Rev 21:9-12 Who Shows Us The Bride

 [Study Aired July 18, 2025]

Rev 21:9 And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife.
Rev 21:10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
Rev 21:11 Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;
Rev 21:12 And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:

Introduction

In today’s study we will discover what this thing called “the new Jerusalem” is, and we will ask and answer why we are being told that the angel showing John the bride, the Lamb’s wife, is “one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues.” The spirit could have just said, ‘An angel showed me the bride, the Lamb’s wife.’ Instead the holy spirit wants us to know who that angel is. We are told that the angel who shows John ‘the bride” is “one of the seven angels which had the seven vials.” Today we will see why we need to know that little detail.
We will also see what is meant by the phrase “in the spirit”, and we will notice that this exact same phrase “he carried me away in the spirit” is used earlier in this prophecy in connection with the revelation of another woman, who is in sharp contrast with this woman who is called “the bride, the Lamb’s wife.” Both are revealed to us “in the spirit” by “one of the seven angels which had the seven vials” (Rev 17:1).

We will also ask what it means to “have the glory of God”, and we will see why the Lamb’s bride is “like a stone most precious… clear as crystal.”

Finally we will see why this city, which is called “the bride, the Lamb’s wife” has a great high wall, twelve gates with twelves angels, and why those gates are named after the twelve tribes of the children of Israel. We will begin with our first verse, verse 9.

Rev 21:9 And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife.

So why are we given the information that it was ”one of the angels which had the seven vials of the seven last plagues?” When we remember that this is the same angel who showed John the judgment of the great harlot, and he then told John that he, this angel himself, signifies John and John’s fellow servants “and of his brothers”, then we know that we are given this tidbit of information so we can understand that the person who shows us the judgment of the great harlot within us will always be a fellow servant of our brothers who keeps the sayings of this book.

Notice the other contrasting use of this phrase, “He carried me away in the spirit…” ‘In the spirit’ signifies “speech…with … demonstration of the spirit and of power.”

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

1Co 2:1  And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.
1Co 2:2  For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
1Co 2:3  And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.
1Co 2:4  And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
1Co 2:5  That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God [demonstration of the spirit].

This angel who showed John both women was speaking “in the demonstration of the spirit and of  [the] power [of God]”, and he was doing so because his words were the ‘signified’ (Rev 1:1) Words of God. Words that “are spirit” are used to signify a meaning which a natural man simply is not equipped to understand. Nevertheless, they are defined by “that which is written” and cannot be made to mean just anything any false prophet wishes to make them to mean.

1Co 2:13  Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
1Co 2:14  But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

This angel is not speaking with enticing words of man’s wisdom.

This whole prophecy is written “in the demonstrataion of the spirit and of power.” The great whore of Revelation 17 deceives the whole world with her “pharmacai.”

Rev 18:21  And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all.
Rev 18:22  And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee;
Rev 18:23  And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries [‘pharmakeia’, G5331] were all nations deceived.
Rev 18:24  And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.

So let’s examine how “the demonstration of the spirit” works. Let’s place Revelation 17:1-4 beside Revelation 21:9-12 and notice how the spirit demonstrates the differences  between these two ‘women’:

Rev 17:1 And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters:
Rev 17:2  With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.
Rev 17:3  So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.
Rev 17:4  And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:

Now let’s compare these four verses with the four verses we are examining today:

Rev 21:9  And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife.
Rev 21:10  And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
Rev 21:11  Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;
Rev 21:12  And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:

Both of these women are revealed to us by our fellow servant who keeps the sayings of the prophecy of this book. That is who this angel which has one of the seven vials full of the seven plagues, tells us he signifies:

Rev 19:10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. 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.

If you are so grateful for what Christ has done for you that you share that gratitude with others then you have “the spirit of prophecy”.

Rev 22:6 And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel [That would be you and me] to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.
Rev 22:7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.
Rev 22:8 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.

Twice now John has attempted to worship “the angel who showed [him] these things”, and twice the angel which showed him these things forbade him from doing so. This what Paul was speaking of when He said:

Col 2:18  Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
Col 2:19  And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.

We are told twice that it is “one of the seven angels which had the seven plagues” who is showing us both the judgment of the great harlot within us and the bride, the lamb’s wife, within us. All men are held captive to the lure of the great whore before they “come out of her” and become “disciples indeed” by abiding in Christ’s Words.

In other words, the whole experience of mankind is shown to us by our fellow servants, “by the church” (Eph 3:10), who are our own brothers “who have the testimony of Jesus Christ and who keep the sayings of this book” (Rev 22:9).

Let’s make this as clear as we can. What we are being told in these verses is that the revelation of Jesus Christ within us is accomplished only “by the church”, by the various members of His own body, the members of His church are the instruments who the holy spirit uses for  this purpose. Those who are disciples indeed and who abide in the Words of Christ do so only because the spirit has dragged them to do so:

Joh 6:44  No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw [G1670: helkuo, drag] him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

Saul of Tarsus, the Christian hunter and slayer, is the perfect example of this Truth. On his way to Damascus to collect some more Christians for punishment and possible death, he was “dragged” by the holy spirit to Christ:

Act 22:7  And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
Act 22:8  And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.

Saul was later renamed ‘Paul’ after his confrontation with Elymas the sorcerer on the Island of Cyprus (Act 13:8-9). He knew he had done nothing to deserve being used as an apostle. This is his own assessment of who he was in the church of God:

Eph 3:8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
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,

“Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;”

Paul typifies everyone of us. All he had ever done was kill Christians, and yet the Lord chose him as a part of His body to show the mysteries of the kingdom of God to his fellow servants. Paul was supported by the church at Antioch and by the Philippians and by others within the body of Christ:

1Co 3:5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?

The “Lord gives to every man [in whatever capacity] to make all men… by the church… see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world has been hid in God.” This is why we are told twice that it was “one of the angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues.” These angels signify “the church, which is His body”:

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:

It is “by the church” that all these “mysteries… of the kingdom of heaven… which from the beginning of the world have been hid in God”, and in His word, are now being “made know to all men.”

That is who you are if you are given eyes to see it. It is you and your “fellow servants who keep the sayings of this book” who have those seven vials full of the wrath of God, which you are given to pour out upon the doctrines of Babylon within yourself first, and upon all to whom you show these things. What this means is the angels with the seven vials of the wrath of God are you and me “speaking often one to another… making known to all men…” that this entire revelation of Jesus Christ is the revelation of Jesus Christ, because this revelation, and all that is revealed within it “is the patience and faith of the saints”, the church, ourselves and our fellowservants who keep the sayings of this book. Here “is the patience and faith of the saints.” Here are you and me:

Rev 14:9  And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
Rev 14:10  The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: [the seven last plagues]
Rev 14:11  And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
Rev 14:12  Here [Verses 9-11] 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 henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.

We live by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God (Mat 4:4, Luk 4:4). Therefore, we all must bear a cloak of iniquitous, self-righteous flesh before we will be judged and brought to repentance and then given to understand the mysteries of the kingdom of God (Mat 13:10-15). ‘The sea’ is the word which the holy spirit uses to signify all the winds of false doctrine into which we are all born:

Rev 13:1 And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.
Rev 13:2 And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.
Rev 13:3 And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.
Rev 13:4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?
Rev 13:5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.
Rev 13:6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
Rev 13:7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
Rev 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
Rev 13:9 If any man have an ear, let him hear.
Rev 13:10 He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

“This is the patience and faith of the saints.” The saints are granted to know that the beast overcomes them while they are in Babylon. This is every one of us. This is the experience of all men. There are no exceptions.

Ecc 9:2 All things come alike to all: there is one event to the righteous, and to the wicked; to the good and to the clean, and to the unclean; to him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not: as is the good, so is the sinner; and he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oath.

You and I are “one of the angels with the seven last plagues.” You and I are all those who see and who know that all men will live by every word that is written here in this prophecy.

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.

What that verse tells us is that all men will be judged according to their works which the Lord causes them to do (Isa 63:17).

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.

Gal 6:7  Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

1Co 3:13  Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day [of judgment] shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.

“Every man” includes you and me. We are blessed to be judged in this age. We are blessed to be the first to die daily with Christ. We are blessed to be the first to have our works made manifest in this present time while judgment is on the house of God first. Living by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God means that because we are the first to be ‘crucified with Christ’ and judged in this age, therefore the ‘second’ death has no power over us because we were the first to die to our old man and to live to Christ.

We will pause our study at this point and in our next study we will begin with a few verses which inform us that we are being baptized into the death of Christ.

[Study Aired October 28, 2021]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Joh 8:31  Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
Joh 8:32  And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
Joh 8:33  They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?
Joh 8:34  Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
Joh 8:35  And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.
Joh 8:36  If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed [Php 2:12-13].

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

work, 1
Psa_74:6

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

1Jn 2:16  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
1Jn 2:17  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Rom 8:14  For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
Rom 8:15  For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
Rom 8:16  The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God [Rom 8:9]:
Rom 8:17  And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Total KJV Occurrences: 171

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

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

posts, 17

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

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

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

mighty, 2
Exo_15:15, Eze_17:13

trees, 2
Isa_61:3, Eze_31:14

lintel, 1
1Ki_6:31

oaks, 1
Isa_1:29

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

H1265  berôsh

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

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

Total KJV Occurrences: 20 
•fir, 7

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How we are being saved today

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

H945
bûl

BDB Definition:
Bul = “increase: produce”

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

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

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

Total KJV Occurrences: 1 

Bul, 1
1Ki_6:38

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

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

Rev 19:7  Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.

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

(This Series of Studies Examines the Meanings of Names and Places)

[Study Aired July 14, 2020]

Joh 11:1-16 Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.) Therefore, his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby. Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was. Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judaea again. His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again? Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world. But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him. These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep. Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead. And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him. Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellow disciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him. 

