The Bridegroom Cometh

Types of the Bride of Christ: Zipporah

2015-01-29T17:18:00.001-05:00

Zipporah was the wife of Moses and the daughter of Reuel, who was the priest of Midian. She was one of Jethro’s seven daughters. There is far less written about her than other bride types, yet there is still much to glean from Scripture.

After killing an Egyptian who struck a Hebrew, Moses fled to Midian. There he helped Zipporah and her sisters who were being pushed away from a well as they were trying to get water for their flock. This is reminiscint of Rebekah, another type of the bride of Christ, who also meets her bridegroom by the well.

Reuel opens his home to Moses and gives him Zipporah as a wife — a Gentile bride. We see a similar pattern with Asenath, the Gentile bride given to Joseph (another type for Christ) who was also the daughter of a priest. Zipporah coming out of her family of seven sisters has been compared to the bride coming out from the church. Zipporah was also given to Moses during the time of his rejection.

Zipporah and Moses had a son named Gershom, “for he said, I have been a stranger in a strange land.” (Exodus 2:23) Their second son was Eliezer, which means God is my help. When Moses returns to Egypt, Scripture tells us that the Lord “met him and tried to kill him.” (Exodus 4:24) The Hebrew verb for “kill” used here is also sometimes used to mean the death of wisdom. Blumenthal writes: “At this moment what God expressed to Moses by threatening to “kill” him is the demand that the prophet dedicate himself totally and irrevocably to the people he is about to lead.”

That may explains what happens next. Zipporah takes a sharp stone and cuts off the foreskin of her son (which one we do not know, some suggest her firstborn) and casts it to touch Moses’ feet, saying, “Surely a bloody husband art thou to me” (Exodus 4:24-26). Extra sources tell us that Moses had failed to circumcise one of his sons, because Zipporah was opposed to it. As far as we can tell, however, she was the first woman of the Bible to circumcise her son.

The NET Bible notes suggest that Zipporah was telling Moses, “I have delivered you from death, and your return to life makes you my bridegroom a second time, this time by blood bridegroom, a bridegroom acquired by blood.” Christ is our bridegroom acquired by blood, but I need to dig deeper because I think there is more to this passage that is not yet clear.

Later, Zipporah is secure at her father’s house during the time when God delivers His judgments on Egypt. This is a type for the bride being raptured and spared during the tribulation period.

Chitwood writes in “The Bride in Genesis,” “Zipporah did not accompany Moses to Egypt when he appeared to his brethren the second time and was not present during any of this dealings with his brethren in Egypt… she was separated from Moses during this time and reunited with him only after the Exodus.”

I know this post is about Zipporah, but in reading Exodus 4, I had to chuckle as Moses tries his best (three times) to back out of what the Lord has asked him to do. We all may have doubts at times, but I cannot imagine actually standing before the Lord, trying to convince Him to change His mind!

Types of the Bride of Christ: Asenath

2014-11-13T16:16:00.002-05:00

Asenath was the daughter of Potiphera, the priest of On. Her marriage to Joseph certainly allied him with one of the most powerful priestly families in Egypt.

Asenath’s name is of Egyptian origin and it may mean that she belongs to the goddess Neit. She is only briefly mentioned in Scripture.

From historical accounts, we know that she was a pagan. Some Jewish writers believe that she was a proselyte (a convert). These writers suggest that she was first spurned by Joseph and repented of her idolatry by wearing a sackcloth and ashes and disposing of her wealth. Jewish legend goes on to say that she lost her beauty, until she washed her face in pure water and became marvelously beautiful. Then she married Joseph.

Another Jewish legend is that bees covered her and stung her lips to remove her false prayers. Other non-Biblical stories are that she saved Joseph’s life when Potiphera was going to slay him, testifying that her mother lied about her accusations. Or that she was really a member of Jacob’s family — the daughter of Joseph’s sister, Dinah — and conceived in her rape by Shechem.

Joseph is one of the strongest types for Christ in Scripture. What we do know from the Bible is that Asenath becomes Joseph’s bride during the time of his rejection. He also marries her before the seven years of famine.

In fact, we do not hear of Asenath again until after the famine, which I believe is telling us that the bride will be removed from the earth before the Tribulation.

Reference: Jewish Encyclopedia

Types of the Bride of Christ: Rachel

2014-11-05T01:00:00.000-05:00

Rachel was the younger daughter of Laban and the wife of Jacob. Jacob — a type for Christ — first meets her at the Haran well. This is another type of the bride being taken from those who draw from the well, which is the Word of God.

One of two brides

Jacob served seven years to be able to marry Rachel, just as Christ has come first as a servant, prior to marrying His bride. Laban deceived Jacob and gave him his other daughter, Leah, because it was the right of the firstborn. Leah represents Israel (the firstborn, which will be dealt with first) and the bride of God the Father. Rachel typifies the bride of Christ. (Arlen Chitwood)

Jacob had to serve two periods of seven years to claim his bride. Jesus will also complete two periods of time before he claims His bride: first as prophet and second as our High Priest in Heaven. (Arlen Chitwood)

Jacob had to work another seven years to marry Rachel. He preferred Rachel and God favored Leah by giving her children. When Rachel could not conceive, she gave her handmade Bilhah to Jacob and she bore Dan and Naphtali. Then Rachel became pregnant with Jacob.

A perplexing mystery

When Jacob and his family ran away from Laban, Rachel stole her father's household gods (teraphim) and concealed them when he searched her tent.

Scripture does not explain why she stole them. Did she want to prevent her father from practicing idolatry? Or is Scripture telling us that even a bride of Christ can be tempted by idols of this world?

Types of the Bride of Christ: Rebekah

2014-11-04T10:54:00.001-05:00

Scripture tells us that Rebekah was the daughter of Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nabor, Abraham’s brother.

Abraham — a type of God the Father — instructed his servant (a type of the Holy Spirit) to find a bride for his son Isaac, who is a type for Christ. Abraham insisted that the bride was not to come from the Canaanites, but from his country and his people.

Her deeds qualified her

Rebekah, a virgin, kindly provides Abraham’s servant with water from the well, which was the sign the servant was looking for. It is also a type for the bride filling herself up with the living water that the Lord lovingly provides every time we go to His Word. Rebekah fills her pitcher, not once, but twice, which tells us that she had a double portion.

The servant gives her a golden earring of half a shekel weight and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold, which was the bride price. The golden earring represents that she was hearing and obeying God’s Word (Royce Powell). He also gives her jewels of silver and gold and her raiment, which points to the bride being qualified at judgment seat of Christ.

When the servant asks if there is room in her father’s house, she says there is both enough straw and provender. Isaiah 11:7 tells us that when Christ reigns, the lion will eat straw.

She came out of her world

The servant asks: “Wilt though go with this man?” Rebekah says yes, which requires leaving her home and family behind, a type of what the Holy Spirit will do after He removes the bride from this fallen world. It is also instruct us that we should not follow the ways and the sways of the world and steadfastly follow Christ Jesus, our Bridegroom.

