleases the Lord, He makes his enemies to be at peace with him.

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

Exo 12:37  And the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand on foot that were men, beside children.

The Israelites started their journey from Ramses, which was in the land of Goshen in Egypt. From there, they left Egypt and went to Succoth, which means ‘booth’ or ‘tent’. Going to Succoth signifies that, as His elect, we are in this world but not of this world. Our journey through this world must be a journey of faith with the view of inheriting the promise. In other words, we are looking for the city whose foundation is Christ and the builder being our Lord.

Heb 11:9  By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
Heb 11:10  For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

The fact that six hundred thousand men left Ramses in Egypt is to let us know that our exit from Babylon to come to the church of the firstborn does not mean that the Lord had completed His work in us. We were carnal or fleshly as we left Babylon as signified by the number 600,000 (600,000 = 6x10x10x10x10x10). However, the Lord is perfecting us through His judgment to bring us to maturity, and we are His work in progress.

Gen 6:3  Then the LORD said, “My Spirit shall not abide in man forever, for he is flesh: his days shall be 120 years.” (ESV)

Exo 12:38  And a mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, even very much cattle. 

We must also know that not all who came out of Babylon (Egypt) to the church of the firstborn will end up receiving the reward, as signified by the mixed multitude that left Egypt. Later on in our walk, we shall encounter Korah’s rebellion, Achan, etc. This is all part of the ways designed by the Lord to sift the wheat from the tares.

1Co 11:19  For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.

Mat 13:38  The field is the world; the good seed (the wheat) are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;

As we have explained in the previous study, going out of Egypt with the flocks, herds and cattle is maintaining our livelihood as we serve the Lord. Recognizing the need to work for a living while serving the Lord is one of Paul’s main messages to the churches He ministered.

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

Exo 12:39  And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they brought forth out of Egypt, for it was not leavened; because they were thrust out of Egypt, and could not tarry, neither had they prepared for themselves any victual. 

As we have explained earlier in verse 34, the people of Israel did not have ample time to make leavened bread. This is all the Lord’s doing as He puts us in a situation where it becomes easier for us to pursue the righteousness of Christ.

Exo 12:40  Now the sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years. 
Exo 12:41  And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even the selfsame day it came to pass, that all the hosts of the LORD went out from the land of Egypt. 

According to the Lord’s prophecy when He made a covenant with Abraham, the people of Israel were supposed to spend four hundred years in servitude before they became free. However, verses 40 and 41 talk about four hundred and thirty years. Thus, verses 40 and 41 seem to be in contradiction with the following verses:

Gen 15:13  And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;
Gen 15:14  And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance.

Unlearned and unstable minds, however, think that the Bible is full of contradictions. People who think that way are not meant to know the truth as predicted by Apostle Peter:

2Pe 3:14  Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
2Pe 3:15  And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; 
2Pe 3:16  As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

This is what accounts for the apparent discrepancy: These four hundred and thirty years began in Genesis 12 when the Lord made the promise to Abraham that He would give the good land to Abraham’s seed. From that day until the night of the exodus was exactly four hundred and thirty years. The four hundred years began with Ishmael’s mocking of Isaac in Genesis 21. This means that from Genesis 12 to Genesis 21, there was a period of thirty years, and from Genesis 21 to Exodus 12, there was a period of four hundred years. Spiritually, the number four hundred and thirty signifies the whole of our lives from our birth until the time we leave Babylon after the Lord had come with His brightness to judge us as a result of the fulness of our flesh (sins).

Exo 12:42  It is a night to be much observed unto the LORD for bringing them out from the land of Egypt: this is that night of the LORD to be observed of all the children of Israel in their generations.
Exo 12:43  And the LORD said unto Moses and Aaron, This is the ordinance of the passover: There shall no stranger eat thereof: 

According to the instructions given to Moses and Aaron, strangers are not allowed to observe the Passover. The observation of the Passover includes the eating of the lamb and unleavened bread with bitter herbs, the marking of the house where the lamb is eaten with the blood of the lamb and the need to stay in the house until morning. The spiritual meaning of observing the Passover was explained in the previous study as follows:

Every elect of every generation is required to observe the Passover throughout his/her life through faith. Every day of our walk with the Lord is the feast of the Passover.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mat 13:11  He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

So, the question is, “Who is the stranger who is not to participate in the observance of the Passover?” A stranger is one who is without Christ, being alienated from the covenant of promise and having no hope in the world. This includes people of the world and our brothers and sisters in Babylon who are aliens from the commonwealth of the elect (Israel). It is only the elect who are required to observe the Passover. 

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.

Exo 12:44  But every man’s servant that is bought for money, when thou hast circumcised him, then shall he eat thereof. 

Being bought as a slave with money is being redeemed by the Lord with His blood. In times past, we were following the course of this world with our father the devil dictating our walk in this world. However, God, being rich in mercy, came to our aid by redeeming us from the slavery of sin with His blood. He then circumcised us spiritually to become part of the commonwealth of the elect (Israel). Thus, though we were servants to sin in times past, we are qualified to eat the lamb of the Passover.

Eph 2:2  Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
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.
Eph 2:4  But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 
Eph 2:5  Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

Eph 2:18  For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
Eph 2:19  Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
Eph 2:20  And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

Exo 12:45  A foreigner and an hired servant shall not eat thereof. 

As we have indicated, we were strangers and hired servants in time past, and during that period, we were not qualified to eat of the lamb of the Passover. In other words, our eyes were not enlightened by the Lord.

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 (foreigners and hired servants) it is not given.

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.

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

“In one house” signifies that we, who at some point in time were strangers, are united with the elect. In other words, we, the strangers and hired servants, are now one with the people of Israel (the elect), eating the same lamb of the word of God.

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:

Here in verse 46, we are also told that we should not take the flesh of the lamb we are eating outside the house. Outside is used severally in the scriptures to denote the dwelling place of those with contagious diseases like leprosy as shown below:

Lev 13:45  “The leprous person who has the disease shall wear torn clothes and let the hair of his head hang loose, and he shall cover his upper lip and cry out, ‘Unclean, unclean.’
Lev 13:46  He shall remain unclean as long as he has the disease. He is unclean. He shall live alone. His dwelling shall be outside the camp.

People who dwell “outside” with contagious diseases like leprosy symbolize the people of the world, including our Babylonian brothers and sisters. The fact that we are not to take any of the flesh outside the house is another way of saying that we should not cast our pearls before swine. That is, we should not take what is holy and give it to the dogs, because they have no regard for what is holy and will instead attack us.

Mat 7:6  “Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.

We are also admonished not to break a bone of the lamb while eating the Passover. The first mention of bone in the Bible was in relation to the Lord taking the rib (bone) of Adam and using it to form a woman. The woman was produced from a bone taken from Adam. This means that a bone signifies life that impart life. The bone taken from Adam imparted Adam’s life into Eve. Adam here represents Christ who imparts His eternal life to us, the church. When Christ was crucified as our Passover lamb, His legs (bones) were not broken. These unbreakable bones of Christ refer to His eternal life or His spirit. The statement that we are not to break a bone while eating the lamb, therefore symbolizes the fact that we must not lose sight of the spiritual implication of the word of the Lord which gives life.

Gen 2:21  So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh.
Gen 2:22  And the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. 
Gen 2:23  Then the man said, “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.”

Joh 19:32  So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with him. 
Joh 19:33  But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs.
Joh 19:34  But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. 

Joh 6:63  It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.

Exo 12:47  All the congregation of Israel shall keep it.
Exo 12:48  And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land: for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof.

All the congregation of Israel keeping the Passover means that the elect of every generation is required to eat the lamb of the Passover, the unleavened bread with bitter herbs and to smear the blood of Christ on our doorpost. Observing the Passover spiritually means that our eyes are being enlightened to understand the mysteries of the kingdom of God and that we live a life of righteousness. All of this is done on the basis of the fact that the blood of Christ has purged our conscience from dead works to serve the living God. In spite of our wickedness and flaws, the Lord has chosen us and purged us of our sins so that we can worship him acceptably.

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

In verse 48, a distinction is made of circumcised and uncircumcised persons. Only circumcised persons can observe the Passover. Uncircumcised persons cannot participate in the Passover. We, the elect, are the circumcised who are admonished to come near to the Lord and observe the Passover. Circumcision signifies the doing away of the flesh which had dominated us in our earlier walk with Christ.

Rom 2:28  For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
Rom 2:29  But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

The uncircumcised person is anyone who is dominated by the flesh. Such a person walks after the flesh. This is what walking after the flesh (uncircumcised) is all about:

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.

Exo 12:49  One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you.

We, the strangers, are joined together with the homeborn through the law of the spirit of life which sets us free from the law of sin and death.

Rom 8:2  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

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:

Exo 12:50  Thus did all the children of Israel; as the LORD commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they. 

It is through the Lord’s judgment of the ten plagues, culminating in the death of the firstborn, that we become obedient and therefore righteous. As indicated in verse 50, all the children of Israel obeyed the Lord’s commandment.

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

Exo 12:51  And it came to pass the selfsame day, that the LORD did bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their armies. 

It is significant to note that the children of Israel came out of Egypt as the Lord’s army. We are the Lord’s army here in this world to serve the Lord and His interest.

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

As the Lord’s army, our fight is not against a physical enemy but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world and against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Eph 6:12  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Rev 19:19  And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.

The Lord has already given us all the weapons we need to prepare for this war of our lives.

Eph 6:13  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 
Eph 6:14  Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 
Eph 6:15  And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 
Eph 6:16  Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 
Eph 6:17  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 
Eph 6:18  Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

We thank God for the opportunity to count us worthy to observe the Passover. Our prayer is that through the adherence to His guidelines regarding how we are to observe the Passover, we shall be presented blameless and faultless in His presence. Amen!!

]]> Study of the Book of Kings – “He Made a Molten Sea” – Part 2 https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/study-of-the-book-of-kings-he-made-a-molten-sea-part-2/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=study-of-the-book-of-kings-he-made-a-molten-sea-part-2 Fri, 10 Dec 2021 02:15:51 +0000 https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/?p=24845 1Ki 7:36-46  “He made a molten sea” – Part 2
[Study Aired December 9, 2021]

1Ki 7:36  For on the plates of the ledges thereof, and on the borders thereof, he graved cherubims, lions, and palm trees, according to the proportion of every one, and additions round about. 
1Ki 7:37  After this manner he made the ten bases: all of them had one casting, one measure, and one size. 
1Ki 7:38  Then made he ten lavers of brass: one laver contained forty baths: and every laver was four cubits: and upon every one of the ten bases one laver. 
1Ki 7:39  And he put five bases on the right side of the house, and five on the left side of the house: and he set the sea on the right side of the house eastward over against the south. 
1Ki 7:40  And Hiram made the lavers, and the shovels, and the basons. So Hiram made an end of doing all the work that he made king Solomon for the house of the LORD: 
1Ki 7:41  The two pillars, and the two bowls of the chapiters that were on the top of the two pillars; and the two networks, to cover the two bowls of the chapiters which were upon the top of the pillars; 
1Ki 7:42  And four hundred pomegranates for the two networks, even two rows of pomegranates for one network, to cover the two bowls of the chapiters that were upon the pillars; 
1Ki 7:43  And the ten bases, and ten lavers on the bases; 
1Ki 7:44  And one sea, and twelve oxen under the sea; 
1Ki 7:45  And the pots, and the shovels, and the basons: and all these vessels, which Hiram made to king Solomon for the house of the LORD, were of bright brass.
1Ki 7:46  In the plain of Jordan did the king cast them, in the clay ground between Succoth and Zarthan. 

