Matthew 13:31–58 Other Parables About the Kingdom of Heaven

[Study Aired June 23, 2025]

As we mentioned in the previous study, our understanding of one parable paves the way for us to understand other parables of our Lord Jesus Christ. Actually, the whole of the word of the Lord is a parable to be understood only by His elect.  

Mar 4:13  And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables? 

The study today focuses on the parable of the mustard seed, the leaven and the explanation of the parable of the weeds. The study also highlights the parable of the hidden treasure, the pearl of great value, and that of the net cast into the sea. The study also shows us how as spiritual scribes we are to deliver the word of the Lord and finally, Jesus’ rejection at Nazareth. 

The Mustard Seed and the Leaven

Mat 13:31  Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: 
Mat 13:32  Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.

The Kingdom of Heaven signifies God’s authority and dominion over all creation, a realm where His will is supreme. Since everything is under our Lord’s rule, and therefore according to the purpose of His will, both the negative and the positive experience in our walk with Christ all contributes to the establishment of the kingdom of Heaven within us. In an age to come, the kingdom of Heaven will become outward for all to see.

Psa 139:11  If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. 
Psa 139:12 Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee. 

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

In the parable of the mustard seed, the Lord likened the kingdom of Heaven to a mustard seed sown in a field. In verse 32, the seed grew to become a tree, such that birds of the air come and lodge in the branches. We know from the parable of the Sower that the fowls of the air that came to devour the seed that fell by the wayside represent the devil and His cohorts. The mustard seed is the truth of the word of the Lord which was sown into the world by the Lord and is now being sown by His disciples. The fact that birds of the air came and lodged on the tree resulting from the growth of the mustard seed is to let us know that it is the spirits of false doctrines signified by the birds of the air which enter into the church and devour the truth by twisting and perverting it into a lie as the adversary has done from the beginning.

Gen 3:1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? 

Mat 13:33  Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened. 

This parable about the leaven which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal confirms the assertion that the mustard seed represents false doctrines. The woman represents the churches of this world or Babylon, and the leaven she took symbolizes false doctrines. The three measures of meal signify the word of the Lord which is tried and tested. The number three denotes being purified through trials or judgment.  

Psa 12:6  The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. 

In essence, what this parable is telling us is that the truth of the word which we know was compromised with the false doctrines of man’s wisdom and traditions when we were in the churches of this world. As a result, we become worse off during our stay in Babylon. 

2Pe 2:18  For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. 
2Pe 2:19  While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.
2Pe 2:20  For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
2Pe 2:21  For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. 
2Pe 2:22  But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire. 

 Jesus Spoke to the Multitude in Parables

Mat 13:34  All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them: 
Mat 13:35  That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.  

As indicated in the previous study, the Lord speaks to the multitude, who represent our brothers and sisters in the churches of this world or Babylon, in parables so they cannot know Him in this age. As stated in verse 35, the Lord is uttering things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world, and it is only the Lord’s elect who are privileged in this age to understand these secrets, which signify the mysteries of the kingdom of Heaven.

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

The reason our brothers and sisters in the churches of this world are not given to appreciate the secret kept from the foundation of the world is because  they are blinded by the false doctrines in their hearts and minds. The blindness of our brothers and sisters in the churches of this world is due to the smoke that comes out of the bottomless pit of our hearts and minds. The smoke is the false doctrines in their hearts and minds that eclipse the truth of the word of the Lord (the secret kept from the foundation of the world) such that hearing they will hear and not understand, and seeing they will see and not perceive. 

Rev 9:1  And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit. 
Rev 9:2  And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit. 
Rev 9:3 And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. 

The propagators of these false doctrines are the false prophets who are described as locusts in the verses above. They come as angels of light but inwardly, they are grievous wolves. 

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

The Parable of the Weeds Explained

Mat 13:36  Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field. 
Mat 13:37  He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; 
Mat 13:38  The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;
Mat 13:39  The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. 
Mat 13:40  As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. 
Mat 13:41  The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; 
Mat 13:42  And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 
Mat 13:43  Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

This is the parable of the weeds which Jesus explained in the verses above:

Mat 13:24  Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: 
Mat 13:25  But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.
Mat 13:26  But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. 
Mat 13:27  So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? 
Mat 13:28  He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? 
Mat 13:29  But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.
Mat 13:30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn. 

It is worth noting that Jesus’ explanation of the parable of the weeds was done in the absence of the multitude, as shown in verse 36. This shows us that it is the few, called and chosen by the Lord, who are recipients of the kingdom of Heaven in this age.

Mat 22:14  For many are called, but few are chosen.    

In verses 37 and 38 the Lord explained that He is the one who is planting us as the wheat or the good seed in this world in the midst of the tares, which refer to the children of the wicked one, the devil. The fact that it is difficult to distinguish between the wheat and the tares until harvest, is to let us know that although we, His elect, are wheat, we behave like tares during our initial walk with Christ with the devil as our father.

Joh 8:44  Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. 

It is when Christ comes to us with the spirit of His mouth and His brightness that our lives begin to reflect our status as children of the kingdom or wheat. As explained in the previous study, the present application of the harvest is the time that Christ comes to us with His judgment to destroy the tares or the old man or flesh. That is the period that the Lord sends out His reapers or His messengers, to root out the false doctrines in our hearts and minds through what every joint of the body of Christ supplies – the truth of His words or hail.

2Th 2:7  For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 
2Th 2:8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 

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

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.

It is through this experience that we shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of our Father as shown in verse 43. Shining forth as the sun signifies becoming like Christ, since Christ represents the sun. 

The Parable of the Hidden Treasure

Mat 13:44  Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. 

The hidden treasure in a field refers to the secret kept from the foundation of the world. This secret or the treasure is the mysteries of the kingdom of Heaven, which the Lord is unveiling to His elect in this age.  

Rom 16:25  Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,

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

It is those whom the Lord has called and chosen before the foundation of this world, who are given to find this treasure of the mysteries of the kingdom in this age or field. It is therefore not of him that wills or runs, but of the Lord showing mercy.

Eph 1:3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 
Eph 1:4  According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 
Eph 1:5  Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 
Eph 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

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

As explained earlier, we find this treasure of the mysteries of His kingdom when Christ comes to us with the spirit of His mouth and His brightness. After finding the treasure, the treasure is hidden by the man. Hiding the treasure after finding it simply means that we have this treasure in earthen vessels. In other words, despite our human imperfections and weaknesses (the “earthen vessels”), this invaluable treasure of the mysteries of the kingdom of Heaven is hidden within us and therefore not obvious to our brothers and sisters of the churches of this world or the people of this world.

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. 
2Co 4:8  We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
2Co 4:9  Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; 
2Co 4:10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. 

As He is, so are we. Just as Jesus Christ was the embodiment of the mysteries of the kingdom of Heaven when He was here on earth as a man, so are we in this life. 

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 fact that the man sells all that he has to buy the field is to let us know that in view of the Lord’s mercies of showing to us the mysteries of the kingdom, we must present our bodies as living sacrifices to the Lord. How do we offer our bodies as living sacrifices? By having our minds renewed through the words of the Lord so that we are able to appreciate the will of the Lord in our lives. In this way, we do not conform to the standards of this world. This is the work of the Lord as He comes to judge us to conform us to His image. 

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

The Parable of the Pearl of Great Value

Mat 13:45  Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: 
Mat 13:46 Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it. 

The use of the word “again” in verse 45 implies that this parable is the same in its interpretation as the parable of the hidden treasure. The fact that this parable is the same as the parable of the hidden treasure in its interpretation means that these two parables establish the principle that if we seek, we shall find, if we knock, the door will be opened, and if we ask, we shall be given. 

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

Mat 7:7  Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 
Mat 7:8  For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. 
Mat 7:9  Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? 
Mat 7:10  Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? 
Mat 7:11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?  

We, His elect, are the merchant man looking for the goodly pearls which represent the mysteries of the kingdom of Heaven or the truth of His words. Because we are called and chosen before the foundation of this world, at a certain stage of our walk here on earth, there will be that urgency in our spirit to seek after the Lord. That is the period that the Lord comes to us with the spirit of His mouth and His brightness. 

Jer 29:13  And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. 
Jer 29:14  And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive. 

Finding the pearl of great price refers to coming to know the mysteries of the kingdom of Heaven. As the Lord comes to us with the spirit of His mouth or judgment and His brightness, we come to learn righteousness or submission to the Lord. Our judgment in this age is therefore the price we have to pay to possess the goodly pearl, that is, know the mysteries of the kingdom. 

1Pe 4:1  Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;
1Pe 4:2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. 

The Parable of the Net

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

The net represents the gospel, the sea is the world and the fishermen are the preachers of the gospel of Christ. The casting of the net into the sea and the drawing to the shore signifies our calling out from the world (sea of flesh) to come and serve the Lord. We all start our walk with Christ in the churches of this world or the shore.  

Hos 11:1  When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt. 
Hos 11:2 As they called them, so they went from them: they sacrificed unto Baalim, and burned incense to graven images. 

In the churches of this world, there are two categories of people – those who are called but not chosen (representing the bad) and those who are called and chosen (signifying the good), whom the Lord is putting into His vessels. The bad which are cast away are our brothers and sisters in the churches of this world who are not given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of Heaven. We were part of them, before the Lord came to us to gather us into His vessels. The Lord gathering the good into vessels in verse 48 therefore signifies coming out of the church system of this world or Babylon and being part of the church of the first born or the Heavenly Jerusalem. 

Rev 18:4  And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. 
Rev 18:5 For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities. 

In this age, we, His elect, are regarded by the people of this world as part of the church system of this world. On the other hand, our brothers and sisters in Babylon look to us as apostate believers. However, in an age to come, represented in verse 49 as the end of the world, we shall be recognized as the just while our brothers and sisters, in the churches of this world, together with the people of this world, as the wicked. These shall be cast into the lake of fire where there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

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

New and Old Treasures

Mat 13:51  Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord. 
Mat 13:52 Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old. 

The Lord asking the disciples if they understood all the things He was teaching them is to let us know that we must make room for questions in our meetings when the word of the Lord is shared. The disciples’ response that they understood all that Jesus said depicts our lives when we were in the churches of this world where we thought that we understood the word of the Lord. However, it was when Jesus came to us with the spirit of His mouth and His brightness that we realized we did not know anything. This coming of Christ into our lives with His spirit was the beginning of our understanding of the mysteries of the kingdom. 

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

In the Bible, the scribes were learned individuals primarily known for their expertise in the Law of Moses and their role in copying, interpreting, and teaching the scriptures. The Lord used the scribes as a symbol of His elect who are given to understand the mysteries of the kingdom. We are the scribes entrusted with the word of the Lord in this age. The Lord saying that we must bring out of our treasure, things new and old means that we must compare spiritual with spiritual (scripture with scripture) from both the Old and the New Testament. We must remember that the Lord’s words are spirit and that it is we, His elect, who are given to compare spiritual with spiritual as we have received the spirit which is of God. All others quote the Bible all right, however, what they speak are man’s wisdom and tradition.

