The Spiritual Significance of the Holy Days, Part 5B

Trumpets

[Study Aired September 12, 2025]

Lev 23:23  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Lev 23:24  Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation.
Lev 23:25  Ye shall do no servile work therein: but ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD.

Num 29:1  And in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work: it is a day of blowing the trumpets unto you.
Num 29:2  And ye shall offer a burnt offering for a sweet savour unto the LORD; one young bullock, one ram, and seven lambs of the first year without blemish:
Num 29:3  And their meat offering shall be of flour mingled with oil, three tenth deals for a bullock, and two tenth deals for a ram,
Num 29:4  And one tenth deal for one lamb, throughout the seven lambs:
Num 29:5  And one kid of the goats for a sin offering, to make an atonement for you:
Num 29:6  Beside the burnt offering of the month, and his meat offering, and the daily burnt offering, and his meat offering, and their drink offerings, according unto their manner, for a sweet savour, a sacrifice made by fire unto the LORD.

We paused our last study to come back to the story of the conquest of Jericho by marching around it with seven priests blowing seven trumpets for seven days. Jericho was conquered, and Israel was in a figure resting while that conquest took place by the hands of our Lord.

Jos 6:1  Now Jericho was straitly shut up because of the children of Israel: none went out, and none came in.
Jos 6:2  And the LORD said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valour.
Jos 6:3  And ye shall compass the city, all ye men of war, and go round about the city once. Thus shalt thou do six days.
Jos 6:4  And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams’ horns: and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow with the trumpets.

Heb 4:3  For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.

The battle of Jericho as well as all of Israel’s battles were “finished from the foundation of the world.” That is why the Lord spoke to Joshua as if the battle had already been won:

Jos 6:2  And the LORD said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valour.

‘Have given’ is in the Hebrew Qal stem which equates to the Greek aorist tense. Both are defined as verbs which have no regard to tense. What that means is that ‘I have given’ is an is, was, and will be statement. All of Israel’s battles, whether they won or lost, were all “finished from the foundation of the world.” The same can be said for anything that has been done, is being done, or will be done in the history of mankind. For this reason we are plainly told this about God’s perspective on the lives of all men of all time:

Psa 139:16  Thine eyes did see mine unformed substance; And in thy book they were all written, Even the days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was none of them.  (ASV)

These words are written ‘for our admonition’:

1Co 10:11  Now these things happened unto them by way of example; and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages are come. (ASV)

We are told that circumcision signifies “the putting off of the flesh.”

Col 2:11  In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:

Israel had been circumcised at Gilgal just a few weeks before the conquest of Jericho. Circumcision signifies that the day of judgment “begins at the house of God”, and that judgment has been “begin[ning] at the house of God” since that kingdom was first established within us. Judgment is accomplished in all men “each in his own order” (1Co 15:23). The seven priests with the seven trumpets circling Jericho demonstrate, and the festival of trumpets itself signifies, that in time God’s trumpet judgments will include “all [who are] in Adam.” That judgment has been, is being, and will always be administered by the “seven priests” who are also called the seven angels of the seven churches, which angels we are also told blow the seven trumpets. It is the book of Joshua which shows us the seven trumpets are blown by seven priests, and it is the book of Revelation which shows us that the seven angels of the seven churches signify those who keep the sayings of the prophecy of the book of Revelation. The entire prophecy is addressed “to the angel of the [seven] churches.”

Rev 1:4  John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;

Rev 2:1  Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus [Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea] write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;

The book of Revelation, and indeed all scripture, is addressed “to the seven churches”, and is also addressed to “the angel” of every church. If we want to know who the seven priests who are blowing the seven trumpets as Israel marches around Jericho, if we want to know who they signify, then we must first know who the seven angels of the seven churches signify. So who do those seven angels signify? “One of the angels” tells us who they all signify:

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

The “second witness” to this Truth is found in:

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.

This book is addressed to the seven churches and to the seven angels of the seven churches. It is they are are commanded to “read, hear, and keep… the things written therein.”

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

That is who the seven priests of Joshua 6 signify. It is each of us who are admonished that we will be blessed if we “read, hear, and keep the things which are written therein.”

The seventh trumpet consists of ‘seven vials’ which “fill up the wrath of God” (Rev 15:1and 6). The Canaanites and the giants in the land of Canaan signify our weaknesses and our passions and our rebellious carnal mind. The destruction of the walls of Jericho on the seventh day of blowing of trumpets signifies the wrath of God being poured out upon the kingdom of our rebellious old man, the man of sin, the beast within every man.

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 15:6  And the seven angels [you and I and our fellow servants, the seven angels to the seven churches] came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles.

The fact that these seven angels “came out of the temple” proves that they are the seven priests which the seven priests of Joshua 6 prefigure and foreshadow. Only the priests were permitted to enter into the temple. Anyone who was not a son of Aaron, anyone who was not a priest was to die, and the priest who let them in was to die also:

Num 18:2  And thy brethren also of the tribe of Levi, the tribe of thy father, bring thou with thee, that they may be joined unto thee, and minister unto thee: but thou and thy sons with thee shall minister before the tabernacle of witness.
Num 18:3  And they [the Levites who are not the sons of Aaron] shall keep thy charge, and the charge of all the tabernacle: only they shall not come nigh the vessels of the sanctuary and the altar, that neither they, nor ye also, die.

It is these same seven angels who pour out the seven vials of the wrath of God which are essential to “consume [the man of sin] with the spirit of [their] mouth, and destroy [him] with the brightness of His coming.”

Jos 6:13 And seven priests bearing seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark of the LORD went on continually, and blew with the trumpets: and the armed men went before them; but the rereward came after the ark of the LORD, the priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets.

2Th 2:8 And then shall that Wicked [the first man Adam, the beast, the man of sin within all of us] be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: [“At the last trump”]

Rev 15:7 And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever.

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

Who are these seven angels? Here is “one of” the seven angel’s own answer to that question:

Rev 19:10 And I fell at his feet to worship him [the angel of Rev 17:1]. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellow servant, 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.

This angel tells us that he signifies the very churches and angels to whom this whole prophecy is addressed… “I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book.”

It is through the blowing of the seven trumpets by the seven priests that Jericho’s walls, typifying the walls and fortifications of the kingdom of the beast within us, are destroyed. As we showed earlier it all “begins at the house of God.”

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?

“Begin at the house of God” does not mean that the judgment which “must begin at the house of God” is the one and only judgment mentioned in scripture. This judgment which “begins at the house of God” is the first of the Lord’s judgments. This first judgment prepares those who are being judged first “in this present time” to “have part in the first resurrection”, which Christ refers to as “the resurrection to life”:

The resurrection

John 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 life [Rev 20:6]; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation [Rev 20:11].

The judgment of this present time is just the beginning, and it begins within His own “house”, His firstfruits, His “body, which is His church.” This is how Paul describes this judgment which “begins at the house of God.”

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:

This verse, Colossians 1:24, reveals a great truth which many who have been deceived by the false doctrine of a “substitutionary atonement death of Christ”, will and do consider to be blasphemy. Nevertheless, Paul very clearly states that his own sufferings are for “[Christ’s] body’s sake, which is the church.” He even states that this suffering in his body is “the afflictions of Christ in my body… which are behind [Greek: lacking] of the afflictions of Christ”. It is all a work of God and not of us, but it is being done through us “for His body’s sake, which is the church” as we will discuss in our next study if the Lord wills.

The next holy day is the day of atonement, only nine days after the feast of trumpets. The day of atonement is followed five days later by the feast of tabernacles and the last great day, which we will get to in the following study, Lord willing. Every holy day reveals the order in which the Lord is working to save all of His creatures.

Before we begin our study of the day of atonement, I want to briefly review what we have so far learned through the holy days, about the plan of God to save all men of all time:

Review

The revelation of that plan begins with the Passover.

Indeed Christ was offered on the day of the Passover. Rest assured the priests and the Pharisees did not plan it that way. They were as blind to what they were doing as you and I were to the fact that we are the beast. As such we also are partakers in the crucifixion of our Lord, and we also must be “crucified with Christ” and with him we must bear the sins of the Lord’s people:

1Pe 2:24  Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
1Pe 2:25  For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

Col 1:24  Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:

The priests and the Pharisees had no clue that it would be “through our offences” that Christ would be delivered up to be crucified, and that it would be  through our justification that He would be resurrected from the dead:

Rom 4:25 Who was delivered for [Greek: dia – through] our offences, and was raised again for [Greek: dia – through] our justification.

Romans 4:25 is an integral part of being called in Christ “before the world began”:

2Ti 1:9  Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

Tit 1:2  In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

While Peter, typifying all of His apostles, went out and wept bitterly for denying Christ when He most needed them most, they and we still must endure seven sevens of the work of God in our lives while we are being matured for the day of Pentecost, “on the morrow after the seventh sabbath.” Only then, “When the day of Pentecost was fully come” can the holy spirit come to us and enter into our hearts and form and found the church of Christ and the kingdom of God within us.

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

Luk 24:49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

Act 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
Act 2:2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
Act 2:3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
Act 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Pentecost is the day after which we are finally willing to die with Christ because the spirit of God has changed our hearts, and we now become Christ’s firstfruits, “endued with power from on high… and not of ourselves” (Luk 24:49, Eph 2:8-10).

Lev 23:15 And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven sabbaths shall be complete:
Lev 23:16 Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the LORD.
Lev 23:17 Ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves of two tenth deals: they shall be of fine flour; they shall be baken with leaven; they are the firstfruits unto the LORD.

If we are Christ’s, then we are “”Firstfruits unto the Lord… a kind of firstfruits” because this feast typifies those who are in that blessed and holy first resurrection as Christ’s firstfruits. So the feast of Pentecost is also called “the feast of your firstfruits.” The meal offering of Pentecost is “baken with leaven” because we, unlike the head of His body, are not without sin and are therefore “baken with leaven.”

Exo 23:14 Three times thou shalt keep a feast unto me in the year. [The number ‘three’ signifies the process of the Lord’s judgment of mankind:

The Number Three

Exo 23:15 Thou shalt keep [1] the feast of unleavened bread: (thou shalt eat unleavened bread seven days, as I commanded thee, in the time appointed of the month Abib; for in it thou camest out from Egypt: and none shall appear before me empty:)
Exo 23:16 And [2] the feast of harvest, the firstfruits of thy labours, which thou hast sown in the field: and [3] the feast of ingathering, which is in the end of the year, when thou hast gathered in thy labours out of the field.
Exo 23:17 Three times in the year all thy males shall appear before the Lord GOD.

While our Lord was a sin offering “who knew no sin”, the same cannot be said for His firstfruits, who, in Him, become a trespass offering which Christ fulfills only through “them that are Christ’s.” That is how we can be “chief of sinners” and also “fill up in our bodies what is behind of the afflictions of the Christ.” Because Christ fulfills the trespass offering only through us, the Pentecost offering is the only offering offered to God with leaven:

Lev 23:17 Ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves of two tenth deals: they shall be of fine flour; they shall be baken with leaven; they are the firstfruits unto the LORD.

2Co 5:21 For the man who knew no sin was made sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in him (ACV)

We become the righteousness of God in Him, and He becomes the trespass offering through us… “baken with leaven.” “In Him” we offer our lives as the scapegoat (Lev 16:8-26) and the second bird (Lev 14), as a living sacrifice, “for His body’s sake, which is the church.”

Col 1:24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and fill up on my part that which is lacking of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church; (ASV)

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.

Pentecost is the second festival season, and it signifies the third step we all must experience in the Lord’s plan. Pentecost is the summer wheat harvest, which comes fifty days after the Spring barley harvest. Pentecost is the only holy day in the Summer season. The last four steps in the process of the salvation of all men are all in the third season of the Lord’s plan for the salvation of all men of all time. These last four steps are all in “the seventh month”, and they begin with the festival of trumpets on the first day of the seventh month which we are concluding with this study.

Before that goal of God being in all His sons is accomplished, we are told that “the last enemy that shall be destroyed is death”. Add the following verse to all we have learned about the plan God for the salvation of all mankind of all time which He is revealing to us through these holy  days:

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

Our first father, Adam, and “the first man Adam” in all of us (1Co 15:45), has demonstrated that flesh and blood are not fit to be in the incorruptible kingdom of God, simply because flesh and blood are dying corruption which can never become immortal. We are very clearly told that death must be destroyed before God can be all in all. If that is the case and if flesh is dying in every generation of mankind, how is it even possible for death to ever be destroyed since little ‘flesh and blood, corruptible, Adams’ are being born every day by the millions?

The answer to this dilemma is solved for us in the story of Samson in Judges 14:

Jdg 14:1 And Samson went down to Timnath, and saw a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines. [This story signifies God’s elect lusting after the doctrines of Babylon]
Jdg 14:2 And he came up, and told his father and his mother, and said, I have seen a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines: now therefore get her for me to wife.
Jdg 14:3 Then his father and his mother said unto him, Is there never a woman among the daughters of thy brethren, or among all my people, that thou goest to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistines? And Samson said unto his father, Get her for me; for she pleaseth me well.
Jdg 14:4 But his father and his mother knew not that it was of the LORD, that he sought an occasion against the Philistines: for at that time the Philistines [signifying all flesh and blood, (Rev 13:16)] had dominion over Israel.