“O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!” As we’re told in Romans 11:33, and with the mind of Christ which has been given to God’s elect, we can search out the deep things that are currently hidden from the world and given to a very few who are now hidden in Christ (Col 3:3, Mat 13:17). Christ opens up our heavens and shows mercy to us through judgment that makes us bold (1Jn 4:17) and prepares us in this life to judge angels in the next (1Co 2:14-16, 1Co 6:3).

God’s knowledge is without a doubt unsearchable, and so these verses in Peter will always be true for us, until our last breath in this life, which tell us how we are to approach this unsearchable knowledge God has given to so very few in this life to understand and pursue with a steadfast spirit: “And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; [Rom 2:4, 2Co 1:5-7] even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.” (2Pe 3:15-18).

Mat 13:17  For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them. 

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

1Co 2:14  But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 
1Co 2:15  But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. 
1Co 2:16  For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. 

1Co 6:3  Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life? 

The natural man in me “receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned” (1Co 2:14, 1Co 1:21, 1Jn 4:5-6), and so in our flesh we are designed by the Creator to only know things ‘in part’ through the earnest of the spirit (1Co 13:12, Eph 1:14, 2Co 5:5) that gives us a hunger (Mat 5:6) to go from glory to glory with a diligent and steadfast spirit which understands that this process of growing in grace and in knowledge of our Lord is a life-long arduous process of dying daily as we experience “the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation” which is connected to the goodness of God. His goodness leads us unto salvation via that same longsuffering spirit that is at work in Christ’s body, the church, who are continuing in the truth believing thatGod’s truth will set us free (2Co 3:18, Rom 2:4-5, Joh 8:31-32).  

Rom 2:4  Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; [2Pe 3:15] not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? 
Rom 2:5  But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;

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

We learn obedience by the things that we suffer going from glory to glory as the veil is ripped, and through those experiences God gives His children the ability to compare spiritual things with spiritual using the physical (1Co 2:13). That is the concept God has called us to have at the forefront of our thinking so that with the mind of Christ we can make sense of all God causes in our lives as we grow in a spirit of gratitude and thanks as we recognize His workmanship taking place in our lives by the faith that is given to us as a gift from God (Eph 2:10, Luk 17:17-19). 

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

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

Luk 17:17  And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? 
Luk 17:18  There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. 
Luk 17:19  And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.

This section of Kings we are looking at now reminds us that it is through much tribulation that God’s elect will inherit the kingdom of God, and God is the one who causes the furnace to be turned up “seven times more than it was wont to be heated”, which is typical of the lavers in this section of scripture that were used to heat the baths that were used for ceremonial washing. All these works of copper are, in type and shadow, reflecting the sanctification process which God’s elect are going through ‘in this age’ that must be accompanied with fiery trials (Dan 3:19, 1Pe 4:12).

Dan 3:19  Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated. 

1Pe 4:12  Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 
1Pe 4:13  But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy [presently today as we go from glory to glory to glory, rejoicing always in the Lord, and ultimately in the first resurrection if we are blessed in this age to endure until the end through Christ].

1Ki 7:36  For on the plates of the ledges thereof, and on the borders thereof, he graved cherubims, lions, and palm trees, according to the proportion of every one, and additions round about.

“The sides of the cart and the frames had pictures of Cherub angels, lions, and palm trees carved into the bronze. These pictures were carved all over the carts—wherever there was room. And there were flowers carved on the frame around the cart.” (ERV)

All these symbols were very visible on every side of each cart that represent God’s elect who will very visibly be seen by all corners of the world that we will minister to during the thousand year reign and beyond (Isa 30:21, Act 26:26, 1Jn 4:17, Rev 20:6), as those “Cherub angels, lions, and palm trees” [process of judgment – #3 – Cherub angels, lions, and palm trees], with Christ in the midst of them symbolized by ‘flowers’ (‘additions’H3914 in the KJV)] carved on the frame around the cart”. 

Psa 92:11-15 “Bless The LORD, O My Soul…” Part 3 (see the section in this study regarding palm trees and the elect )

Animals in Scripture – Lion (see this study by Mike regarding the lion and the elect)

FAQ – the seraphim of Isa 6(see this FAQ for a concise study on the cherub angels/seraphim and the elect)

These symbols remind us what we will be doing for humanity at this time in the physical realm as spirit beings whose lives have been predestined or carved into God’s plan for that very purpose as typified by this verse:

Dan 3:25  He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.

In the physical realm during Solomon’s time the water of these carts was used to wash off the ashes of the sacrifices that were burnt. As God’s ministering spirits, we will go forth as angels who will bring strength and healing to a world that will be learning of God’s mercy toward them as they are washed with the word of God through Christ’s bride who will “wipe away all tears from their eyes” (Rev 21:4).

Right after the twelve symbolic tribes of Israel are sealed in Revelation 7:1-8, which represents God’s remnant that is sealed, we see how a great multitude is then worked with as Christ’s other fold of which we are told “And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd” (Joh 10:16, Rev 7:9-17).

This twain becoming one process started first with the body of Christ (1Co 6:16, Eph 2:14, Mat 19:6, Rev 19:9), and as saviours of our Lord it is completed through the elect (Oba 1:21) who are sent forth for this purpose of reconciling all the nations unto God (Joh 20:21, Joh 3:17). “For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?” of Revelation 6:17, reminds us that no flesh will be able to stand before God’s wrath which will begin to consume all the world who are not as yet aware that their lives are going to be presented as living sacrifices that will drink the cup God’s people will have already drank (Jer 25:28).

Rev 6:16  And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: 
Rev 6:17  For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand? [Mal 3:2-3] 

Rev 7:1  And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree [these are able to stand through Christ, having done all (Eph 6:13)].

[God’s elect who are likened unto palm trees do not measure the court that represents the world today (Rev 11:1-2) which is what “that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree” means]

Rev 7:2  And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, 
Rev 7:3  Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. 

[Once the first resurrection occurs [the servants having been sealed in their foreheads], then the work of God’s judgments being in the earth will begin (Isa 26:9, Rev 11:15) and although there is no conversion at this time, men are in this first stage of judgement that is represented by a baptism with water and not fire that will unfold in the second resurrection (Rev 20:6). The measure of stripes people receive in the second resurrection has all been calibrated by our merciful Father and there is no one who is in that second resurrection who does not need to have these words fulfilled in their lives to greater or lesser degrees as it has already occurred to God’s elect (Joh 3:5, Heb 13:8)].

First group:

Rev 7:4  And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel. 
Rev 7:5  Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand. 
Rev 7:6  Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nepthalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand. 
Rev 7:7  Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand. 
Rev 7:8  Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand.

Second group:

Rev 7:9  After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; 
Rev 7:10  And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. 
Rev 7:11  And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, 
Rev 7:12  Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen. 
Rev 7:13  And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? 
Rev 7:14  And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washedG4150 [G5656] their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Rev 7:15  Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. 
Rev 7:16  They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. 
Rev 7:17  For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe awayG1813 [G5692] all tears from their eyes.

We’ve gone from the first group, the 144,000 sealed, (the kind of first fruits who minister to one another and bring those living waters via those carts that symbolize the body of Christ who are being saved today), to then start to minister to the rest of the world the words of God that will ultimately bring forth fruit when the trial of humanity’s faith occurs in the lake of fire (1Pe 1:7). The trial of our faith is happening today so we can be those jewels God will prepare for the world’s sake, with God’s longsuffering spirit of mercy extended to them through that process (Mal 3:17-18, Joh 14:20).

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: 

Mal 3:17  And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. [Joh 14:10, Jas 5:7] 
Mal 3:18  Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not. 

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

1Ki 7:37  After this manner he made the ten bases: all of them had one casting, one measure, and one size.

The ten bases that were made as “one casting” represents the hardness that is forged in our heavens, for each and every member of the body of Christ (Eze 3:9), which is what God’s judgment promises to accomplish for the church. It is all “ten bases” because “the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world” and in our flesh, where God is working this work (2Th 2:2, 1Pe 4:1) which will bring us to perfection on the third day (1Pe 5:9-10, Luk 13:32).

Eze 3:9  As an adamant harder than flint have I made thy forehead: fear them not, neither be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house. 

2Th 2:2  That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. 

1Pe 4:1  Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; 

1Pe 5:9  Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. 

1Pe 5:10  But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

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

1Ki 7:38  Then made he ten lavers of brass: one laver contained forty baths: and every laver was four cubits: and upon every one of the ten bases one laver. 

The numbers mentioned in this verse are significant as they denote that it is those who have become those “ten lavers of brass” who can administer God’s judgments, and each “laver contained forty baths“. Forty represents the tribulation that comes about as a result of being washed with the word of God.

Every “laver was four cubits: and upon every one of the ten bases one laver” tells us that all the world will be judged, all “four cubits“, and there is “one laver” for every “ten bases” to accomplish this. The “one” represents the tenth part of ten that has already been judged and becomes the storehouse God intended for this purpose of judging the rest of His creation (Mal 3:10-12). If we are granted to “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse”, which means to give our whole life unto God, the outward fulfillment of this blessing will be beyond what eyes and ears can comprehend, a true statement regarding the elect’s future that is too great to be received in the flesh: “I will …open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. “(1Co 2:9).

Mal 3:10  Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
Mal 3:11  And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts. 
Mal 3:12  And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts. 

1Ki 7:39  And he put five bases on the right side of the house, and five on the left side of the house: and he set the sea on the right side of the house eastward over against the south. 

Putting “five bases on the right side of the house, and five on the left side of the house” represents the witness of grace that will  be experienced by the whole house that needs to be washed by the blood of the lamb (Heb 9:22, Joh 1:29). The molten sea’s position “on the right side of the house eastward over against the south” demonstrates God’s power on the “right side” that will make this cleansing work of grace possible. It is on “the right side of the house eastward over against the south” which is symbolic language that tells us that the man of perdition who is trying to flee judgment in the south will be judged by the brightness of Christ’s coming from the east “eastward” (Mat 24:27, 2Th 2:8).

Joh 1:29  The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. 

Mat 24:27  For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 

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

1Ki 7:40  And Hiram made the lavers, and the shovels, and the basons. So Hiram made an end of doing all the work that he made king Solomon for the house of the LORD:

All these tools that Hiram made, “the lavers, and the shovels, and the basons“, are types of how Babylon serves the body of Christ today with all the means by which the gospel has been able to go forth into all the world. That work does lead people to repentance at an altar that brings our flesh to stumble onto Christ, but if we are blessed to be introduced to the altar of Christ that sweeps away the refuge of spiritual lies in our heavens, it will be through the crushing process Christ requires of all those who are being received as disciples indeed who are blessed in this age to continue in the truth (Heb 13:10, Mat 21:44, Heb 12:6-7, Joh 8:31-32).

