Spiritual Significance of Colors – White, Part 2

Introduction

[Study Aired December 26, 2025]

The main truth we need to glean from this entire series on colors in scripture is the truth of this verse:

Psa 139:12  Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.

God is the creator of both light and darkness. Both are instruments in His hand.

Isa 45:5  I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me:
Isa 45:6  That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else.
Isa 45:7  I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.

The Father uses light to describe Himself, and He uses darkness to describe how the flesh and the Adversary perceive Him and His Works. These two verses reveal who is the Creator of light and darkness, and they reveal that the Creator of both is sovereign over both light and darkness. Both are instruments in His hand to accomplish His will:

Isa 45:6  That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else.
Isa 45:7  I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.

God is using light and darkness, black and white, “after the counsel of His own will… that we should be to the praise of His glory who first trusted in Christ.”

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:
Eph 1:12  That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

Our last  study was mainly concerned with the negative application of the color white. The word for ‘white’ in Hebrew is ‘laban’, and we learned that in its negative application, a white hair in a scall indicated the presence of leprosy (Lev 13:24-25):

Lev 13:24  Or if there be any flesh, in the skin whereof there is a hot burning, and the quick flesh that burneth have a white bright spot, somewhat reddish, or white;
Lev 13:25  Then the priest shall look upon it: and, behold, if the hair in the bright spot be turned white, and it be in sight deeper than the skin; it is a leprosy broken out of the burning: wherefore the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is the plague of leprosy.

The bricks used to build Babel were white bricks. The word for ‘bricks’ in Hebrew is from the root of the word for white:

H3843
לְבֵנָה
lebênâh
leb-ay-naw’
From H3835; a brick (from the whiteness of the clay): – (altar of) brick, tile.

When we look up H3835, the root word from which H3843 is derived, this is what we find:

H3835
לָבַן
lâban
law-ban’
A primitive root; to be (or become)  white; also (as denominative from H3843) to make bricks: – make brick, be (made, make) white (-r).

Those are a couple of verses from our last study where our focus was on the negative application of the word ‘white’ in scripture. In today’s study we will focus on the positive application of the word ‘white,’

The first positive application of the word “white” in the Old Testament is in Genesis 30:35, where Jacob uses white-streaked rods to distinguish his portion of the flock from Laban’s. White in this story is tied to the concept of divine provision and God’s favor.

Gen 30:37  And Jacob took him rods of green poplar, and of the hazel and chesnut tree; and pilled white strakes in them, and made the white appear which was in the rods.
Gen 30:38  And he set the rods which he had pilled before the flocks in the gutters in the watering troughs when the flocks came to drink, that they should conceive when they came to drink.
Gen 30:39  And the flocks conceived before the rods, and brought forth cattle ringstraked, speckled, and spotted.

Isaiah gives us the single most profound meaning of the word white in its positive application in scripture:

Isa 1:18  Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as [white] wool.

The imagery of this verse demonstrates the efficacy of the blood of Christ upon the manifest sins of the weakest and most despised people of this age:

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.

The Lord has called us because we are indeed foolish, weak, and despised in this present time… “that no flesh should glory in His presence. In other words, if the Lord can cleanse us, He can cleanse any and all men, because all men’s sins are “as scarlet” before our spotless Lord:

Rev 7:9  After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;
Rev 7:10  And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.
Rev 7:11  And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,
Rev 7:12  Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.
Rev 7:13  And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? And whence came they?
Rev 7:14  And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

This is how our Father sees His Son:

Dan 7:9  I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.

That is how God describes Christ who is “the express image” of His Father and who is our door to His Father.

Joh 10:7  Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.
Joh 10:8  All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.
Joh 10:9  I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

Exo 14:19  And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them:
Exo 14:20  And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night.

Christ separates His people from the world and keeps them from coming near each other. He does this by appearing as “a cloud and darkness to them.” This was our focus last week. In this study, we will focus on how the color white is used by God to show us that He “gives light by night to these.”

God’s elect fall, but rise to be “made white”

Dan 11:32  And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.
Dan 11:33  And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days.
Dan 11:34  Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries.
Dan 11:35  And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed.

White is intimately connected with God’s chastening grace

Once the Lord opens our eyes when we see the word ‘white’ then “they of understanding” will now know and “instruct many” that God’s Words all have both a positive and a negative application, because God is the creator of both the light and the darkness and the good and the evil in us all. They will also “instruct many” that when all is said and done, we will all be “made white” through purging trials. So when we read:

Dan 12:6  And one said to the man clothed in [white, (Rev 19:8)] linen, which was upon the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders?
Dan 12:7  And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these [things] shall be finished.
Dan 12:8  And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things?
Dan 12:9  And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.
Dan 12:10  Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.

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

There it is! It comes out and tells us, “Many shall be made white and tried…” It is only through our fiery trials that we are “made white.”

Act 14:22  Confirming the souls of the disciples, [and] exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

2Ti 3:12  Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

Tit 2:11  For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Tit 2:12  Teaching [Greek: paideuo, chasten] us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

Rev 7:14  And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

It is our fiery trials that make us worthy to wear “white linen.”

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

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

White is intimately connected with light and clothing or raiment.

“The righteousness of the saints” is Christ’s righteousness. It is in Him that the saints are “clean and white.”

Mat 17:2  And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.

Luk 9:29  And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering.

Mat 28:3  His [the angel at the tomb] countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:

Mar 9:3  And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them.

Rev 3:4  Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.
Rev 3:5  He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

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

Rev 7:13  And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?
Rev 7:14  And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

White is associated with righteousness

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

Joh 4:35  Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.

White is associated with God’s elect

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.

Rev 3:4  Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.
Rev 3:5  He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

Rev 3:18  I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and [that] the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

Rev 4:4  And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.

Who are these “four and twenty elders”? The four beasts and the four and twenty elders also symbolize God’s elect:

Rev 5:8  And when he [Christ] 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.

The next chapter tells us that all of God’s elect are “given… white robes.”

Rev 6:9  And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:
Rev 6:10  And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?
Rev 6:11  And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

When Christ appears to this world, it will be on a white cloud:

Rev 14:14  And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.

That “white cloud” on which He is seated signifies the “great… cloud of witnesses” which we all are:

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

The seven angels who pour out the seven last plagues upon us are “clothed in pure and white linen.”

Rev 15:6  And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles.

Who are these ‘seven angels?’

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

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

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

Christ’s bride is just one more type of the Lord’s elect, and she is “arrayed in fine linen, clean and white”, signifying the righteousness of Christ in her.

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

Here are a few more verses connecting the righteousness of Christ with the color white:

Rev 19:14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.

Rev 20:11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them [This ‘white throne’ is the same as the ‘white cloud’ in an earlier scripture].

Rev 14:14 And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.

Conclusion – White signifies Christ and all who are in Him

Rev 1:12  And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;
Rev 1:13  And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.
Rev 1:14  His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;

Rev 3:18  I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

Rev 6:2  And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer [This first white horse is Christ when He first comes to us and deals our beast his deadly wound, and He is Christ who comes to us as mature sons. White signifies the beginning and the end of the revelation of Jesus Christ].

Rev 19:11  And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.

Rev 19:14  And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.

Never let us forget what we started with:

Exo 14:19 And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them:
Exo 14:20 And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night.

Psa 139:12 Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.

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The Spiritual Significance of Colors – White, Part 1

[Study Aired December 21, 2025]

As with every word we have covered, this word ‘white’ also has both a positive and a negative application. Why is that? It is because of what we learned in our last study:

Psa 139:12  Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.

Isa 45:7  I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.

I asked Google why the color white cannot be produced by mixing the three primary colors of the natural realm, and this was the answer I was given:

“Primary colors do not mix to make white in paint because of subtractive color mixing. In this process, pigments absorb (subtract) certain wavelengths of light. When you mix primary colors [of the natural realm] (like red, yellow, and blue, or cyan, magenta, and yellow), each added pigment absorbs [subtracts] more light, resulting in a darker color—typically a muddy brown or black—rather than white.” (End Quote)

The fact that the primary colors of the natural realm produce black instead of white signifies this in the spiritual words of scripture:

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

The three primary colors of the natural realm of what are called “subtractive colors” because they absorb all colors except the one seen by natural eyes. The three primary colors of this natural realm are red, yellow and blue. White cannot be produced by these three primary colors. Instead when combined they produce black. They cannot produce white, which signifies the light of life because they signify this dying, physical, natural realm. Instead they can only produce black and darkness in the eyes and mind of the natural man. That is why the cloud that came between Egypt and Israel was darkness to Egypt, because Egypt signifies our old man.  In the events which transpired between Israel and Egypt at the Red Sea, Christ brings darkness and death to Egypt, which signifies our old man, and the same cloud brings light and  life to Israel which signifies our new man.

Exo 13:21  And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:

Something must be given to the Lord’s people which will cause that cloud to give light and life instead of darkness and death. The thing we are given to indicate this life-giving change is the replacing of the sickly and deadly color yellow with the life-giving color green. When yellow is replaced with green as a primary color in the ‘intellectual realm’, (think spirit) we are then given to see the colors which are all hidden in the light passing through a prism. The three primary colors, which signify the work of the spirit in our dying, corruptible bodies of clay, are now red, green, and blue. Replacing yellow with green and combining these three primary colors in the intellectual (think spiritual) realm now produces pure, life-giving white light. Yet this is the same cloud which is producing darkness and death on its flip side, the side of our old, natural, dying, carnal-minded man.

Here is how does this ‘cloud’ appear to those who do not know Christ:

Exo 14:19  And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them:
Exo 14:20  And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night.

God’s Word is “a cloud and darkness to them.” The natural man cannot receive the things of the spirit, because they are foolishness to him. He “cannot hear” Christ because He has not been given ‘ears that hear’:

Joh 8:43  Why do ye not understand my speech? Because ye cannot hear my word.

This is the reason we are given for why the “multitudes” who come to Christ “cannot hear [His] word.”

Mat 13:2  And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.

Mat 13:10  And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
Mat 13:11  He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
Mat 13:12  For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.
Mat 13:13  Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

This spiritual blindness is not unique to the Jews. Spiritual blindness is a human condition, and that is why all of humanity is guilty of the crucifixion of Christ:

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.

“They are foolishness to him” means that God’s spiritual Words are “a cloud and darkness” to the natural man, and at the same time, they “give light by night to these”; to those to whom the Father is revealing Himself.

Christ, the cloud, separates His people from Egypt. ‘Egypt’ signifies our natural man. That separation is accomplished by blinding Egypt while simultaneously giving light to His own people. While those with whom God is working can see that Christ creates both light and darkness, they can also understand that it is He who creates both good and evil (Isa 45:7).

Something must occur within the life of the natural man before he can begin to see with spiritual eyes. That event which begins to give our old man the ability to die daily to his old way of seeing the Words of Christ is signified in “the things that are made” (Rom 1:20) by replacing the primary color of deadly yellow with the new life-giving primary color green. This changes everything, and now these three primary colors, red, green, and blue when combined, produce white, which signifies the “light of life”:

Joh 1:4  In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

This all seems to be contradictory to the natural man. The natural man cannot see how “sins as red as crimson” can be “washed white in the blood of the Lamb.”

Rev 7:14  And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

It is a total contradiction to the natural man to be told that one can “find his life [only] by losing it.”

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

How is it possible to say that one can only see by acknowledging his blindness, and how is it possible to avoid judgment by being judged?