The Philistines were a very religious people whose God was named Dagon. These Philistines are the Biblical type of all who are in the land of promise but they are there without the benefit of circumcision, and they are more than willing to put the teachings of their god, Dagon, ahead of the doctrines of Christ. They see their preeminence over God’s elect as proof that their God is the true God just as the Jews of Christ’s day, and the Christians of today feel toward the Lord’s ‘scattered flock.’

Jdg 16:23 Then the lords of the Philistines gathered them together for to offer a great sacrifice unto Dagon their god, and to rejoice: for they said, Our god hath delivered Samson our enemy into our hand.

Dagon typifies the god of modern day ‘Babylon the great’  who is none other than the “great Red Dragon” who empowers the beast within all men:

Rev 13:4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?

Rev 13:16  And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:

The entire story of Samson is a type of God’s elect whose service to God is first in the strength of our own flesh as we are married to the doctrines of Babylon, and to the modern day ‘leaven of the Pharisee and Sadducees’. This self-righteous iniquity in time brings us to our wits’ end as this story of Samson demonstrates. Only then are we finally made aware that we are blind as a bat and totally useless to God or mankind in a life of our own making while living in and among the doctrines of the enemy. Samson in his death typifies God’s elect who are more than willing to die to everything in this life to gain Christ:

Php 3:7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
Php 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
Php 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, [the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees] but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
Php 3:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
Php 3:11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

Physically blind Samson is the type of this same mind. Here are Samson’s own words after he, in type, is finally given spiritual vision:

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.

Dying “with the Philistines” is the dying of our flesh to our old man, and just as Samson delivered his people through his death, so we are delivered from our own sinful flesh through our dying daily to the power of our flesh over the new man who is being born within us as we “die daily.”

1Co 15:31  I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.

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

This is the fruit of Pentecost which introduces the church era which leads up to the day of the blowing of trumpets in our lives.

Christ’s doctrine and His own example demonstrate for us that life comes only through death:

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.

Col 1:22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:

Heb 2:14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

It is only “through death”, the death of our old man, that our new man can be born. So it is for all men of all time, and so it is with death itself. Until death itself is destroyed, there will be no victory over death. As long as little Adams are being born, death cannot be destroyed, and that is the real reason for putting “the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan” in prison for a thousand years, just to release him again for “a little season” afterward.

Rev 20:1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
Rev 20:2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
Rev 20:3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.

Why, after placing Satan in prison for a thousand years, would a loving heavenly Father release him upon an unsuspecting world? The answer is that God is seeking an occasion against the Philistines of that time. When Satan is loosed upon the world after it has been ruled with a rod of iron for a thousand years, mankind’s carnal mind will be ripe for the deception Satan is sent to bring upon all nations at that time. After being ruled with a rod of iron for a thousand years, mankind will be convinced by Satan that he is capable of overcoming the saints of the “blessed and holy first resurrection”, who have been their rulers for the past one thousand years. We are told that Satan is given to deceive the nations in the four quarters of the earth to “encompass the camp of the saints”, and at that very moment, just like the fall of Jericho and just like the sudden destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, fire will come down from God out of heaven and will destroy all flesh of all men “in the four quarters of the earth” so that it can truthfully be said that death is destroyed, and there will be no one left on this earth who can beget another rebellious carnal-minded Adam in a vessel of clay.

That is why it is right after being told that fire comes down from God out of heaven, that we then immediately read of “a great white throne” revealed to us for the first time. This great white throne is also revealed at the same time as we learn for the first time of “the lake of fire”:

Rev 20:7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
Rev 20:8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.
Rev 20:9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. [Notice what happens immediately after the destruction of all flesh]
Rev 20:10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
Rev 20:11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
Rev 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
Rev 20:13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
Rev 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
Rev 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life [a thousand years earlier] was cast into the lake of fire.

“The second death… is… the lake of fire”. When the second group of mankind experiences the death of their carnal mind that is the death of death, and it is “through [this] death” that life is given to all men of all time.

The four months from Pentecost to Trumpets signify this age of grace, when God is preparing a few faithful elect out of the many called multitudes who come to Him. Judas was an elect who did not leave Christ when the multitudes left Him.

Joh 6:64 But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.
Joh 6:65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.
Joh 6:66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
Joh 6:67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?
Joh 6:68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.

Christ knew who would betray Him, and yet “the twelve”, which included Judas, remained faithful even after “many of His disciples went back, and walked no more with Him.” Still Judas was found not to have a proper wedding garment, and he was predestined to be God’s rejected elect who, like God’s anointed, King Saul, sought to kill God’s faithful elect, signified by King David. Both King Saul and Judas were the Lord’s anointed, but neither was faithful to the end. Being called and being elect are not enough to be given a wedding garment and to be in that “blessed and holy… first resurrection.”

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.

Those who are with Christ in the armies of heaven will have one more necessary qualification, and that qualification is to be faithful to the end:

Mat 10:22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

Rev 17:14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful [“to the end”].

As the apostle Paul said of the Hebrews (Heb 6:9)… “I am persuaded better things of [us].”

Next week, Lord willing, we will begin our study of the day of atonement, and we will begin to see the blessings of being in that “blessed and holy… first resurrection”, and in time we will see what is the function of those blessed and holy  few who “endure [and are] faithful… to the end”.

Here is a taste of what is in store for all who are given that blessed calling:

Isa 49:6 And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.

The next step in the Lord’s plan for us is signified by the day of Atonement, a day of fasting and afflicting our souls demonstrating that we realize the need to have our sins covered and be at one with our Lord.

Lev 23:26  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Lev 23:27  Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD.
Lev 23:28  And ye shall do no work in that same day: for it is a day of atonement, to make an atonement for you before the LORD your God.
Lev 23:29  For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people.
Lev 23:30  And whatsoever soul it be that doeth any work in that same day, the same soul will I destroy from among his people.
Lev 23:31  Ye shall do no manner of work: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.
Lev 23:32  It shall be unto you a sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at even, from even unto even, shall ye celebrate your sabbath.

[Here is the link to the next study in this series.

Rev 16:1-3 The First Two of the Seven Last Plagues

[Study Aired March 14, 2025]

Rev 16:1 And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.
Rev 16:2 And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image.
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.

Introduction

This and the next several studies will be a powerful demonstration of the ‘is, was and will be’ character of the word of God as it relates to the seven seals, the seven trumpets of the seven angels and these “seven angels with these seven last plagues (which) fill up the wrath of God. In each case we will see that the number seven signifies a completing, rather than a certain order of events. When we forget that Truth of the meaning of the spiritual symbolism of the number seven, we inevitably become dispensationalists who ask “Where am I in this process? How far have I come, and how much further do I have to go?” instead of realizing that no one is ever perfected before “the third day”, and that again has nothing to do with the number three itself, but it rather has to do with the process of judgment signified by that number.

In the next few studies we will see that the “seven last plagues” of these vials or bowls are actually part of the seven seals upon this book, inasmuch as these seven plagues are the seventh trumpet, which in turn is the seventh seal.

Until that last seal is opened, this book is still sealed, and until the last trumpet sounds, the judgments of God are still working in our lives, and the seventh seal is still not opened. Since the seven trumpets of the seven angels are the seventh seal, this book is completely sealed from our vision until those seven angels sound in our lives. Now, since the seventh trumpet of God’s judgment is the seven last plagues “which fill up the wrath of God”, we are under that yet unfilled wrath until the “mystery of God should be finished” in us “till the seven plagues of the seven angels” have begun to be fulfilled within our lives.

Rev 10:7  But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.

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 15:8  And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.

We must take notice at this point that the statement… “no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled” is in the aorist tense.

Rev 15:8  And the temple was filled^{[G5681: aorist tense]} with smoke from the glory  of God, and from his power; and no man was able^{[G5711: imperfect tense]} to enter^{G1525 [G5629: aorist tense]} into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled^{G5055 [G5686: aorist tense]}.

Who is “the earth” of verse one?

“In the days… when he shall begin to sound the mystery of God should be finished… filling up the wrath of God”, makes it abundantly clear that this is all speaking of an ongoing process of judgment within “the earth” which is us, and it all adds up to the fact that this book cannot be unsealed to be “read, heard or kept… till the seven plagues of the seven angels have begun to be fulfilled within our lives.”

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

Who is the “earth” which is supposed to “Hear the word of the Lord”? We need not guess:

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

Rev 22:7  Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he [the “earth”] that keepeththe sayings of the prophecy of this book.
Rev 22:8  And I John [and you and me, Lord willing] 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 [“the earth” that “hears these things”], and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.
Rev 22:10  And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.

“The time is at hand” that “the mystery of God… Christ in you, the hope of glory… should be finished” in “the earth”; within each of us. That is why this prophecy is called “the revelation of Jesus Christ” (Col 1:26-27, Rev 1:1-3). This book is all about the revelation of Jesus Christ within His elect, and that is why we are admonished in the third verse of the first chapter, and the 10th verse of the last chapter, to “keep the things written therein, for the time is at hand”.

Rev 16:1  And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.

Since we are “the earth” to whom Christ has been sent by the Father, and since we are also “the temple of God” (1Co 3:16-17), it is obvious that this “great voice from within the temple” is Christ and His Words speaking to us from within us. It is of utmost importance that we notice that these seven last plagues are poured out at the behest of this “great voice” which emanates “out of the temple”. What this tells us is that God really does do all that He does through Christ whom the Father has sent to do His will on this “earth”. Since this voice comes “out of the temple” and we, in Christ, are also that temple, it follows that we are sent by Christ to do all that Christ does. What that means is that we are called to live the life He lived. That is exactly what Christ has told us. Just as His Father operates all through Him, He also operates all through His anointed and sent ones; through His Christ; through His anointed; through His church (Eph 3:9-10):

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

2Co 1:21  Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed [Greek: Chrio, Christed, or anointed] us, is God;

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

“As He is, so are we”? What does that mean? God sent Christ for one purpose, and that purpose was “to save the world, not to condemn the world” to everlasting torment or to everlasting death.

Joh 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

1Ti 4:10 For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially [but not exclusively] of those that believe.

1Jn 2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also [“each in his own order” 1Co 15:23] for the sins of the whole world.

Who are these seven angels?

While we have discussed this much earlier, we need to put what we see here with what was said earlier to know for certain who these seven angels symbolize.

That these seven angels are God’s own physical servants in this age is not to be doubted, because we are twice told that they are those who are admonished at the beginning of this prophecy to “keep the things written therein”.

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

There it is, twice we are told that it was “one of the angels which had the seven vials” who shows us 1) the judgment of the great whore, and 2) the bride, the Lamb’s wife. Where are we told that these seven angels are those who are told in chapter one, verse three, to “keep the things written therein”? Here it is. Here is where the symbolism of these seven angels is revealed to us. Notice who “the angel who showed John these things” tells John he symbolizes:

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

“I am your fellowservant, and of your brothers that have the testimony of Jesus.” These seven angels are you and me, if indeed we “have the testimony of Jesus.” This same amazing revelation is repeated in the 22nd chapter of Revelation:

Rev 22:7  Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.
Rev 22:8  And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things.
Rev 22:9  Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.
Rev 22:10  And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.

Which angel is this angel? Here it is again. Here is “the angel which showed these things unto John:

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

So the seven angels are “our fellowservants, our brothers who have the testimony of Jesus, and them which keep the sayings of this book.” The seven angels are John and you and me.

So the same angels that have the seven last plagues are also showing us who is the “great whore that sits upon many waters”, as well as showing us “the bride the Lamb’s wife.”

However, the “mystery of God which He has declared to His servants” is not finished, and no man is given to enter into Christ, our temple, “till the seven plagues of the seven angels has been fulfilled” in the life of every man who is given to enter into Christ with Christ being in Him, fulfilling the mystery of God which He declared to His servants the prophets.

Joh 2:19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple [Christ Himself], and in three days I will raise it up.

Rev 10:7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.

What is this, the greatest mystery of all time? Here it is:

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

Joh 14:20  At that day [the days of the voice of the seventh angel] ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.

What this tells us is that we are in Christ, as all things are “in Him” (Act 14:22), but Christ is not really in us “till the seven plagues of the seven angels has been fulfilled” in our lives.

Rev 15:8  And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.

So now let us examine what begins to happen in the days of the seventh angel, when he begins to sound His seventh trumpet. Let’s examine what must be done before “the mystery of God, as He has declared by His servants the prophets”, can be finished us us,.

Rev 10:7  But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.