Heb 13:10  We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle. 

Mat 21:44  And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

Heb 12:6  For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 
Heb 12:7  If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 

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

The “laversH3595, and the shovelsH3257 and the basonsH4219” each symbolize the vehicles God will use to make the gospel known to all men as a witness, and for those who are given to receive that witness in this age and keep the sayings of the prophecies, there will be a sanctification process which unfolds that will lead to the first resurrection (Mat 24:13-15, Joh 17:17).

Mat 24:13  But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
Mat 24:14  And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. 
Mat 24:15  When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) [Rev 1:3]

If you recall, in our last study we looked at the word “networksH7639” which means ‘lattice’, and learned that the same word was used in the negative sense with the king within us by the name of Ahaziah who has to fall through that network or lattice and continue to seek healing in Babylon where there is no healing, meaning no stay of bread or water (2Ki 1:2, Isa 3:1).

In the positive use of the word ‘lattice’ we see these two pillars that represent the elect who are being dragged out of Babylon having “networksH7639” that God has ordained to provide a safety net for all the world eventually through the crown of life that represents the faithfulness of Christ who finished the work of faith within the elect who were granted (Rev 19:8) to resist sin unto the shedding of blood, and as such were given this crown of life represented by the “chapiter“.

I think it’s extremely important that we meditate on the fact that we all fall through this lattice [the lies of Babylon, and half truths of the harlot], and even after we fall and hit the ground so hard, we still seek healing in Babylon for the longest time, which is not there (Isa 3:1). God wants us to know that salvation comes from only One, and that is through Christ and His Christ (Act 4:12, Act 26:14, 1Jn 4:17).

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

Act 26:14  And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. 

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

1Ki 7:42  And four hundred pomegranates for the two networks, even two rows of pomegranates for one network, to cover the two bowls of the chapiters that were upon the pillars; 

We’re certainly not bearing this cross alone of being saviours along with Christ, and this verse we are looking at confirms this fact and gives us hope that together as “four hundred pomegranates for the two networks” all the world can be saved, and all this will be accomplished by the life of Christ in us represented by the witness of “two rows of pomegranates for one network“. What we do as those works of lattice is save all the world.  None that the Father drags to us will be lost (Joh 17:20, Mat 4:19). The lattice is used to “cover the two bowls of the chapiters that were upon the pillars” which represents the elect who are the means to the end with the life of Christ in them, making it possible for them to save all of humanity in the great white throne judgment (Rev 20:12).

Joh 17:20  Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; 

Mat 4:19  And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. 

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

1Ki 7:43  And the ten bases, and ten lavers on the bases; 

If we are going to be equipped to save anyone, we will need to have a permanently fixed understanding in our heart that we are unprofitable servants who have only done that which was expected of us (Luk 17:10). That is what it means to be “ten bases, and ten lavers on the bases.” You’ve been abased, you know intimately you’re the chief of sinners and that you have nothing to offer God and that you bring nothing to the altar, and yet you also understand that through Christ you are more than a conqueror. You are a saviour who can now save others as you have been saved through Christ by continuing in the word of truth (1Ti 4:16).

Luk 17:10  So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.

1Ti 4:16  Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

1Ki 7:44  And one sea, and twelve oxen under the sea; 

Abraham, who is a type of Christ, was given this promise in Genesis 32:12. Making Abraham’s seed “as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude” typifies what God is going to do for His elect (Gen 32:12, Rev 7:9).

Gen 32:12  And thou saidst, I will surely do thee good, and make thy seed as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.

Rev 7:9  After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; 

These verses in Revelation 7:4-8 which speak of the twelve tribes of Israel that precedes Revelation 7:9 typify the “twelve oxen under the sea” who are a type of the elect or 144,000 whose salvational work will save all of mankind “as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude” (Gen 32:12, Gal 4:27).

Rev 7:4  And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel. 
Rev 7:5  Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand. 
Rev 7:6  Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nepthalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand. 
Rev 7:7  Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand. 
Rev 7:8  Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand. 

Gen 32:12  And thou saidst, I will surely do thee good, and make thy seed as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.

Gal 4:27  For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.

1Ki 7:45  And the potsH5518, and the shovelsH3257, and the basonsH3257: and all these vessels, which Hiram made to king Solomon for the house of the LORD, were of bright brass. 
1Ki 7:46  In the plain of JordanH3383 did the king cast them, in the clay ground between Succoth and Zarthan.

Hiram is a type of those who have not been given eyes to see and ears to hear the true gospel (Luk 8:10) and are serving the elect by making the word available through their labours as expressed with this verse “and all these vessels, which Hiram made to king Solomon for the house of the LORD, were of brightH4803 brass“.

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

This point of Hiram being as those who are not given to discern spiritually is also symbolized by there being two groups who built the temple: “Solomon’s builders and Hiram’s builders did hew them, and the stonesquarers: so they prepared timber and stones to build the house” (1Ki 5:18). Solomon typifies the elect who are blessed to have the hope of glory within them, Jesus Christ, the new man who is the only one who can build the spiritual temple (Psa 127:1).

1Ki 5:18  And Solomon’s builders and Hiram’s builders did hew them, and the stonesquarers: so they prepared timber and stones to build the house. 

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

To further brighten this point of where our knowledge of Christ starts, we read:

“And the pots, and the shovels, and the basons: and all these vessels, which Hiram made to king Solomon for the house of the LORD” were of “bright brass” and they were made in “the plainH3603 [circle] of JordanH3383 [descender] did the king castH3332 [cleave fast, be firm] them, in the clay groundH127 [man] between SuccothH5523 [booth] and Zarthan.H6891“[Jos 3:16].

This tells us that as the Israel of God (Gal 6:16) we must live by these words that explain our forty years in the wilderness which have us going in circles trying to perfect ourselves in our flesh cleaving fast to our false doctrines. It is here where we formulate or cast our thoughts in the earth, which represent Babylon, that we are called out as the manchild of God (2Co 6:17, Rev 12:5). At this stage we do not hear the word of the Lord, but rather the king in us at that time does this:

“…the king castH3332 [cleave fast, be firm] them, in the clay groundH127 [man]”, 

All of this is showing us that we are Adam from start to finish “between SuccothH5523 [booth] and ZarthanH6891” [their distress (Jos 3:16)]; but if we are blessed to be worked with in this age as God’s workmanship (Eph 2:10), then Adam will be decreasing and Christ increasing all our lives, and that image of the beast or [man] will be dying daily (Joh 3:30, Rev 13:14-15).

It is a lifelong process to which the Lord has called the elect to learn how to implement the “pots, and the shovels, and the basons” in the service of God in the temple of God as they were intended to be used. Because judgment is upon us (1Pe 4:17), we are assured we will learn through that judgment and see God’s love perfected in us (1Jn 4:17) so that we can minister to those whom God will drag to us (Joh 6:44) to show mercy as He has to done to us (Rom 11:30-32). Looking at the words “pots, and the shovels, and the basons“, we are given an understanding of how these vesselsH3627 typify the word of God that will be used to bring the world to salvation through the church (Oba 1:21).

God made a physical molten sea through Hiram, and we are blessed to see that the true “molten sea” this represents is the lake of fire which will purify the rest of humanity. Why is it a blessing to be in that blessed and holy first resurrection (Rev 20:6)? The only way we can know the answer to this is to have been tried and tested and made ready to wash the world with the blood of the lamb, symbolized by the molten sea. All the glory and honour are God’s for the starting and finishing of this process, and the saints cry out “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come” because they typify those who understand the blessing it will be to one day be used to bring healing to all the world made possible because of the judgment they have endured in this life [3] (1Pe 4:17).

Rev 4:8  And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. 

Act 20:35  I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

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. 

]]> Awesome Hands – Part 172: “Conquest and failure” https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/awesome-hands-part-172-conquest-and-failure/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=awesome-hands-part-172-conquest-and-failure Tue, 01 Sep 2020 15:13:48 +0000 http://www.iswasandwillbe.com/?p=21398 Awesome Hands – Part 172

“Conquest and Failure”

August 31, 2020

The Awesome Hands series is now at the book of Judges. We have seen the blessings the Lord has given Israel so far, but things will change when the old man dies.

The process of the old man dying is always with us. Moses had to die before the crossing of the Jordan could take place. Now, Joshua must die before the next phase of the relationship with Israel and the Lord can move along. These are just examples of types and shadows of the old man dying and the new being born into the next “phase” of that particular story.

Jdg 1:1 KJV  Now after the death of Joshua it came to pass, that the children of Israel asked the LORD, saying, Who shall go up for us against the Canaanites first, to fight against them?
Jdg 1:2 KJV  And the LORD said, Judah shall go up: behold, I have delivered the land into his hand.
Jdg 1:3 KJV  And Judah said unto Simeon his brother, Come up with me into my lot, that we may fight against the Canaanites; and I likewise will go with thee into thy lot. So Simeon went with him.
Jdg 1:4 KJV  And Judah went up; and the LORD delivered the Canaanites and the Perizzites into their hand: and they slew of them in Bezek ten thousand men.

It is so true, and the point of the title of this series I’ve been doing, that the hands of the Lord are in the workings of all things if only we would stop to marvel at it.

Here we read the same story, written in this generation of God’s people from which these events took place, but it is the same story with different details.

We are God’s people, chosen to do something for the kingdom of God during our lifetimes, our aion, for this “age” and on the day of the Lord, and when you look at what happens, it simply points to God being in control of it all. Judah here is a part of the same story, and that is how we can relate to it in the sense of “us and them”, “me and thee”, head and body, above and below, Jesus Christ and another Jesus, Cain and Abel, Joseph and his brothers, Jacob and Esau, Judah and the rest of his brothers.

Judah goes up against the Canaanites first, just like it happens with Jesus Christ, the Lion of the tribe of Judah. He goes before us in the fight.

Gen 49:8 KJV  Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise: thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies; thy father’s children shall bow down before thee.
Gen 49:9 KJV  Judah is a lion’s whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up?

Rev 5:4 KJV  And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.
Rev 5:5 KJV  And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.

The Lion must be changed into something else for the plan of God to work, and therefore the Lion is “raised” into the Lamb.

Rev 5:6 KJV  And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
Rev 5:7 KJV  And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.
Rev 5:8 KJV  And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.
Rev 5:9 KJV  And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
Rev 5:10 KJV  And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

These two aspects are speaking about the Lord from two different angles.

Joh 1:29 KJV  The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

So, from the beginning the Lord has been with Judah.

Jdg 1:5 KJV  And they found Adonibezek in Bezek: and they fought against him, and they slew the Canaanites and the Perizzites.
Jdg 1:6 KJV  But Adonibezek fled; and they pursued after him, and caught him, and cut off his thumbs and his great toes.
Jdg 1:7 KJV  And Adonibezek said, Threescore and ten kings, having their thumbs and their great toes cut off, gathered their meat under my table: as I have done, so God hath requited me. And they brought him to Jerusalem, and there he died.
Jdg 1:8 KJV  Now the children of Judah had fought against Jerusalem, and had taken it, and smitten it with the edge of the sword, and set the city on fire.
Jdg 1:9 KJV  And afterward the children of Judah went down to fight against the Canaanites, that dwelt in the mountain, and in the south, and in the valley.
Jdg 1:10 KJV  And Judah went against the Canaanites that dwelt in Hebron: (now the name of Hebron before was Kirjatharba:) and they slew Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai.

