Christian Life Page 20

Gideon Ju.8:24-28

"Thus was Midian subdued before the children of Israel, so that they lifted up their heads no more. And the country was in quietness forty years in the days of Gideon."(v.28)

The Spirit uses Gideon's life as a warning for us. Gideon was a hero of faith to which there was no doubt. The country experienced peace for 40 years which is an outward manifestation of the seal of approval God placed on one who stood before him as a mighty man of valor.

How heroic was he when he refused to rule over the Israelites as they wanted? Reminiscent of the time the people wanted to crown Jesus as their king (John6:15) the children of Israel approached him. in vv.22-23 and Gideon answered,"theLordshall rule over you'.

Just the same Gideon had this request that would have only gone to make his house grander and there would be spinoff and a lucrative business from so many worshipers coming there . It put Ophrah on the pilgrim circuit and his house somewhat like 'Graceland for the soul'. The result was obvious from what we see in our own times. "and all Israel went thither a whoring after it: which thing became a snare unto Gideon, and to his house." Gideon's life in a manner unravelled from the simplicity which is in Christ. It must speak for the megachurches with their branding of their products podcasts and what have you. By exercising their constitutional rights the news of ministers of God defying corona mandates help spread pandemic wider cannot be wholesome.

Gideon set up snares for others unwittingly. He did not shift the tabernacle of God from Shiloah where Joshua had set up(Josh.18:1). But he set 'an ephod thereof, and put it in his city, even in Ophrah: and all Israel went thither a whoring after it: which thing became a snare unto Gideon, and to his house.' It must be the megachurch of his time to which the children of Israel thronged with religious fervor and it was 'lure of the filthy lucre just the same.

Re.6:1-2 The Word of God

"And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see./ 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."

The same rider we find in Ch.19:13-14. ("And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God./ And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.They are color coded so tying up with martyrs ,(And white robes were given unto every one of them.') Re.6:11)

Before we come back to the Lamb we shall see the entire proceedings are seen from the viewpoint of the word of God. Thus we have the rider on the white horse as two book ends sandwiching various vignettes of God quelling the riot of the wicked world.

Also significant is the number Four:

The four beasts serve as MC by turns, 'as it were the voice of thunder, saying,'Come and See' (v.1)

We have the new song sung mentioned four times. "And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints." Song of Moses represent the remnant of Israel and it is a clue that we are looking at the end of the day. "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."(15:7)

The rider on the pale horse "And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth." The religious wars waged after Christianity became official and the dead(' I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:'.(6:9)

In Ch.7:1 four angels, four winds signify the word of God in operation.

Re. 5:6-7 "Seven Spirits of God"

"stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth./ And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.

We have been focussing on the book with seven seals while the seven horns and seven spirits were right there enforcing the will of the Father. The Lamb had prevailed over the nations to judge the ungodly world.

"And they sung a new song, saying," Theme of the new song is on salvation. Moses had sung it after God had thrown the chariots of Pharaoh's army to the sea. "The Lord is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him." (Ex.15:2) What is mentioned in Ch.5 we have repeated, "And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders" (Re.14:3). And we hear it sung again after the seventh angel had sounded, " 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."(Re.11:15) Thus three versions of the single event are presented.

Seven angels with trumpets sounding are vengeance being meted out to the ungodly world.

Breaking of first four seals explain how wars hunger famine and plagues became the 'new' normal in the world. With the fifth seal we are shown the body of martyrs whose cry reaches the throne. (6:10-11) White robes are given to them "that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.". So the seven spirits of God or rather Spirit of Christ in particular has completed their tasks. It leads to the day of wrath. " For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?"(6:17)

Ps.110:1 "The Book Bound with Seven Seals" (3 of 3)

Jeremiah foretold this, "Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man, and with the seed of beast."(Je.31:27)

Now we shall look at the day of vengeance indicated by the opening of seven seals. "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."(5:2) The same rider we see again,"And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True," (Re.19:11) Jesus Christ setting out to conquer is in control. His Father's promise 'Until I make thine enemies' thy footstool is what the vision signifies. The second rider on the red horse we see in Re.19:19-20 where the enemies of his Son are thrown into the lake of fire.