The “beginning of the sounding of the seventh angel” is these seven vials which “fill up the wrath of God.” These are the worst trials of our life as the first Adam, and they are poured out upon all of the ungodliness and unrighteousness that is within each of us. This is what is required to separate from us all of our heart’s idols and all of the pulls of the flesh which, until this point, have had the dominion over the throne of our hearts. That is why we are told in chapter fifteen, which is dedicated solely to the introduction of these seven angels with these seven vials, that the introduction of these angels with these vials is a “great and marvelous” event in our lives.

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 16:2  And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image.

At this point we will begin to demonstrate that this entire “revelation of Jesus Christ” is to primarily and spiritually be understood only in its ‘is, was and will be’ nature as one whole prophecy which is to be kept within the lives of each of us.

Here we are finally arriving at “the days of the seventh angel, when he is beginning to sound his trumpet”, which trumpet is these “seven last plagues which fill up the wrath of God.” What does this tell us about the seven seals that are upon this prophecy of our walk? What does this tell us about the seven angels with the seven trumpets of the things we are to keep in the things written in the words of this prophecy? Let’s go back and notice just a few verses in the sixth seal which will help to open our eyes to what this entire revelation of Jesus Christ within us is all about:

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?

If we were to take the time to look at the four horsemen of the first four seals upon this revelation of Christ within us, along with “the souls under the altar who were beheaded for the word of their testimony” and who comprise the fifth seal, we would see that they are nothing less than the judgments of God which lead “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” within us to “say 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: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?”

In other words, there is no possible way that the events of these seven seals were ever intended to be thought of as being anything other than judgments of “the great day of God’s wrath” upon our first Adam. The judgments of these seven seals are neither before nor after any of the events which we find in the events we are to keep which are opened up and revealed in the reading, hearing and keeping of the seven trumpets of the seven angels. Those seven trumpets, as a whole, are the seventh seal that is upon this book. Without the opening of that seventh seal, we cannot “read, hear or keep the things written therein”. So it is not possible to open the seventh seal without reading, hearing and keeping the sounding of the seventh trumpet.

Stated another way, we cannot, as all of orthodox Christianity wants us to believe, say that some men can enter into the temple of God in heaven without keeping the seventh trumpet with all of its plagues which simply must fill up the wrath of God on our stubborn and rebellious first man Adam, if we hope to “stand on the sea of glass mingled with fire, or enter into the temple of God in heaven.

Let’s take the time to see just how interconnected all of the seals, trumpets and vials of God’s wrath are. To make this clear we will display both the first trumpet and the first vial, side by side, and we will comment upon the fact that the work being accomplished in each of us is being accomplished upon the exact same object, and that object, in every trumpet and in every vial or bowl, while described each time in seven different terms, is all really just different symbols of what God is doing within each of us, to conform us to “the revelation of Jesus Christ”. Here are both the first trumpet and the first vial:

Rev 8:7  The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.

Now notice what is the object of the pouring out of the first vial.

Rev 16:2  And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and [upon] them which worshipped his image.

Notice that the object of both the first trumpet and the first plague which fill up the wrath of God, is “the earth”, which of course is us (Jer 22:9). Both are simultaneously working to conform us to the image of God’s Son, Jesus Christ. The trees and grass of the first trumpet, are simply a less severe trial than the noisome and grievous sore upon the men within us which had the mark of, and worshiped the image of the beast. Both the wrath of God and His judgments are working in us for that one and same end.

Now let’s look at the second trumpet and the second vial and see what they might have in common. First, the second trumpet:

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.

Now the second vial:

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.

The mention of “the third part” in both the first and the second trumpets, tells all with eyes to see, that these words are speaking of the process of judgment within us:

Rev 8:6  And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.
Rev 8:7  The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.
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 ‘fire’ of the first trumpet and the ‘fire’ of the second trumpet both signify the work of our Lord’s ‘fiery words’ in the mouths of His messengers, His angels:

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.

It is the Lord’s fiery words which will judge and save “every man”:

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.

Our old man is not saved, yet it is through his judgment and destruction that our new man is saved; “yet so as by fire”.

In the first trumpet and the first vial that judgment is upon our earth. In the second trumpet and the second vial it is upon the sea as the symbol of the body of our flesh, out of which comes “the blood of a dead man”, which “dead” man is called “creatures… in the sea” in the second trumpet.

Mat 8:21  And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.
Mat 8:22  But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.

The fact that the object of both the trumpets and the vials are exactly the same, corresponding to their number, is not a coincidence. We will see that this holds true for all of the seven trumpets and all of the seven vials. What does this mean? It means that the seals, trumpets and vials are one and all expressions of God’s wrath upon the hardhearted and stubborn beast we all are as that “first man Adam” (1Co 15:45-47). The fact that the trumpets and the vials are judgments of the exact same thing means that they are all essential prerequisites to finishing the mystery of God within us, revealing who has been granted the patience of the saints, the gift of keeping the commandments and the gift of the ability to keep the commandments through the faith of Jesus (Rev 14:12). It is only those who are granted the strength to endure these trials who are given the honor of standing on that sea of glass, having the harps of God and being given the privilege of  entering into the temple of God in heaven.

The solemn significance of the seventh seal which is the seven trumpets is emphasized by being introduced with ‘silence in heaven for the space of half and hour’:

Rev 8:1  And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour.
Rev 8:2  And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets.

The enormous significance of the seventh trumpet is indicated with these words:

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.

The fact that there are three sets of seven – seven seals, seven trumpets and seven vials, for the one who is given eyes that see and ears that hear, is “the acknowledgment of the mystery of God” and His ability to finish the process of His judgment which He has begun in each of us:

Col 2:2  That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;

It is these seven last plagues of the wrath of God which begins to finish this “mystery of God”:

Rev 10:7  But in the days of the voice of the seventh [trumpet] angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.

It is only the rebellious flesh of our old man who is terrified by the words of this prophecy. To our new man these are words of comfort from the God of all comfort:

Joh 14:18  I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
Joh 14:19  Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.
Joh 14:20  At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.
Joh 14:21  He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

2Co 1:3  Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;
Summary

What we have learned in this study is that the seven seals, the seven trumpets and the seven plagues, are all one single is, was and will be work of God’s judgment upon our old man who, as “the first man Adam”, is also called“the earth” with its “sea and fountains of water” within us.

We have seen that “the earth” in scripture symbolizes Adam and all who are in him. We have seen that it is we, as God’s elect, who as “the earth”, including the sea and the fountains of waters, are those upon whom all these last plagues begin to be poured, before we can enter into the temple of God in heaven.

We have seen that the “great voice out of the temple” is “Christ in us” preparing our hearts through His fiery judgments, to take up His permanent residency as He is destroying our old “man of sin… with the brightness of His coming” (2Th 2:3-8).

We have seen that Christ has sent us just as His Father sent Him, to be the saviors of this world by living His life within us, and by suffering as He suffered. As such we have seen that we are these seven angels who pour out these seven plagues at the behest of Christ who is doing His judging of us within us.

1Co 11:31  For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
1Co 11:32  But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

We have seen that these seven angels reveal to us, both the judgment of the great harlot within us as well as “showing us the bride the Lamb’s wife”.

Rev 21:9  And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife.
Rev 21:10  And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,

Next study, Lord willing, we will see this is, was and will be character of these words continue to be demonstrated as we witness the striking correlation between the seven trumpets and the seven plagues of the seven angels. Here are the next two plagues:

Rev 16:4  And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters; and they became blood.
Rev 16:5  And I heard the angel of the waters say, Thou art righteous, O Lord, which art, and wast, and shalt be, because thou hast judged thus.
Rev 16:6  For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy.
Rev 16:7  And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous [are] thy judgments.
Rev 16:8  And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire.
Rev 16:9  And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory.

]]> https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/rev-1413-20-part-2-the-angel-thrust-in-his-sickle-into-the-earth/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rev-1413-20-part-2-the-angel-thrust-in-his-sickle-into-the-earth Sun, 23 Feb 2025 06:02:02 +0000 https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/?p=32152 Study Audio Download

Rev 14:13-20 Part 2, The Angel Thrust in His Sickle into The Earth

[Study Aired February 23, 2025]

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.

We ended our last study quoting this very profound verse of scripture:

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

If Christ has sent us “as My Father has sent me”, then we need to know what Christ’s Father sent Him to accomplish. So why did the Father send Christ and what was Christ expected to accomplish for His Father?

Here is the answer to that all important question:

Joh 3:17  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but [God sent His Son into the world] that the world through him might be saved.

In this study we will point out the similarities between this 14^th chapter and chapter 7. Chapter 7 and chapter 14 both begin with the revelation of “144,000” firstfruits who are distinguished from a great multitude which no man could number:

Rev 7:4  And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.

In the ninth verse we encounter another group “of all nations and kindreds and tongues” which is so large that “no man could number” them.

In Revelation 14 the first thing we see is this same 144,000 who are in this chapter identified as “the firstfruits unto God and the Lamb”:

Rev 14:1  And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads.
Rev 14:2  And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps:
Rev 14:3  And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.
Rev 14:4  These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.

The ‘firstfruits’ signify those who are the first to be raised to life and rule with Christ in His kingdom for 1000 years. That is why Christ likens all of His parables to “the kingdom of heaven”.

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

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

Mat 13:45  Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:

Mat 13:47  Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind:

Mat 13:52  Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.

Mat 20:1  For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.

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

These 144,000 “firstfruits unto God and The Lamb” are signified in Christ’s parables by the lost sheep that was found and celebrated, more than and before the ninety and nine sheep “which needed no repentance.” The 144,000 firstfruits are signified by the prodigal son who was repentant, and was also celebrated before the elder son who needed no repentance. The 144,000 firstfruits unto God and the Lamb are signified by the laborers in the Lord’s vineyard who were hired at the last hour and got paid first with the same wages as those who had worked all day. Each of these parables contains the same two groups. Those two groups are 1) the first, and 2) the last:

Mat 20:16  So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen. [To be in “the resurrection of life, the blessed and holy… first resurrection”, Joh 5:27-29, Rev 20:6]

1Co 15:47  The first man is of the earth, earthy [and will be given life last]: the second man [who is raised from the dead first] is the Lord from heaven.

In this 14^th chapter these two separate groups are both in the process of being judged. Both judgments are signified by the work of three angels. The first three angels judge the 144,000, and we are informed in the order they are presented to us… the first angel proclaims “the hour of His judgment is come” (1Pe 4:17), the second angel proclaims that “Babylon is fallen is fallen”…

Rev 14:9  And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
Rev 14:10  The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
Rev 14:11  And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.

The next two verses tell us who this group signifies:

Rev 14:12  Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
Rev 14:13  And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.

The second three angels mention none of these things which all apply only to those who are being judged in “this present time” (Rom 8:18), before the thousand-year reign while the beast and the false prophet are given to control the earth. We are specifically told that the process of the judgment of the first three angels is “the patience and faith of the saints who keep the commandments of God and have the faith of Jesus:

Rev 14:12  Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

The judgment of the first three angels concludes with this very encouraging proclamation:

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 we have it. Those who are judged in this process of judgment, which is what the number three signifies: Numbers Three in Scripture

Numbers in Scripture: Three The Process of Spiritual Completion Through Judgment

The second ‘three angels’ are introduced in an entirely different way:

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.

First we are told that John sees a white cloud. Then we see “the Son of Man seated on the cloud wearing a golden crown “and in His hand a sharp sickle.”

The next verse, verse 15, introduces us to the first of the second three angels of this 14^th chapter. This first angel tells “the Son of Man” to “Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.” Notice that this first angel and the second angel both “came out of the temple”. This second angel, just like The Son of Man sitting on the cloud, also has “a sharp sickle.” Then the third angel with power over fire comes out from the altar and tells the second angel which came out of the temple with a sharp sickle that he, too, must thrust in his sharp sickle and reap:

Rev 14:18  And another angel [the third angel] came out from the altar, which had power over [the lake of] 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.

It is easily demonstrated that both the cloud and the temple signify the 144,000 firstfruits who are resurrected at the beginning of the thousand years and who reign the earth with Christ for a thousand years:

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.

Job 36:29  Also can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, or the noise of his tabernacle?
Job 36:30  Behold, he spreadeth his light upon it, and covereth the bottom of the sea.
Job 36:31  For by them [the clouds] judgeth he the people; he giveth meat in abundance.

Heb 12:1  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses [the typical saints], 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,

Mat 24:30  And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven [“By them He judges the people” Job 36:31] with power and great glory.

Now we understand that the cloud upon which the Son of man sits is His “great cloud of witnesses” (Heb 12:1), and we understand that the temple out of which the first two angels come signifies our hearts and minds where the Lord dwells (1Co 3:15-16). What does the altar out of which this third angel comes signify? The altar always signifies the cross of Christ where we lay down the life of our old man and upon which we are crucified with our Lord “for His body’s sake, which is the church” (Col 1:24).