The enemies of Judah are completely destroyed in type and shadow. Not only are they conquered, but the king reaps what he sows because Judah requires the king to cut off two thumbs and two big toes. Without big toes, your walk is always affected, and you can barely do anything with no thumbs.

The “walk” of the enemies of God and the “work”, that which is done with working hands, are now controlled by God.

There is so much symbolism being given here in this first introduction to Judah in the book of Judges.

The “old man”, King Adonibezek, goes to Jerusalem to die. The “children” of Judah, spiritually you and I, are the ones who are being used for judgment. These are just types and shadows to show us who we are in the Lord from the foundation of Israel on through from the foundation of the world.

There is a new Jerusalem and an old Jerusalem, one above and one below, and they also strive against each other.

You can see this mini-story here, even though this story is talking about different physical nations. The “children of Judah” go to the mountains, valleys, and south and conquer as they go.

They even slay three more giants. Giants were so common that they are casually named like everyone else here in scripture, “Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai”.

It is clear that the Lord is with Judah, so He is against something or someone else. The next mention of hand is found towards the end of the chapter, but we will read the context of things on the way to getting there.

Jdg 1:11 KJV  And from thence he went against the inhabitants of Debir: and the name of Debir before was Kirjathsepher:
Jdg 1:12 KJV  And Caleb said, He that smiteth Kirjathsepher, and taketh it, to him will I give Achsah my daughter to wife.
Jdg 1:13 KJV  And Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother, took it: and he gave him Achsah his daughter to wife.
Jdg 1:14 KJV  And it came to pass, when she came to him, that she moved him to ask of her father a field: and she lighted from off her ass; and Caleb said unto her, What wilt thou?
Jdg 1:15 KJV  And she said unto him, Give me a blessing: for thou hast given me a south land; give me also springs of water. And Caleb gave her the upper springs and the nether springs.
Jdg 1:16 KJV  And the children of the Kenite, Moses’ father in law, went up out of the city of palm trees with the children of Judah into the wilderness of Judah, which lieth in the south of Arad; and they went and dwelt among the people.
Jdg 1:17 KJV  And Judah went with Simeon his brother, and they slew the Canaanites that inhabited Zephath, and utterly destroyed it. And the name of the city was called Hormah.
Jdg 1:18 KJV  Also Judah took Gaza with the coast thereof, and Askelon with the coast thereof, and Ekron with the coast thereof.
Jdg 1:19 KJV  And the LORD was with Judah; and he drave out the inhabitants of the mountain; but could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley, because they had chariots of iron.

The Lord gave Judah many victories, but for some reason, the inhabitants of the valley were not driven out. Maybe these inhabitants become a thorn in the flesh of Judah, spiritually speaking.

When God is with you who can be against you?

From the beginning of this chapter, God has been showing us that He indeed favors certain people for His continuation of His kingdom. While some tribes in Israel could not conquer those around them, Judah and Simeon, and a few other tribes, succeeded overall.

Jdg 1:20 KJV  And they gave Hebron unto Caleb, as Moses said: and he expelled thence the three sons of Anak.
Jdg 1:21 KJV  And the children of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites that inhabited Jerusalem; but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Benjamin in Jerusalem unto this day.
Jdg 1:22 KJV  And the house of Joseph, they also went up against Bethel: and the LORD was with them.
Jdg 1:23 KJV  And the house of Joseph sent to descry Bethel. (Now the name of the city before was Luz.)
Jdg 1:24 KJV  And the spies saw a man come forth out of the city, and they said unto him, Shew us, we pray thee, the entrance into the city, and we will shew thee mercy.
Jdg 1:25 KJV  And when he shewed them the entrance into the city, they smote the city with the edge of the sword; but they let go the man and all his family.
Jdg 1:26 KJV  And the man went into the land of the Hittites, and built a city, and called the name thereof Luz: which is the name thereof unto this day.

Speaking of marveling at things the Lord does, when the spies saw a man come out, those spies probably didn’t know this guy would be the future establisher of a opposing city named Luz?

When we follow the breadcrumbs, we see that Luz is only used a few times in scripture.

Jdg 1:26 (KJV+)  And the manH376 wentH1980 into the landH776 of the HittitesH2850, and builtH1129 a cityH5892, and calledH7121 the nameH8034 thereof LuzH3870: whichH1931 is the nameH8034 thereof untoH5704 thisH2088 dayH3117.

Jdg 1:26 KJV  And the man went into the land of the Hittites, and built a city, and called the name thereof Luz: which is the name thereof unto this day.

The Hebrew word H3869 is the root word of Luz.

It is used one time in scripture.

H3869
lûz
Total KJV Occurrences: 1
hazel, 1
Gen_30:37 

There is a certain story that is meant to show the simplicity there is in the Lord and in the Lord Jesus Christ.

It is fairly memorable once you have heard it, but in case you haven’t, I am going to read a little of it out of Genesis 30:37.

This is known as the prosperity of Jacob. Nothing captures the word of God like the Word of God, so I am going to read some of these verses pertaining to the only time we see the root of the word “Luz” used in scripture.

It has to do with the separation of the property of the Lord, us, as opposed to the separation of the property that is of the “them” of the world. Yes, the Lord favors one versus the other.

Gen 30:25 KJV  And it came to pass, when Rachel had born Joseph, that Jacob said unto Laban, Send me away, that I may go unto mine own place, and to my country.
Gen 30:26 KJV  Give me my wives and my children, for whom I have served thee, and let me go: for thou knowest my service which I have done thee.
Gen 30:27 KJV  And Laban said unto him, I pray thee, if I have found favour in thine eyes, tarry: for I have learned by experience that the LORD hath blessed me for thy sake.
Gen 30:28 KJV  And he said, Appoint me thy wages, and I will give it.
Gen 30:29 KJV  And he said unto him, Thou knowest how I have served thee, and how thy cattle was with me.
Gen 30:30 KJV  For it was little which thou hadst before I came, and it is now increased unto a multitude; and the LORD hath blessed thee since my coming: and now when shall I provide for mine own house also?
Gen 30:31 KJV  And he said, What shall I give thee? And Jacob said, Thou shalt not give me any thing: if thou wilt do this thing for me, I will again feed and keep thy flock:
Gen 30:32 KJV  I will pass through all thy flock to day, removing from thence all the speckled and spotted cattle, and all the brown cattle among the sheep, and the spotted and speckled among the goats: and of such shall be my hire.
Gen 30:33 KJV  So shall my righteousness answer for me in time to come, when it shall come for my hire before thy face: every one that is not speckled and spotted among the goats, and brown among the sheep, that shall be counted stolen with me.
Gen 30:34 KJV  And Laban said, Behold, I would it might be according to thy word.
Gen 30:35 KJV  And he removed that day the he goats that were ringstraked and spotted, and all the she goats that were speckled and spotted, and every one that had some white in it, and all the brown among the sheep, and gave them into the hand of his sons.
Gen 30:36 KJV  And he set three days’ journey betwixt himself and Jacob: and Jacob fed the rest of Laban’s flocks.
Gen 30:37 KJV  And Jacob took him rods of green poplar, and of the hazel and chesnut tree; and pilled white strakes in them, and made the white appear which was in the rods.
Gen 30:38 KJV  And he set the rods which he had pilled before the flocks in the gutters in the watering troughs when the flocks came to drink, that they should conceive when they came to drink.
Gen 30:39 KJV  And the flocks conceived before the rods, and brought forth cattle ringstraked, speckled, and spotted.
Gen 30:40 KJV  And Jacob did separate the lambs, and set the faces of the flocks toward the ringstraked, and all the brown in the flock of Laban; and he put his own flocks by themselves, and put them not unto Laban’s cattle.
Gen 30:41 KJV  And it came to pass, whensoever the stronger cattle did conceive, that Jacob laid the rods before the eyes of the cattle in the gutters, that they might conceive among the rods.
Gen 30:42 KJV  But when the cattle were feeble, he put them not in: so the feebler were Laban’s, and the stronger Jacob’s.
Gen 30:43 KJV  And the man increased exceedingly, and had much cattle, and maidservants, and menservants, and camels, and asses.

Though the Lord shows us favors, he still gives us our “Luz”, our thorn in the flesh. Early in our walk we need Luz, but Luz later is sent packing and stays a thorn in our side afterward. It is because Luz is still the “anointed of the Lord.”

I say this because king David points out just who “Luz” is.

1Sa 26:7 KJV  So David and Abishai came to the people by night: and, behold, Saul lay sleeping within the trench, and his spear stuck in the ground at his bolster: but Abner and the people lay round about him.
1Sa 26:8 KJV  Then said Abishai to David, God hath delivered thine enemy into thine hand this day: now therefore let me smite him, I pray thee, with the spear even to the earth at once, and I will not smite him the second time.
1Sa 26:9 KJV  And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not: for who can stretch forth his hand against the LORD’S anointed, and be guiltless?
1Sa 26:10 KJV  David said furthermore, As the LORD liveth, the LORD shall smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall descend into battle, and perish.

David could have killed him here, but he lets him go.

David even wept for Saul and Jonathan.

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

This rod Jacob used is the root of Luz.

Jdg 1:22 KJV  And the house of Joseph, they also went up against Bethel: and the LORD was with them.
Jdg 1:23 KJV  And the house of Joseph sent to descry Bethel. (Now the name of the city before was Luz.)

Bethel is Luz, and Bethel had such a presence that in the bible there are several times that the house of God is the same word house of Bethel.

Jdg 20:18 KJV  And the children of Israel arose, and went up to the house of God, and asked counsel of God, and said, Which of us shall go up first to the battle against the children of Benjamin? And the LORD said, Judah shall go up first.

Jdg 20:26 KJV  Then all the children of Israel, and all the people, went up, and came unto the house of God, and wept, and sat there before the LORD, and fasted that day until even, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.

Jdg 20:31 KJV  And the children of Benjamin went out against the people, and were drawn away from the city; and they began to smite of the people, and kill, as at other times, in the highways, of which one goeth up to the house of God, and the other to Gibeah in the field, about thirty men of Israel.

Zec 7:1 KJV  And it came to pass in the fourth year of king Darius, that the word of the LORD came unto Zechariah in the fourth day of the ninth month, even in Chisleu;

Zec 7:2 KJV  When they had sent unto the house of God Sherezer and Regemmelech, and their men, to pray before the LORD,

Yes, indeed, the Lord always works out His anointing on those whom He sees fit. I’d day this man was anointed and favored of the Lord to be the one coming toward the spies when he did.

He helps the spies and doesn’t get slaughtered, but is also used to set up a city.

The Lord is always keeping His plan which He has created in order to bring about His kingdom the way He sees fit. Our lives are just another puzzle piece in that plan.

