Rev 8:8-9 Part 1, The Second Trumpet a Burning Mountain Cast into the Sea

[Study Aired July 12, 2024]

Rev 8:8  And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood;
Rev 8:9  And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed.

Compare these two verses describing the second trumpet judgment upon the kingdom of our old man, to this verse concerning the second vial which is poured out on the kingdom of our old man:

Rev 16:3  And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it became as the blood of a dead man: and every living soul died in the sea.

Both the trumpet and the vial turn the sea to blood. The trumpet judgment kills a third of those in the sea. “Every living soul died in the sea” when the second vial is poured out on the kingdom of our old man. It is for our admonition that the holy spirit has used the seven vials to complement and fill up the judgment of the seven trumpets, demonstrating that both are the revelation of the great day of His wrath upon the kingdom of our old man.

Introduction

This second trumpet has within it six more symbols of the things we are to read, hear and keep (Rev 1:3): 1) A great mountain. 2) This ‘mountain’ is burning with ‘fire.’ 3) This ‘mountain’ burning with ‘fire’ is cast into the ‘sea.’ 4) This causes the ‘sea’ to “become as blood.” 5) When the ‘sea’ “becomes as blood” this causes a third part of the creatures which were living in the sea to die, and finally 6) The third part of the ships that were in the sea were destroyed when this mountain burning with fire is cast into the sea.

What is this “great mountain?”

This “great mountain burning with fire” is the kingdom of God within those in whom it dwells.

Mic 4:1  But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it.

That is the fourth chapter of Micah. Micah four is concerned only with “the last days.” Before “the last days” we are a mountain of a different type. Jeremiah quotes Micah, and Micah repeats what Jeremiah quoted from an earlier chapter of Micah.

Jer 26:18  Micah the Morasthite prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, and spake to all the people of Judah, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Zion shall be plowed like a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of a forest.

Here is this same verse in Micah:

Mic 3:12  Therefore shall Zion for your sake be plowed as a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of the forest.

The plowing and the burning of that great mountain are one and the same thing. We must be broken up and crushed to powder, and our works must be “burned up” before we can bring forth the fruit of the spirit.

As is always the case when dealing with words which we are told are “a two edged sword” (Heb 4:12, Rev 1:6), this “great mountain” has within us a “two-edged” meaning, which is demonstrated by the way the holy spirit uses the phrase “a great mountain” in scripture.

Dan 2:31  Thou, O king, sawest, and behold a great image. This great image, whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee; and the form thereof was terrible.
Dan 2:32  This image’s head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass,
Dan 2:33  His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay.
Dan 2:34  Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces.

This  Babylonian image has a Babylonian “head of gold” which even today, ‘rides upon’ and heads up all the kingdoms of men (Rev 17:1-5). However, “a stone… cut out without hands” hits the image on its feet and destroys the image, and the stone “becomes a great mountain and fills the whole earth.”

Dan 2:35  Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.

Rev 17:1  And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters:
Rev 17:2  With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.
Rev 17:3  So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.
Rev 17:4  And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:
Rev 17:5  And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.

Control of this world is the ultimate and primary meaning of “a great mountain.” At this time Babylon the Great, holds the reins of the hearts and minds of mankind. In the end of this prophecy, “all in Adam” will become part of a “great mountain”, which is nothing less than “the kingdom of God [which] is within you.”

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.

Just as “the stone cut out without hands” had to destroy the entire image before it could “become a great mountain and fill the whole earth”, so also is the image itself a type of an evil “great mountain” which is being replaced by the stone that was cut out without hands. Here is the negative application of “a great mountain.”

Zec 4:7  Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it.

This brings us to the next symbol in this prophecy:

What is a great mountain burning with fire?

Here are a few verses which give us the spiritual significance  of this “great mountain burning with fire. When we know what this “great mountain” signifies, then we can understand what we must “read, hear and keep” of this great mountain and of its burning.

Exo 3:1  Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb.
Exo 3:2  And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.

