Ezekiel 15:1-8 and 16:1-20  The Lord’s Useless and Faithless Bride

[Study Aired April 29, 2024]

Introduction

Chapter 15 and 16 of Ezekiel show us Jerusalem as a useless vine and a faithless bride of Christ. Until we are given eyes to see and ears to hear, we are not able to understand that this Jerusalem, referring to the physical churches of this world, of which we were part until Christ came to deliver us, is not the chosen bride of Christ. It is in the spirit that we can understand our spiritual state while we were serving in the churches of this world, which is called Babylon.

Rev 17:3  So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. 
Rev 17:4  And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: 
Rev 17:5  And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. 

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

Our reaction when we come to see the depravity of the church system of this world and the fact that we were part of it, is that of wonder, just like what happened to Apostle John when he came to see what Babylon really is.

Rev 17:6  And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration. 
Rev 17:7  And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns. 

Today, as we look at Jerusalem which is in bondage with her children, we shall come to see the Lord’s concerns about our lives in Babylon which caused Him to intervene in our circumstances. It is through the unbelief of our brothers and sisters in Babylon that the Lord has called and chosen us through His mercy. 

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

The Lord’s People Described as Wood of Vine Tree

Eze 15:1  And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 
Eze 15:2  Son of man, What is the vine tree more than any tree, or than a branch which is among the trees of the forest? 
Eze 15:3  Shall wood be taken thereof to do any work? or will men take a pin of it to hang any vessel thereon? 
Eze 15:4  Behold, it is cast into the fire for fuel; the fire devoureth both the ends of it, and the midst of it is burned. Is it meet for any work?

In these verses, the Lord is asking whether the wood of a vine tree or its branch surpass any wood of the forest? In other words, wood from any tree is of no use for any work apart from it being used as fuel in a fire. We understand spiritual truth by the things that are made. When a tree is unable to receive its food supply from its roots, it dies and therefore becomes wood, which is used as fuel for burning. Therefore, wood represents the state in our walk with the Lord when we are spiritually dead as we are not able to understand the truth of the word of the Lord which is able to sustain us in Christ. This is affirmed by the following verses in Jeremiah:

Jer 5:11  For the house of Israel and the house of Judah have dealt very treacherously against me, saith the LORD. 
Jer 5:12  They have belied the LORD, and said, It is not he; neither shall evil come upon us; neither shall we see sword nor famine: 
Jer 5:13  And the prophets shall become wind, and the word is not in them: thus shall it be done unto them. 
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. 

Here in these verses in Jeremiah, the people representing the house of Israel and Judah (the Lord’s people) have gone astray as they have done treacherously against the Lord. The reason they had gone astray, or become spiritually dead, was because they did not receive the truth of the word of the Lord but were deceived into thinking that the Lord will not judge them. As a result, the Lord’s people had become wood, and the Lord’s word is the fire that destroys the old man in these people. In this sense, wood represents our old man which serves as the fuel for our judgment. As the new man gains ascendancy within us, our old man (wood) continues to be destroyed through the fire of the word of the Lord.  

Pro 26:20  Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth. 
Pro 26:21  As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife. 

In the previous study on Ezekiel chapter 14, the people had done treacherously against the Lord by setting up idols of their heart, which is the stumbling block of iniquity, as they came to the Lord. These sins of the idols of the heart are like fuel that set us up for the Lord’s judgment. 

Eze 14:1  Then came certain of the elders of Israel unto me, and sat before me. 
Eze 14:2  And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 
Eze 14:3  Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face: should I be enquired of at all by them?

Eze 15:5  Behold, when it was whole, it was meet for no work: how much less shall it be meet yet for any work, when the fire hath devoured it, and it is burned? 
Eze 15:6  Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; As the vine tree among the trees of the forest, which I have given to the fire for fuel, so will I give the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 
Eze 15:7  And I will set my face against them; they shall go out from one fire, and another fire shall devour them; and ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I set my face against them. 
Eze 15:8  And I will make the land desolate, because they have committed a trespass, saith the Lord GOD. 

As we can see here in these verses, the inhabitants of Jerusalem are the fuel for the fire that the Lord has lighted. In other words, judgment is upon the house of the Lord. In our spiritual poverty, we were of no use to the Lord, just as the wood of a vine tree cannot be used to do any work other than to be used as fuel for burning. We deserve the Lord’s judgment because we have sinned against the Lord as our old man or flesh has dominated us in our walk with the Lord. 

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? 
1Pe 4:19  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.

The Lord Wants us to Know our Sinful State

Eze 16:1  Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 
Eze 16:2  Son of man, cause Jerusalem to know her abominations, 

A prerequisite in developing an intimate relationship with our Lord is to come to know our sins or abominations. Coming to realize our sins is the beginning of our deliverance from sin. It is when we acknowledge our sins that we can be forgiven. The word of the Lord has a lot to say about us coming to acknowledge our sins.

Isa 58:1  Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins. 
Isa 58:2  Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God: they ask of me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching to God. 

Jer 3:13  Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the LORD thy God, and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed my voice, saith the LORD. 

If we do not understand what causes us to sin, we end up going back to sin even if our sins are forgiven. As we are aware, the flesh or the old man or the beast within us is a factory that produces sin in our lives. Unless our flesh or old man is dealt with, we shall continue sinning. Thus, in the subsequent verses, the Lord is showing us, His people, the root cause for our disloyalty to Him. 

Eze 16:3  And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto Jerusalem; Thy birth and thy nativity is of the land of Canaan; thy father was an Amorite, and thy mother an Hittite.
Eze 16:4  And as for thy nativity, in the day thou wast born thy navel was not cut, neither wast thou washed in water to supple thee; thou wast not salted at all, nor swaddled at all. 
Eze 16:5  None eye pitied thee, to do any of these unto thee, to have compassion upon thee; but thou wast cast out in the open field, to the lothing of thy person, in the day that thou wast born.   

In verse 3, the Lord saying that the inhabitants of Jerusalem could trace their lineage to the Amorite and the Hittite is to let us know that, as His elect (Jerusalem), we are not different from the people of the world in the sense that we are all made of the same flesh. Our navel not being cut and not being washed with water or salted or swaddled in verse 4 all affirms the fact that we were just like people of the world who are dominated by the flesh (navel not cut), not given to know the word of the Lord (washed with water), nor tried and tested (not salted), and did not know the love of the Lord (not swaddled). In verse 5, we are made to know more of our spiritual state at the beginning of our lives. Not being pitied by anyone as none showed compassion to us is another way of saying that we did not see the compassion of the Lord concerning us. As a result, we were like those cast out in the open field and hated by everybody. The open field represents the world, and therefore being cast in the open field means that we conform to the standards of this world.  

Eph 2:1  And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 
Eph 2:2  Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 
Eph 2:3  Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. 

The Work of the Lord in our Lives

Eze 16:6  And when I passed by thee, and saw thee polluted in thine own blood, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live; yea, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live. 
Eze 16:7  I have caused thee to multiply as the bud of the field, and thou hast increased and waxen great, and thou art come to excellent ornaments: thy breasts are fashioned, and thine hair is grown, whereas thou wast naked and bare. 
Eze 16:8  Now when I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy time was the time of love; and I spread my skirt over thee, and covered thy nakedness: yea, I sware unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee, saith the Lord GOD, and thou becamest mine.

The time that the Lord comes to visit us with the spirit of His mouth and His brightness is called here in verse 8 as the time of love. That is the time that the Lord came and passed by us and saw us polluted by our own blood, as shown in verse 6. 

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:

Our own blood signifies our life in the flesh. Therefore being polluted by our own blood means being dominated by the flesh as we obey the desires of the flesh. It is in this deplorable state that the Lord came to us and announced to us that we shall live!! That means He will surely destroy the flesh so we can live victoriously in Him.

Lev 17:11  For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.

In verse 7, the Lord has promised to multiply us as the bud of the field and that we shall increase and wax great. That is another way of saying that our new man will increase and grow stronger and stronger as our old man decreases. Coming into excellent ornaments means being given to know the truth of the word of the Lord. Our breasts being fashioned signifies that we are able to feed each other through the word of the Lord by what every joint supplies. Our hair growing also shows that we are submitting to the authority of Christ as we represent the bride of Christ whose head must be covered. 

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. 

1Co 11:4  Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head. 
1Co 11:5  But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.
1Co 11:6  For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered.
1Co 11:7  For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man. 

Our nakedness in verses 7 and 8 represents our sinful state when we are dominated by the flesh. As we can remember, when Adam and Eve sinned against the Lord, that was when they realized that they were naked and tried to cover their nakedness with their own man-made righteousness. Verse 8 shows us that when the Lord came to us at the time of love, we were found naked, and therefore He spread His skirt over us to cover our nakedness. That is to say that when the Lord came to us with His brightness, He covered our nakedness with His garment of righteousness. This covering of our nakedness is a process which involves the judgment of our old man, resulting in us learning righteousness.

Gen 3:6  And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. 
Gen 3:7  And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.
Gen 3:8  And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. 
Gen 3:9  And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? 
Gen 3:10  And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. 
Gen 3:11  And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat? 

Rev 19:8  And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

Eze 16:9  Then washed I thee with water; yea, I throughly washed away thy blood from thee, and I anointed thee with oil. 
Eze 16:10  I clothed thee also with broidered work, and shod thee with badgers’ skin, and I girded thee about with fine linen, and I covered thee with silk. 

These verses recount what the Lord has taken us through to become His sons and daughters. In verse 9, washing us with water means being cleansed by the fire of the word of the Lord. As indicated earlier, blood symbolizes our lives of the flesh. Thus, washing away our blood means the destruction of the life of the old man in our lives. In the scriptures, oil is a symbol of the Holy Spirit. This implies that anointing us with oil signifies being given the Holy Spirit to guide us into the truth of the word of the Lord.

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. 
Joh 16:14  He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

In verse 10, being clothed with broidered work has significance. According to Strong’s Dictionary, broidered work means needlework of diverse colors. If we can remember, Jacob clothed His beloved son Joseph with a coat of many colors. This implies that being clothed with broidered work signifies that we are the beloved of the Lord who are called and chosen from among our brothers and sisters in Babylon.

Gen 37:3  Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours. 
Gen 37:4  And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him.

The Badger (probably antelope) in verse 10 represents Christ, and it is through His sacrificial death that we are found in Him as our covering. As we have shown earlier, being girded with fine linen means being given the ability to walk in righteousness.

Rev 19:8  And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

One of our coverings mentioned in verse 10 is that of silk. Silk is a natural fiber produced by silkworms. Therefore, it is not the work of man. Our covering with silk by the Lord means that our righteousness is not man-made. It is the work of the Lord. 

Pro 31:21  She (the bride of Christ) is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet. 
Pro 31:22  She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple. 

Eze 16:11  I decked thee also with ornaments, and I put bracelets upon thy hands, and a chain on thy neck. 
Eze 16:12  And I put a jewel on thy forehead, and earrings in thine ears, and a beautiful crown upon thine head. 

Being decked with ornaments is another way of saying that we have been given eyes to see and ears to hear the mysteries of the kingdom of Heaven. In addition to being decked with ornaments, the Lord has also put bracelets upon our hands and a chain on our necks. The first time the word ‘bracelet’ is used in the Bible was when the servant Abraham sent to find a wife for his son Isaac put two bracelets on Rebekah’s hand after she had given water to the servant’s camels. The bracelets being two therefore served as a witness that Rebekah shall be married to Isaac. What this implies is that the Lord putting a bracelet on our hands is to assure us that we shall be the bride of Christ at the marriage feast. This assurance comes through His words as we are given to know the mysteries of the kingdom. Thus, the bracelet can be regarded as the truth of the word of the Lord. 

Gen 24:22  And it came to pass, as the camels had done drinking, that the man took a golden earring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold; 
Gen 24:23  And said, Whose daughter art thou? tell me, I pray thee: is there room in thy father’s house for us to lodge in?

Rev 19:7  Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 
Rev 19:8  And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. 

The chain the Lord puts on our necks marks us out for rulership with the Lord. The first time a chain was put on the neck of someone in the bible was when Pharaoh took Joseph out of prison and made Him a ruler of Egypt.

Gen 41:42  And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph’s hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck;
Gen 41:43  And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt.