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

1Co 2:12  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. 
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. 

Jesus Rejected at Nazareth

Mat 13:53  And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these parables, he departed thence. 
Mat 13:54  And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?
Mat 13:55  Is not this the carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? 
Mat 13:56  And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things? 
Mat 13:57  And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house. 
Mat 13:58  And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief. 

The reason why the people in Nazareth rejected Jesus was that they knew Him according to the flesh. They knew His earthly parents, brothers and sisters. When we are dominated by the flesh, it is impossible to understand the spiritual reality of His words. It is for this very reason that Jesus came to us with His judgment to destroy the old man or flesh in our lives so that we can see Christ who is hidden in His elect in this age. 

2Co 5:16  Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. 
2Co 5:17  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 
2Co 5:18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 

It is insightful to note that in verse 58, the Lord did not do many mighty works in Nazareth because of the unbelief of the people. These mighty works are how the Lord takes us from the miry clay and establishes us on the rock. In other words, the mighty works are the Lord’s judgment of our old man or flesh to give us dominion over our flesh as overcomers. When we live in the flesh, we do not appreciate spiritual things, and therefore we remain in unbelief. These mighty works are the greater works the Lord spoke about that we, His elect, will do in this age and in the lake-of-fire age. These works transcend the physical healings and other miracles practiced in the churches of this world.

Joh 14:12  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. 

May His name be praised forever more. Amen!! 

Revelation 7:4-8 – Part 1A, Who Are The 144,000

[Study Aired June 5, 2024]

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

Who are these 144,000 “of all the tribes of the children of Israel?” Who do the scriptures reveal they really are? Many in the orthodox Christian world today believe that these are literal, physical Jews of the literal, physical 12 tribes of Israel because of what is said about these 144,000 in Revelation 14. Many teach, based upon this verse, these are 144,000 literal, physical, Jewish, male virgins who will be sealed with the seal of God.

Rev 14:4  These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.

We have demonstrated abundantly that the book of Revelation is a book of symbols. This is no time to forget that fact. Signs and symbols are not spiritual realities. All the realities of scripture are spiritual realities and certainly “not words that man’s wisdom teaches.”

1Co 2:13  Which things also we speak [“things of the spirit” (vs 14)], 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.

“The Holy Ghost teacheth comparing spiritual things [types] with spiritual [antitypes].”

We are also plainly instructed:

2Co 4:18  While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
Col 3:2  Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

Heb 11:3  Through faith we understand that the worlds [G165: ‘aion’, age, our lives] were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

Paul has just given us the secret to understanding the symbolism of scripture. The ability to apply that secret as we read the words of scripture is truly a gift from God. It takes the spirit of God Himself to keep us from constantly slipping back into the physical realm as we read words which “are spirit…” Being “not defiled with women; for they are virgins” has nothing to do with the physical realm except as physical women and physical virgins are used to help us to understand what is a spiritual woman and what is a spiritual virgin. The Holy Spirit does not compare spiritual [antitypes] with physical [types]. The holy spirit does not compare one physical lion to a physical tiger, nor does it compare physical lion with spiritual lion. “The Holy Ghost teaches comparing spiritual things [“the Lion of the tribe of Judah”] with spiritual [antitype, Christ].” What that means as it applies to our subject today, is that both Israel and each of her twelve tribes must conform to what the scriptures reveal them to now be, because “the words which man’s wisdom teaches” are that the word ‘Israel’ is not a spiritual word, and the tribe of Judah is not a spiritual tribe, and the word ‘women’ is not a spiritual word, and the word ‘virgins’ is not a spiritual word. However, if the scriptures actually demonstrate that ‘Israel’ is no longer a physical nation, and if the scriptures demonstrate that any one physical tribe is actually now a spiritual tribe, then every single tribe is now a spiritual tribe, composed of spiritual Israelites.

So the word ‘Israel’ is a spiritual word with a spiritual meaning in scripture. Is a Jew now a literal, physical Jew, or are these spiritual words which spiritually typify spiritual antitypes and spiritual realities? What do the scriptures teach us about what the word ‘Israel’ and the word ‘Jew’ mean when they are “not in the words which man’s wisdom teaches?”

What is it which now Biblically constitutes a Jew?

Here is what the scriptures teach. It is a spiritual teaching, and yet it is simple and straightforward.

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

A physical Jew is not even to be counted as a Jew now. “He is not a Jew…” is what the scriptures teach. Physical descent has nothing to do with being a spiritual Jew or a spiritual Israelite. The apostle Paul says that it amounts to nothing more than dung, and if you are not a spiritual Israelite or Jew, then you are not an Israelite or a Jew at all. That is what the scriptures teach.

Rom 9:7  Neither, because they are the [physical] seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac [supernatural birth from a barren wife] shall thy seed be called.
Rom 9:8  That is [meaning], They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise [supernatural birth through a barren wife] are counted for the seed.

Gal 4:28  Now we [Gentile Galatians, and all believers, both Jews and Gentiles], brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.

Php 3:3  For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. [Physical pedigree]
Php 3:4  Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:
Php 3:5  Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;

Php 3:8  Yea doubtless, and I count all things [including  physical pedigree] but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

Being “of the [physical] stock of Israel, of the [physical] tribe of Benjamin or the [physical] tribe of Judah is “counted but dung” to the man of the spirit. Who then are “the children of God?” Who are “the children of promise?” Who now is Israel? Who now is a Jew? Who now is a Benjamite, or a member of any of the other tribes of Israel? Paul’s answer leaves no room for speculation:

Php 3:3  For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

Eph 2:11  Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
Eph 2:12  That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the [twelve tribe] commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
Eph 2:13  But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
Eph 2:14  For he is our peace, who hath made both [Jews and Gentiles] one [One spiritual ‘Israel’], and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;

There it is: “not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things [spiritual types] with spiritual [antitypes].”  What the spirit is teaching us is that being the physical seed of Abraham does not make one Abraham’s seed. Being a physical Jew or a physical Benjamite or being physically descended from any other “of all the tribes of Israel… is but dung.”

What then does make one “counted for the seed?”

There are two groups, and two groups only, who are being saved. One group can be “counted for the seed” (Rom 9:8), and is said to number 144,000. The other group is said to be “a great multitude which no man could number”.

Rom 9:8  That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.

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

Romans 9:8 tells us who is “counted for the seed” of Abraham, but here is yet another way of answering that question.

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

How can this requirement of being “Abraham’s seed” be made to apply to a Gentile Roman or a Gentile Ephesian or a Gentile Galatian? How can all these Gentile converts to Christ now be considered as Abraham’s one and only seed? Are Gentile converts to Christ now actually Biblically “counted” as Abraham’s only “promised son”, Abraham’s “one seed?” Are they really to now be considered “as Isaac was… the children of promise?” Are Gentiles actually considered by God, and by the scriptures… His Word, to be Israelites and heirs of the [typically spiritual] promises made to Abraham? Is that what “the holy spirit, comparing spiritual with spiritual, teaches?” What do the scriptures teach?

Gal 4:28  Now we brethren [Gentile Galatians], as Isaac was, are the children of promise.

Eph 2:19  Now therefore ye [Gentile Ephesians]are no more strangers and foreigners [to the commonwealth of Israel, verse 12], but fellowcitizens [of Israel] with the saints, and of the household of God;

Does this make Paul a replacement theologian? Does this take the promise given to Abraham to make of him a nation and a company of nations and give that promise only to those of both the Jews and the Gentiles who are converts to Christ? Or does God now have two separate chosen or elect peoples; one according to the flesh, and another according to the spirit? No, God does not have two separate elect or chosen people. “He is NOT a Jew which is one outwardly…” and, yes, indeed, the physical ‘Jew’ is now, according to the scriptures, ‘replaced’ by the spiritual Jew… “He is NOT a Jew which is one outwardly, but his IS a Jew which is one inwardly…”

Did we not just read:

Eph 2:14  For he is our peace, who hath made both [Jews and Gentiles] one [spiritual “commonwealth of Israel” (Eph 2:12)], and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;

Eph 2:16  And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:

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

Did we not just read the New Testament definition of what is and what “is not a Jew?” Did we not read that the Gentile Ephesian converts are those who “are called uncircumcision by that which is called circumcision in the flesh made by hands?” Did not the scriptures we just read teach us that those Ephesian Gentile converts to Christ were “in time PAST Gentiles” in the flesh, but they are now “made near by the blood of Christ” and are now a part of “the commonwealth of Israel?” How many phrases like “the commonwealth of Israel… as Isaac was… counted for the seed… to whom pertaineth the promises… not a Jew which is one outwardly” all addressed to Gentile Christians, must we read before we simply acknowledge that “he is NOT a Jew that is one outwardly, but he is a Jew which is one inwardly?”

Did Paul contradict himself?

What about this verse of scripture? Doesn’t this verse completely nullify every verse we have just read? Isn’t Paul actually contradicting Himself when he makes this statement?

Rom 3:1  What advantage then hath the Jew? Or what profit is there of circumcision?
Rom 3:2 Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.

That is the way the natural mind works. The natural mind is not capable of remembering to apply the principle of “the sum of God’s Word is Truth” (Psa 119:160 [ASV]) to Romans 3:1-2.  It is a testament to the spiritual blindness Christ bequeathes to us when we are yet a part of the multitudes of modern day Christians, who are still like the multitudes of Christians in Christ’s day who were “not given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven” (Mat 13:10-15). The multitudes of Christians until this very day point to these two verses and vehemently proclaim that ‘He IS a Jew which is one outwardly, and we must support the outward nation of Israel or God will curse us.’ That is the doctrine of the vast majority of Christians until this very day. The vast multitudes of nominal Christians cannot see Romans 3:1-2  in the light of the two immediately preceding verses, which I simply must, once again repeat:

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

Being a Jew and being circumcised is just as advantageous now as it ever was. The only difference is that it is now an advantage “much in every way” because “the oracles of God”, including the oracle of circumcision, are now committed only unto “he [who] is a Jew inwardly” and the “profit” of the oracle of circumcision is now committed only to those who are “circumcised of the heart, in the spirit and not in the letter.”

In other words “He is not a Jew which is one outwardly” in no way contradicts “What advantage then hath the Jew” or what profit is there of circumcision? Much every way…” It actually complements and explains what “He is a Jew which is one inwardly” means. That means what it says, but what it says is that it is a great advantage to be a Jew, and it is an advantage “in every way” to be circumcised only if you “are a Jew inwardly”, and your circumcision is now of the heart in the spirit.

