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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 19:17-21 The Supper of the Great God https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/rev-1917-21-the-supper-of-the-great-god/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rev-1917-21-the-supper-of-the-great-god Sat, 07 Jun 2025 23:03:44 +0000 https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/?p=33292 Audio Download

Rev 19:17-21 The Supper of the Great God

 [Study Aired June 8, 2025]

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.

Introduction

In our last study of verse 9 we learned of a spiritual event called “the marriage supper of the Lamb”, and we learned that those who are called to that “marriage supper” were especially “blessed.”

Rev 19:9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.

In today’s study we will be learning about “the supper of the great God.”

What is the difference between these two suppers? Is there one supper which we attend at a certain stage in our spiritual development, and then another supper which we attend at still another stage of our walk?

The answer is that these two suppers correspond with the two separate resurrections. In other words, we all have the same experience and all things present and things to come are ours, but our fire and brimstone judgment comes well in advance of the great white throne judgment. We are judged in this life first, just as those in the second resurrection will be judged at the white throne judgment/lake of fire/second death. Judgment is ‘now on the house of God’ which makes us, in Christ Jesus, worthy of a part in the “blessed and holy… first resurrection”, what Christ called “the resurrection of life.”

Joh 5:28  Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
Joh 5:29  And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

This “resurrection of life” takes place at the beginning of the thousand-year reign of Christ and His Christ. This “first resurrection” corresponds with those who are numbered as 144,000 and who follow the Lamb wherever He goes:

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.
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.
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.

Be sure to read: Rev 7:4-8 Who are the 144,000, Part 1

Revelation 14 refers to this same numbered group:

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.

“The resurrection of damnation [judgment]” comes over a thousand years after the resurrection of life. This second supper of this 19th chapter corresponds to that second group of Revelation 7, the “great multitude which no man can number.” This supper of the great God is the final resurrection of judgment; the second resurrection. It is called ‘the great white throne… judgment’ which is the only other resurrection mentioned in scripture, and it comes only after the thousand years are expired:

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

Living by every word of God (Mat 4:4, Luk 4:4) means that all men will be resurrected and judged according to their works. It does not mean that those in the first resurrection must also “be hurt of the second death.” They ‘died’ first, and living by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God does not mean we must partake of the second death, which we are specifically promised will not hurt us, because it comes only after the thousand years are expired, and we were resurrected a thousand years earlier:

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.

Those who are cast into this “lake of fire” do so only after appearing at the great white throne judgment bar:

Rev 20:11  And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
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 [the book of life contains the names of those who were resurrected a thousand years earlier to “the resurrection of life”, (Joh 5:28-2)]: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
Rev 20:13  And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
Rev 20:14  And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
Rev 20:15  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Let’s look at what we are told about these two suppers and see if there are any parallels with these two suppers and the two separate groups of Revelation 7. Because we have already examined chapter 7, we will not quote it again, but I will call our attention to the fact that the first part of this 19th chapter deals with the marriage supper of the Lamb, which corresponds with the first group of 144,000 in chapter 7. The first part of this 19th chapter also corresponds with the resurrection of life and the 144,000 virgins of Revelation 14. The first part of chapter 14 is also concerned with the 144,000 and their judgment, which judgment is on the house of God now in this present time:

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.

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?

Like the last part of chapter 7 the last part of this 19th chapter, “the supper of the great God”, corresponds with a second group of mankind who comes up in “the resurrection of judgment” also called the “great white throne judgment”:

Rev 20:11  And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
Rev 20:12  And [“When the thousand years are expired”, vs 7]  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.

Revelation 7, Revelation 14, Revelation 19, and Revelation 20 – all four chapters contrast those who are judged in this life and who are raised up in the resurrection to life, also called the “blessed and holy… first resurrection” (Rev 20:6) with those who come up in the second resurrection, which is called “the resurrection of judgment” because they were not judged in “this present time” (Rom 8:18).

Here is that second group signified by those who are cast into the lake of fire. That casting into the lake of fire is also called “the supper of the great God.”

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;

There are three principles involved in this verse. 1) An angel standing in the sun, 2) He cries with a loud voice to the fowls of the heavens to 3) gather themselves together unto the supper of the great God.

So let’s take each of these three principles and let the Word of God tell us what their meaning is.

1) What is “an angel standing in the sun?”

To answer this question we must know what the sun signifies:

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:

We have demonstrated that ‘the Sun’ signifies our Lord Himself:

Mal 4:2  But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness  arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.

Psa 19:4  Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,
Psa 19:5  Which is as [signifies] a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.

Who is this angel, and exactly where is he standing? Here is what the scriptures reveal this angel signifies:

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.

We have seen repeatedly, and in this very chapter, that the seven angels with the seven last plagues of the wrath of God signify ‘our fellowservants and those who keep the sayings of the prophecy of this book’:

Rev 19:10 And I fell at his feet to worship him [the angel]. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren  that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

Rev 22:8 And I John saw these things, and heard [them]. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things.
Rev 22:9 Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.

Clearly the ‘angel standing in the Sun, crying 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’ is the body of Christ by whom the principalities and powers in the heavens are informed of what the Lord is doing:

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:

Just as the elect, signified by “one of the four beasts” in chapter 15, give the vials of the wrath of God to the Lord’s elect, signified by the seven angels which pour out the seven vials of the seven last plagues of God’s wrath upon all who have the mark of the beast, the same is true here in chapter 19. The angel standing in the sun signifies the elect who “make known…the manifold wisdom of God.” It is the elect who are calling the elect, signified by “angels which fly in the midst of heaven” to come and eat the flesh of the beast and the false prophet and their armies.