]]> Prophecy of Isaiah – Isa 39:1-8 There was Nothing in His House, nor in His Dominion, That Hezekiah Showed Them Not – Part 2 https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/prophecy-of-isaiah-isa-391-8-there-was-nothing-in-his-house-nor-in-his-dominion-that-hezekiah-showed-them-not-part-2/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=prophecy-of-isaiah-isa-391-8-there-was-nothing-in-his-house-nor-in-his-dominion-that-hezekiah-showed-them-not-part-2 Sun, 24 Mar 2019 01:18:16 +0000 http://www.iswasandwillbe.com/?p=18437
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Isa 39:1-8 There was Nothing in His House, nor in His Dominion, That Hezekiah Showed Them Not - Part 2 - Discussion

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Isa 39:1-8 There Was Nothing in His House, Nor in His Dominion, That Hezekiah Showed Them Not – Part 2

In this second part of our study of this 39th chapter of Isaiah what we will see is that even the Lord’s “very elect”, those who are destined to come forth in “the resurrection to life… [which is] the blessed and holy first resurrection”, are just as human and weak, in and of themselves, as anyone else. We want to show the princes of Babylon ‘all that is in our house’ and appropriate to ourselves the glory for being so spiritually wealthy.

When the apostle Paul tells us that without a God-given “thorn in the flesh” he himself would have become “exalted above measure because of the multitude of revelations”, he is telling us something about ourselves. The reason the holy spirit inspired those words to be written was to tell us that it is we who must first be humbled and brought to acknowledge within ourselves that our spiritually favored position with our Creator has nothing at all to do with us. Rather it is all because the Lord Himself has determined “before the world began” that it would be so.

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

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

Earlier in this prophecy we were informed this of the Lord’s very elect:

Isa 28:5 In that day shall the LORD of hosts be for a crown of glory, and for a diadem of beauty, unto the residue of his people,
Isa 28:6 And for a spirit of judgment to him that sitteth in judgment, and for strength to them that turn the battle to the gate.
Isa 28:7 But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment.
Isa 28:8 For all tables are full of vomit and filthiness, so that there is no place clean.

This is written to you and me. '[We] also have erred through wine and strong drink.' Wine and strong drink are symbols of the Word of God, and taken in moderation and self-control they both nourish and comfort us:

Pro 31:6 Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.
Pro 31:7 Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.

Mat 26:27 And he took the cup [of wine], and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;

Mar 10:38 But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?
Mar 10:39 And they said unto him, We can. And Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized:

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

When we “err through wine… and strong drink” we are drunk on our own election. Like Hezekiah, we become drunk on our own special relationship with God. The fact that the Lord has preserved us from being swept away with “the refuge of lies”, which the Lord sent to prove us, can and will puff us up, and we, too, become “lifted up” in our hearts. Hezekiah is a type of who we are. After all the Lord did for him, all of which should have humbled him, this is what happened instead:

2Ch 32:22 Thus the LORD saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria, and from the hand of all other, and guided them on every side.
2Ch 32:23 And many brought gifts unto the LORD to Jerusalem, and presents to Hezekiah king of Judah: so that he was magnified in the sight of all nations from thenceforth.

"Many brought gifts unto the Lord”, but it was "Hezekiah king of Judah [who] was magnified in the sight of all the nations…" This is a type of us (1Co 10:6). The Lord shows us great mercy, forgives us for all our sins, delivers us from all our enemies, and our flesh appropriates His glory due only to Him unto ourselves. This is a warning to us:

2Ch 32:25 But Hezekiah rendered not again according to the benefit done unto him; for his heart was lifted up: therefore there was wrath upon him, and upon Judah and Jerusalem.

This is exactly what happened to King Saul after the campaign against Amelek. Hezekiah is not better of himself than King Saul. God had given King Saul that victory, and now he “sets up to himself a monument”, and he was no longer “small in [his] own eyes”.

Notice how the life of the rejected anointed of God parallels the life of the Lord’s “very elect”:

1Sa 15:12 And Samuel riseth early to meet Saul in the morning, and it is declared to Samuel, saying, `Saul hath come in to Carmel, and lo, he is setting up to himself a monument, and goeth round, and passeth over, and goeth down to Gilgal.' (YLT)

1Sa 15:17 And Samuel said, When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the LORD anointed thee king over Israel?
1Sa 15:18 And the LORD sent thee on a journey, and said, Go and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them until they be consumed.
1Sa 15:19 Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of the LORD, but didst fly upon the spoil, and didst evil in the sight of the LORD?

When we appropriate to ourselves anything… good or evil, we are as guilty as King Saul and King Hezekiah of being “lifted up in [our] hearts [and] rendering not again [to the Lord] according to the benefit done unto [us]”.

2Ch 32:25 But Hezekiah rendered not again according to the benefit done unto him; for his heart was lifted up: therefore there was wrath upon him, and upon Judah and Jerusalem.

However, the Lord did not take the kingdom from Hezekiah as He did to King Saul. No, not at all. This is what He did to Hezekiah who, just like King Saul “rendered not again [unto the Lord] according to the benefit done unto him [because] his heart was lifted up”:

2Ch 32:26 Notwithstanding Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the LORD came not upon them in the days of Hezekiah.

“Hezekiah humbled himself” for one reason, and it is for the same reason King Saul did not humble himself. This is the only reason we either humble ourselves or refuse to do so:

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

There is nothing at all wrong with Hezekiah acknowledging that the Lord had indeed shown great favor unto him. Indeed, he would be denying the Lord if he failed to do so. So, it is with each of us.

Psa 107:2 Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;

2Co 4:5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.
2Co 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
2Co 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

In the same manner, if we fail to acknowledge that the Lord has showered great spiritual favor upon us, a much greater favor than all the physical favor He showered upon Hezekiah, and if we deny that the Lord has seated us with Himself in the heavens at His Father's right hand, because we fear what our ‘ten brothers’ might think of us, then we, too, are failing to "render… again [to the Lord] according to the benefit done unto [us]" by the Lord.

Eph 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
Eph 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
Eph 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
Eph 2:7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us ["who first trusted in Him" - Eph 1:12] through Christ Jesus.

If we deny we are the Lord's redeemed, then He will deny us before His Father, because we are "His body" (Eph 5:30 and Col 1:14), and when we deny that fact, we are denying Christ Himself:

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

Denying Christ is what Hezekiah did in effect when he appropriated to himself the glory for all the Lord had done for him. He was denying Christ and glorifying his own heart.

2Ch 32:25 But Hezekiah rendered not again according to the benefit done unto him; for his heart was lifted up: therefore there was wrath upon him, and upon Judah and Jerusalem.

The lesson for us in this story is that with all the honor the Lord places upon us, it is just simply more than our carnal flesh can cope with, and therefore God must humble us again. All glory belongs to our Lord and none to us. This story happened to Hezekiah, and it was written down to tell us that we just naturally do what Hezekiah did and appropriate to ourselves the Lord’s glory.

Each of us take to ourselves the glory of our election, and we just naturally use His work in us as fuel for the exultation of ourselves over those who have not been so blessed as we have been to be given so many spiritual blessings.

But if the Lord has predestined that we are His “very elect”, then He Himself will keep us humble by whatever means He sees fit, and He who is working all things after the counsel of His own will (Eph1:11) will work in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure (Php 2:13). We are clay in His hands, and we are helpless as we “kick against the pricks” (Act 9:5).

If the Lord has predestinated that we are to partake of that blessed and holy first resurrection and that we are not to be hurt of the second death, then this is what He will do with every trial He places upon us as we endure the “much tribulation” which is integral to the lives of all whom He has placed in that blessed and holy position:

Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Rom 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Rom 8:30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

We will come back to these verses when we are shown the inexorable ability of the Lord to preserve His elect.

The Lord’s sovereign work in our lives is made known to us in how the Lord had to deal with the apostle Paul, and Paul, as a type of all of us, lets us know that he was no different than King Hezekiah and that the Lord also had to humble him.

As we mentioned earlier in this study, Isaiah has already been inspired to tell us just how hopeless our natural condition is. These words are in complete accord with what Paul tells us of himself and how the Lord dealt with him:

Isa 28:5 In that day shall the LORD of hosts be for a crown of glory, and for a diadem of beauty, unto the residue of his people,
Isa 28:6 And for a spirit of judgment to him that sitteth in judgment, and for strength to them that turn the battle to the gate.
Isa 28:7 But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment.

It all speaks to us about what is in our own self-righteous, self-centered flesh. There are no exceptions.

Here is what Paul tells us about his struggles with his own ego attempting to appropriate to himself the Lord’s glory, and he tells us how the Lord dealt with that self-centered beast within the apostle Paul.

2Co 12:1 It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.
2Co 12:2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.
2Co 12:3 And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)
2Co 12:4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
2Co 12:5 Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.
2Co 12:6 For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.
2Co 12:7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
2Co 12:8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
2Co 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
2Co 12:10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

What we are being told is that of ourselves we are not capable of staying humble when the Lord is using us as His servants. Just like the apostle Paul, Hezekiah, as a type and a shadow of who we are in Christ, was granted to see his sin and repent of exalting himself and of taking the Lord's blessings and using them as the healing balm for his deadly wound to his own beast within, and as the fuel for his own vanity and his own glory.

If we are indeed the Lord's "very elect" then these words in Romans 8 are ours in which we must take comfort:

Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Rom 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Rom 8:30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
Rom 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
Rom 8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us ["the firstborn" (vs. 29)] all things?
Rom 8:33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.
Rom 8:34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
Rom 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Rom 8:36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Rom 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
Rom 8:38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Rom 8:39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Pro 24:16 For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.

Hezekiah is a type of us, and as such he was granted to repent of exalting himself instead of the Lord:

2Ch 32:26 Notwithstanding Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the LORD came not upon them in the days of Hezekiah.

Self-exultation is as natural as breathing for each of us, and it requires "an experience of evil… a thorn in our flesh" to keep us humble, bring us to repentance and keep us aware of just how helpless we are in and of ourselves.

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

The Word of God itself condemns us and shows us that we "reap what we sow" (Gal 6:7). If we are truly "the very elect", then the Lord simply does not permit our beast to devour us, and He Himself humbles us and drags us back to repentance and delivers us from spiritual death:

Isa 39:3 Then came Isaiah the prophet unto king Hezekiah, and said unto him, What said these men? and from whence came they unto thee? And Hezekiah said, They are come from a far country unto me, even from Babylon.
Isa 39:4 Then said he, What have they seen in thine house? And Hezekiah answered, All that is in mine house have they seen: there is nothing among my treasures that I have not shewed them.
Isa 39:5 Then said Isaiah to Hezekiah, Hear the word of the LORD of hosts:
Isa 39:6 Behold, the days come, that all that is in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store until this day, shall be carried to Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith the LORD.
Isa 39:7 And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.

It is a simple fact of life that all the Lord's people are first sinners who must "come out of [Babylon]". So, it follows that for that to happen they must first be there in Babylon:

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

We will end our study here for this week, but I want to do so by quoting:

Heb 11:24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;
Heb 11:25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
Heb 11:26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.