Rom 3:1  What advantage then hath the Jew? Or what profit is there of circumcision?
Rom 3:2  Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed [aorist tense] the oracles of God.

The verb ‘committed’ is in the aorist tense. What Paul is telling us is that the oracles of God are, were, and will continue to be committed to “he which… is a Jew inwardly”, not to those who are “called circumcision” but are not “circumcision… of the heart in the spirit and not in the letter” (Rom 2:28-29).

Does Paul’s doctrine agree with Christ’s doctrine?

Christ tells us that all his words “are spirit.” “The words that I speak unto you are spirit.” He tells us plainly that fleshly pedigree “profits nothing.”

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

Now apply this Truth to the words which He had spoken to “the woman at the well” in Samaria just two chapters earlier:

Joh 4:21  Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father [It is “neither one”].
Joh 4:22  Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews [The inward spiritual ‘Jew’].
Joh 4:23  But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
Joh 4:24  God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

That is the truth as plainly as Christ Himself could put it. God will not be worshiped by anyone who thinks that physical Jerusalem, physical Samaria or any physical building or physical place or physical relic even physical descent is anything more than dung. True disciples of Christ need nothing in the physical realm to bolster their faith. The true disciples of Christ abhor all such idolatry.

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

That includes the idolatry of physical pedigree. Being a physical, fleshly Israelite, or a physical, fleshly Jew “profiteth nothing.” “Ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father… True worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in Truth… comparing [physical Israel as a] spiritual [type of] things which are spiritual [antitypes]” (1Co 2:13).

The apostle Paul, as we will soon see, knew and taught the same thing Christ taught. Christ spoke and taught in symbols and signs. He called them parables, and He told us why He did so. He told us His words “were spirit”, and He told us that He had “not given unto…[the multitudes who came to hear Him teach] to know the mysteries of the kingdom of Heaven.”

Mat 13:10  And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them [the multitudes (Mat 13:2)] in parables?
Mat 13:11  He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.

One more reason why Christ taught in parables

That is not all He tells us about why He teaches in parables. There is more to the reason why “the holy spirit teaches… not in the words man’s wisdom teaches, but [instead] comparing spiritual things with spiritual.”

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.

Here is that additional reason Christ gives for teaching in parables.

Mat 13:12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.

It is not adding to these words to note that Christ answered His disciples’ question concerning why He taught in parables by telling them that He teaches the multitudes who come to Him in parables “because.. it is not given… to them … to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven.” It is in this same thirteenth chapter we are told that Christ never spoke to the multitudes of His disciples without a parable.

Mat 13:34  All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them:
Mat 13:35  That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.

That connecting word ‘for’ at the beginning of verse 12 tells us that those who “have not” much spiritual understanding “from them shall be taken even that [little] that they had.” That is also a part of the function of “comparing spiritual things with spiritual” and “not speaking in words that man’s wisdom teaches”. We must include verse 12 in our understanding of  Christ’s purpose for speaking in parables. Christ’s parables, His signs and symbols, are the spiritual words that are just as effective at taking away what little understanding is given to the multitudes today as it was when Christ first applied those words to the multitudes of the Christians of His own day.

Mar 4:33  And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it.

We will pause here and label this ‘Part A’ of our study of verses 4-8 of Revelation 7, and we will resume our study of who these 144,000 firstfruits unto God and the Lamb are in our next study.

Gospels In Harmony – The Widow’s Offering

Jesus Foretells Destruction of the Temple and the Sign of His Coming – Mat 24:1-14, Mar 12:41-13:13, Luk 21:1-19

[Study Aired August 3, 2021]

Mar 12:41 And Jesus sat over against the treasury,
Luk 21:1 And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury.
Mar 12:42 And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.
Mar 12:43 And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:
Luk 21:4 For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.
Mat 24:1 And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple.
Luk 21:5 And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts,
Mar 13:1 as he went out of the temple, one of his disciples saith unto him, Master, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here!
Mat 24:2 And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you,
Luk 21:6 As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
Mar 13:3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives over against the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately,
Luk 21:7 saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass?
Mat 24:3 and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
Mat 24:4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
Mat 24:5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
Luk 21:8 and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.
Luk 21:9 But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by.
Luk 21:10 Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:
Luk 21:11 And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.
Luk 21:12 But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name’s sake.
Mat 24:9 and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake,
Mar 13:9b for a testimony against them.
Mar 13:10 And the gospel must first be published among all nations.
Luk 21:14 Settle it therefore in your hearts,
Mar 13:11a when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate:
Luk 21:15 For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.
Mar 13:11b but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.
Luk 21:16 And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.
Mar 13:12 Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death.
Mar 13:13 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
Luk 21:18 there shall not an hair of your head perish.
Luk 21:19 In your patience possess ye your souls.
Mat 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

Our first set of scriptures gives us a contrast between the “rich men” and the “certain poor widow”. These represent the old man and new man within each of us.

Mar 12:41 And Jesus sat over against the treasury,
Luk 21:1 And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury.
Mar 12:42 And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.
Mar 12:43 And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:
Luk 21:4 For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.

As the old man, we give only what we have in abundance. An example of this would be telling someone that you will pray for their need although you have a way to fulfill that need. Prayer alone is good, but you are not filling up what they are lacking if you have what they need and only pray. On the other hand, the new man gives “of her penury casting in all the living” the new man has. The new man gives everything to satisfy what is lacking in the body of Christ.

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:

The word ‘behind’ in Colossians 1:24 is the same word translated as ‘penury’ in Luke 21:4. Here are a few more verses using this Greek word husterema G5303.

1Co 16:14-18 Let all your things be done with charity. I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,) That ye submit yourselves unto such, and to every one that helpeth with us, and laboureth. I am glad of the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus: for that which was lacking on your part they have supplied. For they have refreshed my spirit and yours: therefore acknowledge ye them that are such.

2Co 11:9 And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep myself.

2Co 8:1-15 Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves; Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God. Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also. Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also. I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love. For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. And herein I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago. Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have. For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not. For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened: But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality: As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack.

2Co 9:6-15 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever. Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;) Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God. For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God; Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men; And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you. Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.

The widow, representing a member of the body of Christ, will “fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ” by being a living sacrifice.

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

Being a member to the body of Christ, we must be as this widow and give all of our living and not just of our abundance.

Continuing with our scriptures.

Mat 24:1 And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple.
Luk 21:5 And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts,
Mar 13:1 as he went out of the temple, one of his disciples saith unto him, Master, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here!
Mat 24:2 And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you,
Luk 21:6 As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

The disciples are still focusing on the things of the flesh, but Christ uses this moment, speaking in parables, to shed light of the things to come by telling them things they are not able to understand for now.

We are the temple that must be thrown down.

Mar 4:13 And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?

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

1Co 3:16-23 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain. Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours; Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; And ye are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s.

The following scriptures are questions everyone desires to know. However, the answers are not what the old man desires to live out.

Mar 13:3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives over against the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately,
Luk 21:7 saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass?
Mat 24:3 and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
Mat 24:4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
Mat 24:5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
Luk 21:8 and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.

Who are these deceivers?

2Co 11:1-4 Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me. 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. But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.

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

These deceivers are the religions of the world where we have been and are now coming out. That was the beginning of our journey into the kingdom of God. We were deceived and deceitful. Christ now goes on to explain what happens next.

Luk 21:9 But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by.
Luk 21:10 Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:
Luk 21:11 And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.
Luk 21:12 But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name’s sake.
Mat 24:9 and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake,
Mar 13:9b for a testimony against them.
Mar 13:10 And the gospel must first be published among all nations.

We were just told that all these things must happen first. The nation rising against nation, the great earthquakes, the famines and pestilences are all happening within us while we are in Babylon. We are caused to go into Babylon in order for us to be deceived. Then we receive the truth so that we can be cast out of Babylon.

Continuing with our verses.

Luk 21:14 Settle it therefore in your hearts,
Mar 13:11a when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate:
Luk 21:15 For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.
Mar 13:11b but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.

Neither “take no thought” no “premeditate” happens when we receive the truth. It is Christ’s truth given to us because His thoughts are not our thoughts. Isaiah tells us about our transformation out of Babylon.

Isa 55:1-8 Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David. Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people. Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not, and nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee because of the LORD thy God, and for the Holy One of Israel; for he hath glorified thee. Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Here are the last verses for today’s study.

Luk 21:16 And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.
Mar 13:12 Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death.
Mar 13:13 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
Luk 21:18 there shall not an hair of your head perish.
Luk 21:19 In your patience possess ye your souls.
Mat 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

This is what is written in our books: a life in the flesh of destruction through judgment by a fiery trial but a life in the spirit of mercy, peace and joy.

1Pe 4:12-19 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. 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? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

Gal 5:19-26 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

Mat 21:28-32 The Parable of the Two Sons

[Study Aired June 8, 2021]

Mat 21:28 But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard.
Mat 21:29 He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went.
Mat 21:30 And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not.
Mat 21:31 Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.
Mat 21:32 For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.

In our last study, Christ’s authority was challenged by the scribes and Pharisees. Christ would not answer them because they would not answer his question. Christ then follows up with these parables which give us a message about the kingdom of God and us.

Most think Christ spoke these parables to clarify the meaning of his message to the world, at least according the world’s preachers and teachers. On the other hand, Christ says something different.

Mat 13:10-17 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.  For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

Christ speaks parables to the multitudes and expounds all things to his disciples which are seeking after ‘the kingdom which is within you.’

Mar 4:33-34 And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it. But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.

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.

These parables we are reviewing must be applied within each of us in order to gain the meaning of the parables. These parablesm and all parablesm are about the kingdom of God within.

Here is the first verse in our study.

Mat 21:28 But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard.

The two sons in this parable represent the old man and the new man within each of us. Even though only one father is mentioned in this parable, these men have different fathers.

Joh 8:39-45 They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham. But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham. Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God. Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.

The two sons are being asked to work the vineyard. The vineyard represents the house of Israel which represents the Kingdom of God. The work with which they are tasked is sowing, pruning and gathering the fruit.

Isa 5:7 For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant: and he looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry.

Isa 45:4 For Jacob my servant’s sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me.

Lev 25:2-4 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye come into the land which I give you, then shall the land keep a sabbath unto the LORD. Six years thou shalt sow thy field, and six years thou shalt prune thy vineyard, and gather in the fruit thereof; But in the seventh year shall be a sabbath of rest unto the land, a sabbath for the LORD: thou shalt neither sow thy field, nor prune thy vineyard.

The next verses are the answers of the sons.

Mat 21:29 He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went.
Mat 21:30 And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not.

