The Book of Daniel – Dan 4:1-18  Let seven times pass over him

[Study Aired March 7, 2024[

Dan 4:1  Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.
Dan 4:2  I thought it good to shew the signs and wonders that the high God hath wrought toward me
Dan 4:3  How great are his signs! and how mighty are his wonders! his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to generation. 
Dan 4:4  I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in mine house, and flourishing in my palace: 
Dan 4:5  I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me. 
Dan 4:6  Therefore made I a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me, that they might make known unto me the interpretation of the dream. 
Dan 4:7  Then came in the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers: and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof. 
Dan 4:8  But at the last Daniel came in before me, whose name was Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods: and before him I told the dream, saying, Dan 4:9  O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee, and no secret troubleth thee, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof. 
Dan 4:10  Thus were the visions of mine head in my bed; I saw, and behold a tree in the midst of the earth, and the height thereof was great.
Dan 4:11  The tree grew, and was strong, and the height thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth: 
Dan 4:12  The leaves thereof were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all: the beasts of the field had shadow under it, and the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof, and all flesh was fed of it.
Dan 4:13  I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven; 
Dan 4:14  He cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off his branches, shake off his leaves, and scatter his fruit: let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from his branches: 
Dan 4:15  Nevertheless leave the stump of his roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth: 
Dan 4:16  Let his heart be changed from man’s, and let a beast’s heart be given unto him; and let seven times pass over him. 
Dan 4:17  This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men. 
Dan 4:18  This dream I king Nebuchadnezzar have seen. Now thou, O Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation thereof, forasmuch as all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known unto me the interpretation: but thou art able; for the spirit of the holy gods is in thee.

In this study we will look at how the ‘dream-is-one’ principle is brought to life in God’s word with this particular section of Daniel, which speaks of a tree in the midst of the earth that is paralleled with the other dream that Nebuchadnezzar had of the statue in chapter 3 (Dan 4:10, Dan 3:1).

Dan 4:10  Thus were the visions of mine head in my bed; I saw, and behold a tree in the midst of the earth, and the height thereof was great.

Dan 3:1  Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.

Both the statue and the great tree of height represent Nebuchadnezzar and his influence on mankind, which influence has come from Satan, the god of this world (2Co 4:4, Rev 13:4), who has ruled in the hearts and minds of mankind since Adam and Eve. Nebuchadnezzar’s father is Satan, and like Christ and God, they are of one mind, and so what speaks to Nebuchadnezzar and his evil dealings on this earth is a reflection of the deeds of his father, the devil (Joh 8:41), who God has given to be the head of all the powers and principalities of this life against which we wrestle until this day, and can only overcome through Christ within us who is far above all those powers and principalities (Eph 6:12, Eph 2:3, Eph 1:21).

Eph 6:12  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

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

Eph 1:21  Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: 

The progression being shown now in chapter 4 is that Nebuchadnezzar, or Satan, is going to be bound for a season, and this binding is represented by the “band of iron and brass” that will be put around the stump of the tree that was felled (Dan 4:23).

Dan 4:23  And whereas the king saw a watcher and an holy one coming down from heaven, and saying, Hew the tree down, and destroy it; yet leave the stump of the roots thereof in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him; 

That period of the tree being bound with iron and copper represents the time during the thousand-year reign of the saints when Satan is bound (Rev 20:7), and is no longer able to destroy or deceive humanity at this point. Without the adversary’s influence on humanity and the spirit of God within anyone, there can be no spiritual growth taking place throughout the reign of the saints. The “stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces” is just the start of the rule of God’s kingdom over the kingdoms of this world, and those kingdoms will be ruled over with a rod of iron, a rulership symbolized by the band of iron around the stump of the fallen tree of great height. The copper band signifies that the world will produce the best that the flesh can produce but nothing beyond copper, no spiritual growth (Dan 2:34, Rev 11:15  iswasandwillbe.com/metals_copper-part-2/). 

This stone that hits the feet of the statue represents Christ and His Christ who will be given to be the rulers of the kingdoms of this earth (Rev 11:15). So the iron and copper band represents the unconverted hearts of mankind that cannot overcome during this stage and yet are producing many wonderful works in the earth, and yes, learning of His righteousness, but keeping it in hearts that are yet carnal (Isa 26:9). The iron ring being bound around the stump and the copper ring also represent the inability of Satan at this time to sift any of humanity or destroy their many wonderful works of copper until he is loosed for a season. The physical destruction of all flesh that is brought about by Gog and Magog typifies the spiritual destruction of the man of sin that will occur in the lake of fire where all of humanity and all the angelic realm will be judged, again the natural preceding the spiritual as it always does (Rev 20:7). 

The lion will in fact lie down with the lamb during the thousand-year reign of the saints under Christ, and that lion represents Satan at this time in history who has not yet been released from the bottomless pit, the abussos within all of mankind (Isa 11:6, Rev 20:3). Satan, like Christ, never went anywhere. Christ went into the clouds when he was ascending to heaven which represents His ascending into the hearts and minds of His people, the great cloud of witness (Heb 12:1), and Satan was bound in the bottomless pit, or the abussos of humanity, until the time that he was predestined to rise up out of the pit to accomplish the destruction of all flesh. This same scenario was carried out with Judas who, at a predestined time, betrayed Christ, as all the disciples did on that night. Judas was in their midst and betrayed Christ at the precise time it was ordained to happen (Joh 13:27).

All of these different variations of a normally ferocious beast lying down with normally tame beasts found in Judges 14:4 tells us the same point. Satan will be stayed at this point in his ability to affect humanity, and humanity will be in no danger of his spiritual influence on their hearts and minds. It will be a very productive time in the earth and a fattening of fatlings, as God has ordained this all to seek an occasion against humanity that will come at the end of this dispensation which is void of grace (Jdg 14:4).

Isa 11:6  The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. 

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 had dominion over Israel.

Nebuchadnezzar will have “seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will” (Dan 4:32). These ‘seven times passing over’ typify the complete setting of the stage for both the devil and all of humanity to be judged in the lake of fire, where the eighth will be of the seven (Rev 17:11), meaning they will go into perdition, which is their time of judgment in the lake of fire resulting in their being purified and given salvation. 

The judgment of  Nebuchadnezzar’s life, or the seven times passing over, is not just symbolized by this one event with his being driven away and having his portion with the beasts of the field, nor was it accomplished by his seeing Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego delivered from the fiery furnace, or by seeing Daniel delivered from the lions’ den later in chapter 6 of Daniel. This rod of iron, like judgment upon Nebuchadnezzar, is not changing his heart, but nevertheless it is progressively happening, as it does in the spiritual realm for God’s elect via the seals, trumpets and vials. Judgment does not preclude that there will be conversion, which can only happen through the stone falling on us (Mat 21:44), or the lake of fire event, that will occur to all of humanity at the end of the thousand-year reign (1000 represents that process of judgment on flesh 10x10x10=1000 [2Pe 3:8]). 

Mat 21:44  And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

2Pe 3:8  But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day [the judgment that is symbolized as 1000 years (Rev 20:7) during that time is as one day, because it is typical of the one day of the Lord in the lake of fire. This concept of 1ooo as 1 and 1 as 1000 is another way of saying what Christ said in John 3:5)].

This judgment of Nebuchadnezzar symbolizes the judgment in the earth during the thousand years with a rod of iron that does not change the heart of mankind. The theme in Nebuchadnezzar’s life is like that of Pharaoh of Moses’ time, who God repeatedly softened and hardened his heart for our sakes, to show us that we are the clay in the Master Potter’s hand, Who does what He wants and as many times as He has ordained (Rom 9:17). He will harden and soften anyone of our hearts as He sees fit (Isa 63:17). Ultimately, Nebuchadnezzar never truly repented despite all these miracles that were being done right before his eyes, and this typifies how Satan and all the world will not change, regardless of all the miracles that occur during the rule of the saints on this earth, most notably the fact that they are seeing the resurrected body of Christ right in front of them (Luk 16:31, Isa 30:20).

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

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

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

Isa 30:20  And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers: 

God will fill the earth to its completeness [7] (Hab 2:14) during the reign of the saints with His word, that is the complete “seven times shall pass over thee”, washing of the word, being baptized with water and then being baptized with fire in the great white throne judgment (1Co 15:46, Joh 3:5, Rev 20:14-15). 

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

Joh 3:5  Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 

Rev 20:14  And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 

Rev 20:15  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

It is later, after this natural judgment of the earth, that the seven last fiery spiritual plagues will be poured out upon humanity in the lake of fire and upon Satan (Rev 19:20, Rev 20:10, Rev 20:14-15). Chapter 3 typified the judgment of the elect via, Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego and Christ’s judgment in this life, whereas Nebuchadnezzar’s judgment represents the judgment of the rest of humanity that is progressive and concludes in the lake of fire. The dream is one in that all men will be judged but each man’s judgment, and angels’ judgment is in the order God has ordained (Heb 9:27-28, 1Co 15:23-25).

Heb 9:27  And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: 
Heb 9:28  So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. 

1Co 15:23  But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.
1Co 15:24  Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. 
1Co 15:25  For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.