Moses typifies our faith, being willing to “suffer… at this present time” (Rom 8:18) with the “firstfruits unto God and the Lamb (Rev 14:4)… than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season”.

Rom 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Rom 8:19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.

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

Moses' faith is but a shadow of the “faith of Christ” which He gives to those in Him who like Moses “have respect unto the recompence of the reward”. Moses did not give his birthright away for a “bowl of pottage”, and neither did he think that the Egyptians would receive the same reward he would receive. He “had respect unto the recompence of the reward” of “suffering at this present time… with… the firstfruits unto God and the Lamb”.

Heb 11:26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.

We will end this chapter with this very encouraging thought of being told of “the recompence of the reward”, and learning of it “from the Father to the children”.

Isa 38:19 The living, the living, he shall praise thee, as I do this day: the father to the children shall make known thy truth.

In our next study we will conclude this chapter with the most wonderful assurance that the Lord knows those who are His and He will not lose one of them.

Psa 118:27 God is the LORD, which hath shewed us light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar.

2Ti 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
2Ti 2:16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.
2Ti 2:17 And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;
2Ti 2:18 Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.
2Ti 2:19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

Joh 17:12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.

“The Lord knows them that are His… and none of them is lost”, not one of them. That is who Hezekiah typifies and foreshadows, as we will see in our next and final study of this 39th chapter of Isaiah. Hezekiah is a type of “those [the Father] has given [to Christ]”, who will not be lost, and that is who we hope we are. (Rom 8:24-25).

Rom 8:24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
Rom 8:25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

]]> Studies In Psalms – Psa 106:12-20 Part 2 “He Gave Them Their Request”, Part A https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/studies-in-psalms-psa-10612-20-part-2-he-gave-them-their-request-part-a/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=studies-in-psalms-psa-10612-20-part-2-he-gave-them-their-request-part-a Fri, 06 Jul 2018 18:38:38 +0000 http://www.iswasandwillbe.com/?p=16698 Studies In Psalms – Psa 106:12-20 Part 2 “He gave them their request”, Part A
Part One (Psa 106:1-11) “Remember me, O LORD, with the favour thy people”
Part Two (Psa 106:12-20) “He gave them their request” part A
(Psa 106:21-29) “He gave them their request” part B
Part Three (Psa 106:30-39) “The idols of Canaan”
Part Four (Psa 106:40-48) “He regarded their affliction, when He heard their cry”

Psa 106:12 Then believed they his words; they sang his praise.
Psa 106:13 They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his counsel:
Psa 106:14 But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert.
Psa 106:15 And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.
Psa 106:16 They envied Moses also in the camp, and Aaron the saint of the LORD.
Psa 106:17 The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan, and covered the company of Abiram.
Psa 106:18 And a fire was kindled in their company; the flame burned up the wicked.
Psa 106:19 They made a calf in Horeb, and worshipped the molten image.
Psa 106:20 Thus they changed their glory into the similitude of an ox that eateth grass.

In the first part of our study entitled “Remember me, O LORD, with the favour thy people”, the major type and shadow discussed for our sakes was the heartfelt thanks toward God from Israel for the mighty acts of deliverance which He executed before all of Egypt which typifies the world within and without ourselves. The crossing of the Red Sea and the blood put on the door posts and the preparation of “the LORD’S passover” is all full of symbolism for us regarding God’s work in the lives of those whom He prepares to drag to Christ in this age (Joh 6:44). We are sojourning away from the past bondage of sin within our members represented by Egypt.

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

Rom 7:23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
Rom 7:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
Rom 7:25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

Exo 12:10 And ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; and that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall burn with fire (1Co 3:15).
Exo 12:11 And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded (Eph 6:14, Joh 6:35), your shoes on your feet (Eph 6:15), and your staff in your hand (Eph 6:17); [this verse 11 represents the clothing which we must be wearing to go through the fire which will burn away “that which remaineth of it until the morning”. Flesh and blood do not inherit the kingdom.]

Exo 12:3 Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house (Col 1:27):

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

Exo 12:15 Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel [Do not continue in sin – Rom 6:15, Heb 10:26, Joh 8:11].

2Co 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them [typified by “the LORD’S passover” and exodus from Egypt within and without ourselves (1Jn 2:16)], and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

The first two verses of this part of Psalm 106 (verses 12 and 13) set the stage to describe the condition of Israel’s heart and their inability, at this point, to continue in the truth, where we read right after their enemies are covered with water, “Then believed they his words; they sang his praise [anon with joy receiveth it]. They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his counsel.”

This is also witnessed in our Lord’s words to the disciples who started off believing Him as well, and received God’s word with joy. What Christ was telling all His disciples is the same message today, and those who are blessed to read, hear and keep the sayings of the prophecy (Rev 1:3) know that we must continue believing and enduring through this life in order to go on to perfection (Joh 8:30-32, Jas 1:4-8, Mat 24:13).

Mat 13:20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;
Mat 13:21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.

Mat 11:6  And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.

Joh 8:30 As he spake these words, many believed on him.
Joh 8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
Joh 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Php 1:29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him [Joh 8:31], but also to suffer for his sake; [clearly continuing in belief on God’s word (Christ) will bring about suffering, but it will also purify us through those fiery trials so that we can be considered “disciples indeed” as a result of that sanctification process (Joh 17:17, Mat 10:22)].

This section of scripture in James reminds us of the intricate workings of God’s workmanship in our heavens which are being sanctified (Eph 2:10) and is no different than the type and shadow events of the many divers temptations and struggles God gave Israel when “he gave them their request” (of verse 15) (2Ti 3:16-17).

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

Going back to (Joh 8:10-11) Christ reminds this woman, who typifies the church, that the accuser of the brethren has no power over her any longer. “She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.” We must have our faith tried and experience this humbling experience of being dragged before Christ prior to being told, “Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.” Ceasing from sin can only happen through suffering, and so Christ prophesies that Mary, who again is a type of the church, will suffer for that reason, so “that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed”.

1Pe 4:1  Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;

Luk 2:35  (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.

In this section of Psalm 106, the Lord shows us, through the types and shadows of the nation of Israel, that not only must we believe and be thankful for the deliverance which comes from His mighty hand, but we also must continue in truth and live out those types and shadows in our own lives (Exo 12:7-13). This living out the types clearly demonstrates a complete process of overcoming (Exo 12:15) and a need regarding “the LORD’S passover” to leave “…nothing of it remain until the morning; and that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall burn with fire”.

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

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.

The Lord is maturing the body of Christ with a spirit of forbearance and longsuffering, which we discussed last study (2Co 6:6, Eph 4:2). Forbearance and longsuffering are formed as we go through the fiery trials He brings our way (Psa 107:25, Psa 107:28-29), and this is how we learn to possess our souls in patience (Luk 21:19). That process of forbearance and longsuffering is connected to repentance, as demonstrated with the adulterous woman who represents the church. We need to acknowledge that process working in the lives of each member whom we forgive, as well as seeing our own need for forgiveness from Christ in each other (Rom 2:4, Mat 6:12-14). How important is that forgiveness, and what is the connection we can make with a church (woman) who goes from physical adultery (the natural first) to what it says in these verses of Matthew as well as “the LORD’S passover”?

Mat 5:23  Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;
Mat 5:24  Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
Mat 5:25  Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. 
Mat 5:26  Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing (1Co 3:15).

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

If we are going to be granted to finish the work of the Lord on the cross which He has given each of us to bear (Mat 16:24, Php 1:6), we will learn together, through the power of the holy spirit which God gives us, that we can be strengthened through Him to be able to carry our cross and bear each other’s burden as we do good unto all men, especially unto the household of faith who are being granted to “overcome by the blood of Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death (Rev 12:11), a life that is going through the fire of judgment in this age (1Pe 4:12, 1Pe 4:17).

To be a light in this age is to love your neighbour as yourself and also love not your own life. These two statements are not contradicting (Mat 22:39, Joh 12:25). The life we are to love is the life of Christ in each other which gives us the power to be His witnesses who are able to overcome through Him with a spirit of forbearance and longsuffering which is given to those who are likened unto lambs for the slaughter, taking us back to the concept of “the LORD’S passover” (Rom 8:36). It is only through Christ that we will be able to say from the cross which we bear for each other in this age, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Gal 6:2, Luk 23:34). The devilish action of our hearts is revealed right after Christ asked that forgiveness, then “they parted his raiment, and cast lots” which is symbolic of our disregard for the words of Christ, and our inability to leave those garments intact as one body of clothe – the sum of God’s word in other words – and not the myriad of divided churches which exist today. This most important moment of being forgiven from Christ’s heart (Mat 18:35) was accompanied by the unlawful dividing of his garments which witnesses to our disregard for Christ’s word and His body, as also witnessed in the story of Stephen’s martyrdom.

Psa 50:17  Seeing thou hatest instruction, and castest my words behind thee.

Act 7:58  And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul.
Act 7:59  And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
Act 7:60  And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

The Lord has used the wilderness experience of Israel for our sakes to show us that in order to destroy the deceitful and desperately wicked heart within us, which does not forgive from the heart (Jer 17:9), He must make manifest through our actions what it is that is yet to be burned out of us. So he gave them/us “their request”, which is just another way of saying the Lord answers us according to the idol of our hearts which He plans to destroy (Eze 14:4, 1Co 3:17). This destruction of the old temple is also typified by the death of Christ and why our communion is intimately connected to His suffering within each other as we partake of that Passover within the relationship we have with each other in our Father and Christ (1Co 10:16, Joh 14:20, Php 3:10).

Christ living in us enables us to go through the humbling journey of falling seven symbolic times (through the wilderness Pro 24:16), and He brings us to our desired haven (Psa 107:30) which will bring us to “praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!” (Psa 107:31).

It pleased the Father to bruise Christ just as it does His own children (Heb 12:6) because He knows that “the LORD’S passover” is something that we must live in each others’ lives, as we are being saved through Christ (our Passover) who enables us to go outside the camp (Act 4:27-28, Isa 53:10, Col 1:24, Heb 13:13). This is where our increase originates, through the trials, through the gold being tried, given as a gift, a wonderful work unto the children of men, and so when we read “he gave them their request“, we pray the Lord will help us see that this is the only way we can come to our safe haven in Christ as we mature through our trials.

Psa 106:12 Then believed they his words; they sang his praise.

Moses’ life typifies the life of Christ, who, after the “wonders in Egypt” and the rebuking of “the Red sea also”, brought them (the Israelites) to believe what God was doing through Moses. In the book of John we see this parallel event in Christ’s life and understand therefore that this in not a one-time event of overcoming, but a lifetime of enduring until the end and continuing in the truth which sets us free.

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

Joh 8:36  If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

Our hearts are being transformed (Rom 12:2) through those “wonders in Egypt” which represent the wonderful works of God that bring us to sing “his praise”(Psa 107:30-31).

Rom 12:2  And be not conformed to this world [Egypt within and without]: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Psa 107:30  Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.
Psa 107:31  Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

Psa 106:13 They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his counsel:

Forgetting “his works” and not waiting “for his counsel” is again very easily demonstrated in the lives of those who were shown many good works of His Father, and God has caused these events to show us the hypocrisy that is just naturally in our hearts until it is burned out.