Here it is just the burning bush. Just a few months later this same mountain itself is “burning with fire.”

Deu 4:11  And ye came near and stood under the mountain; and the mountain burned with fire unto the midst of heaven, with darkness, clouds, and thick darkness.

The mountain of God will burn with fire all that will burn up within it. Anything that can be devoured by its flames will be destroyed.

Jer 34:2  Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel; Go and speak to Zedekiah king of Judah, and tell him, Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will give this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall burn it with fire:

Here is this same thought in New Testament words:

Mat 13:40  As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world [G165: aion].
Mat 13:41  The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;
Mat 13:42  And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

Remember what  Micah and Jeremiah said about “the end of this world?”

Mic 4:1  But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it.

When at long last “the mountain of the house of the Lord [begins to be] established” within our hearts and minds, that is when our fiery trials will begin.

Mat 24:6  And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
Mat 24:7  For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
Mat 24:8  All these are the beginning of sorrows.

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

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?

These seven trumpets signal and signify “the beginning of sorrows”. We were told in Revelation 6 that these trumpets culminate in “the great day of His wrath”, and the holy spirit poses the question… “Who shall be able to stand?”

Rev 6:12  And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;
Rev 6:13  And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.
Rev 6:14  And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.
Rev 6:15  And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;
Rev 6:16  And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:
Rev 6:17  For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

That is when all men will begin to hate us and to separate us from their company and cast out our name as evil. That is when “The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom [“within you”] all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; and shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.” We just read Matthew 24:6-8, and now we will read the following verses:

Mat 24:6  And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
Mat 24:7  For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
Mat 24:8  All these are the beginning of sorrows.
Mat 24:9  Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.
Mat 24:10  And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
Mat 24:11  And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
Mat 24:12  And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
Mat 24:13  But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
Mat 24:14  And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

“This gospel of the kingdom” of God is the “mountain of fire” which cast into our earth preceding “the great day of His wrath”. “The mountain of the house of the Lord” is His words and His doctrines reigning supreme upon our hearts and in our minds. That is what is signified by “a great mountain burning with fire [which] was cast into the sea” of our deceived and rebellious carnal mind, burning out all the false doctrines of Babylon’s harlot daughters. It is truly “an experience of evil” (Ecc 1:13), but it is working a good work within the kingdom of God within us because Christ tells us:

Luk 6:22  Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you [from their company], and shall reproach [you], and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake.

Peter also warns us:

1Pe 4:12  Beloved, think it not strange concerning the [great mountain burning with] fiery trial[s] which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:

This ‘fiery mountain’ is within each of us, and we will be covering this very same event again when we get to chapter 16.

Rev 16:3  And the second angel poured out his vial [“a great mountain burning with fire was cast”] upon the sea; and it became as the blood of a dead man: and every living soul died in the sea.

The seven vials “fill up” and finish the process which the seven trumpets begin. The second trumpet kills only “a third” of what lives in our ‘sea.’ The second trumpet kills “all that is in the sea”:

Rev 8:8  And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood;
Rev 8:9  And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed.

The number three or the fraction “the third part” signifies that a process in taking place. In scripture that process is usually the process of judgment:

Numbers in Scripture – Three, the Process

The second trumpet and the second vial both turn the ‘sea’ into blood and kill those in the ‘sea’.

Christ had already foretold of this plague within us in these words:

Mat 8:12  But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Yes, most in this age will not be in that kingdom, but those who are will have lived by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God, including having been cast into outer darkness and having wept bitterly and experienced the gnashing of teeth. The story of Peter signifies how this experience of evil” (Ecc 1:13) is first lived in us just as it was first lived in Christ when He Himself sweat great drops of blood.

Luk 22:44  And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

Luk 22:60  And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew.
Luk 22:61  And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.
Luk 22:62  And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.

We have no idea how weak we are without our Lord’s strength being supernaturally given to us at the very moment we need it. Our Lord Himself was strengthened by an angel.

Luk 22:43  And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.