Picking up where we left off starting in John 11:6: 

Joh 11:6-9 When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was. Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judaea again. His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again? Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world. 

Here is the interpretation. 

When (the savior and deliverer) had heard therefore that those (whom God Helps) was (full of sin), (the savior and deliverer) abode (witnessing) where (eyes are being opened and sharing life giving waters). Then after that saith (the savior and deliverer) to the (followers but not yet believers), Let us go into (praise and confession) again. The (followers but not yet believers) say unto (the savior and deliverer), Master, the (killers of Christ) of late sought to (kill) (the savior and deliverer); and goest thou thither to (the house of misery and affliction) again? (the savior and deliverer) answered, Isn’t there a (foundation of Light)? If (those who do know Christ and the Father) (understands the doctrine and does what is said) of the (Light), they (walk the narrow way), because they (understand) the (Christ). 

Abode two Days = witnessing of himself (The Light) the head and the body 

Deu 17:6 At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; but at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death. 

Mat 18:16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. 

Twelve hours in the day = Foundation of Light – The Spiritual Significance of the Number Twelve

Day, Light = Christ and His Christ 

Gen 1:3-5 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day. 

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

Mat 5:14-16 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. 

Sees = knowing, understanding and doing the will of the Lord 

Joh 7:16-18 Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him. 

Pro 14:5-8 A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies. A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth. Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge. The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit. 

Pro 28:4-7 They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law contend with them. Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the LORD understand all things. Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich. Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son: but he that is a companion of riotous men shameth his father. 

Joh 11:10 But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him. 

But if (those who do not know Christ and the Father) (do not understand the doctrine and do not do what is said) of the (Light), they (are like a drunken man), because they (cannot understand) the (Christ). 

Isa 19:14 The LORD hath mingled a perverse spirit in the midst thereof: and they have caused Egypt to err in every work thereof, as a drunken man staggereth in his vomit. 

Isa 28:7-13 But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment. For all tables are full of vomit and filthiness, so that there is no place clean. Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little: For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear. But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken. 

Continuing at verse 11: 

Joh 11:11-16 These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep. Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead. And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him. Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellowdisciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him. 

These things said (the savior and deliverer): and after that (the savior and deliverer) saith unto them, Those (whom God Helps) (are spiritually dead); but (the savior and deliverer) goes, that (the savior and deliverer) may (cause them to understand the truth). Then said the (followers but not yet believers), Lord, if he (whom God Helps) sleep, he (whom God Helps) shall do well. Howbeit (the savior and deliverer) spake of those (whom God Helps) (spiritual) death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep. Then said (the savior and deliverer) unto the (followers but not yet believers) plainly, Those (whom God Helps) are (spiritually dead). And I (the savior and deliverer) am glad for your sakes that I (the savior and deliverer) was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let (the savior and deliverers) go unto those (whom God Helps). Then said the (unstable double minded), which is called Didymus the (unstable double minded), unto the other (followers but not yet believers), Let us also go, that we may die with (the savior and deliverer). 

Sleep = spiritually dead, not knowing anything of the spirit 

Job 8:5-9 If thou wouldest seek unto God betimes, and make thy supplication to the Almighty; If thou wert pure and upright; surely now he would awake for thee, and make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous. Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase. For enquire, I pray thee, of the former age, and prepare thyself to the search of their fathers: (For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days upon earth are a shadow 

Ecc 9:5 For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. 

Joh 11:1-16 Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.) Therefore, his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby. Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was. Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judaea again. His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again? Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world. But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him. These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep. Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead. And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him. Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellow disciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him. 

Now the full interpretation: 

Now (those who do not know Christ and the Father) which are (full of sin), (whom God Helps), of (the house of misery and affliction), the (dwelling place) of (their rebellion) and (the rebellious and bitter one). (It is (the church) which (sanctifies) the (The Body) with (the word), and (washes) (the saviors and deliverers) (way of life) with (the churches) (glory), our (body), (whom God Helps), is (full of sin).) (the rebellious and bitter ones) sent unto (the savior and deliverer), saying, Lord, behold, those (whom God Helps) whom (the savior and deliverer) (chastens) is (full of sin). When (the savior and deliverer) heard that, (the savior and deliverer) said, This (sinfulness) not unto the (unrepenting of our sins), but for the glory of God, that the (Christ and his Christs) might be glorified thereby. Now (the savior and deliverer) (chastens) (the rebellious and bitter one), in (their rebellion), (whom God Helps). When (the savior and deliverer) had heard therefore that those (whom God Helps) was (full of sin), (the savior and deliverer) abode (witnessing) where (eyes are being opened and sharing life giving waters). Then after that saith (the savior and deliverer) to the (followers but not yet believers), Let us go into (praise and confession) again. The (followers but not yet believers) say unto (the savior and deliverer), Master, the (killers of Christ) of late sought to (kill) (the savior and deliverer); and goest thou thither to (the house of misery and affliction) again? (the savior and deliverer) answered, Isn’t there a (foundation of Light)? If (those who do know Christ and the Father) (understands the doctrine and does what is said) of the (Light), they (walk the narrow way), because they (understand) the (Christ). But if (those who do not know Christ and the Father) (do not understand the doctrine and do not do what is said) of the (Light), they (are like a drunken man), because they (cannot understand) the (Christ). These things said (the savior and deliverer): and after that (the savior and deliverer) saith unto them, Those (whom God Helps) (are spiritually dead); but (the savior and deliverer) goes, that (the savior and deliverer) may (cause them to understand the truth). Then said the (followers but not yet believers), Lord, if he (whom God Helps) sleep, he (whom God Helps) shall do well. Howbeit (the savior and deliverer) spake of those (whom God Helps) (spiritual) death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep. Then said (the savior and deliverer) unto the (followers but not yet believers) plainly, Those (whom God Helps) are (spiritually dead). And I (the savior and deliverer) am glad for your sakes that I (the savior and deliverer) was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let (the savior and deliverers) go unto those (whom God Helps). Then said the (unstable double-minded), which is called Didymus the (unstable double-minded), unto the other (followers but not yet believers), Let us also go, that we may die with (the savior and deliverer). 

Lord willing, we have gained a little spiritual insight into what our Lord is doing with the body of Christ, His church. To many this is a hard saying, and they do not have this ability to spiritually discern the scriptures. We will have mockers and accusers that say we are too spiritual, but that is not our concern in this age. Our main concern is coming to know Christ and His Father, and we do this through dying daily to the carnal mind. 

Joh 6:60-66 Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it? When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you? What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before? It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. From that time many of his disciples went back and walked no more with him. 

1Co 2:12-14 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 

1Co 15:31-34 I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die. Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame. 

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

1Jn 3:16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 

[Study Aired April 27, 2020]

Joh 11:1-16 Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.) Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby. Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was. Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judaea again. His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again? Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world. But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him. These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep. Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead. And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him. Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellowdisciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him. 

In this study we are going to look at the names and towns mentioned and see what they represent in our journey into the Kingdom of God.

Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, 

Lazarus 

BTSCTVM+ Definition: Lazarus = whom God helps (a form of the hebrew name Eleazar) 

1. an inhabitant of Bethany, beloved by christ and raised from the dead by him 2. a very poor and wretched person to whom Jesus referred to in Luk_16:20-25 

– Origin: probably of hebrew origin H499 

Lazarus is the friend of Christ whom he loved. Who does Lazarus represent? 

Pro 18:24 A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. 

Pro 22:11 Love a pure heart and kind words, and the king will be your friend. (ERV) 

Joh 15:12-17 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. These things I command you, that ye love one another. 

All the parables we reviewed in Luke 14-17 in our previous studies prepared us to understand the significance of this story Lazarus. Lazarus is sick and we also start out sick within.

Isa 1:2-6 Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORD hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me. The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master’s crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider. Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward. Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.

Lazarus’ sickness represents the iniquities within us. This sickness is causes death.

Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus (whom God helps), of Bethany,

Bethany 

BTSCTVM+ Definition: Bethany = house of dates or, house of misery 

1. a village at the Mount of Olives, about two miles (3 km) from Jerusalem, on or near the normal road to Jericho 2. a town or village on the east bank of the Jordan, where John was baptising 

– Origin: of Aramaic origin 

Hitchcock Definition – the house of song; the house of affliction 

Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus (whom God Helps), of Bethany (the house of misery and affliction), 

Remember the Kingdom of God is within? Remember these things are for our understanding? 

Luk 17:20-21 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: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you. 

Mar 4:11 And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: 

We are the house of God and these judgments (afflictions) begin at the house of God. 

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

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? 

What is affliction? 

Ezr 8:21 Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance. 

Lev 23:26-29 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD. And ye shall do no work in that same day: for it is a day of atonement, to make an atonement for you before the LORD your God. For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people. 

(ERV) Lev 23:26-29 The LORD said to Moses, “The Day of Atonement will be on the tenth day of the seventh month. There will be a holy meeting. You must not eat food, and you must bring an offering as a gift to the LORD. You must not do any work on that day, because it is the Day of Atonement. On that day the priests will go before the LORD and perform the ceremony that makes you pure. “Anyone who refuses to fast on this day must be separated from their people. If anyone does any work on this day, I will destroy that person from among the people. You must not do any work at all. This is a law that continues forever for you, wherever you live. It will be a special day of rest for you. You must not eat food. You will start this special day of rest on the evening following the ninth day of the month. This special day of rest continues from that evening until the next evening.” 

The afflictions are the results of a fast. Mike just did a study of this, and here is the link if you have not reviewed it yet. Is not This the Fast that I Have Chosen?

Isa 58:1-7 Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins. Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God: they ask of me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching to God. Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours. Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high. Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD? Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? 

Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus (whom God Helps), of Bethany (the house of misery and affliction), the town of Mary 

Mary 

BTSCTVM+ – Definition: Mary or Miriam = their rebellion 

1. Mary the mother of Jesus 2. Mary Magdalene, a women from Magdala 3. Mary, the sister of Lazarus and Martha 4. Mary of Cleophas the mother of James the less 5. Mary the mother of John Mark, a sister of Barnabas 6. Mary, a Roman Christian who is greeted by Paul in Romans 16:6 

– Origin: of hebrew origin H4813 

What does Mary represent? 

Psa 107:8-12 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness. Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron; Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High: Therefore he brought down their heart with labour; they fell down, and there was none to help. 

Pro 17:11 An evil man seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.

Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus (whom God Helps), of Bethany (the house of misery and affliction), the town of Mary (their rebellion) and her sister Martha. 

Martha 

BTSCTVM+ – Definition: Martha = she was rebellious 

1. was the sister of Lazarus and Mary of Bethany 

– Origin: probably of Aramaic origin (meaning mistress) 

Hitchcock – who becomes bitter; provoking 

Pro 5:1-4 My son, attend unto my wisdom, and bow thine ear to my understanding: That thou mayest regard discretion, and that thy lips may keep knowledge. For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil: But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a twoedged sword. 

Lam 3:15-19 He hath filled me with bitterness, he hath made me drunken with wormwood. He hath also broken my teeth with gravel stones, he hath covered me with ashes. And thou hast removed my soul far off from peace: I forgat prosperity. And I said, My strength and my hope is perished from the LORD: Remembering mine, affliction and my misery the wormwood and the gall. 

Rev 8:10-11 And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters; And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter.

Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus (whom God Helps), of Bethany (the house of misery and affliction), the town of Mary (their rebellion) and her (their rebellion) sister Martha (the rebellious and bitter one). (It was that Mary (their rebellion) which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her (the rebellion) hair, whose brother Lazarus (whom God Helps) was sick.) Therefore his sisters (the rebellious and bitter ones) sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he (whom God Helps) whom thou lovest is sick. When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby. 

Jesus 

BTSCTVM+ – Definition: Jesus = Jehovah is salvation 

1. Jesus, the son of God, the saviour of mankind, God incarnate 2. Jesus Barabbas was the captive robber whom the Jews begged Pilate to release instead of christ 3. Joshua was the famous captain of the Israelites, Moses’ successor (Act_7:45, Heb_4:8) 4. Jesus, son of Eliezer, one of the ancestors of christ (Luk_3:29) 5. Jesus, surnamed Justus, a Jewish Christian, an associate with Paul in the preaching of the gospel (Col_4:11) 

– Origin: of hebrew origin H3091 

Hitchcock – savior; deliverer 

Isa 43:1-3 But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee. 

Isa 43:10-12 Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour. I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, that I am God. 

Luk 2:8-11 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 

Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus (whom God Helps), of Bethany (the house of misery and affliction), the town of Mary (their rebellion) and her (their rebellion) sister Martha (the rebellious and bitter one). (It was that Mary (the rebellion) which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his (the savior and deliverer) feet with her (the rebellion) hair, whose brother Lazarus (whom God Helps) was sick.) Therefore his sisters (the rebellious and bitter ones) sent unto him (the savior and deliverer), saying, Lord, behold, he (whom God Helps) whom thou (the savior and deliverer) lovest is sick. When Jesus (the savior and deliverer) heard that, he (the savior and deliverer) said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby. Now Jesus (the savior and deliverer) loved Martha (the rebellious and bitter one), and her sister (their rebellion), and Lazarus (whom God Helps). When he (the savior and deliverer) had heard therefore that he (whom God Helps) was sick, he (the savior and deliverer) abode two days still in the same place where he was. 

In the same place he was (Aenon) 

BTSCTVM+ – Definition: Aenon meaning springs 

1. the name of a place near to Salim at which John baptised 

– Origin: of hebrew origin, a derivative of G5869 

Hitchcock – a cloud; fountain; his eye 

Strong’s – H5869 

ah’-yin 

Probably a primitive word; an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy a fountain (as the eye of the landscape): – affliction, outward appearance, + before, + think best, colour, conceit, + be content, countenance, + displease, eye ([-brow], [-d], -sight), face, + favour, fountain, furrow [from the margin], X him, + humble, knowledge, look, (+ well), X me, open (-ly), + (not) please, presence, + regard, resemblance, sight, X thee, X them, + think, X us, well, X you (-rselves). 

Joh 10:40 And went away again beyond Jordan into the place where John at first baptized; and there he abode. 

Joh 3:23 And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized. 

Gen 3:4-7 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. 

Pro 8:27-31 When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth: When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep: When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth: Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him; Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men. 

Rev 21:5-8 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. 

Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus (whom God Helps), of Bethany (the house of misery and affliction), the town of Mary (their rebellion) and her (their rebellion) sister Martha (the rebellious and bitter one). (It was that Mary (the rebellion) which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his (the savior and deliverer) feet with her (the rebellion) hair, whose brother Lazarus (whom God Helps) was sick.) Therefore his sisters (the rebellious and bitter ones) sent unto him (the savior and deliverer), saying, Lord, behold, he (whom God Helps) whom thou (the savior and deliverer) lovest is sick. When Jesus (the savior and deliverer) heard that, he (the savior and deliverer) said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby. Now Jesus (the savior and deliverer) loved Martha (the rebellious and bitter one), and her sister (their rebellion), and Lazarus (whom God Helps). When he (the savior and deliverer) had heard therefore that he (whom God Helps) was sick, he (the savior and deliverer) abode two days still in the same place where he was (eyes being opened and life giving waters). Then after that saith he (the savior and deliverer) to his disciples,

Next study we will finish looking at the names and towns in this story. 

Joh 11:1-16 Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.) Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby. Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was. Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judaea again. His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again? Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world. But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him. These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep. Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead. And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him. Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellowdisciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him. 

Hi Mike,

Hope you are well today.

I saw the name ‘Yah’ written while I was reading today, and I became curious as I never heard that before.

I found this article, and wondered if you have seen this, and if you have, would like to know your thoughts.

Thanks so much,

Very grateful,

C____

Hi C____,

Thank you for your question about the name ‘Yah’.

I read the link you sent and I was, as usual, struck by the dearth of scriptures to make the writer’s point that ‘Yah’ is of pagan origin.

What this man does not realize is that the Hebrew of Moses day, when he first wrote the first five books of the Bible where the name Yahweh is used so often and is translated as LORD in all caps in the KJV, had no vowels at all, as this entry from Wikepedia correctly states:

“Biblical Hebrew has been written with a number of different writing systems. The Hebrews adopted the Phoenician script around the 12th century BCE, which developed into the Paleo-Hebrew script. This was retained by the Samaritans, who use the descendent Samaritan script to this day. However the Aramaic script gradually displaced the Paleo-Hebrew script for the Jews, and it became the source for the modern Hebrew alphabet. All of these scripts were lacking letters to represent all of the sounds of Biblical Hebrew, though these sounds are reflected in Greek and Latin transcriptions/translations of the time. These scripts originally only indicated consonants, but certain letters, known as matres lectionis, became increasingly used to mark vowels. In the Middle Ages various systems of diacritics were developed to mark the vowels in Hebrew manuscripts; of these, only the Tiberian system is still in wide use.”

So the fact of the matter is that we do not know what vowels to put where in YHWH. It could be Yeh, Yah, or Woh. There were no vowels at the time, and besides that, how the name of God is pronounced phonetically is totally irrelevant to our salvation. When Paul spoke of ‘blaspheming the name of God’, it had nothing at all to do with phonetics and everything to do with rebellion against obeying the commandments of God:

Rom 2:21  Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?
Rom 2:22  Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?
Rom 2:23  Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God?
Rom 2:24  For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.

Here is how we refrain from blaspheming the name of God, and again, it has nothing to do with phonetics and guessing where to place which non-existent vowels:

1Jn 5:2  By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
1Jn 5:3  For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

It is childish and spiritually immature to be concerned with how to properly pronounce the tetragramaton, YHWH. It has no spiritual benefit, and there is no spiritual message conveyed in whether the proper vowels are in the proper place. What is spiritually significant, and what does have great spiritual benefits, is to “love God and keep His commandments”. When we do that, we will never be guilty of profaning or blaspheming the name of God.

I hope this is of some help to you.

YbitC,

Mike

Audio Links

Awesome Hands – part 52

“To Show in You My Power”

Jan. 7, 2013

In last study we covered the first half of Exodus 9, and how the admonitions in those plagues are lived out in our lives spiritually today.

In the study today, we are going to continue to go over these admonitions and see that the Lord raises His elect up for the very purpose of bringing judgment in their lives and into the lives of others they are around and sent to while in this age.

Exo 9:16  And in very deed for this cause have I raised thee up, for to shew in thee my power; and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth.

Exo 9:17  As yet exaltest thou thyself against my people, that thou wilt not let them go?

When the Lord is working in our lives, He doesn’t hide this Truth. In fact, He works in our lives and causes things to happen that He will later use to bring us to remembrance for the express purposes of allowing us to know that all things are worked out according to His will and that He has been with us all of our lives.

In Exodus 9:16, we know that the Lord is speaking through Moses the message that Pharaoh has been raised up for the power of the Lord to be shown to and through Pharaoh, but whose hand has the rod of the power of the Lord been placed in? It is in Moses and Aaron’s hands.

With this in mind, we know that when we are used to spread the Gospel, we are used to spread spiritual seeds which hold much power!

It is the very Word in our mouths which holds the power, just like the rod in Moses and Aarons hands, and the messengers or laborer as stated in Corinthians, is counted as nothing and know nothing, i.e. we are nothing without Christ, the Word.