The jewel that the Lord puts on our forehead and the earrings in our ears in verse 12 signifies being given understanding of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven. 

Pro 20:15  There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.

Exo 35:22 And they came, both men and women, as many as were willing hearted, and brought bracelets, and earrings, and rings, and tablets, all jewels of gold: and every man that offered offered an offering of gold unto the LORD.

The beautiful crown upon our heads is an assurance of our rulership in the fullness of time.

Eze 16:13  Thus wast thou decked with gold and silver; and thy raiment was of fine linen, and silk, and broidered work; thou didst eat fine flour, and honey, and oil: and thou wast exceeding beautiful, and thou didst prosper into a kingdom. 
Eze 16:14  And thy renown went forth among the heathen for thy beauty: for it was perfect through my comeliness, which I had put upon thee, saith the Lord GOD. 

Being decked with gold and silver means being given to understand the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven. Our raiment being of fine linen, silk and broidered work implies that our righteousness is not man-made. It is because the Lord has favored us as being the beloved of the Lord. Eating fine flour, honey and oil means being given to understand the truth of His words and walking in this truth. Being beautiful and prospering into a kingdom signifies that the kingdom of heaven has become well established within us, and in the eyes of the Lord, we are beautiful to behold. 

Psa 48:1  A Song. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah. Great is the LORD and greatly to be praised in the city of our God! His holy mountain, 
Psa 48:2  beautiful in elevation, is the joy of all the earth, Mount Zion, in the far north, the city of the great King. 

Psa 50:2  Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines forth.

Our renown going forth among the heathen means our light shining forth before men to the glory of the Lord. 

Mat 5:16  In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

How we Ended up Playing the Harlot

Eze 16:15  But thou didst trust in thine own beauty, and playedst the harlot because of thy renown, and pouredst out thy fornications on every one that passed by; his it was. 
Eze 16:16  And of thy garments thou didst take, and deckedst thy high places with divers colours, and playedst the harlot thereupon: the like things shall not come, neither shall it be so. 
Eze 16:17  Thou hast also taken thy fair jewels of my gold and of my silver, which I had given thee, and madest to thyself images of men, and didst commit whoredom with them,

These verses show us how after all that the Lord has done in our lives, we ended up playing the harlot. Our backsliding life started when we trusted in our beauty and therefore played the harlot. In Ezekiel 28:17 we are given more information regarding trusting in our beauty.

Eze 28:17  Your heart was proud because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor. I cast you to the ground; I exposed you before kings, to feast their eyes on you.

Here we are shown that our beauty made us proud, leading us to corrupt the wisdom the Lord has given to us. This wisdom is the truth of the Lord’s words, which we corrupt with man’s wisdom and tradition, which is a marketable commodity acceptable by many who are perishing. This is affirmed in verse 17 where we took the beautiful jewels of the Lord’s gold and silver and made ourselves images of men. The Lord’s gold and silver refer to the truth of the Lord’s words which we exchange for man’s wisdom and tradition (images of men), thus, playing the whore. As we are aware, a whore wants to please every man she meets. In a bid to become accepted by everybody or become renown, we play the harlot. Jesus demonstrated to us what it means to take the Lord’s gold and silver and make images of men as follows:

Mar 7:8  For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.
Mar 7:9  And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. 
Mar 7:10  For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death: 
Mar 7:11  But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free.
Mar 7:12  And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother; 
Mar 7:13  Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.

In verse 16, we are told that we took our own garments and made ourselves colorful shrines. Our own garments here represent our man-made righteousness. Thus, we used our own righteousness to create another Jesus whom we worship. 

Rom 10:3  For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. 

2Co 11:4  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.

Eze 16:18  And tookest thy broidered garments, and coveredst them: and thou hast set mine oil and mine incense before them. 
Eze 16:19  My meat also which I gave thee, fine flour, and oil, and honey, wherewith I fed thee, thou hast even set it before them for a sweet savour: and thus it was, saith the Lord GOD. 
Eze 16:20  Moreover thou hast taken thy sons and thy daughters, whom thou hast borne unto me, and these hast thou sacrificed unto them to be devoured. Is this of thy whoredoms a small matter,
Eze 16:21  That thou hast slain my children, and delivered them to cause them to pass through the fire for them?

In these verses, the Lord is saying that all the resources He has given to us to become His beloved sons and daughters, we have used to serve another Jesus. As a result, we have slain the Lord’s children by making them pass through the fire. That is to say that we have caused the Lord’s children to become spiritually dead by sacrificing them to another Jesus.

Mat 23:15  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves. 

Here in this study, we have seen how we start so well in the Lord and then turn for the worse as we become enchanted with another Jesus. The following verses are to remind us to remain focused on the price of His higher calling:

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. 
Heb 6:7  For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: 
Heb 6:8  But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned. 
Heb 6:9  But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak. 
Heb 6:10  For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. 
Heb 6:11  And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: 
Heb 6:12  That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

May the Lord continue to show mercy to us as we see the day approaching. Amen!!

Numbers 6:1-27  The Nazarite Vow

[Study Aired June 5, 2023]

Num 6:1  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 
Num 6:2  Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When either man or woman shall separate themselves to vow a vow of a Nazarite, to separate themselves unto the LORD: 
Num 6:3  He shall separate himself from wine and strong drink, and shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of strong drink, neither shall he drink any liquor of grapes, nor eat moist grapes, or dried. 
Num 6:4  All the days of his separation shall he eat nothing that is made of the vine tree, from the kernels even to the husk. 
Num 6:5  All the days of the vow of his separation there shall no razor come upon his head: until the days be fulfilled, in the which he separateth himself unto the LORD, he shall be holy, and shall let the locks of the hair of his head grow. 
Num 6:6  All the days that he separateth himself unto the LORD he shall come at no dead body. 
Num 6:7  He shall not make himself unclean for his father, or for his mother, for his brother, or for his sister, when they die: because the consecration of his God is upon his head. 
Num 6:8  All the days of his separation he is holy unto the LORD.
Num 6:9  And if any man die very suddenly by him, and he hath defiled the head of his consecration; then he shall shave his head in the day of his cleansing, on the seventh day shall he shave it. 
Num 6:10  And on the eighth day he shall bring two turtles, or two young pigeons, to the priest, to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: 
Num 6:11  And the priest shall offer the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering, and make an atonement for him, for that he sinned by the dead, and shall hallow his head that same day. 
Num 6:12  And he shall consecrate unto the LORD the days of his separation, and shall bring a lamb of the first year for a trespass offering: but the days that were before shall be lost, because his separation was defiled. 
Num 6:13  And this is the law of the Nazarite, when the days of his separation are fulfilled: he shall be brought unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: 
Num 6:14  And he shall offer his offering unto the LORD, one he lamb of the first year without blemish for a burnt offering, and one ewe lamb of the first year without blemish for a sin offering, and one ram without blemish for peace offerings, 
Num 6:15  And a basket of unleavened bread, cakes of fine flour mingled with oil, and wafers of unleavened bread anointed with oil, and their meat offering, and their drink offerings. 
Num 6:16  And the priest shall bring them before the LORD, and shall offer his sin offering, and his burnt offering: 
Num 6:17  And he shall offer the ram for a sacrifice of peace offerings unto the LORD, with the basket of unleavened bread: the priest shall offer also his meat offering, and his drink offering. 
Num 6:18  And the Nazarite shall shave the head of his separation at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and shall take the hair of the head of his separation, and put it in the fire which is under the sacrifice of the peace offerings. 
Num 6:19  And the priest shall take the sodden shoulder of the ram, and one unleavened cake out of the basket, and one unleavened wafer, and shall put them upon the hands of the Nazarite, after the hair of his separation is shaven:
Num 6:20  And the priest shall wave them for a wave offering before the LORD: this is holy for the priest, with the wave breast and heave shoulder: and after that the Nazarite may drink wine. 
Num 6:21  This is the law of the Nazarite who hath vowed, and of his offering unto the LORD for his separation, beside that that his hand shall get: according to the vow which he vowed, so he must do after the law of his separation. 
Num 6:22  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 
Num 6:23  Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying, On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel, saying unto them, 
Num 6:24  The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: 
Num 6:25  The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: 
Num 6:26  The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. 
Num 6:27  And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them.

Introduction

As we indicated at the beginning of our study of the Book of Numbers, the Book deals with the formation of the Lord’s army to battle the flesh. The first four chapters of Numbers focus on the responsibilities of the various sections of the Lord’s army. In chapter five, issues that can affect the physical and mental fitness of the army are dealt with. Specifically, the chapter mentions leprosy, discharges and defilement by the dead as having the potential to destroy the army’s ability to defeat the enemy and the chapter focuses on what to do to stop the spread of infectious diseases such as leprosy and discharges. The defilement by the dead spiritually signifies our tendency to accept the teachings (false doctrines) of those who are spiritually dead. This defilement can spread like the infectious diseases mentioned and therefore, it is also treated like an infectious disease.

Jer 23:16  Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD. 
Jer 23:17  They say still unto them that despise me, The LORD hath said, Ye shall have peace; and they say unto every one that walketh after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you. 
Jer 23:18  For who hath stood in the counsel of the LORD, and hath perceived and heard his word? who hath marked his word, and heard it?

The second part of the chapter focuses on the test of our chastity. This test of chastity is to cause us to see our unfaithfulness to the commanding officer of the Lord army which will ultimately cause our defeat. Our commanding officer wants us to love Him with all our heart, all our mind and all our will. He wants us to focus on no one else other than Him as our first and unique love. 

Mar 12:30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. 

Although we may love the Lord so much, we still may not be absolutely and ultimately for Him. For example, in marriage, a wife may love her husband very much and remain chaste towards him. However, she may not be absolutely and ultimately for him in certain areas. There may be several things that a wife may focus on that are not in the interest of the husband. 

The study today focuses on the Nazarite vow, which is a test of our absoluteness. The Lord used the Nazarite vow to show us that we are required to be wholly separated or dedicated to the Lord in everything. For example, the Bible warns us against the cares of this world, which can sometimes rob us of our absoluteness for the cause of the Lord. Even the marriage union can sometimes be used by the evil one to rob us of our absoluteness to the Lord. 

Mat 13:22  He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. 

The end of chapter 6 for today’s study is about the Lord’s intent and goodwill for us, His elect, as He instructed Aaron and his sons, the priests, specifically on how they should bless the children of Israel.

Num 6:1  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 
Num 6:2  Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When either man or woman shall separate themselves to vow a vow of a Nazarite, to separate themselves unto the LORD: 
Num 6:3  He shall separate himself from wine and strong drink, and shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of strong drink, neither shall he drink any liquor of grapes, nor eat moist grapes, or dried.
Num 6:4  All the days of his separation shall he eat nothing that is made of the vine tree, from the kernels even to the husk.

As indicated in the introduction portion of this study, the whole concept of the Nazarite vow is for the Lord to make us aware that we need to be separated from all that engages our attention in this life in order to be wholly devoted to Christ. In verse 3, we are told one of the key attractions in this life which can cause us to be disengaged from our devotion to Christ – that is, wine and strong drink and their sources. In the negative sense, wine or strong drink signifies worldly pleasures or enjoyment as shown in the following:

Psa 104:15  And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man’s heart. 

Ecc 10:19  A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things.

Most of the earthly pleasures or enjoyment have the tendency to lead to lustful intentions and conduct which can affect our devotion to Christ. This is what Moses, who represents the elect, did:

Heb 11:25  Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

In verse 4, a Nazarite must not eat anything made from the vine tree, its kernels even to the husk. Here the vine tree is used in a negative context. In the Bible, the vine tree used in the negative context represents the backslidden Israel which is Babylon.

Isa 5:1  Now will I sing to my wellbeloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My wellbeloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill:
Isa 5:2  And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes.

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.

The vine which produces wine and strong drink is Israel, which is Babylon. As the verses above say, Babylon produces wild grapes which are the same as producing thorns and briars, which are false doctrines. So being advised by the Lord not to drink wine or strong drink, which are all produced from the vine tree, means that we are being warned to avoid taking in false doctrines or have anything to do with Babylon. Avoiding these false doctrines from Babylon is what will help us to maintain our separation for Christ, that is, our Nazarite vow.