Peter had no idea that he was still in Babylon. He thought he had “come out of Babylon” three and a half years earlier. Babylon must be “utterly broken… and burned with fire,” and completely destroyed from within each of us. That is “a great mountain burning with fire.”

Jer 51:58  Thus saith the LORD of hosts; The broad walls of Babylon shall be utterly broken, and her high gates shall be burned with fire; and the people shall labour in vain, and the folk in the fire, and they shall be weary.

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.

The meaning of the word ‘fire’ does not change from chapter to chapter or from book to book. The ‘fire’ is always “My words…” (Jer 5:14). Those words are a “two-edged sword”, and as such they will always have both a positive and a negative application. What that means is that “a great mountain burning with fire” is a mountain that is burning up the kingdom and the ‘mountain’ of our old man and replacing it. Let’s go back to Daniel 2 and notice that the fiery Word of God destroys the image of the beast and his kingdom while the kingdom of God is being built up in “the whole earth”.

Dan 2:34  Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces.
Dan 2:35  Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.

The “stone cut out without hands” which becomes a mountain that fills the whole earth and the “mountain burning with fire” which signifies Christ and His Word and His kingdom, are one and the same. The “mountain burning with fire” is God’s Word, Christ in us, burning up everything that will burn, and as it does so, it is establishing and manifesting that “great mountain of the house of God” which cannot be burned up, and that which is being purified by the fiery words of our Lord. Here are the words of the King of that “great mountain [which will] fill the whole earth.“

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

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

Being saved is being purified, and “he himself shall be saved… by fire.” We all endure the fire, gnash our teeth, have sweat as great drops of blood, weep bitterly, and gnaw our tongues for pain. We all “keep the things written therein, and “live by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God” but we do not all do so at the same time. There are two resurrections: “the resurrection to life”, having “judgment [now] on the house of God” and “the resurrection of judgment”, having missed out on the “blessed and holy… first resurrection and being consigned to the great white throne judgment/lake of fire/second death”:

Joh 5:28  Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
Joh 5:29  And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation [G2920: ‘Krisis’, judgment].

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.

Our next logical question is

Why is a great mountain burning with fire cast into the sea?

What is “the sea” in scripture? “The sea” is Bible-speak for all flesh of all men before the spirit of God even begins to work within us.

Gen 1:2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

This is where all the false doctrines of Babylon flourish. They are sold to those who are in ‘the sea’ which is our very unstable and vulnerable flesh. “The sea” signifies the rebellious, carnal flesh of all men of all time. ‘The sea signifies the place where the beast within us originates:

Rev 13:1  And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.

Eph 4:14  That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, [and] cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

Jas 1:6  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.

Jud 1:12  These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;
Jud 1:13  Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.

Here are two great Biblical types of the organizations of men which keep mankind deceived while thinking they are serving God. The first is Babylon, and this is what we read about Babylon:

Rev 17:1  And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters:

The “many waters” on which the whore sits are the “waters” of “the sea”.

Rev 18:17  For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off,
Rev 18:18  And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city!
Rev 18:19  And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.

“All who have ships in the sea” and “As many as trade by sea” are all the denominational ministers, who use their denominations and organizations to sell their smooth things and their lies to the masses that make up the sea of mankind. The words of Christ mean nothing when they are compared to the doctrines of men. What sells is all that matters to them, and Christ’s true words have never done anything less than making those who are faithful to His Words to be “hated of all men.”

The second of the two great Biblical types of the organizations of men which do business with their ships in the ‘sea’ of humanity to keep mankind deceived while thinking they are serving God is Tyre. Both Tyre and Babylon are described as being situated on the waters:

Jer 51:12  Set up the standard upon the walls of Babylon, make the watch strong, set up the watchmen, prepare the ambushes: for the LORD hath both devised and done that which he spake against the inhabitants of Babylon.
Jer 51:13  O thou that dwellest upon many waters, abundant in treasures, thine end is come, and the measure of thy covetousness.