Joh 9:39  And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.
Joh 9:40  And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also?
Joh 9:41  Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.

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

The natural man cannot understand how it is possible to avoid the lake of fire by going through that same consuming fire here and now, and the natural man cannot see how we all avoid the wrath of God by enduring “God’s wrath on the children of disobedience” and “fulfilling the seven plagues of the seven angels” Yet we are told:

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

This is the hardest part of “the things which are written therein which we are to keep” for the natural man to understand and believe:

Rev 15:7  And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever.
Rev 15:8  And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.

The natural man cannot see that it is God’s elect who must “live by every word which proceeds out of the mouth of God.”

Mat 4:4  But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

“Every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” certainly includes the words of Revelation 15:8, which unequivocally tell us that “no man was able to enter into the temple (“which temple we are”, 1Co 3:15-16) till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.”

To the natural man it is contradictory to say that God is the creator of both good and evil. It is contradictory to say that Christ is a cloud which is both light and darkness, but that is why every word of the Word of God has both a negative and a positive application. It is because Christ is the cloud which separates His people from the people of Egypt. It is Christ in us which separates the natural man from the man who is “spiritually minded.” It is because Christ is His Word, and that word is “a cloud and darkness to them, but it gives light by night to these: so that the one comes not near the other all the night.”

How the Natural Man sees the Color White

The natural man sees white only as a type of light and righteousness. He cannot see white as a type of his deceived and diseased condition. Here is the only way ‘white is perceived in the eyes of the natural man:

Mat 17:2  And [Christ] was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.

Mar 9:3  And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them.

Ecc 9:8  Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment.

Isa 1:18  Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

These four verses will serve to express how most of us think of the color ‘white’. We think of white as snow, wool and the light of the Truth. One more verse will serve to demonstrate how this word is used in its positive sense:

Rev 19:8  And to her [Christ’s bride, signifying His elect] was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

The Spiritually Negative Application of the Color White

This is not how ‘snow’ and ‘white’ are always used in God’s Word. Here are a couple of examples of their negative application:

Exo 4:6  And the LORD said furthermore unto him, Put now thine hand into thy bosom. And he put his hand into his bosom: and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous as snow.

Num 12:9  And the anger of the LORD was kindled against them [Miriam and Aaron]; and he departed.
Num 12:10  And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle; and, behold, Miriam became leprous, white as snow: and Aaron looked upon Miriam, and, behold, she was leprous.

Christ appears as “white as the light.”

Mat 17:2  And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.

Babylon also appears as “an angel of light”:

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

So Satan, too, is ‘white as light”, but it is the ‘white’ of the incurable disease of leprosy. It is incurable because “flesh… cannot inherit the kingdom of God” (1Co 15:50). Flesh must begin to be relinquished before we can begin to enter into the kingdom of God.

1Co 3:16  Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
1Co 3:17  If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

Rev 15:7  And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever.
Rev 15:8  And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.

Many of the verses in the early parts of God’s Word connect the color ‘white’ to the disease of leprosy. We will bring this out later, but let’s begin where the Bible begins and see where ‘white’ first appears. White first appears in the King James Version of the Bible in ‘Babylon’ with all of its white sheep. By ‘Babylon’ I mean in Haran, where Jacob had gone on the other side of the flood, the river Euphrates, fleeing from his brother and looking for a wife. Jacob has served his father-in-law for two of his daughters and was now ready to go back to the land of Canaan:

Gen 30:25  And it came to pass, when Rachel had born Joseph, that Jacob said unto Laban, Send me away, that I may go unto mine own place, and to my country.
Gen 30:26  Give me my wives and my children, for whom I have served thee, and let me go: for thou knowest my service which I have done thee.
Gen 30:27  And Laban said unto him, I pray thee, if I have found favour in thine eyes, tarry: for I have learned by experience that the LORD hath blessed me for thy sake.
Gen 30:28  And he said, Appoint me thy wages, and I will give it.
Gen 30:29  And he said unto him, Thou knowest how I have served thee, and how thy cattle was with me.
Gen 30:30  For it was little which thou hadst before I came, and it is now increased unto a multitude; and the LORD hath blessed thee since my coming: and now when shall I provide for mine own house also?
Gen 30:31  And he said, What shall I give thee? And Jacob said, Thou shalt not give me any thing: if thou wilt do this thing for me, I will again feed and keep thy flock:
Gen 30:32  I will pass through all thy flock to day, removing from thence all the speckled and spotted cattle, and all the brown cattle among the sheep, and the spotted and speckled among the goats: and [of such] shall be my hire.
Gen 30:33  So shall my righteousness answer for me in time to come, when it shall come for my hire before thy face: every one that is not speckled and spotted among the goats, and brown among the sheep, that shall be counted stolen with me.
Gen 30:34  And Laban said, Behold, I would it might be according to thy word.
Gen 30:35  And he removed that day the he goats that were ringstraked and spotted, and all the she goats that were speckled and spotted, and every one that had some white in it, and all the brown among the sheep, and gave them into the hand of his sons.
Gen 30:36  And he set three days’ journey betwixt himself and Jacob: and Jacob fed the rest of Laban’s flocks.
Gen 30:37  And Jacob took him rods of green poplar, and of the hazel and chestnut tree; and pilled white strakes in them, and made the white appear which was in the rods.

In this story Jacob typifies Christ and those in Christ. Christ’s flocks have “some white in them,” but they are “speckled and spotted”, and none of the sheep belonging to Jacob are all white. All of the sheep are brown or speckled. Laban knew that sheep were generally white by nature, just as we are all leprous by nature. Laban actually believed that he had made a tremendous deal and that Jacob would probably get just a very small fraction of the increase of the flocks. However, this is all a parable about what is taking place within each of us. What God is showing us is that we are anything but white in any spiritual sense. At the same time, we are being brought to see that the white flocks of Laban and Babylon are nothing more than the “snow white” of spiritual leprosy. Laban never crosses the Euphrates River to go into the Promised Land, and yet it is very interesting that the Hebrew word for ‘white’ is ‘laban.’

H3835
la ban
law- ban’
A primitive root; to be (or become) white; also (as denominative from H3843) to make bricks: – make brick, be (made, make) white (-r).

The reason I said that “according to the King James Version” the word ‘white’ first appears in the story of Jacob’s time spent in the area of Haran is that, in reality, the word ‘white’ actually first appears in the Hebrew back in Genesis in the story of the building of the Tower of Babylon. It appears in the Hebrew word translated ‘brick’ as in the bricks used to build the Tower of Babel. The Hebrew root for this word translated ‘brick’ comes from the primitive root for the Hebrew word for white. It is:

H3843
lebe na h
leb- ay- naw’
From H3835; a brick (from the whiteness of the clay): – (altar of) brick, tile.

Gen 11:3  And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them throughly. And they had brick [Hebrew: 3843 lebenah] for stone, and slime had they for morter.

The builders of Babel had vastly inferior bricks for stones, and they had vastly inferior slime for actual mortar. Christ is the “stone hewed out of the mountain without hands” (Dan 2:45), and it is His spirit, His doctrines and His Words which are the mortar which unites the “lively stones” of His temple (1Pe 2:5, 1Co 3:15-16). The brick and slime of Babel is all the false doctrines which have produced 45,000 and counting, conflicting and contradicting ‘Christian’ denominations. The Truth, which is the words of Christ and His doctrines (Joh 14:6), is the spirit (Joh 6:63) which keeps those who know the voice of the True Shepherd united as “one spirit with the same mind and the same judgment.”

1Co 1:10  Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and, that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

1Co 12:12  For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
1Co 12:13  For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
1Co 12:14  For the body is not one member, but many.

Eph 4:15  But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
Eph 4:16  From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

So the tower of Babel was apparently built of white brick, but it is the whiteness of leprosy. Here is another Old Testament story which “happened to them and is written for our admonition” (1Co 10:11), which shows the connection between the color white and the incurable and deadly disease of leprosy:

2Ki 5:1  Now Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honourable, because by him the LORD had given deliverance unto Syria: he was also a mighty man in valour, [but he was] a leper.
2Ki 5:2  And the Syrians had gone out by companies, and had brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little maid; and she waited on Naaman’s wife.
2Ki 5:3  And she said unto her mistress, Would God my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria! for he would recover him of his leprosy.
2Ki 5:4  And [one] went in, and told his lord, saying, Thus and thus said the maid that [is] of the land of Israel.
2Ki 5:5  And the king of Syria said, Go to, go, and I will send a letter unto the king of Israel. And he departed, and took with him ten talents of silver, and six thousand [pieces] of gold, and ten changes of raiment.
2Ki 5:6  And he brought the letter to the king of Israel, saying, Now when this letter is come unto thee, behold, I have [therewith] sent Naaman my servant to thee, that thou mayest recover him of his leprosy.
2Ki 5:7  And it came to pass, when the king of Israel had read the letter, that he rent his clothes, and said, [Am] I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man doth send unto me to recover a man of his leprosy? wherefore consider, I pray you, and see how he seeketh a quarrel against me. [Leprosy was considered a death sentence.]
2Ki 5:8  And it was [so], when Elisha the man of God had heard that the king of Israel had rent his clothes, that he sent to the king, saying, Wherefore hast thou rent thy clothes? let him come now to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel.
2Ki 5:9  So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariot, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha.
2Ki 5:10  And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean.
2Ki 5:11  But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the LORD his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper.
2Ki 5:12  [Are] not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage.
2Ki 5:13  And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My father, [if] the prophet had bid thee [do some] great thing, wouldest thou not have done [it]? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean?
2Ki 5:14  Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean [1Co 1:1-7, 1Co 3:1-4].
2Ki 5:15  And he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and came, and stood before him: and he said, Behold, now I know that [there is] no God in all the earth, but in Israel: now therefore, I pray thee, take a blessing of thy servant.
2Ki 5:16  But he said, [As] the LORD liveth, before whom I stand, I will receive none. And he urged him to take [it]; but he refused. [Abraham took nothing for delivering the king of Sodom, and John tells us to “take nothing of the Gentiles” [Gen 14:23, 3Jn 1:7].
2Ki 5:17  And Naaman said, Shall there not then, I pray thee, be given to thy servant two mules’ burden of earth? for thy servant will henceforth offer neither burnt offering nor sacrifice unto other gods, but unto the LORD.
2Ki 5:18  In this thing the LORD pardon thy servant, [that] when my master goeth into the house of Rimmon to worship there, and he leaneth on my hand, and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon: when I bow down myself in the house of Rimmon, the LORD pardon thy servant in this thing.
2Ki 5:19  And he said unto him, Go in peace. So he departed from him a little way.
2Ki 5:20  But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, Behold, my master hath spared Naaman this Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that which he brought: but, [as] the LORD liveth, I will run after him, and take somewhat of him.
2Ki 5:21  So Gehazi followed after Naaman. And when Naaman saw [him] running after him, he lighted down from the chariot to meet him, and said, [Is] all well?
2Ki 5:22  And he said, All [is] well. My master hath sent me, saying, Behold, even now there be come to me from mount Ephraim two young men of the sons of the prophets: give them, I pray thee, a talent of silver, and two changes of garments.
2Ki 5:23  And Naaman said, Be content, take two talents. And he urged him, and bound two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of garments, and laid [them] upon two of his servants; and they bare [them] before him.
2Ki 5:24  And when he came to the tower, he took [them] from their hand, and bestowed [them] in the house: and he let the men go, and they departed.
2Ki 5:25  But he went in, and stood before his master. And Elisha said unto him, Whence [comest thou], Gehazi? And he said, Thy servant went no whither.
2Ki 5:26  And he said unto him, Went not mine heart [with thee], when the man turned again from his chariot to meet thee? [Is it] a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and oliveyards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants?
2Ki 5:27  The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed for ever. And he went out from his presence a leper as white as snow. [Leprosy never leaves the carnal-minded and those whose thoughts and affections are on the things of this earth.]