Dan 4:1  Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you. 
Dan 4:2  I thought it good to shew the signs and wonders that the high God hath wrought toward me. 
Dan 4:3  How great are his signs! and how mighty are his wonders! his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to generation. 

Nebuchadnezzar declares the great works which God did toward him to “all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you” and typifies the initial peace that the rule of the saints will bring when God’s government is established. In reality his saying “Peace be multiplied unto you” is the same as saying  “Peace, peace; when there is no peace” seeing the lasting peace that passes all understanding can only come through Christ  (Jer 8:11, Php 4:7).

Jer 8:11  For they have healed the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace. 

Php 4:7  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Nebuchadnezzar is driven out to live with the beasts of the field and loses his mind to ultimately be given a healthy mind. Initially, we read, “The kingdom is departed from thee. And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field.” This event is also analogous of Satan’s kingdom being taken from him during the thousand years (Rev 11:15).

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

Nebuchadnezzar expresses his desire to let these things be known regarding what God has shown him via the miraculous deliverance of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and he wants everyone to know, “I thought it good to shew the signs and wonders that the high God hath wrought toward me.” Those works were wrought toward him, but they did not change who he was inwardly, which parallels with the unchanged heart of mankind during the thousand-year reign of the saints, who will see many miracles being performed by the saints, but their hearts will not be changed by those events. Nebuchadnezzar can see “How great are his signs! and how mighty are his wonders! his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to generation” as he acknowledges God’s miracles and greatness like Nicodemus did in the night, but was yet unconverted (Joh 3:2).

Joh 3:2  The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. 

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego had to be judged and put through fiery trials as types of the elect whose words were being tried by fire (1Pe 1:7), actions which God accomplished according to His good pleasure (Php 2:12-13). The judgment of the Hebrew children typifies the elect being judged first today (1Pe 4:17), and the judgment of Nebuchadnezzar typifies the judgment of the rest of the world being judged later during the reign of the saints and then in the lake of fire. These verses demonstrate that God was judging Nebuchadnezzar in his dreams (Job 33:15-19).

Job 33:15  In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed; 
Job 33:16  Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction, 
Job 33:17  That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man.
Job 33:18  He keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword. 
Job 33:19  He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and the multitude of his bones with strong pain:

God’s kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, “everlasting kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to generation” because He alone can declare the end from the beginning, from “generation to generation“, from age to age, in each book He has written that will be part of that everlasting kingdom (Psa 139:16). The generations of old, prior to Pentecost, typify for us what was accomplished through others for our sakes so we could understand how we are given dominion over sin today through Christ (1Pe 1:12). God’s elect are the generation today with Christ abiding in us who understand that we are guilty of all the blood of the prophet’s from Abel to Zacharias. Each generation accomplishes exactly what God has determined according to the counsel of His own will (Luk 11:51, Eph 1:11).

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.

Luk 11:51  From the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, which perished between the altar and the temple: verily I say unto you, It shall be required of this generation.

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

Dan 4:4  I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in mine house, and flourishing in my palace: 
Dan 4:5  I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me. 
Dan 4:6  Therefore made I a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me, that they might make known unto me the interpretation of the dream. 
Dan 4:7  Then came in the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers: and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof. 
Dan 4:8  But at the last Daniel came in before me, whose name was Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods: and before him I told the dream, saying,
Dan 4:9  O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee, and no secret troubleth thee, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof. 

The dream is one, the great statue of chapter 3 is Nebuchadnezzar, and the tree of great height in chapter 4 is him as well. We know that the statue represents all the empires of the world, so this tree of great height should likewise represent all men of the earth who have been influenced throughout the ages by Satan who is typified by Nebuchadnezzar (Mar 8:24).

Mar 8:24  And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking.

This is the second time Nebuchadnezzar has a dream, or as he puts it “thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me.” In both instances he initially seeks to “bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me, that they might make known unto me the interpretation of the dream“, which demonstrates his leaning unto his own flesh even after already having been clearly shown God’s power and gift to interpret the dream in the first instance with Daniel. Even when he finally does call upon Daniel, he refers to him from his mindset saying, “in whom is the spirit of the holy gods“, and “because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee“, thinking of the God of heaven and earth as being connected with “the spirit of the holy gods” (Isa 45:5).

Isa 45:5  I am Jehovah, and there is none else; besides me there is no God. I will gird thee, though thou hast not known me; 

Nebuchadnezzar makes a decree to bring in this group prior to calling on Daniel, “Then came in the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers: and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof.” This group represents Babylon who cannot discern the spiritual matters of God because they are spiritually discerned. Nebuchadnezzar is blind and deaf and not discerning the voice of the true shepherd, and yet does finally call on Daniel after all other avenues are exhausted (1Co 2:14), “ whose name was Belteshazzar [secret treasure gatherer (PNB);  lord of the straitened’s treasure (BDB)], according to the name of my god.

1Co 2:14  But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Nebuchadnezzar’s going to “the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers” first to find an answer to the dream he had (Dan 4:7) typifies our going into Babylon first to try to find the answer to the dreams and visions we’ve been given of God, but it takes the church, represented by Daniel, in order for that manifest knowledge to be made known to the king, (Eph 3:10). “O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee, and no secret troubleth thee, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof.“

Dan 4:10  Thus were the visions of mine head in my bed; I saw, and behold a tree in the midst of the earth, and the height thereof was great.
Dan 4:11  The tree grew, and was strong, and the height thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth:
Dan 4:12  The leaves thereof were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all: the beasts of the field had shadow under it, and the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof, and all flesh was fed of it. 

These first three verses define what Satan’s kingdom looks like. It is appealing like the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and spoken of in desirable terms seeing this is what this tree represents in the midst of the earth (Gen 3:6, Gen 2:9). It is in the night that God gives this vision to Nebuchadnezzar while he is asleep, telling us that he won’t be able to understand the vision, being spiritually blind represented by his sleep upon his bed.

Gen 3:6  And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

Gen 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. 

Verses 11 and 12 are a reiteration of the dream of the statue that also represents what filled the whole earth with its empires. “The tree grew, and was strong, and the height thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth” (Dan 4:11). The tree grew like the nations of the world have grown. The tree was strong like the many strong empires represented in the statue. The height of the tree reached unto heaven, which symbolizes the high-mindedness of the first man Adam controlled by powers and principalities in the heavens. All this is just as the case was with the statue in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. The tree’s influence is able to be observed throughout all the earth, again just as the statue that had the same influence over all the various empires that Satan, who is the god of this world, rules over.

The fruit of the tree is then described in verse 12, which, as mentioned, was desirous and representing the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Gen 3:6) that has been the sole source of provision for the kingdoms of this world which have had the whole stay of bread and water taken away from them (Isa 3:1). That water and bread reside only on the tree of life that is presently being guarded by a flaming sword which turns every way, “to keep the way of the tree of life” (Gen 3:24). Of this tree that represents the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, we read, “The leaves thereof were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all: the beasts of the field had shadow under it, and the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof, and all flesh was fed of it.“

Dan 4:13  I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven; 
Dan 4:14  He cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off his branches, shake off his leaves, and scatter his fruit: let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from his branches:

The “watcher and an holy one” that came down from heaven in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream makes a loud cry, “Hew down the tree, and cut off his branches, shake off his leaves, and scatter his fruit: let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from his branches” and typifies the heralding of the angel of the Lord and the great voices in heaven spoken of in Revelation 11:15 who represent the elect of God (Isa 40:9, Oba 1:21). 

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

Isa 40:9  O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion, get thee up on a high mountain; O thou that tellest good tidings to Jerusalem, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold, your God!

They are told to cut down the tree, which represents Babylon falling (Rev 14:8), and the branches represent the many harlot churches of the great whore that must fall, along with the leaves and the fruit that represent the millions of false doctrines which have brought no healing to the nations that God’s elect are going to be used to judge and destroy and replace with the undefiled word of God that will heal the nations in time (Rev 22:2). The beasts, meaning mankind, are told to get “away from under it“, which is another way of saying “come out of her my people.” “The fowls from his branches” having to get away typifies the need to come out from under the snare of the fowler who is the devil (Pro 6:5) who has twisted God’s words and blinded the world into believing in another Jesus (Mat 16:18-19, Luk 13:32).

Pro 6:5  Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler.

Dan 4:15  Nevertheless leave the stump of his roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth: 
Dan 4:16  Let his heart be changed from man’s, and let a beast’s heart be given unto him; and let seven times pass over him.

The timeline of this tree being felled is symbolically at the start of the thousand-year reign of the saints (Rev 20:4), and a greater judgment is to come at the end of the thousand years that will do away with “the stump of his roots in the earth” (Rev 20:7-8, Rev 20:14-15, Mal 4:1). In the meantime, they remain along “with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth.“

The band of iron and copper represent the current condition of man’s heart without the influence of Satan at this time in the earth. He is being withheld at this stage from humanity, as described in these verses, (2Th 2:3-8), until he is revealed, which is when all the world will be judged along with the devil, and then that man of perdition will be destroyed by the brightness of His coming [lake of fire judgment] (2Th 2:3-8). The world is not spiritually mature here, symbolized by this tree stump being “in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth.” Tender grass is for the spiritually young, as is the dew from heaven which is not rivers of living water that proceed from those who have God’s spirit within them in this age. The beasts in the grass of the earth are again telling us that the world cannot go on to spiritual maturity without God’s spirit within (Rom 8:9), which makes it possible for us to digest the stronger meat of the word (Heb 5:14).