On a positive note, the vine tree represents Christ and any produce from the vine tree is His words. What this means is that as long as we are keeping this Nazarite vow in our own strength, there is no way we can taste the truth of the words of the Lord.

Joh 15:1  I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
Joh 15:2  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.

Num 6:5  All the days of the vow of his separation there shall no razor come upon his head: until the days be fulfilled, in the which he separateth himself unto the LORD, he shall be holy, and shall let the locks of the hair of his head grow. 

As the bride of Christ, not shaving our heads signifies not rejecting the headship of the Lord. In other words, being separated unto the Lord (Nazarite vow) involves being absolutely under the authority of our head who is Christ.  

1Co 11:3  But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God.
1Co 11:4  Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head, 
1Co 11:5  but every wife who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, since it is the same as if her head were shaven.
1Co 11:6  For if a wife will not cover her head, then she should cut her hair short. But since it is disgraceful for a wife to cut off her hair or shave her head, let her cover her head. 
1Co 11:7  For a man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God, but woman is the glory of man. (ESV)

In the Bible, the first person who was a Nazarite from birth was Samuel. He represents those who live their lives under the authority of Christ.

1Sa 1:11  And she (Hannah) vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.

Samson is also another example of a Nazarite from birth. At the final stages of His life, after going through judgment, he was absolutely under the authority of Christ as his hair grew again. In other words, he was wholly for the purpose of Christ. As a mark of our separation, we, His elect, are going through judgment so that we become completely sold out to Christ. 

Jdg 13:3  And the angel of the LORD appeared unto the woman, and said unto her, Behold now, thou art barren, and bearest not: but thou shalt conceive, and bear a son (Samson). 
Jdg 13:4  Now therefore beware, I pray thee, and drink not wine nor strong drink, and eat not any unclean thing: 
Jdg 13:5  For, lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and no razor shall come on his head: for the child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb: and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.

Jdg 16:21  But the Philistines took him (Samson), and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he did grind in the prison house.

Jdg 16:30  And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed himself with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that were therein. So the dead which he slew at his death were more than they which he slew in his life.

As we are aware, this honor of being separated wholly for Christ cannot be accomplished by our own merit. We can see from Samson’s life that he struggled to maintain his Nazarite vow. For most of his life, he was not separated wholly for the cause of the Lord even though he was a Nazarite from birth. In other words, his Nazarite vow was not the result of his own decision. How much more will we be able to maintain the Nazarite vow of being separated for Christ if it is the result of our own decision as indicated in Numbers 6:2? This rhetorical question is to let us know that there is no way one can keep the Nazarite vow under the law of Moses. 

Num 6:2  Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When either man or woman shall separate themselves to vow a vow of a Nazarite, to separate themselves unto the LORD:

As we are aware, no one can become a priest by one’s own volition. In a similar vein, vowing to become a Nazarite is not something that can be achieved by one’s own decision as we were thought in Babylon.

Heb 5:4  And no one takes this honor for himself (to be a priest), but only when called by God, just as Aaron was.
Heb 5:5  So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”;
Heb 5:6  as he says also in another place, “You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.” (ESV)

During the reformation period of our Lord Jesus Christ, He made us aware we are not to vow. The Nazarite vow therefore runs contrary to the reforming words of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Mat 5:33  Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’
Mat 5:34  But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God,
Mat 5:35  or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 
Mat 5:36  And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. 
Mat 5:37  Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil. 

Ecc 5:5  It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay. (ESV) 

It is only in Christ that we can be separated wholly for the purpose of Christ as He enables us. 

Zec 4:6  Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.

The Nazarite vow was therefore showing us the Lord’s intent for the elect to be wholly separated for His purpose but not for those who think they have a will to decide to become separated for Christ. When we were in Babylon, we thought that we can exercise our will to be wholly devoted to Christ just like the Israelites who think they can choose to become Nazarites.  Therefore, in Babylon our lives were the same as the Israelites who go for the Nazarite vow. In other words, we were all Nazarites at a certain period of our lives when we were in Babylon until Christ came to us.

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,
Gal 4:5  To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

Num 6:6  All the days that he separateth himself unto the LORD he shall come at no dead body.
Num 6:7  He shall not make himself unclean for his father, or for his mother, for his brother, or for his sister, when they die: because the consecration of his God is upon his head. 
Num 6:8  All the days of his separation he is holy unto the LORD.

These verses highlight what will potentially derail our consecration to Christ. Coming into contact with the dead is a present danger. As we have shown in the previous study, coming into contact with the dead means taking in or accepting the teachings of those who are spiritually dead. We become spiritually unclean when we take in or accept the teachings of those who are spiritually dead. That is what characterized our walk with Christ when we were in Babylon. We accepted the teachings of our leaders who were spiritually dead and so we became defiled. 

2Pe 2:17  These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever. 
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.

This is to warn us to be careful as a body of those who try to introduce heresies. These false doctrines in our heavens corrupts our minds from the simplicity which is in Christ.

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. 

Act 20:29  For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 
Act 20:30  Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.

Num 6:9  And if any man die very suddenly by him, and he hath defiled the head of his consecration; then he shall shave his head in the day of his cleansing, on the seventh day shall he shave it.
Num 6:10  And on the eighth day he shall bring two turtles, or two young pigeons, to the priest, to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: 
Num 6:11  And the priest shall offer the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering, and make an atonement for him, for that he sinned by the dead, and shall hallow his head that same day. 
Num 6:12  And he shall consecrate unto the LORD the days of his separation, and shall bring a lamb of the first year for a trespass offering: but the days that were before shall be lost, because his separation was defiled.

While we were in Babylon, we defiled our Nazarite vow as a result of feeding on the words of our spiritually dead leaders. We, therefore, needed to go through a cleansing process to be consecrated for the Lord when we exited 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.

This cleansing process involves the shaving of our heads. As the wife of Christ, the shaving of our heads is to demonstrate the fact that we have rejected the authority of Christ and His words through defilement which was the result of accepting the false teachings of our spiritually dead leaders in Babylon. It is instructive to note that it was on the seventh day that our heads were shaved. This is to let us know that our complete time in Babylon was a life of rejecting the authority of Christ. It is also insightful to note that it is on the eighth day that we stand at the entrance of the tabernacle to offer sacrifice for our sins, which means that we have accepted that we have rejected the authority of Christ in our lives. Our Lord Jesus Christ has already paid for our sins through His sacrificial death. The eighth day means a new beginning for us as we begin to follow the example of Christ in offering His life for us by offering our bodies as living sacrifice to Him. That is when we become spiritual Nazarites as we consecrate ourselves to the Lord.

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

Num 6:13  And this is the law of the Nazarite, when the days of his separation are fulfilled: he shall be brought unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: 
Num 6:14  And he shall offer his offering unto the LORD, one he lamb of the first year without blemish for a burnt offering, and one ewe lamb of the first year without blemish for a sin offering, and one ram without blemish for peace offerings,
Num 6:15  And a basket of unleavened bread, cakes of fine flour mingled with oil, and wafers of unleavened bread anointed with oil, and their meat offering, and their drink offerings.
Num 6:16  And the priest shall bring them before the LORD, and shall offer his sin offering, and his burnt offering: 
Num 6:17  And he shall offer the ram for a sacrifice of peace offerings unto the LORD, with the basket of unleavened bread: the priest shall offer also his meat offering, and his drink offering. 

The question is, “When do our days of vowing to serve as a Nazarite end?” As we have indicated, it is during our time in Babylon that we think we can separate ourselves for the Lord by our own volition or decision. It is after we come into contact with the dead that we realize we are defiled. As shown earlier, coming into contact with the dead means accepting the false doctrines of our spiritually dead leaders. It is when we come to see that the leaders, whom we thought are spiritually alive in Babylon are actually dead and that we have been defiled, that our time as physical Nazarites comes to an end.  That is when we come to realize that we have to offer our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to the Lord. The mention of the basket of unleavened bread, the cakes of fine flour mingled, and wafers of unleavened bread anointed with oil in verse 15 are all referring to the spiritual aspect of the word of the Lord and not the letter which kills. It is when the period of our Nazarite vows comes to an end that we are given to worship the Lord in truth and in spirit.

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. 
Joh 4:22  Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. 
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.

Num 6:18  And the Nazarite shall shave the head of his separation at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and shall take the hair of the head of his separation, and put it in the fire which is under the sacrifice of the peace offerings. 
Num 6:19  And the priest shall take the sodden shoulder of the ram, and one unleavened cake out of the basket, and one unleavened wafer, and shall put them upon the hands of the Nazarite, after the hair of his separation is shaven: 
Num 6:20  And the priest shall wave them for a wave offering before the LORD: this is holy for the priest, with the wave breast and heave shoulder: and after that the Nazarite may drink wine. 
Num 6:21  This is the law of the Nazarite who hath vowed, and of his offering unto the LORD for his separation, beside that that his hand shall get: according to the vow which he vowed, so he must do after the law of his separation. 

As indicated, the shaving of the head is a symbol of us admitting that we have rejected the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ and therefore we must be judged. After shaving the head, the hair is put in the fire. This signifies our judgment. The putting of the shoulder of the ram, one unleavened cake of the basket and one unleavened wafer into the hands of the Nazarite symbolize being given the ability to understand the mysteries of the kingdom of Heaven. As we indicated earlier, as long as we have the Nazarite vow, we are unable to partake of any product from the vine, which is Christ. In verse 20, the Nazarite who has ended his Nazarite vow is now given wine by the priest. This means that after we have rejected the Lord’s authority over us and have come to realize our sorrowful state, it is then that we start being judged and begin to offer our bodies as living sacrifice to the Lord. It is during this period that we are able to take wine, that is, partake of the good word of the Lord!! 

Luk 22:17  And he took the cup (wine), and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves:

Num 6:22  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 
Num 6:23  Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying, On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel, saying unto them, 

The rest of the verses in this chapter reflect the Lord’s intent and His provision to bring His elect to an expected end. 

Jer 29:11  For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
Jer 29:12  Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. 
Jer 29:13  And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

Num 6:24  The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: 

The Lord blessing us means He has given us all that we need, both spiritual and physical, in order for us to get to the finish line. 

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. 

The word “keep” means guard or protect. This means that the Lord keeping us is another way of saying the following:

Isa 43:2  When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. 

Num 6:25  The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: 

The Lord making His face to shine upon us is another way of saying that the Lord is in the process of making us into His image. According to Strong, the word “gracious” means to stoop in kindness to an inferior. The Lord being gracious to us is therefore the Lord coming to us in our frailty to show us love and care. 

Gen 1:27  So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. 

Psa 31:21  Blessed be the LORD, for he has wondrously shown his steadfast love to me when I was in a besieged city. 
Psa 31:22  I had said in my alarm, “I am cut off from your sight.” But you heard the voice of my pleas for mercy when I cried to you for help. (ESV)

Num 6:26  The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. 

The meaning of the word “countenance” is ‘face’ or, more specifically, ‘visage’, meaning facial expression. Therefore, it reflects the expression appearing on the face of the Lord as He looks upon His people. In this case, the Lord lifting up His countenance upon us means the Lord looks upon us favorably and with approval. It brings peace and joy to know that we rest in the favor of the Most High.

Luk 1:28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.

Num 6:27  And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them.

To put or bear the name of the Lord means to represent the Lord. We, the elect, represent the Lord here on this earth wherever we go. If we represent the Lord, then it means that we are provided all the resources we need by the Lord to perform whatever assignment that He has given to us. 

Act 9:4  And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 
Act 9:5  And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. 

Act 9:15  But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:

May the Lord continue to show mercy to us as He causes us to be separated completely for His purpose as we see the day approach!! Amen!!

Gospels In Harmony – We Find Joy in Tribulation Through the Vine

John 15:1-27

[Study Aired December 7, 2021]

John 15:1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
John 15:2 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.
John 15:3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
John 15:4 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.
John 15:5 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.
John 15:6 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.
John 15:7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
John 15:8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
John 15:9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
John 15:10 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.
John 15:11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
John 15:12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
John 15:14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
John 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.
John 15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
John 15:17 These things I command you, that ye love one another.
John 15:18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
John 15:19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
John 15:20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
John 15:21 But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me.
John 15:22 If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin.
John 15:23 He that hateth me hateth my Father also.
John 15:24 If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.
John 15:25 But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.
John 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
John 15:27 And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.