She had faith in that which was unseen

Scripture tells us that Rebekah arose to go and meet Isaac — who was coming to claim her — just as the bride (among other believers) will arise at the rapture to meet her Bridegroom for the first time in the clouds. Rebekah had never met Isaac before, but she goes to him having faith in that which is unseen. She is a beautiful type of a bride who willingly gave up everything to be with her bridegroom.

References: Complete Word Study Bible, Jewish Encyclopedia

Types of the Bride of Christ: Eve

2014-07-31T12:49:00.000-04:00

This is the first of a series that looks at the types of the bride of Christ in the order that they appear in Scripture.

Eve (Genesis 2) was created as Adam’s “help meet” when God took a rib out of Adam’s body, which is a type of the bride being taken out of the body of believers. Adam was put to sleep and his side was opened when the Lord created Eve. Our bridegroom was also put to sleep at Calvary and his side was opened. And just as the Lord wanted Adam to have a bride, He has been longing to find a bride (another suitable help meet) for His son Christ Jesus.

I was initially taught that all believers are the bride of Christ. But when you study Scripture deeply, and pay attention to all of the types that the Lord has lovingly orchestrated for those who have eyes to see, you realize that this just does not line up with Scripture.

The parable of the ten virgins is a perfect example

Many erroneously preach that five of the virgins were unbelievers. If that were true, they would never have addressed Jesus as “Lord, Lord” (Matthew 25:11). All the virgins are saved — and will all have eternal life — yet the door (entrance to the Millennial Kingdom) is shut to the five who were unwise (see my previous post on this). I believe they may only be able to see the Kingdom from the outer darkness, which explains why there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

The serpent only deceived Eve

Adam willingly partook of the fruit, taking on the sin of his bride so that she would not be alone. It was also the only way that he could bring about Eve’s redemption (Chitwood, "The Bride in Genesis").

It is such a beautiful type of the terrible sacrifice that Jesus made for us at Calvary. He was pure and innocent when He took upon the sin of the world. While Adam likely suffered great emotional pain after being expelled from the Garden of Eden, I can’t imagine it comes close to the horrendous physical pain that our Lord experienced on the cross.

A timely warning

2 Corinthians 11:3 tells us:

But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

This is a warning for all preparing brides today — not only for themselves, but also so that they can warn other believers who are at this very moment being deceived by false doctrines and false Christs, new age mysticism, and contemplative practices that are being ushered into many churches with open arms.

And now, little children, abide in Him: that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.

(1 John 2:28)

The Little Children

2014-07-10T15:58:00.003-04:00

I was reading 1 John (KJV) and noticed that the author addresses multiple audiences:

My little children (my dear children in the NIV)
Brethren and my brethren (dear friends in the NIV)
Fathers, young men, and children (The IVP Bible Background says this represents different stages of faith; fathers held positions of honor and authority; young men had strength and vigor, but were still vulnerable to temptation; children were still learning)
Beloved (Rabbi Meir says beloved is Israel)

I created a table so I could look at the passages side-by-side and noticed that the Greek word for little children was different in just one verse.

1 John 2:1	Tekníon
1 John 2:12	Tekníon
1 John 2:18	Paidíon
1 John 2:28	Tekníon
1 John 3:7	Tekníon
1 John 3:18	Tekníon
1 John 4:4	Tekníon
1 John 5:21	Tekníon

1 John 2:18: Little children, it is the last time; and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come even now are there many antichrists whereby we know that it is the last time. (KJV)

I looked up the Greek words using the Complete Word Study Bible:

Tekníon: Child, a little child. Used only figuratively and always in the plural. A term of affection by a teacher to his disciples

Paidíon: Child, a little child, either male or female. A child recently born, a baby, an infant. Metaphorically in 1 Cor 14:20, “be not children in understanding,” meaning weak, ignorant, childish. As an endearing appellation for the followers in Christ

In Matthew 18:3, Jesus says: Verily I say unto you Except ye be converted and become as little children [paidíon] ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven (KJV, notation added)

The late pastor John White preached that it is the little children [paidíon] who are entering the kingdom. They are submissive to the Lord. He also refers to little children as "a body of believers taken out of the body” who will be great in the kingdom.

Little children are also the sons and the brethren or brothers of Christ, who are those who are seeking to enter the kingdom by doing the will of the Father (Matthew 5:20, Matthew 7:21; 18:3; 19:23-24, Mark 9:47; 10:23-25; Luke 18:24-25; John 3:5; Acts 14:22).

Scripture tells us that some will only see the kingdom and not everyone will enter the kingdom:

John 3:3: Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Matthew 7:21: Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

If we are striving to be little children and enter the kingdom, how do we know what the will of the Father is? White says we discover it by studying the Bible.

Soft Clay

2014-05-27T13:38:00.000-04:00

I have been learning more about the Kingdom truths from some wonderful sermons by John White, the late Pastor of Grace Bible Church in Minneapolis. In his Hebrew series, he talks about having soft hearts to hear the Word of God so we can be soft clay for the Lord to mold. If our hearts are hard, our clay is hard, and hard clay cannot be easily molded.

I was reminded of this again during my morning reading from the book of Isaiah:

But now, O LORD, You are our Father,

We are the clay, and You our potter;

All of us are the work of Your hand.

(Isaiah 64:8, NASB)

I learned from The New Unger’s Bible Dictionary that clay is highly valuable for making pottery when it is in its pure condition. Pure clay is generated from the decomposition of feldspathic rocks, which forms whitish, chalky-looking beds. Most clay, however, is generally contaminated with other substances.

I thought this was an apropos analogy for believers who are striving not just to see the Kingdom, but to enter it. Scripture instructs us to seek first His Kingdom, but that is not always easy (Matthew 6:33). If we are not careful, and do not guard our minds and our hearts, it is easy to become contaminated by other substances in the world.

I further learned that clay was used during Biblical times to make earthen vessels, which often housed gold or silver. Scripture tells us that if we build on the foundation Jesus Christ has set with gold, silver, and precious stones, our works may withstand the test of fire (1 Corinthians 3:12-15).

As we run our race of faith, let us pray that our vessels will be filled with gold, silver, and precious stones and not with wood, hay, and stubble. Lord may we be soft clay as we prepare for thy Kingdom come. And in all our ways, may Your will be done.

The Real Story of Noah (Part 2)

2014-04-08T16:33:00.003-04:00

In my last post I wrote about how Satan polluted the gene pool (Genesis 6:4) to prevent the birth of Jesus Christ, which is the real reason God caused the flood. I saw Aronofsky’s version of the Noah story today and the way that God, Noah, and the Nephilim are depicted in the film is very disturbing.

Aside from the title, the ark, and the flood, the rest of the film bears little resemblance to the Genesis account. I fear that it will mislead millions of people, but will only focus on the depiction of the Nephilim. You can read about some of the other serious problems stemming from the filmmaker's atheistic worldview here and here.

In Aronofsky's film, the Nephilim are benevolent Watchers who "help mankind" by providing them with gifts of technology, which man uses for evil purposes. These Nephilim say that they "fear men" and have "lost everything" by helping mankind, gently play with Noah's son, help Noah build the ark, and fight to the death to protect it. After dying, these selfless Nephilim even ascend to heaven! One even cries out, "My creator, forgive me."