Far too many ‘Christian’ ministers have their affections set on “things on the earth” and not “on things above”:

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

The word ‘white’ appears in sixteen different verses of Leviticus 13, all in relation to the connection between the color ‘white’ and the signs of leprosy in either the color of the flesh or the color of the hair upon the flesh. White flesh and white hair upon the flesh are both signs of the incurable disease of leprosy, and leprosy is a physical type of the spiritual condition of the carnal mind.

Rom 7:24  O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

Rom 8:6  For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

Here are a few of the sixteen verses which describe the whiteness of leprosy, representing the spiritual type of “the body of this death.”

Lev 13:3  And the priest shall look on the plague in the skin of the flesh: and [when] the hair in the plague is turned white, and the plague in sight [be] deeper than the skin of his flesh, it [is] a plague of leprosy: and the priest shall look on him, and pronounce him unclean.

Lev 13:10  And the priest shall see him: and, behold, if the rising be white in the skin, and it have turned the hair white, and there be quick raw flesh in the rising;
Lev 13:11  It is an old leprosy in the skin of his flesh, and the priest shall pronounce him unclean, and shall not shut him up: for he is unclean.

He is ‘white’, but “he is unclean.” He is a “whited sepulchre”.

Mat 23:27  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.

If this verse only means the local Babylonian minister to you and you have never yet come to see that this is, was, and will be dying daily within you, then you are still in Babylon. As with all the other seeming contradictions of the things of the spirit, the only way to “come out of Babylon” is to admit that “dying daily” is “coming out of Babylon… daily.”

We have mentioned both the positive and negative, the light and the darkness of this color white, but we have dealt mostly with the negative application this week. Next week we will deal with the spiritually positive application of the color white in the word of God. What we should be coming to see is that, just as God could create a crooked serpent and a tree of knowledge of good and evil and pronounce it all “very good”, even so we should begin to understand these verses of scripture:

Psa 139:12  Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.

Ecc 3:11  He hath made every [thing] beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.

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

]]> https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/numbers-121-16-the-disease-of-leprosy/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=numbers-121-16-the-disease-of-leprosy Mon, 17 Jul 2023 16:23:31 +0000 https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/?p=27960 Audio Download

Numbers 12:1-16  The Disease of Leprosy

[Study Aired July 17, 2023]

Num 12:1  And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman. 
Num 12:2  And they said, Hath the LORD indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us? And the LORD heard it. 
Num 12:3  (Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.) 
Num 12:4  And the LORD spake suddenly unto Moses, and unto Aaron, and unto Miriam, Come out ye three unto the tabernacle of the congregation. And they three came out. 
Num 12:5  And the LORD came down in the pillar of the cloud, and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam: and they both came forth.
Num 12:6  And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream.
Num 12:7  My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house. 
Num 12:8  With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses? 
Num 12:9  And the anger of the LORD was kindled against them; and he departed. 
Num 12:10  And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle; and, behold, Miriam became leprous, white as snow: and Aaron looked upon Miriam, and, behold, she was leprous. 
Num 12:11  And Aaron said unto Moses, Alas, my lord, I beseech thee, lay not the sin upon us, wherein we have done foolishly, and wherein we have sinned. 
Num 12:12  Let her not be as one dead, of whom the flesh is half consumed when he cometh out of his mother’s womb. 
Num 12:13  And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, Heal her now, O God, I beseech thee.
Num 12:14  And the LORD said unto Moses, If her father had but spit in her face, should she not be ashamed seven days? let her be shut out from the camp seven days, and after that let her be received in again.
Num 12:15  And Miriam was shut out from the camp seven days: and the people journeyed not till Miriam was brought in again.
Num 12:16  And afterward the people removed from Hazeroth, and pitched in the wilderness of Paran.

Introduction

One of the cardinal sins of a soldier is to try to usurp the power of his commanding officer. In military terms, this can result in mutiny which is punishable by death. Every nation has the Head of State as its commanding officer and is represented by the army chiefs. As the Lord prepares His army for battle, we are to submit wholly to our commanding officer who is Jesus Christ and is represented by the church. Any disobedience against leadership is disobedience against Christ. Chapter 12 focuses on the rebellion initiated by Aaron and Miriam against Moses. It reveals to us the root cause for the rebellion, its effect and the Lord’s recommended way of dealing with such a rebellion. This is what Moses told the people of Israel just before his death:

Deu 31:27  For I know thy rebellion, and thy stiff neck: behold, while I am yet alive with you this day, ye have been rebellious against the LORD; and how much more after my death?

We have all rebelled against the Lord during our walk with Him, especially when we were in Babylon. We therefore deserve to be put to death, that is, being spiritually alienated from the commonwealth of the Lord’s elect. However, unlike Saul, God has been merciful to us – He has not rejected us from becoming kings to rule the earth at the fullness of time. 

1Sa 15:23  For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king. 

Num 12:1  And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman. 

This marriage of Moses became a bone of contention used by Aaron and Miriam to discredit Moses’ leadership. The Old Testament uses the term “Cush” and “Cushites” to refer to Africa and Africans. During the Old and New Testament period, it was Ethiopia that was most prominent in Africa apart from Egypt. Thus, in most versions of the Bible, the word “Cushite” is used instead of “Ethiopian”. The word “Cush” means “black” and historically, the people of Cush have been dark-skinned. The prophet Jeremiah alluded to Cushites’ skin color when he rhetorically said:

Jer 13:23 Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard his spots? Then also you can do good who are accustomed to do evil. 

There is a biblical connection between the Cushites and the Midianites. We know that Moses’ wife, Zipporah, was a Midianite. 

Exo 2:16  Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters, and they came and drew water and filled the troughs to water their father’s flock.

Exo 2:21  And Moses was content to dwell with the man, and he gave Moses his daughter Zipporah. 

In Habakkuk, there is a connection between Cushan or Cush and the Midianites, which may suggest that Cushan and Midian could be the same people. In that case, Zipporah is the same wife mentioned here in Numbers 12:1, who became the bone of contention.

Hab 3:7  I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction; The curtains of the land of Midian did tremble. 

Verse 1 therefore highlights racial sentiments underlying the accusation of Miriam and Aaron. Racism has been with humanity right from the beginning, and as we see the day approaching, it is going to get worse. It is only when one is in Christ that the seed of racism is destroyed completely through the destruction of the beast within. The fact that Miriam and Aaron were accusing Moses of marrying a Cushite woman shows that they were carnal, even though Aaron was a leader of the Lord’s people and Miriam was a prophetess. We were all carnal at a certain stage of our walk with Christ and looked at things from a carnal perspective, instead of the viewpoint from the new man after the image of Christ.

Num 12:2  And they said, Hath the LORD indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us? And the LORD heard it.

Carnality brings forth carnality. When we are ruled by the flesh, we become contentious in everything, even in spiritual matters, as we see here in verse 2. In the previous study, we realized the spiritual maturity of Moses when he made the following statement: 

Num 11:27  And a young man ran and told Moses, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.”
Num 11:28  And Joshua the son of Nun, the assistant of Moses from his youth, said, “My lord Moses, stop them.”
Num 11:29  But Moses said to him, “Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the LORD’s people were prophets, that the LORD would put his Spirit on them!”

Moses desired that all God’s people will prophesy. In other words, God’s people will become spiritually mature and become like Him. Miriam and Aaron, however, were contending with the leadership of the Lord’s people. We have seen this a lot when we were in Babylon – how church leaders separate themselves to start their own church after a disagreement with leadership. As the Lord will show us later in this episode, the root cause of our rejection of authority is because we are carnal – ruled by the flesh. As a body of Christ, we have also experienced what happened to Moses when periodically, some of our members rebel against authority and leave the fellowship. As we shall see later in this session, being ruled by the flesh is very subtle, especially when we have tasted the heavenly manna. That is what the disease of leprosy is. It starts within us for a long period of time before it becomes obvious when the skin develops spots.

Jud 1:8  Yet in like manner these people also, relying on their dreams, defile the flesh, reject authority, and blaspheme the glorious ones. 
Jud 1:9  But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you.” 
Jud 1:10  But these people blaspheme all that they do not understand, and they are destroyed by all that they, like unreasoning animals, understand instinctively. (ESV)

Gal 5:19  Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 
Gal 5:20  idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions,
Gal 5:21  envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Num 12:3  (Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.) 

The word “meek” means humble or lowly. Moses’ meekness was very pronounced. In fact, during Moses’ time, he was the meekest person living on earth. The coming of Christ brought about a people whose meekness is after that of Christ, who is the meekest person to have ever lived. 

Php 2:6  who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 
Php 2:7  but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 
Php 2:8  And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 

Mat 11:29  Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  

One of the key aspects of the fruit of the Spirit is to walk in meekness. It is not something we can produce by ourselves – it is a gift from the Lord.

Gal 5:22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 
Gal 5:23  Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 

Num 12:4  And the LORD spake suddenly unto Moses, and unto Aaron, and unto Miriam, Come out ye three unto the tabernacle of the congregation. And they three came out. 
Num 12:5  And the LORD came down in the pillar of the cloud, and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam: and they both came forth.

As commander of the Lord’s army, the Lord deals swiftly with any act of insubordination. This is because, if delayed, it will become like cancer which will quickly spread through the body.

2Ti 2:17  And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;

When Diotrephes usurped the authority of Apostle John, then John told the church he would come soon to deal with the issue. 

3Jn 1:9  I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not. 
3Jn 1:10  Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church. 

3Jn 1:14  But I trust I shall shortly see thee, and we shall speak face to face. Peace be to thee. Our friends salute thee. Greet the friends by name. 

Num 12:6  And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream. 
Num 12:7  My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house.
Num 12:8  With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses? 

A prophet is one who speaks the word of the Lord, and his speaking or prophesying is for our edification, exhortation and comfort. In this regard, when we speak the word of the Lord to one another to comfort, edify or exhort, we are actually prophesying.

1Co 14:3  But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.

Verse 6 shows us that the Lord speaks to us through visions and dreams. However, these forms of communication are at a lower level when compared with the Lord speaking directly to us (mouth to mouth). 

Hos 12:10  I spoke to the prophets; it was I who multiplied visions, and through the prophets gave parables. (ESV)

As seen above, visions are like parables. The reason that dreams and visions are regarded as relatively lower forms of communication is that most of the time, these dreams and visions have to be interpreted before one can understand exactly what they mean. In addition, even if it is interpreted, we do not see the full picture of what the Lord is saying through dreams and visions. That is why Isaiah said that dreams are like visions of the night. In the night, it is difficult to see clearly.

Isa 29:7  And the multitude of all the nations that fight against Ariel, all that fight against her and her stronghold and distress her, shall be like a dream, a vision of the night. 