In our last study we were told Christ must go away so that He could start building many mansions, representing the process of changing our hearts and minds so that Christ and His Father could dwell in His elect. Today’s study tells us how this happens.

John 15:1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
John 15:2 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.

“The Father is the husbandman” is saying He is doing the work.  Christ is proclaiming the Father taking away the branches that do not produce and purging the branches to produce more (better quality) fruit.

John 14:10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.

Christ is the “True Vine”, and we are the branches which must be taken away and purged.

John 15:3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
John 15:4 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.
John 15:5 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.

We become clean through the word spoken by Christ which are the words of the Father.

John 14:10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.

The branches in the “True Vine” represent the new man within the body of Christ. If this is the case, then what is being taken away and purged?

John 15:6 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.

It is the “man”, the old man within everyone who abides not in Christ. He is what is gathered and cast into the fire and burned. The old man and his doctrines must be destroyed.

John 15:7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
John 15:8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

Bearing much fruit is accomplished by the pruning and purging of the branches in the vine. This is the only way we become disciples of Christ.

Psalms 79:9 Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name: and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for thy name’s sake.

This purging causes us to keep the Father’s commandments.

John 15:9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
John 15:10 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.
John 15:11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
John 15:12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

What is joyous about being pruned and purged? This is a hard saying and impossible to understand without Christ in us. James tells us the reason it is a joyous experience when we are cast into the fire.

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

The trying of our faith works patience. This is only the beginning of the process of salvation.

John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
John 15:14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
John 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.
John 15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

Through this process we are becoming friends of Christ. As our knowledge of God increases, our service to the worldly ways diminishes, and our friendship with Christ is strengthened.

John 15:17 These things I command you, that ye love one another.
John 15:18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
John 15:19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

The love we show towards each other is a witness to the world of our lives in Christ. This is why the world hates us. They cannot understand what love is and how it is shown.

John 15:20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
John 15:21 But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me.
John 15:22 If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin.

We are promised that we will be persecuted and will find joy in this because our minds are being changed and we search for greater things that the world cannot provide. Our hope in this age is that we find others of like mind so that the joy we have is shared throughout the body of Christ.

John 15:23 He that hateth me hateth my Father also.
John 15:24 If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.
John 15:25 But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.

Here is the law which was fulfilled.

Psalm 35:7-9 For without cause have they hid for me their net in a pit, which without cause they have digged for my soul. Let destruction come upon him at unawares; and let his net that he hath hid catch himself: into that very destruction let him fall. And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation.

Psalm 69:4 If I have rewarded evil unto him that was at peace with me; (yea, I have delivered him that without cause is mine enemy:)

Psalm 109:3 They compassed me about also with words of hatred; and fought against me without a cause.

John explains why this is happening. We must always remember that we were here just moments ago in God’s eyes, but Lord willing this is not what is written in our books for this age.

John 12:37-41 But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him: That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed? Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again, He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them. These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him.

In our last study the Comforter was promised to be sent.

John 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
John 15:27 And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.

Our books were written from the foundation of the world, and now we are living out those books. As mentioned earlier, we look at our persecutions joyfully. The world cannot understand this, and until we have the Comforter with us we cannot understand either. The joy we have is the peace of mind in knowing that God is in total control of our lives and working all things after the counsel of His own will. We have been chosen by Christ and his Father and they will finish the work they have begun in us.

Acts 10:24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

James 1:1:12 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting. My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted: But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away. For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways. Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. 

Isa 32:15-19 Until the spirit be poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness be a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be counted for a forest. Then judgment shall dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness remain in the fruitful field. And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever. And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places; When it shall hail, coming down on the forest; and the city shall be low in a low place. Blessed are ye that sow beside all waters, that send forth thither the feet of the ox and the ass. 

Gal 5:22-25 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.

Having joy in our tribulations is a hard saying. We must count it for joy because we are no longer of this world. We are reaching for a higher place; the kingdom of God. We are the branches, and Christ is the vine, and the Father is the husbandman.

Isa 33:1-2 Out of Thine Own Mouth I will Judge Thee - Discussion

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Isa 33:1-12 Out of Thine Own Mouth I Will Judge Thee

Isa 33:1  Woe to thee that spoilest, and thou wast not spoiled; and dealest treacherously, and they dealt not treacherously with thee! when thou shalt cease to spoil, thou shalt be spoiled; and when thou shalt make an end to deal treacherously, they shall deal treacherously with thee.
Isa 33:2  O LORD, be gracious unto us; we have waited for thee: be thou their arm every morning, our salvation also in the time of trouble.
Isa 33:3  At the noise of the tumult the people fled; at the lifting up of thyself the nations were scattered.
Isa 33:4  And your spoil shall be gathered like the gathering of the caterpiller: as the running to and fro of locusts shall he run upon them.
Isa 33:5  The LORD is exalted; for he dwelleth on high: he hath filled Zion with judgment and righteousness.
Isa 33:6  And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and strength of salvation: the fear of the LORD is his treasure.
Isa 33:7  Behold, their valiant ones shall cry without: the ambassadors of peace shall weep bitterly.
Isa 33:8  The highways lie waste, the wayfaring man ceaseth: he hath broken the covenant, he hath despised the cities, he regardeth no man.
Isa 33:9  The earth mourneth and languisheth: Lebanon is ashamed and hewn down: Sharon is like a wilderness; and Bashan and Carmel shake off their fruits.
Isa 33:10  Now will I rise, saith the LORD; now will I be exalted; now will I lift up myself.
Isa 33:11  Ye shall conceive chaff, ye shall bring forth stubble: your breath, as fire, shall devour you.
Isa 33:12  And the people shall be as the burnings of lime: as thorns cut up shall they be burned in the fire.

This study is done with the understanding that we cannot make straight that which the Lord Himself has made crooked:

Ecc 7:13  Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked?
Ecc 7:14  In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also hath set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him.
Ecc 7:15  All things have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a just man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his wickedness.

Lam 3:1  I am the man that hath seen affliction by the rod of his wrath.
Lam 3:2  He hath led me, and brought me into darkness, but not into light.
Lam 3:3  Surely against me is he turned; he turneth his hand against me all the day.
Lam 3:4  My flesh and my skin hath he made old; he hath broken my bones.
Lam 3:5  He hath builded against me, and compassed me with gall and travail.
Lam 3:6  He hath set me in dark places, as they that be dead of old.
Lam 3:7  He hath hedged me about, that I cannot get out: he hath made my chain heavy.
Lam 3:8  Also when I cry and shout, he shutteth out my prayer.
Lam 3:9  He hath inclosed my ways with hewn stone, he hath made my paths crooked.

Before Solomon wrote Ecclesiastes, and long before Jeremiah wrote Lamentations, Solomon wrote the book of proverbs where the holy spirit inspired him to make this statement:

Pro 16:4  The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.

Now we know that it is the Lord who afflicts us all "by the rod of His wrath", He "brings [us] into darkness" makes our skin old, brakes our bones, compasses us with gall and travail, sets us in dark places, hedges us in, makes our chain heavy, shuts out our prayer and make our paths crooked. The Lord always gives Himself an occasion to give us all these evil experiences, but that occasion always includes "the pride of life" with which we are all afflicted and for which we must all be humbled.

So we are told in very clear language:

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

With all of this in mind, we will begin our study:

Isa 33:1  Woe to thee that spoilest, and thou wast not spoiled; and dealest treacherously, and they dealt not treacherously with thee! when thou shalt cease to spoil, thou shalt be spoiled; and when thou shalt make an end to deal treacherously, they shall deal treacherously with thee.

As always, we get nothing out of the Word of God when we put these words off on someone else who is spoiling, robbing and taking advantage of others. We just naturally tell ourselves that we never take advantage of or rob and steal from anyone. Yet that is exactly what we all do when we self-righteously take credit for our own good deeds and our own righteousness. The entire book of Job is a testament against Job's self-justification and self-glorification. We all do by nature what Job did when he said this about himself:

Job 27:6  My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go: my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live.

That is what I have done, and that is what you have done when we have at times done a good deed and then exulted in our own righteousness. But what does God think of our righteousnesses?

Isa 64:6  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.

Let's all remember these words of our Lord when we start to think of ourselves as somehow capable of doing anything good of ourselves:

Joh 15:5  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.

We do the very same thing with our own sins. These also we want to claim as our own, when this is the truth of the scriptures concerning our sins. It is found in the very next verses after Isaiah 64:6:

Isa 64:7  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.
Isa 64:8  But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.

If we think we can do anything on our own, we have a lesson yet to learn. Whatever we are "we all are the work of your hand".

Jeremiah tells us the same thing:

Jer 18:4  And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.
Jer 18:5  Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
Jer 18:6  O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.

We are that "vessel of clay", and the Lord Himself has deliberately first made every human that He has ever created "marred in the hand of the Potter". We are lied to by ourselves and by all those to whom we looked while still in the churches of Babylon. We are told that God gave us a will that is free and independent of Himself. There is no such doctrine in the scriptures. Instead there is this:

Pro 16:1  The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD.
Pro 16:2  All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits.
Pro 16:3  Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.
Pro 16:4  The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.
Pro 16:5  Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.

The preparations of our hearts, our very thoughts, "[are] from the Lord". He "has made all things for Himself, yes, even the wicked for the day of evil." Therefore these words in the New Testament are true:

Rom 7:17  Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
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 7:19  For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
Rom 7:20  Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
Rom 7:21  I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
Rom 7:22  For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
Rom 7:23  But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
Rom 7:24  O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

This "law of sin in [our] members" is what was not specifically mentioned in the creation account in Genesis 1-2. At the end of the sixth day this is what we are told:

Gen 1:31  And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

I say 'not specifically mentioned' because it really is alluded to in this verse:

Gen 2:25  And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.

"They were both naked... and were not ashamed" tells us that what God had created in our original parents, which was "very good", was a 'very good' sinning machine with no shame in being naked. Nakedness is a scriptural word for being made sin:

Lam 1:8  Jerusalem hath grievously sinned; therefore she is removed: all that honoured her despise her, because they have seen her nakedness: yea, she sigheth, and turneth backward.

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.

Isaiah 64:7 tells us:

Isa 64:7  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.

However, the next verse tells us that even our iniquities are "the work of [His] hand".

Isa 64:8  But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.

Therefore even our sins are by the Lord's design for the purpose of humbling our rebellious flesh and for the purpose of causing us to cry out to our Creator for His mercies upon us:

Isa 33:2  O LORD, be gracious unto us; we have waited for thee: be thou their arm every morning, our salvation also in the time of trouble.

This verse takes its message from Psalms 107, which tells us that all of our trials and troubles are actually nothing less than a work of the Lord in the lives of those in whom He is preparing Himself an abode in this age:

Psa 107:19  Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses.
Psa 107:20  He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.
Psa 107:21  Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
Psa 107:22  And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.
Psa 107:23  They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters;
Psa 107:24  These see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep.
Psa 107:25  For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.
Psa 107:26  They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.
Psa 107:27  They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits' end.
Psa 107:28  Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.
Psa 107:29  He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.
Psa 107:30  Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.
Psa 107:31  Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

Now we know what "the Lord's goodness" is to which Paul referred in this verse:

Rom 2:1  Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.
Rom 2:2  But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.
Rom 2:3  And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?
Rom 2:4  Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
Rom 2:5  But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;
Rom 2:6  Who will render to every man according to his deeds:
Rom 2:7  To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: [In the first "resurrection to life", Joh 5:27-29]
Rom 2:8  But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,

God's wrath is poured out on all unrighteousness of men, including the unrighteousness of those who prove to be His very elect:

Joh 3:36  He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

Rom 1:18  For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

All men come into this world in a state of unbelief, and we all spend our own time in Babylon where we "hold the truth in unrighteousness" and "treasure up to [our]selves wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God", but if we judge ourselves in this age, then we will not be condemned to the second death, which is the second death/white throne judgment/lake of fire.

1Co 11:31  For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged [at the great white throne judgment, Rev 20:11].
1Co 11:32  But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world [to the second death/lake of fire/white throne judgment].