The bound book 'written within and on the backside' carries two set of families children of light and of wrath. The book of the Lamb is yet another. Written within and on the backside' has a parallel,"And Noah lived after the flood three hundred and fifty years./And all the days of Noah were nine hundred and fifty years: and he died."(Ge.9:28-29) By the same token Satan is released after 1000 years and of the ungodly we have 'their lives prolonged. In the Book of Daniel it is differentiated as 'season and time'. All these come within the day decreed for the Son.

Tribulation is about quenching the Spirit and not physical death,- and life in Gaza would be more or less explain it, Matt.24:29 indicates we are seeing about us wickedness ever on the rise and life of the Spirit is trivialized with all the activism spewing from the pulpit.

Ps.110:1 "The Book Bound with Seven Seals (2 of 3)



In this second quoted from the Hebrews, we see how the Lamb came to prevail upon to be found worthy. "Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:"(He.1:3) First the Son as the Word become flesh had to purge our sins. The Son had to fulfill the will of his Father and prove his claim, "Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God."(He.10:7). In the Psalm 110 he was placed at the right hand and the writer to the Hebrews is spot on to say,'he sat down on the right hand' as before. That makes one full circle.

This proof period of the Son to fulfill his earthly ministry we have from these instances, " but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father."(Matt.20:23) and "And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power."(Ac.1:7) Now having purged our sins he upholds 'all things by the word of his power,'.

We shall look at the vision of St John, "And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?/And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon." But one of the elders consoles the Apostle,"Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof." (Re.5:1-5). Here earthly antecedents of Jesus is given. The Spirit instructs us to the fulfillment of the Will of God has both heaven and the earth in unison. The Lamb and the Son of man are one and the same.

The Book Bound with Seven Seals (1 of 3)

" The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool."(Ps.110:1)

Here we have the divine Will concerning his Son. 'Until I make thine enemies thy footstool' is an indication of the divine Will. When Jesus declared,"My Father worketh hitherto, and I work"( John 5:17) we can understand both heaven and the earth are as one. How God in heaven set about quelling the riot of the enemies of Christ we have in two visions.

The one in Daniel is about an everlasting kingdom. "I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him./ And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him.(7:13-14). Enemies of Christ were dealt in the nations which figure in the vision mentioned before. They are specific as well as they continue 'for a season and time. (Dan.7:12)

Second vision is not about one 'like the Son of man' but of a Lamb, " As it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth."(Re.7:5)

What we are really focussed with these posts is to show the days weeks, months and years are all set to work at the behest of God the Father whose will is to make all the enemies of his Son, his footstool. Isaiah for instance said, "the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;" All these happen simultaneously so when the Lamb break open seven seals these are all set in motion and not one after the other. Similar to the seven pillars or days set forth in the abstract. (Ge.1:1)

In the Psalm God tells the Son, 'Sit thou at my right hand' which establishes the Father Son relationship goes before the worlds were framed by the word of God. (He.11:3).

Pr.9:1

"The House with Seven Pillars"

"Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars:" Proverbs 9:1 KJV

This was founded before the worlds began and the Spirit announces," she hath also furnished her table." It to to which Jesus at the door alluded,Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me."(Re.3:20). Everyone who heard the call and is an overcomer even a he is shall find a new name indicating his place in the Great Banquet. So this house founded on Zion helps us understand how we should approach the significance of sevens. Seven pillars are seven schedules in the abstract breaking up the covenant between God and Man. Thus the heaven mentioned includes every believer in the Man component who is adopted by the Father and at the end we are looking at the new heaven. Likewise second day ,the analogy of pillar still stands, "And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good.: God calls it the earth. At the end it is the new earth. (Ge.1:10) In short the narrative about the Son whose promise to the believer is this, " And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.:( John 14:3) This is the house Wisdom has built. Seven pillars are called days since God has by a decree given his Son a day. So this indivdual calls has gone forth even before the foundation of the world.

Seventy weeks mentioned in Daniel 9 is about a prophetic year and there are so many promises of God which are to be fulfilled. God's promise to Abraham is yet another. (Ge.12:3)

Be that as it may, ask ourselves which is greater? The day decreed for the Son (Ps.2:7) or a prophetic year. By literal approach what you come up is dead wrong since God a Spirit was pleased that all his fulness in the Son to dwell.