The highest form of communication with the Lord becomes possible when the Holy Spirit is given to us. That is when we begin to understand clearly what the Lord is saying in the spirit and also the fact that the spirit searches our hearts to know what we need and is able to communicate what we need to the Lord in words that cannot be expressed. This means that even Moses’ mouth-to-mouth communication with the Lord was at a lower level in the sense that the Holy Spirit had not come during his time. We, His elect, are privileged to be able to understand the spiritual interpretation of His words through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Joh 16:12  “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 
Joh 16:13  When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 
Joh 16:14  He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 
Joh 16:15  All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.  

Rom 8:26  Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 
Rom 8:27  And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

It is indeed insightful to note that the Lord regarded Moses as being faithful in the house of God despite his complaints and shortcomings. In a similar vein, we, His elect, will be counted as being faithful in the house of the Lord in the fullness of time in spite of our struggles, failures, doubts, etc. Are you discouraged? Do you have doubts whether you will ever make it when the Lord comes in His glory?  Are you focusing on your failures such that you cannot lift your eyes unto the hill from whence comes the help of the Lord? Today, if you will hear His voice, harden not your heart. The Lord will bear you on eagle’s wings and bring you to an expected end. Have faith in Him and not in yourself that whatever the Lord starts, He is able to bring to completion!! This reminds me of the Methodist hymn that we sang a lot when we were in Babylon!! These days the song ministers so much to me. Those before of us wrestled with sins, doubts, and fears, just like what we are going through. However, in the final analysis, they overcame them. This is the song:

Give me the Wings of Faith – by John Wesley Harding

1 GIVE me the wings of faith to rise
Within the veil, and see
The saints above, how great their joys,
How bright their glories be.
2 Once they were mourners here below,
And poured out cries and tears:
They wrestled hard, as we do now,
With sins, and doubts, and fears.
3 I ask them whence their victory came:
They, with united breath,
Ascribe their conquest to the Lamb,
Their triumph to his death.
4 They marked the footsteps that he trod,His zeal inspired their breast;
And following their incarnate God,
Possess the promised rest.
5 Our glorious Leader claims our praise
For His own pattern given;
While the long cloud of witnesses
Show the same path to heaven.

I think we all have to be reminded of this story of Abraham’s failure when he lied about Sarah being his sister to King Abimelech, and the king took her to his home. The Lord intervened, and as a result, He asked Abraham to pray for king Abimelech, and when Abraham prayed, Abimelech and his family were healed in spite of Abraham’s failure. That is intercession in the midst of failure!! The Lord answered because He did not look at Abraham’s failure at that moment but called Abraham a prophet because he was looking at the finish line – that is, Abraham becoming a prophet. In spite of all that we are going through, the Lord hears our prayers, and He will surely bring us to the finish line!

Jas 5:11  Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.  

Gen 20:2  And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, “She is my sister.” And Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah. 
Gen 20:3  But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night and said to him, “Behold, you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is a man’s wife.” 

Gen 20:7  Now then, return the man’s wife, for he is a prophet, so that he will pray for you, and you shall live. But if you do not return her, know that you shall surely die, you and all who are yours.”

Gen 20:17  Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, and also healed his wife and female slaves so that they bore children. 
Gen 20:18  For the LORD had closed all the wombs of the house of Abimelech because of Sarah, Abraham’s wife. 

In verse 8, the Lord is warning us to be afraid of speaking against His elect. Speaking against our brothers and sisters is the same as speaking against the Lord since we are representing Jesus Christ here on earth.

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

Num 12:9  And the anger of the LORD was kindled against them; and he departed. 
Num 12:10  And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle; and, behold, Miriam became leprous, white as snow: and Aaron looked upon Miriam, and, behold, she was leprous. 
Num 12:11  And Aaron said unto Moses, Alas, my lord, I beseech thee, lay not the sin upon us, wherein we have done foolishly, and wherein we have sinned. 
Num 12:12  Let her not be as one dead, of whom the flesh is half consumed when he cometh out of his mother’s womb. 

The anger of the Lord is what brings His judgment on our old man. The Lord is always seeking an occasion to judge us, and, in this case, speaking against the Lord’s representative was the occasion the Lord used to judge Miriam. When we are judged, the Lord comes and deals with the root cause of our disobedience, which in this case is the flesh or the beast within Miriam. 

Before we continue, let us answer the question of why the Lord punished Miriam and not Aaron and Miriam together, since both were guilty of speaking against Moses. We know that a woman represents the church. Thus, Miriam represents the church in the wilderness, including Aaron, and therefore judging Miriam means judging all the people including Aaron. What this means is that speaking against Moses was a common sin among the people of Israel at that time, and the Lord was dealing with the problem among the people of Israel. As we can see, not long afterward came the rebellion of Korah with the key leaders of the assembly, which shows that this sin was plaguing the whole of the people of Israel. In other words, the whole of the congregation was leprous. That is the situation now in Babylon.

Num 16:1  Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men:
Num 16:2  And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown:
Num 16:3  And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the LORD?

The speaking against the Lord’s appointed leader (Moses) was only a symptom, but the root cause is that the people had become leprous and the Lord used Miriam’s leprosy to show that the people of Israel were sick. Being leprous spiritually signifies that we are being dominated by the flesh, and this can only be identified by a priest or an elect. This is how leprosy is identified:

Lev 13:1  And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, saying,
Lev 13:2  When a man shall have in the skin of his flesh a rising, a scab, or bright spot, and it be in the skin of his flesh like the plague of leprosy; then he shall be brought unto Aaron the priest, or unto one of his sons the priests:
Lev 13:3  And the priest shall look on the plague in the skin of the flesh: and when the hair in the plague is turned white, and the plague in sight be deeper than the skin of his flesh, it is a plague of leprosy: and the priest shall look on him, and pronounce him unclean.
Lev 13:4  If the bright spot be white in the skin of his flesh, and in sight be not deeper than the skin, and the hair thereof be not turned white; then the priest shall shut up him that hath the plague seven days:

When there is a rise in the skin of the flesh or there is whitish spot on the skin, then there is the likelihood of leprosy. The rising of the skin of the flesh spiritually means the deeds of the flesh are becoming visible. The negative aspect of the color white is that we are not what we claim to be. This means that the whitish spot on the skin means that we are dominated by the flesh within, but we portray ourselves as angels of light (white).

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

It takes a priest or an elect to identify whether the rise on the skin or the whitish spot is actually leprosy or a temporal disease of the skin. According to Leviticus 13:3, if the hair on the skin has turned white and the plague is deeper than the skin, then it is leprosy. In other words, if we appear to be what we are not (negative significance of white) and our fleshly deeds are becoming obvious, and the beast is still sitting on the throne of our hearts, then we are leprous. On the other hand, if the plague is not deeper than the skin, then it means that it is just a sin of the flesh, and therefore we have to be disciplined until we become whole. The seven days means the complete period of our discipline. That was what happened to Miriam. Aaron asking Moses to pray to the Lord to heal Miriam signifies that when a brother or sister is caught in a fault, we who are spiritually mature must restore the person, but in doing so we must keep an eye on ourselves less we contract his or her disease.

Gal 6:1  Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

In verse 12, Aaron saying that Miriam should not be left as one dead of whom the flesh is half consumed is another way of saying that in disciplining a person who is at fault, we must do it in such a manner that it does not result in the person becoming spiritually dead and alienated completely from the people of God. 

Num 12:13  And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, Heal her now, O God, I beseech thee.
Num 12:14  And the LORD said unto Moses, If her father had but spit in her face, should she not be ashamed seven days? let her be shut out from the camp seven days, and after that let her be received in again.
Num 12:15  And Miriam was shut out from the camp seven days: and the people journeyed not till Miriam was brought in again.
Num 12:16  And afterward the people removed from Hazeroth, and pitched in the wilderness of Paran.

We must pray fervently for our brothers and sisters who are overtaken by a fault as we see Moses interceding for the healing of Miriam in verse 13. The fact that Miriam was taken outside the camp for only seven days means that the leprosy was superficial. In other words, she was overtaken by a fault and not that her flesh was dominating her. After one is healed of leprosy, there is the need to go through a purification process in order to be restored back to fellowship or camp. This cleansing process is as follows:

Lev 14:1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Lev 14:2  This shall be the law of the leper in the day of his cleansing: He shall be brought unto the priest: 
Lev 14:3  And the priest shall go forth out of the camp; and the priest shall look, and, behold, if the plague of leprosy be healed in the leper; 
Lev 14:4  Then shall the priest command to take for him that is to be cleansed two birds alive and clean, and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop: 
Lev 14:5  And the priest shall command that one of the birds be killed in an earthen vessel over running water: 
Lev 14:6  As for the living bird, he shall take it, and the cedar wood, and the scarlet, and the hyssop, and shall dip them and the living bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the running water: 
Lev 14:7  And he shall sprinkle upon him that is to be cleansed from the leprosy seven times, and shall pronounce him clean, and shall let the living bird loose into the open field. 
Lev 14:8  And he that is to be cleansed shall wash his clothes, and shave off all his hair, and wash himself in water, that he may be clean: and after that he shall come into the camp, and shall tarry abroad out of his tent seven days.

The bird that is killed in an earthen vessel over running water is Christ, who took the form of humanity (earthen vessel) and was killed according to the living word of the Lord (running water) in order to cleanse us. We, His elect, are the living second bird which is let loose into the open field. In other words, in view of the Lord’s mercies towards us, we must live our lives as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to the Lord, which is our spiritual form of worship. This entails completing the suffering of Christ through the fiery trials we go through in this life. 

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:

In the Bible, the hair on the body is a symbol of our natural strength. Thus, the shaving of all the flesh signifies the cutting off of all our natural strength. This implies that in our service to the Lord, we must not depend on our natural strengths and abilities.

Jdg 16:17  And he told her all his heart, and said to her, “A razor has never come upon my head, for I have been a Nazirite to God from my mother’s womb. If my head is shaved, then my strength will leave me, and I shall become weak and be like any other man.”

Clothes are a symbol of righteousness. Dirty or torn clothes therefore refer to unrighteousness, which could be the result of contamination or self-righteousness, which is iniquity.

Lev 15:6  And whoever sits on anything on which the one with the discharge has sat shall wash his clothes and bathe himself in water and be unclean until the evening.

Isa 4:1  And seven women shall take hold of one man in that day, saying, “We will eat our own bread and wear our own clothes, only let us be called by your name; take away our reproach.”

Clean clothes (white linen) are the righteousness of the saints, which is imputed by the Lord. 

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

The washing of our dirty clothes therefore signifies the truth of the word of the Lord, which cleanses us of all unrighteousness.

What is significant is the fact that the whole of the congregation waited until Miriam was healed before they continued their journey from Hazeroth to the wilderness of Paran. This means that we must carry our brothers and sisters who are weak or overtaken by a fault along and not leave them behind. It also implies that we must carry each other’s burden.

Gal 6:1  Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. 
Gal 6:2  Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

May the Lord help us to conform to His image as He roots out any disease of leprosy within us. Amen!!

Hebrews 12:2 The Joy that is set Before Us

[Study Aired February 1, 2021]

Introduction – What is the meaning of this joy set before us?

This joy as unveiled by Christ.

How do we obtain this joy that is set before us?

Introduction

Heb 12:2  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

The question is, “What is the joy that was set before Him?”

That is the question we seek to answer in this message.

What is this joy set before us?

The joy set before us is the reward we will receive if we run this race of life successfully. This reward is given to those who overcome.