Eze 27:3  And say unto Tyrus, O thou that art situate at the entry of the sea, which art a merchant of the people for many isles, Thus saith the Lord GOD; O Tyrus, thou hast said, I am of perfect beauty.

We will pause at this point and begin our next study with an examination of how Tyre also signifies the universal influence of religion upon the ‘sea’ which signifies all of mankind.

Gospels In Harmony – Mat 21:1-11, Mar 11:1-11, Luk 19:28-44, John 11:54–12:11 – Jesus Weeps

[Study Aired April 20, 2021]

Mar 11:1 And when they came nigh to Jerusalem, unto Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount of Olives, he sendeth forth two of his disciples,
Mar 11:2a And saith unto them, Go your way into the village over against you: and as soon as ye be entered into it, Mat 21:2 and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me, Mar 11:2b whereon never man sat; loose him, and bring him.
Mar 11:3 And if any man say unto you, Why do ye this? say ye that the Lord hath need of him; and straightway he will send him hither.
Mar 11:4 And they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door without in a place where two ways met; and they loose him.

Luk 19:33 And as they were loosing the colt, the owners thereof said unto them, Why loose ye the colt?
Luk 19:34 And they said, The Lord hath need of him.

Mar 11:6b even as Jesus had commanded: and they let them go.

Mat 21:4 All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying,
Mat 21:5 Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.
Mat 21:6 And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them,

Luk 19:35 And they brought him to Jesus: and they cast their garments upon the colt, and they set Jesus thereon.

Joh 12:16 These things understood not his disciples at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of him, and that they had done these things unto him.

Joh 12:12 On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,
Joh 12:13a Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him,

Mat 21:8 And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way.

Luk 19:37 And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen;

Mat 21:9 And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.

Mar 11:10 Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest.

Mat 21:10 And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this?
Mat 21:11 And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.

Joh 12:17 The people therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of his grave, and raised him from the dead, bare record.
Joh 12:18 For this cause the people also met him, for that they heard that he had done this miracle.
Joh 12:19 The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? behold, the world is gone after him.

Luk 19:39 And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples.
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.
Luk 19:41 And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it,
Luk 19:42 Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes.
Luk 19:43 For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side,
Luk 19:44 And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.

Mar 11:11 And Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and into the temple: and when he had looked round about upon all things, and now the eventide was come, he went out unto Bethany with the twelve.

Last week’s study focused on the first part of this story of Christ sending His disciples to fetch the ass and her colt. This was all a symbol of the burden of the elect of God.

Zec 9:9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.

Mat 11:27-30 All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him. Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

By carrying Christ into Jerusalem we take part of the process of salvation. Christ is traveling toward death in order to give life. His disciples do not understand this at this time but will soon understand it all. Now continuing this story we will gain more understanding of the process of salvation.

Joh 12:12 On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,
Joh 12:13a Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him,

Mat 21:8 And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way.

The laying down of the garments and palm branches represent us recognizing Christ as our Lord and King. These last few stories in the gospels we have been reviewing are pronouncing Christ as King shown by the anointing by Mary and now the laying down of garments. Here is an old testament example.

2Ki 9:1-3 And Elisha the prophet called one of the children of the prophets, and said unto him, Gird up thy loins, and take this box of oil in thine hand, and go to Ramothgilead: And when thou comest thither, look out there Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi, and go in, and make him arise up from among his brethren, and carry him to an inner chamber; Then take the box of oil, and pour it on his head, and say, Thus saith the LORD, I have anointed thee king over Israel. Then open the door, and flee, and tarry not.

2Ki 9:13 Then they hasted, and took every man his garment, and put it under him on the top of the stairs, and blew with trumpets, saying, Jehu is king.

Our garments, as you know, represent our righteousnesses and we lay them down for the Lord to reign over them.

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.

Luk 19:37 And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen;

Mat 21:9 And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.

Mar 11:10 Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest.

The crowd is giving praise announcing the King’s arrival, asking for him to be blessed by God. We all do this when we recognize Christ as our King. It is a joyous occasion.

Mat 21:10 And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this?
Mat 21:11 And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.