Joh 10:32  Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?

Joh 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.

It is expedient that Christ goes away so that the comforter can bring us, his wayward disciples, back, starting “when the day of Pentecost was fully come”, when the Spirit of truth is sent.

Joh 16:7  Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

Joh 16:13  Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

Act 2:1  And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
Act 2:2  And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

Psa 106:14 But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert.

When we forget “His works” and don’t possess our souls in patience as we wait “for His counsel”, we will find ourselves acting like Israel of old who, “lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert.” We know that this applies to us inwardly as the Lord brings us in remembrance of the bondage which there is in the spiritual wilderness of this world. We will just naturally tempt “God in the desert” when we neglect so great a salvation and are deprived of the whole stay of bread and water because we are looking elsewhere to find the true living waters.

God causes this spirit to manifest in his people so that it can be burned out and we can be brought back to our senses and give great thanks and continue in a renewed zeal to serve the Lord who keeps us in the way of life.

2Co 7:10  For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
2Co 7:11  For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.

Psa 106:15 And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.

God gives us our “request” and creates the contrast we need through the “leanness” He puts into our souls so we can learn through this experience of evil (Ecc 1:13) that God is sovereign over the clay to make it a vessel of honour or dishonour as it pleases Him who has “power over the clay”.

Rom 6:20  For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.
Rom 6:21  What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.
Rom 6:22  But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

Rom 9:21  Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?
Rom 9:22  What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:
Rom 9:23  And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,

2Ti 2:20  But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.

Psa 106:16 They envied Moses also in the camp, and Aaron the saint of the LORD.
Psa 106:17 The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan, and covered the company of Abiram.

Moses and Aaron represent our Father and Christ within us in this instance (Joh 14:20). When we are not mature sons, the spirit of envy and lust are going to manifest in our yet carnal state as we unwisely compare ourselves among ourselves becoming part of the numberG1469 G1438 and not recognizing, appreciating or believing the work God is doing within the many members.

1Co 3:3  For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
1Co 3:4  For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?

2Co 10:12  For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves (1Co 3:4) with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

Joh 10:38  But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.

Luk 6:44  For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes.

We are part of the number when a conceited spirit causes us to, “compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.” It is the Lord Who causes this to happen or “He gave them their request” as He deceives the prophet within us for His purpose of maturing us when we are brought unto repentance for such actions at the appointed time (Eze 14:9).

1Co 3:3  For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
1Co 3:4  For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?

2Co 10:12  For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

Joh 10:38  But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.

God will not leave any son or daughter of His in this state of immaturity, and He heals our land by having “the earth opened and swallowed up Dathan” just as was the case with the rebellion of Korah when two hundred and fifty men were swallowed up in the earth, men of renown who represented that proud man of sin on our throne who is lofty (AbiramH48) and in need of being humbled under the mighty hand of God.

Num 16:2  And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty [multiple of 5 representing the grace and faith that we be required to burn out these ungodly spirits within us in their appointed time] princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown:

Jas 4:10  Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
Jas 4:11  Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.
Jas 4:12  There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?

Psa 106:18 And a fire was kindled in their company; the flame burned up the wicked.
Psa 106:19 They made a calf in Horeb, and worshipped the molten image.
Psa 106:20 Thus they changed their glory into the similitude of an ox that eateth grass.

There is a glory in the terrestrial state in which we are, and when Israel “made a calf in Horeb, and worshipped the molten image” it was again another type and shadow to show us how we put the terrestrial beast on the throne of our hearts and worship him as God.

1Co 15:39  All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds.

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.
Ecc 3:19  For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity.

Rev 13:15  And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.

The image of the man who is a beast or “an ox” believes that he has done many wonderful works. Therefore the larger and more expensive offering of the ox is represented in this instance [negative example of the burnt offering], but notice the ox eats grass, and when we exalt ourselves, or glory in those things which God does through us, we are yet carnal beasts thinking we are mature sons, when in reality we are still on herbs eating grass as this ox is described doing.

1Co 4:7  For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?

Heb 5:13  For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
Heb 5:14  But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Rom 14:1  Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.
Rom 14:2  For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.
Rom 14:3  Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.

God declares the end from the beginning (Isa 46:10) and tells us how He is going to deal with this immature spirit which glories in ‘self’ and looks for others to align with their beastly perceptions, “to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.” God gives him power to do what “he gave them their request” (of verse 15) so that “a fire was kindled in their company; the flame burned up the wicked” (of verse 18).

That fire is the solution to saving us from those requests which God has answered us in our immature state according to the idol of our hearts. He causes the sin to manifest within the weak vessel of clay, but then he mercifully destroys the sin and forms a new creation, a new vessel of honour which only He alone can build.

Jer 18:4  And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.

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

Next week, Lord willing, we will look at part B of our study sub-titled “He gave them their request” where we will look at the mercy of God being expressed through the types of Christ found in the life of Moses, and reflect on the hope that “had not Moses (type of Christ) his chosen stood before him in the breach, to turn away his wrath, lest he should destroy them.”

Psa 106:21 They forgat God their saviour, which had done great things in Egypt;
Psa 106:22 Wondrous works in the land of Ham, and terrible things by the Red sea.
Psa 106:23 Therefore he said that he would destroy them, had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the breach, to turn away his wrath, lest he should destroy them.
Psa 106:24 Yea, they despised the pleasant land, they believed not his word:
Psa 106:25 But murmured in their tents, and hearkened not unto the voice of the LORD.
Psa 106:26 Therefore he lifted up his hand against them, to overthrow them in the wilderness:
Psa 106:27 To overthrow their seed also among the nations, and to scatter them in the lands.
Psa 106:28 They joined themselves also unto Baalpeor, and ate the sacrifices of the dead.
Psa 106:29 Thus they provoked him to anger with their inventions: and the plague brake in upon them.

]]> Psalms 76:5-7 “Dost Thou Not Judge and Avenge Our Blood…” – Part 2 https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/psalms-765-7-dost-thou-not-judge-and-avenge-our-blood-part-2/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=psalms-765-7-dost-thou-not-judge-and-avenge-our-blood-part-2 Tue, 30 Aug 2016 21:29:47 +0000 http://www.iswasandwillbe.com/?p=12358 Psalm 76:5-7 “Dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?” – Part 2

Psa 76:5 The stouthearted are spoiled, they have slept their sleep: and none of the men of might have found their hands.
Psa 76:6 At thy rebuke, O God of Jacob, both the chariot and horse are cast into a dead sleep.
Psa 76:7 Thou, even thou, art to be feared: and who may stand in thy sight when once thou art angry?

This week we are going to look at how “God avenges our blood on them that dwell on the earth”. There is always an inward and outward application to this process of avenging and it is the controversy that God has with the nations both within and without that will lay up store in His storehouse.

Jer 25:31 A noise shall come even to the ends of the earth; for the LORD hath a controversy with the nations, he will plead with all flesh; he will give them that are wicked to the sword, saith the LORD.
Jer 22:29 O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the LORD.

If we are blessed to lose our life in this age we will be laying up store in heaven, in God’s storehouse, only because He has given us the power to give all our life a living sacrifice, which is our reasonable service or divine service because it is Christ who is working this service in His body, the church, both to will and to do of God’s good pleasure. God’s judgments upon the elect today make it possible for us to lay up store in heaven as we decrease and He increases.

Mat 6:19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
Mat 6:20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
Mat 6:21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Mal 3:10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

Luk 12:23 The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.
Luk 12:24 Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?

Joh 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease.

Last week we discussed how our life is laid up as a spoil or treasure in heaven looking at where the word “spoil” is used that corresponds very well to the word “prey” in.

Jer 17:3 O my mountain in the field, I will give thy substance and all thy treasures to the spoilH957, and thy high places for sin, throughout all thy borders.

Psa 76:4 Thou art more glorious and excellent than the mountains of preyH2964.

It becomes very clear that the ‘spoil’ or ‘prey’ that is laid up is speaking of the destruction of our first man Adam’s lust of the flesh and lust of the eyes and pride of life (1Jn 2:16), typified by Mount Esau, which is judged so that we can lay up store for future judgment of angels (Deu 12:1-2, Oba 1:21, 1Co 6:3-5).

Dan 5:25 And this is the writing that was written, MENEH4484, MENEH4484, TEKELH8625, UPHARSINH6537.

Deu 12:1 These are the statutes and judgments, which ye shall observe to do in the land, which the LORD God of thy fathers giveth thee to possess it, all the days that ye live upon the earth.
Deu 12:2 Ye shall utterly destroy all the places, wherein the nations which ye shall possess served their gods, upon the high mountains, and upon the hills, and under every green tree:

We also considered how the levitical sacrifices represent that ‘spoil’ or ‘prey’ of life that also is cut and divided or to reiterate: ‘numbered’H4484 and ‘weighed’H8625 and ‘divided’H6537 by God (Dan 5:25) as a preyH2964.

Here is another correlation of these sacrifices in the new covenant, in Luke chapter two, where Mary who is a type of the church is told she will be pierced in her heart. Most of the accompanying verses are speaking about sacrifices which the holy spirit caused to remind us that to be pierced in your heart is to be a living sacrifice where we go to the altar, which is the cross.

Luk 2:15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
Luk 2:16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

Gal 3:16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.

Luk 2:17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

Mat 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

Luk 2:18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
Luk 2:19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

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

Luk 2:20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
Luk 2:21 And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
Luk 2:22 And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord;
Luk 2:23 (As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;)
Luk 2:24 And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.

Lev 14:1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Lev 14:2 This shall be the law of the leper in the day of his cleansing: He shall be brought unto the priest:
Lev 14:3 And the priest shall go forth out of the camp; and the priest shall look, and, behold, if the plague of leprosy be healed in the leper;
Lev 14:4 Then shall the priest command to take for him that is to be cleansed two birds alive and clean, and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop:
Lev 14:5 And the priest shall command that one of the birds be killed in an earthen vessel over running water:
Lev 14:6 As for the living bird, he shall take it, and the cedar wood, and the scarlet, and the hyssop, and shall dip them and the living bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the running water:
Lev 14:7 And he shall sprinkle upon him that is to be cleansed from the leprosy seven times, and shall pronounce him clean, and shall let the living bird loose into the open field.

Luk 2:25 And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.
Luk 2:26 And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.

We don’t see death, or die daily, until we see “the Lord’s Christ”.

Luk 2:27 And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,

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

Luk 2:28 Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,
Luk 2:29 Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: Luk 2:30 For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,
Luk 2:31 Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;
Luk 2:32 A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

Col 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

Luk 2:33 And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him.
Luk 2:34 And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against;

This is “set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel” for the controversy of the nations spoken of in Jeremiah (Jer 25:31).

Luk 2:35 (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.

It is this sword, God’s word, that we pray will not depart from our temple, knowing that it is needful to be judged today so that “the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed”. This is the affliction or suffering that must come upon God’s people if we are going to lay up store today so we can reign under our Lord. We are that prey or lamb for the slaughter that God is preparing for all the world for their blessing and benefit.

2Sa 12:10 Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife.