Study on Jeremiah Ch.30:11 (2 of 2)

"Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth." (Je.1:8) We have another instance when God steadied the man so he and the message are one. "Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say."(Ex.4:12) And what does he tell Pharaoh? "And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the Lord, Israel is my son, even my firstborn:"(4:22) Israel reckoned as his Son the first born of all creation. The blessings which God had promised Abraham must spring forward no matter what and faith is what made Abraham Moses and Israel as the double for his Son. He came into his own but the nation rejected his Son. For this reason we have the condemnation and rejection of the nation. Here we see faith in operation.

Coming back to the key text, " yet I will not make a full end of thee: but I will correct thee in measure, and will not leave thee altogether unpunished."Israel's falling off brings the Gentiles into the breach. God shall not make a full end of Israel. A remnant shall be gathered after the ungodly nations have been disposed off. Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. So where faith was lost grace must operate. So this is yet in the latter days.

"Behold, the whirlwind of the Lord goeth forth with fury, a continuing whirlwind: it shall fall with pain upon the head of the wicked./ The fierce anger of the Lord shall not return, until he hath done it, and until he have performed the intents of his heart: in the latter days ye shall consider it."(30:23-24)

"In the latter days ye shall consider it" and realization and repentance are handmaidens of grace. Shroud from the face of Israel has to be thrown away. in Re.1:7 we read thus,"Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him."(Re.1:7)They see truth and accept it is indeed so.

Study on Jeremiah Ch.30 "Grace and faith" (1 of 2)

"For I am with thee, saith the LORD, to save thee: though I make a full end of all nations whither I have scattered thee, yet will I not make a full end of thee: but I will correct thee in measure, and will not leave thee altogether unpunished." Jeremiah 30:11 KJV

Here we have clear prophesy of nations that resisted God and his word. He shall make a full end of them.

In the midst of doom and gloom the promise of God to Abraham shall find its fulfillment. "And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed."( Ge.12:3) God is rewarding at that point for his faith. It is in the 'now' and he Abram. "Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee" He believed God and his faith had to be of sterner stuff and 'the land that I will shew thee' was according to the time God had set. It is the key to the significance of the name Abraham. As Father of many nations he is a stand-in for his Son who He will send in the fulness of time. Faith is 'the sum total' or the substance that faith holds of "the evidence of things not seen". So he would and as the writer to the Hebrews say, he " obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went./ By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise/ For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God."(11:8-10). Now of Abraham was locked in with that of God so faith is not in the matter of time, place but the characteristic of holiness evident in the Son. Thus his faith was counted unto him for righteousness."And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness."(Ge.15:6)

1 Sa.20:18-42 Three Arrows

How soul relates to a child of God can be explained by this verse,"He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty(Ps.91:1). The spiritual space of heart has truth correspondingly as eternal word is settled in heavens. It is a secret place and soul is nourished by the presence of the Most High. It is brought out by the Spirit in the manner Jonathan promises David to intimate what his father's real intentions are.

In vv19-20 Jonathan has a confidante, a young lad with artillery to go between them. David was to come to the appointed place,"and come to the place where thou didst hide thyself when the business was in hand, and shalt remain by the stone Ezel./And I will shoot three arrows on the side thereof, as though I shot at a mark."

The manner Jonathan directed the lad was his cue."But if I say thus unto the young man, Behold, the arrows are beyond thee; go thy way: for theLordhath sent thee away./And as touching the matter which thou and I have spoken of, behold, theLordbe between thee and me for ever(vv.22-23). Significant is the usage of 'forever'. A believer who is led by the indwelling Spirit is the son of the Most High. 'He shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty' forever.

In our times when Evangelicalism think of activism they mean they are positioned to judge those whose lifestyles are different. They are like the young lad ignorant of how soul can take care of child of God, without busybodies coming between. "But the lad knew not any thing: only Jonathan and David knew the matter./And Jonathan gave his artillery unto his lad, and said unto him, Go, carry them to the city(vv.39-40).