Mal 4:1  For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. 

2Th 2:3  Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 
2Th 2:4  Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. 
2Th 2:5  Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? 
2Th 2:6  And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. 
2Th 2:7  For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 

2Th 2:8  And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

Dan 4:17  This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men. 
Dan 4:18  This dream I king Nebuchadnezzar have seen. Now thou, O Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation thereof, forasmuch as all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known unto me the interpretation: but thou art able; for the spirit of the holy gods is in thee.

“This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones” represents the authority that is given to the body of Christ during this time of rulership, and the Lord has put the weak of the world in charge “to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.” It’s true that Nebuchadnezzar represents the basest of men for our sakes, representing and typifying the ‘not many noble, weak of the world, chief of sinners’ elect who identify with these words now, “the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.” That kingdom of God is within the elect now who understand that all things are ours and that God does not need the wise of the world to establish His kingdom on this earth (1Co 1:26-29, Eph 4:4, 2Pe 1:10).

1Co 1:26  For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 
1Co 1:27  But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 
1Co 1:28  And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 
1Co 1:29  That no flesh should glory in his presence.

Eph 4:4  There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 

2Pe 1:10  Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: 

The Lord will ultimately have the world turn to the elect for the answers to all of their spiritual questions and concerns, as typified by this situation where Nebuchadnezzar went to Daniel to understand the interpretation of his dream. “Now thou, O Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation thereof, forasmuch as all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known unto me the interpretation: but thou art able; for the spirit of the holy gods is in thee.” The timeline of the world being given the true undefiled words of God have a yet unconverted world expressing their gratitude in the typical manner that Nebuchadnezzar did, who acknowledges in his own words that Christ is in us by saying, “for the spirit of the holy gods is in thee.” Nebuchadnezzar does not know Daniel’s ‘new name’ and calls him “Belteshazzar” which brings to mind these verses that speak of Christ and his Christ (Mar 6:3-4, Rev 2:17). 

Mar 6:3  Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him. 
Mar 6:4  But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.

Rev 2:17  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

Next week we will look at the second half of this chapter where Nebuchadnezzar’s dream is interpreted by Daniel in the rest of chapter 4 (Dan 4:19-37). 

Audio Links

Awesome Hands – part 95

“Adorned with gold”

January 27, 2016

In today’s study we are going to cover Exodus 26:15 and the various characteristics of shittim wood mentioned in the verses we read about concerning the tabernacle.

As with all items pertaining to the tabernacle of Israel, the boards, bars and sockets all have spiritual significance for what the Lord is telling us about Himself, the body in Jesus Christ and the relationship we all have with one another.

Shittim wood

In the last study we did a recap of the items leading up to the topic being covered today. The most immediate items recently covered were the covering layers of the tabernacle consisting of the fine linen, goats, rams and badger skins.

So, we are continuing from the covering with the support structure that those coverings will lie atop and specifically what that support structure is made of.

Exo 26:15  And thou shalt make boards for the tabernacle of shittim wood standing up.

The first thing we see mentioned here is that the boards themselves will be made out of shittim or acacia (uh-kay-sha) wood.

Up until this point, there have been other wood items mentioned which were also made out of shittim wood but I have not expounded on the characteristics and spiritual types and shadows of shittim wood in particular. I will now do that in this study.

Some of the attributes of acacia wood are quite revealing as to what possible reasons there are for the Lord choosing this wood to be the only wood used in the construction of the tabernacle. This will not be an exhaustive list but will simply be what the Lord has given me to understand and share about this wood.

Strong’s concordance lists “shittim” as:

H7848

shiṭṭâh    shiṭṭı̂ym
shit-taw’, shit-teem’
Feminine of a derivative (the second form being only in the plural, meaning the sticks of wood) from the same as H7850; the acacia (from its scourging thorns): – shittah, shittim. See also H1029.
Total KJV occurrences: 28

From the same masculine form we see H7850 is listed in Strong’s as:

H7848
shiṭṭâh  /  shiṭṭı̂ym
Total KJV Occurrences: 28
shittim, 27
Exo_25:5, Exo_25:10, Exo_25:13, Exo_25:23, Exo_25:28, Exo_26:15, Exo_26:26, Exo_26:32, Exo_26:37, Exo_27:1, Exo_27:6, Exo_30:1, Exo_30:5, Exo_35:7, Exo_35:24, Exo_36:20, Exo_36:31, Exo_36:36, Exo_37:1, Exo_37:4, Exo_37:10, Exo_37:15, Exo_37:25, Exo_37:28, Exo_38:1, Exo_38:6, Deu_10:3
shittah, 1
Isa_41:19

 

H7850

shôṭêṭ
sho-tate’
Active participle of an otherwise unused root meaning (properly to pierce; but only as a denominative from H7752) to flog; a goad: – scourge.
Total KJV occurrences: 1

On the surface, those definitions don’t seem to mean very much in Strong’s. We just read it as “sticks” of wood meaning to pierce and we also read that acacia wood refers to the scourging of the thorns, but that is not all there is to it.

From H7850 we see H7752.

H7752

shôṭ
shote
From H7751; a lash (literally or figuratively): – scourge, whip.
Total KJV occurrences: 11

H7752
shôṭ
Total KJV Occurrences: 10
scourge, 4
Job_5:21, Job_9:23, Isa_10:26, Isa_28:18
whips, 4
1Ki_12:11, 1Ki_12:14, 2Ch_10:11, 2Ch_10:14
whip, 2
Pro_26:3, Nah_3:2

Digging a little deeper we see that H7752 roots in H7751 which is the root of acacia wood.

H7751

shûṭ
shoot
A primitive root; properly to push forth; (but used only figuratively) to lash, that is, (the sea with oars) to row; by implication to travel: – go (about, through, to and fro), mariner, rower, run to and fro.
Total KJV occurrences: 13

H7751
shûṭ
Total KJV Occurrences: 23
fro, 8
2Ch_16:9, Job_1:7, Job_2:2, Jer_5:1, Dan_12:3-4 (2), Amo_8:12, Zec_4:10
run, 6
2Ch_16:9, Jer_5:1, Dan_12:3-4 (2), Amo_8:12, Zec_4:10
going, 2
Job_1:7, Job_2:2
about, 1
Num_11:8
go, 1
2Sa_24:2
gone, 1
2Sa_24:8
mariners, 1
Eze_27:8 (2)
rowers, 1
Eze_27:26
through, 1
2Sa_24:2
went, 1
Num_11:8

I know there are a lot of layers to what we just read so here is the basic breakdown.

We have the feminine form of the word “acacia” being a derivative (it derives from, comes from, is based upon) H7850.

H7850 means “flog, goad” but also is a denominative form (adjective like destruct from destruction) of H7752 which means whip or scourge. The root of them all is “shoot”, H7751, meaning to push forward, shoot to or from, to lash out or whip.

Acacia in the physical and spiritual

Given all of that, what can we derive as the spiritual significance of shittim wood represented by its physical attributes? As with all words in scripture, there are positive and negative meanings to these words.

What are some of the characteristics of acacia wood?

First off, acacia wood would be one of the only sources of wood available to Israel when they were given these commands to construct the tabernacle. It is the prevalent wood in the area.

The color of acacia and the flowers it produces is very interesting. Wictionary lists the color as “a light to moderate greenish yellow with a hint of red” https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/acacia. Wikipedia lists the flowers as yellow or creamy white depending on the particular tree, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acacia.

If you are familiar with colors in scripture and the study Mike did then you’ll recognize some of the following things concerning colors. Naturally, yellow and red are primary colors and green is mixture of blue and yellow.

With the last study we covered that blue is the color of heavenly things or the mindset of the new man. Yellow represents the dying condition of our flesh. Green then is the movement from yellow to blue, moving from the dying flesh and the things that feed it to the things that feed our new man.

There are over 800 varieties of acacia trees found all over the world. The wood from these trees has a very well-known attribute in that they are impenetrable to insects due to how dense they form.

Acacia trees also only live 30-40 years but grow to be very tall.

All of these attributes are intriguing when you connect them to the spiritual types they represent.

Once we start connecting the way this word “shittim” has been inspired to be used in scripture, we start to see a very revealing pattern immerge about why this is the wood of choice for the tabernacle.

We briefly read through the times that “shittim” was used in scripture and then we looked at the root of this word in Hebrew.

Most of the time, it is used right here in Exodus and then once in Deuteronomy which also mentions the tabernacle. However, it is used only once outside of describing the tabernacle but it is intimately connected with the tabernacle still!

Isa 41:19  I will plant in the wilderness the cedar, the shittah tree, and the myrtle, and the oil tree; I will set in the desert the fir tree, and the pine, and the box tree together:
Isa 41:20  That they may see, and know, and consider, and understand together, that the hand of the LORD hath done this, and the Holy One of Israel hath created it.
Isa 41:21  Produce your cause, saith the LORD; bring forth your strong reasons, saith the King of Jacob.
Isa 41:22  Let them bring them forth, and shew us what shall happen: let them shew the former things, what they be, that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them; or declare us things for to come.
Isa 41:23  Shew the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that ye are gods: yea, do good, or do evil, that we may be dismayed, and behold it together.