If we look at what was really happening during the days of Noah, I believe it is happening again today. Researchers are already capable of altering man's genetics, have combined animal and human DNA, are hoping to create super humans with artificial intelligence, and much more.

What lies did Satan say to deceive man in the Garden of Eden?

You will not die. (Genesis 3:4)
You will be like God. (Genesis 4:4)

In the words of Ray Kurzweil: “The “killer app” of nanotechnology is “nanobots,” which are blood-cell sized robots that can travel in the bloodstream destroying pathogens, removing debris, correcting DNA errors, and reversing aging processes.” (You will not die.)

Dr. Hugo de Garis writes: “The rise of artilects (artificial intellects, i.e., godlike massively intelligent machines with intellectual capacities trillions of trillions of times above the human level) in this century makes the existence of a deity (a massively intelligent entity capable of creating a universe) seem much more plausible.” (You will be like God.)

Researchers argue that these advanced technologies will help mankind (sound familiar?). But will they ultimately be used for evil? I am reminded of what God said in Isaiah 29:16 in relation to His judgment on Jerusalem and its enemies:

“Shall the potter be considered as equal with the clay,  That what is made would say to its maker, “He did not make me”;  Or what is formed say to him who formed it, “He has no understanding”?

For believers, at least we can take comfort in knowing that living in the days of Noah means the imminent return of our Lord Christ Jesus, who told us:

As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. (Matthew 24:37)

The Real Story About Noah

2014-03-18T16:56:00.002-04:00

When human beings began to increase in number on the earth and daughters were born to them, the sons of God saw that the daughters of humans were beautiful, and they married any of them they chose. Then the Lord said, “My Spirit will not contend with humans forever, for they are mortal; their days will be a hundred and twenty years.”

The Nephilim were on the earth in those days—and also afterward—when the sons of God went to the daughters of humans and had children by them. They were the heroes of old, men of renown.

The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time. The Lord regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled. So the Lord said, “I will wipe from the face of the earth the human race I have created—and with them the animals, the birds and the creatures that move along the ground—for I regret that I have made them.” But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord. (Genesis 6:1-8, KJV)

Years ago — while volunteering at my former church’s Sunday school — I remember watching the horror come over the faces of the five-year-olds as the teacher told them the story of Noah and the flood. I admit, I questioned God’s actions. It didn’t make sense to me that God would wipe out the human race because the thoughts of their hearts were evil, only to later send His Son to die for sinners who believed in Him, no matter what evils they had committed. But it was a time and place when I was more interested in what the latest best-selling Christian book had to say than the Bible, so I never pursued it.

Years later, a faithful sister in Christ explained to me that the Nephilim were the giant offspring of fallen angels who had mated with women. It sounded like something you would see on a television program like the X-Files. I was highly intrigued and incredibly skeptical, which led me to dive into Scripture to determine the truth for myself. For that alone, I will always be grateful.

I found the Nephilim again in Numbers 13:33:

There we saw the Nephilim [or giants], the sons of Anak, who come from the giants; and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight. (Amplified Bible).

This confirmed that the Nephilim were not like normal human beings. I searched several commentaries and found an explanation that the “sons of God” were the faithful family of Seth and the “daughters of men” were the descendants of apostate Cain (Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown). But it begged the question: How did a line of giants result from human beings intermarrying with other human beings? They are referred to in Genesis 6:4 as “the heroes of old, men of renown” and Rob Skiba offers an excellent presentation on Greek mythology and its relationship to the Nephilim, which is worth viewing.

I did a word search on “sons of God” and it only appears two times in the NIV (Genesis 6:2 and Genesis 6:4). In the Amplified Bible, however, I found several passages:

Again there was a day when the sons of God [the angels] came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan (the adversary and the accuser) came also among them to present himself before the Lord. (Job 2:1)

Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said, Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Gird up now your loins like a man, and I will demand of you, and you declare to Me. Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Declare to Me, if you have and know understanding. Who determined the measures of the earth, if you know? Or who stretched the measuring line upon it? Upon what were the foundations of it fastened, or who laid its cornerstone, When the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy? (Job:38:1-7)

Using Scripture to interpret Scripture led me to believe that in the Old Testament, the term “sons of God” refers to angels. In the New Testament, it appears to refer to both angels (Luke 20:36) and believers (Matthew 5:9, Romans 8:14, and Galatians 3:26), depending upon which translation you use.

That still left another important question: could angels have children with women? We know that angels appeared on earth and talked to Hagar (Genesis 16:7-11, Genesis 19:21), ate with Lot (Genesis 19:1-3), pulled Lot into the house (Genesis 19:10), seized Lot, his wife and two daughters by the hand (Genesis 19:16), touched Gideon’s staff, meat, and unleavened cakes (Judges 6:21), touched and spoke to Jezebel (1 Kings 19:5), went into a pool and stirred up the water (John 5:4), opened prison doors (Acts 5:19), and gently struck Peter on his side (Acts 12:7). Clearly, angels are able to physically interact with humans in this dimension. And if you do a word search, they appear to always be men.

As I searched further, I found author Doug Hamp and others, who opened my eyes to believe that these fallen angels had indeed mated with women to pollute the human gene pool and prevent the Messiah from being born! Or in the words of Scofield, “Whichever view is held, it is obvious that Satan attempted so to corrupt the race that the Messiah could not come to redeem man.”

Studies into ancient (nonbiblical) texts like the Book of Enoch suggest that these fallen angels also procreated with animals to create new species. Now it begins to make sense why God not only wiped out all of humankind (save for Noah and his family), but also according to Genesis 6:7, “the animals, the birds and the creatures that move along the ground.”

As Hollywood prepares to launch its blockbuster Noah movie this month, I doubt that most viewers — whether they are believers or non-believers — will truly understand why God caused the flood.

We should also remember that Genesis 6:4 tells us that the Nephilim appeared before and after the flood. That’s a huge concern for Kingdom believers who are living in what I believe are the last days of this age and those who will be left behind during the Tribulation. But I will have to save that for next time.

A Consuming Fire

2014-01-23T15:01:00.000-05:00

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.

(2 Corinthians 5:10, KJV)

¹² Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;¹³Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.¹⁴ If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.¹⁵ If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. (1 Corinthians 3:12-15, KJV, emphasis mine)

I have been trying to picture what it will be like when I stand before the Lord at the judgment seat of Christ. The Complete Word Study Bible tells us that bema is “by implication any elevated place to which the ascent is by steps.”

I imagine myself as being very small as I climb those majestic steps with my head hung down, feeling nothing except the overwhelming awe, power, and glory of the Lord.

I have been using this mental picture when I pray and worship because it transforms me to a state of complete humility and total obedience.

It also reminds me that any works that I do of my own accord will be burned up as wood, hay, and stubble at the judgment seat of Christ. I will either be rewarded or suffer loss based upon everything I have done in the body, which should be a sobering thought for all believers.