2Ti 2:12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:
2Ti 2:13 If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.

Rom 8:36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

Isa 53:7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

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

Psa 76:5 The stoutheartedH47 are spoiledH7997, they have slept their sleep: and none of the men of might have found their hands.

Psa 68:30 Rebuke the company of spearmen, the multitude of the bullsH47, with the calves of the people, till every one submit himself with pieces of silver: scatter thou the people that delight in war.

H47
אבּיר
‘abbıŷr
Total KJV Occurrences: 16
bulls, 4
Psa_50:13, Psa_68:30, Isa_34:7, Jer_50:11
mighty, 4
Job_24:22 (2), Job_34:20, Lam_1:15
strong, 3
Psa_22:12, Jer_8:16, Jer_47:3
stouthearted, 2
Psa_76:5, Isa_46:12
angels’, 1
Psa_78:25
chiefest, 1
1Sa_21:7

H7997
שׁלל
shalal
Total KJV Occurrences: 13
spoil, 4
Eze_26:12, Eze_29:19, Eze_39:10, Hab_2:8
spoiled, 4
Psa_76:5, Eze_39:10, Zec_2:8 (2)
take, 2
Isa_10:6, Eze_38:13
fall, 1
Rth_2:16
prey, 1
Isa_59:15
purpose, 1
Rth_2:15-16 (2)

H7997
שׁלל
shalal
shaw-lal’

A primitive root; to drop or strip; by implication to plunder: – let fall, make self a prey, X of purpose, (make a, [take]) spoil.

The word “stouthearted” is connected to the word “bull” and brings us back to the idea that God is breaking the power of the bulls of Bashan within us, tearing down the powers and principalities within our heavens, plundering them so that again He can lay up store in our heavens. We are the ‘chiefest the mighty, the nations’ that at first surround our Lord, and by His grace and faith become those who are blessed to be persecuted in this age.

Psa 22:12 Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round.

Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Act 4:27 For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,

Mat 5:11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

“They have slept their sleep: and none of the men of might have found their hands” reminds us that all the world is deceived and blinded by Satan, and within that deception there is a way that seems right to a man but it leads to death. We don’t find our hands because the direction we take in the flesh is always contrary to the spirit and the twain will never be one. It takes the heart of a little child to guide our hands and lose our life for Christ.

1Jn 5:19 And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.

2Co 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

Pro 14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

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

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

Jdg 16:26 And Samson said unto the lad that held him by the hand, Suffer me that I may whereupon the house standeth, that I may lean upon them.

Joh 20:27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and thy hand, and thrust it into : and be not faithless, but believing.

Psa 76:6 At thy rebuke, O God of Jacob, both the chariot and horse are cast into a dead sleep.

Right after we read in verse 5 these words “The stoutheartedH47 are spoiledH7997, they have slept their sleep” the holy spirit reveals the solution to how God will deal with the stouthearted and spoiled through baptism.

1Co 10:2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;

We are all (salvation of all) baptized unto Moses (type of Christ) in the cloud (great cloud of witnesses, the church where the manifest knowledge of God is given – Heb 12:1, Eph 3:10) and part of that process involves death “in the sea” as we die daily to this world!

Psa 76:7 Thou, even thou, art to be feared: and who may stand in thy sight when once thou art angry?

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

Eph 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Eph 6:14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

The lesson here is to fear and reverence God! He is the one who can deal with our soulishness and cause us to stand. Without His mercy expressed through His power working in our lives there will be no standing. The time of anger that God has is against our flesh and will be working sorrow and repentance unto salvation if God is working with us in this age.

Luk 12:5 But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.

Joh 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

2Co 7:10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

Rom 2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

Next week, Lord willing, we will look at the conclusion of our study entitled “Dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?”.

There is a need for an half hour of symbolic silence in the hearts of all those who are judged, and all men must be judged in order to make things right.

Rev 8:1 And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour.
Rev 8:2 And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets.

]]> Revelation 21:23-27 https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/rev-21_23_37/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rev-21_23_37 Sun, 15 May 2011 23:54:39 +0000 http://www.iswasandwillbe.com/?p=3949 Audio Links

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Rev 21:23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
Rev 21:24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.
Rev 21:25 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.
Rev 21:26 And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.
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.

Introduction

When we read in last week’s study that “I saw no temple therein”, what are we being told? What we are told is that the symbolism of the temple has been fulfilled. Christ is now dwelling withmen, because “the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.”

Rev 21:22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.
1Co 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
2Co 6:16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

So those who are Christ’s are His Bride, His wife, the mother of all of His children, “Jerusalem above which is the mother of us all”. “The bride the Lamb’s wife”, has now been pronounced to be the fulfillment of the symbolism of the temple into which all who come to God must enter. “There is no temple therein” simply because “the Lord God almighty and the Lamb are [ therein, and they] are the temple of it”. So the following verse now applies to the Lamb’s wife, the New Jerusalem.

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

If you and I are the temple of God, then it is only so because “the spirit of God dwells in us”. That is what you and I are being told when we read:

Rev 21:22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.

If we are “the bride the Lamb’s wife, the holy Jerusalem”, then it is not adding to what is written to say “there is no temple therein” because “Christ and His Father are the temple thereof” within us here and now.
These are words of our Lord and they “will not pass away”. These words will be just as applicable to all men who are cast into the lake of fire as they apply to us now in our own “fiery trials”.
To the natural man it seems impossible to say ‘We, as the children of Christ, are the church of Christ’; we are the “manchild… who is to rule all nations with a rod of iron; and we are also the church which is Jerusalem above “the mother of us all”. How can Christ’s children also be His brothers, His sisters, and at the same time be His wife? This is no problem at all in the spirit:

Mat 12:47 Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.
Mat 12:48 But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?
Mat 12:49 And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!
Mat 12:50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

If we go on to say we are the four beasts and the four and twenty elders in the midst of and round about the throne of God, and we are the angels who shows us these things and we are the seven churches and we are the hundred and forty four thousand; It just sounds impossible to be all of these things.
To add to the confusion of the natural man, we must also confess that we were first, “that woman Jezebel, the hated Nicolaitans, miserable, blind, and naked Laodiceans, and Ephesians who have left our first love. We are the beast, the false prophet, and we were first of our father the devil. These things must all be seen as being within our own flesh and they must first be burned out of us and seen as “the patience and faith of the saints”. All of this must be “read, heard, and kept”, before we are granted to become “the bride, the Lamb’s wife”, through whom all men will be brought to Christ.

Rev 21:23  And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.

Another way of saying what we are being told in this verse was given us by our Lord when talking to His disciples just before His apprehension and His glorification. Here is how He told us that the glory of God and the Lamb would be within those who are espoused to Him as a chaste virgin:

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

Our primary approach to these words is to see these words as “I in you”.  When we apply these words presently and internally, their outward and future application take care of themselves. Here is what this knowledge produces within us:

Joh 14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

That is the ‘is’ and present application of “for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof”. Here is Christ revealing to us that we are this “city on a great and high mountain”:

Mat 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill [ Greek, oros – mountain] cannot be hid.

The Greek word translated ‘hill’ in this verse is the same word translated ‘mountain’ in this verse:

Rev 21:10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain [ Greek – oros], and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,

This Greek word ‘oros’ appears in the New Testament 65 times. 62 of those 65 entries are some form of the word ‘mountain’. 28 entries are translated ‘mountain’; 21 ‘mount’, and 13 ‘mountains’. Only three times is this Greek word ‘oros’ translated as ‘hill’.
In Mat 5:14, Christ is telling us that we are “that great city, on a great and high mountain, which cannot be hid“.

Rev 21:10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,

It is nothing less than denying our Lord when we put our light under a bushel, or try to hide the fact that we are “a city on  a mountain”. Christ goes so far as to tell us that just as the world did not know who he was, neither will they recognize who we are.

Joh 8:43 Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.
Joh 8:37 I know that ye are Abraham’s seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.

The apostle named Judas asked Christ how this is accomplished, and this is His answer:

Joh 14:22 Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?
Joh 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
Joh 14:24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me.

It is Christ’s Words, which are really His Father’s Words, which, if they are in us, put Christ and His Father, with their light and with their glory, within us. That is how the light and glory of God and the Lamb, are within us, as that great city, which is the wife of the Lamb.

Rev 21:24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.

Here is a verse which graphically demonstrates both the inward and the outward application of these words. “The nations of them that are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it”.

1Jn 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
1Jn 4:17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

Christ is “the light of the world”, but he tells us that “as He is so are we in this world”.

Joh 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

Therefore if He is that light that lightens the great city, which city we are, then we too, must be “the light of the world”. Is that so?
If we “do not walk in darkness, then there is no night in us as that “city of a mountain great and high”.

Mat 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill [ Greek, mountain] cannot be hid.
Rev 21:10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain [ Greek, oros], and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,

Rev 21:25 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.

There is no night in the holy Jerusalem, the Lamb’s wife, because “the spirit of God dwells in us, and the glory of God and the Lamb are the light thereof”.

1Th 5:5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

“The gates of it need not be shut at all by day” for this reason:

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

Remember, this city, which city we are, is “lighted by the glory of God and of the Lamb… who are both the temple of this city”.

Rev 21:22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.

If “the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it” then there will be no way in which any evil or any darkness could possibly slip through the gates of this city. Here is how we know this to be the case:

1Ti 6:15 Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;
1Ti 6:16 Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.

We may have thought that this verse is speaking only of the Father, but Christ makes clear that the word ‘man’ does not mean those who love and obey God. Rather it means unrighteous, and ungodly men:

Joh 14:7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
Joh 14:8 Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.
Joh 14:9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?

Rev 21:26 And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.

“The glory and the honor of the nations” is the subduing of “every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;”

2Co 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
2Co 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
2Co 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
2Co 10:6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

Every thought is a “nation” which, when it is “brought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, is “the honor of the nations” which will then become an integral part of the great high wall and the foursquare character of this “city of God”.

Mat 24:7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
Mat 24:8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
Mat 24:9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.

All of this must happen as a necessary part of being prepared to enter into that great city. Christ continues with this very theme:

Mat 24:8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
Mat 24:9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.
Mat 24:10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
Mat 24:11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
Mat 24:12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
Mat 24:13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

That is how we are prepared by our Lord to enter into this city and become “the bride, the Lamb’s wife”.

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.

Our old man must die and be left behind with the rest of the world, if we are granted to enter into that city. It is only by acknowledging that we are “marred vessels of clay, in the Potter’s hand, that we have defiled the temple of God and must therefore be destroyed, via the wrath of God upon our own ungodliness and unrighteousness, that we ourselves will be saved “yet though as by fire”.

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.

Dying in order to live, and enduring the fire to avoid the lake of fire, is foolishness to the natural man. Let all of us “become a fool that we may be wise”. Only then will we be granted to “bring the glory and honour of the nations into it”.

Rev 21:26 And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.

Next week, if the Lord wills, we will cover these verses of the very last chapter of this “revelation of Jesus Christ” within each of our lives.

Rev 22:1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.
Rev 22:2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
Rev 22:3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:
Rev 22:4 And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.
Rev 22:5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.

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