The verses above are in context of Isaiah 41 and chapters 41 and 42 are speaking about the contrast in the people of God versus everyone else and specifically who the “God of Israel” is all about.

When we consider that acacia wood is the wood of choice for the tabernacle items and everything in the tabernacle, then we must consider that the Lord was very particular in this choice.

Trees are used throughout scripture to describe mankind, but each has positive and negative applciations. A few examples of trees as men mentioned in scripture are:

Psa 52:8  But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God: I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever.

Psa 92:12  The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.

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

Hos 14:5  I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon.
Hos 14:6  His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon.

Mat 3:10  And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

Mar 8:23  And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw ought.
Mar 8:24  And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking.

There are many examples as men being likened as trees in scripture. Therefore, the Lord has chosen this particular tree to be used in His temple due to certain attributes.

Acacia trees thrive and grow in dry and desert like conditions. They live a short life but grow tall in stature. They are “naturally beautiful”. They are very DENSE and sturdy and this is both positive and negative.

I have joked with Mike and others before that a man or woman of God has to have a spine in order to be used of God. When we are carnally minded and stiff necked “having a spine” can be negative because we tend to be set in our ways and not easily persuaded outside of our own thinking.

However, when the Lord gets a hold of us and uses us for His kingdom and work, He then takes that attribute of our personality which He has given us and applies it to our unwillingness to compromise with the world on how it is we should follow the commandments of God.

God takes what He alone as caused to thrive in the desert, i.e. the WORLD, and then covers it with His gold. As we mentioned in the previous studies on the tabernacle, this overlaying of gold represents the watchmen who are appointed to watch the gates.

When we look at the root of acacia we see this concept:

H7751

A primitive root; properly to push forth; (but used only figuratively) to lash, that is, (the sea with oars) to row; by implication to travel: – go (about, through, to and fro), mariner, rower, run to and fro.

The root means “To push forth” by implication to travel. Here are a few verses where this verse is used:

2Ch 16:9  For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.

Zec 4:10  For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth.

Contrast that with the SAME ROOT WORD being used here:

Job 1:6  Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.
Job 1:7  And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.
Job 1:8  And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?

Do we consider that we have been JUST LIKE Job? No? Then are we Israel? If we are Israel, then are we grouped together at some point in this mindset?

Amo 8:1  Thus hath the Lord GOD shewed unto me: and behold a basket of summer fruit.
Amo 8:2  And he said, Amos, what seest thou? And I said, A basket of summer fruit. Then said the LORD unto me, The end is come upon my people of Israel; I will not again pass by them any more.
Amo 8:3  And the songs of the temple shall be howlings in that day, saith the Lord GOD: there shall be many dead bodies in every place; they shall cast them forth with silence.
Amo 8:4  Hear this, O ye that swallow up the needy, even to make the poor of the land to fail,

A few verses later talking about this same Israel:

Amo 8:10  And I will turn your feasts into mourning, and all your songs into lamentation; and I will bring up sackcloth upon all loins, and baldness upon every head; and I will make it as the mourning of an only son, and the end thereof as a bitter day.
Amo 8:11  Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, BUT OF HEARING THE WORDS OF THE LORD:
Amo 8:12  And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, THEY shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it.

See, we are the acacia tree. We are those who have been REDEEMED of the Lord. We are they who have loved Jesus Christ but who have also LEFT our first love. We are those who have been freed from Egypt as slaves only to go on and tempt the Lord 40 years in the wilderness.

However, while IN THE WILDERNESS, the Lord takes some of those acacia trees, shapes and molds them for His purposes and then covers them with His gold. This isn’t a chronological explanation of Israel’s walk in the wilderness but a spiritual one.

Now, when the world looks on the outside of the tabernacle they see badgers skins. They do not and CANNOT see the precious metals and fine linens lining the ENTIRE tabernacle.

The very construction of the temple is made from items which have very telling attributes.

Who then are you acacia tree? You are the thorny, piercing, scourging wood that is dense and impenetrable. You are the goad and whip used to punish and torture our Lord causing Him to be crucified, but you are also the redeemed and forgiven of the Lord who need to say so!

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

You have been delivered from YOURSELF, the enemy of the LORD. Don’t you know that ye are gods who have been delivered from sitting on the throne of God to being a part of the very temple of God itself?

Who then are you acacia tree? You are who the Lord has setup in this world to be the VERY structure the rest of the temple sets upon and you sit upon the foundation which has already been laid.

Jesus Christ was not a person whom the world looked on and desired, yet in the spirit and with the new man living in us, we are looked upon by the creator of the universe as being the very structure or frame which His temple is built.

In type, we wander from sea to sea, (ways of the world to more ways of the world) from the north (judgment) to the east, (RISING of the Sun, but not the maturity needed to survive) running to and fro seeking the Word of the Lord (LIFE, TRUTH and a WAY to LIVE) but we are unable to find it.

We go from that to being plucked up as dead by the Lord and made a mighty backbone in His temple. Praise the Lord!

The Lord does not shy away from telling us who we are in Israel. Just like Jesus Christ was the son of man and the Son of God, we too SHARE in His afflictions

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:

1Pe 5:9  Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

We are Israel, the faithless people of God in the flesh, but given to be the spiritually minded called, chosen and faithful people of God situated around His thrown just like the acacia wood surrounding the mercy seat of God in His tabernacle.

In the next study, we are going to see how the boards and bars of acacia wood, covered in gold, are used in the making of the tabernacle and just how connected we all are with the temple of God. We are also going to look at a few more attributes of acacia wood.

Audio Links

The Spiritual Significance of Colors in Scripture – The Color Green, Part 3

We are still on the color green, but we will be dealing this week with the spiritual meaning of the color green in its positive application. We have covered how it’s the combination of yellow and blue that form what each of those stands for, so we can determine the meaning of the color green.

Someone might say “where is scripture do you find there are three primary colors?” I don’t get that in scripture but by observing ‘nature’. It’s like saying “where in scripture does it say a lion kills animals?” While we do see in scripture where lions have killed, the whole concept is one of observation, and you know what it’s talking about.

We have heard the lion called the king of beasts. You won’t find that phrase ‘king of beasts’ in the bible, yet Christ is called the lion of the tribe of Judah simply because He is a king.

God tells us clearly in Romans 1 that the invisible things of Him are seen by the things He has created.

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:

That’s how we can look at the three primary colors and deduce from them what the significance of each color is. When you are told in scripture that yellow has to do with leprosy, and that blue has to do with the holy things of the temple, the holy spirit will give you the ability to see that when those two come together, it is speaking of the spirit working with the flesh.

In the book of Revelation and throughout the Word of God, there is a positive and a negative application for virtually every word in the book. The book of Revelation is where we saw this clearly as far as the color green is concerned. The positive application was don’t hurt any green tree or grass but only those men who have not the seal of God in their foreheads.

Rev 9:4  And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.

In chapter 3 we are told all the green grass was destroyed, so you have a negative and a positive application right there close to each other. If you don’t understand this positive and negative principle, you will read through the bible and think there are many contradictions in it. There are no contradictions, only negative and positive applications. If you keep that in mind, you will have a key to understanding scripture that few people know.

Even as we look at the color green and its negative application, it becomes apparent it is a necessary evil.

As when talking about flesh – flesh is no good, yet that is what we all are. We are all no good, but it is necessary. The bible tells us no man yet hated his own flesh, yet as Paul says, there is no good thing in our flesh, why do we cherish it so much then?

Rom 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing:…

We cherish our flesh because we must live with it. So when you see examples in scripture such as Abraham making a treaty with Abimelech, who was a Philistine king, Jacob making a treaty with Laban that they will not hurt each other, that is the spirit working with the flesh.

However, we don’t go around mutilating our bodies just because in our flesh is no good thing. We learn to live with our flesh and dominate it and not allow its dominion over us.

That’s how we can understand what the bible means when God creates a serpent, a flesh and blood man and woman, a tree of the knowledge of good and evil and proclaims them all very good.

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

The Catholics need to consider that when they diminish the importance of sex. Sex has an important place in the human existence as we wouldn’t be here without it. Sex is very good in its place. Husbands and wives certainly should have sex. In most cases, barring an illness for instance, if they are not having sex, they do not have a marriage.

So everything has a positive application, but everything also has a negative application. This knowledge gives us a perspective on life that we wouldn’t otherwise have. People read scriptures that are talking down on something, then view it all as negative. I received a letter telling me I’m crazy for thinking there is a negative application to the color green. The letter said “don’t you know the tree of life is green?!” Of course, the tree of life is green.

The tree of life was right there with the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. They are both green – they are trees. That is a positive application of the color green. This week’s study is on the positive application.

Psa 23:1  A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
Psa 23:2  He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
Psa 23:3  He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

All that comes after those verses is part of living in green pastures.

Psa 23:4  Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Our fleshly bodies are the valley of the shadow of death.

Psa 23:5  Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Psa 23:6  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

There is another psalm using the word green again. This psalm has to do with Doeg, the Edomite who killed all the priests of God when he saw they had given David the shewbread to keep them from being hungry. He had told King Saul about it, and King Saul sent him back to kill all the priests.