Unfortunately, however, the importance of the judgment seat of Christ has either been shut up completely or reduced to a school-like “report card” with no staggering consequences.

There will be a great deal of shock and surprise beyond the rapture for many believers, which is the apt title of the late Pastor Gary Whipple’s book. He teaches that:

Wood represents works that are done through the world and its influences
Hay is works that are done through our flesh or old nature, apart from the Holy Spirit
Stubble (straw) are the works of Satan in our lives

On the flip side:

Gold represents works related to the Kingdom doctrines
Silver represents redemption and the three parts of man (body, spirit, and soul)
Precious stones represent the Holy Spirit working in our lives

I have also been studying how fire is associated with the Lord. Scripture tells us that:

The Lord our God is a consuming fire (Deuteronomy 4:24, Hebrews 12:29)
The sight of the glory of the Lord was like a devouring fire (Exodus 24:17)
A devouring fire came out of His mouth (2 Samuel 22:9, Psalm 18:8)
Fire came down from Him (2 Chronicles 7:3)
He was a wall of fire around Jerusalem (Zechariah 2:5)
He is like a refiner’s fire (Malachi 3:2)
Our works will be revealed by fire (1 Corinthians 3:13)
His eyes were as a flame of fire (Revelation 1:14)

Now as I picture the judgment seat of Christ, I am beginning to wonder if Christ is literally the fire that will either burn up or refine our works?

Will We Follow Him?

2013-11-07T17:11:00.000-05:00

So they called Rebekah and said to her, Will you go with this man? And she said, I will go. (Genesis 24:58, Amplified Bible)

I will go. Three simple words that epitomized Rebekah’s faith in her bridegroom, a man she did not even know! She was willing to leave her home and her people, a type of those believers who are wiling to leave everything behind to follow Christ and become His bride.

And Ruth said, Urge me not to leave you or to turn back from following you; for where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people and your God my God. (Ruth 1:16, emphasis mine).

Ruth clung to Naomi, and professed that she would follow her while Orpah kissed her mother-in-law and returned to her people, a type of those believers who remain faithful in Christ and those who turn back to the world.

Then the Lord rained on Sodom and on Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of the heavens. He overthrew, destroyed, and ended those cities, and all the valley and all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground. But [Lot’s] wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt. (Genesis 19, 24-26)

This is another type of the saved believer who does not seek first the kingdom and looks longingly back to this world. Throughout Scripture, we see people who falter at some point during their race. Esau sells his birthright for a mere cup of stew. Moses disobeys the Lord by striking the rock twice and is not allowed to enter the Promised Land. In fact, of the estimated 2.5 million Israelites who were believed to be living in the desert during that time, only two men followed God and are able to enter the land: Joshua and Caleb. The others who did not harken to God’s voice are not even allowed to see it (Numbers 14:22-30).

Paul mentions a thorn in his flesh that the Lord refuses to remove despite his pleas on three occasions. I can imagine him crying out: Lord, give me the strength, endurance, and faith to follow You in all ways and to seek first Your kingdom no matter what the cost.

Satan’s plan remains the same as it was in the garden, which is to disqualify man from inheriting the kingdom. He attacks each of us in different ways. Learn more and be encouraged by John Herbert’s excellent sermons about the three enemies that can disqualify us from the race: the world, the flesh, and the devil.

What Does it Mean to Abide in Christ?

2013-10-01T16:34:00.000-04:00

I was listening to an online sermon by Pastor Alan Robinson from Community Baptist Church titled "Abiding in the Vine" and wanted to know more about what abiding in Christ means.

Pastor Robinson mentions that in John 15:1-7, Jesus uses the word abide multiple times (emphasis mine):

I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

Robinson defines abiding as remaining or continuing in Christ by reading His Word, praying, and going about our daily business as a disciple as Christ.

I wanted to know if Scripture could tell me more about how we are to abide in Christ. I did a word search and was surprised to find that there are no mentions of abide in the NIV. There are, however, 103 mentions in the KJV.

2 Timothy 3:16 tells us that “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” Every jot and tittle is important, which means we should pay attention to even the smallest details.

So I used the online Net Bible to look up those 103 Scripture verses. I discovered that Jesus always used the root word meno (Strong 3306) for abide. At times like these, I really wish I could read biblical Hebrew and Greek because while God’s Word is infallible, the translators are not. But according to Strong, meno can mean (emphasis mine):

1) to remain, abide

1a) in reference to place

1a1) to sojourn, tarry

1a2) not to depart

1a2a) to continue to be present

1a2b) to be held, kept, continually

1b) in reference to time

1b1) to continue to be, not to perish, to last, endure

1b1a) of persons, to survive, live

1c) in reference to state or condition

1c1) to remain as one, not to become another or different

2) to wait for, await one

Thanks to this exercise, I have a much better understanding of what it means to abide in Christ Jesus.

Understanding Unexplainable Bible Passages

2013-08-08T14:12:00.000-04:00

Have you ever come across Scripture passages that don’t make sense? The kind that church leaders could never explain to your satisfaction, or worse, they told you to ignore? Here are some that used to confound me (all from the Amplified Bible):

Hebrews 9:28: Even so it is that Christ, having been offered to take upon Himself and bear as a burden the sins of many once and once for all, will appear a second time, not to carry any burden of sin nor to deal with sin, but to bring to full salvation those who are [eagerly, constantly, and patiently] waiting for and expecting Him. (Emphasis mine)

What is this full and future salvation? And why does it sound like it is only for those who are continually looking for Christ’s return? There were other unexplainable passages about it:

1 Peter 1:5: Who are being guarded (garrisoned) by God’s power through [your] faith [till you fully inherit that final] salvation that is ready to be revealed [for you] in the last time.

1 Peter 1:9: [At the same time] you receive the result (outcome, consummation) of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

These passages say that this future or final salvation is the salvation of our soul. How is it different from the salvation that we receive when we believe in Christ? Ephesians 2:8-9 tells us that salvation is a free gift based upon our faith in Christ and not upon our works, lest we should boast.

Then how do you explain James 2:14?:

What is the use (profit), my brethren, for anyone to profess to have faith if he has no [good] works [to show for it]? Can [such] faith save [his soul].

These passages did not make any sense until I understood the difference between present salvation (spirit salvation) and future salvation (soul salvation). Chitwood explains the difference in this short tract.

The Millennial Kingdom in Revelation

2013-08-01T14:50:00.002-04:00

While reading the Book of Revelation (the only book in Scripture that promises a blessing to its readers) I felt led to write down the rewards for overcomers side-by-side. I saw that they seem to build upon each other in relation to positions of authority in the Millennial Kingdom!

To the church in Ephesus: To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God (Rev 2:7).

Using Scripture to interpret Scripture, we first learn about the tree of life in Genesis 2:9. God placed it in the middle of the garden and Adam and Eve were free to eat of it. Some authors suggest that this passage speaks to paradise regained in the Millennial Kingdom, or the promise of increased knowledge (Whipple).

To the church in Smyrna: He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death. (Rev 2:11).