We are "chastened of the Lord" and we "judge ourselves" in this age for the express purpose of not being chastened at the white throne judgment, "the resurrection unto judgment":

Joh 5:27  And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.
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 ["first resurrection" - Rev 20:6]; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. [Greek: judgment, "great white throne judgment/second death/lake of fire"]

Whether in the first or second resurrection, these words will be true:

Isa 33:3  At the noise of the tumult the people fled; at the lifting up of thyself the nations were scattered.

This "noise of the tumult... lifting up of yourself [to] scatter... the nations" is the same as the "controversy with the nations" which we all experience first within, and which the entire world will experience outwardly before the beginning of the thousand-year reign of Christ and His Christ:

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

"The sword" which we as God's elect experience in this age is the Word of God. A war must take place within us and the man of sin within us must be destroyed by the Truth and the brightness of the coming of Christ into our hearts and our lives. If that does not take place in this age, we will be "condemned with the world" at the great white throne judgment. Notice another witness against the Lord's elect being condemned to the second death right here in John 5 just prior to Christ's words labeling the first resurrection as "the resurrection to life" and contrasting it with the second "resurrection unto judgment/great white throne judgment/lake of fire/second death". Look at what Christ tells us just prior to the words of John 5:27-29:

Joh 5:24  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation [of the second death]; but is passed from death unto life.
Joh 5:25  Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.
Joh 5:26  For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;

"Shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death unto life" is in the Greek present tense proving that it applies to this present age. How can those who are in the blessed and holy first resurrection, who are promised they "shall not be hurt of the second death", of whom Christ here promises they "shall not come into condemnation", possibly partake of "the second death/lake of fire/white throne judgment/resurrection unto judgment"?

But these words...

Isa 33:3  At the noise of the tumult the people fled; at the lifting up of thyself the nations were scattered.

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

...also have an outward climactic end-of-the-age application to "all flesh" at the beginning of the thousand-year reign. We know this is so because Christ Himself tells us that unless the days before the thousand-year reign were not shortened "no flesh would be saved alive":

Mat 24:22  And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.

Mar 13:20  And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days.

This is twice repeated, and there are two items in these verses which prove it applies only to those who are judged in this age. The first is that the days in question are while "flesh" is still on this earth. The second is that these days are shortened for the sake of the Lord's elect, who are those who "come forth to the resurrection unto life" at the beginning of the thousand years instead of "the resurrection unto judgment" when the thousand years are finished (Joh 5:27-29).

When those days are shortened for the elect's sake, Christ comes into our hearts and lives inwardly within His elect in this present age, and the kingdom of our carnal-minded old man is spoiled by the coming of Christ. Outwardly in the 'will be' future application, "the kingdom of this world... become the kingdoms of our Lord and His Christ... the elect" for whom those days shall be shortened.

Here are but a few of the promises given us if we overcome the wicked one in this age and attain to the first resurrection:

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

Rev 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.
Rev 11:16  And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God,
Rev 11:17  Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.
Rev 11:18  And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.

Rev 20:4  And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
Rev 20:5  But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
Rev 20:6  Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

All these promises of ruling the nations for a thousand years are only for "our Lord and His Christ", His anointed ones. The promises manifestly have no application to those who will be ruled over during that time, nor can they possibly apply to those who will be ruled by the same "Saviors" (Oba 1:21) in the second death/lake of fire/second resurrection to judgment/great white throne judgment. Instead, Christ and His Christ will now be the ones who are spoiling all those who were once granted to spoil with all their false doctrines.

Isa 33:4  And your spoil shall be gathered like the gathering of the caterpiller: as the running to and fro of locusts shall he run upon them.

The Lord's people spoiling Egypt typified and prophesies of how we spoil the kingdom of our old man within us, and it also foreshadows the spoiling of "the kingdoms of this world" during the thousand-year reign of "our Lord and His Christ":

Exo 12:36  And the LORD gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them such things as they required. And they spoiled the Egyptians.

It was the Lord who "gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians", and that is exactly what He will do again at the appointed time for "our Lord and His Christ" to begin spoiling the kingdoms of this world and to rule them all with a rod of iron.

Isa 33:5  The LORD is exalted; for he dwelleth on high: he hath filled Zion with judgment and righteousness.

The Lord dwells within His elect:

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

But we are also told:

Psa 132:13  For the LORD hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation.
Psa 132:14  This is my rest for ever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it.

Joe 3:16  The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.
Joe 3:17  So shall ye know that I am the LORD your God dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any more.

"The Lord's Christ", His elect, are His "holy mountain" in which He dwells, and so we are plainly told:

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

Clearly the Lord's "holy mountain", His "city" and His "temple" are all one and the same thing. They are all Biblical symbols of His elect in whom He seeks to dwell and to be their God.

In concluding our comments on this verse, being "exalted" and "dwell[ing] on high" are spiritual statements which have nothing to do with altitude. There is no more exalted place in the universe than to be "in Christ" who is "In [His] Father". That is as spiritually 'high' as anyone can get.

Isa 6:1  In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple [His people: 1Co 3:16].

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

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

In such an exalted position, we are being given the mind of Christ, and Christ is being made wisdom unto us:

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

"The fear of the Lord" is the beginning of both "wisdom... [and] knowledge":

Isa 33:6  And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and strength of salvation: the fear of the LORD is his treasure.

If Christ lives within us, we are all given a growing part of His mind, and that growing mind of Christ begins with the fear of the Lord:

Psa 111:10  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.

Pro 1:7  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Pro 9:10  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

Truly our own "treasure" is to fear the Lord and keep His commandments. Only then will our lives have any spiritual, inward stability and peace of mind.

Php 2:5  Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

Php 2:12  Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
Php 2:13  For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
Php 2:14  Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
Php 2:15  That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

Isa 33:7  Behold, their valiant ones shall cry without: the ambassadors of peace shall weep bitterly.

The reason for our valiant ones crying and the ambassadors of peace weeping bitterly is that they have always spoiled the Lord's people, and now being spoiled by the Lord's Christ. If we are so gifted, the Lord will destroy our pride in ourselves in this age. If we are blessed to do so, we will judge ourselves in this age and will not be consigned to "the resurrection unto judgment". The shoe is now on the other foot, and our old man no longer calls the shots in our lives. Our carnal "ambassadors of peace" will be shown no quarter, because:

Isa 59:8  The way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their goings: they have made them crooked paths: whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace.

We are clearly instructed that we are not to make any alliances or treaties with the inhabitants of our land. We are commanded:

Exo 23:30  By little and little I will drive them out from before thee, until thou be increased, and inherit the land.
Exo 23:31  And I will set thy bounds from the Red sea even unto the sea of the Philistines, and from the desert unto the river: for I will deliver the inhabitants of the land into your hand; and thou shalt drive them out before thee.
Exo 23:32  Thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor with their gods.
Exo 23:33  They shall not dwell in thy land, lest they make thee sin against me: for if thou serve their gods, it will surely be a snare unto thee.

Deu 20:16  But of the cities of these people, which the LORD thy God doth give thee for an inheritance, thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth:

The flesh and carnal mind of our old man will be given no quarter in the Lord's economy.

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

Isa 33:8  The highways lie waste, the wayfaring man ceaseth: he hath broken the covenant, he hath despised the cities, he regardeth no man.
Isa 33:9  The earth mourneth and languisheth: Lebanon is ashamed and hewn down: Sharon is like a wilderness; and Bashan and Carmel shake off their fruits.

This is 'the highways' and 'cities' of the deceitfulness and lies of our old man which must be destroyed with the brightness of Christ's coming into our lives:

2Th 2:5  Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
2Th 2:6  And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
2Th 2:7  For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
2Th 2:8  And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
2Th 2:9  Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
2Th 2:10  And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish [Greek: are (present tense), are perishing]; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

This is how Isaiah describes "the brightness of His coming into our lives to destroy "the mystery of iniquity", which to that point has "let", meaning has restrained, the coming of Christ just as the need for the fullness of the iniquities of the Amorites to be fulfilled restrained Israel's taking  possession of the land of promise:

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

At the appointed time, the Lord will drive out all the nations within us who have dominated our lives and whose slaves we have been for so long.

Act 17:31  Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

Isa 33:10  Now will I rise, saith the LORD; now will I be exalted; now will I lift up myself.

In that day the Lord alone will be exalted:

Isa 2:11  The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day.

Isa 2:17  And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low: and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day.

2Co 4:11  For we which live are alway delivered unto death [first] for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.

As we are being judged in this age in bodies of "mortal flesh" our flesh is learning to be quiet and to simply witness its own demise even as Christ increases within us as the Lord's certain salvation.

Exo 14:13 And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.
Exo 14:14 The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.

These last two verses of our study tell us all that our old man, our mortal flesh, our first man Adam, can do if the Lord is judging us in this age. This is the function of our old man and his time in service to sin and death:

Isa 33:11  Ye shall conceive chaff, ye shall bring forth stubble: your breath, as fire, shall devour you.
Isa 33:12  And the people shall be as the burnings of lime: as thorns cut up shall they be burned in the fire.

Our old man conceives chaff and brings forth stubble by teaching false doctrines which serve only to furnish the fuel of his own destruction. This is true of the carnal mind in both resurrections. "Your breath, as fire, shall devour you", is just another way of saying:

Luk 19:22  And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow:

The Lord answered the person He deceived with the words which the Lord put in that servant's mouth.

Eze 14:9  And if the prophet be deceived when he hath spoken a thing, I the LORD have deceived that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand upon him, and will destroy him from the midst of my people Israel ["Your own breath, as fire, shall devour you"].
Eze 14:10  And they shall bear the punishment of their iniquity: the punishment of the prophet shall be even as the punishment of him that seeketh unto him;

The Lord had indeed "laid down" a talent with the wicked servant and had sown that talent in the life of that servant. That talent symbolized the truth of His Word which the Lord had given that servant, but the wicked servant rejected that blessing. The Lord's answer is to agree with our heart's idols and of our misconceptions concerning Him:

Eze 14:3  Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face: should I be enquired of at all by them?
Eze 14:4  Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Every man of the house of Israel that setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet; I the LORD will answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols;

If indeed God's elect being hurt of the second death is an idol of the heart, then the Lord Himself will confirm that idol in the minds of those who have created it, and He will answer them according to the idol of their own heart, and He Himself will blind the eyes of those to whom He has given that idol against His clear promises that one fire and one death are enough to fulfill the principle of living by every word and experiencing one event.

The Lord has told us He will not forever be angry, and He has told us clearly that His mercy endures forever:

Psa 103:9  He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.

Isa 57:16  For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth: for the spirit should fail before me, and the souls which I have made.

1Ch 16:34  O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.

Psa 136:1  O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

If we reject the Lord's words and replace them with the idols of our hearts, then that is what the Lord Himself will make us to believe when we are raised to judgment:

Psa 18:26  With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward.

The Lord has made it equally clear that His firstfruits "who first trust in Him" will be the first to endure the fiery trials of His Word within their lives and be the first to die to their old man and will overcome the wicked one while yet in "bodies of mortal flesh":

2Co 4:11  For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.

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.

1Pe 4:12  Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
1Pe 4:13  But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed [at the first resurrection], ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. [That you will not be hurt of the second death]

1Jn 2:13  I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.

Rev 2:10  Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
Rev 2:11  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh [Now in bodies of mortal flesh] shall not be hurt of the second death.

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.

Believe the Lord's words. "The wicked one... the devil will try" God's elect. He will not be trying those with whom he is being purified in the second death.

Christ has made all of this just as clear as the doctrine of universal salvation. He has promised His elect, who overcome the wicked one while yet in bodies of mortal flesh, that they will not be hurt again of the second death. God's elect suffer the 'groaning and travailing in pain together with the whole creation' while yet in bodies of mortal flesh.

Rom 8:21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
Rom 8:22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
Rom 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

His elect die to their old man in this age and will not take part in the second group, consisting of all who are not in that blessed and holy first resurrection. It is called "the second death" because it is 'second' both ordinally and in order of preference.