Rev 19:17 And I saw an angel [“That is… a man”] standing in the sun [standing on the Word of God]; 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;

It is none other than our Lord Himself who has “healing in His wings” and who as “the sun… tabernacles in [our] heavens.” Having “healing in His wings” qualifies our Lord as a ‘fowl of the heavens’ who as “the Sun of Righteousness” (Mal 4:2) has come forth in His elect to “eat the flesh” of the old man in the day of judgment “because as He is in this world, so are we” (1Jo 4:17). Christ has already told us that our new man will eat the carcass of our old man in this parable concerning “the coming of the Son of Man.”

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.
Mat 24:28  For wheresoever the carcase [of our old man] is, there will the eagles [the new man, “the fowls of the heavens”, (Rev 19: 17)] be gathered together.

Knowing what the ‘heavens’ signify, let’s take another look at Psalm 19 and understand who it is who is “declaring the glory of God”:

Psa 19:1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The heavens [the Lord’s elect in whom He dwells, (1Co 3:15-16)] declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.
Psa 19:2 Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.
Psa 19:3 There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.
Psa 19:4 Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,
Psa 19:5 Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.
Psa 19:6 His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat [the fiery judgment] thereof.

Mat 9:14 Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?
Mat 9:15 And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.

So this angel is “a man” standing within Christ, our Lord, and in Him he is proclaiming these words to “the fowls of the heaven”:

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.

We just read that one of the fowls of the heaven has “healing in His wings.”

It is you and I who hear the invitation of the angels to come and eat the flesh of “all men” (Rev 19:18). “The flesh of all men” means ‘all men’ except those who were invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.  “The flesh of all men” signifies the second group here in the last part of this 19th chapter. Those who are invited to the “marriage supper of the Lamb”  those of us who are being judged now in “this present time” (Rom 8:18). “The marriage supper of the Lamb”, referred to in the first half of this 19th chapter, occurred a thousand years earlier at the beginning of the thousand-year reign of Christ and His Christ over the kingdoms of this world (Rev 11:15). We are given an invitation to “the marriage supper of the Lamb”, and it is we who are also invited to eat the flesh of all men “when the thousand years are expired (Rev 20:7), at “the supper of the great God.”

Rev 19:9  And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.

This “marriage supper of the Lamb” is found in the first part of this 19th chapter, and it concerns those who are raised to life (Joh 5:28-29).

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

The flesh must be overcome by the new man in this present age, and must be destroyed before we can enter into the kingdom of God, which kingdom is at this time within us.

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

If it is true that “the kingdom of God is within you”, and it is also true that “flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God”, what this means for us now is that we all must spiritually “die daily” (1Co 15:31) to our own flesh, be “crucified with [Christ]” (Gal 2:20), and “present our bodies [as] a living sacrifice unto God” (Rom 12:1) in this present time (Rom 8:18). If we are granted to die daily in this age, then we will be granted to “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” at “the supper of the great king”, which also is called “the great white throne judgment/lake of fire/second death” (Rev 20:11-15).

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.

There should be no doubt about who these “fowls of the heavens signify” because at this time “the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies,” along with “the false prophet… and the devil that deceived them” have all been “cast into the lake of fire and brimstone.”

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 [the Lord’s elect] were filled with their flesh.

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 [also] 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.

If indeed the beast and the false prophet, and the devil that deceived them, are all in the lake of fire, then these “fowls of the heaven” who are invited to consume their flesh have to be the Lord’s elect who are promised to “judge angels” in the lake of fire at the great white throne judgment as well as “things that pertain to this [physical] life”:

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

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.

We must realize that a thousand years earlier our carcasses were also devoured by “the eagles” which are also “the fowls of the heaven.” The destruction of our old man by “the brightness of [Christ’s] coming” in our lives, and “the eagles” gathered together to devour the carcass of our old man in this present time, “is the figure of” the consuming of 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 19:18), just as “the first man Adam” is “the figure of Him that was to come” (Rom 5:14). All the days we were being devoured in our blindness by the false prophets of Babylon were but the figure of our own consuming of the flesh of the beast, the false prophet and the multitudes who followed them.

The last half of this 19th chapter of Revelation concerning “the supper of the great God” is but an introduction to the great white throne judgment which occupies the last half of chapter 20. Chapter 20, like chapters 7, chapter 14, and this chapter 19 are one and all contrasting the resurrection of life to the resurrection of judgment at the great white throne of God. I have never noticed all those parallels before, but they are very clear once you see them.

2) So who are these “fowls of the heaven” who are those who are being called to this “supper of the great God” to eat the flesh of the beast, the false prophet and their armies “and the flesh of all men”?

“All men” at this time are in the lake of fire, along with the beast, the false prophet, and the devil that deceived them. These “fowls of the heaven” are not the negative symbol of “the fowls [which] came and devoured [the sowers seeds] up (Mat 13:3-4). These “fowls of the heaven” are invited to eat all the flesh of  the beast, the false prophet, their horses and their armies. These “fowls of the heaven” are the only ones who are not “cast into the lake of fire burning with brimstone” where the beast and the false prophet and the devil and his angels are also cast. If the devil and His angels are cast into the lake of fire with the beast and the false prophet and their armies, then there is no possible way that they are being bid to the supper of the great God to devour their own  flesh.

We must pause at this point and finish nailing down who the fowls of heaven are in our next study.