Is “the Son of Man” on this white cloud the Savior of this world? Of course He is. Nevertheless Christ Himself tells us that He is sending us into this world just as His Father sent Him to save this world. Putting John 3:17 together with John 20:21 makes 1 John 4:17 mean a lot more to us:

1Jn 4:14  And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
1Jn 4:15  Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
1Jn 4:16  And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
1Jn 4:17  Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is [vs 14, sent to be the savior of the world], so are we in this world.

Did Christ send us 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.

Joh 3:17  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but [God sent His Son] that the world through him might be saved.

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

“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 Revelation 14:17 is “a man that is… the angel.”

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.

The first two angels “come out of the temple which is in heaven.” The third angel comes out from the altar with the power over fire.  The phrases ‘out of’ the temple and ‘out from’ the altar, are both translated from the single Greek word ‘ek’, G1537. It is properly translated as either ‘out from’ or ‘out of’.’ Both the temple and the altar signify the Lord’s elect who are being crucified with Him daily. We have demonstrated over and over that “ye are the temple of God.” We have demonstrated that these angels are redeemed, resurrected men who are also reapers:

Mat 13:39  The enemy that sowed them is the devil [via his ministers with two horns like a Lamb, but speaking as a dragon]; 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 dies with Christ for the sins of the world who also shows these things to “all men”, just as Christ showed them to John.

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 will pause here and continue in our next study to see the differences in these two sets of three angels, and we will also take note of all they have in common.

Rev 7:1-3 Part 2 – Sealing The 144,000

[Study Aired May 24, 2024]

Rev 7:1  And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.
Rev 7:2  And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea,
Rev 7:3  Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.

In our last study of the sealing of the 144,000 here in Revelation 7 we learned that there are two groups mentioned in this chapter and that these two groups are inclusive of all men of all time – past, present and future. We discussed the meaning of the number four. We discussed the meaning of the word ‘corners’ which we discovered is best translated as quarters, and we discussed the meaning of the word ‘wind.’

We begin today’s study by looking at who the scriptures reveal to be these ‘angels’ who are “holding the four winds of the earth” not allowing them to “hurt the earth… the sea… nor the trees, till we  have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads”.

What are angels?

We have covered this subject already in depth while considering these verses in chapter 1.

Rev 1:16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance [was] as the sun shineth in his strength.

Rev 1:20 The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.

Angels are signified by stars, and stars are signified by angels. What is it these stars and angels do? What are these “four angels which stand on the four corners of the earth and hold the four winds of the earth?” If we can remember that scripturally the number four means the whole of the subject under consideration, then we know that whatever these ‘angels’ are, and whatever they are doing, we are concerned with the whole of it. So whatever these four  angels do, the whole of what they do is now being considered?

To answer this question we need, as is usually the case, to look at a few very revealing verses in the Old Testament.

Num 20:14 And Moses sent messengers from Kadesh unto the king of Edom, Thus saith thy brother Israel, Thou knowest all the travail that hath befallen us:
Num 20:15 How our fathers went down into Egypt, and we have dwelt in Egypt a long time; and the Egyptians vexed us, and our fathers:
Num 20:16 And when we cried unto the LORD, he heard our voice, and sent an angel, and hath brought us forth out of Egypt: and, behold, we are in Kadesh, a city in the uttermost of thy border:

The same word is earlier translated as both ‘angel’ and then as ‘messenger’ in:

Gen 32:1  And Jacob went on his way, and the angels [H4397: malak, messenger] of God met him.
Gen 32:2  And when Jacob saw them, he said, This is God’s host: and he called the name of that place Mahanaim.
Gen 32:3  And Jacob sent messengers [H4397: malak] before him to Esau his brother unto the land of Seir, the country of Edom.

Jacob “met… the angels of God” and then “sent messengers” to Esau. Moses sent ‘messengers’ from Kadesh to the king of Edom, telling the king of Edom that the Lord had sent ‘an angel’ to bring Israel out of Egypt. What is so revealing about both of these stories is that the word ‘messengers’ in both stories is the same Hebrew word translated ‘angel’ in both stories.

Here is how Strong defines this Hebrew word:

H4397
mal’a k
mal- awk’
From an unused root meaning to despatch as a deputy; a messenger; specifically of God, that is, an angel (also a prophet, priest or teacher): – ambassador, angel, king, messenger.

So the word ‘angel’ can be either a physical messenger, such as Jacob sent to Esau, and as Moses sent to the king of Edom, or it can be a spirit such as the host of angels who met Jacob and the angel God sent to bring Israel up out of Egypt. Which are the angels here in this revelation of Jesus Christ? What does the revelation of Jesus Christ say about this? Here is the answer to that question:

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.

So the angel of each of the seven churches is “a man” or ‘the men’ whom the Lord sends as His ‘messengers.’ The seven angels of the seven churches are Christ and His complete gospel within us, His ‘messengers.’  Since the number seven has been established as scripturally meaning that which is complete, then the seven angels which are sent to the seven churches are the complete message of the messengers sent to the complete church down through all the generations of the church since Christ. We saw earlier (Rev 1:20) that the seven angels with their complete message to the complete church are in Christ’s right hand.

Rev 1:16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.

By whom are words as “a sharp twoedged sword… out of His mouth” delivered to the complete church?

Rev 1:20  The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels [messengers] of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.

Then in chapter 5 we learned that there is a book in the right hand of Him that sat on the throne:

Both the complete and the whole message is within the book:

Rev 5:1  And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.

Who is sitting on the throne? Is this Christ, or is this His Father? In scriptural terms, He that is sitting on the throne in chapter 5 is the same person and same throne we saw in chapter 4:

Rev 4:8  And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.
Rev 4:9  And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,
Rev 4:10  The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
Rev 4:11  Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

Revelation 1 makes it clear that this is Christ who is sitting “with His Father in His Father’s throne.”

Rev 3:21  To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

Colossians 1 makes it clear that it was Christ who “created all things” and that “all things were created for His pleasure.”

Col 1:16  For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
Col 1:17  And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
Col 1:18  And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all [things] he might have the preeminence.
Col 1:19  For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
Col 1:20  And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

So it is Christ, by and for whom all things were created, who is sitting on the throne with His Father with the book in His right hand. He is at this very moment “in His Father” sitting “with His Father in His Father’s throne”:

Rev 3:21  To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
Rev 3:22  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Who then is “the lion of the tribe of Judah” who appears as a lamb slain from the foundation of the world to whom Christ hands the book that is in His right hand? As presumptuous and blasphemous as it may sound, that lion which appears as a lamb is scripturally those also who are in that ‘Lion who appears as a Lamb’:

Mat 10:40  He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.

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

It is those who are the very body of Christ and who, we are told, are slain with Him so as to be “seated with Him in His Father’s throne.” It is Christ Himself who informs us exactly who we are in His eyes, the only ‘eyes’ that matter:

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

Rev 3:21  To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
Rev 5:5  And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
Rev 5:6  And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.

It is Christ whom God the Father has seen fit even to give the titles of both “the everlasting God and “the Almighty.”

Rev 1:7  Behold, he cometh with the clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they that pierced him; and all the tribes of the earth shall mourn over him. Even so, Amen.
Rev 1:8  I am the Alpha and the Omega, saith the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.

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, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Who is this “slain lamb?” Of course it is Christ. Didn’t we just show that Christ is “the Mighty God, the everlasting Father” and “the Almighty” who is sitting with His Father in His Father’s throne? How then can this Lion, who appears as a slain lamb, at the same time be Christ? Here is how Christ is both sitting with His Father in His Father’s throne, and is at the same time receiving the book out of His own right hand;

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

Here is what Christ Himself tells us:

Joh 14:7  If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
Joh 14:8  Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.
Joh 14:9  Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?

There are very few, to this very day, who believe these words of our Lord. It is not adding to that which is written to say that those who are in Christ are that lamb which was slain from the foundation of the world. Here are the verses which make this clear:

Lev 16:21  And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness:
Lev 16:22  And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited: and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness.

2Ti 1:9  Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

Tit 1:2  In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

What is it that “according to His own purpose… was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began?” Here it is:

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

Surely this doesn’t mean that it is given to us to be slain with Him, does it? What do the scriptures teach?

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

Is that really how God wants us to think of ourselves? Yes, it definitely is! That is exactly how the scriptures want us to think of ourselves:

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

We are expected to identify with our Lord in all of His sufferings. Here is how God’s elect are to see themselves:

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 6:5  For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

If there is any truth to those words, then why would we not also be Christ’s lambs slain from “before the world began”; “slain from the foundation of the world?” Indeed, are we not commanded to live by the book of life of the lamb slain from the foundation of the world?

Rev 13:8  And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

Psa 139:16  Thine eyes did see mine unformed substance; And in thy book they were all written, Even the days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was none of them.

Are we not Christ’s lambs? Of course, we are.

Joh 21:15  So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.

Paul goes so far as to tell us that the afflictions of the Christ are “behind” and are not “filled up” and are not finished until they are filled up in and through our bodies, which are, of course “His body, the church.”

Col 1:24 Now, am I rejoicing in the sufferings on your behalf, and am filling up the things that lack of the tribulations of the Christ, in my flesh, in behalf of his body, which is the assembly, (REV)

Here is this same verse in both the King James and in the Contemporary English Versions.

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: (KJV)

Col 1:24  I am glad that I can suffer for you. I am pleased also that in my own body I can continue the suffering of Christ for his body, the church. (CEV)

There it is. We “are crucified with Christ” and as such we, too, are that lamb “as it had been slain… before the world began”, and it is each of us to whom Christ hands the book with seven seals, and it is Christ in us who looses those seven seals to reveal to us the revelation of Jesus Christ within us through the judgments of the seven trumpets and through His wrath on all our ungodliness and unrightousness.

Who are these four angels?

What an incredible calling! In the revelation of Jesus Christ we are not only Christ’s complete seven messengers, but we are given His whole message. We are His body, we are His church; we are His temple in which He dwells and we are His messengers, and we are His lambs who, in Christ, are still in the process of being slain with Him from the foundation of the world.”

1Co 15:31  I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.

Christ is His Father’s messenger, and we are His messengers. Those are His very own  words to His disciples immediately after His resurrection. These four angels, like all others Biblical symbols, are in some way Christ and His Christ. They are Christ’s messengers seen as their whole. In other words, these four angels, just like the seven angels, are you and me as the whole of Christ’s messengers.

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

So we are Christ’s seven complete messengers, and as such we receive the whole message signified by these four angels on the four corners of the whole earth which ‘earth’ we will cover in more depth next week.

The four angels signify the whole chastening work of God upon the whole earth within us, with all of its complete seven kings and seven kingdoms. Being ‘the earth’, we are dealt with and are affected by “the four winds of the earth.” Both the four winds and the seven spirits are concerned with “all the earth.”

Rev 5:6  And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.

Rev 7:1  And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.

We live by every word, and we keep these things which are written therein inasmuch as what is said will happen is exactly what will happen to us. It is all the revelation of Jesus Christ within us.

Summary

We have seen many scriptures which demonstrate that the number four, wherever we find it within the Word of God, is concerned with the whole of whatever is under consideration.
We have seen that in this seventh chapter of Revelation the whole is concerned with “the earth,” and while we are yet to see the scriptures, next week, Lord willing, we will find that “the earth” in scripture signifies our bodies of flesh and blood, through which Christ is, at this time, doing His work within our lives.

We have seen that angels and stars both signify God’s messengers, whether men or spirit beings. We have seen that in this book of revelation, these angels are God’s messengers in the form of “a man” – the man in whom Christ dwells, and by whom He is making known this revelation of Jesus Christ.

We have seen that through the work of “the four winds of the earth”, the work of these “four angels” affect both groups – the numbered and the innumerable, the whole of mankind with whom this chapter is concerned. The whole message and the whole work of the revelation of Jesus Christ is the subject of this 7^th chapter of Revelation.

We have seen that the man sitting on the throne in Revelation 4 is Christ sitting there with His Father, and He is handing the book to His Christ – His elect who will now blow seven trumpets of judgment upon our earth and the seventh of those trumpets will be the pouring out of the seven vials which “fill up the wrath of God”:

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.

Notice that the holy spirit tells us that the four angels of chapter 7 and the seven angels with the seven trumpets and the seven vials are given to “hurt the earth.” The four angels are four angels because they are concerned with the whole work of God, both the numbered and the innumerable.  The “seven angels which have the seven trumpets and the seven vials” identify themselves as “they who keep the sayings of this book… your fellow servant.”

Rev 19:10  And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am [I “signify” (Rev 1:1)] 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 [I “signify” (Rev 1:1)] thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.
Rev 22:10  And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.

“They which keep the sayings of this book” are those of the seven churches of chapters 2 and 3 to whom are given ears to hear what the spirit says to the overcomers of the seven churches. That is those to whom this entire book is addressed:

Rev 1:4  John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;

Rev 2:7  He that hath [been given (Mat 13:10)] an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

Next week, Lord willing, we will compare the spiritual significance of the four horses of Zechariah 1 and Zechariah 6, with the spiritual significance of the four horsemen of Revelation 6:1-8, and the four winds of heaven which are in the hands of the four angels who stand on the four quarters of the earth here in Revelation 7:1. Comparing the spiritual significance of the things of the Old Testament, with the spiritual significance of the things of the New Testament, we will demonstrate the meaning of ‘the earth’ and the scriptural meaning of “the four winds of the earth.”