We naturally do not desire to do this work. These sons represent two different men within us in our walk into the kingdom of God. The second son questioned is our old man. This man speaks comforting words but is a liar. Like father (the devil), like son. The first son is our new man who is being drawn into the kingdom. He first refuses to do the work but repents because the devil is being cast out of his world and he eventually does the work.

Joh 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

Joh 12:31-32 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.

Our next verses have another question posed to the chief priests and the elders after they questioned Christ’s authority.

Mat 21:31 Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.
Mat 21:32 For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.

Here are the verses from our last study to give us context.

Mat 21:23-27 And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority? And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell me, I in like wise will tell you by what authority I do these things. The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him? But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet. And they answered Jesus, and said, We cannot tell. And he said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.

Christ would not answer that question and then spoke a parable against them to show them where they rank in the kingdom.

Mat 21:31 Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.

I am sure they were insulted by this response to their answer. He goes on to explain why he considers the publicans and the harlots will enter the kingdom first.

Mat 21:32 For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.

They did not believe and they would not repent. In order to enter into the kingdom you must repent and believe. What must you repent of and believe?

Rev 2:1-7 Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 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.

What are the first works?

Joh 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

Rom 10:9-13 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

The chief priests and the elders of Jerusalem did not believe Christ and therefore did not believe God and cannot do the work of God.

Joh 6:28-29 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

Here is the work the two sons were asked to do in the vineyard.

Joh 15:1-17 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. 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.

In other words, expect to be judged while in the flesh so that you can sow the good seed of Christ and gather the fruit of the works of God.

Lev 25:2-4 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye come into the land which I give you, then shall the land keep a sabbath unto the LORD. Six years (our time in the flesh) thou shalt sow (good seed of Christ in) thy field, and six years (our time in the flesh) thou shalt prune (be judged in) thy vineyard (the kingdom of God), and gather in the fruit thereof; But in the seventh year (the thousand year reign) shall be a sabbath of rest unto the land, a sabbath for the LORD: thou shalt neither sow thy field, nor prune thy vineyard.

[Study Aired September 15,2020

Luk 18:9-14 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Christ speaks another parable. We all know and understand why our Lord speaks in parables. He speaks so they cannot understand and so we can understand.

Mat 13:10-15 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

Once again, he mentions the “two men”. Who are the “two men”?
They are the men within each of us if Christ is in you. The Pharisee and the publican are within our heavens.

As with the other parables we reviewed earlier in this series one of the men must be taken and the other left. In this parable which will be taken, and which will be left? The Pharisee is not as “other men” he is better than them. He fasts and he gives. What more would God want from us? We are told to fast and we are told to give so it must be the Pharisee within us that will remain. We are all familiar with the following verses, but it answers the question of which man will be taken and which will be left.

Isa 58:3-5  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? 

The above verses are what the Pharisee within us in our parable is doing. The below verses are what the publican within us does and therefore will be justified.

Isa 58:6-7 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?

When we properly come to the Lord as the publican, we will gain all the following within our heavens.

Isa 58:8-14 Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward. Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity; And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday: And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not. And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in. If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.

In Zechariah, with some additions the same thought is repeated. The first section of verses is the Pharisee’s way of life. Also, notice when this takes place spiritually and the meanings of the names involved.

Zec 7:1-7 And it came to pass in the fourth year of king Darius, [he that informs himself] that the word of the LORD came unto Zechariah [Jehovah remembers] in the fourth day of the ninth month, even in Chisleu; [confidence] When they had sent unto the house of God Sherezer [prince of fire] and Regemmelech, [to stone the king] and their men, to pray before the LORD, And to speak unto the priests which were in the house of the LORD of hosts, and to the prophets, saying, Should I weep in the fifth month, separating myself, as I have done these so many years? Then came the word of the LORD of hosts unto me, saying, Speak unto all the people of the land, and to the priests, saying, When ye fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh month, even those seventy years, did ye at all fast unto me, even to me? And when ye did eat, and when ye did drink, did not ye eat for yourselves, and drink for yourselves? Should ye not hear the words which the LORD hath cried by the former prophets, when Jerusalem was inhabited and in prosperity, and the cities thereof round about her, when men inhabited the south and the plain? 

Zec 7:8-14 And the word of the LORD came unto Zechariah, [Jehova remembers] saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and shew mercy and compassions every man to his brother: And oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart. But they [the Pharisee within] refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear. Yea, they [the Pharisee within] made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the LORD of hosts hath sent in his spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from the LORD of hosts. Therefore it is come to pass, that as he cried, and they would not hear; so they cried, and I would not hear, saith the LORD of hosts: But I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations whom they knew not. Thus the land was desolate after them, that no man passed through nor returned: for they laid the pleasant land desolate. 

Only the publican within us can hear these warnings of our Lord. Paul tells us the same thing here in Romans 9.

Rom 9:30-33 What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 

The fasting and giving that the Pharisee brags about is not true fasting and giving. The Pharisee is doing all this with his own righteousness and following the law of the flesh and cannot serve God properly. We know what the Lord thinks of our righteousness’s.

Isa 64:6-7 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee: for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities.

That is the Lord speaking about the Pharisee within us. Our Pharisee within will go through the process of judgment: the baptisms of water, fire, and the holy spirit. Ultimately the publican will be born within us, and we will become humble and be able to truly fast and give as the Lord has commanded. Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians what the publican within us will be able to accomplish once the Pharisee is overcome.

2Co 10:1-18 Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you: But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh. For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled. Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is Christ’s, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ’s, even so are we Christ’s. For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed: That I may not seem as if I would terrify you by letters. For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible. Let such an one think this, that, such as we are in word by letters when we are absent, such will we be also in deed when we are present. For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they [those with the mind of a Pharisee] measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you. For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure, as though we reached not unto you: for we are come as far as to you also in preaching the gospel of Christ: Not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men’s labours; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly, To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man’s line of things made ready to our hand. But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.

We, with the publican within, are given the ability to strive after the righteousness of the Lord. We are given to act as the “publican standing afar off” and be justified among all men.

Luk 18:13-14 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

When we are given eyes to see and ears to hear the meanings of the parables Christ speaks to us, we will understand the reason for the process of judgement we are enduring until the end of this age. Though we feel at times this age will never end the Lord says differently.

Rev 3:10-13 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. 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. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Rev 16:15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.

Rev 22:6-21 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. Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book. 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. 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. And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand. He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. 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. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

In conclusion, here are the thoughts of the publican within us if Christ be in us.

Psa 40:1  To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD. Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies. Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered. Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required. Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart. I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, thou knowest. I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation. Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O LORD: let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me. For innumerable evils have compassed me about: mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of mine head: therefore my heart faileth me. Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me: O LORD, make haste to help me. Let them [the Pharisee within] be ashamed and confounded together that seek after my soul to destroy it; let them be driven backward and put to shame that wish me evil. Let them be desolate for a reward of their shame that say unto me, Aha, aha. Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The LORD be magnified. But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God.

[Study Aired April 7, 2020]

Once again I was able to go to the web site, and tonight we are dealing with the parable of Lazarus and the rich man. There is quite a bit of information to this parable so we will go through this FAQ, which was answered by Mike.

Dear Mike,

I am reading the parables of Christ and would like your thoughts on the Rich man and Lazarus parable, please. I also spent many years in the Worldwide Church of God. Do you think there is any connection to being in that church that taught us to search the scriptures and seeing the scriptures differently now?

Love the way you write – thanks.

Regards,

H____

Good morning, H____,

You ask if there is a connection between being taught to search the scriptures and seeing what is in the scriptures? The answer is, yes, there certainly is a connection, but I tell everyone that it was being taught to search the scriptures by my Pentecostal father that took me into the World Wide Church of God, and it was that same desire to search the scriptures and to “let God be true and every man a liar” that brought me out of that church. My guess is that you came out for the same reason. There is definitely a disproportionate number of former WWCG members who come to our site.

You ask me to comment on the parable of Lazarus and the rich man in Luk 16:

Luk 16:19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:
Luk 16:20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,
Luk 16:21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
Luk 16:22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
Luk 16:23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
Luk 16:24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
Luk 16:25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
Luk 16:26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that [would come] from thence.
Luk 16:27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house:
Luk 16:28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
Luk 16:29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
Luk 16:30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.
Luk 16:31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

The first thing you need to realize is that this is indeed a parable, and not one word of this parable is to be understood as literal any more or less than any other parable. When I say that, I am not saying that parables are not dealing with real issues involving real people. They certainly are, but the message of a parable is always a matter of “comparing spiritual things with spiritual.”

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.

What I am saying is that when Christ said…

Mat 18:23 Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.

… or when Christ said,

Mat 22:2 The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,

In neither case is He speaking of a particular king who lived at that time, or whoever has been or whoever will be? A parable uses one thing to make a point about something else, and these parables are our Lord’s words which “will never pass away,” meaning that they are all written for you and for me and for all men of all time.

Mat 24:34 Verily I say unto you, This generation [reading these words] shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
Mat 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

“All these things” includes this parable of Lazarus and the rich man. Here is how Strong’s defines this word ‘parable.’

“PAR’ABLE, n. [L. parabola; Gr. to throw forward or against, to compare to or against; as in confero, collatum, to set together, or one thing with another.] A fable or allegorical relation or representation of something real in life or nature, from which a moral is drawn for instruction; such as the parable of the trees choosing a king, Jdg 9; the parable of the poor man and his lamb. 2Sa 12; the parable of the ten virgins, Mat 25.

Orthodox Christian ministers teach that this story is not a parable because Christ uses the name Lazarus, and because He said “there was a certain rich man.” The parables noted above show that the use of the word ‘certain’ does not preclude a parable. The truth is that when we see the phrase “there was a certain…” it seems to indicate that this is a parable.

But we need not speculate as to whether this is a parable. All we need do is see to whom Christ was speaking. I make that statement because of this verse:

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

Why would Christ not speak to the multitude without a parable? It is important to know why Christ spoke only in parables, if we want to know what this story of Lazarus and the rich man means. Here is why Christ spoke in parables:

Mat 13:10 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
Mat 13:11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. 

There it is, all ministers and Sunday school teachers in the world notwithstanding! Christ spoke in parables “because… to them it is not given…to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven,” and “without a parable spake He not unto them.”

Since Christ spoke only in parables to the multitudes who came to him, all we must do is ascertain to whom Christ was talking in Luke 16, and here is who we are told His audience was:

Luk 16:14 And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him.

So, there can be no doubt that the story of Lazarus and the rich man is indeed a parable spoken to “the Pharisees… who were covetous… and derided Him.”

“Without a parable spake He not unto them… because it was not given to them to understand the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven.”

What those with eyes that see and ears that hear learn from this is that the parable of Lazarus and the rich man, since it is a parable, must therefore be a parable about “the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven”, which mysteries are hidden from those who are not given those eyes and ears that see and hear.