]]> The Book of Kings – 1Ki 1:19-27 “He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief” https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/the-book-of-kings-1ki-119-27-he-is-despised-and-rejected-of-men-a-man-of-sorrows-and-acquainted-with-grief/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-book-of-kings-1ki-119-27-he-is-despised-and-rejected-of-men-a-man-of-sorrows-and-acquainted-with-grief Thu, 10 Jun 2021 23:13:33 +0000 https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/?p=23700

1Ki 1:19-27 “He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief” (Isa 53:3)

[Study Aired June 10, 2021]

1Ki 1:19  And he hath slain oxen and fat cattle and sheep in abundance, and hath called all the sons of the king, and Abiathar the priest, and Joab the captain of the host: but Solomon thy servant hath he not called.
1Ki 1:20  And thou, my lord, O king, the eyes of all Israel are upon thee, that thou shouldest tell them who shall sit on the throne of my lord the king after him.
1Ki 1:21  Otherwise it shall come to pass, when my lord the king shall sleep with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon shall be counted offenders.
1Ki 1:22  And, lo, while she yet talked with the king, Nathan the prophet also came in.
1Ki 1:23  And they told the king, saying, Behold Nathan the prophet. And when he was come in before the king, he bowed himself before the king with his face to the ground.
1Ki 1:24  And Nathan said, My lord, O king, hast thou said, Adonijah shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne?
1Ki 1:25  For he is gone down this day, and hath slain oxen and fat cattle and sheep in abundance, and hath called all the king’s sons, and the captains of the host, and Abiathar the priest; and, behold, they eat and drink before him, and say, God save king Adonijah.
1Ki 1:26  But me, even me thy servant, and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and thy servant Solomon, hath he not called.
1Ki 1:27  Is this thing done by my lord the king, and thou hast not shewed it unto thy servant, who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?

The last part of that verse in Isaiah 53:3 from which our title for tonight’s study is taken says, “and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.” It was by hiding our face from the truth in our former conversation because of our blindness (Eph 2:1-3, 2Co 4:4), that we demonstrated we despised and rejected Christ, who was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.

Isa 53:3  He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Eph 2:1  And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
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.

In this section of 1Kings 1 we will learn through the example of Adonijah how, by our self-righteous religious actions, we were all guilty of rejecting Christ by holding fast to His name but not His doctrine (Isa 4:1), and conversely how, when we were given to know the truth, we then began to be rejected and hated by all men for His name’s sake becoming as He is in this world, “rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief”. It is by living by the faith of Christ that we can go through the crushing and dying daily experiences  (Gal 2:20) of this life which are precious in the sight of God (1Pe 1:7) who is preparing the bride through those trials to become saviors (Mar 13:13, 1Jn 4:17, 1Pe 2:6-9, Psa 116:15, Col 1:24).

Isa 4:1  And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach.

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:

Mar 13:13  And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

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.

1Pe 2:6  Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
1Pe 2:7  Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,
1Pe 2:8  And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient:  whereunto also they were appointed.
1Pe 2:9  But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

Psa 116:15  Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.

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:

Before Solomon, a type of the elect in this instance, can be appointed king by King David, who represents Christ, we need to see the extent of our own pride and self-righteousness that wants to do good and offer sacrifices as Adonijah did, and how we naturally forget these words: “Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams” (1Sa 15:22-23). That obedience is something we learn through the things we suffer as we go from glory to glory (2Co 3:18) beholding the glory of Christ our hope of glory within (Col 1:27) who gives us the power to be able to be obedient, until ultimately we will no longer “hid[e] as it were our faces from him” but rather see him face to face (1Co 13:12, Joh 17:3-4).

1Sa 15:22  And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.
1Sa 15:23  For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.

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.

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:

1Co 13:12  For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

Joh 17:3  And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
Joh 17:4  I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do (Rom 4:17, Eph 2:10).

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

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.

1Ki 1:19  And he hath slain oxen and fat cattle and sheep in abundance, and hath called all the sons of the king, and Abiathar the priest, and Joab the captain of the host: but Solomon thy servant hath he not called. 

As we just read in 1Samuel 15:22-23, these sacrifices of “oxen and fat cattle and sheep in abundance” which were slain demonstrate the stubbornness in Adonijah’s heart and the extent that he and all flesh will go to in order to get its own way that seems right (Pro 14:12). We do many wonderful ‘religious’ works (Mat 7:22-23) without truly knowing that Christ is the one who is working in us both to will and to do all those works (Php 2:12-13).

Mat 7:22  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
Mat 7:23  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity [our own righteousness of (Php 3:9)].

Eze 18:26  When a righteous man turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and dieth in them; for his iniquity that he hath done shall he die.

The righteousness being spoken of in Ezekiel from which we turn away is typical of the righteousness of Christ who is our righteousness (1Co 1:30), and when God causes us to err by hardening our hearts (Isa 63:17), we die in our own works that Christ likened to the dead burying the dead (Luk 9:60). God is in the process of burning all this self-righteousness out of Christ’s bride as we’re led to repentance (Rom 2:4). God is working with the elect in this age to bring about mature sons who will glorify Him as vessels that have been made unto honour, through a sanctification process, that makes us meet for the master’s use, being prepared unto every good work (2Ti 2:21, Rev 19:7, Eph 2:10, Mat 3:8)

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

Isa 63:17  O LORD, why hast thou made us to err from thy ways, and hardened our heart from thy fear? Return for thy servants’ sake, the tribes of thine inheritance.

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

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.

Mat 3:8  Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:

This is the blindness that is caused and is typified by Jacob who for seven years served the tender eyedH7390 firstborn Leah who represents our completely blind flesh that cannot see (seven years) until we are given Rachel who represents the gift of God’s grace given to us through faith (Gen 29:17-20, Eph2:8).

Gen 29:16  And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.
Gen 29:17  Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured.
Gen 29:18  And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter.
Gen 29:19  And Laban said, It is better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man: abide with me.
Gen 29:20  And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.

Adonijah was in no way following the principle that Christ tells us in Luke 14:12-15 and had chosen rather to invite those people who would best advance his goal of securing his position as king via “Abiathar the priest, and Joab the captain of the host“. In Adonijah’s mind, these were the most likely people who would “bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee”, which was his way of seeking political advantage.

Luk 14:12  Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee.
Luk 14:13  But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind:
Luk 14:14  And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just [Rev 20:6].
Luk 14:15  And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God.

The banquet that God’s elect are called to is the “marriage supper of the Lamb” (Rev 19:9) and so we only need to look at Christ’s example here to know who it is that has been determined to be called from the foundation of the world: “the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind” — those who have been brought to see that they are unworthy (Luk 15:19, Luk 17:10) and see the hope in these trustworthy statements (1Ti 1:15-16, 1Co 1:26-29) that are worthy of all acceptation.