1 Sa. 23: 1-4 (2 of 2) "Soul"

David may be surrounded by lions and dogs barking but his soul trusts in God who performs all things for him." It is what soul can relish while the body may be inconvenienced.

Finally a distinction between soul and the inner man may be relevant here. God made Adam a living soul which signifies the truth written in inward parts is alive:as a live wire and is ready to catch divine fire. When you hear the word of God it does something to you that you cannot miss it.(Ro.10:17).

Faith is what you follow up with works. Thus Abraham steps out of his comfort zone to a place God has promised to give. He believed therefore it was counted to him for righteousness. Soul of man is His presence which for saints who are led by him have Father's name in their foreheads which are different from man who is carnal. His heart is not entirely perfect before him. For those who have received Jesus Christ as their Savior has a helper, the indwelling Spirit.. When St Paul prays,'That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man(Ep.3:16)' it is of a different quality. So he warns,'And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption(Ep.4:30-32)'. Inner man of child of God has hope for the risen Christ promises,"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 thatreceivethit(Re.2:17;Is.62:2)".

On the other hand soul of a wicked man is trash."The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth(Pr.10:20)".

I Sa.23:1-4 (1 of 2) Soul

"Then they told David, saying, Behold, the Philistines fight against Keilah, and they rob the threshingfloors./Therefore David enquired of theLord, saying, Shall I go and smite these Philistines? And theLordsaid unto David, Go, and smite the Philistines, and save Keilah..."(vv.1-4)

How David's men try to go against the promise of the Lord is what carnal wisdom does. Reason goes dead against faith. So knowing how to differentiate between the two goes a long way in our spiritual lives. ''Therefore David enquired of theLord,' While David was holed up in the cave of Adullam he heard the Philistines robbing Israel of their harvest. He enquired of the Lord what he ought to do. Had he enquired of the Lord before going to Ahimelech the priest in Nob it would have spared lot of bloodshed. He came a long way spiritually. From the stone Ezel to Adullam soul of man is creating its own back up system as bees store up honey in hives. This is what the Spirit wants us to know.

Earlier Jonathan brought him vital information while he was waiting for it. We shall refer the passage 20:18-22)."Then Jonathan said to David, To morrow is the new moon: and thou shalt be missed, because thy seat will be empty./And when thou hast stayed three days, then thou shalt go down quickly, and come to the place where thou didst hide thyself when the business was in hand, and shalt remain by the stone Ezel".

The message from Jonathan was clear 'The Lord hath sent thee away." David fleeing from Saul has found refuge in the cave of Adullam and the place traces the manner his soul being spiritually fortified. We covered the significance of the three arrows shot by Jonathan and while we are considering the role of the soul of man we shall mention the Psalm of David composed while he was Adullam,"Yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast./I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me(Ps.57:1-2)."

"And David said unto Abiathar, I knew it that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul: I have occasioned the death of all the persons of thy father's house./Abide thou with me, fear not: for he that seeketh my life seeketh thy life: but with me thou shalt be in safeguard."

David is here referring to a certain knowledge which is supplied by the soul and validated by the Holy Spirit."Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities...: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with (Ro.8:26-27). The Spirit shall do only in accordance with the will of God while soul signifies the presence of God in man. In the covenant confirmed by David and Jonathan we have the role of soul which for a child of God is in context of Jesus Christ.

Light of the knowledge is for the glory of God."For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ./But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us(2 Co.4:6-7)". Knowledge therefore has to be for the glory of God and it is in context of Jesus Christ. In New Jerusalem, Zion is its heart and it is stand-in for the soul of Christ the Head. " in whose heart are the the ways of them. (Ps.84:6-7)

How soul works with a child of God we shall see in specific case of David who did not exactly tell the truth to Ahimelech, the priest while in Nob(21:1-2). How it led to the slaughter of 85 priests (22:18) no man may be able to explain anymore than the manner the doctrine of Balaam corrupted Israelites without ever speaking to them. It is between the Spirit and the soul. The spirit of man communicates with spirit of another.

Secondly Doeg carrying the tale of David being sheltered by Ahimelech to King Saul is what man who shall resort in order to rise in career. It is what body does. What benefits if he loses his soul?