Joh 12:17 The people therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of his grave, and raised him from the dead, bare record.
Joh 12:18 For this cause the people also met him, for that they heard that he had done this miracle.

As you can imagine, the city was in an uproar celebrating Jesus’ entrance into the city.

Joh 12:19 The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? behold, the world is gone after him. (KJV)

Joh 12:19 Then the Pharisees said one to another, You see, you are unable to do anything: the world has gone after him. (BBE)

Luk 19:39 And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples.
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.

Some of the Pharisees had an issue with the praises Christ is receiving, but Jesus tells them what they demand is impossible. These Pharisees represent our old man trying to silence the “stones”. The following scriptures are the prophecy of this event.

Isa 55:12 For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

Hab 2:2-11 And the Lord gave me an answer, and said, Put the vision in writing and make it clear on stones, so that the reader may go quickly. For the vision is still for the fixed time, and it is moving quickly to the end, and it will not be false: even if it is slow in coming, go on waiting for it; because it will certainly come, it will not be kept back. As for the man of pride, my soul has no pleasure in him; but the upright man will have life through his good faith. A curse on the cruel and false one! the man full of pride, who never has enough; who makes his desires wide as the underworld! he is like death; he is never full, but he makes all nations come to him, getting all peoples together to himself. Will not all these take up a word of shame against him and a bitter saying against him, and say, A curse on him who goes on taking what is not his and is weighted down with the property of debtors! Will not your creditors suddenly be moved against you, and your troublers get up from their sleep, and you will be to them like goods taken in war? Because you have taken their goods from great nations, all the rest of the peoples will take your goods from you; because of men’s blood and violent acts against the land and the town and all who are living in it. A curse on him who gets evil profits for his family, so that he may put his resting-place on high and be safe from the hand of the wrongdoer! You have been a cause of shame to your house by cutting off a number of peoples, and sinning against your soul. For the stone will give a cry out of the wall, and it will be answered by the board out of the woodwork.

Jesus is accusing the Pharisees of being the cause of shame to their house. Our old man is our shame and the accuser of our new man.

Luk 19:41 And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it,
Luk 19:42 Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes.
Luk 19:43 For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side,
Luk 19:44 And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.

Mar 11:11 And Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and into the temple: and when he had looked round about upon all things, and now the eventide was come, he went out unto Bethany with the twelve.

This is why Jesus is weeping.

Psa 119:136 Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy law.

Jer 8:18-9:26 When I would comfort myself against sorrow, my heart is faint in me. Behold the voice of the cry of the daughter of my people because of them that dwell in a far country: Is not the LORD in Zion? is not her king in her? Why have they provoked me to anger with their graven images, and with strange vanities? The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved. For the hurt of the daughter of my people am I hurt; I am black; astonishment hath taken hold on me. Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered? Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people! Oh that I had in the wilderness a lodging place of wayfaring men; that I might leave my people, and go from them! for they be all adulterers, an assembly of treacherous men. And they bend their tongues like their bow for lies: but they are not valiant for the truth upon the earth; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they know not me, saith the LORD. Take ye heed every one of his neighbour, and trust ye not in any brother: for every brother will utterly supplant, and every neighbour will walk with slanders. And they will deceive every one his neighbour, and will not speak the truth: they have taught their tongue to speak lies, and weary themselves to commit iniquity. Thine habitation is in the midst of deceit; through deceit they refuse to know me, saith the LORD. Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, Behold, I will melt them, and try them; for how shall I do for the daughter of my people? Their tongue is as an arrow shot out; it speaketh deceit: one speaketh peaceably to his neighbour with his mouth, but in heart he layeth his wait. Shall I not visit them for these things? saith the LORD: shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this? For the mountains will I take up a weeping and wailing, and for the habitations of the wilderness a lamentation, because they are burned up, so that none can pass through them; neither can men hear the voice of the cattle; both the fowl of the heavens and the beast are fled; they are gone. And I will make Jerusalem heaps, and a den of dragons; and I will make the cities of Judah desolate, without an inhabitant. Who is the wise man, that may understand this? and who is he to whom the mouth of the LORD hath spoken, that he may declare it, for what the land perisheth and is burned up like a wilderness, that none passeth through? And the LORD saith, Because they have forsaken my law which I set before them, and have not obeyed my voice, neither walked therein; But have walked after the imagination of their own heart, and after Baalim, which their fathers taught them: Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will feed them, even this people, with wormwood, and give them water of gall to drink. I will scatter them also among the heathen, whom neither they nor their fathers have known: and I will send a sword after them, till I have consumed them. Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Consider ye, and call for the mourning women, that they may come; and send for cunning women, that they may come: And let them make haste, and take up a wailing for us, that our eyes may run down with tears, and our eyelids gush out with waters. For a voice of wailing is heard out of Zion, How are we spoiled! we are greatly confounded, because we have forsaken the land, because our dwellings have cast us out. Yet hear the word of the LORD, O ye women, and let your ear receive the word of his mouth, and teach your daughters wailing, and every one her neighbour lamentation. For death is come up into our windows, and is entered into our palaces, to cut off the children from without, and the young men from the streets. Speak, Thus saith the LORD, Even the carcases of men shall fall as dung upon the open field, and as the handful after the harvestman, and none shall gather them. Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD. Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will punish all them which are circumcised with the uncircumcised; Egypt, and Judah, and Edom, and the children of Ammon, and Moab, and all that are in the utmost corners, that dwell in the wilderness: for all these nations are uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel are uncircumcised in the heart.