What do we have to overcome?

We have to overcome our fleshly human desires!! In other words, the old man within each one of us must die giving way to the new man who is after the image of Christ.

We of ourselves cannot die!!  It is the work of God, and He does it through our judgment.

Isa 26:9  With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.

In any endeavor, the reward is the focus. In the field of sports, participants are aware of the reward they will receive if they win.

In the business arena, the shareholders of a business communicates to employees through management the reward system of a firm if they are able to accomplish their targets.

A good military commander will explain to his army the reward they will receive if they become successful in a war they are waging. Jesus, being our supreme commander, has also taken His time to reveal to us the reward we will receive if we run the race successfully.

Why is it important to know about reward? Knowing the reward in any endeavor we engage in is what motivates people to excel.

From Hebrews 12:2, we can see that Jesus was motivated to endure whatever comes His way because of the reward He would receive (the joy that was set before Him).

We also need to be motivated to endure whatever comes our way because of the reward that Jesus has unveiled to us.

Facts about reward

The size of the reward in any endeavor depends on the level of difficulty of that endeavor.

All the reward system here on this earth are transient. In other words, they last for a very short time. Paul alluded to this by saying the following:

1Co 9:24  Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.
1Co 9:25  Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. (ESV)

Jesus Christ has unveiled to us the ultimate of all rewards. What this means is that it is extremely difficult to win this ultimate prize or reward.

However, with man it is impossible, but with God, all things are possible!!

Many are called, but few are chosen

The difficult nature of this race of life means that only a few can win the ultimate prize.

The truth is that many run the race, but only a few win the prize. Why? It is because the many depend on their own strength by what they believe to be their own choices and will.

The few chosen know they are helpless and can only depend on God to run this race of life for them.

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

The Complete Reward System of God

The Rewards

All the rewards for the overcomers are given to us by Christ in Revelation Chapter 2 and 3. There are seven rewards in all. The number seven signifies completeness. So what is in Revelation 2 and 3 is the complete reward system for the overcomers.

These rewards are spoken of in many parts of the word of God. It is here in Revelation that they all come together.

The rewards are given to us as a deposit guarantee. What we need to know about this reward is that it is only given to us in this life as a deposit guarantee.

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

The reward is the same for all who overcome. All the rewards that we are talking about are given to the overcomers.

The Bible never said that some will receive higher rewards than others as is done here on earth. We therefore have to be mature Christians in order to win the prize!!

To be a mature Christian means we have to put the flesh to death so that we are not dominated by the flesh.

Reward One: Eat of the tree of life in the 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.

Note: Both the tree of life and the paradise of God is Christ.

Joh 1:4  In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

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.

The tree of life

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 22:14  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.

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 paradise of God

Psa 16:11  Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

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

Reward Two: Not hurt by the second death

Rev 2:11  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

What is the second death? Let’s hear what the scripture says:

Any time we see the words “He that hath and ear” we are being reminded by the spirit that these words will be understood by very few people (Mat 13:9-13).

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.

The meaning of ‘second death’

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.

Rev 21:8  But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

So the second death is to be cast into the lake of fire to be judged!!

Why will the second death not hurt the overcomers? Because they have already been judged while they lived on earth!!

1Pe 4:17  For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

Reward Three: Being given to eat of the hidden manna and a white stone

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.

For us to understand this reward, we need to look at the following terminologies:

Hidden Manna
White Stone

What is hidden according to scriptures?

1Co 2:7  But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:

1Pe 3:4  But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

1Co 1:24  But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

Christ is that “hidden man of the spirit” with “the hidden wisdom,” which is the “hidden manna,” which is promised to “him that overcometh.”

Christ tells us He is the bread that came down from heaven which if a man eats he will live forever.

The hidden manna

What, then, is “the hidden manna”? This phrase comes from the manna which Moses was instructed to place within the ark of the covenant.

Exo 16:32  And Moses said, This is the thing which the LORD commandeth, Fill an omer of it to be kept for your generations; that they may see the bread wherewith I have fed you in the wilderness, when I brought you forth from the land of Egypt.
Exo 16:33  And Moses said unto Aaron, Take a pot, and put an omer full of manna therein, and lay it up before the LORD, to be kept for your generations.
Exo 16:34  As the LORD commanded Moses, so Aaron laid it up before the Testimony, to be kept.

The white stone

White is primarily associated with Christ as shown in the following scriptures:

Mat 17:2  And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.

Rev 1:14  His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;

Rev 3:4  Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.

Rev 19:11  And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.

Rev 19:14  And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.

Rev 20:11  And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

The stone is also Christ

Dan 2:34  Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces.

1Pe 2:7  Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,

So the white stone is Christ, and in the Stone a new name is written.

What is this “new name” which is written in this “white stone?” Is there any doubt what name is given to Christ’s elect?

Mat 18:5  And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.

Mat 18:20  For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

Joh 14:26  But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

Which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it

While there are billions of people who claim the name of Christ, there are very few who know that name.

The name of Christ is, for the most part, “blasphemed among the heathen through those who claim that name.

Rom 2:24  For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.

We all have blasphemed the name of God in our walk with God.

1Ti 1:12  And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;
1Ti 1:13  Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did [it] ignorantly in unbelief.

Reward Four: Power over the nations

Rev 2:26  And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:
Rev 2:27  And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.
Rev 2:28  And I will give him the morning star.
Rev 2:29  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Rulership

Do you know that the overcomers will rule the whole world for a period of a “thousand” years if we are able to overcome?

1Pe 2:9  But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

A good example of rulership is the life of Joseph. When will the rulership be?

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.

The thousand year reign

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.

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

The style of rulership:

Rev 2:27  And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.

Ruling with a rod of iron means every disobedience will be met with immediate punishment just as the Israelites were in the wilderness.

Yet nobody will be saved during this period. Why not? Because there is no devil to overcome!! He has been bound.

Who is the morning star?

Rev 22:16  I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

The ultimate prize to have is having Jesus!! In this case what is His also belongs to you!!

How is it possible for the world to surrender their power to the elect? The question that may be lingering in our minds is how is it going to happen?

What we need to know is that what has been is what will be!!

Ecc 1:9  The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.

The story of Joseph attests to how God’s elect will assume rulership of the world (Gen 41). With God all things are possible.

Reward Five: Clothed in white raiment

Rev 3:5  He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
Rev 3:6  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

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

Being clothed in white raiment means our righteousness shall shine forth!!

Reward Six: Being made a pillar in the temple of God

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.

The scriptures showing the pillars in the temple of God are as follows:

Exo 26:32 And thou shalt hang it upon four pillars of shittim wood overlaid with gold: their hooks shall be of gold, upon the four sockets of silver.

Exo 26:37 And thou shalt make for the hanging five pillars of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold, and their hooks shall be of gold: and thou shalt cast five sockets of brass for them.

What does it mean to be a pillar in God’s temple? The four pillars of Exodus 26:32 are the pillars which hold the veil between the holy place and the holy of holies. The five pillars of verse 37 are the pillars at the door of the tabernacle.

It is through these pillars that we must all enter as we seek to come to God. There is no other way to get into the presence of God but through these pillars.

It is only through these five pillars at the door of the tabernacle and through the four pillars at the door of the holy of holies that any man will receive God’s mercy and come into the presence of God.

Being made a pillar in the temple of God is the same as being made the door or the channel through which all men will be brought to God, and there can be no higher blessing bestowed upon any man!!

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.

Reward Seven: To sit on thrones

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.

What does it mean to sit on thrones?

Rev 20:4  And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

So to sit on thrones means to judge the human race.

How do we obtain the Prize?

We should not get entangled in the affairs of this world!

2Ti 2:3  Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
2Ti 2:4  No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
2Ti 2:5  And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.

2Ti 2:9  Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.
2Ti 2:10  Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

So run that you may obtain the prize!

1Co 9:24  Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
1Co 9:25  And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
1Co 9:26  I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
1Co 9:27  But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

Press on toward the mark of the prize of the high calling of God.

Php 3:12  Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
Php 3:13  Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
Php 3:14  I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Audio Links

Awesome Hands – part 77

“The judgments” Part H

April 17th, 2015

In the previous study, we covered the restriction the Lord placed on His people to not charge interest to a brother or sister when they were in need.

In today’s study, we are going to cover not keeping a security which is given as a promise to repay.

“Returning a pledge”

The verses in reference for today’s study are:

Exo 22:26  If thou at all take thy neighbour’s raiment to pledge, thou shalt deliver it unto him by that the sun goeth down:

Exo 22:27  For that is his covering only, it is his raiment for his skin: wherein shall he sleep? and it shall come to pass, when he crieth unto me, that I will hear; for I am gracious.

The first thing that is emphasized in these verses is that we are talking about our neighbor again and specifically his or her “raiment” and “covering”.

Since we are always looking for the spiritual significance of these types and shadows in our lives, it should jump off of the page that we are speaking about the “covering” of someone in the spiritual sense.

In contrast of someone “taking a loan” to help them with an issue as was discussed in the previous study, these verses deal with someone who is so desperate yet so poor that all they have to offer is the coat and/or clothing off of their back.

Truly, Jesus Christ is all we too have in the world today if indeed we are disciples of Jesus Christ.

Rev 3:4  Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.

Rev 3:5  He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

There is also an addendum to Exodus 22:26-27 which is found in Deuteronomy.

Deu 24:10  When thou dost lend thy brother any thing, thou shalt not go into his house to fetch his pledge.

Deu 24:11  Thou shalt stand abroad, and the man to whom thou dost lend shall bring out the pledge abroad unto thee.

Deu 24:12  And if the man be poor, thou shalt not sleep with his pledge:

Deu 24:13  In any case thou shalt deliver him the pledge again when the sun goeth down, that he may sleep in his own raiment, and bless thee: and it shall be righteousness unto thee before the LORD thy God.

It’s interesting to note that a house and raiment are mentioned here. If someone has a physical house, then they are doing well and their covering is their house. If someone is seeing rough times, then the only raiment they have is the coat or cloak they can sleep in.

Is it possible in both situations that we could be talking about the same spiritual type when we compare one which is blessed with a lot (a house) with one who is blessed with a little (coat on their back)?

While we are poor now in this world, though some may have worldly riches, we will be given riches beyond measure when we get the fullness of the purchased possession.

What then is the spiritual example of this house we are speaking about in Deuteronomy?

2Co 5:1  For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

2Co 5:2  For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:

2Co 5:3  If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.

2Co 5:4  For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.

2Co 5:5  Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.

2Co 5:6  Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:

2Co 5:7  (For we walk by faith, not by sight

2Co 5:8  We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

2Co 5:9  Wherefore WE LABOUR, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.

Notice, we are told in Exodus to “not let the sun go down” before we give back that which was pledged. We are also given the reason they need that pledge back, it is where they “sleep”, where they rest.

Heb 4:1  Let us therefore FEAR, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.

Heb 4:2  For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being MIXED WITH FAITH in them that heard it.

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

Heb 4:4  For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.

Heb 4:5  And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest.

Heb 4:6  Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:

Heb 4:7  Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, TO DAY, after so long a time; as it is said, TO DAY if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

Heb 4:8  For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.

Heb 4:9  There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.

Putting this all together, we see that our neighbor who is in need, who is poor “in the world”, has only Jesus Christ to pledge, the same Jesus Christ who is used for their REST which happens to be the Faith that has been given to them.