When we understand the depth of this truth, that all of Christ’s parables are designed to hide from the multitudes the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, then we understand that Lazarus’s treatment represents how the kingdom of heaven is treated by the rich man. Christ Himself, and His Christ, are Lazarus in this parable. It is Christ who rose from the dead and was ignored by the brothers of the rich man, who are typified by the Pharisees who were covetous and derided Christ and His Christ. In other words, the rich man is all of us at our appointed time as “the children of disobedience and wrath.”

Eph 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
Eph 2:3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

All of mankind, at their appointed time, are “under the law” and will experience the judgment that is now on the house of God.

Gal 4:1 Now I say, [That] the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;
Gal 4:2 But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.
Gal 4:3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:
Gal 4:4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

God’s elect are being judged now, here in this life, as we live through the torments of being in and coming out of Babylon.

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?

We are all ‘the rich man” at our own appointed time. If that time is not seen and realized as being in this life, then it will be realized later as the “many called” who will go through a later judgment called ‘the lake of fire.”

What then, is the moral of this parable? Why, if indeed Lazarus is Christ, are we told that He is so poor that the dogs come and lick his sores? To understand how Lazarus is considered to be so lowly that “the dogs come and lick his sores” we must understand who ‘dogs’ are in scripture, and we must also understand that Christ is much more than Jesus Christ, a physical man who walked the earth 2000 years ago and was crucified by His own people, who had received nothing but good from His hands.

Psa 2:1 Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?
Psa 2:2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying,

Which the church at Jerusalem quotes as referring to themselves…

Act 4:23 And being let go, they [Peter and John] went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them.
Act 4:24 And when they heard that, they [the whole church] lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is:
Act 4:25 Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?
Act 4:26 The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.

Then later we are also told:

Rev 11:15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

It all adds up to the fact that God is in the process of saving His entire creation, and He is using the physical realm as the beginning of that process. In that physical realm this is the truth of what Christ is doing in and through His elect:

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 word ‘world’ here is not ‘aion,’ (eon) it is rather ‘kosmos.’ We are Christ’s christ in this world. As such, Christ is sending us to represent Him in this world. When this world looks at us they ought to be seeing Christ in us just as Christ’s disciples saw His Father in Him. Here are Christ’s own words to His Christ:

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

There really is very little room for doubt about who the two principles of this parable, Lazarus and the rich man, represent. The scriptures themselves tell us who this poor beggar is who ate the crumbs from the rich man’s table:

Mat 15:21 Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon.
Mat 15:22 And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.
Mat 15:23 But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.
Mat 15:24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Mat 15:25 Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.
Mat 15:26 But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to
dogs.
Mat 15:27 And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.
Mat 15:28 Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

Who Is Lazarus?

Lazarus and the Canaanite woman here are mere dogs who “ate the crumbs that fell from their masters’ tables,” and both represent those who have “great faith” in the words of Christ.

Why are we told that those who have faith are eating crumbs from the tables of those who appear to be richer than they are, and yet do not have the faith of either Lazarus or the “woman of Canaan?” Here is what that means:

Rom 11:30 For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: 

It is through the lack of faith of those who first are invited to the marriage supper, but who refuse to attend, that we receive faith. We ourselves, just like the apostles who wanted to send the woman away, are without faith, considering ourselves to be rich, before we are given the “faith of Jesus Christ”. The crumbs that seem so inconsequential are our nourishing faith, which the rich don’t even want. It is what is overlooked by, and considered as the crumbs of, the rich that nourishes the “poor of this world.”

Jas 2:5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?

Mat 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

God has “chosen the poor of this world, rich in faith.” To be “poor in spirit” is to be “rich in faith.” That is why Lazarus, in this parable, is presented to us as so poor that he has to settle for the unwanted crumbs which fall from his master’s table, and why Lazarus is considered diseased and has dogs licking his sores. Who did Christ call a dog? It was the “woman of Canaan” of whom Christ tells us “great is thy faith.”

So what are these “crumbs that fall from the table of the rich man?” Those crumbs are those doctrines which are not deemed worthy of those who are rich. Doctrines like a poor beggar and a woman of Canaan, both counted as outcasts by those who consider themselves to be “rich and increased with goods” are not interesting to the rich for being counted “worthy of the kingdom of heaven.” Doctrines like “grace chastening us to forsake ungodliness and living godly lives in this present age,” and doctrines like “as in Adam all die, so in Christ will all be made alive” are but a very few of the “crumbs that fall from the tables of the rich.”

So who is this “rich man” in this parable? Just as the poor beggar and the poor woman of Canaan are one and the same, so, too, is this rich man and the rich Laodicean church of Revelation 3 one and the same person.

Rev 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
Rev 3:18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
Rev 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

We can speculate right along with all the commentators, or we can simply believe the words before us, as to who the principles of this parable are. Many commentators speculate that the rich man represents the Jews who rejected Christ, and Lazarus represents the Gentiles who accepted Him. That is a very good way of understanding the “was” part of these words of our Lord, but until we can see how the words of this and every other parable are to be presently applied in our own lives, we do not even know a Christ who “is alive now, and who was dead, and who is alive forevermore.” When we do become acquainted with that Christ, then we will know that His words will never pass away and that we are to live by every one of those living and lasting words.

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.

Mat 24:34 Verily I say unto you, This generation [reading these words which ‘word’ does “not pass away”] shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
Mat 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

Rev 1:18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

When the import of those words sinks into our spirits, then we will begin to see that all the parables with all of their principles are all within each of us and are to be so understood. “Man shall live by every word…” of the parables which are all concerned with “the mysteries of the kingdom of God.” Where is that kingdom? It is, at this time, within each and every man who is given eyes to see and ears to hear the sayings of the prophecy of God’s Word.

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

The kingdom of God is within those who are given eyes to see and ears to hear the fact that the holy spirit teaches comparing spiritual with spiritual.

1Co 2:12 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.
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.

The holy spirit compares “spiritual things with spiritual…” that we might know the things that are freely given to us by God.” What has been given to us? Have we been given blessings without trials? No, absolutely not! We certainly have been blessed above all men, but in what way? What is it we are given at this time? Here are but a few of the blessings given to those who are called to be God’s elect.

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

Which means this:

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

That is the spiritual significance of Lazarus being despised for his poverty and his sores.

Luk 16:20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,
Luk 16:21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 

Who is the rich man?

1Co 3:21 Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;
1Co 3:22 Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours;
1Co 3:23 And ye are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s.

“All things” include both Lazarus and the rich man. We are, at our appointed time, both of these men, and we are all first the rich man. According to these verses all of God’s apostles are ours. But so is death ours. As Job asks:

Job 2:10 But he said unto her [Job’s wife], Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.

That is the point of Paul’s statement that “all things are yours, whether life or death or things present or things to come.” In other words we will “live by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.”

What does all of that have to do with this parable of Lazarus and the rich man? It tells us that we all are that rich man who thinks of himself as rich and increased with goods and having need of nothing, when in reality we are poor and wretched and miserable and blind and naked and in need of buying of God gold tried in the fire. “He that hath ears, let him hear what the spirit says to the churches.”

Why is Lazarus so poor that the dogs lick his sores? Why does he die to be carried away to Abraham’s bosom? It is because he represents those who are despised of this world; he represents those who are rich in faith:

Luk 18:9 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 

Heb 11:36 And others had trial of [cruel] mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:
Heb 11:37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;
Heb 11:38 (Of whom the world was not worthy) they wandered in deserts, and [in] mountains, and [in] dens and caves of the earth.

That is what “the dogs came and licked his sores” means. It simply means that Lazarus was “hated of all men.”

What about these verses:

Luk 16:22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
Luk 16:23 And in hell [hades; the grave] he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
Luk 16:24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. 

We have written much and have demonstrated beyond doubt that the word ‘fire’ symbolizes trials, chastening and scourging in scripture. This parable is not an exception to that rule. Read What Is The Fire of The Lake of Fire? on iswasandwillbe.com.

Then what is “Abraham’s bosom, and what does “in hell he lifted up his eyes being in torments…” mean? If there is anything about this parable that is undeniably a parable, it is this phrase “Abraham’s bosom.” Abraham’s literal bosom is no bigger than yours or mine, but when we are given eyes to see that “those who are in Christ are Abraham’s seed” then we know where Abraham’s bosom is. Abraham’s bosom is “in Christ”, and being in “Abraham’s bosom” is to be “asleep in Christ” or “dying daily” in Christ. This beggar represents those who die in Christ, who, without a resurrection, would have perished because they are now physically dead:

1Co 15:16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:
1Co 15:17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
1Co 15:18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. 

“Abraham’s bosom”

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

Why does Christ say that “in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom?”

The Greek word translated ‘hell’ here is not gehenna, but rather it is hades. While gehenna is associated with the concept of fire, hades is simply the grave. So Christ is telling these Pharisees that the rich man lifted up his eyes, being in torments, while he was in hades, the grave. What are the actual conditions of a body in the grave?

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.

Ecc 9:10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.

Mat 9:24 He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn.

Joh 11:11 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.
Joh 11:12 Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well.
Joh 11:13 Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.
Joh 11:14 Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.

1Co 15:16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:
1Co 15:17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
1Co 15:18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. 

Christ said that another Lazarus was “asleep” when he was dead, and He also said that the daughter of the ruler of the synagogue was asleep when she had actually died. Christ went so far as to say that those who are alive are the ones who are actually dead:

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

Mat 9:24 He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn.

Joh 11:11 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.
Joh 11:12 Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well.
Joh 11:13 Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.
Joh 11:14 Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead. 

Christ certainly did not teach that dead people burn in hell the moment they die. When Christ said “in hell he lifted up his eyes being in torments”, He is referring, in parable, to the spiritual condition of those who will be resurrected and then be cast into a symbolic lake of fire, which will symbolically burn out all of the wood, hay and stubble in the lives of all who are not in the “blessed and holy first resurrection.”

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

It hurts to be judged now, and it will hurt then. Both are referred to in scripture as “fire.” Here is the fire of the present judgment:

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

1Pe 4:17 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?
1Pe 4:18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?

This is the day of judgment for God’s elect who will be in that blessed and holy first resurrection. It is a “fiery trial that will burn out all the wood, hay and stubble, and all the tares that are growing with the wheat within us.

Here is the day of judgment for all others. Here is the answer to Peter’s question, “Where will the ungodly and sinner appear?”

Rev 20:11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
Rev 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is [the book] of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
Rev 20:13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
Rev 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
Rev 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

I think you know that “the dead know not anything.” I think you know that those who die in Christ are said to be “asleep in Christ.” I hope this helps you to see that the fire which the rich man experienced in Christ’s parable is this same symbolic fire we find throughout God’s word. It is the tormenting fire of God’s Word which “devours the wood” in us all:

Jer 5:14 Wherefore thus saith the LORD God of hosts, Because ye speak this word, behold, I will make my words in thy mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall devour them.