Job 8:9  (For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days upon earth are a shadow:)

1Co 3:5  Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?
1Co 3:6  I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
1Co 3:7  So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
1Co 3:8  Now he that planteth and he that watereth ARE ONE: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.
1Co 3:9  For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.
1Co 3:10  According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
1Co 3:11  For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

“A very grievous hail”

When the Lord is ready to show forth His complete judgment, He brings forth hail spiritually. Of course, this physically happened to Egypt but it was worked to admonish us today just as much as it was for their purposes back then.

Exo 9:18  Behold, to morrow about this time I will cause it to rain a very grievous hail, such as hath not been in Egypt since the foundation thereof even until now.

If we take the sum of thy Word, and look for other similar occurrences of things which come and have never been seen before and never will be seen again, then we might see that what hail represents spiritually is God coming into our lives and bringing the judgment He alone can bring upon His house.

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?

What does this judgment have to do with “hail” and why is it spiritually significant? I promise that it was raveningly significant to these Egyptians when it started to fall.

Rev 11:19  And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.

An earthquake and great hail represent the same thing spiritually speaking but also notice WHEN it is this event of MONUMENTAL proportions happens.

Isa 29:5  Moreover the multitude of thy strangers shall be like small dust, and the multitude of the terrible ones shall be as chaff that passeth away: yea, it shall be at an instant suddenly.
Isa 29:6  Thou shalt be visited of the LORD of hosts with thunder, and with earthquake, and great noise, with storm and tempest, and the flame of devouring fire.

Rev 6:12  And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;

When is the sun DARKENED and the moon is become as BLOOD?

Joe 2:30  And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.
Joe 2:31  The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.
Joe 2:32  And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.

Act 2:19  And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:
Act 2:20  The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:
Act 2:21  And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Lastly, just a few verses earlier in Acts:

Act 2:1  And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
Act 2:2  And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
Act 2:3  And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

Is it just mere coincidence that hail is mentioned as never having happened to Egypt and that it will not be seen in this manner again? I think not and the scripture bears witness to this.

How then is this plague of hail representative of the judgment God calls upon His house and what is happening to Egypt?

Isa 28:14  Wherefore hear the word of the LORD, ye scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem.
Isa 28:15  Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves:
Isa 28:16  Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.
Isa 28:17  Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place.
Isa 28:18  And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it.

The Pharaoh who sits on the throne and Egypt of which he rules typifies where God’s people are to come from and which king they are to worship.

Moses and Aaron are literally being sent to the Pharaoh to deliver judgment to his house.

So, because the Lord is merciful, He tells us before the time what He is going to do when the “great and terrible day of the Lord happens”.

Exo 9:18  Behold, to morrow about this time I will cause it to rain a very grievous hail, such as hath not been in Egypt since the foundation thereof even until now.
Exo 9:19  Send therefore now, and gather thy cattle, and all that thou hast in the field; for upon every man and beast which shall be found in the field, and shall not be brought home, the hail shall come down upon them, and they shall die.
Exo 9:20  He that feared the word of the LORD among the servants of Pharaoh made his servants and his cattle flee into the houses:
Exo 9:21  And he that regarded not the word of the LORD left his servants and his cattle in the field.

This seventh plague is bringing a complete judgment against the house of Egypt, but it is also representative of the Lord showing mercy to His people.

The mercy that will be shown is applicable for this plague but also for the last three that are to come.

For those who fear the Word of the Lord, they will be able to recognize that the Lord will bring forth what He says He will bring forth, judgment. It is coming to us all NOW or LATER.

All of these plagues happen relatively quickly in time physically for Egypt, but spiritually speaking we are simply warned that these things will happen and to be prepared.

It is the preparation of the heart that prepares us and we know that there is NOTHING we can do in order to prepare ourselves for this judgment. The preparation or lack of it is all from the Lord.

Joe 2:10  The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining:
Joe 2:11  And the LORD shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?
Joe 2:12  Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:
Joe 2:13  And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.

It is those who fear the Word of the Lord of which the Lord will show mercy. For Egypt, this hail is very grievous and will destroy all the things the Lord says will be destroyed, and for spiritual Israel this is EQUALLY true.

We may not think it a positive occurrence and it is not for the old man in us represented by Egypt, but for the new man in us, this is wonderful indeed because where there is DEATH, LIFE springs up!

Isn’t this what we are told baptism in the Word is all about?

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

What is the Word of God ALSO representative of?

Mat 3:11  I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
Mat 3:12  Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

No one will be “rending their heart,” no one will be “calling on the name of the Lord,” without this first happening.

1Co 12:3  Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.

This is a miraculous event which is spiritually typified by the work the hail is sent to do. It is sent to sweep away all false pretences of God the Father and the refuge of lies that our heart believes in.

Exo 9:22  And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch forth thine hand toward heaven, that there may be hail in all the land of Egypt, upon man, and upon beast, and upon every herb of the field, throughout the land of Egypt.
Exo 9:23  And Moses stretched forth his rod toward heaven: and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and the fire ran along upon the ground; and the LORD rained hail upon the land of Egypt.
Exo 9:24  So there was hail, and fire mingled with the hail, very grievous, such as there was none like it in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation.
Exo 9:25  And the hail smote throughout all the land of Egypt all that was in the field, both man and beast; and the hail smote every herb of the field, and brake every tree of the field.
Exo 9:26  Only in the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel were, was there no hail.

Is it not apparent that ANYTHING left in the field was destroyed only to leave the faintest of residue of what once was? The very trees themselves were broken and what are trees representative of?

Mar 8:23  And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw ought.
Mar 8:24  And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking.Psa 92:12  The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.

Psa 92:13  Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God.

Isa 2:11  The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day.
Isa 2:12  For the day of the LORD of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low:
Isa 2:13  And upon all the cedars of Lebanon, that are high and lifted up, and upon all the oaks of Bashan,

“I have sinned this time”

Spiritually speaking, when you are in the process of being destroyed you will naturally call out to God for deliverance and physically speaking we see this happening with Pharaoh and his kingdom.

Exo 9:27  And Pharaoh sent, and called for Moses and Aaron, and said unto them, I have sinned this time: the LORD is righteous, and I and my people are wicked.
Exo 9:28  Intreat the LORD (for it is enough) that there be no more mighty thunderings and hail; and I will let you go, and ye shall stay no longer.

When we are going through death, likened to having a deadly wound, we cry out for deliverance. Pharaoh is no different in this.

He wants the plague to stop “for it is enough,” but as soon as this “wound” is healed, the Pharaoh goes right back to his old ways of thinking.

Exo 9:29  And Moses said unto him, As soon as I am gone out of the city, I will spread abroad my hands unto the LORD; and the thunder shall cease, neither shall there be any more hail; that thou mayest know how that the earth is the LORD’S.
Exo 9:30  But as for thee and thy servants, I know that ye will not yet fear the LORD God.
Exo 9:31  And the flax and the barley was smitten: for the barley was in the ear, and the flax was bolled.
Exo 9:32  But the wheat and the rie were not smitten: for they were not grown up.

The purpose for the hail is to tell us, is to show us that the Lord has full control over all aspects of our lives both physically and spiritually.

However, the hail comes to also show us that we must be full of Godly repentance. We, like Pharaoh, just want the judgment to stop so we do and say whatever we can in order to petition the Lord to heal us of the death that these plagues bring.

The wheat and the rie have not yet been dealt with but they still remain in Egypt. This is so that the Lord can allow them time to grow so that those things which remain “under the surface” can be dealt with in due time.

Exo 9:33  And Moses went out of the city from Pharaoh, and spread abroad his hands unto the LORD: and the thunders and hail ceased, and the rain was not poured upon the earth.
Exo 9:34  And when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunders were ceased, he sinned yet more, and hardened his heart, he and his servants.
Exo 9:35  And the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, neither would he let the children of Israel go; as the LORD had spoken by Moses.

Just like Pharaoh, we too will “repent” but will go right back into our ways but this is all the start of this spiritual admonition that the Lord will fully deal with “all that is in Egypt,” thus; the Locusts will come.

Next study, we will see Lord willing, the spiritual significance of “Moses went out of the city” as compared to what the means to us today in the spirit. Though the hail will end, the locusts will be sent to completely devour anything that is left over from the hail.

They will also usher in the start of great darkness for the old man.

The generation of the first fleshly Adam is a shadow of the true generation whom God is using to bring forth in the last Adam, Jesus Christ (Mat 19:30). The flesh and all outward things also serve as an adversary or opposition to our spiritual development and refinement – until all fleshly things will finally pass away (Col 2:16-17, Heb 8:5, Heb 10:1, Mat 4:16, Gal 5:17, Isa 48:10, Zec 13:9). These spiritual principles are given to us right in the beginning in the book of Genesis. The first earthy Adam is therefore an essential part of the revelation of Jesus (1Co 15:45-47).

Mat 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

Cain, the firstborn of Adam and Eve, killed his brother Abel, and after the death of Abel, God gave them another son:

Gen 4:25 And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew.
Gen 4:26 And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the LORD.

The name ‘Seth’ means ‘appointed’ by God to be ‘instead of Abel’ who represented the seed of the woman who was killed by the seed of the serpent – represented by Cain (Gen 4:8).

Gen 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

In the generation of Seth, it is noted that men began “to call upon the name of the Lord” which links with God’s called out and elected ones (Greek: ekklesia) in this age or dispensation where Christ is building His church (Mat 16:18, 1Pe 2:4-9, Eph 3:2). The ekklesia are the ones who spiritually recognize the ‘name’ of Jesus as being His true doctrine, and they have the inward desire to associate with that ‘name’ and with others who have the same ‘one mind’ (Joh 17:6, 1Jn 5:13, Rev 22:4, Rom 15:6). These can rightly be called “the sons of God” knowing also that the word ‘son’ is gender-neutral in this respect (Gen 6:2-4, Eph 1:5, Php 2:15). The theme of the sons of God is foundational to our understanding of God’s ekklesia. In this first part of this foundational theme of the sons of God, we will focus on the ten generations from Adam to Noah and see, God willing, how our own development and growth in spiritual sonship are reflected in those generations. These generations also give the positive spiritual application of the number ten.