" For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad./Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences."(2 Co.5:10-11)

Every Christian has to know that he was called for a purpose. 'For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. "(Ph.3:21). The body that was prepared for the Son applies to us as well. So time and place are to be understood for what they are. Thus we have an earthly tabernacle but we desire'to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven.'(2 Co.5:2)

Time is bound with the fulness of Christ and whatever we see around are given to changes therefore unreliable. Whereas the word of God is eternal. (Ps.119:89;He.13:8) Knowing the time is short we are to make the occasion redound to His glory which is on the basis of trust. It requires a clear understanding of the gifts we have received in Jesus Christ. What the world gives perishes with use. "Touch not; taste not; handle not;/Which all are to perish with the using;)/Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh."(Col.2:21-23) after the commandments and doctrines of men?And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.(Ro.12:1)

We have to know the terror of the Lord as St Paul writes is indication of the presence of God such as what Jacob felt at Bethel. (Ge.28:16-17) So let us quit us like men and say boldly with St Paul, " But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus...."(Ac.20:24

"To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;" Isaiah 61:2 KJV

This day is to be considered as part of the day decreed for the Son. This day of vengeance has its own color and weight. For those mourners it is day of joy. ""I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels."(v.10) The bride has made herself ready and the Marriage of the Lamb is come.

"For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations." (v.11) Here Isaiah is speaking about heavenly realities. ""It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power./"It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body." 1 Corinthians 15:43-44 KJV

Before all nations New Jerusalem is bedecked in glory of the Lord and the holy city of God is "To them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified." Isaiah 61:3 They are planted by God and shall be called Priests unto the Most High. Order of Melchizedek is the Order of the New where the House of prayer is for all nations.

"And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand"(Re.11:11-13)

There are several earthquakes mentioned in the Bible. One we shall quote here, "yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the Lord my God shall come, and all the saints with thee./ And it shall come to pass in that day, that the light shall not be clear, nor dark:/But it shall be one day which shall be known to the Lord, not day, nor night: but it shall come to pass, that at evening time it shall be light."(Ze.14:5-7). 'Tenth part of the city fell'. Compare this with "And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;/ And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind." (Re.6:12-13) The number 10 and the fig tree are often applied to the nation of Israel.Number of slain men were 7x1000 so the inference is clear. It is decreed from heaven.

From the key text we have the earthquake set in the backdrop of the martyrdom of the two witnesses. "And after three days and an half the spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet;" They were caught up to heaven in plain sight of his enemies. We are looking at the same hour in which rapture takes place and then the earthquake. "Yes 'ye shall flee' and we see the Palestinians fleeing from Gaza at this moment' Zechariah is addressing Israel. Now an earthquake splitting Jerusalem decimating as he warns, remains to be seen."And the Lord shall come/ and all thhe saints with thee,"

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Ro.12:4-21 "One Body"

The Lord's Prayer has this:"...Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. (Matt.6:10)

"The Body prepared for the Son (Ps.40:7;He.10:5-7) The writer to the Hebrews also refers to it, "Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me." This is with reference to what was in the divine Will. Where the NT writer refers is how God the Son fulfilled it. It is body a memorial, and a body fashioned after human body. The prayer is the very foundation of Christian Living so every believer while on earth model their body of experience in the manner Jesus Christ fulfilled the human aspect. This becomes all the more significant when we identify with the body of Christ to which Holy communion is a reminder of what our Savior Lord did. He poured out meaning that he totally identified with the world whom he was to serve as Servant-King. "Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:/ But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:/And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross./Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:(Phi.2:6-9)" When we believed and came to the born again experience we shall conclude that we are in Christ or rather we have a body but it is no longer the body of natural man but the selfsame body as befitting those who have cast their hopes beyond the veil as a sure anchor. Christian Living it is called. We are in body attending to our material needs (Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;-v.11)' yet we are in heavenly places. We are dead to the world and we live by faith that we shall one day be received by him. Of this apparent contradiction St Paul speaks thus"We are confident,I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord(2 Co.5:8).

The Number Seventy

The Spirit while organizing the Bible has assigned numbers as tags where the number multiplied by 10 refers to man's life. A godly man therefore lives by the Law of the word. (Ps.119:89). 7x10 explains him.