Rev 19:9  And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.

Luk 15:19  And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.

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 1:15  This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
1Ti 1:16  Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.

1Co 1:26  For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
1Co 1:27  But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
1Co 1:28  And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
1Co 1:29  That no flesh should glory in his presence.

“The king, and Abiathar the priest, and Joab the captain of the host” represent the mighty and the noble of this world who will, in God’s time, see the order of His plan that was determined to be that way so that “no flesh should glory in his presence”.

“But Solomon thy servant hath he not called” reminds us that Adonijah was not given to receive the wisdom that was needed in order to become the true king of Israel as it was too high for him (Pro 24:7). Adonijah typifies our flesh trying to find some other way into the kingdom of God (Joh 10:1); that some other way being our own works, our own righteousness (Php 3:9).

Pro 24:7  Wisdom is too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate.

Joh 10:1  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.

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

1Ki 1:20  And thou, my lord, O king, the eyes of all Israel are upon thee, that thou shouldest tell them who shall sit on the throne of my lord the king after him. 
1Ki 1:21  Otherwise it shall come to pass, when my lord the king shall sleep with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon shall be counted offenders.
1Ki 1:22  And, lo, while she yet talked with the king, Nathan the prophet also came in.

This verse, “And thou, my lord, O king, the eyes of all Israel are upon thee, that thou shouldest tell them who shall sit on the throne of my lord the king after him“, has its fulfillment for God’s elect in Malachi 3:18, which is when the eyes of “all Israel” who represents the world (Rev 5:10, 1Co 6:3), will look to mount Zion which represents the elect who will judge the mount of Esau (Oba 1:21). We are all offenders. But for the grace of God our offences as a kind of first fruits are given an accounting in this life, which is represented by the actions of Bathsheba and Nathan who are disclosing the facts about Adonijah whose life represents our former conversation (Eph 2:1-3). That is the reason we ought to come boldly before the throne of grace to obtain grace in “time of need” (Heb 4:16, 1Pe 4:17) along with this attitude of humbling ourselves before the king (1Ki 1:16, 1Ki 1:23) who represents Christ Who already knows we are the man of 2Samuel 12:7 and that we have all forsaken Christ in our time (Mat 26:22, Mar 14:50). In other words, if Christ does not set us free from sin (Joh 8:36), “I and my son Solomon shall be counted offenders“.

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.

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

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

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

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

Verse 21 is accompanied by an admonition for us right after verse 20 stating “Otherwise it shall come to pass, when my lord the king shall sleep with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon shall be counted offenders“, telling us also that unless our witness does not truthfully go forth through Christ, who is our hope of glory represented by King David, that their blood will be upon our head and we “shall be counted offenders” (Eze 3:18-19, 1Ti 4:15-16). The solution to being able to heed this admonition of being a faithful witness is given to us in the form of a parable represented by Nathan who in verse 22 appears on the scene, stated this way: “while she yet talked with the king, Nathan the prophet also came in“.

Our hope is not in this life alone because we know Christ is raised, and although it is true “my lord the king shall sleep with his fathers“, our hope is that Christ our king is raised now and we are raised with him in earnest making it possible for us to be true witnesses who are not experiencing any condemnation in Christ (Rom 8:1). If God so allows, then we are being blessed to demonstrate our discipleship through obedience to God’s commands as we experience His love being shed abroad in our hearts for that very reason of giving us the power to be obedient and faithful witnesses (Rev 11:3) to the end of this life (1Co 15:14, Eph 2:6, Rom 5:5).

Eze 3:18  When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
Eze 3:19  Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.

1Ti 4:15  Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.
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.

1Co 15:14  And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.

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

Bathsheba is a type of the church whose witness to the king is going to be confirmed by the prophet Nathan. We are dragged to the king (Joh 6:44) to make these requests and are accepted in the beloved through God’s holy spirit (Eph 1:6). Nathan is the second person to confirm (witness) what was being brought to the king, and Nathan is a type of the spirit of God which will bear witness that we are His sons in this age who have been given the power to testify, while others deny Christ who won’t deny Himself, if He is abiding in us and saving us by grace through faith (Mat 10:19, Rom 8:14-16, the spirit of God is not bound 2Ti 2:10-13, Joh 6:63, 2Co 3:17, Rom 8:9, Eph 2:8).

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

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

1Ki 1:23  And they told the king, saying, Behold Nathan the prophet. And when he was come in before the king, he bowed himself before the king with his face to the ground.

Unlike David, Christ knows what is going on all the time and everywhere in the earth (2Ch 16:9, Jer 1:12), and this statement “and they told the king” is typical of the statement found in the book of Job where Christ asks this question that would generate an answer: “And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.”(Job 1:7). That question was not for His benefit but for ours to remind us that we are constantly dealing with a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour, and yet he will not prevail or catch God’s elect off guard if we are granted to resist him stedfastly in the faith (1Pe 5:8-9, Mat 16:18, Luk 22:31).

1Pe 5:8  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
1Pe 5:9  Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

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

Luk 22:31  And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
Luk 22:32  But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: [1Jn 5:4] and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

What we hope to see in all our dealings with Christ in each other is this spirit of humility that Nathan brought forth: “and when he was come in before the king, he bowed himself before the king with his face to the ground” (Php 2:3). Having our “face to the ground” is a symbolic gesture that reminds us who we are to be in the presence of our King.

1Ki 1:23  And they told the king, saying, Behold Nathan the prophet. And when he was come in before the king, he bowed himselfH7812 before the king with his faceH639 to the ground.

Zep 2:3  Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD’S angerH639.

1Pe 3:4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

1Ki 1:24  And Nathan said, My lord, O king, hast thou said, Adonijah shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne? 
1Ki 1:25  For he is gone down this day, and hath slain oxen and fat cattle and sheep in abundance, and hath called all the king’s sons, and the captains of the host, and Abiathar the priest; and, behold, they eat and drink before him, and say, God save king Adonijah.