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.

We know that God is dragging those to whom He is giving the revelation of Jesus in this age to focus on the spiritual, while they also ‘walk honestly’ in truth and wisdom “toward them that are without” (Joh 6:44, 3Jn 1:4, 1Th 4:12, Col 4:5). The sons of God recognise that all things of the old outside world are necessary and temporary evils which serve a “very good” purpose in God’s plan (Gen 1:31, 1Co 3:21-22, 2Co 4:15).

Joh 7:24 Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.

Therefore, Seth also gives us the type of the resurrected elect losing their first earthy lives (symbolized by Abel’s death). Seth’s generation is typifying the new resurrected life in ‘earnest’ (or ‘down payment’) having still only the “holy spirit of promise”, waiting for “the adoption” and redemption from these present bodies (Rom 8:15-24, Gal 4:5, Eph 1:5, Eph 1:13-14). They are those whom God appointed to suffer at the wicked hands of those whom He raised up for that purpose (Act 2:23-24, Rom 6:4). This new spiritual generation of Christ has the physical image or the likeness of the first Adam outwardly (in a body of sin), but is actually a representation of the physical body of Jesus Christ still living in flesh now (1Jn 4:2, 2Co 5:14-21, Eph 5:30, Act 9:1-4).

Gen 5:1 This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him;
Gen 5:2 Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.
Gen 5:3 And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth:
Gen 5:4 And the days of Adam after he had begotten Seth were eight hundred years: and he begat sons and daughters:
Gen 5:5 And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years: and he died.

Physical genealogies are also not what the spiritual ekklesia are concerned with. Neither are the genealogies written in Scripture for the purpose of just calculating dates and times and years – although there is a physical application to that. Physical genealogies have deeper spiritual meaning for those with spiritual eyes to see their inward application (Heb 7:3, Tit 3:9):

1Ti 1:4 Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.

The genealogy of Seth typifies how God’s elect is appointed by God to progressively come to the knowledge and understanding of their own mortality and that they are called and chosen to take possession of the spiritual life to the ‘praise of the glory of His [chastening] grace, wherein he has made [them] accepted in the beloved’ (2Co 5:1-2, Gal 2:20, Eph 1:6). That is in short what the generations through Seth foreshadowed as we also look deeper into the names of Seth’s generations and their meanings in Hebrew:

1Ch 1:1 Adam [meaning ‘earthy man’], Sheth [‘appointed’], Enos or Enosh [‘mortal’, ‘the frailty of earthy man’],
1Ch 12 Kenan or Cainan [‘fixed’; ‘nest’; ‘possessor’], Mahalaleel [‘the praise of God’], Jered or Jared [‘descent’ or ‘to descend’],
1Ch 1:3 Henoch or Enoch [‘dedicated’, ‘disciplined’, ‘narrow’ or ‘consecrated’], Methuselah [‘man of dart’ (an arrow)], Lamech [‘powerful’; ‘striker down’],’
1Ch 1:4 Noah [‘rest’]…

Each name represents spiritual growth points in our own lives which also overlap each other. What is also interesting in this genealogy of Seth is that with the birth of the next generation, the life of the father is split into two which indicates, among others, how we witness Christ’s testimony in us as He produces more spiritual offspring, which is the fruit of the spirit in our own lives here and now (Rev 1:1-3, Gal 5:22-23).

Another aspect that features prominently in this genealogy of Seth is the concept of death that is being highlighted and repeated eight times in this fifth chapter of Genesis through the phrase “and he died” (Gen 5:5, 8, 11, 14, 17, 20, 27, 31). This is to emphasize that God’s elect are always being made aware of the truth that the process of laying down of the earthy life is so important in gaining the growth of the ‘new man’ and His life in us (Eph 4:24, Php 3:10-14).

Mat 10:38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
Mat 10:39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

A careful study of the positive spiritual meaning behind the numbers connected to the names of Seth’s generation also adds to their spiritual significance relating to our lives. The birth of Enos typifies, among other types, our witnessing of our physical frailty. Our beloved first man is doomed, and we are forced to let him go because we realise that the new spirit man comes only through the ‘little by little’ destruction of our old man (Exo 23:30). ‘The eighth [or new man]’ is [truly] of the seven; which is the eventual complete destruction of the foundations of the old man (Rev 17:11, 2Th 2:3-8). That is what the name ‘Enos’ also means – mortality of the flesh:

Gen 5:6 And Seth lived an hundred and five years, and begat Enos:
Gen 5:7 And Seth lived after he begat Enos eight hundred and seven years, and begat sons and daughters:
Gen 5:8 And all the days of Seth were nine hundred and twelve years: and he died.

The birth of Enos’s son, Cainan, typifies that our own understanding and acceptance of God’s judgment on His ekklesia first is being settled in our mind (1Pe 4:17, 1Jn 4:17). In this time the faith and boldness of our new man grows stronger through the process of chastening grace (Tit 2:11-12).

Gen 5:9 And Enos lived ninety years, and begat Cainan [‘fixed’; ‘nest’; ‘possessor’]:
Gen 5:10 And Enos lived after he begat Cainan eight hundred and fifteen years, and begat sons and daughters:
Gen 5:11 And all the days of Enos were nine hundred and five years: and he died.

The birth of Mahalaleel typifies, among others, our praising of God as we learn to rejoice within the manifold trials and tribulations we must endure. We learn that true worship is to give God the glory and honour IN all things (1Pe 4:12-17, Pro 27:21, Psa 145-150; 2Co 2:9, Php 4:12;,Tit 2:10, 1Pe 4:11).

Gen 5:12 And Cainan lived seventy years, and begat Mahalaleel [praise of God – Hallelujah/Alleluia]
Gen 5:13 And Cainan lived after he begat Mahalaleel eight hundred and forty years, and begat sons and daughters:
Gen 5:14 And all the days of Cainan were nine hundred and ten years: and he died.

Jared symbolizes our increasing knowledge and understanding of the new mind and wisdom of God descending from heaven, and our own understanding of things is revealed to be totally untrustworthy (Mat 3:16, Jas 3:15, Pro 3:5, Pro 16:25):

Gen 5:15 And Mahalaleel lived sixty and five years, and begat Jared [means ‘descent’]:
Gen 5:16 And Mahalaleel lived after he begat Jared eight hundred and thirty years, and begat sons and daughters:
Gen 5:17 And all the days of Mahalaleel were eight hundred ninety and five years: and he died.

This heavenly wisdom of the kingdom of God witnesses against the flesh as God’s judgments destroy the hold of the flesh on us progressively. This is the truth which the birth of Enoch typifies in us as we are being seated with Christ in the heavens being disciplined in the ‘narrow’ way in all our ‘conversation’ (Eph 2:6, Mat 7:14, Php 3:20).

Gen 5:18 And Jared lived an hundred sixty and two years, and he begat Enoch [dedicated, disciplined, narrow or consecrated]:
Gen 5:19 And Jared lived after he begat Enoch eight hundred years, and begat sons and daughters:
Gen 5:20 And all the days of Jared were nine hundred sixty and two years: and he died.

Enoch has been given special mention in the Scriptures and further details of his life are also worth looking into (Jdg 1:14):

Gen 5:21 And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah:
Gen 5:22 And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters:
Gen 5:23 And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years:
Gen 5:24 And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.

There are those who claim that this is saying that Enoch did not die, although it is clear in the book of Hebrews that all the Old Testament people of faith died – which included Enoch:

Heb 11:5 By faith Enoch was translated [Greek: metetethē = transfered to another place on earth] that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated [Greek: metetethē] him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
Heb 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

The fact that Enoch was ‘translated’ or removed from the place where his life was threatened and that he was not killed at that specific time, is not saying that Enoch did not eventually die. Being transferred from one place to another is familiar to the Scriptures and it also happened on other occasions; for example Elijah in the Old Testament and Philip in the New Testament:

2Ki 2:11 And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

The English word ‘heaven’ here is confusing as if it means he was taken to what some believe to be the spiritual realm, which is not true. Elijah was taken ‘up’ into the sky, which is also called heaven – the physical space where the birds fly. The spirit of God took Elijah ‘up’ and placed him in another location on earth of which the prophet sons, who saw this event, also testified:

2Ki 2:15 And when the sons of the prophets which were to view at Jericho saw him, they said, The spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha. And they came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him.
2Ki 2:16 And they said unto him, Behold now, there be with thy servants fifty strong men; let them go, we pray thee, and seek thy master: lest peradventure the Spirit of the LORD hath taken him up, and cast him upon some mountain, or into some valley. And he said, Ye shall not send.

Elijah, who was in a different location after he ‘went up’, later sent a letter to the new king of Israel, Jehoram, the disobedient son of the (generally) good king of Israel, Jehoshaphat, during whose reign Elijah ministered. Elijah was ‘translated’to another location because it was the time God appointed for the prophetic ministry of Elisha to take over from Elijah:

2Ch 21:11 Moreover he [Jehoram] made high places in the mountains of Judah, and caused the inhabitants of Jerusalem to commit fornication, and compelled Judah thereto.
2Ch 21:12 And there came a writing to him from Elijah the prophet, saying, Thus saith the LORD God of David thy father, Because thou hast not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat thy father, nor in the ways of Asa king of Judah.

Philip, the evangelist in the New Testament, was also ‘caught away’ and relocated somewhere else:

Act 8:38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
Act 8:39 And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.
Act 8:40 But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.

Jesus also said nobody has ascended up to the spiritual heaven (meaning to have His spiritual mind) before His coming to dwell in flesh (Joh 1:14; 1Jn 4:2), so this generation of Enoch typifies those who are even now ‘translated’ to be seated in heaven having the mind of Christ (Eph 2:6).