Next week, as the Lord wills we will learn exactly what is our part in the lake of fire:

Isa 33:13  Hear, ye that are far off, what I have done; and, ye that are near, acknowledge my might.
Isa 33:14  The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?
Isa 33:15  He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil;
Isa 33:16  He shall dwell on high: his place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure.
Isa 33:17  Thine eyes shall see the king in his beauty: they shall behold the land that is very far off.
Isa 33:18  Thine heart shall meditate terror. Where is the scribe? where is the receiver? where is he that counted the towers?
Isa 33:19  Thou shalt not see a fierce people, a people of a deeper speech than thou canst perceive; of a stammering tongue, that thou canst not understand.
Isa 33:20  Look upon Zion, the city of our solemnities: thine eyes shall see Jerusalem a quiet habitation, a tabernacle that shall not be taken down; not one of the stakes thereof shall ever be removed, neither shall any of the cords thereof be broken.
Isa 33:21  But there the glorious LORD will be unto us a place of broad rivers and streams; wherein shall go no galley with oars, neither shall gallant ship pass thereby.
Isa 33:22  For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; he will save us.
Isa 33:23  Thy tacklings are loosed; they could not well strengthen their mast, they could not spread the sail: then is the prey of a great spoil divided; the lame take the prey.
Isa 33:24  And the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick: the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity.

Psa 69:26 For they persecute him whom thou hast smitten; and they talk to the grief of those whom thou hast wounded.
Psa 69:27 Add iniquity unto their iniquity: and let them not come into thy righteousness.
Psa 69:28 Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.
Psa 69:29 But I am poor and sorrowful: let thy salvation, O God, set me up on high.
Psa 69:30 I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.
Psa 69:31 This also shall please the LORD better than an ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs.
Psa 69:32 The humble shall see this, and be glad: and your heart shall live that seek God.
Psa 69:33 For the LORD heareth the poor, and despiseth not his prisoners.
Psa 69:34 Let the heaven and earth praise him, the seas, and every thing that moveth therein.
Psa 69:35 For God will save Zion, and will build the cities of Judah: that they may dwell there, and have it in possession.
Psa 69:36 The seed also of his servants shall inherit it: and they that love his name shall dwell therein.

The scriptures we’re looking at tonight speak specifically about Christ as well as those who are called to be hated of all men for not running to the same excess of riot as “they” do. Without Godly fear we will not deny ungodliness in this world and we will speak evil of those “looking for” to deny this ungodliness in this world (Tit 2:12-13).

1Pe 4:4 Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:

Tit 2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
Tit 2:13 Looking for(G4327) that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

Jud 1:21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for(G4327) the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

Mar 15:43 Joseph of Arimathaea, an honourable counsellor, which also waited for(G4327) the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus.

Luk 22:15 And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer:

In (Lev 16:10) we read of how God used the “lot” to describe those who are predestined to be chosen to be presented alive before the Lord (Rom 12:1) “to make an atonement with him” and “to let him go for a scapegoat into the wilderness”.

Lev 16:10 But the goat, on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat, shall be presented alive before the LORD, to make an atonement with him, and to let him go for a scapegoat into the wilderness.

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.

In order for the ministry of Christ to be completed, we are called to make an “atonement with him” and to be as he is in this world, hated of all men and rejected of the scribes and pharisees.

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 7:29 And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John.
Luk 7:30 But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him.

Luk 10:16 He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me.

It is through this entire process of being sent out into the wilderness as the scapegoat with the sins of the world within us that our “ambassadorship” matures and we are made ready to be an “atonement” that can be used to ‘reconcile’ the world as saviours.

1Jn 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

It is our Lord, the spotless scapegoat of Leviticus 16, who is accepted of God which atones for the sins of the world that we come to see in us and drive out of our wilderness experience little by little, if God is preparing us to be those living sacrifices in this age.

Exo 23:29 I will not drive them out from before thee in one year; lest the land become desolate, and the beast of the field multiply against thee.

My/your own life can’t redeem anything or anyone, but the life of Christ in me/you is “looking for” (G4327) and filling up what is behind of His afflictions by God’s predestined ambassadorship unfolding can and will be used of God to atone for the sins of the world as he increases and we decrease.

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:

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

The body of Christ is integral (or the ‘bridge’) to point people to Christ and to bring spiritual healing through this relationship that has been cut off from the world for now, introduced to very few starting at that day of Pentecost and until this day.

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

Act 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place…

Act 2:5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.

Act 2:40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
Act 2:41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

Until the world is given to see and understand who Jesus Christ is, they will continue to kick against the pricks and persecute our Lord within each of us, just as we have done in our appointed time (Act 9:5).

Tonight’s verses will hopefully give us a closer view of the way that we attacked Christ and why it is needful and necessary for our maturing to go through those persecutions for the world’s sake as we are held up by an high priest whose suffering we are told to remember and consider less we grow weary in well doing.

Heb 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

Heb 12:3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

Our well-doing in this age is centered around being those ambassadors who are lambs for the slaughter and eventually food and drink for the masses (Rom 8:36-39), yet more than conquerors and very much “persuaded” [more and more], and “bearing witness”(Rom 9:1) of the “rock of offence”(Rom 9:33)

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

Rom 9:33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

Psa 69:26 For they persecute him whom thou hast smitten; and they talk to the grief of those whom thou hast wounded.

My beloved Gale, when I asked her, immediately pointed to Job as another example of someone who is a type of the elect who was smitten of God and surrounded by his miserable comforters who say in essence what we see this verse saying: “they persecute him whom thou hast smitten and they talk to the grief of those whom thou hast wounded”.

Job 16:2 I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are ye all.

Job’s friends couldn’t judge righteous judgement if their lives depended on it, as it does symbolically all of us in our time. It was only Elihu who typifies the elect (Job 32:4-10) who could comfort Job with the comfort (only in type and shadow, and always through righteous judgment which includes admonition) as we discussed last week.

2Co 1:4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

It is God who allows the suffering, sovereign over all the details of all this persecution being allowed, and using it in our lives to mature us so that we are ready in that day to reign and rule with Him – under Christ – because we have been counted “worthy” to suffer with him in this regard today.

Act 5:41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.

2Th 1:5 Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:

2Ti 2:12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:

We go from wanting to avoid pain and rejection to coming to realize by the grace and faith of Christ that we can be as Christ and His Christ “rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name” or despising the shame as we discussed in verse 20 of Psalm 69 last week – but always through judgment and persecution and grief and being wounded in our flesh (Mar 12:4, Luk 10:30, Luk 20:12, Luk 10:34) to get there.

Joh 20:25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.
Joh 20:26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.
Joh 20:27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.
Joh 20:28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.

Psa 69:27 Add iniquity unto their iniquity: and let them not come into thy righteousness.
Psa 69:28 Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.
Psa 69:29 But I am poor and sorrowful: let thy salvation, O God, set me up on high.

These three verses remind us of who exactly is running the show so to speak! God adds “iniquity unto their iniquity” just as we learned in Mike’s study last Sunday. (a href=”http://www.iswasandwillbe.com/he-hath-chosen-us-in-him-before-the-foundation-of-the-world/”>He Hath Chosen Us In Him Before The Foundation of The World)

“O God” (H430 ‘ĕlôhı̂ym) is sovereign over every [predestinated] step of our lives, both while we are enemies of the cross and when we – at the appointed time and by the grace and faith of God – become living sacrifices or ambassadors unto our great God.

What needs to be “blotted out of the book of the living” is our first man Adam who cannot inherit the kingdom of God. Nothing can and nothing will defile the kingdom of God is what we are being told here. And because we know God is the One writing all the books we can rest assured that what he has determined to accomplished is going to unfold according to the council of His will.

Dan 7:10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.

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

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

Psa 139:16 Your eyes saw my embryo, And my days, all of them were written upon Your scroll; The days were formed When there was not one of them.”CLV

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

The condition that God is forming within the new creation is a heart that is “poor and sorrowful”, and it is a blessed event when we start crying out to God because we have been brought to our wits’ end “let thy salvation, O God, set me up on high”.

Isa 66:2 For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.

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

Psa 69:30 I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.
Psa 69:31 This also shall please the LORD better than an ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs.
Psa 69:32 The humble shall see this, and be glad: and your heart shall live that seek God.
Psa 69:33 For the LORD heareth the poor, and despiseth not his prisoners.

Perhaps the most hopeful part of this Psalm 69 in regard to showing us the fruit of what all of our trials produce in this age are found in these verses 30 to 33. These verses speak of the fruit that is manifested in our lives as a result of the tender mercies of God. They reveal to us that it is He that works with us and reinstates us into the book of life that we were once blotted out of because of our sins and transgressions which separated us from God.

Isa 64:8 But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.

Isa 59:2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

“Praise[ing] the name of God with a song” and “magnify[ing] him with thanksgiving” for what he has done/is doing for/in us is a real action that blesses us but it is also a symbol that God uses to describe the harmony we come to understand in the body of Christ — this ‘collective oneness’ or “singleness of mind” that cannot but give thanks to Him for the work that Christ is doing within us, both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

1Pe 3:8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:

Luk 19:40 And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.

1Pe 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

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

The works that we did ‘by the law’ are those ‘many wonderful’ works which are represented by the “ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs”(see Daniel 8 and Ezekiel 34), and it is us at first who push with those horns trying to climb the corporate corrupt tower of Babylon that promises to take you up to the heavens but leads only to confusion of languages and no singleness of mind which God’s family are blessed to grow in as we come out of Babylon. This subject of oneness of mind and voice is very much connected to the “tender mercies of God” being shown to us.

Deu 33:16 And for the precious things of the earth and fulness thereof, and for the good will of him that dwelt in the bush: let the blessing come upon the head of Joseph, and upon the top of the head of him that was separated from his brethren.
Deu 33:17 His glory is like the firstling of his bullock, and his horns are like the horns of unicorns: with them he shall push the people together to the ends of the earth: and they are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they are the thousands of Manasseh.

Gen 11:4 And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth…

Gen 11:8 So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city.
Gen 11:9 Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.

1Pe 3:8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:

Php 2:1 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,
Php 2:2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

Again, those who have been given a humble and contrite heart in this age know that they are nothing of themselves and that we cannot decide of ourselves that we will “keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway” as stated in. All are admonitions that will be recognized and heeded by those who have Christ in them working in them both to will and to do of His good pleasure.

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

1Co 9:27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

1Pe 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

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

What we, who are being working with us in this age, ‘do’ as this part of our Psalm declares is “praise the name of God with a song” and “magnify him with thanksgiving”, given the sight to see clearly that this grafting in and grace that is being worked in us is being used to burn out the conceit that is naturally in the first man Adam (Rom 11:25) that says “haven’t we done many wonderful works” instead of acknowledging our nothingness and God’s absolute power over the whole lump that is holy.

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

Joh 15:5 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.

Heb 7:19 For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.

God’s ‘tender mercies’ are truly explained in verse 33 where we learn how incredibly blessed we are: “For the LORD heareth the poor, and despiseth not his prisoners” — the “kings prisoners” who we are.

Dan 5:13 Then was Daniel brought in before the king. And the king spake and said unto Daniel, Art thou that Daniel, which art of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Jewry?

Gen 39:20 And Joseph’s master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison.
Gen 39:21 But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.

Psa 69:34 Let the heaven and earth praise him, the seas, and every thing that moveth therein.
Psa 69:35 For God will save Zion, and will build the cities of Judah: that they may dwell there, and have it in possession.
Psa 69:36 The seed also of his servants shall inherit it: and they that love his name shall dwell therein.

Our Psalm 69 ends off with this incredibly joyful moment of praise coming from “the heaven and the earth” and “the seas, and every thing that moveth therein”.

In other words, all the creation will come to acknowledge God who is turning all of His creation to His glory and it is through the praise that we develop more and more of the mind of Christ, which is a mind of thankfulness and praise. We are learning of his tender mercies now, and growing in our ability to acknowledge all these wonderful works unto the children of men which are His salvation unto us.

Ecc 3:1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

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

Luk 10:19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
Luk 10:20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.
Luk 10:21 In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight.
Luk 10:22 All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him.

Psa 107:31 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

It becomes even clearer in Psalms 69 verses 35 and 36 how it is that God is going to show those tender mercies and redeem all of his creation which is praising him. How? By those saviours who are born of that one seed (Gal 3:16), that seed being Jesus Christ who will be used to save the rest of humanity.

“For God will save Zion (Oba 1:21), and will build the cities of Judah: that they may dwell there, and have it in possession.”

“The seed also of his servants (Gal 3:16) shall inherit it: and they that love his name shall dwell therein.”