Psa 52:8  But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God: I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever.
Psa 52:9  I will praise thee for ever, because thou hast done it: and I will wait on thy name; for it is good before thy saints.

David goes on to contrast himself with the Edomite, Doeg, whose name will be wiped out. He says “I am like a green olive tree”, and this is a good thing, not a bad thing. Fruit trees in scripture represent those who bring forth good. There are also trees that are what brings forth bad things as they have no fruit on them at all. However, an olive tree brings forth fruit and it is used quite a bit in scripture.

Here’s a scripture representing Christ in the eyes of His elect. The Song of Solomon is sometimes not easy to read in mixed company as it is such an intimate and plainly spoken portrayal of Christ and His church.

Son 1:16  Behold, thou art fair, my beloved [speaking of Christ], yea, pleasant: also our bed is green.

Son 2:10  My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.
Son 2:11  For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone;

With Winter past, things will turn green.

Son 2:12  The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle [dove] is heard in our land;
Son 2:13  The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.

This is how we ought to think of Christ. This is how everything is when you are in love. When you are dating Mr. or Miss Right just being with him/her makes everything seem like Spring. Everything seems green even if it is the dead of Winter. Everything is wonderful when your love is there.

That’s how we should be viewing Christ. That’s how the bible portrays our relationship with Christ.

Paul makes it clear in Ephesians 5 that is how marriage portrays Christ and the church.

Eph 5:23  For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
Eph 5:24  Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
Eph 5:25  Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
Eph 5:26  That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
Eph 5:27  That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
Eph 5:28  So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
Eph 5:29  For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:

In Jeremiah 11 we have the elect as they appear in the eyes of Christ. It is amazing how He brings green back into it.

Jer 11:16  The LORD called thy name, A green olive tree, fair, and of goodly fruit: with the noise of a great tumult he hath kindled fire upon it, and the branches of it are broken.

Jer 17:7  Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.
Jer 17:8  For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.

Rev 9:4  And it was commanded them [the locusts out of the bottomless pit] that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.

These locusts which eat up every green thing do not eat up God’s elect in this positive application. They blot out the light of the sun with their vast number (vs 16). They are two hundred million false doctrines that blot out the light of the truth of God’s word, yet they can’t touch God’s elect.

Why not? Because God’s elect know the truth. They know Jesus Christ, what He is and what He thinks. He is their Love. They want to know about Him, how He thinks, how His mind works because they want to think like Him.

A good wife [type of the church] lines her thinking up with her husband’s – provided she has a good husband, of course. She doesn’t have a way of thinking which is contrary to her good husband’s line of thinking. When we line up with Christ’s way of thinking, all the false doctrines of the world will be just like water running off a duck’s back. This is the positive application of the color green.

The exact opposite is shown in Revelation 8:7.

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.

This is people who do not have the seal of God. It is not a contradiction but a dual usage of words. Christ is the lion of the tribe of Judah, but Satan is also a lion who goes forth seeking whom he may devour.

1Pe 5:8  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

Here is the negative application of lion…

Rev 13:2  And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.

And the positive…

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.

With those verses we can see a lion in both the good and bad application. All they demonstrate is that words have both a positive and a negative application. This has nothing to do with green, but it does demonstrate how we can see green in both applications.

Trees are seen throughout the bible, and there are a lot of positive applications. We need to know how God views trees.

Gen 1:11  And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.

Fruit trees bring forth fruit. What is God telling us there? God begins with green herbs first for fruit. That is one thing He is telling us there.

Gen 1:29  And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.

He didn’t give them animals to eat at this point. After baptism, as after the flood of Noah, we get to eat meat. Peter tells us the flood of Noah is a type of baptism.

1Pe 3:20  Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
1Pe 3:21  The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:

Gen 9:1  And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth.
Gen 9:2  And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hand are they delivered.
Gen 9:3  Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.

Notice God didn’t say “in place of the green herb”; He said “even as the green herb…”.

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 [this is Christ] also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

It’s still true herbs and fruit are good for food. Everything came out of the ground, and when you say Jesus Christ had no connection to the flesh, you are denying this very principle here. He came right out of the ground, and the word ‘ground’ is Adam – adamah. The tree of life also came out of the ground.

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

Cherubim keeping the way of life is the same thing as saying the priesthood in Leviticus must not allow the Levites to touch the holy things. Don’t allow the Levites to eat the holy food in the holy place. Levites pollute the holy things. What are the holy things? They are the mind and thoughts and doctrines of Christ. None of the churches of the world see that. They believe we should all come together with all our conflicting beliefs and be one ecumenical movement. God will have nothing to do with it.

The fact Christ comes out of the ground speaks volumes of who Christ is. He is the true tree of life. When you know the tree of life came out of the same ground out of which Adam was taken, you know who Christ is.

We are not told we stop eating herbs and replace them with meat. We are told we are adding meat along with the herbs we already eat. Now we are able to be nourished by both green herbs and “every moving thing” – strong meat.

We will see how trees and green things are used in scripture to shade us from the heat of the sun. There was no air conditioning in the Old Testament or New Testament times. Trees were used for shade for mankind. Shade from the hot sun can come from either a fruit bearing or nonbearing tree.

The Lord appeared to Abraham just before He destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.

Gen 18:1  And the LORD appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day;
Gen 18:2  And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground,
Gen 18:3  And said, My Lord, if now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant:
Gen 18:4  Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree:

Gen 18:8  And he took butter, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat.

Abraham was giving his guests the very best place he could, and that place was under a tree. Inside the tent would not have been as cool as air circulation would not have been as good.

1Ki 4:25  And Judah and Israel dwelt safely, every man under his vine and under his fig tree, from Dan even to Beersheba, all the days of Solomon.

Being under a tree is a comfortable place to be in Old Testament terms. One may say “wait, isn’t the sun a type of the truth of God?” Yes, it is. The sun is Jesus Christ.

1Ki 19:4  But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.
1Ki 19:5  And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat.

This is Elijah after he had just slain 400 prophets of Baal, after calling fire down from heaven. He had told them to pray to their gods, and he would pray to his God and whichever god answered they would know that was the true God.

1Ki 18:24  And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD: and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken.

1Ki 18:37  Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again.
1Ki 18:38  Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.

Nothing had happened for the hours the priests of Baal spent praying to their gods and even cutting themselves in an attempt for their prayers to be answered. Elijah even poured water all over his offering, but as soon as he prayed, God sent down fired to burn up Elijah’s offering. Under God’s direction, he killed all 400 of the false prophets.

Upon hearing from Ahab what Elijah had done, Jezebel sent a death threat to Elijah at which he ran for his life into the wilderness. As we just read, he sat under a juniper tree begging God to take his life.

After facing the 400 priests and seeing God’s miraculous answer to his prayer, he still feared Jezebel. We can’t think badly of Elijah though as it is speaking of you and me. We can see God’s hand running the affairs of this world, and we know just what He is capable of performing, yet when we have a trial, we panic. Our faith is just not strong enough. All that happened to Elijah is written for our admonition so we would know what these things all mean.

Exo 15:23  And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah.
Exo 15:24  And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink?

This bitter water will kill you. The false doctrines of the world will kill you. Israel is green. They are being worked with by God. They knew this water was killing them and cried out for God’s intervention.

Exo 15:25  And he cried unto the LORD; and the LORD shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them,

What did He prove about them? He proved they didn’t have any faith. To prove someone is to show what they are. God already knows what we are. He is proving us to ourselves.

Lev 27:30  And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD’S: it is holy unto the LORD.

If you are beginning to get the picture here, you can now see trees are men. We give shade to those babes in Christ. We don’t just dump all the meat of God’s word on an immature christian. Everything we are and have is the Lord’s.

Deu 21:22  And if a man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be to be put to death, and thou hang him on a tree:
Deu 21:23  His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God;) that thy land be not defiled, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.

These scriptures are telling us we are guilty of the death of Christ. It is through the curse of Christ hanging on the tree that we are purified.

It does seem contradictory that someone who has done nothing worthy of death is accursed of God. It is through dying, rotting flesh that life comes. It seems to be the exact opposite of what would be true, but that’s the way God has ordained it.

Deu 24:20  When thou beatest thine olive tree, thou shalt not go over the boughs again: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow.

The olive trees were beaten to make the olives drop for harvest, but some were to be left on the trees for the needy.

What is that verse telling us? It is saying that all we have is of God, and we give our lives in service to God, but in so doing we serve our fellow man. You serve God when you serve your brother.

Jdg 9:8  The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive tree, Reign thou over us.

This parable is being put forth by the only remaining son of Gideon, who was also called Jerubbaal and who had judged Israel and delivered them from the Midianites.
Israel had been vastly outnumbered by the Midianites, but God led 300 of Gideon’s men to conquer a huge number of Midianites when He put such fear into them at the sound of Gideon’s men blowing their horns that they thought they were under attack in the night and ended up killing each other. The spoil of gold became Gideon’s, which made him a wealthy man. As polygamy was allowed under the old covenant, Gideon ended up with 70 sons.

One of these sons was born to Gideon by a concubine, and he grew up wanting to be king of Israel and declared himself king. He talked his mother and family into ‘campaigning’ for his kingship. Afterward he killed all his brothers except for the youngest, Jotham, who hid himself and gave us this parable.