Joh 3:12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
Joh 3:13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.

Methuselah, the son of Enoch, is the person who lived the longest on earth. No one in flesh reached a thousand years because it is only the elect who will be the first to be given total power over the flesh at the first resurrection:

Gen 5:25 And Methuselah lived an hundred eighty and seven years, and begat Lamech:
Gen 5:26 And Methuselah lived after he begat Lamech seven hundred eighty and two years, and begat sons and daughters:
Gen 5:27 And all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred sixty and nine years: and he died.

The name of Methuselah’s son, Lamech, also helps our understanding to see that God will completely destroy the old man. The lineage of Seth typifies also the truth that no illegitimate birth shall enter God’s assembly or be a son of God before the full process of judgment is complete (Deu 23:2, 1Co 15:50, Rev 15:8). With the birth of Noah, we are given the biggest comfort because God will bring new spirit-life forth through this destruction:

Gen 5:28 And Lamech [powerful; striker down] lived an hundred eighty and two years, and begat a son:
Gen 5:29 And he called his name Noah, saying, This same shall comfort us concerning our work and toil of our hands, because of the ground which the LORD hath cursed.
Gen 5:30 And Lamech lived after he begat Noah five hundred ninety and five years, and begat sons and daughters:
Gen 5:31 And all the days of Lamech were seven hundred seventy and seven years: and he died.

Noah’s name means ‘rest’ because he typifies the spiritual comfort one experiences when it is revealed that we are God’s workmanship in Jesus Christ – from start to finish – as we get freedom from our own tilling and toiling – our bondage to the earth (Gen 3:23, Gen 4:12, Mat 6:28, Luk 5:5, Mat 11:28-30).

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.

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[Questions and comments for the writer can be directed to:  glgroenewald@gmail.com]

[Detailed studies and emails relating to these foundational themes in Scripture are available on the www.iswasandwillbe.com website, including these topics and links:]
Spiritual Significance of the Numbers in the Scriptures (Part one listed here)
Are Enoch and Elijah in Heaven?

Video Links

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

Introduction

Who is this “river of life”? Who is this “tree of life”? And when do we “see the face of God”? We will see in our study today that this river of life is within you and me at this very moment, if Christ is in us. We will see that the tree of life is within you and me today, if Christ is in us today. And we will learn that if we “see Christ” and “know Christ”, then we see and know His Father.
There are no chapter breaks in the original Greek. This last chapter is simply a continuation of the description of “the bride, the Lamb’s wife”.
Last week we saw that this it is through this “foursquare” city with her 12 gates, and with the number 12 stamped all over it, that the glory of the nations of all time will, “in their own order,… come into this great city the holy Jerusalem”.

Rev 21:24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.
Rev 21:25 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.
Rev 21:26 And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.

Here is the Old Testament verse which proclaims that very same statement:

Isa 60:11 Therefore thy gates shall be open continually; they shall not be shut day nor night; that men may bring unto thee the forces of the Gentiles, and that their kings may be brought.

We have been shown that “the bride, the Lamb’s wife” is “on a great high mountain; she has the glory of God, she is like a stone most precious, she is clear as a crystal, and she has a wall great and high”. She has twelve gates and twelve foundations. This city, the Lamb’s wife, lies foursquare, and her length is as large as the breadth, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal. Her wall is like jasper, clear as glass, her twelve foundations are garnished with all manner of precious stones. Her twelve gates are of twelve pearls, each gate one pearl. She has no temple, no sun, nor moon, because God and the Lamb are all of these things within her. The nations of the saved bring their glory into her through her twelve gates. Her twelve gates are never closed by day, and there is no night there. The glory and honor of the nations is brought into “the bride, the Lamb’s wife”. Nothing that defiles, works an abomination or makes a lie, enters into her. Only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
That is why the world hates this woman so much that it wants her dead. But here in this final 22nd chapter we learn more about what our Lord thinks of those who He has espoused to Himself, and it is only Him that we are interested in pleasing.

Rev 22:1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.

Being pure and clear as crystal is of great importance to our Husband, Christ. He and His Father dwell within us, and because they do, out of His throne and the throne of His Father within us proceeds “a pure river of water life, clear as crystal.”

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

This river “proceeds out of the throne of God and of the Lamb”. Where is this throne of God? Who makes up this throne? From whom does this “river of water of life” proceed?
Christ has already made clear where His throne is and who they are who are with Him in His Father’s throne.

Mat 5:34 But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne:
Mat 19:28 And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Mat 23:22 And he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon.
Rev 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
Rev 4:6 And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.

“Heaven… is God’s throne… He that swears by heaven swears by the throne of God”, and these four beasts are “in the midst of the throne and round about this throne”. Who are these “four beasts”? As we saw in our study of chapter five, they too, are just another type of this city. They are just one more symbol of God’s overcoming elect, the Lamb’s wife, and that is what they tell us.

Rev 5:8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.
Rev 5:9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
Rev 5:10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

God’s throne is in heaven (Mat 5:34); His throne is in this ‘city’, which we are told is the Lamb’s wife. Therefore the Lamb’s wife is ‘heaven’, and that is exactly what Heb 9 confirms to us:

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

As always the principle of “the dream is one” is in play throughout this Revelation of Jesus Christ, within us.

Gen 41:25 And Joseph said unto Pharaoh, The dream of Pharaoh is one: God hath shewed Pharaoh what he is about to do.

It is Christ Himself who revealed to us from whom this river of living water proceeds and flows.

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

Since this river of living water flows from the belly of those who believe on Christ, it is therefore not at all adding to what is written to conclude that God’s throne is this city itself. God’s throne is the Lamb’s wife herself. God’s throne is the four beasts in its midst. God’s throne is you and me who have been ‘espoused to Christ, as the Lamb’s wife’.

2Co 11:2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

Being the instrument of God through which this “river of water of life” flows, is simply part of being the channel through which life will be given to every man, woman and child who has ever lived. Being the “four beasts in the midst of and round about the throne” from which this “river of water of life” flows, is just one more accolade Christ places upon His bride, His wife.
But if we are this city, and if we are Christ’s wife, then Christ wants to honor us even more.

Rev 22:2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

Where does God reveal to us this tree of life to originated?

Gen 2:9 And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

We are God’s “house… His temple… His vineyard… His field…” and we are His “garden’. But they all begin in the earth, or “out of the ground… the tree of life also”. That is why Christ had to “empty Himself” and become a man, in a vessel of clay, “out of the ground”, who could atone for the sins of all men.

Php 2:7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men;
Php 2:8 and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto death, yea, the death of the cross.
Php 2:9 Wherefore also God highly exalted him, and gave unto him the name which is above every name;
Mat 8:17 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.

How are we to get to this “tree of life”?

Gen 3:24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

The way of this Tree of Life is only through these Cherubim, and a flaming sword. That sword is of course, the Word of God, and these Cherubim are those in whom that Word dwells. Here is another way of saying all of this:

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

If “Christ is in us”, then we are His sword:

Eph 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

If Christ is in us, the “rivers of living waters flow from our bellies”:

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

If Christ is in us, we are these Cherubim who hold the flaming sword which guards the way of the tree of life.
If Christ is in us, we are these same Cherubim in the midst of and round about the throne of God. We are the twelve gates to this city. We are the twelve foundations of this city, garnished with many precious stones. We are the pure gold and the pure jasper, out of which the city is composed. We are this city itself.
We are told this ‘tree of life’ is in the midst of the street of this city, and on either side of the river of life. Where else are we told we will find this “tree of life”? Here is where the tree of life is to be found:

Rev 2:7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
Rev 22:2 In the midst of the street of it [ the New Jerusalem], and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
Rev 22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

Here we have it. Here are three verses which tell us where the tree of life is to be found. Rev 2:7 tells us that the tree of life is “in the midst of the paradise of God” and Rev 22: 2 and 22:4 tell us that the tree of life is in the midst of the street of the New Jerusalem, and on either side of the river of life which proceeds out of the throne of God in the New Jerusalem. Rev 22:14 tells us that the tree of life is within the gates of the New Jerusalem. It should thus be obvious that “the paradise of God” is the third heaven and the New Jerusalem.
Now that we know where the tree of life is located, let’s see who is given to enter therein:

Luk 23:43 And Jesus said unto him [ the thief on the cross], Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

Here is what Paul tells us about this “paradise”, also called New Jerusalem, (Rev 2:7; 22:2, and 22:14), where we are told the tree of life is located:

2Co 12:2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.
2Co 12:3 And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)
2Co 12:4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

Paul is speaking of himself in the third person because he is dealing with the subject of his glorying in his revelations. Here is what he says in verse one:

2Co 12:1 It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.

And this is what he says in verse five:

2Co 12:5 Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.
2Co 12:6 For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.
2Co 12:7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
2Co 12:8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
2Co 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Paul is speaking of himself boasting only in the spirit of Christ within him, instead of boasting in his own carnal mind, and in his flesh. It was inthe spirit that he was caught up to this New Jerusalem where “the tree of life is in the midst of the paradise of God”.
And of course Rev 2:7 tells us that only overcomers are given to enter into this “paradise of God”.

Rev 2:7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

So it should be apparent that in scriptural terms “the paradise of God” is “Jerusalem above which is the mother of us all”.

Gal 4:25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
Gal 4:26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.

Our mother, like our Savior, is who we are for those who will come to God through us when we become part of that city.

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

Rev 22:3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:

“The throne of God and of the Lamb are in it.” The honor bestowed on those who first make up this city, which is “the bride, the Lamb’s wife”, is the single greatest honor that can be bestowed on any man. Here is what Christ tells us of those who are this city:

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.