The discerning mind of Christ, represented by King David, is going to make a declaration very shortly after all the facts are stated by Bathsheba and Nathan (1Co 2:15-16).

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.

Bathsheba and Nathan have gone about to establish this witness with humility in their approach stating only the facts of the matter on which the king will base his arbitration (Pro 18:13). Nathan begins by asking king David if these are his words “Adonijah shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne” to immediately establish that Adonijah’s actions were self-willed, boastful (Pro 25:14), and not ordained by the king, which Nathan and Bathsheba wanted to be sure was the case (1Jn 4:1).

Pro 18:13  He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.

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.

If this is the case that David has approved Adonijah to be king, then surely David would have been the one putting all of these things together (Luk 15:27) that Adonijah took upon himself to do, “for he is gone down this day, and hath slain oxen and fat cattle and sheep in abundance, and hath called all the king’s sons, and the captains of the host, and Abiathar the priest; and, behold, they eat and drink before him, and say, God save king Adonijah.” These were all normal proceedings for someone who has been ordained to be a king, but in Adonijah’s case it was all a demonstration of the flesh wanting to be acknowledged and given approval for his own personal gain (Mat 6:2).

Luk 15:27  And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.

Mat 6:2  Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

These were the matters that Bathsheba and Nathan were searching out in order to preserve the true lineage of the king, and it demonstrates a typical lesson that we are called to learn by looking well unto ourselves and the church (1Pe 1:12, Act 20:28) so that by the grace of God no man will take our crown (Pro 25:2, Jer 17:10, Rev 2:2, Rev 3:11).

Act 20:28  Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

Pro 25:2  It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.

Jer 17:10  I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.

Rev 2:2  I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:

1Ki 1:26  But me, even me thy servant, and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and thy servant Solomon, hath he not called.
1Ki 1:27  Is this thing done by my lord the king, and thou hast not shewed it unto thy servant, who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?

Nathan’s statement had the veiled understanding that Adonijah was conveniently calling who he wanted in order to get approval for his actions, even as he steered away from calling on Nathan “thy servant, and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and thy servant Solomon, hath he not called“.

Calling ZadokH6659 would have brought condemnation to Adonijah, just as would calling NathanH5416 along with BenaiahH1141 son of JehoiadaH3077 and SolomonH8010.

Twice now Nathan is used to bring this question to the king, once through his counsel given to Bathsheba, and then from his own mouth (1Ki 1:13, 1Ki 1:27): “Is this thing done by my lord the king, and thou hast not shewed it unto thy servant, who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?“.  Nathan respectfully puts this question before the king because none of this appears right in the heart and minds of him and Bathsheba, and the Lord is showing us that a witness will always be established against our old man, typified here by Adonijah: “Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets”.

We will all feel the rejection that will cause us to groan in our spirits as we long with all the saints for his vindication on our lives that have become like Christ “despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief” (Rev 6:10, Isa 53:3).

Rev 6:10  And they cried with a loud voice [Heb 5:7], saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?

Isa 53:3  He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Next week, Lord willing, we will see the type and shadow answer to this question “How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?” as we look at the response King David gives that brings us into remembrance of these verses.

Hab 2:3  For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.

1Co 15:52  In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

]]> Study of the Book of Esther – Est 9:1-19 Thus, the Jews Smote All Their Enemies https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/study-of-the-book-of-esther-est-91-19-thus-the-jews-smote-all-their-enemies/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=study-of-the-book-of-esther-est-91-19-thus-the-jews-smote-all-their-enemies Mon, 23 Nov 2020 16:19:16 +0000 http://www.iswasandwillbe.com/?p=21758 https://www.dropbox.com/s/d6r5lrgkrquke34/GMT20201124-011641S_TC-Ato-Est%209.m4a?raw=1

Esther 9:1–19: Thus, the Jews Smote All Their Enemies

[Teacher’s Choice Study Aired November 23, 2020]

Est 9:1  Now in the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar, on the thirteenth day of the same, when the king’s commandment and his decree drew near to be put in execution, in the day that the enemies of the Jews hoped to have power over them, (though it was turned to the contrary, that the Jews had rule over them that hated them;) 
Est 9:2  The Jews gathered themselves together in their cities throughout all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, to lay hand on such as sought their hurt: and no man could withstand them; for the fear of them fell upon all people. 
Est 9:3  And all the rulers of the provinces, and the lieutenants, and the deputies, and officers of the king, helped the Jews; because the fear of Mordecai fell upon them. 
Est 9:4  For Mordecai was great in the king’s house, and his fame went out throughout all the provinces: for this man Mordecai waxed greater and greater. 
Est 9:5  Thus the Jews smote all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, and slaughter, and destruction, and did what they would unto those that hated them. 
Est 9:6  And in Shushan the palace the Jews slew and destroyed five hundred men. 
Est 9:7  And Parshandatha, and Dalphon, and Aspatha, 
Est 9:8  And Poratha, and Adalia, and Aridatha, 
Est 9:9  And Parmashta, and Arisai, and Aridai, and Vajezatha, 
Est 9:10  The ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews, slew they; but on the spoil laid they not their hand. 
Est 9:11  On that day the number of those that were slain in Shushan the palace was brought before the king. 
Est 9:12  And the king said unto Esther the queen, The Jews have slain and destroyed five hundred men in Shushan the palace, and the ten sons of Haman; what have they done in the rest of the king’s provinces? now what is thy petition? and it shall be granted thee: or what is thy request further? and it shall be done. 
Est 9:13  Then said Esther, If it please the king, let it be granted to the Jews which are in Shushan to do to morrow also according unto this day’s decree, and let Haman’s ten sons be hanged upon the gallows. 
Est 9:14  And the king commanded it so to be done: and the decree was given at Shushan; and they hanged Haman’s ten sons. 
Est 9:15  For the Jews that were in Shushan gathered themselves together on the fourteenth day also of the month Adar, and slew three hundred men at Shushan; but on the prey they laid not their hand. 
Est 9:16  But the other Jews that were in the king’s provinces gathered themselves together, and stood for their lives, and had rest from their enemies, and slew of their foes seventy and five thousand, but they laid not their hands on the prey, 
Est 9:17  On the thirteenth day of the month Adar; and on the fourteenth day of the same rested they, and made it a day of feasting and gladness. 
Est 9:18  But the Jews that were at Shushan assembled together on the thirteenth day thereof, and on the fourteenth thereof; and on the fifteenth day of the same they rested, and made it a day of feasting and gladness. 
Est 9:19  Therefore the Jews of the villages, that dwelt in the unwalled towns, made the fourteenth day of the month Adar a day of gladness and feasting, and a good day, and of sending portions one to another. 