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

Introduction

Here we are in the verses before us today, right after being told that “the hour of God’s judgment is come” (Rev 14:7), we are now being told that those who die in the Lord are blessed. Then the very next verse tells us that the Son of Man has come with a crown on His head and a sharp sickle in His hand. So it is quite clear that “the hour of God’s judgment” is integrally connected with our death and “the harvest of the earth”.

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

According to this verse death must precede judgment, not follow judgment. So let us remember that this is all leading up to the revelation of what comprises the seventh trumpet, and let us never forget that these are all words which are proceeding out of the mouth of God, which we are all to “read, hear and keep” (Rev 1:1, Mat 4:4 and Rev 1:3). In these verses before us today, because we know that these are words that we are to “read, hear and keep” (Rev 1:3), we will see that both Christ, and we as His Christ, are the agency for the reaping of the harvest of the earth.

Now let’s look at what we are to keep as we are brought to see the revelation of this seventh trumpet that is “beginning to sound.”

Rev 14:13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.

There are two forms of death mentioned in scripture. The one is physical, and the other is spiritual death to the things of this world. Physical death, from Christ’s perspective, is not death at all. It is merely taking a nap, and it is referred to in scripture as “sleeping” or being “asleep”. Spiritual death, on the other hand, has two applications of its own. One is positive, as when we “die in the Lord”, and one is negative, as when we are given part in “the second death”.

What are we told of those who “die in the Lord”?

1Th 4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
1Th 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
1Th 4:15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
1Th 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

So physical death is being “asleep in Christ” and is the same as being “dead in Christ”. To God physical death is not an issue, except as the loss of God’s saints is a loss to those in this world involved in grieving that death.

Php 1:21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
Php 1:22 But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not.
Php 1:23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:
Php 1:24 Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.

Here are the scriptures which demonstrate that from God’s perspective, physical death amounts to nothing more than a temporary nap.

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.
Joh 11:15  And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him.

Then who is really dead in our Lord? Here again is Christ’s perspective, on who is really dead:

Mat 8:22  But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.

So then, those who our natural man considers to be alive are really dead, and those who our natural man considers to be dead, are really alive to Christ. Here is how He frames His perspective towards what is and what is not ‘life’.

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

How do we go about “losing our life for Christ’s sake? Does “losing our life for Christ’s sake have anything to do with physical death? Well, if we “endure to the end” the answer is yes. But Christ considers Himself and us to have been crucified and dying while we are yet living, and He considers us to be living only if we are in Him. Here is what we are told:

Mat 16:24  Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

Rom 6:3  Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
Rom 6:4  Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

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.

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

1Th 3:8  For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord.

So while physical death is certainly included as the subject of Rev 14: 13, so is spiritual death to the things of this world. “The hour of His judgment” of Rev 14:7 follows the death, crucifixion and losing of life spoken of in all of these verses. All the saints who have “endured to the end” in all the generations since Christ, considered themselves to have died with Christ long before the end of their physical life, and now they are simply “sleeping” and waiting for Christ to raise them up from that temporary condition. So we are told:

Ecc 7:1  A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one’s birth.

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

Ecc 7:15  All things have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a just man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his wickedness.

Joh 12:23  And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.
Joh 12:24  Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
Joh 12:25  He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.

Who is Jesus answering, and what is the request He is answering?

Joh 12:20  And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast:
Joh 12:21  The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus.
Joh 12:22  Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: and again Andrew and Philip tell Jesus.

It is not for the benefit of those “certain Greeks”, but for our benefit that Christ tells Andrew and Philip:

Joh 12:24  Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
Joh 12:25  He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.

In other words, no man can see Christ at any time but those who have first died to “life in this world”. Only then does the true revelation of Jesus Christ begin to come into our spiritual vision.

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

Our death to “life in this world” must precede our judgment. That is what the scriptures teach, and those are words which we must keep. Here is a very healthy spiritual view of this whole subject of life and death:

Php 1:20 According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.
Php 1:21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

When that becomes our true perspective on the subject of life and death, then we are ready and prepared to be reaped and judged and to “see Christ”. Then after we have been reaped, we can and will be used by God to reap others with and for our Lord.

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

“Now… by the church” is what Christ in His Christ is “now” in this life doing within those whom the holy spirit drags to the Christ, revealing to them “the manifold wisdom of God”.

Here in the “Son of Man with a sharp sickle”, and “another angel with a sharp sickle” is part of this manifold wisdom of God, which is being “now… being made known by the church… to all men”. Here is how those who are “crucified with Christ” are reaped by Christ:

Rev 14:14  And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.
Rev 14:15  And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.
Rev 14:16  And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.

This obviously is Christ. It is Christ who will “return with the cloud of witnesses”.

Dan 7:13  I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.

Act 1:9  And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
Act 1:10  And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
Act 1:11  Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

What do these clouds symbolize? They are the symbol of those in whom Christ dwells and who are faithful to the word and witness of the Truths of God’s Words.

Heb 12:1  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset [us], and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

Christ is “the Son of man”. It is Christ who has “a golden crown on His head”, and it is Christ who has “a sharp sickle in His hand” and is told by “the angel out of the temple… to reap for the harvest of the earth is ripe”. You and I are that temple (1Co 3:16-17). You and I are that “angel [messenger]” out of that temple.

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

If for one moment we forget that we are to keep these words written in these verses, we will lose our focus on where and when this harvest is taking place, and we will fail to realize that “the hour of God’s judgment is come” within us.

Rev 14:7  Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

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?

“The hour of His judgment is come” mentioned in verse 14 is the same as “the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God” in 1Pe 4:17. This “hour of His judgment” is the same as this “harvest of the earth” within us here in verse 15. It is all one and the same event, which takes place within each and every believer before he can enter into the temple of God. If we lose this inward focus, we will forget that 2,000 year ago “the time was at hand to keep the things written in this book”, and we, too, will fall into the damning doctrine of placing all of the things written in this book out there in the future, upon the last generation of mankind which happens to be left standing on this earth when our Lord comes to resurrect His firstfruits and to give them the rulership of this earth for a symbolic “one thousand years”.

On the other hand, if it is given to us to maintain this focus, then these following verses which all “proceed out of the mouth” of our Lord will take on a new and wonderful and personal application:

Mat 13:24  Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven [within us: Luk 17:20-21] is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field [Our lives in this world, Mat 13:38 “… the field is the world” or damnable false doctrines]:
Mat 13:25  But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares [ damnable false doctrines] 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.

The “good seed” in this and all parables, are the good words of the kingdom and “the children of the kingdom” who bring that good word:

Mat 13:19  When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it] not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.

“The wicked one… catches away the good seed” by planting tares [lies] in with the good seed. The lying doctrines are tolerated in our lives “until the harvest” or until the “hour of His judgment is come”. That is why we have “the hour of His judgment” and “the harvest of the earth” in the same few verses here in Revelation 14. Here are these two verses side by side:

Rev 14:7  Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

Rev 14:15  And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.
Rev 14:16  And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.

Who keeps all these things? Where is all of this to happen? When is this all to take place? We are not left to guess:

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 [that is who and where these things are all to be kept]: for the time is at hand [ this is when these things are to be kept].

But “the Son of Man” told us that He was sending us “as My Father hath sent me”. For what purpose was Christ sent into this world by His Father?

1Ti 1:15  This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

Is that what Christ has sent us to do also? Is it? Here are His own words:

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

Are we really sent into this world to be saviors of sinners? What do the scriptures say?

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

“Mount Zion” is a symbol for God’s elect, and God’s elect are His agents for bringing mercy and life to all men. Let’s read it again:

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

Remember this verse quoted above:

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

Here in Rev 14:17 is “a man that is… the angel”.

Rev 14:17 And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle.
Rev 14:18  And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe.
Rev 14:19  And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast [ it] into the great winepress of the wrath of God.
Rev 14:20  And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand [ and] six hundred furlongs.

This angel “comes out of the temple which is in heaven”. We have demonstrated over and over that “ye are the temple of God”. We have demonstrated that the angels are men who are also reapers:

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.

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

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

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

It is “the church” who shows these things to “all men”.

Eph 3:9  And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
Eph 3:10  To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly [places] might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, [“These things” of Rev 22:8]

We have demonstrated over and over that “God dwells in you”, that He “dwells in the heavens”, and “He dwells in His people”.

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.

Psa 103:19  The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.

Psa 115:3  But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.

Psa 123:1 <A Song of degrees.> Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens.

“God dwells in you… God dwells in the heavens”. God must perform the miracle of blinding our spiritual eyes to keep us from seeing that the heavens are within His people.

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.

This angel that “gathers the vine of the earth” with the very same sharp sickle that Christ uses is Christ’s Christ. This team is also known as “the Lord and His Christ”,

Act 4:26  The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.

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.

One of Christ’s many titles is “the mighty God”.

Isa 9:6  For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

And so once again we see this same team which will harvest the clusters of the earth in this verse:

Rev 12:10  And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

So “the Son of Man” harvests us and “casts us into the winepress of the the wrath of God”. This is the same wrath of God, which we will later hear of as the seven plagues of the seven angels. ‘The vision is one.’ (Gen 41):

Rev 15:1  And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God.

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

The dragon is that old serpent the devil, and we are his children and his angels who wage war against our Lord, as our inward armies. This is all “war in the heavens” where, as the children of “our father the devil”, we withstand “the Son of Man” when He comes to harvest us and separate the Truths of His Word in us, from all the tares of Babylon within us. This has all been revealed to us earlier in chapter 12:

Rev 12:7  And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
Rev 12:8  And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
Rev 12:9  And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
Rev 12:10  And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

In the process, our old man is destroyed and the blood and his flesh is fed to “the fowls of heaven”, and blood flows for 1600 furlongs “unto the horse bridles”.

The temple of our God is in the kingdom of our God, and that “salvation, strength, and kingdom of our God and the power of His Christ” cannot be entered into until the seven plagues of the seven angels are fulfilled within us. This “hour of the judgment of our God” upon all the sins of our flesh which accompany the lies of Babylon within us, is what “the days of the voice of the seventh angel when he shall begin to sound” are leading us into.

What is the Biblical significance of 1600 furlongs? 16 is two times 8. Two is the number which signifies the witness we bear for our Lord while in these vessels of clay. “The 8th is of the seven” is the beast that “is not”, and even though he is a new man, he is still in a vessel of clay, or flesh, which cannot inherit the kingdom of God, and must “go into perdition”.

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

But our number is 1600, and 1600 is 2 times 8 times 100. 100 is the perfection of the flesh which cannot inherit the kingdom of God, even if it is the flesh of Jesus Christ.

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

Here now are these same verses of Rev 14:13-20, repeated in Rev 19:

Rev 19:10  And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: [this is the angel with the sharp sickle that comes out of the temple of God] for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
Rev 19:11  And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
Rev 19:12  His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. [This is the Son of Man with the sharp sickle and a golden crown upon His head]
Rev 19:13  And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. [ This is the blood that comes to the horses bridle]
Rev 19:14  And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. [this is the Lord’s Christ, who gathers the clusters of the earth and places them in the Lord’s winpress of His wrath]
Rev 19:15  And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations [this is the same thing as “a sharp sickle with which to harvest the earth in “the hour of the Lord’s judgment”]: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God [the exact same “winepress of the wrath of God” of Rev 14:19].
Rev 19:16  And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
Rev 19:17  And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;
Rev 19:18  That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great. [the same “all men” of Rev 13, who “receive the mark, name, number and imageof the beast”]
Rev 19:19  And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.
Rev 19:20  And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
Rev 19:21  And the remnant were slain with the sword [or “sharp sickle”] of him that sat upon the horse, which sword [or sharp sickle] proceeded out of his mouth [the seed that fell in good ground in Mat 13:23]: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh. [Our own flesh as “the wicked” of Mat 13:19]

Mat 13:23  But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

We are not one or the other. Rather we are first the wicked, and unfruitful, and then we are “that which bears fruit”. We “live by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God” (Mat 4:4).

Summary

We have seen that our end is better than our beginning, and our death is better than our birth. We also saw that being “dead in Christ” is also a spiritual statement concerning dying to “life in this world” and living our new life as a “living sacrifice unto God”.

Rev 14:13  And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.

We have seen that Christ is the Son of Man upon a white “cloud of witnesses” who harvests His firstfruits.