In the Book of Exodus we have this line: "And all the souls that came out of the loins of Jacob were seventy souls: for Joseph was in Egypt already (Ex.1:5)".

Compare this citation from the Acts. "Then sent Joseph, and called his father Jacob to him, and all his kindred, threescore and fifteen souls." Here we have two numbers 75 and 70. There is no discrepancy here. The number 75 refers to the exact number of souls but in the same sense we find 70 is placed in the narrative. "Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees, and they camped there near the water(Ex.15:27)". The significance of number 12 and 70 there is placed as a reminder that this wanderings of the children of Israel has a spiritual ancillary. Compare it with the occasion Jesus sent his 12 disciples and later 70 other disciples ( Luke 9:1 and 19:1). The trek towards the Promised Land is a dry run where Moses is a stand-in for the Son. The Spirit uses command number as additional safeguard so when we compare spiritual significance of the Salvation Plan with another passage there shall be no error.

Likewise 70 weeks refer to unfolding and fulfillment of events revealed to Daniel, which are part of the history of Israel with frame of reference to the Son.

"By the Upper Pool" 2 Ki.18:17-18

"And the king of Assyria sent Tartan and Rabsaris and Rabshakeh from Lachish to king Hezekiah with a great host against Jerusalem. And they went up and came to Jerusalem. And when they were come up, they came and stood by the conduit of the upper pool, which is in the highway of the fuller's field./And when they had called to the king, there came out to them Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, which was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder."

Here we have two groups of men of equal status representing their masters. There is friction and there is talk of war. The Spirit has set their meeting by the conduit of the upper pool which means that all that water is going some place. We shall see where it comes from. Pool, fountain, well or water hole all have one thing in common,- water. It is the sign of God's blessing which was sent from heaven along with the creation of Adam, sent as a river coming down and in four heads which watered the Garden of Eden. This has been all the while flowing beneath the feet of these warring parties.

This helps us place the current events in the Middle East, in Ukraine or in USA in context of the water of life, river pure water of life which signifies time.

to the standpoint from the Son. Here also we have a pool. The name is Bethesda. ( John 5:1-30). The angel who comes in certain season gives the diseased a chance to get cured. But the palsy finds no help for 38 years. Jesus heals him because the word has gone forth before the worlds began. The promise is."He sent his word healed them, and delivered from all destructions."(Ps.107:20) The presence of God works even now. This helps us to have good grasp of abiding in Christ. "In thee is the fountain of life." History of nations in course of time makes us non-persons even as Antiochus IV is insignificant. The world is full of such nobodies making big noise. What are in 50 years? Big zero. But in Christ we shall live!

Ulai River (2 of 2)

With regards to Israel their sanctuary is not yet cleansed. This is short by 6 months from the command number 7, the tag for perfection. Four is the number applied to the ministry of Jesus who is the logos aspect of the Word.

This missing 6 months from both can be explained by this line in the Book of the Revelation. "And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour." (Re.8:1) Everlasting gospel shall be preached by the angel in heaven (Re.14:6-7) and we have a clue here in the saying of Jesus. "And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd."( John 10:16) This ministry of Jesus is from heaven. Thus we have the command number 4 apply to the Son who was also the Word made flesh.

During this silence in heaven we have on earth another activity going on, sealing of the twelve tribes described in Ch.7. This number of martyrs multiples of 12,- the number 144,000 refer to the creation of one fold for whom Christ is the 'one shepherd.'

Ulai, River (1 of 2)

Daniel's vision described in Ch.8 is set about the actual river about which what events are arranged follow the same idea underlying the river of time. (See entry under T-Time, river of)

The emphasis in the vision is however with regards to Israel. Daniel is within the vision while two saints are conversing about events, "How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot?" In short desecration of the temple worship under Antiochus IV 'Epiphanes' is the subject matter.

What interests us is the time frame and it is given by the holy one,- meaning the angel (signifying the Spirit of Christ) who supplies the time. "And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed."(8:14,13).

Compare the period of time mentioned in the vision in Ch.12:12 "Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days." This tag as employed by the Spirit refers to the earthly ministry of Jesus, -Three and a half, Time, times and a half,42 months etc.;

River of time (2 of 2)

In the vision of Daniel he sees himself across a river asking the man clothed in linen regarding the purport of the vision (Dan.12:5). This vision was between the eternal and the temporal across the river of time. Daniel asks, "O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things?/And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end."