In Esther chapter 8, we observed that Esther pleaded with the King to come out with a decree to nullify the letters which had already gone out to every province that the Jews must be destroyed, killed and cause to perish on the thirteenth day of the month of the twelfth month called Adar. This decree to destroy the Jews signifies the law of sin and death and the King’s new decree to nullify the first decree represents the law of the spirit of life which sets us free from the law of sin and death. Chapter 9, therefore, focuses on the effect of this new decree (the law of the spirit of life) by the King in the lives of the Jews.

Rom 8:1  There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 
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. 
Rom 8:3  For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 
Rom 8:4  That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Est 9:1  Now in the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar, on the thirteenth day of the same, when the king’s commandment and his decree drew near to be put in execution, in the day that the enemies of the Jews hoped to have power over them, (though it was turned to the contrary, that the Jews had rule over them that hated them;) 

According to the law of sin and death, we were destined to be destroyed as a result of our rebellion, which is symbolized by the thirteenth day of the twelfth month. As the scriptures say, the wages of sin are death.  For as long as the enemies within dominated us, we continued to rebel against God. However, God, who is rich in mercy, came up with a new decree which is the law of the spirit of life which has liberated us from the shackles of the law of sin and death with the birth of the new man in us that has rule over them that hated us inwardly.

Outwardly, there is a day of rebellion at the end of the period when the kingdom of this world becomes the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ. When the whole of the human race compasses the camp of the saints, fire will come down from God of the heavens and devour them. That is when the last enemy, death, will be destroyed.

Neh 9:17  And refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou didst among them; but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage: but thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and forsookest them not.

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. 

1Co 15:26  The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.

Est 9:2  The Jews gathered themselves together in their cities throughout all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, to lay hand on such as sought their hurt: and no man could withstand them; for the fear of them fell upon all people. 

As indicated in previous reviews of this Book of Esther, the gathering of the Jews (the elect) is very important. It is through fellowshipping that we strengthen one another to face the day of the Lord in our lives. In the verse above, the gathering of the Jews was to help them to overcome those who sought their hurt (the enemy within). It is also to help them overcome any onslaught from any man. No man withstanding them means that fellowshipping creates the necessary condition for the Jews (the elect) to tread on serpents and scorpions and have dominion over all the powers of the enemy. The question is, “How does fellowshipping help us in overcoming those who sought our hurt and being able to tread on serpents and scorpions?” As we fellowship, we get to know the mind of Christ and therefore become of one mind with our husband, Christ. That is what the scripture is talking about when it says that a man leaves his family to get joined to his wife, and the two become one flesh. As we become one mind, nothing can withstand us as shown in the building of the tower of Babel. In Genesis 11:6, the people were of one mind (the people is one) when they were trying to build the tower of Babel (Positive application).  Until God intervened, nothing could stop them.

Mar 10:6  But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female.
Mar 10:7  For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; 
Mar 10:8  And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh. 
Mar 10:9  What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. 

Gen 11:6  And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. 

Est 9:3  And all the rulers of the provinces, and the lieutenants, and the deputies, and officers of the king, helped the Jews; because the fear of Mordecai fell upon them.
Est 9:4  For Mordecai was great in the king’s house, and his fame went out throughout all the provinces: for this man Mordecai waxed greater and greater. 

Verse 3 shows us that the resources of the kingdom of God have been made available to us (the Jews). However, the resources are only in earnest form while we live here on earth, until the redemption of the purchased possession. These resources are available to us through our knowledge of Him through His words. In His words He has given us exceeding great and precious promises that we may overcome the corruption which is in the world through lust.

These resources available to us are exemplified in the story of 2Kings 6:8-11. In this story, the King of Syria sent his men on horses and chariots to surround the town of Dothan in the night in a bid to capture Elisha. When the servant of Elisha woke up in the morning and saw horses and chariots surrounding the city, he was afraid and went to inform Elisha. However, Elisha rather prayed that God should open the servant eyes to see in the spirit. When the Lord opened the servant’s eyes to see, he saw a mountain full of horses and chariots of fire surrounding Elisha. This portion of scripture shows God’s provision to protect us from our enemies within and without. These passages of scriptures mean that the kingdom of God which is now within, which is represented by the mountain, is possessed through war (symbolized by horses) in our heavens, and our weapon (our resources) for this war is the fiery words of the Lord signified by chariots of fire.

Eph 1:13  In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 
Eph 1:14  Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. 