Jdg 9:8  The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive tree, Reign thou over us.
Jdg 9:9  But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honour God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?

This verse tells us what God means by the olive tree. It honors God and man with its oil and with the olives themselves.

Jdg 9:10  And the trees said to the fig tree, Come thou, and reign over us.
Jdg 9:11  But the fig tree said unto them, Should I forsake my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to be promoted over the trees?

Figs taste good. In the old days they were like eating candy.

Jdg 9:12  Then said the trees unto the vine, Come thou, and reign over us.
Jdg 9:13  And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?

How does wine cheer God? Does God need wine to be cheered up? Christ said the cup of wine represented the new testament.

Luk 22:19 And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.
Luk 22:20 Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.

Finally the trees come to the bramble, and it takes them up on it.

Jdg 9:14  Then said all the trees unto the bramble, Come thou, and reign over us.
Jdg 9:15  And the bramble said unto the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king over you, then come and put your trust in my shadow: and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon.

The bramble represents Abimelech who wanted to be king over Israel. He was a lowly briar which thought to rule over the cedars of Lebanon. What was the fire that destroyed the trees?

The fire was civil war in Shechem. Abimelech’s own people turned on him and killed him. That’s the definition of fire in this particular story. Fire burns everything in its way.

What you should see in all of this is that trees are men. Different trees represent different stages in our growth. Even in the new testament this is made known to us.

Mar 8:22  And he cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him, and besought him to touch him. [We all start out spiritually blind.]
Mar 8:23  And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw ought.
Mar 8:24  And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking.
Mar 8:25  After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly. [God makes us to understand His word and His will more clearly as time goes on.]

We are told how to judge a person…by their actions, their fruits; not talking about literal trees.

Mat 7:16  Ye shall know them [false prophets] by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
Mat 7:17  Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
Mat 7:18  A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
Mat 7:19  Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Mat 7:20  Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

Trees as Types of God’s Elect

Jer 11:19  But I was like a lamb or an ox that is brought to the slaughter; and I knew not that they had devised devices against me, saying, Let us destroy the tree with the fruit thereof, and let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name may be no more remembered.

Psa 1:1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
Psa 1:2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
Psa 1:3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

Time after time we are told what these trees stand for. Trees planted by the water are a type of God’s elect.

Psa 52:8  But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God: I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever.

Psa 92:12  The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.

What are cedar trees? What are palm trees? They are righteous men. This doesn’t mean they are necessarily spiritually good, but they are good men. We have Job as an example.

Job 1:1  There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.

Job was a righteous man. He was a cedar of Lebanon, but he didn’t have the fruit of the spirit.

God doesn’t always use unrighteous men to deceive the world; He uses righteous men – good people, respectable, honorable men of whom the whole world speaks well. Billy Graham and the Pope are both cedars of Lebanon, but they don’t have one bit of the holy spirit. They are not fruit trees.

Jer 17:7  Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.
Jer 17:8  For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.

This is a tree planted by waters, a good tree yielding fruit. Let’s see what trees have to do with the temple of God. What is the temple of God? The body of Christ as a church corporately and each member individually.

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

1Co 6:19  What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

With that in mind, let’s read:

1Ki 6:23  And within the oracle he made two cherubims of olive tree, each ten cubits high.

Remember this not the tabernacle but the temple.

The side posts, the pillars of the tabernacle, are God’s elect. The only pillars were at the door of the tabernacle and the door of the holy of holies. The cherubim acted as the channel to get to God. What is that telling us? Christ said no one comes to God but by Him. As the christ of Christ, we are used as that channel by which God saves all mankind. That’s how important our function is (Rom 11:31).

Trees in The Temple of God

1Ki 6:31  And for the entering of the oracle [the door of the holy of holies] he made doors of olive tree: the lintel and side posts were a fifth part of the wall.

What does Revelation tell us about olive trees?

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

The two witnesses are the two olive trees. This is not just two men but God’s people down through the ages through whom all mankind must come. The two doors of the temple are olive trees. The light which poured forth out of the candlestick is God’s word poured out. We must want to share these truths with others or we are not getting it at all.

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

Cherubim and palm trees are on the door that leads to God. Cherubim represent the elect. How do we know? They tell us in Revelation 5.

Rev 5:9  And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

Palm trees are the same thing; those who bring mankind to Christ.

1Ki 6:33  So also made he for the door of the temple posts of olive tree, a fourth part of the wall.

The door of the temple is not the same as the doors of the oracle. The doors of the oracle lead to the holy of holies.

1Ki 6:34  And the two doors were of fir tree: the two leaves of the one door were folding, and the two leaves of the other door were folding.

Fir trees are not fruit trees, but they can still by used by God when they have been cut down and cut up.

1Ki 6:35  And he carved thereon cherubims and palm trees and open flowers: and covered them with gold fitted upon the carved work.

Cherubim and palm trees are on both doors that lead to God. That gold fitted upon the carved work is beaten so thin it only needs to be rubbed on.

1Ki 6:36  And he built the inner court with three rows of hewed stone, and a row of cedar beams.

2Ch 3:5  And the greater house he cieled with fir tree, which he overlaid with fine gold, and set thereon palm trees and chains.

Fine gold, palm trees and chains were on the ceiling of God’s house.

Men as Trees

Eze 20:45  Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
Eze 20:46  Son of man, set thy face toward the south, and drop thy word toward the south, and prophesy against the forest of the south field;
Eze 20:47  And say to the forest of the south, Hear the word of the LORD; Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will kindle a fire in thee, and it shall devour every green tree in thee, and every dry tree: the flaming flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north shall be burned therein.

Who is God talking to when he is talking to a forest? He is talking to men. This is a negative application of trees, but it shows trees are men in symbol. This tree needs to be burned up.

Eze 20:48  And all flesh shall see that I the LORD have kindled it: it shall not be quenched.
Eze 20:49  Then said I, Ah Lord GOD! they say of me, Doth he not speak parables?

Yes, it’s a parable – trees are men.

Dan 4:9  O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee, and no secret troubleth thee, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof.
Dan 4:10  Thus were the visions of mine head in my bed; I saw, and behold a tree in the midst of the earth, and the height thereof was great.
Dan 4:12  The leaves thereof were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all: the beasts of the field had shadow under it, and the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof, and all flesh was fed of it.
Dan 4:13  I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven;
Dan 4:14  He cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off his branches, shake off his leaves, and scatter his fruit: let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from his branches:
Dan 4:15  Nevertheless leave the stump of his roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth:
Dan 4:16  Let his heart be changed from man’s, and let a beast’s heart be given unto him; and let seven times pass over him.

This particular tree of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream was Nebuchadnezzar himself. Daniel is explaining to him that Nebuchadnezzar will lose his mind for seven years and be sent to the field to eat grass like an ox. Yet after that time he will return and get back his kingdom.

Hos 14:5  I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon.
Hos 14:6  His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon.

These verses in Hosea show a positive application to trees.

Mat 3:10  And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees [men who don’t produce good fruit]: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

Mat 7:15  Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Mat 7:16  Ye shall know them by their fruits [because men are trees]. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
Mat 7:17  Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
Mat 7:18  A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
Mat 7:19  Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

When you hear a minister saying to go fight for your country, he is not bringing forth good fruit. He can’t because he is a corrupt tree.

Mat 7:20  Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

You don’t know them by their lofty sermons or their miracles, but rather do they adhere to the doctrines of Christ.

Rev 9:4  And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.

The Tree of Life

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.

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

Those cherubim represent God’s elect as we have reiterated before. These are those who love God’s mind, who are impressed with God’s mind and love it.

Listen to all these scriptures that talk about the tree of life.

Pro 3:13  Happy is the man that findeth wisdom [Christ], and the man that getteth understanding.
Pro 3:14  For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.
Pro 3:15  She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her [wisdom – Christ].

Christ is her [wisdom] because He is God’s wife as well as His Son, and we are Christ’s wife as well as his sons.

Pro 3:16  Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.
Pro 3:17  Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
Pro 3:18  She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.

Pro 11:30  The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.

Talking about men again who are olive trees and a tree of life to those who are brought to God through those men.

Pro 15:4  A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.

Watch what comes out of your mouth! Don’t let it be perverse.

Rev 22:1  And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.
Rev 22:2  In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

If you see that through your mercy people will obtain mercy this will be understood by you. It is impossible for the natural man to understand how a tree can be in the midst and on either side and that the cherubim are in the midst of the throne and also round about it. We are in Him, He is in us and He is in His Father – that’s what is being said.

The fruit of righteousness is the tree of life, and Christ is the tree of life. It’s talking about the fruit of righteousness in our lives.

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

Conclusion of Green – Both Negative and Positive

Green is associated with a process which involves the work of the Spirit on the flesh, a dying vessel of clay. Green is associated with death because it is the combination of yellow and blue. Yellow is leprosy which consumes human flesh. Blue is associated with things of the spirit, in the heavens.

But green is not intended to be anything but green. Like yellow it can’t inherit the kingdom of God. Green is positive inasmuch as it brings us to the blue. Green is negative as it is associated with the flesh which cannot enter the kingdom of God.