Just as it was with Joseph’s brothers, their torment lead to their salvation, and that is exactly what we are told happens to those who are burned up by the Word of God in the mouths of His servants.

1Co 3:13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.
1Co 3:14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
1Co 3:15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. 

The rich man within us suffers loss, but he is still “saved by fire.” It is a principle which is at work in us all. The only way any of us find our lives is if we first lose our lives.

Mat 10:39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

What are we to make of the fact that the rich man had “five brothers?” The number five throughout scripture denotes grace and faith. David used only one stone to kill Goliath, but he picked up five stones out of the brook.

1Sa 17:40 And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd’s bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling [was] in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine.

Joseph had eleven brothers, but he presented only five of them to Pharaoh, as representing the salvation of all of his brothers.

Gen 47:2 And he took some of his brethren, even five men, and presented them unto Pharaoh. 

Mat 16:9 Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?

The productive servant was given five talents:

Mat 25:15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.

The rich man’s five brothers represent Joseph’s brothers, who represent all of us when we have sold Joseph for twenty pieces of silver, and later we are all guilty of selling Christ for thirty pieces of silver and crucifying Him.

Until we see ourselves as Peter, denying our Lord with an oath; until we see ourselves as the apostle Paul, as “chief of sinners,” we will never fully realize that we are both the rich man, and then we are Lazarus. We are first the self-righteous Pharisee, and then we are the despised publican. We are first the self-righteous Jews who want to stone the woman caught in adultery, and then we can see ourselves as having been that woman. We are first the elder son who hates his prodigal brother, then we can see that we have also been the prodigal son. We must see the tares growing in us until the harvest before Christ will send His laborers to “gather the tares into bundles to be burned first,” then He will gather His wheat into His barn. So until we see the rich man within us first, we will never understand this parable of Lazarus and the rich man as a parable of the mysteries of the kingdom of God within us.

Mat 13:10 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
Mat 13:11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
Mat 13:13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. 

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

I hope this helps you to see that the kingdom of God is within you, and this, and all of Christ’s parables, were designed to hide the mysteries of that kingdom from the multitudes who came to Christ at that time and who are coming to Christ at this time. I hope this helps you to understand the depth of the truth of these words of our Lord:

Mat 24:34 Verily I say unto you, This generation [Reading these words] shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
Mat 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. 

“All these things” includes this parable of Lazarus and the rich man being lived out in our lives.

Your brother in Christ, Mike

We will stop the recording here, and open [the study] up for discussion.

Luk 14:34 Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned?
Luk 14:35 It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. 

“He that has ears to hear, let him hear”. Three times Jesus uses “salt” in a parable. Here are the other two times which will help us to understand the meaning of this parable. This parable in Luke is right after Christ’s parable of “the cost of discipleship”. The context of Matthew is from the sermon of the mount right after speaking about changing the laws of Moses, and Mark’s context is Christ discussing the temptations of sin.

Mat 5:1 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:
Mat 5:2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,
Mat 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 5:4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Mat 5:5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
Mat 5:6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
Mat 5:7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
Mat 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
Mat 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
Mat 5:10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 5:11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Mat 5:12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
Mat 5:13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
Mat 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
Mat 5:15 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.
Mat 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Mar 9:42 And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.
Mar 9:43 And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
Mar 9:44 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
Mar 9:45 And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
Mar 9:46 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
Mar 9:47 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire:
Mar 9:48 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
Mar 9:49 For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt.
Mar 9:50 Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.

Remember these parables are explaining the things of the Kingdom of God. Christ’s disciples are the “salt of the earth”.

Luk 14:34 Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned?
Luk 14:35 It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

“Salt is good”. What and who is salt representing?

Mat 5:1 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:

Mat 5:13 Ye are the salt of the earth:

If we “are the salt of the earth”, then is there someone that is the salt of heaven?

Col 4:1 Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.
Col 4:2 Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;
Col 4:3 Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:
Col 4:4 That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.
Col 4:5 Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.
Col 4:6 Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

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

1Pe 3:8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:
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.
1Pe 3:10 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:
1Pe 3:11 Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.
1Pe 3:12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.
1Pe 3:13 And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?
1Pe 3:14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;
1Pe 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
1Pe 3:16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.

Salt represents the disciples of Christ and the words of healing within them.

2Ki 2:20 And he said, Bring me a new cruse, and put salt therein. And they brought it to him.
2Ki 2:21 And he went forth unto the spring of the waters, and cast the salt in there, and said, Thus saith the LORD, I have healed these waters; there shall not be from thence any more death or barren land.
2Ki 2:22 So the waters were healed unto this day, according to the saying of Elisha which he spake.

Psa 107:20 He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.

Spiritually speaking, salt is those people who have the Word within them, which words are healing.

Luk 14:34 Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned?
Luk 14:35 It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

“But if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned?” Can the salt gain back its savor?

Heb 5:11 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.
Heb 5:12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
Heb 5:13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
Heb 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Heb 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
Heb 6:2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
Heb 6:3 And this will we do, if God permit.
Heb 6:4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
Heb 6:5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
Heb 6:6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

“It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out.” 

He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. 

I found the following study written by Larry Groenewald. It was posted on the site two years ago, which will add to our understanding of this parable. The link to that study. is here.

[Quote] The Spiritual Significance of Salt

As Christ’s firstfruits, we are still living in fleshly bodies with earthly honey and leaven, being humbled and shown our wretched earthly condition by God’s fiery words (Romans 7). Even in this state, while we are being set free from all earthly entanglements and attachments, we are indeed the good salt to those in whatever situation we are placed by God, even as we go through much tribulation daily to be an offering “unto the Lord”!

Lev 2:12 As for the oblation of the firstfruits, ye shall offer them [the honey or leaven] unto the LORD: but they [the honey or leaven] shall not be burnt on the altar for a sweet savour.
Lev 2:13 And every oblation of thy meat offering shalt thou season with salt; neither shalt thou suffer the salt of the covenant of thy God to be lacking from thy meat offering: with all thine offerings thou shalt offer salt.

Col 3:23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
Col 3:24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.

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.

A few of the natural attributes of salt come to mind. We indeed understand and apply these spiritually (Rom 1:20), which your study also highlighted beautifully:

Salt is not always visible in food, but what a difference it makes! It emphasizes the foundation and growth of the faith of Christ in us to affect everything and everyone in our lives. God’s spiritual salt (us) brings healing and salvation!

Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Heb 11:2 For by it the elders obtained a good report.
Heb 11:3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

Col 4:5 (NKJV) Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time.
Col 4:6 (NKJV) Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

2Ki 2:19 And the men of the city said unto Elisha, Behold, I pray thee, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord seeth: but the water is naught, and the ground barren.
2Ki 2:20 And he said, Bring me a new cruse, and put salt therein. And they brought it to him.
2Ki 2:21 And he went forth unto the spring of the waters, and cast the salt in there, and said, Thus saith the LORD, I have healed these waters; there shall not be from thence any more death or barren land.
2Ki 2:22 So the waters were healed unto this day, according to the saying of Elisha which he spake.

Rom 11:16 For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.

Salt preserves freshness. The life of Christ in us is giving us a new and fresh Godly approach to everything we encounter, even when others see things totally differently:

Num 13:30 (NKJV) Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, “Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it.”
Num 13:31 (NKJV) But the men who had gone up with him said, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we.”

Num 14:24 But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it. 

Num 14:6 (NKJV) But Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes;
Num 14:7 and they spoke to all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying: “The land we passed through to spy out is an exceedingly good land.
Num 14:8 If the LORD delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, ‘a land which flows with milk and honey.’

Salt binds together in the sense that it spreads throughout the whole meal (The positive application of leaven also connects here = “one event for all”/the whole “lump” will be holy). The one spirit of the Father drags us into the Christ and elevates us to the one mind of the Christ, being “seated in heaven” through grace and faith (Eph 2:6-10). We learn how to be very careful with the salt (Jas 2:13).

Num 18:19 All the heave offerings of the holy things, which the children of Israel offer unto the LORD, have I given thee, and thy sons and thy daughters with thee, by a statute for ever: it is a covenant of salt for ever before the LORD unto thee and to thy seed with thee. 

2Ch 13:5 Ought ye not to know that the LORD God of Israel gave the kingdom over Israel to David for ever, even to him and to his sons by a covenant of salt?

Mar 9:49 For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt.
Mar 9:50 Salt is good; but if the salt becomes saltless, with what will you season? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.

Gal 5:14 For all the Law is fulfilled in one word, even in this, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Gal 5:15 But if you bite and devour one another, take heed that you are not consumed by one another. [End of quote]

I will end with these scriptures for your consideration.

Luk 14:34 Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned?
Luk 14:35 It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Deu 11:13 And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments which I command you this day, to love the LORD your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul,
Deu 11:14 That I will give you the rain of your land in his due season, the first rain and the latter rain, that thou mayest gather in thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil.

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

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.
Rev 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

Hi Mr. Vinson,

I understand the book of Revelation is Christ revealing Himself to us within. However, I also understand all scripture has an outward dispensational fulfillment as well.

So my question is, “Will the events of Revelation be manifested outwardly on the physical earth at the climax of this present age/aion?”

Will men be literally scorched by the sun, will the seas and rivers actually turn to blood, will we see huge swarms of locusts, will there be some kind of physical ‘mark’ forced upon the people, will 1/3 of the grass and trees actually be burned up, will there be some charismatic world leader who will gather and unite all the physical nations of this earth? etc.

With all the calamity taking place in the world today, I can’t help but wonder if we are getting near to the end of this age. Thanks for helping me with this. Mike. I appreciate it.

Your brother in Christ,

C____

Hi, C____​,

Thank you for your questions. They provided me with the opportunity to clarify the fact that signs and symbols, types and shadows, are just as applicable to their outward dispensational fulfillment as they are to their inward spiritual fulfillment.

Here are your concerns:

“I understand the book of Revelation is Christ revealing Himself to us within. However, I also understand all scripture has an outward dispensational fulfillment as well.

“So my question is, will the events of Revelation be manifested outwardly on the physical earth at the climax of this present age/aion?

“Will men be literally scorched by the sun, will the seas and rivers actually turn to blood, will we see huge swarms of locusts, will there be some kind of physical ‘mark’ forced upon the people, will 1/3 of the grass and trees actually be burned up, will there be some charismatic world leader who will gather and unite all the physical nations of this earth? etc.  (End Quote)

I will answer your e-mail paragraph by paragraph in the order in which you have written it. Your first statement is:

“I understand the book of Revelation is Christ revealing Himself to us within. However, I also understand all scripture has an outward dispensational fulfillment as well.” (End Quote)

Yes, indeed, the book of Revelation is primarily about Jesus “Christ revealing Himself to us within”, simply because we are plainly told that this prophecy is “the revelation of Jesus Christ” with which we are blessed if we “read… hear… and “keep the things which are written therein”. We are even told that 2000 years ago “the time is at hand” to “read, hear, and keep the things  which are written therein.”