Hi Everyone,​

I was reading the story of Lazarus last night​,​ and I’ve always wondered about John 11:35, why Jesus wept?

It would be good to hear your thoughts on the matter. The bible’s shortest verse uses the word dakruo (to shed tears), and this is the only time this word appears in the whole Bible.

Why would Jesus have wept, if he had the power to – and it was not long before he did – raise Lazarus from the dead?

A​____

Thank you for this question.

When Paul, speaking of the events of the Old Testament, made this statement:

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

The same is true for everything that happened to Christ and His disciples. They are types of us, and everything that happened to them was written for our admonition.

Christ knew that He would very soon raise Lazarus from the dead and there would be great rejoicing. However, for our sakes and for our admonition, He also knew the truth of His own words in the parable of Lazarus and the rich man:

Luk 16:31  And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one [Lazarus] rose from the dead.

The parable of Lazarus and the rich man is in Luke 16, but is it not very interesting that when Christ did raise a man from the dead, as a witness to the rich man’s five brothers, that man’s name was ‘Lazarus’, and sure enough, they were not the least impressed.

Joh 12:9  Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there: and they came not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead.
Joh 12:10  But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death; 

Christ’s physical emotions cried out to His Father for mercy upon the very people who were in the process of murdering Him: and His physical emotions caused Him to cry over Jerusalem, as we should also:

Luk 19:41  And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it,
Luk 19:42  Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes.
Luk 19:43  For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side,
Luk 19:44  And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.

That is the spirit and mind we should have over the rebellious old man within, and over this rebellious world in which we find ourselves:

Eze 9:4  And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.

This is primarily an inward prophecy of how we are to “sigh and cry for all the abominations [of our old man] in the midst” of the Lord’s city, which is us. It also has an outward fulfillment which has and does take place before the spiritual can or will occur. So there is an outward dispensational fulfillment as we witness the Lord’s chastening hand upon our inward old man and upon our outward brothers in this doomed world in which we live, and we, too, should show our compassion upon all who must suffer as we are suffering and must “suffer with Him” now “in this present time” (Rom 8:18).

Babylon confesses God is sovereign and that we are saved by election. Then in the same breath, totally blinded to their own contradictions, they deny the very truths they read and state plainly straight from the scriptures.