The Bible as God document sets God as the Sovereign Lord of heaven and the earth, and gives us two places of habitations; and all events and people described therein are bookended by the garden of God and the city of God. The river of time serves a thread connecting both.

River of time (1 of 2)

The Spirit while narrating Core will of God has to correlate the unseen with the seen aspects of God, "While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal (2 Co.4:18). Mercy of God is eternal because it is His holiness. It shall not change. As Father he does not always chide; nor keeps his anger forever (Ps.103:9).

Blessings come from the greater to lesser. In order to point the perfection of his Father Jesus gave the sun and the rain He sends on all creation both unjust and good alike. Mercy is an aspect of divine nature. God while separating waters keeps waters above to himself. It is unseen.

We read of a river at the creation of man. 'And a river went out of Eden to water the garden' on one end and the 'pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb./ In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life (Re.22:1-2). Same river source of which is in heaven. The garden and the holy city of God have a common basis, which is the tree of life, the same tree (singular) in the middle of the garden. "There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High (Ps.46:4)".

In the vision of Daniel he sees himself across a river asking the man clothed in linen regarding the purport of the vision (Dan.12:5). This vision was between the eternal and the temporal across the river of time. Daniel asks, "O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things?/And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end."

The Bible as God document sets God as the Sovereign Lord of heaven and the earth, and gives us two places of habitations; and all events and people described therein are bookended by the garden of God and the city of God.

Twelve Manner of Fruits Re.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."

Trees of righteousness produce good fruits. In the abstract we have "and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good.". What was agreed between the Father and the Son cannot bring forth fruits of uncertain quality. Their goodness is because the seed in itself is the word of God. Number 12 is affixed by the Spirit to indicate these trees every one of them is a new creation. Old things are passed away. These trees figure in the Psalm 1:3 ""And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper."

These are planted by God by the river and as with the vision of Daniel (Dan.12:5) each of us planted by God looks across and see the tree of life and the key text refers to what our vision of Zion ought to be. The tree of life does not change her quality. It is for the healing of the nations. While the ungodly nations resort to wars what they really needs is healing themselves. This is the river of time beginning from the waters above the firmament and it figures in the Psalm 1. We are to bring forth our fruits in season and not espouse the cause of brambles and thistles. How we are nourished so our leaves are evergreen is by the grace of God.

As sojourners and pilgrims we grow from strength to strength. ""They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God."(Ps.84:7)

"Then I Daniel looked, and, behold, there stood other two, the one on this side of the bank of the river, and the other on that side of the bank of the river." The same river flowing from Eden watering the garden is leading us to the holy city of God.

"To preach the Acceptable Year of the Lord" (2 of 2)

Jesus in Nazareth announced the acceptable year of the Lord leaving out the Day of vengeance.

Naturally the enemies to Christ the Jews would not enter into the day sanctified by the Lord. God blessed man in his Son and what Jesus preached was to shown as doable.

Jesus came into his own but was rejected. He refers to the hour ("but this is your hour, and the power of darkness.")

The kingdom of God is among us is Person specific. Immanuel factor of the Word offered them salvation on the basis of faith. At death he visited souls in prison (1 Pe.3:19). He was the anointed One who alive in Spirit below the earth, and it had its purpose. " He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) (Ep.4:10) So when we read, "For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell."(Col.1:19) we do not interpret days week or years on the basis of our convenience but in him. It is Zion we seek after to which Jeremiah prophesied, "This is Zion, whom no man seeketh after."(Je.30:17)

If any man is in Christ he is a new creature so in terms of the Word become flesh we are part of the saints redeemed from the earth. We walk by faith, not by sight. The year of the Lord in our case is that leads us to the new heaven and the new earth. What happens to our earthly tabernacle ought to be of no importance since we have died to world and sin at baptism. If anyone seek after earthly things what faith is he speaking about?

The year Jesus preached hitches the body of Christ to the Head. Faith is the passkey to all those who would enter therein.