Rev 1:1  The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:
Rev 1:2  Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.
Rev 1:3  Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

You tell me:

“I understand the book of Revelation is Christ revealing Himself to us within. However, I also understand all scripture has an outward dispensational fulfillment as well.”

For that to be true you must have a handle on the concept of this prophecy being “signified” in such a way as to make it applicable at the time it was first penned as well as in every generation since.

Besides being told that we are to “read… hear… and keep those things which are written therein”, we must also acknowledge that the things written therein are all “signified”, and are therefore revealed to us only through signs and symbols, just as is every parable given to us from our Lord… “He sent and signified it by His angel unto His servant John”.

A movie about end-time events was produced several years ago, entitled ‘Left Behind’. That movie is a sad commentary on the lack of spiritual understanding on the part of many highly regarded Christian leaders and many Christians who attend the churches to whom the teachings of these men appeal today. The writers admit that ‘Left Behind’ is a work of fiction, and at the same time they lead their viewers to believe that it is based upon the scriptures concerning the events which are prophesied to take place “at the appearing of our Lord” by taking the “signified” words of Revelation 11 concerning the “two witnesses” in a completely literal way.

There is no appreciation in this movie for the meaning of the word “signified” which is a very important key to properly understanding this prophecy. That is why it is given to us in the very first verse of this book. The writers of this fiction simply were not given the eyes to see that ‘key’, and instead they go so far in their literal interpretation of this prophecy that they portray the “two witnesses” of Revelation 11 as two literal men endowed with the supernatural ability to breath out literal fire from their mouths, and with that literal fire these two literal men literally kill anyone who literally attempts to hurt them. After all, that is exactly how it is all signified:

Rev 11:3  And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
Rev 11:4  These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.
Rev 11:5  And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.

I must emphasize again, the authors of this work of fiction completely ignore the key to understanding this prophecy which is given to us in the very first verse of the very first chapter of Revelation.

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

They also ignore another key to understanding this prophecy which the holy spirit gives us in verse 3 of chapter one:

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

This verse very clearly informs us that at the time of the writing of the book of Revelation “the time [was] at hand [to] read, hear, and keep the things which are written therein”. Yet the entire movie about these two men is cast as an event which has only an end-of-the-age application, and they arbitrarily decide for themselves which parts of this prophecy are literal and which are not. Notice that no one casts the “two witnesses” as literal “olive trees” or literal “candlesticks”:

Rev 11:3  And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
Rev 11:4  These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.

If you are led to do so, you can read the very in-depth commentary on the entire book of Revelation beginning at this link:

The Book of Revelation Introduction/

Christ Himself, speaking of the very same events, also tells us “the time is at hand” for all the events He mentions in Matthew 24 to be lived out by all in whom He is being revealed:

Mat 24:32  Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:
Mat 24:33  So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
Mat 24:34  Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
Mat 24:35  Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

“You know summer is near, even at the doors… this generation shall not pass till all these things be fulfilled”. That does not sound like something which will only be fulfilled 2,000 years down the road of time. The need for “these things [to] be fulfilled” is presented to “[that] generation” as “near, even at the door”! It is presented as an immediately urgent event, which must be ‘read, heard and kept, for the time is at hand to do so’ (Rev 1:3).

“My words shall not pass away” tells us that Christ’s words have a quality about them which make them applicable in every generation of mankind, so it can truthfully be said at any time, “This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.”

This is verse 34, and the “all these things” of the preceding verses include “the abomination of desolation” which stands in the holy place, as well as “the tribulation” and “the end of the age”. Those events, as well as the deceiving of the whole world, the wars and rumors of wars, the famines, pestilences, and earthquakes and “the end of the age” all took place in “[that] generation” according to our Lord’s own signified words.

In Matthew 24 the disciples asked Christ:

Mat 24:3  And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign [Greek: sameion, G4592] of thy coming, and of the end of the world? [Greek: aion, G165, age]

In answer to this question Christ gives us what is commonly referred to as “the Olivet prophecy” in which He first warns us:

Mat 24:4  And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
Mat 24:5  For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

Then in answer to this same question He tells us:

Mat 24:6  And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
Mat 24:7  For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.

For a very good reason, Christ three times warns us against being deceived in this same chapter 24 of Matthew. Here are all three:

Mat 24:5  For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

Mat 24:11  And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.

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

The reason Christ does this is to let us all know that we will all at first be deceived. We know this is true because He plainly tells us that He speaks to us in parables because none of us are, at first, “given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven”. We must all “come out of [Babylon]” before we are given eyes that see and ears that hear:

Mat 13:10  And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
Mat 13:11  He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. 

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

“Without a parable [Christ] spoke not unto [the multitudes]”, for the express purpose of keeping the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven hidden from the masses of humanity. Everything Christ spoke, He spoke only in parables which “signified” everything He is telling us:

Mat 13:34  All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them:
Mat 13:35  That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.

Verse 34 answers all of your questions. Everything Christ spoke, He spoke in parables, signifying what He was telling us. The book of Revelation is not exception to that verse whether we are speaking of its inward spiritual meaning or even if we are speaking of the “outward dispensational fulfillment as well”. Both are “signified” so that we can safely say that the answer to every question you ask is an absolute, No!

So just put a big, No! after each of these your questions in your next paragraph:

“Will men be literally scorched by the sun, [NO!] will the seas and rivers actually turn to blood [NO!], will we see huge swarms of locusts [No! Not doing the things mentioned in Revelation 9], will there be some kind of physical ‘mark’ forced upon the people [No!], will 1/3 of the grass and trees actually be burned up [No!], will there be some charismatic world leader who will gather and unite all the physical nations of this earth? etc.. [No! and No!]

Do not think that in saying they will not be “literally scorched with the sun” in an “outward dispensational fulfillment” that therefore that is no “outward dispensational fulfillment”. The fact is that there will indeed be an outward dispensational fulfillment which is also “signified” with the same words which apply to the inward, spiritual fulfillment.

Being “signified” does not meant they cannot have an outward, physical fulfillment. Here is an example of how a signified prophecy was fulfilled outwardly and dispensationally. Here is how Christ Himself signified the prophecy of His own crucifixion:

Joh 12:32  And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
Joh 12:33  This he said, signifying [Greek: semaino, G4591] what death he should die.

This Greek word ‘semaino‘^G4591 translated here as “signifying”, is the exact same word translated as “signified” in Revelation 1:1, and it is the same Greek root for the word the disciples used in asking Christ for “the sign of [His] coming and the end of the age”:

Rev 1:1  The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified [Greek: semaino, G4591] it by his angel unto his servant John:

Mat 24:3  And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign [Greek: semeion, G4592] of thy coming, and of the end of the world?

There is nothing in the words, “If I be lifted up” which specifies that Christ was speaking of being put to death through crucifixion. Nevertheless, the holy spirit tells us those words “signified what death He should die”, and that prophecy took place at that time, exactly as it had been “signified”.

This very same Greek word is again translated as “signifying” in these verses where Christ is speaking to Peter by the Sea of Galilee after His resurrection from the dead:

Joh 21:18  Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.
Joh 21:19  This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.

There is nothing in the words, “When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not” telling us specifically “by what death [Peter] should glorify God”, and yet we are told that is what Christ was telling Peter, and if we have ears to hear, He is also speaking to us “signifying by what death [we] should glorify God” as we offer our own bodies “signified” as “a living sacrifices unto the Lord”.

With this understanding of the meaning of the Greek word ‘semaino‘, translated as ‘signified’ in Revelation 1:1, let’s reword your question to fit the qualifications of Revelation 1:1:

“Will men [in a “signified way] be scorched by the sun [Yes, they will!], will the seas and rivers [in a signified way] turn to blood [Yes, indeed they will!], will we see huge [signified] swarms of locusts [Indeed, we will!], will there be some [signified] ‘mark’ forced upon the people [Indeed, we are born with that “mark of mankind” – Ecc 3:18], will 1/3 of the [signified] grass and trees be burned up [Yes, they are and will be being burned up! – 1Pe 1:24], will there be [a signified] charismatic world leader who will gather and unite all the [signified] nations of this [signified] earth [within you and me]? [Yes, you see him in the  mirror every day! Eph 5:29] etc.

Jer 22:29  O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the LORD.

1Pe 1:24  For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:

Eph 5:29  For no [normal] man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:

In conclusion to all of your questions, considering that Christ prophesied of His own crucifixion in signified words which came to pass just as He had “signified”, the obvious fact is that signified prophecies are not intended to provide specific details of the event with which they deal. They are instead designed to try our faith and to keep us vigilant, diligent, sober, alert and faithful to the end of our ‘age’.

Here is your last paragraph:

“With all the calamity taking place in the world today I can’t help but wonder if we are getting near to the end of this age.” (End Quote)

I will close by agreeing with you and with the holy spirit and with Christ and with Peter that “the time is at hand, it is near, even at the door, and we must never make the mistake of thinking what we all just naturally will think:

2Pe 3:3  Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
2Pe 3:4  And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
2Pe 3:5  For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:
2Pe 3:6  Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:
2Pe 3:7  But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
2Pe 3:8  But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
2Pe 3:9  The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
2Pe 3:10  But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
2Pe 3:11  Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
2Pe 3:12  Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
2Pe 3:13  Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
2Pe 3:14  Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

It is my sincere prayer that you and I will “be diligent that [we] may be found of Him in peace without spot and blameless” and never of the spirit which thinks, “Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.”

Your brother in Christ, Mike

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

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

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

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

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

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

How does God look at all flesh?

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

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

2Co 5:16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Nourished and Judged

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Joh 6:26 Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.
Joh 6:27 Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.

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

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

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

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

All men will be saved

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Exo 26:36  And thou shalt make an hanging for the door of the tent, [of] blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, wrought with needlework.

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

Exo 26:34  And thou shalt put the mercy seat upon the ark of the testimony in the most holy place.
Exo 26:35  And thou shalt set the table without the vail, and the candlestick over against the table on the side of the tabernacle toward the south: and thou shalt put the table on the north side.
Exo 26:36  And thou shalt make an hanging for the door of the tent, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, wrought with needlework.
Exo 26:37  And thou shalt make for the hanging five pillars of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold, [and] their hooks [shall be of] gold: and thou shalt cast five sockets of brass for them.