[Posted March 17, 2024]

Hi Mike,

I just have another question for you​, and please answer at your leisure – I know how busy you all are.

Jude 6 says “And the angels which kept not their first estate, but after their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the Great Day.”

I know religion teaches Satan fell away but we know that God created him as the “waster to destroy”. This verse in Jude makes it sounds like the demons or fallen angels, that kept not their first estate, fell away… Satan was created. Weren’t the demons/evil spirits also created?

Thank you for your time. Hope you and Sandi are both doing well!

Your sister in Christ,
K____

 

Hi K​____,

Thank you for your question.

You say:

“Jude 6 says “And the angels which kept not their first estate, but after their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the Great Day​.”

“I know religion teaches Satan fell away but we know that God created him as the “waster to destroy”. This verse in Jude makes it sounds like the demons or fallen angels, that kept not their first estate, fell away… Satan was created. Weren’t the demons/evil spirits also created?”

You are exactly right when you noticed that Satan is a created being who was created to be the destroyer and was created to be an adversary and a crooked serpent.

Isaiah 14:3-23 is a “proverb against the king of Babylon” who “hast said in [his] heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north.”

Isa 14:13  For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:

Self-worship and thinking of one’s self as God is common to all men.

Ezekiel 28 is addressed to “the prince of Tyre.”

Eze 28:2  Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyrus, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thine heart is lifted up, and thou hast said, I am a God, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet thou art a man, and not God, though thou set thine heart as the heart of God:

Neither chapter has anything to do with Satan, but that Babylonian false doctrine tenaciously clings to our memory.

To answer your question about “the angels that sinned” in Jude 6, the word ‘angel’ simply means “a messenger​.” It is used in scripture to refer to both physical men and to spirit angels, and we must consider “the sum of [the Lord’s] Word” to determine which is being referred to each time we see this word.

The Hebrew word for angel is H4397 malak, a messenger. Here is an example of where this word refers to both a spirit angel and physical men as ‘messengers’:

Num 20:14  And Moses sent messengers [H4397: ‘malak‘, a messenger] from Kadesh unto the king of Edom, Thus saith thy brother Israel, Thou knowest all the travail that hath befallen us:
Num 20:15  How our fathers went down into Egypt, and we have dwelt in Egypt a long time; and the Egyptians vexed us, and our fathers:
Num 20:16  And when we cried unto the LORD, he heard our voice, and sent an angel [H4397: ‘malak‘, a messenger], and hath brought us forth out of Egypt: and, behold, we are in Kadesh, a city in the uttermost of thy border:

Men are often referred to in scripture as angels, so all we need to do is to determine which “angels…kept not their first estate” referred to in Jude 1:6. Were they spirit angels, or were they men? We know that it does not refer to spirit angels because those angels are still doing what they were created to do. These angels of Jude 1:6 were not doing what they were instructed to do, and were instead going in to the daughters of the sons of men with whom they had been instructed to keep themselves separate, just as Israel was instructed after the flood. The Lord has always had a “seed of the woman” people whom He called out of this world:

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

After the flood, the Lord’s seed was Abraham and his descendants. The seed of the serpent was all the rest of mankind. Before the flood the seed of the serpent was Cain and his descendants. That is why we have two genealogies, Cain’s descendants in Genesis 4 and Seth’s genealogy in Genesis 5. Though we are not given the details​, it is manifested that Seth’s family had been instructed to keep their generations pure from the influence of Cain’s family because we are told this about why the Lord chose Noah’s family to build the ark and survive the flood:

Gen 6:9  These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.

Noah and his family were obviously the only family of Seth’s lineage, “the sons of God”, who had not “left their first estate” and married “the daughters of men.” The Lord was just as jealous of His people before the flood as He was after the flood when He said this to Moses and to Israel:

Exo 34:14  For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:
Exo 34:15  Lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and they go a whoring after their gods, and do sacrifice unto their gods, and one call thee, and thou eat of his sacrifice;
Exo 34:16  And thou take of their daughters unto thy sons, and their daughters go a whoring after their gods, and make thy sons go a whoring after their gods. 

Ezr 9:12  Now therefore give not your daughters unto their sons, neither take their daughters unto your sons, nor seek their peace or their wealth for ever: that ye may be strong, and eat the good of the land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children for ever.

That is exactly what the sons of Seth, with the exception of Noah’s family, had done:

Gen 6:1  And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them,
Gen 6:2  That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.
Gen 6:3  And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.

Just like Samson many years later, the sons of Seth liked what they saw in the daughters of Cain’s descendants and they cared not for what the Lord had instructed them “and they took them wives of all which they chose.” In so doing they “left their first estate” and along with all the rest of the wicked dead “[the Lord] hath reserved [them] in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.”

Jud 1:6  And the angels [Seth’s son’s, the messengers of the Lord before the flood] which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.

The fact that the word ‘angels’ means fleshly men is made clear in Peter’s epistle commenting on this very same subject. Notice that the whole subject concerns itself with the judgment of ungodly men:

2Pe 2:1  But there were false prophets also among the people [including the time of Noah], even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
2Pe 2:2  And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of [As it was in the days of Noah].
2Pe 2:3  And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.
2Pe 2:4  For if God spared not the angels that sinned [Seth’s descendants], but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; [When did all of this take place?]
2Pe 2:5  And spared not the old world [Including Seth’s descendants who  “kept not their first estate”], but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;
2Pe 2:6  And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;
2Pe 2:7  And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:
2Pe 2:8  (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)
2Pe 2:9  The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:

Noah was “a preacher”, and a ‘preacher’ is also ‘a messenger’, an angel, and that is what all the sons of Seth should have been. The “estate” they were given was to be messengers of God, and they left that ‘estate’ to become the seed of the serpent by defiling their generations with “the daughters of men” of this world.

I hope that Peter’s account makes it clearer to you that the judgment of the “false prophets among the people” is signified in the Old Testament by these ‘angels’, the messengers in Noah’s day who kept not their first estate. They, along with all other wicked men, are “reserved in the chains of darkness  of the grave. Peter likens their fate to that of Sodom and Gomorrah.

I hope this helps to strengthen your understanding which is repeated three times, once in each of the first three gospels telling us that “angels… neither marry nor are given in marriage.” Not even to the daughters of Cain:

Mat 22:30  For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.

Mar 12:25  For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven.

Luk 20:35  But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage: 

Spirit angels simply are not given to marry nor to give in marriage.

Your fellow messenger of the Lord, Mike

Gospels In Harmony – Part 134, Christ is Risen

Matthew 27:62-66, Matthew 28-1-8, Mark 16-1-8, Luke 24:1-8, and John 20:1b

[Study Aired March 21, 2023]

Matthew 27:62 Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate,
Matthew 27:63 Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.
Matthew 27:64 Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.
Matthew 27:65 Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can.
Matthew 27:66 So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.
Matthew 28:1 In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, 
Matthew 28:2 And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.
Matthew 28:3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:
Matthew 28:4 And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.
Mark 16:1 And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.
Mark 16:2 And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.
John 20:1b when it was yet dark,
Mark 16:3 And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?
Mark 16:4 And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.
Mark 16:5a And entering into the sepulchre, 
Luke 24:3 they found not the body of the Lord Jesus.
Mark 16:5b they saw a young man sitting on the right side, 
Luke 24:4 And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:
Mark 16:5c clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.
Luke 24:5 And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?
Mark 16:6 And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.
Luke 24:6b remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,
Luke 24:7 Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.
Luke 24:8 And they remembered his words,
Matthew 28:7 tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; 
Mark 16:7 go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.
Matthew 28:8 And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.
Mark 16:8 neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid.

In our last study the followers of Christ mourned his death. They thought it was the end of their hopes and dreams of the kingdom of heaven being established. In today’s study we will see that their hope has returned.

The pharisees and Sadducees plea to Pilate to seal the tomb of Christ believing they can prevent the removal of his body.

Matthew 27:62 Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate,
Matthew 27:63 Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.
Matthew 27:64 Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.
Matthew 27:65 Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can.
Matthew 27:66 So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.

The stone is sealed, and there is a watch set at the sepulcher. In their minds Christ was a deceiver. They are convinced His disciples would remove Christ’s body so Christ’s saying would come to pass. They did not believe He would rise from the dead, but they did believe His disciples would try to deceive everyone by stealing His body out of the tomb. Here are Christ’s words of prophecy about this day.

Matthew 26:59 Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death;
Matthew 26:60 But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses,
Matthew 26:61 And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.

John 2:18 Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?
John 2:19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.
John 2:20 Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?
John 2:21 But he spake of the temple of his body.

Luke 18:31 Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished.
Luke 18:32 For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on:
Luke 18:33 And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again.

They secured the sepluchre and set up keepers to watch for His disciples. The disciples did not attempt to steal Christ’s body. The Father has other plans and sends a great earthquake.

Matthew 28:1 In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, 
Matthew 28:2 And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.
Matthew 28:3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:
Matthew 28:4 And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.

The keepers became as dead men. They cannot believe their eyes. The raiment the angel is wearing represents the righteousness of the saints.

Revelation 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.
Revelation 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.

There is a similar occurrence in Exodus.

Exodus 19:16 And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled.

The women come to the sepulchre to anoint Christ’s body.

Mark 16:1 And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.
Mark 16:2 And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.
John 20:1b when it was yet dark,
Mark 16:3 And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?
Mark 16:4 And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.
Mark 16:5a And entering into the sepulchre, 
Luke 24:3 they found not the body of the Lord Jesus.
Mark 16:5b they saw a young man sitting on the right side, 
Luke 24:4 And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:
Mark 16:5c clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.
Luke 24:5 And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?
Mark 16:6 And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.
Luke 24:6b remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,
Luke 24:7 Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.
Luke 24:8 And they remembered his words,

The angel announces that Christ is risen, fulfilling what He said would happen. There are three women, which represent the church and the process of spiritual completion through judgment the church will now go through.

There are two angels which represent the witness of Christ and His elect – the message of dying and being born again. Until now the followers of Christ only thought with their carnal minds. They all thought the kingdom was immediately going to happen. The process of dying and being born again is taking place by Christ in order to show us what we must endure in order to enter into the kingdom of God.

The angels send the women (the church of the living God) to tell the disciples Christ is risen from the dead.

Matthew 28:7 tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; 
Mark 16:7 go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.
Matthew 28:8 And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.
Mark 16:8 neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid.

This is a great transition. Christ being in the flesh is now being born again in the spirit, setting the example we all must follow.

Heb 13:1-5 “Let brotherly love continue”

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

[Study Aired April 29, 2021]

Heb 13:1  Let brotherly love continue. 
Heb 13:2  Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. 
Heb 13:3  Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body. 
Heb 13:4  Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. 
Heb 13:5  Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. 

In order to “Let brotherly love continue” in the body of Christ, we must be actively about our Father’s business as Christ was (Luk 2:49). That is something we are assured will happen if we are His workmanship (Eph 2:10), being transformed by God (Rom 12:2) as Christ works in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure within us (Php 2:12-13).

The book of Hebrews is all about that workmanship of God that is being accomplished through Christ, our high priest who is preparing the bride of Christ (Rev 19:7) to be kings and priests who will rule under him (Rev 20:6). That kingdom to come is given to God’s elect in earnest now (Eph 1:14)  as it is within us (Luk 12:32, Luk 17:21) where the author and finisher, “the chief corner” of our faith (Heb 12:2, Eph 2:20), is creating a fitly framed temple to the glory of God that will be used to save the rest of humanity (1Co 3:16, Oba 1:21).

Christ’s words in Matthew 7:21 “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven”, remind us that God’s will requires God’s love to be shed abroad in our hearts today (Rom 5:5) as sons of God (1Jn 3:1, 1Jn 4:13, Rom 8:16) who are blessed to die daily and carry our cross as we are dragged to Christ (Joh 6:44). We are being given the power to submit to the will of God, through the strength God gives us through Christ and His body. The first fruits of God “shall enter into the kingdom of heaven” first, simply by virtue of the fact that God has purposed the order of salvation to unfold in this manner (Rom 8:9, 1Co 1:26, Heb 7:25, Rom 5:10).

We are collectively praying today “that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, that ye may be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inward man (Col 1:27, Heb 2:3); that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith (Gal 2:20); to the end that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be strong to apprehend (Php 3:12) with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge, that ye may be filled unto all the fulness of God” (Eph 3:16-19).

We have not because we “ask not” (Jas 4:2-3) so let’s come boldly unto “the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb 4:16) as Christ did for Peter (Luk 22:32, 1Jn 4:17), praying for our faith to never fail as we set out to do our Father’s will on earth as it is in done in heaven (Mat 6:10). Then we are assured, with God’s word, that if such a faith-filled prayer is granted, we can then know that “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus unto all generations for ever and ever. Amen”  (Eph 3:20-21) is what we can anticipate will happen.