Rev 14:14  And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud [one] sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.
Rev 14:15  And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.
Rev 14:16  And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.

But we have also seen that the Son of Man, who is Christ, has His own Christ, who, instead of coming on a cloud is said to “come out of the temple in heaven”. It is through this, “our Lord’s Christ”, that Christ will “gather the clusters of the earth” with the same sharp sickle, which is nothing less than the “sharp two edged sword… which is the Word of God”.

Rev 14:17  And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle.
Rev 14:18  And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe.

We have seen that the “winepress of the wrath of God” of these verses, is the same “wrath of God” contained in the seven plagues of the seven angels which must be fulfilled in every man who would enter into the temple of God in heaven (Rev 15:1 and 8).

Rev 14:19  And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.

Finally we saw that the 1600 furlongs of blood, as 2 times 8 time 100, symbolize the perdition of our flesh. We saw that the number 2, as the symbol of our witness for Christ, is contained within that number 1600 as a multiple of 8, which symbolizes our new man, who, even though “we have Christ in us as earthen vessels” those ‘earthen vessels’ symbolized by the number ten and its multiple of ten times ten or 100, still “cannot inherit the kingdom of God” and must “go into perdition”.

Rev 14:20  And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.

Next week, Lord willing, we will discover the meaning of the sea of glass mingled with fire, and we will discover what the significance getting the victory over the beast, his image, his mark, and the number of his name is. We will also discover the Biblical significance of “having the harps of God”. Most importantly we will see the connection between the wrath of God, and the “manifesting of His judgments.”

Rev 15:1  And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God.
Rev 15:2  And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, [and] over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.
Rev 15:3  And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous [are] thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true [are] thy ways, thou King of saints.
Rev 15:4  Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for [thou] only [art] holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.

Hello Mike,

I need some help to see, if you have the time.  What did Jesus mean when He told the apostles in Matthew 26:29…

“But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”

What did He mean by the ‘fruit of the vine’?  I find it hard to believe that He’s referring to literal grape juice or wine or whatever it was they were drinking, since spiritual beings will have no real use for physical drink in the kingdom of God.  I’m thinking that the answer has something to do with the word ‘new’ and possibly something to do with a prior parable concerning Jesus being the Vine, but to be honest, I don’t know.

It’s probably a simple explanation, but nonetheless, would you be willing to help open my eyes to the answer?

God bless, E____

Good morning E____,

It is good to hear from you, and thank you for your question.

You ask:

“What did Jesus mean when He told the apostles in Matthew 26:29…

“But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”

What did He mean by the ‘fruit of the vine’?

The first thing I want to do is to commend you for realizing that the holy spirit does not teach by comparing physical wine, or anything else physical, with spiritual things. As you have surmised, “the holy spirit teaches comparing spiritual things 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.
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.

So, you are exactly right. Christ is not speaking of a physical “fruit of the vine.” He is instead speaking of a spiritual “fruit of the vine.” We will never understand what is being said in this verse until we understand what “the vine” is. As is always the case, whether positive or negative, whether good or bad, the scriptures are always “Christ-centric”, and Christ Himself tells us “I am the vine…”

Joh 15:5  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.

Then Christ, when speaking of “the vine,” is actually speaking of Himself, when we compare spiritual things with spiritual.

What, then, is “the fruit of the vine” when comparing spiritual with spiritual? The answer is again right here in John 15:5, “Ye are the branches: He that abides in me, AND I IN HIM, brings forth much fruit…”  The “fruit of the vine”, when we “compare spiritual with spiritual”, is produced only in those who “abide in Christ.” What do those who “abide in Christ” do? “… The same brings forth much fruit…” (Joh 15:5).

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

“You have NOT chosen me…” So much for the false doctrine of ‘free’ will. Our election has nothing to do with a ‘free’ will. No one can come to God unless the spirit drags him to God:

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

I have emboldened and underlined the word ‘that’ in John 15:16 above because it demonstrates that Christ connects our election, our being “chosen”, to our production of fruit and to what we “ask of the Father.” “Whatsoever ye shall ask”, if you are a ‘fruitful branch in Christ’, will “remain” for this one reason:

1Jn 5:14  And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:

God simply does not answer prayers which are contrary to His will. We do indeed ask things contrary to His will, but we do not receive anything that is not “according to His will.”

Jas 4:3  Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

We have established that we must be “in Christ” before we can “bring forth much fruit,” and we have established that when we finally do “bring forth much fruit” that “much fruit… will remain.” It “will not pass away.” So what is the one thing that “will remain” and “will not pass away?”

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

What we ask for and what we do that “will remain” and “will not pass away” is to be a faithful witness to the words of Christ, and that is exactly what He tells us here in this same 15th chapter of John:

Joh 15:26  But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
Joh 15:27  And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.

There is the “much fruit” we bear if we “abide in Christ.” We “testify of and bear witness” of Christ, His Words and His doctrine. It is Jesus Christ who gives to us the spirit of His Father which strengthens us to “bring forth much fruit.”

Eph 4:30  And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

What is that spirit?

Joh 6:63  It is the Spirit that makes alive, the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit and are life. (ASV)

Now we have established that the fruit we bear is to ‘bear witness and testify of Christ and His words and His doctrine.’ Only then will “our fruit remain.” All other things will pass away:

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

What was the symbol of those “Words of Christ?” What was the symbol of “the fruit of the vine?” It was not mere grape juice. It was definitely fermented, alcoholic wine which Christ and His apostles were drinking when Christ made this statement. You cannot say, “You have saved the best until last” about grape juice; you don’t pour grape juice into an open wound, and grape juice doesn’t make anyone drunk.

Joh 2:10  And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now.

Luk 10:34  And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

1Co 11:20  When ye come together therefore into one place, [this] is not to eat the Lord’s supper.
1Co 11:21  For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken.

I know that is not your main question, but you were uncertain about what Christ and the apostles were drinking, and as I demonstrated above, it is important that we know that Christ and His apostles are drinking wine and not grape juice, or we will miss the significance of what was being accomplished in all the verses which use this Greek word ‘oinos‘ – wine. This is not grape juice. It is fermented, alcoholic wine.

You say:

“I’m thinking that the answer has something to do with the word ‘new’, and possibly something to do with a prior parable concerning Jesus being the Vine, but to be honest, I don’t know.”

Again, I want to commend you for realizing that “no prophecy of scripture is of its own interpretation” and that it is “the sum of God’s Word” which constitutes truth.

2Pe 1:20  Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private [Greek: idios, its own] interpretation.

Psa 119:160  The sum of thy word is truth; And every one of thy righteous ordinances endureth for ever. (ASV)

So you are exactly right on both counts. Both the word ‘new’ and Christ being “the vine” are involved in understanding what Christ meant by the phrase “the fruit of the vine.” Both the apostle Paul and Jesus Himself say so. Christ is not just the vine; He tells us that He is also the fruit of the vine, and His blood is the wine of that fruit, the New Testament. It is all part of the symbols of “the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

Let’s go back and let Paul finish his thought where he is chiding the Corinthians for eating and getting drunk in the church while others in the congregation were doing without. Here are those two verses and the very next verses:

1Co 11:20  When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord’s supper.
1Co 11:21  For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken.
1Co 11:22  What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not.
1Co 11:23  For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:
1Co 11:24  And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
1Co 11:25  After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.

This cup of wine is the New Testament and that is exactly what Christ Himself tells us:

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

Mar 14:24  And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many.

Luk 22:20  Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.

The cup of wine symbolized Christ’s blood in the New Testament. It did not symbolize the blood of bulls and goats of the Old Testament. In drinking of that cup, the apostles were symbolically doing two things: they were both confessing and giving an account of their part in His death, and they were at the same time pledging allegiance to Christ’s Words in the New Testament as opposed to what Christ called the words of Moses in the Old Testament.

Mat 19:8  He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.

Joh 7:22  Moses therefore gave unto you circumcision; [not because it is of Moses, but of the fathers]; and ye on the sabbath day circumcise a man.

Heb 7:12  For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.

So, yes, the word ‘new’ has a lot to do with what Christ was telling His disciples. He was telling them that they were about to pass from the old to the new covenant in their relationship to Him and His Father. In so doing, they were about to “pass from death unto life,” and in order to do that they must confess their part in His death and die to that part.

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

He had already alluded to this in many of His previous sayings, like every one of his “You have heard that it has been said by them of old… But I say unto you…” statements. Then there was also this “previous parable” to which you alluded above:

Luk 5:36  And he spake also a parable unto them; No man putteth a piece of a new garment upon an old; if otherwise, then both the new maketh a rent, and the piece that was [taken] out of the new agreeth not with the old.
Luk 5:37  And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish.
Luk 5:38  But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved.
Luk 5:39  No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better.

No one desires the new. Everyone thinks the old covenant is better. The very subject under discussion is John the Baptist, who is the symbol of the old covenant, versus Christ and His words of the new covenant:

Mat 11:11  Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

That is right, Christ is not talking about literal wine. He is talking about the new spiritual wine of the New Testament.

Mat 11:13  For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.

Luk 16:16  The law and the prophets were until John: from that time the gospel of the kingdom of God is preached, and every man entereth violently into it.

Joh 15:5  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.

“Much fruit” means knowing the mind and words of Christ, and sharing His truth, His words and His doctrine with others. If we do not know Christ’s doctrine, we will bring forth no fruit. Instead we will bring forth the briars and thorns of false doctrines.

The only question now is when will He “drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom?”

“But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”

Christ made it clear that the wine of the cup is the words of the New Testament. When will His Father’s kingdom come, so that Christ can finally drink of the fruit of the vine with His disciples? Will we all have to wait until Christ assumes the reins of the kingdoms of this world, before we can “drink it new” with Him? Absolutely not, not for those who “know God and Jesus Christ.” Those who “know God and Jesus Christ, are now in that kingdom in “earnest of the spirit,” and are already “drinking it new” with Christ. Here is how that is accomplished:

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.

Understanding that the kingdom of God is already here in promise and in down-payment form in all who know God and Jesus Christ, is a key to understanding all of God’s word. You cannot begin to understand the revelation of Jesus Christ until you see that He and His kingdom have been on this earth in the lives of His ambassadors ever since the days of Christ’s own ministry:

Mar 1:14  Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,
Mar 1:15  And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

That kingdom and all that brings that kingdom into this world is revealed from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21. That kingdom is now, just as it was in Christ’s day, but only in those in whom Christ and His doctrine dwell. It will one day rule the kingdoms of this world, and it will one day be in all men. However, for now it is only in those who “drink it new” with Christ in His Father’s kingdom, and it is only in them in “earnest of the spirit.” It is not in us in ‘fullness of the spirit.’

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

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

God’s spirit within is God’s kingdom within. It is “the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession.”

Then what? What happens at the time of the redemption of the purchased possession? What happens when full possession of the purchased possession is accomplished? Here is what we are told:

1Jn 3:2  Beloved, now are we the sons of God [in earnest], and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

Are we sons now? The answer is, “Yes we are, in down payment.” Has Christ already appeared to us? Has he come to us a second time already? The answer is again, “Yes, He has, in earnest.” Finally, are we “like Him” already? Again, the answer is, “Yes, we are like Him in earnest, ‘sealed with the holy spirit of promise.'” Christ has not yet taken “the redemption of the purchased possession”, and until that day we can say with John:

1Jn 3:2  Beloved, now are we the sons of God [in earnest], and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

I go to all this trouble demonstrating what is meant by the words “earnest of the spirit” to counter the false doctrine of the ‘fullness now’ which has ravished the churches of Babylon and has been used by the Adversary to nullify and neutralize, in so many Christians, the production of “much fruit,” which is witnessing to and being faithful to the doctrine of Christ.

I hope that helps you to see that Christ is “the vine,” and He and His doctrine and His sayings are “the fruit of that vine.” I hope this helps you to see what Christ meant when He said:

“But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”

It is in us that Christ is again “drinking new with you” of His doctrine and His sayings. It is through us that He is again “bearing witness” to His doctrine and “bringing forth much fruit.” The wine of “this cup” is Christ’s words in the New Testament, and those words are in those in whom Christ dwells “in His Father’s kingdom [which] is within you.”  That is what Christ meant by “this fruit of the vine,” when we “compare 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.

Your brother in Christ,
Mike