The second death refers to salvation of the soul (1 Corinthians 3:12-15), which unlike salvation of the spirit (the free gift of eternal life) is the reward of gaining entrance into the Millennial Kingdom. This will be determined by whether our works are burned up or refined by fire at the judgment seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10). Jesus himself tells us that some will only be able to see the Kingdom while others will be able to enter it (John 3:3, John 3:5, Matthew 7:21, Matthew 18:3). In the Matthew parables, He speaks of believers who will be cast into the outer darkness for the thousand years, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 8:12, 22:13, 25:30).

To the church in Pergamos: 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 2:17)

In Exodus 16:15, manna was the miraculous food and sustenance the Lord provided each day for the children of Israel. The Revelation passage may refer to hidden wisdom that will be revealed to those who receive salvation of the soul. It also alludes to receiving a position of authority in the Millennial Kingdom. We see this in the type in Genesis 17:5, when God gave Abram a new name: Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee (emphasis mine).

To the church in Thyatira: And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations; 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. And I will give him the morning star. (Revelation 2:26-28)

These passages fulfill the parables of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30) and the minas (Luke 19:11-26), where Jesus said that those who are wise and faithful over a few things will be made rulers over many things in the Millennial Kingdom.

To the church in Sardis: 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 3:5)

If we let Scripture interpret Scripture, Revelation 4:4 tells us that those who are clothed in white raiment have the honor of sitting around the throne and are wearing crowns of gold.

To the church in Philadelphia: 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. (Rev 3:12)

This appears to be another position of authority in the temple, a possible fulfillment of the type in 1 Kings 7:21 when Solomon set up the pillars in the porch of the temple.

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

Jesus had such harsh words for the Laodiceans. He said that He would spew them out of His mouth. But those who open their eyes to the Kingdom truths, “come out” of this church, repent, and “sup” with Him can achieve this incredible reward, the highest position mentioned for overcomers.

Many teach that all believers are overcomers and will receive the same rewards, but Scripture clearly does not support this. When you understand the ramifications of the judgment seat of Christ, and can distinguish passages from Scripture that deal with salvation of the spirit (John 3:16, 11:26) from those that concern salvation of the soul (1 Peter 1:9), you see just how dangerous this teaching is.

A Double Portion

2013-07-09T18:09:00.003-04:00

I have been thinking about how blessed I am to be gaining deeper insights about the gospel of grace — the milk, salvation of the spirit, and the free gift of eternal life, plus the gospel of the kingdom — the meat, salvation of the soul, and the reward of entrance into the Millennial Kingdom; knowledge that I consider to be my “earthly” double portion.

Had my eyes and ears not been opened to see and hear the gospel of the kingdom, I would have spent the remainder of my Sundays in a Laodicean church, hearing subtle variations of the same message week after week.

I would have continued to struggle wearily under weight of this world without any real encouragement or the lasting comfort of our blessed hope, which is the visible and earthly return of our Lord Christ Jesus.

I would not have been warned that the hour is growing very late and that I need to be in the Word and resting in God every day, allowing Him to work through me to produce works of gold and silver — and not self-driven works of hay and stubble — so that when I stand before the Lord at the judgment seat of Christ, I have a chance to receive the reward of salvation of my soul, my heavenly double portion.

I would have continued to believe that all Christians are the bride of Christ, that we are all overcomers, and that we will all receive the same inheritance.

I would have been one of the five foolish virgins, awakened from my slumber at the midnight hour, begging the five wise virgins to give me some of their oil before the door was shut forever. I would not have understood that I must buy that oil for myself by studying Scripture from beginning to end, learning more about the Bridegroom and the things that I must bind and loose if I hope to be found worthy enough to become His bride.

Through the parables in Matthew, Jesus tells me that if I am a wise and faithful servant who provides meat in due season, and if I am faithful over a few things, I can become a ruler over many things in the Millennial Kingdom. It is hard to imagine.

I think it would be humbling enough just to gain entrance into the kingdom and feel His presence from behind, like the woman who touched his garments in Mark 5:21-34.

Pretribulation Rapture: Fact or Fiction?

2013-05-09T15:15:00.001-04:00

I watched a video this week where two pastors passionately argued that a pretribulation rapture is a work of fiction. Their mission is to warn that believers will go through the tribulation.

When you do not understand the coming millennial kingdom and the events surrounding the judgment seat of Christ, it is easy to confuse parts of Scripture. I believe this is what happened to these pastors.

They cited 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, which does describe the rapture (emphasis is mine):

¹⁶ For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. ¹⁷ After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.

Then they cited Matthew 24:29-31 as evidence of why there will not be a pretribulation rapture (emphasis is mine):

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: ³⁰ And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. ³¹ And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

But Jesus is not talking about the rapture here. The pastors stressed the importance of comparing Scripture with Scripture, but they fell short. They based their assumption on the mention of a trumpet in both 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 and Matthew 24:31. Look at a previous verse, Matthew 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.

I believe this verse does refer to the rapture. Believers will meet Jesus in the clouds in the air — which happens in an instant, like lightening — but no one on earth will see Him. Immediately after the rapture, the seven-year tribulation begins. Then after the tribulation everyone will see Christ Jesus when He visibly returns to earth. This is the post-rapture and post-trib event that Jesus is describing in Matthew 24:29-31.

We see a similar reference to Christ Jesus’ visible second coming to earth in Revelation 1:7 (emphasis mine):

“Look, he is coming with the clouds,” and “every eye will see him, even those who pierced him”;  and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.” So shall it be! Amen.

The pastors also argued that Matthew 24:37-41 describes the rapture:

³⁷As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. ³⁸For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; ³⁹and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. ⁴⁰Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. ⁴¹Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. (Matthew 24:37-41, emphasis mine)

I admit that these verses stumped me. When you compare Scripture with Scripture, during the days of Noah God “took away” all the evil people in the flood. This includes the nephillim, the giant offspring of fallen angels who mated with daughters of men (Genesis 6:4) to try and pollute the human gene pool and prevent the birth of Jesus. While Matthew 24:37-41 sounds like the rapture, it would be contradictory.

I prayed for God’s wisdom, set my studying aside, and went to listen to John Herbert, a kingdom truth preacher I like. Wouldn’t you know it he was talking that about that very passage! Herbert says the parable is describing all believers at the judgment seat of Christ; that the Greek word for “taken” describes being an intimate associate or a joining to one’s self.

Comparing Scripture with Scripture, Jesus tells us in Matthew 13:38 that the field is the world. Grinding the mill also relates to the threshing floor, where the wheat will be separated from the chaff. In the Matthew 24:40-41 parable, Herbert says Jesus is talking about believers and their works done while in the body that will either withstand the test of fire or be burned up at the judgment seat of Christ.

Herbert also says the ones who are left behind in Matthew 24:40-41 are believers whose works do not withstand the test of fire. They will be outside the millennial kingdom (in the outer darkness) for a period of 1,000 years.

An alternate theory is that Jesus is referring to the remnant of believers who will be saved during the tribulation period. The ones who are taken are those who are unsaved and will suffer God’s wrath and judgment. But I need to do more study on this before I make a conclusion.