When we seek those things which are above, we are letting brotherly love continue, and as these following verses show us, our obedience to God’s commandments will make manifest in our lives the brotherly love that we want to continue in each other throughout our sojourn on this earth with lives that are hidden in Christ, longing to see this corruptible flesh put on incorruption (Col 3:1-17, 1Co 15:52-58).

I’ve underlined some of the key ways in which God is admonishing the bride of Christ to “let brotherly love continue” through His word!

Col 3:1  If ye then be risen with Christ, seek [Mat 6:33] those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
Col 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
Col 3:3  For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

(To be hid in Christ is to be dead to sin or lying dead in the street  so we can be alive through Christ [Rev 1:17, Rev 11:9, Rom 6:11, Rev 21:6])

Col 3:4  When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

(We go from glory to glory when the Lord appears, which is the only way brotherly love can continue in the spirit of liberty God provides through Christ and His Christ [2Co 3:17-18, 1Jn 3:14]).

Col 3:5  Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
Col 3:6  For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:
Col 3:7  In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.
Col 3:8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
Col 3:9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;
Col 3:10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
Col 3:11  Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.

[Letting brotherly love continue, described in the verses we read, is how we become part of the “all, and in all” which will one day all be subdued under Christ who will put “all things under him, that God may be all in all.” (1Co 15:28)]

Col 3:12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
Col 3:13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
Col 3:14  And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
Col 3:15  And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful [Psa 107:31-32, Heb 13:15-16].

Psa 107:31  Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
Psa 107:32  Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders.

Heb 13:15  By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
Heb 13:16  But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

Col 3:16  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Col 3:17  And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

1Co 15:52  In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible [Rev 1:17, Rev 11:9, Rom 6:11, Rev 21:6], and we shall be changed.
1Co 15:53  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

(We are putting on words of eternal life now when we let brotherly love continue to the end that we can be found not having our righteousness which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith [Joh 6:68, Php 3:9])

1Co 15:54  So when this corruptible (Isa 1:4, Isa 4:1) shall have put on incorruption (Joh 6:68), and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 
1Co 15:55  O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 
1Co 15:56  The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 
1Co 15:57  But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (Rom 7:19-20, Rom 7:24-25)
1Co 15:58  Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. “Let brotherly love continue

Heb 13:1  Let brotherly love continue.

Here we are in the last verses of the book of Hebrews, and the main focus of this section of scripture is admonishing us how we ought walk in this world and conduct ourselves “in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth” (1Ti 3:15).

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

Timothy reminds us that love tarries long (1Co 13:7, Heb 10:25, Mal 3:16) and that it takes time for us to be perfect, stablished, strengthened and settled through Christ (1Pe 5:10) so we can be a healthy contributing branch or pillar in the body of Christ. That is what our goal is for ourselves and each other as we run together as one body to win (1Co 9:24) this great prize of eternal life (Php 3:12-14). It is when we are converted that our entire life can be the most effective living sacrifice the Master will use (2Ti 2:20-21) for the strengthening of the sheep and lambs in this race (brethren Luk 22:32, lambs Joh 21:15, sheep Joh 21:16,  sheep Joh 21:17).

2Ti 2:20  But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. 
2Ti 2:21  If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work. (1Co 3:12-13, 1Pe 4:12, Heb 12:6)

Heb 13:2  Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. 

All flesh is strange to God, meaning it is gentile and cannot inherit the kingdom of God (1Co 15:50). We don’t want to know each other any longer after the flesh, which to God is all gentile or ‘strange’ (2Co 5:16), and yet this verse is reminding us how we are to interact among each other and all mankind, as brotherly love continues with our neighbour (Mar 12:30-31), as we do unto others as we would have them do unto us (Mat 7:12). That doing unto others as we would have them do unto us is how we can and should “be not forgetful to entertain strangers.

There is a parable being given to us regarding Christ’s relationship with John at the end of John’s life, and Jesus was not with John physically to give him comfort but was ministering to him in the spirit with the words of life that he gave to the two disciples of John that he sent to Christ. So in this instance Christ was showing us that he did not need to know John after the flesh, and most importantly He did not neglect to help John by sending those two disciples, who are a type of the witness of God’s holy spirit, the word of encouragement that he desperately needed at this time of great trial in his life (Mat 11:1-6, Mat 10:19-20). We are like Christ (1Jn 4:17) in that regard as we are sent as he was to reveal His life to each other, not forgetting “to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

Mat 11:1  And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities.
Mat 11:2  Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples,
Mat 11:3 And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?
Mat 11:4  Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see:
Mat 11:5 The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.
Mat 11:6 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.

Mat 10:19 But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.
Mat 10:20 For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.

God’s elect are commanded to do good unto all men, but especially to the household of faith (Gal 6:10) and many have shown us great kindnesses throughout our lives, for which we are grateful. So, “for thereby some have entertained angels unawares” also has its application to those whom God has used in this life for our sakes for whom are all things (2Co 4:15). The “angels unaware” can be both literal angels or messengers of God which we all are in God’s service.  We all have therefore at various times and in different ways “entertained angels unawares” and been ministered to by those angels who strengthen us (Luk 22:43). We are to do good to all men as we have opportunity knowing that God expects us to lavish the spikenard that represents God’s holy spirit upon the body of Christ, as we are that household of faith dying daily and in need of each other’s love and support in order to endure through this life (Mat 25:40, Joh 12:3).

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

Mat 25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

Joh 12:3  Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, (Joh 13:9-10) and wiped his feet with her hair: (1Co 11:7-8, 1Co 11:15) and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.

Joh 13:9  Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.
Joh 13:10  Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.

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 [the church] is the glory of the man.
1Co 11:8  For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man.

1Co 11:15  But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.

Heb 13:3  Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body. 

Going back to Christ’s example with John the baptist, we see how our Lord remembered the bonds of John. This typifies for us how we are to be sent to each other and are to remember the tremendous importance of that communion which builds up the body in love (Heb 13:16, Eph 4:16-32).

Heb 13:16  But to do good and to communicate forget not: (“Be not forgetful to entertain strangers“) for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

These verses in Ephesians help us define how we are to remember those who are in spiritual bonds suffering adversity and how we can, through Christ, be changed into a people who are empathetic toward all suffering “as being yourselves also in the body” of that person who is suffering (Eze 9:4).

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 (Eze 9:4, 1Th 5:12), maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. 
Eph 4:17  This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, 
Eph 4:18  Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: 
Eph 4:19  Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. 
Eph 4:20  But ye have not so learned Christ; 
Eph 4:21  If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: 
Eph 4:22  That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 
Eph 4:23  And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; (Psa 51:1-4, 1Jn 1:6-7)
Eph 4:24  And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. 
Eph 4:25  Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.

[Eph 4:25 Includes not lying to yourself but rather confessing your sins when God causes you to err (Isa 66:17) and asking for His power and strength to endure that chastening which we all must endure in order to be sons of God (Heb 12:6-7 , Pro 20:30)] 

Heb 12:6  For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 
Heb 12:7  If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 

Pro 20:30  The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly. 

Eph 4:26  Be ye angry, and sin not: (Joh 5:14) let not the sun go down upon your wrath: 
Eph 4:27  Neither give place to the devil. 
Eph 4:28  Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. 
Eph 4:29  Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. 
Eph 4:30  And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. 
Eph 4:31  Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 
Eph 4:32  And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you. “let brotherly kindness continue“.

Heb 13:4  Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. 
Heb 13:5  Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

We’ll end our study off this week with these last two verses that truly explain the fruit that will manifest in the lives of those who are blessed to “let brotherly kindness continue.

God’s elect “have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle”, which we will be looking at in greater detail in the coming weeks, Lord willing (Heb 13:10). For now, let’s consider how we can provoke one another to love and good works in an undefiled manner, as our marriage to Christ is “honourable in all”, a “bed undefiled”. Just as the altar must remain undefiled and free from “whoremongers and adulterers” who “God will judge” (1Co 3:17). Just like the Corinthian fornicator whose actions of sleeping with his father’s wife symbolize for us this defilement of a bed and what we do when our way of life is covetous, not being content with the little or lot of faith which God gives us (Php 4:12-13).

Php 4:12  I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 
Php 4:13  I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Whatever God gives us, it is given freely to be given to others. Our lives belong to him. “We are the Lord’s” (Rom 14:8, Rom 11:36, Mat 10:8). Otherwise we will find ourselves glorying in that which God is doing through us (1Co 4:7) as if we are doing it ourselves independent of Him (Php 2:12-13), even coveting a measure of faith that God never intended as He knows how a little faith can get the job done, or a lot of faith depending on what He has purposed in our lives (Php 4:12). Therefore we ought to be “content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee“, and yes, this has both a physical and spiritual application. The good news is that God will not leave us throughout this process of growing “in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ”, and understands how to turn us into a fitly framed temple to His glory and honour (1Co 3:16, Eph 2:21-22, Rev 19:7).

2Pe 3:18  But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. 

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

Eph 2:21  In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 
Eph 2:22  In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. 

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.

What exceedingly great and precious promises have been given to us to think upon (2Pe 1:4) so that we can be encouraged to “let brotherly love continue” by escaping the corruption that is in the world through lust that God has promised His grace will teach us to forsake (Tit 2:12).

Tit 2:12  Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

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. 

I want to end our study like we started it by reminding us to make this prayer often for one another which is found in (Eph 3:17-19).

Eph 3:17  That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 
Eph 3:18  May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 
Eph 3:19  And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. 
Eph 3:20  Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 
Eph 3:21  Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. 

Let us keep “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works” and “let brotherly love continue.

[Posted February 24, 2021]

Hi Mike​,

What I would like to know is if there’s a way to know when we’re entertaining angels. I know angels can appear in human form, so how would we know when we’re talking to one?

Thanks​, R____​

Hi R​____​,

Thank you for this question concerning the meaning of this verse:

Heb 13:2  Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels [G32​:​ aggelos] unawares.

There is a story in the Bible where a woman entertained angels, which explains the meaning of this verse. That story is referenced in the very next book after the book of Hebrews:

Jas 2:25  Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers [G32: aggelos], and had sent them out another way?

Here is Strong’s definition of this Greek word:

G32
ἄγγελος
aggelos
ang’-el-os
From ἀγγέλλω aggellō (probably derived from G71; compare G34; to bring tidings); a messenger; especially an “angel”; by implication a pastor: – angel, messenger.
Total KJV occurrences: 186

This is the definition of G71:

G71
ἄγω
agō
ag’-o
A primary verb; properly to lead; by implication to bring, drive, (reflexively) go, (specifically) pass (time), or (figuratively) induce: – be, bring (forth), carry, (let) go, keep, lead away, be open.
Total KJV occurrences: 71

So the ‘aggelos’ we can “entertain unawares” is simply someone who ‘brings’ us a ‘message’. It is a ‘messenger’ and whether that ‘messenger’ is a spirit messenger or a man is determined only by the context. The ‘messenger… angels’ entertained by Rahab the harlot in Jericho were two Israelite spies, whereas the ‘angels… messengers’ that appeared to the shepherds announcing the birth of Christ were spirits:

Luk 2:15  And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

Now, look at who the angel that had poured out one of the vials containing the last plagues and had shown the apostle John the judgment of the great whore, tells John he symbolizes:

Rev 19:9  And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.
Rev 19:10  And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

A second witness to these words is repeated in:

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.

I hope this helps you to see that any messenger of Christ is one of His ‘angels’. You, and everyone who “keeps the sayings of this book”, are an angel whom this world ‘entertains unaware’ of whom they are entertaining.

YbitC, Mike

Heb 9:3-5 Part 3 “Cheribims of Glory Shadowing the Mercyseat”

[Study Aired December 10, 2020]

Heb 9:3  And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all;
Heb 9:4  Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;
Heb 9:5  And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly.

The next few verses of chapter 9 that we will look at reveal what the type and shadow outcome of going through the process of judgment will bring to those who are blessed to read and “hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand” (Rev 1:3).

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

As we discussed last week, it is through the light of God’s word, which is spirit (Joh 6:63), that God’s elect can be enlightened (Mat 13:11) so those candlesticks which are in Christ’s right hand (Rev 1:20) can be empowered witnesses (Rev 11:3), blessed and able to eat the shewbread that represents the body of Christ.

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

Joh 6:54  Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.

Joh 6:35  And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

Our hearts and minds are being purified by being bound to the altar (Psa 118:27, Rom 12:1) which is the table at which the world cannot at this present time eat (Heb 13:10), meaning they cannot receive or hear or eat the bread (1Jn 4:6) representing the flesh of Christ, His body (Eph 5:30, Col 1:24), which is the whole stay of bread and the whole stay of water that we are blessed to read, hear and keep through Christ Who is sanctifying us by washing His bride (Eph 5:25) with the word as our Father drags us to Him and manifests those living waters through the church which is His body (Isa 3:1, Rev 1:3, Joh 17:17, Joh 6:44, Eph 3:10).