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.

On the positive side, green identifies with those who have the seal of God in their foreheads. Green typifies God’s elect, green typifies the tree of life, and all who are ‘in Him’ as saviors of mankind.

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.

Green is shade from the burning sun, green is spiritual growth – God working in mankind.

Video Links

Study Aired March 18, 2012

Job 14:1 Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.
Job 14:2 He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.
Job 14:3 And dost thou open thine eyes upon such an one, and bringest me into judgment with thee?
Job 14:4 Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.
Job 14:5 Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months are with thee, thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass;
Job 14:6 Turn from him, that he may rest, till he shall accomplish, as an hireling, his day.
Job 14:7 For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease.
Job 14:8 Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground;
Job 14:9 Yet through the scent of water it will bud, andbring forth boughs like a plant.
Job 14:10 But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he?

Introduction

As we have seen in the words of both Job and his miserable comforters, they have not been granted to see the things our eyes see or hear the things we are granted to hear.

Mat 13:16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.
Mat 13:17 For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them. [ Including Job]

Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar are all pointing their fingers at Job, and Job is pointing his finger at them. Both are the Old Testament type of all of us while we are a part of Babylon the great who teaches us that we are the captain of our own souls via the false doctrine of “free moral agency”. Like all of us while we are in the darkness of Babylon, we pay God’s sovereignty great lip service, even as we deny it with our actions and our words. Here is how Job as the type and shadow of who we are at this point in our walk, is doing the same thing:

Job 13:15 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.

We “maintain [ our] own ways” because we are blinded to the true sovereignty of God over all our ways.

Pro 20:24 Man’s goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way?

What we do is not scripturally our own doing at all but God’s, be it good or evil.

Gen 45:8 So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.
Isa 63:17 O LORD, why hast thou made us to err from thy ways, and hardened our heart from thy fear? Return for thy servants’ sake, the tribes of thine inheritance.
Jer 10:23 O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.
Rom 7:23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

When we are being judged during this part of our walk, we simply cannot see any of these verses declaring God to be sovereign over the evil that we do.

Mat 19:11 But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given.
Joh 8:43 Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.

Our Babylonian hireling shepherds have always told us that God does not create evil, so we have always believed that our evil deeds were of ourselves. Even so we do not see ourselves as being as evil as God sees these clay vessels. We see them as being tolerably evil, if not all together good and righteous. So, typified by Job, we plead our own case with words like Job’s:

Job 13:18 Behold now, I have ordered my cause; I know that I shall be justified.

It is so very natural to see our own evils as being almost good deeds when compared to the gross evils we all see so clearly in others. We always tend to justify our own weaknesses by the greater weaknesses of others. Seeking spiritual excellence simply does not occur to our natural man. So it is always the case that when we contend with our Creator attempting to justify ourselves, we display our confusion for all to see. So now Job, who sees himself as righteous of himself, still must confess that God has already determined:

Job 14:1 Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.
Job 14:2 He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.

This life may seem like an eternity when we are enduring trials such as Job has already endured and is still enduring with the added humiliation at the hands of his “inward friends, [ and] miserable comforters”. Nevertheless, the Biblical truth is that this life really is “of few days, and full of trouble”. The holy spirit has inspired these words here in Job, as a witness to these words in James:

Jas 4:14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

Christ used words very similar to these words of Job, and in doing so He agrees with Job. Without Christ living His life within us, we are all just “man that is born of woman”, and the very best of such men is still corruptible flesh which is unfit to inherit the kingdom of God.

Mat 11:11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
1Co 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

But the only reason “He that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than [ John]” is that “he that is least in the kingdom of heaven” has had Christ living His life within him, and his works have been judged and “tried with fire” first. There really is but one event to all men (Ecc 9:2). Those who are ‘least in the kingdom of heaven’ are simply judged first:

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.

“Every man’s work shall be… revealed by fire”. It is the fire of God’s Word which is revealing the self- righteousness of both Job and His miserable comforters, as types of us, “for our admonition upon whom the ends of the ages are come” (1Co 10:11).
Job has noted, “Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble. He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.” It seems incredible to Job and to us, that God gives so much attention to such insignificant creatures as members of mankind such as himself and such as you and me.

Job 14:3 And dost thou open thine eyes upon such an one, and bringest me into judgment with thee?
Job 14:4 Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.

So it appears that Job has some sense that mankind, “man born of woman”, is inherently unclean, even as he maintains his own ways, and declares that he is confident that he will be justified.
As we all do, Job displays his own confusion while contending with his Creator. Here is Job’s confidence in his own righteousness.

Job 13:18 Behold now, I have ordered my cause; I know that I shall be justified.

Bildad expresses this same sense of mankind’s inherent uncleanness, using some of the same words.

Job 25:4 How then can man be justified with God? or how can he be clean that is born of a woman?
Job 25:5 Behold even to the moon, and it shineth not; yea, the stars are not pure in his sight.
Job 25:6 How much less man, that is a worm? and the son of man, which is a worm?

What these verses make very clear is what the scriptures mean when they tell us this of our own Savior:

(YLT) for him who did not know sin, in our behalf He did make sin, that we may become the righteousness of God in him.

How was Christ made sin? We are not left to speculate.

Gal 4:4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

“Made of a woman, made under the law” are both expressions of the sinful state in which we are “marred in the Potter’s hand… shapen in iniquity, conceived in sin”.

Psa 51:5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
Jer 18:4 And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.

As hard as it is for those who simply don’t have the mind of Christ and His Father to believe, Christ, by His own estimation, was neither “good” nor “perfected” while being “made of a woman, made under the law”. Let’s just let Christ speak for Himself, and then all we need to do is to believe Him:

Mat 19:17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
Luk 13:32 And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox [ King Herod], Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.

Christ tells us He does not consider Himself either “good” or “perfected” because He is well aware that His flesh too, is “made of a woman, made under the law”. The fact is that our Savior calls Himself “the son of man” twice as many times as He refers to Himself as “the Son of God”. Both are true, but Christ wants us to know that He identifies with us as “in Adam”, as well as being “in Christ”.
“Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean?” Who calls light forth out of darkness? Who brings life forth out of death? Whose strength is made perfect in weakness? Who uses the foolishness of this world to confound the wise? Who uses the weak to confound the mighty?

2Co 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
Mat 10:39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
2Co 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
1Co 1:27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
1Co 1:28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
1Co 1:29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.

It is God who sent our savior in sinful flesh and who perfected His strength in that weakness. It is God who used Christ’s corruptible flesh to bring forth a clean “new man” out of the filthy rags that are our own self- righteousnesses.

Isa 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

Job is well aware of the temporal and limited nature of being “born of a woman”:

Job 14:5 Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months are with thee, thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass;

“His days are determined, the number of his months are with thee” is very close to these words of King David:

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)

“Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months are with you.” Taken at face value, Job is admitting that God knows in advance just how long any of us will live.

Job 14:6 Turn from him, that he may rest, till he shall accomplish, as an hireling, his day.

The ‘him… he… and his of this verse are all Job himself again pleading with his Creator to give him a break, and give him rest from his afflictions. Never once does he even consider that “maintaining his own ways” just might be an element necessitating his chastening afflictions.

Pro 5:22 His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins.
Jer 2:19 Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, and that my fear is not in thee, saith the Lord GOD of hosts.
Eze 36:31 Then shall ye remember your own evil ways, and your doings that were not good, and shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and for your abominations.

But as the self- righteous people we all are while in Babylon, being wicked and backslid are always words which have no personal application. Those are words which always apply to publicans and harlots who are far beneath us. On the other hand, we think of ourselves as worthy of being used by God to stone such people to death.

Job 13:18 Behold now, I have ordered my cause; I know that I shall be justified.
Job 27:5 God forbid that I should justify you: till I die I will not remove mine integrity from me.
Job 27:6 My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go: my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live.
Job 33:9 I am clean without transgression, I am innocent; neither is there iniquity in me.
Joh 16:2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.

The self- righteous spirit of Job is exposed for us by Christ Himself:

Luk 18:9 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
Luk 18:10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
Luk 18:11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
Luk 18:12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
Luk 18:13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
Luk 18:14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Like any good Pharisee, even when Job confesses that he is a sinner, he considers himself to be a fairly good sinner who is ‘without transgression… innocent… without iniquity’, and totally undeserving of being afflicted, or being “a burden to [ him] self”.

Job 7:20 I have sinned; what shall I do unto thee, O thou preserver of men? why hast thou set me as a mark against thee, so that I am a burden to myself?

Throughout scripture trees are used to symbolize men. Christ Himself is said to be “the life” and tells us that He gives Himself for us as ‘the Tree of Life”.

Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Rev 22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

God’s witnesses in this world are called “two olive trees”:

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

John calls God’s witnesses ” the two olive trees” because he is referring to the “two olive trees” which are first mentioned in Zec 4 where the angel asks repeatedly “Know you not what these be?” What do these two trees represent?:

Zec 4:1 And the angel that talked with me came again, and waked me, as a man that is wakened out of his sleep,
Zec 4:2 And said unto me, What seest thou? And I said, I have looked, and behold a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps, which are upon the top thereof:
Zec 4:3 And two olive trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof.
Zec 4:4 So I answered and spake to the angel that talked with me, saying, What are these, my lord?
Zec 4:5 Then the angel that talked with me answered and said unto me, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.
Zec 4:6 Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.
Zec 4:7 Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it.
Zec 4:8 Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
Zec 4:9 The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you.
Zec 4:10 For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; t hey are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth.
Zec 4:11 Then answered I, and said unto him, What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side thereof?
Zec 4:12 And I answered again, and said unto him, What be these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves?
Zec 4:13 And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.
Zec 4:14 Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth.