It is TO DAY, not another day, which we must RECOGNIZE who our neighbor, brother, sister and mother are in Christ Jesus and be sure to return to THEM what was promised to US when the poor of the world gives Jesus Christ to us for safe keeping.

Didn’t Jesus Christ tell us He was taking notice of how we treated the hungry, the poor, the widow, and the fatherless?

Don’t Christians URN to be FEED, to be CLOTHED, to BE RICH, to have a HUSBAND, to see their FATHER, to be given FREEDOM and to no longer be a STRANGER but to arrive to their COUNTRY?

Jas 1:27  Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

Mat 25:34  Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

Mat 25:35  For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:

Mat 25:36  Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

Mat 25:37  Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

Mat 25:38  When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?

Mat 25:39  Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

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

“Faith with Works”

What then do we do with Exodus 22:26 and 27? How do we live it out daily?

Exo 22:26  If thou at all take thy neighbour’s raiment to pledge, thou shalt deliver it unto him by that the sun goeth down:

Exo 22:27  For that is his covering only, it is his raiment for his skin: wherein shall he sleep? and it shall come to pass, when he crieth unto me, that I will hear; for I am gracious.

The only thing Christians have in this world, spiritually speaking, is Jesus Christ the Word of God.

When a brother or sister “pledges” to you about anything, our Faith in Jesus working in them all things according to the Father’s will, should produce in us a like-mindedness, to want to return in kind, what we have received from Jesus in them.

The only thing we can give each other is Jesus Christ, the Word of God, which the Lord has given us all to share with one another.

We are not to wait until some future date to return that covering, that rest, that Faith back to the person who gave us what the Lord had given them.

In a practical sense, the law of Moses being read in Exodus was to be practiced literally, but we must be searching the Word of God while diligently seeking to find how this applies to us today otherwise we will have the mind of “all that is in the world …. of our father the devil” and not the mind of Christ which is a “right” mind.

In order to solidify what house we are seeking, and the mind of the husbandmen of said house, we do not have to look very far to see a very familiar story bearing out to us the spiritual Truth of having the proper covering and it being Jesus Christ who provides that covering.

Mar 5:1  And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes.

Mar 5:2  And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit,

Mar 5:3  Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains:

This man did not dwell in a house.

Mar 5:4  Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him.

Mar 5:5  And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones.

Mar 5:6  But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him,

Mar 5:7  And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not.

Mar 5:8  For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit.

Mar 5:9  And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many.

Mar 5:10  And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country.

Those who have their country, do not seek a country. Those that have no country SEEK the PLACE where they are no FOREIGNERS.

Mar 5:11  Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding.

Mar 5:12  And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them.

Mar 5:13  And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea.

Mar 5:14  And they that fed the swine fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that was done.

Mar 5:15  And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.

This scenario is enough to make anyone who witnesses legion being cast out of someone, back into the sea of humanity where it belongs, to be sorely afraid.

To witness someone suddenly SEATED with Christ in the heavenlies, CLOTHED, and in his RIGHT MIND is truly miraculous and like lightning hitting the person in front of them.

Mat 28:1  In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.

Mat 28:2  And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.

Mat 28:3  His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:

Mat 28:4  And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.

Mat 28:5  And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.

Mat 28:6  He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

Are we not angels of the Lord when we give to others what the Lord has given to us to give? We point to Jesus Christ.

When we do, we point away from “your Father the devil” and this is the result:

Luk 10:18  And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.

Luk 10:19  Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

Luk 10:20  Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

We are seated with Him.

Mat 24:27  For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

Mat 24:28  For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.

Mat 24:29  Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:

Indeed, the Lord has arrived and His work begins with us, being mixed with FAITH while we rest and are covered with his righteousness, within the heavens.

Amen, praise the Lord, even so Lord, COME QUICKLY!

(Key verses: Gen 11:1-9)

[Study Posted July 18, 2014]

Genesis 11 is a very significant chapter in the Bible because it highlights once more the one and only division with which the elect of God are concerned – that of the division of darkness and light (Gen 1:1-5; Joh 1:1-14). This division contrasts two totally opposing mindsets that God has instituted by which all in the first Adam will live (Mat 4:4). The first nine verses of the chapter summarise the fatal flaws and marred condition of the mind of our natural man which relates to the darkness God created (Isa 45:7; Jer 18:4). This is the ‘world order’ under which all mankind are subjected, even “by reason of Him who subjected [them all] in hope” of a new spiritual ‘world order’ in Christ (Rom 8:20). The rest of Genesis chapter 11 focuses on the offspring of one of Noah’s sons, namely Shem, and sets the stage of the true new ‘world order’ of the Lord and His Christ which comes through faith and obedience to His commandments. This latter ‘order’ is what all the Scriptures focus on when those with the mind of the Lord can see God’s perfect plan for humanity typified by one man and the faith he was given. That man is Abraham, who is a type of Christ and the faith which will please the Father by which “all will be blessed” (Gen 12:1-3). Through the mind of the Lord “the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God” is unveiled in all its splendour and beauty (1Co 2:10; 1Co 2:15-16):

Rom 11:33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
Rom 11:34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?
Rom 11:35 Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? Rom 11:36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

The theme of the natural or carnal mind’s religious ambitions to reach or impress God on its own terms comes to us within these first nine verses of Genesis Chapter 11. Here we have a summary of the modus operandi of the first Adam and what his generation is all about from the beginning as worked by God to fulfill His purposes and His will at all times (Eph 1:11). The first verse gives us the context and unified mind (“one language” or “one speech”) of all generations of mankind on the earth from the creation of the first Adam up until that point in time. All earthly nations really come from “one blood” and that spiritually refers to our carnal life and way of being (Act 17:26):

Gen 11:1 And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech.

No one in the first Adam can escape the evil and darkness God has created in the natural mind with all its selfish lusts, pride and ambitions which is of the “old world [order]” and “not of [the holy spirit of] God” (Gen 2:7; Isa 45:7; Jer 18:4; 1Jn 2:16; 2Pe 2:5). Before God confounded the one language of mankind, they all lived in the east in the land of Shinar which also helps us to see the physical and religious origins of mankind since the global flood:

Gen 11:2 And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there.

The concept “east” links here with the land of Shinar, which is called the “country of two rivers”, an ancient name which associates to the physical region of Babylonia or Chaldea. Some translations have it that mankind first moved eastward, which also connects beautifully with the rebellion naturally present in man’s religious mind-set. Mankind by nature rebels against God’s commandment and His ways of doing things (Rom 7:15-24).

Gen 11:2  (ASV) And it came to pass, as they journeyed east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there.

Gen 11:2  (JPS) And it came to pass, as they journeyed east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there.

Gen 11:2  (RV) And it came to pass, as they journeyed east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there.

From an earthy perspective the sun rises in the east, and in that way God teaches mankind how the spiritual light comes into our lives (Rom 1:20). The entrance into the tabernacle in the wilderness and the temple in Jerusalem were facing east, and that is how we all come into our own spiritual understanding of God’s ways. However, man’s ways are always in the opposite direction. The land of Shinar is later known as Babylon in Scripture, and that typifies the spiritual domain of all mankind in the sea of flesh with all its “peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues” (Joh 3:6; Rev 17:15). Babylon is that all-encompassing controlling system of mankind under which our flesh resides – the old spiritual ‘world order’ with its centralised carnal mind. This is the very subtle and evil ruler in our lives which entices us to boast with the treasures and talents of our natural house and then captures us in complete slavery and spiritual bondage:

2Ki 20:14 Then came Isaiah the prophet unto king Hezekiah, and said unto him, What said these men? and from whence came they unto thee? And Hezekiah said, They are come from a far country, even from Babylon.
2Ki 20:15 And he said, What have they seen in thine house? And Hezekiah answered, All the things that are in mine house have they seen: there is nothing among my treasures that I have not shewed them.
2Ki 20:16 And Isaiah said unto Hezekiah, Hear the word of the LORD.
2Ki 2017 Behold, the days come, that all that is in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store unto this day, shall be carried into Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith the LORD.

There is, of course, a physical application within the ‘world order’ here on earth through very influential people and families who are regulating various aspects of human society in general today. God is laughing at those who are propagating the foolish idea that mankind can actually have things in their control, but this gives others a valid reason and purpose in life to expose the so-called ‘illuminati’ (the enlightened few) and other such manipulating forces behind human society (Psa 2:1-12). The natural mind, and its vivid imagination, loves these kinds of secret organizations which keep many busy since the people found a plain or valley in the land of Shinar. Whether we are informed or uninformed about these very interesting distractions, the Scriptures are quite clear that all kingdoms and rulership on earth are God-ordained delegated control to which we all must submit (Heb 13:17). These words of Daniel to Nebuchadnezzar are God’s fiery words for our man of sin under these delegated rulers in every generation. Spiritual Babylon will be judged to its complete destruction in us eventually through the severe trials sent by God and only in that judgment will anyone be persuaded to be fearful of God and not to resist any “ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake” (Mat 5:39; 1Pe 2:13; Heb 13:17):

Dan 4:25 (ERV) King Nebuchadnezzar, you will be forced to go away from people. You will live among the wild animals. You will eat grass like cattle, and you will become wet with dew. Seven seasons will pass, and then you will learn this lesson. You will learn God Most High rules over human kingdoms and gives them to whoever he wants.

Dan 4:32 And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and 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.

When we do not recognise God’s provisions, we devise our twisted inventions, as per God’s design and plan. This is what we do when we are under the delegated controls of the Babylonian rulers in our own land of Shinar which reflects our own natural religious attitudes towards God:

Gen 11:3  And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them throughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter.

The residents in the land of Shinar for the first time (according to the Scriptures) used bricks in the place of stones as a building material. The Hebrew word for bricks here “lebênâh” which comes from the word “lâban” which means “white”. Here is the word “lebênâh” in another verse to show us what God thinks of man-made religious altars of white bricks:

Isa 65:3 A people that provoketh me to anger continually to my face; that sacrificeth in gardens [behind a false covering or protection], and burneth incense upon altars of brick [Hebrew: “lebênâh“].

Even if we take our self-made bricks through the fire and “burn them throughly” as the people in the land of Shinar did, it cannot produce love and obedience to God. This is when our earthly king (typified by King Saul) wants to do the work of the priest and prophet long before its time (1Sa 15:20-31; Jer 7:29-31). Even when we do things with “a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge” of what true love is, we really believe we are doing all for the glory of God (Rom 10:2; Mat 7:21-23; Isa 4:1; Act 8:3; Act 9:1-2):

1Co 13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
1Co 13:2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
1Co 13:3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

All man-made things, like our religious altars of white bricks behind an outward facade or “form of godliness”, are surely not good in God’s eyes (2Ti 3:1-7). The white of the flesh is pointing to our own righteousness which is always a stinking cloth to a truly holy and righteous God:

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.

These white bricks connect closely with an illness in “the skin of [the] flesh” which we all suffer from in the generation of Adam:

Lev 13:1 And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, saying,
Lev 13:2 When a man shall have in the skin of his flesh a rising, a scab, or bright spot, and it be in the skin of his flesh like the plague of leprosy; then he shall be brought unto Aaron the priest, or unto one of his sons the priests:
Lev 13:3 And the priest shall look on the plague in the skin of the flesh: and when the hair in the plague is turned white, and the plague in sight be deeper than the skin of his flesh, it is a plague of leprosy: and the priest shall look on him, and pronounce him unclean.