Either way, I am convinced that these verses — and all of the types — in Scripture do not support a post-tribulation rapture.

Let Them Be For Signs and For Seasons (Part 2)

2013-04-11T10:59:00.001-04:00

In my previous post, I referred to David Dolan’s article about the rapture possibly occurring on April 14, 2014. If you believe there will be a seven-year tribulation period following the rapture, that would bring us to the year 2021 for the possible return of Christ Jesus for the battle of Armageddon (Revelation 19:11). This period on the prophetic timeline is known as The Lord’s Day or the Day of the Lord.

Joel 3:15 tells us:

For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision. ¹⁵The sun and moon will be darkened,  and the stars no longer shine. ¹⁶The Lord will roar from Zion and thunder from Jerusalem; the earth and the heavens will tremble. But the Lord will be a refuge for his people, a stronghold for the people of Israel. (emphasis mine)

There will be only one total solar eclipse in 2021, which will occur on December 4. What’s unusual about this eclipse is that it will move from the east to the west. Psalm 103:12 tells us:

As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

The east is significant in Scripture in that the entrance to the tabernacle faces east. Ezekiel 43:2 also tells us:

And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east: and his voice was like a noise of many waters: and the earth shined with his glory.

December 4, 2021 occurs during Chanukah (or Hanukkah), which begins on November 29, 2021. Chanukah is the eight-day festival of light that celebrates the triumph of light over darkness, of purity over adulteration, and spirituality over materiality, according to Chabad.org. It also commemorates the rededication of the second Holy Temple in Jerusalem following the Maccabean Revolt of the 2nd century B.C.E.

In his "Gospel of the Stars" study, the late J.R. Church writes that Virgo points to the first coming of Jesus Christ and Leo to His second advent. During the solar eclipse of December 4, 2021, the sun will be in the constellation Ophiuchus, which is depicted as a man grasping a serpent. We know Satan appeared to Eve as a serpent in the Garden of Eden. The Greek poet Aratus describes Ophiuchus as trampling on Scorpio with his feet. But I am not convinced that this celestial event is related to the coming of our Lord.

I also looked ahead to the dates of the other two lunar eclipses in the tetrad that will occur on the Jewish feasts of Passover and Tabernacles in 2015, but there will not be any total solar eclipses in 2022.

I still think that the total solar eclipse on August 21, 2017 may have some significance. Could that be a possible date for the rapture? Unlike the Day of Lord, Scripture does not provide any celestial clues about the rapture. Fast-forward seven years and there will be a total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024. It is interesting that the path of this eclipse crosses the path of the prior total solar eclipse on August 21, 2017. The sun, however, will be in Pisces, and not Leo.

What about the book of Joel’s reference to the stars no longer shining? Unlike the total solar eclipse of August 21, 2017, Regulus will not be covered by the moon. Unfortunately, the stargazing software I am using is limited and does not reveal whether other stars will — or will not — be visible on April 8, 2024.

For now, we will have to continue to look up with eager anticipation and wait and see.

Let Them Be For Signs and For Seasons (Part 1)

2013-04-09T17:24:00.000-04:00

Last summer, I watched a beautiful documentary about the Star of Bethlehem, which was presented by Frederick A. Larson.

Using stargazing software, Larson was able to prove that Christ’s star, which is described in the Book of Matthew, correctly correlates with celestial events that occurred in 2 and 3 B.C. He also connects the darkness that occurred the moment Christ died on the cross to another celestial event. You can learn more by visiting his website.

After watching the film, I wondered why did Larson stop at the cross? I quickly downloaded some stargazing apps and went to Scripture to see if I could find any astrological clues that could shed some light on the season that Christ Jesus might return.

Let me state right now that the purpose of this study is not to claim to know the date that Christ will return. In fact, I was hesitant to broach this topic because no one knows when our Lord will return as King except the Father. Scripture also strongly warns against divination and sorcery. Then I read a wonderful study by the late J.R. Church about how the messages of the constellations were meant to foretell the first and second advents of our Lord and God’s plan for redemption; not to be used for divination about man, which does constitute sin and idolatry.

I discovered that from the start, Scripture tells us how we are to use the stars:

And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years (Genesis 1:14, emphasis mine)

In Matthew 16:2-3, Jesus rebuked the Pharisees and the Sadducees when they asked for a sign from heaven, because He knew full well that they should have been able to know the season of His first advent:

When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red. 3And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowering. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?

This gave me reassurance to continue my study, which started with word searches on the sun, moon, and stars. I was brought to the Book of Joel, where the prophet foretells Christ’s physical return to earth (which is not to be confused with the rapture, when he will meet believers in the clouds as described in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-1):

For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision. 15The sun and moon will be darkened,  and the stars no longer shine. 16The Lord will roar from Zion and thunder from Jerusalem; the earth and the heavens will tremble. But the Lord will be a refuge for his people, a stronghold for the people of Israel. (Joel 3:15, emphasis mine)

I used NASA's solar eclipse website to determine when the next total solar eclipses will occur. One will happen on August 21, 2017. Using Vito Technology’s amazing Star Walk app, I could see that the moon will also cover the star Regulus in the constellation Leo.

Regulus, which is one of the brightest stars, is called the “King Star.” It is actually a multiple star system. An astronomer from Cornell University's "Ask an Astronomer" website explained that during this particular solar eclipse, Regulus will not be visible because it will be up during the day and very close to the sun. Also, if the moon passes in front of any star, the star will not only get dimmer, but become invisible until it reappears from behind the moon.

This celestial event appeared to match Joel 3:15 exactly!

Unfortunately, it does not line up with Daniel’s prophecy about the 70^th week, the seven-year period that I believe will begin with the rapture. During this time, the antichrist will be revealed and there will be “peace and prosperity” for 3½ years. But those left behind will suffer the tribulation horrors for the remaining 3½ years, until Christ Jesus triumphantly returns to earth, binds Satan (Revelation 20:1-3), and establishes His millennial kingdom (if you have not accepted Jesus as your Savior, I pray you will do so because time is running out).

Then last week, I read "Signs of the Times," an interesting article by Jerusalem-based journalist David Dolan. He writes about tetrads (four consecutive full lunar eclipses) and their connection to Biblical feasts. Tetrads are quite rare, however, several have occurred in the last 70 years, which Dolan connects to pivotal events with Israel. He also writes that an upcoming cycle will occur on the first evening of Passover over the next two years and also on the first night of the Feast of Tabernacles. This will be the last tetrad occurring on Biblical feasts until the end of this century.

Dolan questions whether the rapture might be tied to one of these dates, which immediately renewed my interest in stargazing. While a total lunar eclipse will occur on April 15, 2014, the actual date of the next Passover is April 14, 2014 (in the Jewish calendar, holidays begin at sunset on the previous day). The 4/14/14 date is interesting. A multiple of 7, the number 14 can imply a double measure of spiritual perfection. It also represents deliverance or salvation.