Look at what this minister says about God’s sovereign election:

“Some people must wonder why the Son of God would be seen weeping that day. A slant on the doctrine of election that is gaining more acceptance in our day says that the salvation and damnation of individuals is based ultimately upon an arbitrary choice made by the Lord. Some are chosen for reprobation and damnation, while others are elected for repentance and salvation. Some declare, the perfect will of God is always accomplished and that people receive and reject Christ because God foreordained that they would. But if that were so, why was Jesus weeping?

“He was weeping because He is not willing that any should perish. That’s what the Scriptures clearly say.

“This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” 1 Timothy 2:3–6

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9

“Yes, the saved are the elect of God, but election is based upon God’s foreknowledge. What and whom God knows determines whom He chooses! The Bible says that we are “. . . elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ . . .” (1 Peter 1:2).

“Election is defined in Romans 8 as God’s sovereignty acting in accordance with His omniscience and omnipotence. Study verses 29 through 34:

“For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

“The Lord predestined those He foreknew to be like His Son someday. This process is called election. It is a mystery to us because we cannot understand what it is to be the all-knowing, all-powerful Ruler of the Universe. But we do know that the election of His own does not negate the part human choice plays in determining a soul’s destiny.

“If Jesus was about to do exactly what He wanted to do, why would He weep? If He had chosen to destroy Jerusalem, why would He weep over it? What tragedy would there be in a sinner’s rejection of God’s mercy if he could do nothing else?

“The choices of man do play a role in his redemption or destruction. Of Jerusalem, Jesus said, “…how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!” (Luke 13:34)

“Jesus “would,” but they “would not.” The tragedy over which Jesus is weeping is the tragedy of lost opportunity. The people of the holy city missed the opportunity to be saved because of foolish and wicked decisions they made! Their Saviour came to their city, but they would not have Him!” (End Quote)

All the emboldening and underlining are mine because I want you to see the contradiction between saying:

“Election is defined in Romans 8 as God’s sovereignty acting in accordance with His omniscience and omnipotence. Study verses 29 through 34:

“The Lord predestined those He foreknew to be like His Son someday. This process is called election. It is a mystery to us because we cannot understand what it is to be the all-knowing, all-powerful Ruler of the Universe.” (End Quote)

Then he also states in the very same breath:

“But we do know that the election of His own does not negate the part human choice plays in determining a soul’s destiny… The choices of man do play a role in his redemption or destruction. Of Jerusalem, Jesus said, “…how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!” (Luke 13:34)

“Jesus “would,” but they “would not.” (End Quote)

If indeed “would not” can nullify Jesus’ “would”, then you simply cannot say at the same time … “Election is defined in Romans 8 as God’s sovereignty acting in accordance with His omniscience and omnipotence. This minister clearly could never understand or explain how Joseph could twice affirm that his brothers had indeed chosen to sell him into Egypt, and in the same breath tell them that it was not they who had done that evil deed at all, but rather it was God who sent him into Egypt:

Gen 45:4  And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt.
Gen 45:5  Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.
Gen 45:6  For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest.
Gen 45:7  And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.
Gen 45:8  So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.

Why did Joseph chasten his brothers, imprison them, accuse them of being spies and stealing his silver cup, when he admits they only did what God made them to do?

Now look at this minister’s question about why Jesus wept over Jerusalem:

“If Jesus was about to do exactly what He wanted to do, why would He weep? If He had chosen to destroy Jerusalem, why would He weep over it? What tragedy would there be in a sinner’s rejection of God’s mercy if he could do nothing else?” (End Quote) [Source: Why Did Jesus Weep Over Jerusalem?]

The answer to all these questions is that God really is sovereign and His sovereignty extends to the things He does for our admonition, like “sighing and crying for all the abominations done in the midst of [Jerusalem]” even if He had indeed “made us to err from His ways and hardened our heart from His fear…”

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

The answer to your question is that Christ wept over Jerusalem because He wants us to weep over Jerusalem both within and without even though we all know that He really is “working all things after the counsel of His own will”:

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:

I hope this has helped you to understand why Christ wept over both Lazarus and Jerusalem even as He was working all things after the counsel of His own will.

YbiTC,

Mike