Psa 118:27  God is the LORD, which hath shewed us light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar.

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.

Heb 13:10  We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.

1Jn 4:6  We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

Eph 5:25  Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

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,

All of the costly and intricate workmanship that goes into all of the temple reveals to us what God is doing within His own workmanship which we are (1Co 6:19, Eph 2:10), but this Holiest place of all represents in type and shadow where flesh and blood cannot enter, which is where we are raised today in earnest (Eph 2:6). It is the place where our conscience can be cleansed by our high priest, Jesus Christ, through whom we are accepted (Eph 1:6, Rom 8:1). This “Holiest of all” places represents the throne of grace before which we can boldly come through Christ our high priest “that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb 4:16). The beauty of holiness (Psa 96:9) is reflected in what those objects represent, a “golden censer” and “the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold” the “golden pot that had manna” along with “Aaron’s rod that budded” and “the tables of the covenant“.

Eph 1:6  To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

Rom 8:1  There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit [entering into the “Holiest of all”].

Heb 4:16  Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Heb 9:3  And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all;

The word “veil” represents flesh (Mat 27:51, Heb 10:20), and it is within the second veil of “the tabernacle” where God’s holy spirit can change our hearts and minds as we are dragged to Christ who is “the faithful witness” (Rev 1:5). He gives us the power to put off our flesh and enter into this “Holiest of all” places through him, where we “have access by one Spirit unto the Father” (Rom 5:2, Eph 2:18, Rom 5:10).

Mat 27:51  And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;

Heb 10:20  By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; [Eph 5:30]

Rev 1:5  And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

Rom 5:2  By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Eph 2:18  For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.

Rom 5:10  For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

Our flesh is against the spirit of God “contrary the one to the other” (Gal 5:17), and yet God sacrificed Christ to break down that wall of partition (Eph 2:14) which is naturally within every man. We are being reconciled through that sacrifice that made a way for us to enter into the “Holiest of all” where those who have God’s spirit within them (Rom 8:9) can now be “saved by his life”, our hope of glory within (Col 1:27).

Gal 5:16  This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
Gal 5:17  For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

Eph 2:14  For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;

Rom 8:9  But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

Heb 9:4  Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant; 

God is making known to us what is “the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” and is revealing that glory through these physical items in the “Holiest of all” which reveal in type and shadow what the workmanship of His hands will produce in our heavens (Rom 1:20). God’s gold in this area of the temple represents the righteousness of Christ being forged in our lives through fiery trials and is the very reason judg ment is upon God’s elect today (Rev 3:18, 1Pe 4:12, 1Pe 4:17).

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

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.

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:

No one naturally in their flesh wants to go through fiery trials, and yet God mercifully drags us to Christ who is our hope of glory within who is likened to a the tree of life (Gen 2:9) or this treasure in earthen vessels (2Co 4:7) who is increasing in us as we decrease little and by little through the destruction of first man Adam (Deu 7:22) that comes about through a refining process in the refiner’s fire. It is a process that has begun with the elect, within the house of God (Jas 3:5, Luk 12:49). This process is typified for us in the old covenant with the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who typify that process of spiritual completion that can only come about by having Christ “the form of the fourth is like the Son of God” in the midst of that fire (Dan 3:25).

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

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

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

Jas 3:5  Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!

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

Dan 3:25  He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.

Now we can spend the rest of this study looking at what these itemized objects mean for us in the “Holiest of all” place, and we should come to the conclusion that what we are seeing is a compilation of the fulfillment of these verses in 2Timothy 2:20-21 which tell us what God’s intention was for His elect right from the beginning of time.

2Ti 2:20  But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.
2Ti 2:21  If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.

These verses in 2Timothy 2:20-21 are critical to our understanding and encouragement because they remind us it is Christ who is giving us the power to “purge himself from these” to go through the fiery furnace, to go into the lion’s den, or to go through the Red Sea so we can be those vessels of honour that are typified by “the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant“.

We don’t need to fear what man can do to our flesh, and we won’t if we are granted to remember that our greatest enemy is ourselves whom God called out of this world to overcome (1Co 1:27, Rom 11:18-21, 1Ti 1:15). We must continue to die daily to self (1Co 15:31) which, God willing, we will do through Christ who gives us the power to overcome, to lay down our life, to endure all things, and to not despise His chastening and scourging, as we keep under ourselves to His glory and honor through whom we can endure all things (1Co 9:27, Php 2:12-13, Rom 8:35-39, Php 4:13).

1Co 15:31  I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.

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.

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.

Rom 8:35  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
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 8:37  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
Rom 8:38  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Rom 8:39  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Php 4:13  I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Here is the list of words which we will look at one by one:

• The golden censer –

G2369 thumiastērion
thoo-mee-as-tay’-ree-on
From a derivative of G2370; a place of fumigation, that is, the altar of incense (in the Temple): – censer.

G2370 thumiaō
thoo-mee-ah’-o
From a derivative of G2380 (in the sense of smoking); to fumigate, that is, offer aromatic fumes: – burn incense.

This golden censer represents the place where the fervent and continual prayers of the saints avail much as they rise as “the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel’s hand” (Jas 5:16, Rev 8:4, Mat 2:11).

Jas 5:16  Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Rev 8:4  And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel’s hand.

Mat 2:11  And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold^G5557, and frankincense^G3030, and myrrh^G4666.

These three gifts that we bring to the King represent the process of spiritual completion we go through as we worship our Father in spirit and in truth. That censer would be used in that regard to bring about these fragrant smells which represent how pleasing and effective our prayers are through Christ when are life is purified through the fiery trials of this life (Jas 1:6, 1Pe 1:7).

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.
Jas 1:7  For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
Jas 1:8  A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
Jas 1:9  Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted:

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

• The ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna –

Now we can see that this overlaying of gold round about on the “ark of the covenant” is not just any gold. It is gold which has been beaten and overlaid via a process of workmanship that typifies what God is doing within our hearts and minds as He gives us the mind of Christ that is a spirit of power, love and a sound mind (2Ti 1:7), represented by this gold overlay. It is only possible to have a “golden pot that had manna” within the “Holiest of all” where it resides in our earthen vessels that are typified by the “ark of the covenant” (Joh 6:68, 2Co 4:7-9). It’s interesting to note that manna is also laid up as a witness to never let us forget our rebellion in the wilderness which was centered around our lust for those things God commanded us not to take (1Co 10:6, Exo 16:4-7).

Prophecy of Isaiah – Isa 62:3 What are the Seraphims?

Joh 6:68  Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.

2Co 4:7  But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
2Co 4:8  We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
2Co 4:9  Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
2Co 4:10  Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.

1Co 10:6  Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.

Exo 16:4  Then said the LORD unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no.
Exo 16:5  And it shall come to pass, that on the sixth day they shall prepare that which they bring in; and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily.
Exo 16:6  And Moses and Aaron said unto all the children of Israel, At even, then ye shall know that the LORD hath brought you out from the land of Egypt:
Exo 16:7  And in the morning, then ye shall see the glory of the LORD; for that he heareth your murmurings against the LORD: and what are we, that ye murmur against us?

• Aaron’s rod that budded –

We need to look at the history of this rod found in Numbers 17:1-13 to get a clearer understanding of what its significance is for God’s people today, and for the rest of world who will bud and blossom in their appointed time. Israel of old represents the world in this story where God used the rod of Aaron that typifies Christ to demonstrate by what means we can bring forth “buds, and bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds.” The natural representation of God’s elect was first revealed through Aaron and his sons, who we know represent Christ and His body (Luk 6:43-45, 1Co 15:46).

Luk 6:43  For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
Luk 6:44  For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes.
Luk 6:45  A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.

1Co 15:46  Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.

Num 17:1  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Num 17:2  Speak unto the children of Israel, and take of every one of them a rod according to the house of their fathers, of all their princes according to the house of their fathers twelve rods: write thou every man’s name upon his rod.

The whole creation groans and travails even until now (Rom 8:22), but it is only those who endure the stripes and suffering of this life, specifically from Christ or Aaron’s rod, with the end result in mind that we might be strengthened and settled and established through those trials of our faith (1Pe 5:10) which will in fact bring forth much fruit, typified by the “buds, and bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds” which have “the firstfruits of the Spirit” (Rom 8:23, Rom 8:28).

Rom 8:22  For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.

1Pe 5:10  But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

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.

Rom 8:28  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Num 17:3  And thou shalt write Aaron’s name upon the rod of Levi: for one rod shall be for the head of the house of their fathers.
Num 17:4  And thou shalt lay them up in the tabernacle of the congregation before the testimony, where I will meet with you.
Num 17:5  And it shall come to pass, that the man’s rod, whom I shall choose, shall blossom: and I will make to cease from me the murmurings of the children of Israel, whereby they murmur against you.

The “congregation before the testimony, where I will meet with you” symbolizes where God meets those whom he has chosen to work with in this age (Mat 22:14) so that we can bring forth much fruit to His glory and honor.

Num 17:6  And Moses spake unto the children of Israel, and every one of their princes gave him a rod apiece, for each prince one, according to their fathers’ houses, even twelve rods: and the rod of Aaron was among their rods.
Num 17:7  And Moses laid up the rods before the LORD in the tabernacle of witness.

Those twelve rods have Aaron’s rod “among their rods”, and it is Aaron’s rod which typifies our being in the world but not of the world (Joh 17:15), as God’s true witnesses who attest to the rest of the world, represented by the eleven other rods “before the LORD in the tabernacle of witness.” We are His tabernacle of witness if Christ is in us empowering us in this life by God’s holy spirit (Rev 11:3). The eleven rods are a symbol of rebellion that are left in this tabernacle of witness, just like the manna, to once again remind us of where we came before we got to twelve, which represents Christ our foundation.

Num 17:8  And it came to pass, that on the morrow Moses went into the tabernacle of witness; and, behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and brought forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds.

The rod of Aaron budded and bloomed blossoms and yielded almonds to represent the fruit of our lives that matures within us as we wrestle through the night to the breaking of the day (Gen 32:24, Mat 24:13). It is the struggles of this life which God gives His people to overcome that brings “forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds” (Joh 15:2).

Gen 32:24  And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.

Mat 24:13  But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

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 17:9  And Moses brought out all the rods from before the LORD unto all the children of Israel: and they looked, and took every man his rod.
Num 17:10  And the LORD said unto Moses, Bring Aaron’s rod again before the testimony, to be kept for a token against the rebels; and thou shalt quite take away their murmurings from me, that they die not.

It is by receiving the stripes of Christ in our lives today that the rebellious spirit within us is conquered, and we die not. The rod of Aaron represents the chastening and scourging force God uses and lays up for a testimony or witness within the body of Christ “to be kept for a token against the rebels.” The good news is we are promised that with this rod of witness “thou shalt quite take away their murmurings from me, that they die not” (2Ti 2:12-13, Mat 20:23, Php 1:29).

2Ti 2:12  If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:
2Ti 2:13  If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.

Mat 20:23  And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.

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

Num 17:11  And Moses did so: as the LORD commanded him, so did he.
Num 17:12  And the children of Israel spake unto Moses, saying, Behold, we die, we perish, we all perish.
Num 17:13  Whosoever cometh any thing near unto the tabernacle of the LORD shall die: shall we be consumed with dying?

The answer to the rebel within us is “dying you shall die” (Gen 2:17), and it is when we come near and touch the ark of the covenant that our old man perishes  (2Sa 6:6-7). So this last section of Numbers is telling us that it is through the obedience of Christ, typified by Moses, that we can receive the strength to go outside the camp and die following our Lord’s example of obedience (Heb 13:13).

Gen 2:17  But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

2Sa 6:6  And when they came to Nachon’s threshingfloor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it.
2Sa 6:7  And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God.

Heb 13:13  Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.
Heb 13:14  For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.

1Ti 6:8  And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
1Ti 6:9  But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
1Ti 6:10  For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

• The tables of the covenant –

The ten commandments or “The tables of the covenant” are also stored up for a witness, just like the eleven rods and those commandments that are a law for the lawless (1Ti 1:9). They reveal the sinful nature within us that can only be changed by the one rod of Aaron that changes our lawless heart which goes from a state of rebellion and confusion [the eleven rods] to being founded upon Christ the true foundation. That new law is manifested in the lives of those with whom God is working as the law of Christ (Gal 6:2). Again, another item is left in the tabernacle of witness that reminds us of our lawlessness which could have only been brought into subjection to Christ through the seven last plagues which plagues unfold in the lives of God’s elect through a process of spiritual completion while standing in the first tabernacle [the candlestick, the shewbread, the table] (Heb 9:8).

1Ti 1:9  Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,

Gal 6:2  Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

Heb 9:8  The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:

Heb 9:5  And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly.

Heb 9:5  and above it the cherubs of glory overshadowing the mercy-seat (about which now is not enough time to speak piece by piece). (LITV)

Heb 9:5  and above it, cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. But it is not now possible to speak in detail about these things (TLV – Tree of Life).