And ….

Lev 13:10 And the priest shall see him: and, behold, if the rising be white in the skin, and it have turned the hair white, and there be quick raw flesh in the rising;
Lev 13:11 It is an old leprosy in the skin of his flesh, and the priest shall pronounce him unclean, and shall not shut him up: for he is unclean.

The white hair and the rising of flesh is our covering of our own nakedness which is not of the spirit of God (1Jn 2:16):

Isa 30:1 Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin.

The same applies to the slime these people in the land of Shinar used in the place of mortar. All this shows how we provoke God to anger continually and “add sin to sin”. This is our religious invention of brick and mortar to make things understandable to our carnal mind and ‘getting our head around’ spiritual things of God when it is impossible for our natural mind to even understand God’s works in the earth:

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.

Joh 3:12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?

All man’s efforts are coming from a religious or twisted spiritual conviction even when we do not know that or can see our own marred condition as from the Potter’s hand – “sin through ignorance” (Lev 2:2; 4:13; 4:27; 5:15; Num 15:27; Psa 51:5; Jer 18:4; Rom 8:20):

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

In our ignorance we also think we can impress God with our own works. The reason why people in the land of Shinar were motivated to build this city with its tower was to make “a name” for them in heaven! We want to get to spiritual glory via the short-cuts and short circuiting the process, not via the God-ordained process of overcoming “the whole earth” in a slow and progressive manner (Exo 23:30; Act 14:22; 1Pe 4:12; Rev 15:8). Then we are somehow bewildered and amazed when God says He does not know us and rejects our good name. “The more things change, the more they stay the same” is a very true saying for those who still maintain that flesh can be perfected and live happily ever after (1Co 15:50). This is the heart of our own old fool – our natural man:

Psa 14:1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.
Psa 14:2 The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.
Psa 14:3 They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
Psa 14:4 Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread, and call not upon the LORD.

These people in the land of Shinar quickly forgot what happened before the global flood and simply continued on their evil ways. Human beings are shown here to have very short memories when it comes to the Word of God and His commandments. People in general can remember many earthly things and write millions of books full of words concerning their own knowledge, but the true knowledge or science of God is soon forgotten:

Psa 127:1  A Song of degrees for Solomon. Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.
Psa 127:2  It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.

God commanded Adam (initially), and then also Noah and his sons, to fill the earth and subdue it (Gen 1:28; Gen 9:1), but the building of cities and towers took precedence in creating memorials or something to be known for. Even since Cain, the first born, the very seed of the serpent is in us (Gen 3:15; Joh 8:44):

Gen 4:16 And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden.
Gen 4:17 And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch.

Man’s actions come from his thoughts, and Scripture is clear that they are not even his own inventions. Everything is “of the Lord”, and that includes every spirit that appears first to us in the form of words and concepts in our minds (Rom 11:34; 1Jn 4:1-6; Joh 6:63; Psa 139:1-4; Heb 12:9). Our thoughts are our spiritual heavens created by God, for there He works all things after His will and as a man thinks, so is he (Gen 1:1):

Pro 23:7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.

Pro 16:1 The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD.

Psa 115:16 The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD’S: but the earth hath he given to the children of men.

Man’s perceptions of God are that of a distant God, and that is how God wants the natural mind to see Him…removed and uninvolved. So the Scriptures reveal God in that way to the natural mind:

Gen 11:5 And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded.

It is always interesting to see how our own natural religious mind wants to inform God of things God actually already knows. The carnal mind has this irresistible desire to inform others of its own knowledge. Naturally we never want to be seen as ignorant and stupid. We created cities and towers of libraries (physical and virtual) filled with information, and then we want to educate the uninformed in our haughty and earthy philanthropic spirit. Artificial divisions of human society based on false evolutionary premises rule the natural mind. Our ‘first world’ mind-set also wants to do its bit to reach the poor and barbaric in the underdeveloped (‘second world’) and undeveloped (‘third world’) societies – and how the tower of religious mind-set get further elevation from these good deeds! Then we want God to come down and see and esteem our good works – and He appears initially exactly the way we want to see Him until “the day when the towers fall” (Psa 18:25-26; Isa 30:25). That is when we can see that God indeed loves a cheerful giver and those who can help others with the same Christ-like humble spirit of those of the mature believers in Macedonia (2Co 9:1-9):

Gen 11:6 And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.
Gen 11:7 Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.
Gen 11:8 So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city.

God divided the earthly nations along language lines – not different outward features, racial and other outward features, as some propose. However, this one fractured city of mankind is never going to be completed because it is designed to end in ruin – man is God’s “son of perdition” (2Th 2:3). Babel is the symbol of all man’s splintered efforts to be successful and “of renown”, even in its unified opposition to the one mind of God (Psa 2:1-2; Num 16:1-35):

Gen 11:9 Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.

Babel is always the religious city with its self-righteous tower that exposes man’s heavens and also the greatness and wisdom of God in working all things for His purposes. In the effort to build a strong safe city with its haughty pride and earthly lusts, we see our own lusts for the power we are convinced comes through taking control. Confusion is still the overall language of the world. Some actually want others to believe they know what is going on and have answers to the multifaceted conundrum of human society! The United Nations, the World Trade Organization, the World Bank, and NATO are still relevant in our own time to see the confusion and futility of man’s efforts. If we just take time to see our own confusion, we soon come to the sobering realization that we do not even have enough time or ability to sort out our own confusion!!! This is what the mind of Christ, with its new spirit language, reveals to us with its true comfort and peace – a really “strange tongue” which the spirit of God brings. With God’s mind we can see that everything is 100% under control, and everything will be done on earth as it is in heaven. God fattens our old man in its own delusions and pride to supply the wood for the fire “in a day of slaughter” which is coming at its appointed time (Luk 15:22-24).

Jas 5:5 Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter.

———-

Detailed studies and emails relating to these foundational themes in Scripture are available on the www.iswasandwillbe.com website, including these topics and links:

Who Is My Brother?

The Spiritual Significance Of Colors In Scripture (The Color White) – Part 1

The Seven Last Plagues 2006

Revelation 17:1-6

Audio Links

Colors – White, Part 2

Introduction

The main truth we need to glean from this entire series on colors in scripture is the truth of this verse:

Psa 139:12  Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.

God is the creator of both light and darkness. Both are instruments in His hand.

Isa 45:5  I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me:
Isa 45:6  That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else.
Isa 45:7  I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.

He uses light to describe Himself, and He uses darkness to describe how the flesh and the Adversary perceive Him and His Works:

Dan 7:9  I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.

That is how God describes Christ who is “the express image of His Father and who is our door to His Father.

Exo 14:19  And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them:
Exo 14:20  And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night.

Christ separates His people from the world and keeps them from coming near each other. He does this by appearing as “a cloud and darkness to them.” This was our focus last week. In this study we will focus on how the color white is used by God to show us that He “gives light by night to these.”

God’s elect fall, but rise to be “made white”

Dan 11:32  And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.
Dan 11:33  And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days.
Dan 11:34  Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries.
Dan 11:35  And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed.

White is intimately connected with God’s chastening grace

From this day forward, when we see the word ‘white’ “they of understanding” will now know and “instruct many” that God’s Words all have both a positive and a negative application because God is the creator of both the light and the darkness and the good and the evil in us all. They will also “instruct many” that when all is said and done we will all be “made white” through purging trials. So when we read:

Dan 12:6  And one said to the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders?
Dan 12:7  And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these [ things] shall be finished.
Dan 12:8  And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things?
Dan 12:9  And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.
Dan 12:10  Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.

There it is! It comes out and tells us, “Many shall be made white and tried…”

Act 14:22  Confirming the souls of the disciples, [and] exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

Tit 2:11  For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Tit 2:12  Teaching [Greek: paideuo, chasten] us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

That is what makes us worthy to wear “white linen:”

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

White is intimately connected with light and clothing or raiment

“The righteousness of the saints” is Christ’s righteousness. It is in Him that the saints are “clean and white.”

Mat 17:2  And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.

Luk 9:29  And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering.

Mat 28:3  His [the angel at the tomb] countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:

Mar 9:3  And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them.

Rev 3:4  Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.
Rev 3:5  He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

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

Rev 7:13  And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?
Rev 7:14  And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

White is associated with righteousness

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

Joh 4:35  Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.

White is associated with God’s elect

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.

Rev 3:4  Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.
Rev 3:5  He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

Rev 3:18  I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and [that] the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

Rev 4:4  And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.
Rev 4:5  And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and [there were] seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
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.

Who are these “four beasts and four and twenty elders? The four beasts and the four and twenty elders also symbolize God’s elect:

Rev 5:8  And when he [Christ] 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.

Rev 6:9  And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:
Rev 6:10  And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?
Rev 6:11  And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

Rev 14:14  And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.

Rev 15:6  And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles.

Who are these ‘seven angels?’

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

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

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

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

Rev 19:14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.

Rev 20:11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them [This ‘white throne’ is the same as the ‘white cloud’ in an earlier scripture].

Rev 14:14 And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.

Conclusion – White Is Christ and all who are in Him

Rev 1:12  And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;
Rev 1:13  And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.
Rev 1:14  His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;
Rev 1:15  And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.
Rev 1:16  And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.

Rev 6:2  And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer [This white horse is Christ when He first comes to us and deals our beast his deadly wound, and He is Christ who comes to us as mature sons. It is all the revelation of Jesus Christ].

Rev 19:11  And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.

Never let us forget what we started with:

Exo 14:19 And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them:
Exo 14:20 And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night.

Psa 139:12 Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.

Audio Links

The Color White – Part 1

As with every word we have covered, this word ‘white’ also has both a positive and a negative application. Why is that? It is because of what we learned in our last study:

Psa 139:12  Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.

It is because all these words are the words of Christ, and what have we learned of Christ?

Exo 13:21  And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:

How does this ‘cloud’ appear to those who do not know Christ?

Exo 14:19  And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them:
Exo 14:20  And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night.

God’s Word is “a cloud and darkness to them.” The natural man cannot receive the things of the spirit, because they are foolishness to him.

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.

“They are foolishness to him” means that God’s spiritual Words are “a cloud and darkness” to the natural man, and at the same time, they “give light by night to these” to whom God is revealing Himself.

Christ, the cloud, separates His people from Egypt. ‘Egypt’ is the natural man. That separation is accomplished by blinding Egypt while giving light to His own people. While those with whom God is working can see that Christ creates both light and darkness, they can also understand that it is He who creates both good and evil. This is contradictory to the natural man. The natural man cannot see how “sins as red as crimson” can be “washed white in the blood of the Lamb”; how one can “find his life by losing it”; how one can only see by acknowledging his blindness, and can only avoid judgment by being judged. The natural man cannot understand how it is possible to avoid the lake of fire by going through that same consuming fire here and now, and the natural man cannot see how we all avoid the wrath of God by enduring “God’s wrath on the children of disobedience” and “fulfilling the seven plagues of the seven angels.” Yet we are told:

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

The natural man cannot see that God’s elect must “live by every word which proceeds out of the mouth of God.”

Mat 4:4  But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

Including these words which have proceeded out of the mouth of God:

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

To the natural man it is contradictory to say that God is the creator of both good and evil. It is contradictory to say that Christ is a cloud which is both light and darkness, but that is why every word of the Word of God has both a negative and a positive application. It is because Christ is the cloud which separates his people from the people of Egypt, the natural man from the man who is “spiritually minded”. It is because Christ is His Word, and that word is “a cloud and darkness to them, but it gives light by night to these: so that the one comes not near the other all the night.”