So a tree whose roots are still in the earth is revived with the mere scent of water, even after it is cut down. This tree Job speaks of is actually himself, who though he has been cut down, he refuses to die to his own self- righteousness. With just “the scent of water”, with just a hint of God’s word, as opposed to “the sum of [ God’s] word” (Psa 119:160), the old Job is revived.

Job 14:7 For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease.
Job 14:8 Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground;
Job 14:9 Yet through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant.

If any of our “old man” survives, he again blossoms, is healed, and will overcome the saints, and “bring forth like a plant”, that was never cut down. Here is the way this same principle is expressed in the book of Revelation:

Rev 13:3 And I saw one of his heads [ of the beast that is mankind, Ecc 3:18] as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.
Rev 13:4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?

It is God who both gives us our deadly wound and who also heals that wound and restores our beastly health, to continue opposing Him and His ways. It is God who helps us to fight and overcome the “giants” in our land, and it is God who has predestined that we will all go into Babylon to learn the ways of that system.

Hos 11:3 I taught Ephraim also to go, taking them by their arms; but they knew not that I healed them.
Hos 11:4 I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love: and I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws, and I laid meat unto them.
Hos 11:5 He shall not return into the land of Egypt, but the Assyrian [ Nineveh and Babylon] shall be his king, because they refused to return.

God has all our days written in His book. Our very thoughts are predestined to show us who we are and what mankind is. Our suffering is all for the purpose of bringing forth a good end. It takes decaying matter to produce nourishing fruit. We, like Job, may at first have a glimpse of these truths, but for “a long time” we are not granted to see the process through which God is bringing us all to Himself.
So at this point Job sees death simply as relief from man’s “days [ which are] few… and full of trouble” (Job 14:1). Neither Job nor we can see the connection between the tree that revives at the scent of water, and the beast within. We cannot accept, at this time in our walk, that we live by every word of God (Mat 4:4), that all things are ours (1Co 2:21-22), and that all things come alike to all men (Ecc 9:2). So he attempts, as we all do until we granted to see the Truth of those verses, to segregate himself from the tree that is cut down.

Job 14:10 But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he?

“Man dies… gives up the spirit… and where is he?” Job, does not know the answer to that question. He later affirms that “when I am tried I will come forth as gold”.

Job 23:10 But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

So, just as Job, we have hints of what God is doing, but we have no idea that the goal is the salvation of all who are in Adam, even though the whole process is right there before our eyes all along:

1Co 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
1Co 15:23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.
1Co 15:24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.
1Co 15:25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
1Co 15:26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.

The scriptures answer Job’s question. Man returns to the dust whence he was taken and the spirit from God which gives him this temporary life in this clay vessel, returns to God who gave it. That spirit is the spirit of God from which all things come. It is not an individual personality, and it “knows not anything” as such.

Gen 3:19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
Ecc 9:5 For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.

“All things are of God”. He sends forth His spirit and creates all life, but when He withdraws that spirit, they die, and without a resurrection they are perished. They are not alive in joy in heaven, nor are they suffering in eternal flames in hell. They are asleep in the earth until they are resurrected from among the dead.

2Co 5:18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
Psa 104:29 Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust.
Psa 104:30 Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth.
1Co 15:16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:
1Co 15:17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
1Co 15:18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.

But Christ is risen, and just as we are all dying “in Adam… so in Christ shall all be made alive” via a resurrection from the dead.

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

Next week we will, Lord willing, consider the rest of the verses here in chapter 14 of Job.

Job 14:11 As the waters fail from the sea, and the flood decayeth and drieth up:
Job 14:12 So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep.
Job 14:13 O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me!
Job 14:14 If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.
Job 14:15 Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee: thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands.
Job 14:16 For now thou numberest my steps: dost thou not watch over my sin?
Job 14:17 My transgression is sealed up in a bag, and thou sewest up mine iniquity.
Job 14:18 And surely the mountain falling cometh to nought, and the rock is removed out of his place.
Job 14:19 The waters wear the stones: thou washest away the things which grow out of the dust of the earth; and thou destroyest the hope of man.
Job 14:20 Thou prevailest for ever against him, and he passeth: thou changest his countenance, and sendest him away.
Job 14:21 His sons come to honour, and he knoweth it not; and they are brought low, but he perceiveth it not of them.
Job 14:22 But his flesh upon him shall have pain, and his soul within him shall mourn.

Video Links

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

Introduction

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

And this is what he says in verse five:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

And this is Young’s Literal Translation:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Next week, Lord willing we will cover these verses:

Rev 22:6 And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.
Rev 22:7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.
Rev 22:8 And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things.
Rev 22:9 Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.
Rev 22:10 And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.

Mike,

Thank you for your reply. As I said earlier, more questions arise than answers. A brother pointed out:

Mar 8:24 And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking.

But I didn’t have the clarity to even ask a question.

The next question still deals with:

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

Is this then the first Adam?:

Eze 31:7 Thus was he fair in his greatness, in the length of his branches: for his root was by great waters.
Eze 31:8 The cedars in the garden of God could not hide him: the fir trees were not like his boughs, and the chestnut trees were not like his branches; nor any tree in the garden of God was like unto him in his beauty.
Eze 31:9 I have made him fair by the multitude of his branches: so that all the trees of Eden, that were in the garden of God, envied him.
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.
Eze 31:10 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou hast lifted up thyself in height, and he hath shot up his top among the thick boughs, and his heart is lifted up in his height;
Eze 31:11 I have therefore delivered him into the hand of the mighty one of the heathen; he shall surely deal with him: I have driven him out for his wickedness.

And is this then the last Adam – the Life Giving Spirit?:

Rom 4:25 Who was delivered for our offences (envy being one of our many offences), and was raised again for our justification.
Rev 22:2 In the midst of he street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve mannerof fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
Rev 22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

I hope I was able to ask the question in a manner that is understandable.

God bless you, your brother in Christ,
A____

Hi A____,
Thank you for your question.

This is easy to answer because the answer is yes, you have correctly identified the first and the last Adams in scripture, except I would have emboldened “the tree of the knowledge of good and evil” in listings the first Adam, and I would have placed “the tree of life” in the listings of the last Adam”.
There is no way of getting to the tree of life without first partaking of “the tree of the knowledge of good and evil”. Here is what Paul says concerning the knowledge of good and evil.

Rom 7:7 What shall we say then? [ Is] the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.

It is very interesting to note that the Greek word for ‘lust’ is the exact same as the word translated ‘covet’ in this verse.
So “the tree of the knowledge of good and evil” is merely an Old Testament type and shadow of the law of Moses, which is “not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient…”

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,

“Seeing men as trees” was intentional on the part of our Savior. He wants us to know that our sight comes to us “by little and little” as we drive out all the giants in our ‘land’.
I hope this is all of some edification for you. God bless you richly for all you do in His service.
Your brother in Christ,
Mike

Mike,

Hope you are well. Was curious if you had any insight as to the spiritual significance of Jesus touching the blind man twice to fully restore his sight. My hunch was that this represents being “in Christ”, “yet carnal”.

M____

Hi M____,
You are right on! Here is the healing you reference in Mar 8.

Mar 8:22  And they come unto Bethsaida. And they bring to him a blind man, and beseech him to touch him.
Mar 8:23  And he took hold of the blind man by the hand, and brought him out of the village; and when he had spit on his eyes, and laid his hands upon him, he asked him, Seest thou aught?
Mar 8:24  And he looked up, and said, I see men; for I behold them as trees, walking.
Mar 8:25  Then again he laid his hands upon his eyes; and he looked stedfastly, and was restored, and saw all things clearly.

You are exactly right. Physical sight symbolizes spiritual ‘sight’ and spiritual knowledge. That story was put there in God’s Word just to let us know that according to the sum of God’s word, spiritual vision is a life- long process which is not accomplished in a ten second sinner’s prayer.

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

We all “behold men as trees” under which we can find shade and be nourished of their fruit, while we are “Yet carnal… babes in Christ.” It take many years for most of us to come to see men as the sons of God, and not “after the flesh.” Babes in Christ, still know Christ only “after the flesh.

Dan 4:10  Thus were the visions of my head upon my bed: I saw, and, behold, a tree in the midst of the earth; and the height thereof was great.
Dan 4:11  The tree grew, and was strong, and the height thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth.
Dan 4:12  The leaves thereof were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was food for all: the beasts of the field had shadow under it, and the birds of the heavens dwelt in the branches thereof, and all flesh was fed from it.
2Co 5:16  Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we [ him] no more.
1Co 3:1  And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
1Co 3:2  I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
1Co 3:3  For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
1Co 3:4  For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I [ am] of Apollos; are ye not carnal?

That is how we “behold men as trees walking.”
Your brother in Christ,
Mike