Passover commemorates events in Exodus — when the Israelites were freed from slavery in Egypt — and the 10^th plague; the death of every Egyptian first-born child. The Israelites were instructed to mark the doorposts of their houses with the blood of a slaughtered spring lamb (a type of the cross and the crucifixion) so the spirit of the Lord would pass over their homes. This also appears to be a type of the rapture.

If the rapture did occur on the eve of April 14, 2014, do the sun, moon, and stars reveal anything else?

I will save that discussion for next time.

What’s in a Name?

2013-03-19T16:26:00.001-04:00

When I read genealogies in Scripture, I often have to remind myself that every word of Scripture is there for a reason. So I thought it would be interesting to see what genealogies may tell us.

I started with the genealogy in Genesis 5:1-31, which describes the line descending from Adam to Noah. I consulted two sources for my exercise: the NET Bible and Hitchcock’s Bible Names Dictionary.

I was surprised to learn that some of the names listed in the King James Version have different spellings in the New International Version (the alternates are in parentheses).

Adam: Earthy, red, the first man

Seth (Sheth): Put, who puts, fixed, compensation

Enos (Enosh): Man, mortal man, sick, despaired of, forgetful

Cainan (Kenan): Possessor, possession, purchaser, buyer, owner

Mahalaleel (Mahalalel): Praise of God, praising God

Jared (Jered): descent, a ruling, commanding, coming down

Enoch: Dedicated, disciplined

Methuselah (Mathusala): He has sent his death, man of the dart

Lamech: Poor, made low, powerful

Noah: Repose, consolation, rest

Chuck Missler has written that this Genesis genealogy describes the first advent of Jesus Christ. The references he used are different from mine, but I think we do get this picture.

I then chose the genealogy from Matthew 1:1-20, since it marks the beginning of the New Testament. Once again, I found it interesting that many of the names of the ancestors of Jesus also tell us about some the attributes of our Lord.

But when you break the list up into separate blocks as I’ve done below, you might argue that it results in several “mini-stories,” that allude to the first or second advents of Christ Jesus.

Abraham: Father of a great multitude

Isaac: Laughter

Jacob: Heel-catcher or supplanter

Judas (Judah): The praise of the Lord, confession

Phares (Perez): A breach

Zara (Zerah): A rising as the sun

Esrom (Hezron): Enclosed, dart of joy, division of son

Aram (Ram): Elevated, high

Aminadab (Amminadab): One of the prince’s people, my people is liberal

Naashon (Nahshon): Enchanter; that foretells, conjectures

Salmon: A raiment; a garment, peaceful, he who rewards

Booz (Boaz): In him is strength

Obed: Serving, a servant; a workman

Jesse: A gift, oblation, wealth

David: Well beloved, dear

Solomon: Peaceful, perfect, one who recompenses

Roboam (Rehoboam): Enlarger of the people, who sets people at liberty

Abia (Abijah): The Lord is my father

Asa: Physician, cure

Josaphat (Jehoshaphat): Whom Jehovah judges, the Lord is judge

Joram (Jehoram): Whom Jehovah has exalted, exaltation of the Lord

Ozias (Uzziah): Strength of Jehovah, strength of the Lord

Jotham (Joatham): Jehovah is upright, perfection of the Lord

Achaz (Ahaz): Possessor, one that takes or possesses

Ezekais (Hezekiah): Might of Jehovah, strength of the Lord

Manasseh (Manasses): Forgetting, he that is forgotten

Amon: Faithful, true, builder

Josiah (Josias): Whom Jehovah heals, the Lord burns, the fire of the Lord

Jechoniah (Jechonias, Jehoiachin): Whom Jehovah establishes, preparation or strength of the Lord

Shealtiel (Salathiel): I have asked of God, or lent of God

Zerubbabel (Zorobabel): Born at Babel, a stranger at Babylon, dispersion of confusion

Abiud (Abihud): My father is majesty, father of praise

Eliakim: Raising up by God, resurrection of God

Azor: Helper, a court

Zadok (Sadoc): Just, righteous

Achim: The Lord will establish, preparing, revenging, confirming

Eliud: God is my praise

Eleazar: Help of God, court of God

Matthan (Mattan): Gift

Jacob: Heel-catcher or supplanter

Joseph: Let him add, increase, addition

Jesus: Jehovah is salvation, savior, deliverer

Remaining Awake

2013-02-19T21:25:00.000-05:00

²That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:³ Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,⁴ And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. (2 Peter 3:2-4)

Our Redeemer’s return to establish His Millennial Kingdom is such a glorious and hope-filled truth that it should be proclaimed from every church pulpit. But instead of exhorting us to die to self, and prepare for the day when we will stand before the Lord at the judgment seat of Christ, we are being bombarded with messages encouraging us to walk after our own lusts. Just visit The Museum of Idolatry on any given day to see the leavening that is taking place.  

Why is it that so few see the Kingdom truths so clearly while so many do not?

We know from Scripture that God can cause people to go into a deep sleep:

For the Lord hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered. (Isaiah 29:10) Royce Powell delivers a powerful sermon about this at Disciples Call.

Scripture warns that believers can fall asleep, too. In the parable of the ten virgins (Matthew 25:1-10), Jesus tells us that while the Bridegroom tarried, all of the virgins slumbered and slept. The Latin word used here is katheudo. It can mean to sleep literally and it can also mean to yield to sloth and sin or to be indifferent to one's salvation (Strong 2518). It is interesting that it is in the imperfect tense, which refers to a continuing or repeated event or state (but I am not a biblical language scholar, so forgive me if I err).

Even the bride, who loves and longs for her Bridegroom in the Song of Solomon, is not immune to falling asleep:

I sleep, but my heart waketh: it is the voice of my beloved that knocketh, saying, Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled: for my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night. (Song of Solomon 5:1)

The race is long and I admit there are times when I am pulled away from His coming world into this earthly world. One message that I find very encouraging comes from Cindy Ziegler, who speaks about when the bride’s spirit is willing (“my heart was awake”), but her flesh is weak (“I was asleep”).

We can also find strength in knowing that no matter what the masses may say, Scripture implores us to remain awake, alert, watching, and working for the Lord as we await the Bridegroom’s return:

³⁵Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning:³⁶Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.³⁷And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch. (Mark 13:35-37)

⁵Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.⁶Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. (1 Thessalonians 5:5-7)

¹⁰Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.¹¹And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. ¹²The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. (Romans 13:10-12)

A Little Lower Than the Angels

2013-01-22T13:43:00.000-05:00

I was listening to the first sermon of Pastor John Herbert’s comprehensive series on the Letter to the Hebrews and he states:

“When God brought Christ into the inhabited world the first time we will remember that He came ‘a little lower than the angels,’ but when He comes into the inhabited world again then the angels of God will worship Him.”

Scripture attests to this fact both in the Old Testament and the New Testament:

What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: (Psalm 8:4-6)

But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man that thou visitest him? Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands: Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him. But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. (Hebrews 2:6-10)

This got me thinking about whether these passages have a second literal meaning. Herbert says: “At His first advent He came to pay the price for sin in a role subordinate to the angels, when He comes again the situation is entirely different.” He is referring to the fact that Jesus came as a man during his first advent and He will return as King during His Millennial Kingdom.