How the Natural Man sees the Color White

The natural man sees white only as a type of light and righteousness. He cannot see white as a type of his deceived and diseased condition. Here is the only way ‘white is perceived in the eyes of the natural man:

Mat 17:2  And [Christ] was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.

Mar 9:3  And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them.

Ecc 9:8  Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment.

Isa 1:18  Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

These four verses will serve to express how most of us think of the color ‘white’. We think of white as snow, wool and the light of the Truth. One more verse will serve to demonstrate how this word is used in its positive sense:

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

The Spiritually Negative Application of the Color White

This is not how ‘snow’ and ‘white’ are always used in God’s Word:

Exo 4:6  And the LORD said furthermore unto him, Put now thine hand into thy bosom. And he put his hand into his bosom: and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous as snow.

Babylon Appears as White and as Light

Christ appears as “white as the light.”

Mat 17:2  And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.

Babylon also appears as an angel of light:

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

So Satan, too, is ‘white as light”, but it is the ‘white’ of the incurable disease of leprosy. It is incurable because “flesh… cannot inherit the kingdom of God” (1Co 15:50). Flesh must be relinquished in order to enter the kingdom of God.

Many of the verses in the early parts of God’s Word connect the color ‘white’ to the disease of leprosy. We will bring this out later, but let’s begin where the Bible begins and see where ‘white’ first appears. White first appears in the King James Version of the Bible in ‘Babylon’ with all of its white sheep. By ‘Babylon’ I mean in Haran, where Jacob had gone on the other side of the flood, the river Euphrates, fleeing from his brother and looking for a wife. Jacob has served his father-in-law for two of his daughters and was now ready to go back to the land of Canaan:

Gen 30:25  And it came to pass, when Rachel had born Joseph, that Jacob said unto Laban, Send me away, that I may go unto mine own place, and to my country.
Gen 30:26  Give me my wives and my children, for whom I have served thee, and let me go: for thou knowest my service which I have done thee.
Gen 30:27  And Laban said unto him, I pray thee, if I have found favour in thine eyes, tarry: for I have learned by experience that the LORD hath blessed me for thy sake.
Gen 30:28  And he said, Appoint me thy wages, and I will give it.
Gen 30:29  And he said unto him, Thou knowest how I have served thee, and how thy cattle was with me.
Gen 30:30  For it was little which thou hadst before I came, and it is now increased unto a multitude; and the LORD hath blessed thee since my coming: and now when shall I provide for mine own house also?
Gen 30:31  And he said, What shall I give thee? And Jacob said, Thou shalt not give me any thing: if thou wilt do this thing for me, I will again feed and keep thy flock:
Gen 30:32  I will pass through all thy flock to day, removing from thence all the speckled and spotted cattle, and all the brown cattle among the sheep, and the spotted and speckled among the goats: and [of such] shall be my hire.
Gen 30:33  So shall my righteousness answer for me in time to come, when it shall come for my hire before thy face: every one that is not speckled and spotted among the goats, and brown among the sheep, that shall be counted stolen with me.
Gen 30:34  And Laban said, Behold, I would it might be according to thy word.
Gen 30:35  And he removed that day the he goats that were ringstraked and spotted, and all the she goats that were speckled and spotted, and every one that had some white in it, and all the brown among the sheep, and gave them into the hand of his sons.
Gen 30:36  And he set three days’ journey betwixt himself and Jacob: and Jacob fed the rest of Laban’s flocks.
Gen 30:37  And Jacob took him rods of green poplar, and of the hazel and chestnut tree; and pilled white strakes in them, and made the white appear which was in the rods.

In this story Jacob typifies Christ and those in Christ. Christ’s flocks have “some white in them,” but they are “speckled and spotted”, and none of the sheep belonging to Jacob are all white. All of the sheep are brown or speckled. Laban knew that sheep were generally white by nature, just as we are all leprous by nature. Laban actually believed that he had made a tremendous deal and that Jacob would probably get just a very small fraction of the increase of the flocks. However, this is all a parable about what is taking place within each of us. What God is showing us is that we are anything but white in any spiritual sense. At the same time, we are being brought to see that the white flocks of Laban and Babylon are nothing more than the “snow white” of spiritual leprosy. Laban never crosses the Euphrates River to go into the Promised Land, and yet it is very interesting that the Hebrew word for ‘white’ is ‘laban.’

H3835
la ban
law- ban’
A primitive root; to be (or become) white; also (as denominative from H3843) to make bricks: – make brick, be (made, make) white (-r).

The reason I said that “according to the King James Version” the word ‘white’ first appears in the story of Jacob’s time spent in the area of Haran is that, in reality, the word ‘white’ actually first appears in the Hebrew back in Genesis in the story of the building of the Tower of Babylon. It appears in the Hebrew word translated ‘brick’ as in the bricks used to build the Tower of Babel. The Hebrew root for this word translated ‘brick’ comes from the primitive root for the Hebrew word for white. It is:

H3843
lebe na h
leb- ay- naw’
From H3835; a brick (from the whiteness of the clay): – (altar of) brick, tile.

Gen 11:3  And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them throughly. And they had brick [Hebrew: 3843 lebenah] for stone, and slime had they for morter.

So the tower of Babel was apparently built of white brick, but it is the whiteness of leprosy. Here is another Old Testament story which happened to them and is written for our admonition, which shows the connection between the color white and the incurable disease of leprosy:

2Ki 5:1  Now Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honourable, because by him the LORD had given deliverance unto Syria: he was also a mighty man in valour, [but he was] a leper.
2Ki 5:2  And the Syrians had gone out by companies, and had brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little maid; and she waited on Naaman’s wife.
2Ki 5:3  And she said unto her mistress, Would God my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria! for he would recover him of his leprosy.
2Ki 5:4  And [one] went in, and told his lord, saying, Thus and thus said the maid that [is] of the land of Israel.
2Ki 5:5  And the king of Syria said, Go to, go, and I will send a letter unto the king of Israel. And he departed, and took with him ten talents of silver, and six thousand [pieces] of gold, and ten changes of raiment.
2Ki 5:6  And he brought the letter to the king of Israel, saying, Now when this letter is come unto thee, behold, I have [therewith] sent Naaman my servant to thee, that thou mayest recover him of his leprosy.
2Ki 5:7  And it came to pass, when the king of Israel had read the letter, that he rent his clothes, and said, [Am] I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man doth send unto me to recover a man of his leprosy? wherefore consider, I pray you, and see how he seeketh a quarrel against me. [Leprosy was considered a death sentence.]
2Ki 5:8  And it was [so], when Elisha the man of God had heard that the king of Israel had rent his clothes, that he sent to the king, saying, Wherefore hast thou rent thy clothes? let him come now to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel.
2Ki 5:9  So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariot, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha.
2Ki 5:10  And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean.
2Ki 5:11  But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the LORD his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper.
2Ki 5:12  [Are] not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage.
2Ki 5:13  And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My father, [if] the prophet had bid thee [do some] great thing, wouldest thou not have done [it]? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean?
2Ki 5:14  Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean [1Co 1:1-7, 1Co 3:1-4].
2Ki 5:15  And he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and came, and stood before him: and he said, Behold, now I know that [there is] no God in all the earth, but in Israel: now therefore, I pray thee, take a blessing of thy servant.
2Ki 5:16  But he said, [As] the LORD liveth, before whom I stand, I will receive none. And he urged him to take [it]; but he refused. [Abraham took nothing for delivering the king of Sodom, and John tells us to “take nothing of the Gentiles” [Gen 14:23, 3Jn 1:7].
2Ki 5:17  And Naaman said, Shall there not then, I pray thee, be given to thy servant two mules’ burden of earth? for thy servant will henceforth offer neither burnt offering nor sacrifice unto other gods, but unto the LORD.
2Ki 5:18  In this thing the LORD pardon thy servant, [that] when my master goeth into the house of Rimmon to worship there, and he leaneth on my hand, and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon: when I bow down myself in the house of Rimmon, the LORD pardon thy servant in this thing.
2Ki 5:19  And he said unto him, Go in peace. So he departed from him a little way.
2Ki 5:20  But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, Behold, my master hath spared Naaman this Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that which he brought: but, [as] the LORD liveth, I will run after him, and take somewhat of him.
2Ki 5:21  So Gehazi followed after Naaman. And when Naaman saw [him] running after him, he lighted down from the chariot to meet him, and said, [Is] all well?
2Ki 5:22  And he said, All [is] well. My master hath sent me, saying, Behold, even now there be come to me from mount Ephraim two young men of the sons of the prophets: give them, I pray thee, a talent of silver, and two changes of garments.
2Ki 5:23  And Naaman said, Be content, take two talents. And he urged him, and bound two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of garments, and laid [them] upon two of his servants; and they bare [them] before him.
2Ki 5:24  And when he came to the tower, he took [them] from their hand, and bestowed [them] in the house: and he let the men go, and they departed.
2Ki 5:25  But he went in, and stood before his master. And Elisha said unto him, Whence [comest thou], Gehazi? And he said, Thy servant went no whither.
2Ki 5:26  And he said unto him, Went not mine heart [with thee], when the man turned again from his chariot to meet thee? [Is it] a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and oliveyards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants?
2Ki 5:27  The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed for ever. And he went out from his presence a leper as white as snow. [Leprosy never leaves the carnal-minded and those whose thoughts and affections are on the things of this earth.]

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

The word ‘white’ appears in sixteen different verses of Leviticus 13, all in relation to the connection between the color ‘white’ and the signs of leprosy in either the color of the flesh or the color of the hair upon the flesh. White flesh and white hair upon the flesh are both signs of the incurable disease of leprosy, and leprosy is a physical type of the spiritual condition of the carnal mind.

Rom 7:24  O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

Rom 8:6  For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

Here are a few of the sixteen verses which describe the whiteness of leprosy, representing the spiritual type of “the body of this death.”

Lev 13:3  And the priest shall look on the plague in the skin of the flesh: and [when] the hair in the plague is turned white, and the plague in sight [be] deeper than the skin of his flesh, it [is] a plague of leprosy: and the priest shall look on him, and pronounce him unclean.

Lev 13:10  And the priest shall see him: and, behold, if the rising be white in the skin, and it have turned the hair white, and there be quick raw flesh in the rising;
Lev 13:11  It is an old leprosy in the skin of his flesh, and the priest shall pronounce him unclean, and shall not shut him up: for he is unclean.

He is ‘white’, but “he is unclean.” He is a “whited sepulchre”.

Mat 23:27  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.

If this verse means the local Babylonian minister to you and you have never yet come to see that this is, was, and will be dying daily within you, then you are still in Babylon. As with all the other seeming contradictions of the things of the spirit, the only way to “come out of Babylon” is to admit that “dying daily” is “coming out of Babylon… daily.”

We have mentioned both the positive and negative, the light and the darkness of this color white, but we have dealt mostly with the negative application this week. Next week we will deal with the spiritually positive application of the color white in the word of God. What we should be coming to see is that, just as God could create a crooked serpent and a tree of knowledge of good and evil and pronounce it all “very good”, even so ought we to begin to understand these verses of scripture:

Psa 139:12  Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.
Ecc 3:11  He hath made every [thing] beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.

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