It is those who have been through the fire of the Word of God in this age who will be in that “blessed and holy first resurrection”, who will also be the channel for showing God’s goodness and mercy to all the rest of mankind who are not part of that “blessed and holy first resurrection”. And while it does not say so here, these are the same people who will be at home “in the everlasting burnings” of the lake of fire, which will cleanse and purify all the rest of mankind who are not part of that blessed first resurrection:

Isa 33:14 The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?
Isa 33:15 He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil;

If “the throne of God and of the Lamb” are in us, then surely “there shall be no more curse… in it”. Those who “go no more out” are those who will be used by God to bring all men into this “paradise of God”; this “mother of us all”.

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

As we saw above “God and the Lamb are the temple of it”. Because they dwell within us we need no outward temple. We will then “know God and Jesus Christ who He has sent”. That is the very meaning of having the name of our God written upon us.

Rev 22:4 And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.

“They shall see His face”. The spiritual meaning of all of this is explained clearly in these words of our Lord to his apostles Thomas and Philip.

Joh 14:2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
Joh 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
Joh 14:4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
Joh 14:5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?
Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Joh 14:7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
Joh 14:8 Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.
Joh 14:9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?

” Whither I go ye know, and the way ye know” was certainly speaking of things that are not as though they were already accomplished. The disciples, at this moment, were just hours away from denying their Lord and forsaking Him and leaving Him to His fate upon the cross.

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.

“My Father’s house” is this New Jerusalem:

Rev 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

It is in this “great city of God, the holy Jerusalem” that the “many mansions” are found.

Rev 22:5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.

We have already seen why “there shall be no night there”.

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

Here is the Concordant Literal Version of these words “for ever and ever”:

Rev 22:5 And night shall be no more, and they have no need of lamplight and sunlight, for the Lord God shall be illuminating them. And they shall be reigning for the eons of the eons.

And this is Young’s Literal Translation:

Rev 22:5 and night shall not be there, and they have no need of a lamp and light of a sun, because the Lord God doth give them light, and they shall reign– to the ages of the ages.

Because both ‘ages’ are plural, this tells us that all the ages of all men of all time are included in this time of the reign of God’s elect. In other words, “the righteous… will dwell in the everlasting burnings and the devouring flames” of God’s Words in their mouths as the mouth of His elect. They are this city which is the bride the Lamb’s wife, by which all those who are not in that blessed and holy first resurrection, will be brought to God.

1Ti 4:10 For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.
1Jn 2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

This is the harvest at “the end” spoken of in 1Co 15:

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

“Then comes the end” means “the harvest at the end of the year”.

Exo 23:16 And the feast of harvest, the firstfruits of thy labours, which thou hast sown in the field: and the feast of ingathering, which is in the end of the year, when thou hast gathered in thy labours out of the field.
Exo 34:22 And thou shalt observe the feast of weeks, of the firstfruits of wheat harvest, and the feast of ingathering at the year’s end.

As long as one soul who has ever been born is still dead, then death has not yet destroyed. But death will be destroyed through this thing called “the second death… the lake of fire” which will bring all in Adam to be made alive in Christ.
So we have seen in our study today that this river of life should be flowing out from within you and me at this very moment, if Christ is in us. We have seen that the tree of life is within you and me today, if Christ is in us today. And we saw where Christ told us that if we “see Christ” and “know Christ”, then we have already seen and already know Him and His Father, heretoday, in these “vessels of clay”.

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

Next week, Lord willing we will cover these verses:

Rev 22:6 And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.
Rev 22:7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.
Rev 22:8 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.
Rev 22:10 And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.

Hi Mike,
Could you please explain to me why God changes people’s names in the bible? Is there a spiritual significance to this; for example, Abraham’s name and Paul’s, Jacob’s.
Thanks a lot,
B____

Hi B____,
Thank you for your question.
You ask why God changes people’s names in the Bible, and you ask if there is a spiritual significance to this.
The short answer is that God changes names to tell you and me what He is doing, and yes indeed, there is a spiritual significance, because what He is doing is always being done for our benefit in the permanent, spiritual realm.
Let’s look at the examples you give to make that simple point. Abram’s name was changed to Abraham. Andrew Jukes points out that adding that ‘h’ is adding an expiring of breath upon Abram, changing Him from a mere Abram to a new Abraham. Abraham is now a new man with a new name, and the same is true of every one whose name our Lord changes.
Now let’s see what these names mean and what their new names mean. I am using Hitchcock’s dictionary of Bible names.

1) Abram – high father
Abraham – father of a great multitude
2) Jacob – that supplants, undermines; the heel (same as James)
Israel – who prevails with God
3) Saul – demanded; lent; ditch; death (same as Shaul)
Paul – small; little (same as Paulus)
Let’s also include Abraham’s wife whose name was also changed.
4) Sarai – my lady; my princess
Sarah – lady; princess; princess of the multitude

So Abram goes from being an exalted or high father to a father of a multitude, and His wife from a lady princess to a princess of the multitude, because as “Abraham” he is an Old Testament type of our Lord who is the true “Father of many nations” meaning, eventually “all in Adam”.

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

Abraham is but a type of our Lord, who is the Savior of all, hence the need to change Abram’s name to Abraham.

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

You need to know the story of Jacob and Esau to understand what God is doing and why He changed Jacob’s name to Israel. It was not because Jacob was a good man, which tells us that God does not choose you or me because of who or what we are. Jacob means supplanter, or one who undermines another. In this case it was his poor brother Esau. Jacob talked him out of his birthright for a mere “bowl of red pottage”, then later Jacob lied to his elderly, blind father in order to outright steal Esau’s blessing as the first- born son.
But all of this is a type of what you and I are doing, both individually as undeserving children as well as a type of what our calling “in Christ” is doing to physical Israel. It was known of, and is the working of, God as are all things good and evil.

Psa 139:16 Thine eyes did see mine unformed substance; And in thy book they were all written, Even the days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was none of them. (ASV)
Pro 16:4 The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked [ you, me, Jacob] for the day of evil [ in you, me, and in Jacob].
Rom 9:11 (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)
Rom 9:12 It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.
Rom 9:13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.

That has a lot to do with all the name changes in scripture. They all highlight and emphasize God doing His own sovereign work in all things. Let’s read on here in Rom 9.

Rom 9:14 What shall we say then? [ Is there] unrighteousness with God? God forbid.
Rom 9:15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
Rom 9:16 So then it [ salvation] is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.
Rom 9:17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.
Rom 9:18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.
Rom 9:19 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?
Rom 9:20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?
Rom 9:21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?

The answer is, the Potter has the power over the clay to make it a vessel of honor or a vessel of dishonor, and He has decided that we are all to be first, “marred” clay vessels of dishonor, and then to have our names changed and be made into vessels of honor.

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

Saul of Tarsus had his name changed for the reason revealed in this story about the king of Israel whose name Saul of Tarsus bore.

1Sa 15:13 And Samuel came to Saul: and Saul said unto him, Blessed [ be] thou of the LORD: I have performed the commandment of the LORD.
1Sa 15:14 And Samuel said, What [ meaneth] then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?
1Sa 15:15 And Saul said, They have brought them from the Amalekites: for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed.
1Sa 15:16 Then Samuel said unto Saul, Stay, and I will tell thee what the LORD hath said to me this night. And he said unto him, Say on.
1Sa 15:17 And Samuel said, When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the LORD anointed thee king over Israel?
1Sa 15:18 And the LORD sent thee on a journey, and said, Go and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them until they be consumed.
1Sa 15:19 Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of the LORD, but didst fly upon the spoil, and didst evil in the sight of the LORD?

As we saw above the name ‘Saul’ means “demanded” or ‘demanded of’. Israel had demanded that God give them a king over them like all the nations around them. So God gave them King Saul, whose name means ‘demanded’. Saul of Tarsus demanded repentance from all who claimed to be Christians.

Act 9:1 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,
Act 9:2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.

But Saul was just about to experience an ‘attitude adjustment’, which we all must experience. It is only after we have had that crushing experience, where everything we have worked for so hard in this life is taken from us, that any of us are in a position to be given “a new name”.
King Saul is a type of our old man who goes from humble childhood to thinking of himself as the king of Israel who doesn’t need to listen closely to the words of God. He goes from be “little in his own eyes” to being king. Saul of Tarsus, on the other hand, is our new man who comes forth out of our old man who “goes into perdition”.
But “a new name” from our Lord Himself is in store for us all in our new man, each in our own appointed time. Only those who are truly “made another vessel as seemed good to the Potter” know who they are, and no man can take that from them.

Isa 62:2 And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD shall name.
Rev 2:17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

I hope this all helps you to see that the names which are changed in scripture were all changed for our own spiritual admonition, and that there is a spiritual lesson to be learned from each and every one of them.
Collectively they are all just types of us upon whom the ends of the world have come.

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

Your brother in Christ,
Mike>

Hi Mike,

Could you please explain to me why God changes people’s names in the bible. Is there a spiritual significance to this, e. g. Abraham”s name and Paul’s, Jacob’s? Thanks a lot,

B____

Hi B____,

Thank you too, for your question. You ask:

Could you please explain to me why God changes people’s names in the bible. Is there a spiritual significance to this?

The answer is, yes there is indeed a great spiritual significance to every name given. The changing of a name in scripture in every case signifies a change in the status of that individual. For those with eyes to see and ears to hear, that change is always signifying a type and a shadow of spiritual growth.

Let’s look at the three examples you mention to make this point.

Abraham’s name was first Abram. Here is Hitchcock’s definition of the name Abram.

“Abram – high father”.

“High father” is an honorable name, but it is nowhere nearly as exalted as the meaning of the name Abraham. Here is Hitchcock’s definition of the name Abraham.

“Abraham – father of a great multitude”

Just how big of a multitude are we to think this change in name was to signify? Here is what God had in mind when He changed Abram’s name to Abraham.

Gen 17:4 As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations.
Gen 17:5 Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.
Gen 17:6 And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee.