2/2

And Christophoros (which in grk means "the one who bears Christ") is the Lord through his breath of whom you will be given life. BUT KNOW THAT YOU HAVE ONLY TWO MINUTES LEFT.

The one who understands let them understand.

"To preach the acceptable year of the Lord."( Luke 4:19) (1 of 2)

Jesus was given a portion for reading."And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,"(v.17) It was as remarkable as Isaiah's passage concerned him, as his closing book where it was clear why he stood in the synagogue of his hometown. He was there to announce the acceptable year of the Lord. The various timscales applied with direct reference to the Son had come a full circle. According to the scriptures written of him there is one aspect to which he said, "Things concerning has an end"."For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end."( Luke 22:37) Number 42 delineates his ministry which is different than the year assigned to him. Thus the year must be reckoned in terms of the Word which was with God in the beginning and eternal nature of Jesus Christ who is the Messiah, describes his ministry, "he Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised," This is in conjunction with preaching. The Sermon on the Mount (Matt.5) is to be seen as the Mission Statement. By the same token His 'woe to you' discourse must be treated as his repudiation of the nation of Israel. "Behold, your house is left unto you desolate." Matt.23:38)

Now he is seated 'down on the right hand of the Majesty on high' upholding all things by the word of his power helps us under the passage from Isaiah better. Is.61:3-7) "And the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn" is yet to be fulfilled.

Dan.12:7 "Time, Times and Half" (2 of 2)

So the silence in heaven for 'the space half an hour' (Re.8:1) is where we need look into. A remnant of Israel shall be allowed to be part of the building work. (Is.28:16).

"And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,/Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters." (Re.14:6-7) The word of God is tagged by 4 so Gospel outreach whether north south east or west is of the self-same quality So what does the Immanuel factor imply? "And, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world."(Matt.28:20)This commission was delivered before Ascension. Consequently this half an hour in heaven must be considered part of 'And upholding all things by the word of his power, (He.1:3). In short 42 as a tag is employed to set the temporal events and this necessitate the angel telling John, "But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months."

"Time, Times and Half" (1 of 2)

"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.12:7)

The number 42 is familiar to most. "But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months./And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth."(Re.11:2-3)

Here we have days and months, which must be considered as having frame of reference to the Son. In the vision of the Woman clothed with the Sun (Re.12:6) we find the same number of days ie., 1260. The woman was called but only the man-child shall be caught up to the throne. The days fall short of 42 months the base line set by the Spirit.

In terms of the temple building the Spirit tells us of the court which is given to the Gentiles. Keeping the promise of God to Abraham, there shall be no difference between the Jews and the Gentiles. Ministry of reconciliation of the Son would see to it. We have however an order first Israel was called but their falling off let the Gentiles come into the fold and "until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in"(Ro.11:25) informs us that the work is going on even now. "The half' is not yet fulfilled.

Thus we have three-fold division Time Times and a half. Time refers to Israel, Times where Israel and the Gentiles are as one.

"And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd."(John10:16).

So the silence in heaven for 'the space half an hour' (Re.8:1) is where we need look into. A remnant of Israel shall be allowed to be part of the building work. (Is.28:16).

Time, Times and half

"But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months./And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth."(Re.11:2-3) Here we have days and months which must be considered as having frame of reference to the Son. In the vision of the Woman clothed with the Sun (Re.12:6) we find the same number of days ie., 1260. The woman was called and only the man-child shall be caught up to the throne. In terms of the temple building the Spirit tells us of the court which is given to to the Gentiles. Keeping the promise of God to Abraham, there shall be no difference of the Jews and the Gentiles. Ministry of reconciliation of the Son would see to it. We have however an order first Israel was called but their falling off let the Gentiles come into the fold. "until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in."(Ro.11:25) Thus we have three fold division Time Times and a half. Time refers to Israel, Times where Israel and the Gentiles are as one. and Half corresponds the silence for the space half an hour.(Re.8:1) A remnant of Israel shall be allowed to which Re.1:7 "Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him."

Seventy weeks where the command number 7 is used to indicate the fulfillment aspect of divine Will. The Immanuel factor applies to each. 1) to finish the transgression 2) to make an end of sins 3) to make reconciliation for iniquity etc., "Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy."(Dan.9:24)