A baptism by water and then a baptism by fire

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Let the dead bury the dead

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

And so we are again told:

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

“All things come alike to all:”

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

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

Audio Links

Awesome Hands – part 76

“The judgments” Part G

March 20th, 2015

Our study today is going to be taken from the next versus in Exodus which covers interest and paying interest.
This is a controversial topic within many churches due to several different passages found in scripture, but as with all topics, we only need to rely on what is written without going above what is written on the topic.

1Co 4:6  And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.

While covering this topic, we are going to apply physical and spiritual applications which applied to the OT laws as well as the examples given in the New Testament concerning usury.

“Interest / Usury”

Exo 22:25  If thou lend money to any of my people that is poor by thee, thou shalt not be to him as an usurer, neither shalt thou lay upon him usury.

The first and most glaring subject of the verse we are covering today is “my people” that is “the poor by thee”. Most of the church doctrine I have personally heard or know of has lumped all of interest into the category of being bad or evil, but that simply is not a biblical principle.
Here is a supporting set of verses that confirm the subject of who we, as those in the Faith, are not to charge interest to.

Deu 15:1  At the end of every seven years thou shalt make a release.
Deu 15:2  And this is the manner of the release: Every creditor that lendeth ought unto his neighbour shall release it; he shall not exact it of his neighbour, or of his brother; because it is called the LORD’S release.
Deu 15:3  Of a foreigner thou mayest exact it again: but that which is thine with thy brother thine hand shall release;
Deu 15:4  Save when there shall be no poor among you; for the LORD shall greatly bless thee in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance to possess it:
Deu 15:5  Only if thou carefully hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all these commandments which I command thee this day.
Deu 15:6  For the LORD thy God blesseth thee, as he promised thee: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, but thou shalt not borrow; and thou shalt reign over many nations, but they shall not reign over thee.
Deu 15:7  If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother:

Notice, there are several groups mentioned here in these verses which are neighbors and brothers, foreigners, the poor among you, and many nations.

Before we cover the groups and what is applied to them in the form of interest, let’s see what scripture teaches us is “usury” as named in the KJV.

Exo 22:25  IfH518 thou lendH3867 moneyH3701 to any of(H853) my peopleH5971 that is(H853) poorH6041 byH5973 thee, thou shalt notH3808 beH1961 to him as an usurer,H5383 neitherH3808 shalt thou layH7760 uponH5921 him usury.H5392

H5392 is used 12 times and is always used as usury in English.
neshek

Total KJV Occurrences: 12
usury, 12
Exo_22:25, Lev_25:36-37 (2), Deu_23:19 (3), Psa_15:5, Eze_18:8 (2), Eze_18:13, Eze_18:17, Eze_22:12

However, this Hebrew word has a root which reveals more to us about the mind of God on this topic.

H5392
neshek
neh’-shek
From H5391; interest on a debt: – usury.

Here is the root:

H5391
nâshak
naw-shak’
A primitive root; to strike with a sting (as a serpent); figuratively, to oppress with interest on a loan: – bite, lend upon usury.

BDB lists it this way.

H5391
nâshak
BDB Definition:
1) to bite
1a) (Qal) to bite
1b) (Piel) to bite
2) to pay, give interest, lend for interest or usury
2a) (Qal) to give interest
2b) (Hiphil) to make to give interest
Part of Speech: verb
A Related Word by BDB/Strong’s Number: a primitive root
Same Word by TWOT Number: 1430, 1430b

Isn’t that interesting? “To strike with a sting ….. figuratively to oppress with interest on a loan”.
So, where is it used in scripture?

H5391
nâshak
Total KJV Occurrences: 20
bite, 6
Ecc_10:8, Ecc_10:11, Jer_8:17, Amo_9:3, Mic_3:5, Hab_2:7
usury, 4
Deu_23:19-20 (4)
lend, 3
Deu_23:19-20 (3)
bit, 2
Num_21:6, Amo_5:19
biteth, 2
Gen_49:17, Pro_23:32
bitten, 2
Num_21:8-9 (2)
lent, 1
Deu_23:19

In the interest of time I will not list all of these verses, but I want to read a few to set the tone for what we are going to gather about what this all means spiritually for us today.

Ecc 10:8  He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.

Ecc 10:11  Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better.

Jer 8:17  For, behold, I will send serpents, cockatrices, among you, which will not be charmed, and they shall bite you, saith the LORD.

Amo 9:3  And though they hide themselves in the top of Carmel, I will search and take them out thence; and though they be hid from my sight in the bottom of the sea, thence will I command the serpent, and he shall bite them:

Mic 3:5  Thus saith the LORD concerning the prophets that make my people err, that bite with their teeth, and cry, Peace; and he that putteth not into their mouths, they even prepare war against him.

Num 21:6  And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.

Amo 5:18  Woe unto you that desire the day of the LORD! to what end is it for you? the day of the LORD is darkness, and not light.
Amo 5:19  As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house, and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him.

All of these words are the same root word for the Hebrew word used as usury.  Here is one more example of the root word which usury comes from.

Num 21:8  And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.
Num 21:9  And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.

Getting back to the core verse we are concentrating on today, how does this apply to the poor among us, brothers and neighbors, foreigners and nations?

As with all scripture, there is a positive and negative application as well as a physical and spiritual application.

With usury or interest, what are we learn about when to and when not to apply interest and what does that mean exactly.

To answer those questions, let’s first look at the New Testament examples which will give us a more complete picture.

“Not under the law of Moses”

I believe we are all aware that as Christians we are under the law of Christ and liberty and not the law of Moses. In the law of Moses, the physical application of interest charging allowed interest to be charged to foreigners, as we just read, but it was not allowed to be charged to the poor and our brothers.
I am going to list Matthew 25:14 through verse 46 for the sake of the notes, and then comment on what the parable of the talents reveals to us concerning this topic.

Mat 25:14  For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.
Mat 25:15  And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.
Mat 25:16  Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.
Mat 25:17  And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.
Mat 25:18  But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.
Mat 25:19  After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.
Mat 25:20  And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.
Mat 25:21  His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
Mat 25:22  He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.
Mat 25:23  His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
Mat 25:24  Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:
Mat 25:25  And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.
Mat 25:26  His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:
Mat 25:27  Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.

Notice that in this parable about the kingdom of heaven, we are told the man traveling into a far country gives His goods to his servants.

As the parable is expounded upon, we notice that the goods are referred to as talents. Finally, we see the talents referred to as money which could GAIN INTEREST.

This is Jesus speaking and He uses and parable to explain to us what He has given us and what He expects us to do with what we have been given.

Jesus Christ, the man who has gone into a far country, demands we take what He gives us and produce “double” from what we have been given.

He describes our talents as something that either gains or does not gain for Him. This would be a positive application of how we are to work for the Kingdom of God. It should be clear that the talents given to us all have root in the Word of God.

However, we are NOT to require interest from those in the Faith, the poor, neighbors and brothers among us, who we share the Word of God which would BENEFIT US in some way. The only gain we have is that whatever we do with our talents will benefit the Kingdom of God.

Mat 10:6  But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Mat 10:7  And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Mat 10:8  Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.

Here then is the end game, the goal of what we are to give back unto the Lord.

1Co 2:9  But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
1Co 2:10  But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
1Co 2:11  For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
1Co 2:12  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.
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.

Likewise, we know that when we share the Word of God with someone who is not of the household of Faith, we DO REQUIRE interest from them.

That may sound like a contradiction, but let us refer back to the root of usury. The root of usury is to bite, to be bitten.

How can being bitten benefit anyone?

The serpent was a primary example of the bite being delivered, but it was also the source of the healing which saved those bitten.

Likewise, we are to deliver the Word of God in deed, in works, coupled with Faith to those that are of the household of Faith for the benefit of the Kingdom of Heaven and God, but we also deliver same “Word coming in Flesh” to bite the old man in those who are placed in front of us as “those nations who God sends our way”.

When we continue to look at the example given to us following the parable of the talents, here are some examples of this being point being true.

This is in context of Jesus telling us what the talents are all about.

Mat 25:28  Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.
Mat 25:29  For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
Mat 25:30  And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Mat 25:31  When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
Mat 25:32  And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:

Notice, there is a separation in how each group is handled. I know we are all familiar with these parables, but in the context of usury/interest, we are told what is required of us.

For those in the household of Faith, the Lord will require of them what He will due to the talents He gives them.

However, for those who are not of the household of Faith now, we are to exact interest from them in the form of delivering the Word of God in example and that will reap coals of fire on their head all without them ever knowing that is what is happening in this age.

Mat 25:33  And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
Mat 25:34  Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
Mat 25:35  For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
Mat 25:36  Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
Mat 25:37  Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
Mat 25:38  When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
Mat 25:39  Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
Mat 25:40  And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

That is what is said to those on the right side. What is said to those on the left?

Mat 25:41  Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
Mat 25:42  For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
Mat 25:43  I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
Mat 25:44  Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
Mat 25:45  Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
Mat 25:46  And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

What should be coming to fruition in this study is that the Lord does this in all of us, but it first starts with the household of God.
Here is the same word used as usury in the new testament.

G5110
tokos
Total KJV Occurrences: 2
usury, 2
Mat_25:27, Luk_19:23

However, it has a very informative root that connects this all together.

G5110
tokos
tok’-os
From the base of G5088; interest on money loaned (as a produce): – usury.

G5088
tiktō
tik’-to
A strengthened from of a primary word τέκω tekō (which is used only as an alternate in certain tenses); to produce (from seed, as a mother, a plant, the earth, etc.), literal or figurative: – bear, be born, bring forth, be delivered, be in travail.

Here is where G5088 is used.

G5088
tiktō
Total KJV Occurrences: 29
forth, 9
Mat_1:21, Mat_1:23, Mat_1:25, Luk_1:31, Heb_6:7 (2), Jam_1:15, Rev_12:5, Rev_12:13
delivered, 5
Luk_1:57, Luk_2:6, Heb_11:11, Rev_12:2, Rev_12:4
brought, 4
Mat_1:25, Luk_2:7, Rev_12:5, Rev_12:13
born, 3
Mat_2:2, Luk_2:11, Rev_12:4
bring, 3
Mat_1:21, Mat_1:23, Luk_1:31
bringeth, 2
Heb_6:7, Jam_1:15
bearest, 1
Gal_4:27
child, 1
Heb_11:11
travail, 1
Joh_16:21

Joh 16:21  A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world.

Mat 1:21  And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

Mat 2:2  Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

Rev 12:2  And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.

Jas 1:15  Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

Like a serpent that springs forth instantly to bite its target, so too does the “interest” of the Lord work in what it produces and brings forth.
When we deliver the Word of God, there are differing expectations of what the Lord requires in return. Depending on the audience, the Word of the Lord will affect them differently, but in ALL CASES we are to deliver the interest of the Lord back to Him.
The root of usury is what the Lord gains in return for His investment in us now in this age.