God is using all of these things – “the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread” – within the first tabernacle which represents what is needed in order to progress spiritually into the “Holiest of all” where we learn of the “golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant.” These items being found in this “Holiest of all” can be summarized with this thought of our Lord:

Mat 6:19  Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
Mat 6:20  But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
Mat 6:21  For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also [Eph 2:6].

What all this process represents is the finished product described as “cherubims of glory” representing the elect who will show mercy to the rest of the world as a result of having been prepared through a lifetime of overcoming and enduring through the much tribulation (Act 14:22), afflictions (Psa 34:19) and persecutions (2Ti 3:12) which Christ tells us we can endure through Him (Php 4:13) so that we can be those “cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly”.

We are laying up store today and through the Lord’s chastening grace that God’s word is accomplishing in those who are being sanctified as we witness our first temple being torn down as the Lord builds up the new temple within us (Joh 17:17, Heb 9:8, Joh 2:19).

Joh 17:17  Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

Heb 9:8  The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:

Joh 2:19  Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.

1Jn 5:4  For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

There is a “glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly” because eye has not seen nor ear heard what God has in store for those who love Him (1Co 2:9). We do have hope in our Lord and see through a glass darkly in this earnest relationship, but God provides the vision through His word and the faith that it provides is how we will gain victory in this life over our flesh (1Jn 5:4).

1Co 2:9  But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

1Jn 5:4  For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

We are losing our life today so we can gain the life of Christ for the benefit of all others who will then experience God’s judgment through the body of Christ as we administer His judgments upon the rest of His creation using all these things that have been fashioned in our heavens through judgment [“golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant“] and reveal them as “cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat” (1Co 6:3, Rom 11:31).

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

Rom 11:31  Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.

[Study Aired June 4, 2020}

Heb 2:4  God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will? 
Heb 2:5  For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak. 
Heb 2:6  But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him? 
Heb 2:7  Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands:
Heb 2:8  Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him. 
Heb 2:9  But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

God is bearing witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles (1Co 12:4-27) and gifts of the Holy Ghost (1Pe 4:10-13, Rev 19:7), “according to his own will“, according to the counsel of His own will (Eph 1:11), giving those gifts to those who were predestined to overcome in this age.

Eph 1:4  According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

Eph 2:10  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

That overcoming in the life of the elect needed to be preceded  by Jesus who “by the grace of God should taste death for every man”, and now we are tasting death as He did (1Jn 4:17). We are “fill[ing] up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church” as we die daily together as the many-membered one body of Christ (Col 1:24). We are raised in earnest together today (Eph 2:6) and will be raised to the fullness of that glory as Christ was in a moment and in the twinkling of an eye (1Th 4:16-17).

It is because God is mindful of His elect today, the apple of His eye toward whom He is being rich in mercy today, for his great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sins, that we can be quickened together with Christ (Rom 5:5; by grace ye are saved – Eph 2:5, 8) as He has raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Eph 2:4-6).

These divers “gifts…administrations” and “operations” from God spoken of in 1 Corinthians 12:4-10 are miraculous, and they detail for us how the manifold wisdom of God is made manifest and known through the church (Eph 3:10). These divers “gifts…administrations” and “operations” from God are given so we can learn to “give the more earnest heed” in this life as we ought!

1Co 12:4  Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
1Co 12:5  And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. [2Co 3:17, Jas 1:17]
1Co 12:6  And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
1Co 12:7  But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
1Co 12:8  For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
1Co 12:9  To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
1Co 12:10  To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
1Co 12:11  But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will [Eph 1:11].

1Co 12:12  For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ [the Christ].
1Co 12:13  For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
1Co 12:14  For the body is not one member, but many.
1Co 12:15  If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
1Co 12:16  And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
1Co 12:17  If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?
1Co 12:18  But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
1Co 12:19  And if they were all one member, where were the body?
1Co 12:20  But now are they many members, yet but one body.
1Co 12:21  And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.
1Co 12:22  Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:
1Co 12:23  And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.
1Co 12:24  For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked:
1Co 12:25  That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.
1Co 12:26  And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.
1Co 12:27  Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

1Pe 4:10  As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God [Eph 3:10].
1Pe 4:11  If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen [“give honour to him“].
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.

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

The context of rejoicing spoken of in 1 Peter 4:13 is this: “inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings” because it takes that communion of the body and blood of Christ (1Co 10:16), that trying of our faith, that suffering, along with all the gifts given being of the selfsame spirit to make us a unified and healthy body of Christ “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” (Eph 4:16).

1Co 10:16  The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?

We can overcome when God gives us the power to do so (Zec 4:6, 1Co 3:6), as we’re strengthened to continue to endure the suffering, the persecutions and the false accusations (Mat 5:11-13) we are experiencing with the people of God through a process more valuable than all the riches of this world (Heb 11:26-27, Php 3:8-9). With minds that are armed with the suffering of Christ (1Pe 4:1-2), and knowing there is nothing that can separate us from His love, and that there is nothing to be compared to what God has set before those who love him in this age (Rom 8:35-39, 1Co 2:9), we have every reason to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling, trusting that God will finish what He has started in us through Christ as we look to the joy that has been set before us (Heb 12:1-2) so that we don’t grow weary in well doing. In due season, as God’s kind of first fruits who have their season, we will reap if we faint not (Php 1:6, Gal 6:9).Where no vision is, people perish, and so it is by looking to Christ in all things we will gain that vision so we don’t grow weary in well doing, and don’t forsake the assembling of ourselves together where God provides that vision through the body of Christ (Pro 29:18).

Mat 5:11  Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Mat 5:12  Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
Mat 5:13  Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

Php 3:8  Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, [Mat 19:27  Christ’s answer to Peter (Mat 19:28-30) is predicated on being “found in him, not having mine own righteousness” of Phillipians 3:9].
Php 3:9  And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

Heb 11:26  Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward [Mat 19:28-30].
Heb 11:27  By faith [1Jn 5:4] he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.

1Pe 4:1  Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; [Col 1:24]
1Pe 4:2  That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men [“which is of the law” (Php 3:9], but to the will of God [“which is through the faith of Christ” (Php 3:9)].

Rom 8:35  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? [No, these things actually approve us in the Lord and make it possible for His power to rest upon us. (2Co 12:9, Jas 4:6)]
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. [These are the very things God uses to bring about the dying daily, killed all the day long process “tribulation,  distress, persecution, famine,  nakedness,  peril, and sword”]
Rom 8:37  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
Rom 8:38  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Rom 8:39  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Php 1:6  Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

Gal 6:9  And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
Gal 6:10  As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

Last week we looked at how, “We ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.” This week we will focus on how that will be made possible through Jesus Christ and His body which is a living sacrifice for the very purpose of taking care of one another as we bear each other’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ, “till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.”

Gal 6:2  Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

Eph 4:13  Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

Heb 2:4  God also bearing them witness^G4901, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will? 

This word “bearing them witness G4901″ is accompanied with “both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will” that is being accomplished through the church, through the witness of Christ in his body which is the church.

Luk 24:48  And ye are witnesses of these things.

Rev 11:3  And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.

Col 1:27  To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

The manifold knowledge which produces faith for the hearer (Eph 3:10, Rom 10:17) is then tried in the fire as God gives this increase that matures His children (1Pe 1:7), the bride of Christ, through a process that the many joints are experiencing together and contributing together (1Pe 4:12-13, 1Co 12:26, Eph 4:16), as we grow in grace and in knowledge of our Lord and savior, Jesus Christ (Eph 2:8-9, 2Pe 3:18). As we grow we are bearing one another’s burdens through this communion of the body and blood of Christ with the saints of God (1Co 10:16).

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 [happened unto you alone]:
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.

1Co 12:26  And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.

G4901 sunepimartureō soon-ep-ee-mar-too-reh’-o
From G4862 and G1957; to testify further jointly, that is, unite in adding evidence: – also bear witness.

G4862 sun soon
A primary preposition denoting union; with or together (but much closer than G3326 or G3844), that is, by association, companionship, process, resemblance, possession, instrumentality, addition, etc.: – beside, with. In compounds it has similar applications, including completeness.

G1957 epimartureō ep-ee-mar-too-reh’-o
From G1909 and G3140; to attest further, that is, corroborate: – testify.

Heb 2:5  For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak. 
Heb 2:6  But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him? 

The world to come is not put in subjection to the angels that minister (Heb 1:14) to those who are subject to one another as unto Christ (Eph 5:21). That blessing is first reserved for Christ and His Christ (1Co 15:23, 1Co 15:27-28). Christ was that first angel who was subject unto His Father in all things, and now we are learning through our high priest to be subject unto Christ and his body in all things, and that is being accomplished through the grace and faith that is ministered with the aforementioned, “signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost.”

Heb 1:14  Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?

Eph 5:21  Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

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

1Co 15:27  For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him.
1Co 15:28  And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.

We are as Christ (1Jn 4:17) and blessed and honoured and highly favored to receive these gifts today, the “signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost” that create the unity in the body of Christ and demonstrate who that manchild of God is (Mat 2:11). When God is mindful of man, He is mindful through the mind of Christ from whence comes every good and perfect gift from above “and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning” (Jas 1:17). The gifts given to the child of Matthew 2:11 were under the care of Mary and Joseph and represent the spiritual life this child of God is going to one day be able to give to the body of Christ, the “signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost.” It is those three gifts of “gold, and frankincense, and myrrh” that represent the process of judgment upon our old man and remind us why Mary, who represents the church, was so highly favored to have borne this savior for our sakes and to have been pierced in her heart, as we all are being, so that “the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed” through the church of which Mary is a type that must be judged in this age (Luk 2:35, 1Pe 4:17).

When we are visited of God (“that thou visitest him“), we are being judged of Him (Luk 19:42) and healed by His word that is likened unto living waters (Joh 7:37). Visited of God in this age means being first to be dragged to Christ by the Father (Joh 6:44) and given this thirst for the living waters that spiritually quench us in this age (Joh 6:55), to the end that we can be sent forth as Christ was to bring those same living waters to a world that has no stay of bread or water in it (Joh 20:21, Isa 3:1).

Heb 2:7  Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands: 
Heb 2:8  Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.
Heb 2:9  But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

This section of Hebrews explains to us how God made His strength perfect through Christ in a weak body of carnal flesh that was subject to all the same pulls of the flesh that you and I are (Heb 4:15-16).

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 4:16  Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Before Christ was crowned “with glory and honour“, before He “didst set him over the works of thy hands” in the fullness of that event, which is an unfolding event, Christ, by God’s decree, was made “a little lower than the angels” for our sakes so He could identify with our lowly position in this same corruptible ‘dying you shall die’ flesh (Gen 2:17 LITV).

Ultimately God tells us in these verses of Hebrews 2:7-9 that there is a process through which Christ and His body have to experience in order to see all things brought into subjection onto him, and unto us (1Jn 4:17). Christ is establishing that reality through the church, through the “gifts” “administrations” and “operations” spoken of in 1 Corinthians 12:4-27 so that “the works of thy hands” God the Father has given Christ to rule over as His workmanship can one day be brought into subjection to God who will be “all in all”:  “But now we see not yet all things put under him” (1Co 15:28).

Again in verse nine it is repeated — “we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death” — to demonstrate this important point that witnesses to us all who Christ is for us today, and how Christ is doing this work within us both to will and to do of our Father’s good pleasure (Php 2:13), just as it was God’s good pleasure to do the works he did in Christ’s life when he was on the earth (Luk 12:32, Joh 5:30, Joh 15:5). The witness is simply this: that with Christ in us as our hope of glory, we can die daily and taste death for every man as Christ himself did (1Co 15:31).

We are God’s workmanship (Eph 2:10), and it is His good pleasure to give us the kingdom of God (Luk 12:32) both in the age to come as well as now in earnest, where we have this treasure in earthen vessels (2Co 4:7) even as we are saved by that hope of glory within us (Col 1:27, Rom 8:24) which bears witness within us (Rom 8:16) that God can and will finish what He has started in each and every one of us who was predestined to be His workmanship in this age (Php 1:6), all to the glory of our Great God as He accomplishes these things and gives the increase via the “gifts” “administrations” and “operations” of 1 Corinthians 12:4-27 through the church (Eph 3:10).

If we are granted to “taste death for every man” as Christ did by dying daily in this age, it will be by the gift of faith God gives us so we can believe. Through the strength of Christ, who is the author and finisher of that faith, we can endure until the end all the suffering that is also on behalf of this blessed and holy relationship we have with our Father, Jesus Christ and His body.

Php 4:13  I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

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

Next week we will look at these next few verses of this rich section of Hebrews which looks more closely at the captain of our salvation who was made perfect through suffering and how He overcame the devil who had the power of death and is doing the same thing for us today as the body of Christ.

Heb 2:10  For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
Heb 2:11  For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,
Heb 2:12  Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.
Heb 2:13  And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.
Heb 2:14  Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 
Heb 2:15  And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.