But is Scripture is also referring to the physical location where Jesus was created?

For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels (Hebrews 2:7, emphasis mine).

For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels (Psalm 8:5, emphasis mine).

Scripture tells us that there are three heavens:

I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. (2 Corinthians 12:22)

The early Jewish rabbis believed that the first heaven is the earth’s atmosphere, the second is the starry heaven, and the third heaven is where the throne of God dwells (Clarke).

Other Scripture passages talk about the heaven of heavens, which appears to be this third heaven:

Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens is the Lord's thy God, the earth also, with all that therein is. (Deuteronomy 10:14)

But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded? (1 Kings 8:27)

We know that God created the angels and one might assume this took place in the third heaven. Jesus, however, was created differently. God created His son through the virgin woman Mary on earth where Jesus was born. So when Scripture talks about God making Jesus a little lower than the angels, could it mean that Jesus was lower in stature to the angels and that the location where He was created was lower than the place where the angels were created?

I’m not sure if there is any great significance to this, but it is interesting that when Jesus returns to the lower place of His creation, His stature will be higher than all of the angels. Oh, how we will rejoice on that day. Come Christ Jesus, come!

The Closing Age of Grace: Last Chance Not Only for Believers

2012-12-11T15:38:00.001-05:00

From a prophetic standpoint, the Age of Grace (or the Dispensation of Grace, as Clarence Larkin calls it) appears to be coming to a close. For unbelievers, this means that there is little time left to accept Jesus Christ as their Savior and receive the gift of eternal life (For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16).

But the closing of the Age of Grace has significant ramifications for believers, too. The fear of the Lord should be upon us. If we need to repent for sins that we have committed in the body, we should do so. If we are not allowing the Lord to work through us, we should do so. God is a God of love, but He is also a God of judgment. Unfortunately, we don’t hear much about that these days.

Scripture tells us that all believers will stand before the Lord at the judgment seat of Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:10: 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

Romans 14:10: we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

The only difference between those who have already died in Christ — and those of us who will be raptured when Jesus meets us in a cloud in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17) — is that we will be fortunate enough to avoid the sting of death. But all of our works will undergo the test of fire at the judgment seat.

1 Corinthians 3:10-15: According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

I confess that the thought of standing before the Lord tomorrow sobers me. I already know that many of my works will not withstand the test of fire. The late Pastor Gary Whipple, who preached about Kingdom truths for believers, once said that he believed that most of us will have a combination of works. That brings me great comfort.

We always want to think that we have more time. But do we? If you do not believe in Jesus Christ, I pray that you will accept him as your Savior right now. If you are a believer, I pray that you (and I) will allow Christ Jesus to work through us every moment that we have left on this fallen earth.

While there are many professed believers who promise me that I can have my best life now, or that I need to find my purpose, I pray that I will have a little more time to die to self-will and allow the Lord to perform His great works through me.

Hosea: A Type for Christ or God’s Bride?

2012-12-06T16:25:00.000-05:00

I was listening to my audio bible and heard a passage from Hosea 3:1-9 that sounded like a type for Christ:

The Lord said to me, “Go, show love to your wife again, even though she loves another manand continually commits adultery. Likewise, the Lord loves the Israelitesalthough they turn to other gods and love to offer raisin cakes to idols.” So I paid fifteen shekels of silver and about seven bushels of barleyto purchase her.

Hosea means “help” or “salvation” and the prophet does appear to speak to God’s love for us by sending His Son to die for us on the cross in Hosea 6:1-3:

Come, and let us return unto the Lord: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight. Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.

Upon further study, however, I think that Hosea is a type for God’s relationship to His eventual wife: Israel.

Looking at Hosea’s life, we learn that God instructed Hosea to marry a prostitute. He chose Gomer, who was not faithful to him. God chose Israel to be His bride, which has also been unfaithful in its covenant with the Lord. So one could say that God also chose a harlot.

When we look at the names of Hosea and Gomer’s children, their firstborn was named Jezreel, which means God sows. The second child was a daughter named Lo-Ruhamah, which means no pity or no mercy. Their third child, Lo-Ammi, means not my people. That sounds an awful lot like God’s long-suffering relationship with Israel, which turned to worship Baal and not the Lord.

Hosea is such a beautiful story because despite God’s judgment, it also typifies God’s love for Israel. Hosea speaks to the day when Israel will finally repent and be welcomed back into the arms of her long-awaiting Husband.

Therefore, behold, I will allure her [Israel] and bring her into the wilderness, and I will speak tenderly and to her heart. There I will give her her vineyards and make the Valley of Achor [troubling] to be for her a door of hope and expectation. And she shall sing there and respond as in the days of her youth and as at the time when she came up out of the land of Egypt. And it shall be in that day, says the Lord, that you will call Me Ishi [my Husband], and you shall no more call Me Baali [my Baal]. For I will take away the names of Baalim [the Baals] out of her mouth, and they shall no more be mentioned or seriously remembered by their name. (Hosea 2:14-17, Amplified Bible).

Quoteworthy: Testing The Spirits (1 John 4:1-7)

2012-12-04T19:05:00.000-05:00

Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.

You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them.

We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us.

This is how we recognize the Spiritof truth and the spirit of falsehood.

Do Not Be Deceived!

2012-10-16T18:25:00.000-04:00

For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. (Genesis 3:5)

Satan’s first lie continues in many different forms to this very day. If you have the time watch "The Age of Deceit," an excellent video that provides a comprehensive overview of the many ways that Satan has attempted — and continues to attempt — to deceive man and disqualify him from ruling and reigning with Christ Jesus in the Millennial Kingdom.

If you are already familiar with these concepts it will be a review for you. You may want to recommend the video to others in your community, particularly those who are being deceived by New Age doctrines. But be prepared to be dismissed as a “fringe” believer.

When these truths were first presented to me, I was quite skeptical. Despite being a church-going believer, I knew nothing about prophecy. So I made it a priority to study Scripture and learn. If you are new to prophecy, I urge you to do the same. I pray that God will give you eyes to see and ears to hear.

After watching this video, I felt led to go to the Book of Jude. It is such a small book, yet so rich with prophetic warnings:

Jesus will be denied as God, even within our own churches, as the tares (deceivers) have slipped in amongst the wheat. Some of these tares are openly preaching that man can be as gods, just as Satan promised Eve.

For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. (Jude 4)

Those who remain steadfast in Christ Jesus and the Bible will be mocked and scorned:

But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. (Jude 17-18)

Jude 6 also speaks to the fallen angels who cohabitated with women in an attempt to corrupt the seed that would produce the Messiah (Genesis 6:4), which prompted God to cause the great flood:

And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.

The video will show you how this is happening once again, just as Jesus prophesied in Matthew 24:37:

But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

There is so much more, which is why the video is 2½ hours long. As you watch, I hope you find strong comfort in the knowledge that everything that is happening has been foretold in Scripture. While these events are incredibly evil, their emergence means that the Lord will be coming for us very soon.