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

2Ki 6:8  Then the king of Syria warred against Israel, and took counsel with his servants, saying, In such and such a place shall be my camp. 
2Ki 6:9  And the man of God sent unto the king of Israel, saying, Beware that thou pass not such a place; for thither the Syrians are come down. 
2Ki 6:10  And the king of Israel sent to the place which the man of God told him and warned him of, and saved himself there, not once nor twice. 
2Ki 6:11  Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was sore troubled for this thing; and he called his servants, and said unto them, Will ye not shew me which of us is for the king of Israel? 
2Ki 6:12  And one of his servants said, None, my lord, O king: but Elisha, the prophet that is in Israel, telleth the king of Israel the words that thou speakest in thy bedchamber. 
2Ki 6:13  And he said, Go and spy where he is, that I may send and fetch him. And it was told him, saying, Behold, he is in Dothan. 
2Ki 6:14  Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and compassed the city about. 
2Ki 6:15  And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do? 
2Ki 6:16  And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. 
2Ki 6:17  And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha. 

In verse 3 and 4, the reason the rulers and others were helping the Jews was because of the fear of Mordecai which has fallen on them. Here Mordecai represents the Lord Jesus who is great in the house of the Lord and is waxing greater and greater. The waxing greater and greater of Mordecai represents the brightness of the Lord Jesus coming into our lives and consuming the enemy within with the spirit of his mouth (His words).

Heb 1:8  But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. 
Heb 1:9  Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. 
Heb 1:10  And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands: 
Heb 1:11  They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment; 
Heb 1:12  And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail. 

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:

Est 9:5  Thus the Jews smote all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, and slaughter, and destruction, and did what they would unto those that hated them. 
Est 9:6  And in Shushan the palace the Jews slew and destroyed five hundred men. 
Est 9:7  And Parshandatha, and Dalphon, and Aspatha, 
Est 9:8  And Poratha, and Adalia, and Aridatha, 
Est 9:9  And Parmashta, and Arisai, and Aridai, and Vajezatha, 
Est 9:10  The ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews, slew they; but on the spoil laid they not their hand. 

Verse 5 begins with the word “Thus”. This word means as a result of or the consequence of what has been said earlier. What has been said earlier is as follows:

  1. That the Jews gathered together – Talking about our fellowshipping.
  2. The rulers, the lieutenants and the deputies of the kingdom helped the Jews – This is speaking of the resources available to the elect.
  3. Mordecai waxing greater and greater and the fear of him causing the Jews to be favored – Here Mordecai represents the brightness of the  Lord Jesus coming into our lives (waxing greater and greater) which will cause the enemy within to be consumed with the spirit of his mouth (His words). 

As a result of these, we are able to smite the enemies within with the stroke of the sword (His words). Remember that the name Shushan means Lily. In the bible, the elect is referred to as a lily (Hosea 14:5). As indicated in Chapter 1 of Esther, Shushan is where the King’s throne is. Thus, the throne of God is in the elect’s heavens (hearts and minds). As indicated in verse 6, it is within (Shushan) that the Jews smote five hundred men of the enemies. Five hundred is equal to 5x10x10. This means that it is by grace through faith that the flesh is put to death. This grace is that which chastens us and brings about the death of the enemies within.

Verses 7 to 9 are the names of the ten sons of Haman. Remember that the number 10 represents the flesh. So, our war is against the flesh. What we need to understand is that the death of Haman did not end the fight against the flesh within. There were the ten sons of Haman to contend with then. It is a war that continues on a daily basis. That is why Paul said that we die daily (1Co 15:31). When the Israelites entered Canaan, they conquered the land one nation at a time. God told the Israelites through Moses that He will drive out the nations before them little by little, and the reason for this is that He does not want Israel to be overwhelmed by the beasts of the field.

Jesus explained to us that the word field means the world. The beasts of the field are therefore the same as the flesh or the old man as they drive us towards worldliness. This worldliness consists of the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life. This sums up the sins of the flesh.

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

Deu 7:22  And the LORD thy God will put out those nations before thee by little and little: thou mayest not consume them at once, lest the beasts of the field increase upon thee.

1Jn 2:15  Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 
1Jn 2:16  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 
1Jn 2:17  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

Verse 10 mentions that even though the Jews slew their enemies, they did not take possession of the spoil. The spoil represents worldly possessions. We are in this world but not of this world, and therefore our focus is not on worldly prosperity as our brothers in Babylon consider worldly prosperity as a sign of God’s approval. They will quote Deuteronomy 8:18 –  “But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day” as scriptural proof of their belief.

As spiritual Jews, we need to pay heed to Paul’s admonition to Timothy as follows:

1Ti 6:5  Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. 
1Ti 6:6  But godliness with contentment is great gain. 
1Ti 6:7  For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 
1Ti 6:8  And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 
1Ti 6:9  But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 
1Ti 6:10  For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 

Est 9:11  On that day the number of those that were slain in Shushan the palace was brought before the king. 
Est 9:12  And the king said unto Esther the queen, The Jews have slain and destroyed five hundred men in Shushan the palace, and the ten sons of Haman; what have they done in the rest of the king’s provinces? now what is thy petition? and it shall be granted thee: or what is thy request further? and it shall be done. 
Est 9:13  Then said Esther, If it please the king, let it be granted to the Jews which are in Shushan to do to morrow also according unto this day’s decree, and let Haman’s ten sons be hanged upon the gallows. 
Est 9:14  And the king commanded it so to be done: and the decree was given at Shushan; and they hanged Haman’s ten sons. 

What these verses teach us is that the slaying of the enemies within is the work of God and not anything we have done. It is the Lord who commands, and it is done. As those seeking the death of the enemies within, we need to continually seek the Lord to command the destruction of the enemies within just as Esther did. Such prayers will surely be answered. However, we need to be patient since the death of the enemies within takes time. Patience is one of the qualities God requires of us as the process of becoming his sons takes time.

Heb 10:36  For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. 
Heb 10:37  For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.
Heb 10:38  Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. 
Heb 10:39  But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

Est 9:15  For the Jews that were in Shushan gathered themselves together on the fourteenth day also of the month Adar, and slew three hundred men at Shushan; but on the prey they laid not their hand. 
Est 9:16  But the other Jews that were in the king’s provinces gathered themselves together, and stood for their lives, and had rest from their enemies, and slew of their foes seventy and five thousand, but they laid not their hands on the prey, 

The gathering of the Jews on the fourteenth day is a sign that they are progressing spiritually as fourteenth means spiritual progression. This spiritual progression is the result of the slaughtering of the enemies within. In this case 300 (300 = 3x10x10) men were slaughtered. This means that the process of spiritual completion entails putting the flesh (the enemies within) to death.