Phrases like these make it sound like Abraham was to become the Father of a whole lot of nations and many kings, but later we learn that Abraham, in type, was to inherit the whole world.

Rom 4:13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.

Why does Paul think that Abraham was to be “heir of the world”? Here is a verse which says as much:

Gen 22:17 That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;

Gen 26:4 And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed;

Abraham, in type and shadow, was to have children whose numbers were to be “as the stars of heaven” and as the sand which is upon the sea shore, and in Abraham’s children all the nations of the earth were to be blessed.

The holy spirit through Paul reveals that we must be in Christ to be counted as Abraham’s seed.

Gal 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
Gal 3:29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

So now we know that the reason for changing Abram’s name to Abraham was for the purpose of showing us that “the world”, every man who has ever lived, will, “in his own order”, be redeemed from death through the true “Father of a multitude.” The true “Father of a multitude” is Jesus Christ.

Abraham’s name was changed for our benefit. It was done so we would later realize the Christ- centric nature of the Word of God.

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

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

1Jn 2:2 And he [Christ] is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

Now let’s look at why God saw fit to change Jacob’s name to Israel. Here is Hitchcock’s definition of the name ‘Jacob’.

Jacob – that supplants, undermines; the heel
(same as James)

We are all familiar with the story of the birth of Esau and his twin brother Jacob. Esau was actually born first, but Jacob was immediately born holding on to the heel of Esau.

Gen 25:24 And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb.
Gen 25:25 And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau.
Gen 25:26 And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau’s heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them.

What does all of this mean? What it meant was that Jacob would, in type and shadow, supplant Esau. Here is the message in the meaning of the name ‘Jacob’:

Rom 9:11 (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)
Rom 9:12 It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.
Rom 9:13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.

When we see the true meaning of all of this, we understand that just as Jacob replaced or supplanted Esau, so our old man is supplanted and replaced by our new man.

There is a great and mighty struggle in getting from being a conniving supplanter, who is willing to lie, cheat and steal in order to gain God’s blessing, to realizing that God’s blessing is given to us, not because of our efforts, but in spite of those self-righteous efforts. That is the message of the changing of Jacob’s name from Jacob to Israel, and that is the message of the entire book of Job. Read Job chapters 29, and then go read chapter 40.

Jacob, the man who worked so hard for Rachel, received Leah for his efforts. Then he was given Rachel and then he worked for her. In other words He got what he wanted without working, and was given what he did not want for all of his efforts just as did Job through his incredible trials.

The very same experience is repeated in that harrowing trip from Haran (Babylon) to Canaan, the promised land, the land which, in type and shadow, we have been promised by God.

Right after being saved by Christ Himself from the wrath of his father-in-law, Laban, Jacob is immediately threatened by Esau and an army of four hundred men. Jacob is scared to death for his life, and bows down to his brother Esau, seven times saying “Esau my Lord.” In spiritual terms, Jacob has been brought to see that he cannot “make war with the beast”, Esau, his own twin brother, his own flesh. It is at this point, when it appears that Esau will annihilate Jacob and his entire family, that Jacob comes face to face with Christ, and is forced to face his most fearsome enemy while walking with a limp. Here is that story. Here is why Jacob’s name was changed from Jacob, meaning supplanter, to Israel, or “a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.”

Gen 32:6 And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, We came to thy brother Esau, and also he cometh to meet thee, and four hundred men with him.
Gen 32:7 Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed: and he divided the people that was with him, and the flocks, and herds, and the camels, into two bands;
Gen 32:8 And said, If Esau come to the one company, and smite it, then the other company which is left shall escape.
Gen 32:9 And Jacob said, O God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, the LORD which saidst unto me, Return unto thy country, and to thy kindred, and I will deal well with thee:
Gen 32:10 I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast shewed unto thy servant; for with my staff I passed over this Jordan; and now I am become two bands.
Gen 32:11 Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau: for I fear him, lest he will come and smite me, and the mother with the children.
Gen 32:12 And thou saidst, I will surely do thee good, and make thy seed as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.
Gen 32:13 And he lodged there that same night; and took of that which came to his hand a present for Esau his brother;
Gen 32:14 Two hundred she goats, and twenty he goats, two hundred ewes, and twenty rams,
Gen 32:15 Thirty milch camels with their colts, forty kine, and ten bulls, twenty she asses, and ten foals.
Gen 32:16 And he delivered them into the hand of his servants, every drove by themselves; and said unto his servants, Pass over before me, and put a space betwixt drove and drove.
Gen 32:17 And he commanded the foremost, saying, When Esau my brother meeteth thee, and asketh thee, saying, Whose art thou? and whither goest thou? and whose are these before thee?
Gen 32:18 Then thou shalt say, They be thy servant Jacob’s; it is a present sent unto my lord Esau: and, behold, also he is behind us.
Gen 32:19 And so commanded he the second, and the third, and all that followed the droves, saying, On this manner shall ye speak unto Esau, when ye find him.
Gen 32:20 And say ye moreover, Behold, thy servant Jacob is behind us. For he said, I will appease him with the present that goeth before me, and afterward I will see his face; peradventure he will accept of me.
Gen 32:21 So went the present over before him: and himself lodged that night in the company.
Gen 32:22 And he rose up that night, and took his two wives, and his two womenservants, and his eleven sons, and passed over the ford Jabbok.
Gen 32:23 And he took them, and sent them over the brook, and sent over that he had.
Gen 32:24 And J acob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.
Gen 32:25 And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him.
Gen 32:26 And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.
Gen 32:27 And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob.
Gen 32:28 And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.
Gen 32:29 And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there.
Gen 32:30 And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.
Gen 32:31 And as he passed over Penuel the sun rose upon him, and he halted upon his thigh.

Only now, while leaning upon his staff in a physically weak and crippled condition, given Him by our Lord Himself, is Jacob in any position to face his own flesh-and-blood brother, Esau. However, he does face Esau, and he does so knowing that he is helpless of himself and completely worthy of death for what his own efforts have gotten him.

Gen 33:3 And he passed over before them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.

Jacob learned this lesson only by being “alone with a man”, Christ, and by being given a limp, being given to realize that God’s strength can only be realized through weakness of our flesh.

2Co 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

So Jacob, the supplanter, became Israel, a prince who prevailed with God, but only through realizing his own helplessness and weakness and his own inability to save himself.

Finally let’s look at why Saul of Tarsus had his name changed to Paul. It might just be for the very same reason that Jacob had to endure the trials that led to his change in name. Here is Hitchcock’s definition of the name ‘Saul’.

Saul – demanded; lent; ditch; death

Why does Saul mean ‘demanded’? It is because the people of Israel wanted to be just like everyone around them and have a king reigning over them. They did not want God, through judges, directing their affairs.

1Sa 8:1 And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel.
1Sa 8:2 Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: they were judges in Beersheba.
1Sa 8:3 And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.
1Sa 8:4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah,
1Sa 8:5 And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.
1Sa 8:6 But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD.
1Sa 8:7 And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.

The people “demanded” a king, so the Lord gave them a king whose name would remind them that it was their own self-willed, demanding ways that placed this king over them. That is the very meaning of the name ‘Saul’, and that way of being great in our own eyes and serving ourselves leads to death, which is another meaning of the name ‘Saul’.

Now let’s look at the meaning of the name ‘Paul’.

Paul – small; little

Here is where we learn of this change of name. We are not given any of the details of when this change took place. We are simply advised that it had taken place.

Act 13:1 Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
Act 13:2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.
Act 13:3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.
Act 13:4 So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.
Act 13:5 And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John to their minister.
Act 13:6 And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Barjesus:
Act 13:7 Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God.
Act 13:8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.
Act 13:9 Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him,
Act 13:10 And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?

So Saul was changed from a man who was demanding that Christians either repent of what he considered to be heresy or die as heretics, to a man who realized that he had no right to demand anything and who wanted only to ask “Lord what would you have me to do?” In other words, he went from being great in his own eyes to being small in his own eyes. The exact opposite is what happened with King Saul. King Saul went from being small in his own eyes to thinking he was a very great man. Let’s contrast the experiences of these two ‘Sauls’.

1Sa 15:16 Then Samuel said unto Saul, Stay, and I will tell thee what the LORD hath said to me this night. And he said unto him, Say on.
1Sa 15:17 And Samuel said, When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the LORD anointed thee king over Israel?
1Sa 15:18 And the LORD sent thee on a journey, and said, Go and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them until they be consumed.
1Sa 15:19 Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of the LORD, but didst fly upon the spoil, and didst evil in the sight of the LORD?

When we are not “little in our own eyes”, we “do not obey the voice of the Lord”.

Now let’s see what happened to Saul of Tarsus.

Act 9:1 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,
Act 9:2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
Act 9:3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:
Act 9:4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
Act 9:5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
Act 9:6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.
Act 9:7 And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.
Act 9:8 And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.
Act 9:9 And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.

Christ told Saul that in persecuting His disciples, Saul was actually persecuting Christ Himself. The overwhelming presence of Christ caused Saul to understand that he was in no position to demand anything of our Lord, and instead he asked, ” Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?”

In other words, Saul realized just how little he was in the presence of our Lord. and when we see him again in chapter 15, his name is changed from ‘Saul’, meaning ‘demanding’ and being puffed up with his own self importance, to ‘Paul’, who is “little” in his own eyes and wants only to know, “Lord what would you have me to do?”

It is only those who realize their own helplessness to save themselves who will be used by a God who tells us that His strength is made perfect only in our weakness.

2Co 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

I hope and pray that this all serves to demonstrate to you that there is a real valuable spiritual lesson behind all the names and changes of names in the scriptures, and every change in name reflects another valuable step towards seeing that “all things [really] are of God” and that our flesh has absolutely nothing of any value to our Lord and our Creator.

Your brother in Christ,

Mike