Again, in verse 16, more enemies were slaughtered by the other Jews. This was possible because the Jews stood for their lives. What does it mean to stand for your life? To stand for your life is to come to a place where you put your life on the line as Esther did when she appeared uninvited in the King’s presence not knowing whether the King would extend the sceptre or she would be put to death. This is the same as losing our lives, which will result in the eventual gain of our lives. This is what Jesus was talking about when He said that the kingdom of God has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. The violent are those who stand for their lives (lose their lives) in a bid to defeat the enemies within.

Mat 16:24  Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 
Mat 16:25  For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. 

Est 4:15  Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer, 
Est 4:16  Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish. 

Mat 11:12  And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. 

In both verses 15 and 16, it is mentioned that the Jews did not lay hands on the prey. The fact that it is mentioned three times in this chapter means that we have to pay attention to it. I will therefore elaborate more on it. The prey is the same as the spoil, and it represents wealth (Mammon). This prey or spoil encapsulates all that is in the world which men and women go after – what we will eat or drink, what we will wear and the provision of shelter. That is what the cares of this world are all about. These have derailed the course of many aspiring men and women of God.

For example, there was this gentleman that Paul, in the early part of his ministry, trusted so much, and his name was Demas. Later on in his ministry, Paul said that Demas has forsaken him because he loved the present world. It is important to also note that the excuses that those invited to the marriage dinner gave were legitimate, but resulted in their exclusion from the marriage dinner. The scripture says that they made light of the king’s invitation and went their way, one to his farm and another to his merchandise. Yes, it is true that we have to work to provide food and shelter for our families, but the enemy can use these legitimate concerns to derail our course. It takes those who have progress spiritually to let go of the spoil. May the Lord help us so that we don’t touch the spoil just as the Jews did when they smote their enemies.

Col 4:14  Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you.

Phm 1:24  Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers.

2Ti 4:10  For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.

Mat 22:2  The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,
Mat 22:3  And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.
Mat 22:4  Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. 
Mat 22:5  But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: 

Est 9:17  On the thirteenth day of the month Adar; and on the fourteenth day of the same rested they, and made it a day of feasting and gladness. 
Est 9:18  But the Jews that were at Shushan assembled together on the thirteenth day thereof, and on the fourteenth thereof; and on the fifteenth day of the same they rested, and made it a day of feasting and gladness. 
Est 9:19  Therefore the Jews of the villages, that dwelt in the unwalled towns, made the fourteenth day of the month Adar a day of gladness and feasting, and a good day, and of sending portions one to another. 

Verses 17 to 19 focus on what happened after the defeat of the enemies of the Jews. The defeat of the enemies resulted in the Jews having rest; feasting, having a day of gladness and sending portions one to another. Let’s take them one at a time and elaborate on them.

The Jews had Rest

From the verses above, the Jews had rested after defeating the enemies within. As God’s spiritual Jews, our rest only comes from the death of the beast within. As long as the beast within sits in the throne of our hearts, we will always fall short of this rest. Death to the beast/flesh is what grants us the rest from our labors. Now, the question is what does it mean to have rest? The answer is in Hebrews 4:10-12, which says that having rest is ceasing from our own works. Now those who did not believe in His words (Heb 4:11) did not enter into his rest. This means that entering into His rest, or ceasing from our own works, is believing in His words. That is why in Hebrews 4:12, the writer was telling us about the potency of the word of God so that we believe and obtain that rest. When we come to that place where we depend on His words and know that what He has said He is able to accomplish, then we’ve started our rest in Him!! That is when we do not depend on what we do but what He does through His words.

Rev 14:13  And I heard a voice from heaven telling me to write, “Blessed are the dead–those who die in the Lord from this moment on.” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “they will rest from their labors, for their deeds will follow them.” (Berean Study Bible)

Heb 4:9  There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. 
Heb 4:10  For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. 
Heb 4:11  Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. 
Heb 4:12  For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 

A day of gladness for the Jews

The day of the defeat of the enemies was the day of gladness for the Jews. In Psalm 126, the Jews were glad because God had done great things for them by delivering them from their captivity. The captivity here is our bondage to the flesh or the old man (represented by the enemies of the Jews). For whosoever sins is a slave to sin. So it is only when the Lord delivers us from our enemies within that we experience gladness or joy, and that is when we come to appreciate the great things that God has done for us.

Psa 126:1  A Song of degrees. When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.
Psa 126:2  Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them. 
Psa 126:3  The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad. 
Psa 126:4  Turn again our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the south. 
Psa 126:5  They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. 
Psa 126:6  He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.

Joh 8:34  Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. 

The Feasting of the Jews

Feasting is about eating and drinking, and it represents how God is enlightening the understanding of the word of God for His elect to know Him. Remember that eternal life is all about getting to know God and Jesus (John 17:3). So feasting is equivalent to being given eternal life. As our heavens are being cleansed through the death of our enemies (the old man), a door is being opened in heaven which is deepening our understanding of the word of God exponentially.

Joh 17:3  And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

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

The Jews sent portions to each other

The portions being talked about here refer to properly weighed out food. As we are aware, food represents the word of God based on Matthew 4:4 and Luke 4:4, which say that man shall not live by bread alone but by every word of the Lord. So the Jews sending portions to each other is about His elect sharing the word of God with each other, resulting in the building up of the body through love. That is what Paul was alluding to when he said that the body of the elect is fitted and compacted together by what every joint supplies.

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

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

Eph 4:16  From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

Next time, we will conclude the Book of Esther by looking at the remaining verses of Chapter 9 and also Chapter 10.

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