Christian Life Page 17

I have a question.

We are are approaching the Christmas season, by celebrating Christmas, and all it's tradition of man, are we honouring God of DISHONOURING God?

Christ was not born on Christmas.

God Bless YOU!

Jud.9:4-7 "Upon one stone"

"And they gave him threescore and ten pieces of silver out of the house of Baalberith, wherewith Abimelech hired vain and light persons, which followed him./And he went unto his father's house at Ophrah, and slew his brethren the sons of Jerubbaal, being threescore and ten persons, upon one stone: notwithstanding yet Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left; for he hid himself.6And all the men of Shechem gathered together, and all the house of Millo, and went, and made Abimelech king, by the plain of the pillar that was in Shechem. And when they told it to Jotham, he went and stood in the top of mount Gerizim, and lifted up his voice, and cried, and said unto them, Hearken unto me, ye men of Shechem, that God may hearken unto you(vv.4-7).

'And (Abimelech) he went unto his father's house at Ophrah, and slew his brethren the sons of Jerubbaal, being threescore and ten persons, upon one stone':

'Upon one stone' here is a representation of the 12 stones that stood in the riverbed of Jordan.. It is a sign as we read in this passage:

Joshua commanded, "And take you up every man of you a stone upon his shoulder, according unto the number of the tribes of the children of Israel:/That this may be a sign among you(Josh.4:5-6),

Memorial at Gilgal was one heap and not 12 separate stones each representing a tribe. The Spirit uses this expression to establish the crime of Abimelech went against the Ark of the covenant. Joshua emphasizes its importance in vv.6-24 "That the waters of Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of theLord; when it passed over Jordan, the waters of Jordan were cut off: and these stones shall be for a memorial unto the children of Israel for ever(v.8)".

Notice the sign placed over it? It is for the latter days when actions of man shall be judged according to the Law 'forever' It is the Rock of offense that Jesus alluded to. "Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; ( Luke 20:28;Is.8:14)

Jud.9:6-57 Men of Shechem

"Thus God rendered the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did unto his father, in slaying his seventy brethren:/ And all the evil of the men of Shechem did God render upon their heads: and upon them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal.(vv.56-57)"

What was Israel before God? "He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye(De.32:10)." There was nothing in him that merited special attention from God. Yet Moses speaks of him we have a clue to what he represents in His eye.

"When the Most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel.(De.32:8)." God had blessed Abraham and all that he promised was represented in Jacob. In a manner of speaking he was the heir of promise.According to the number speaks of 12 which is according to the Gospel.

But God blessings were in the Father Son relationship before the worlds began. The same promise for which God called Abraham was by a decree. (Ps.2:7-8) Consequently when God divided the nations their inheritance, it was in accordance with His promise to his 'only begotten Son.' He said,"Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance. (Ps.2:8)"

What is Shechem? Is it not part of inheritance allotted to Ephraiam? Intrigue of Abimelech played on the spirit of partisanship and Shechem sided with the son of the concubine because her brethren were 'one of us.'"

Partisanship is bought with a price which is another man's riches. It is thus heresies divide the body of Christ. Shechem thus brought disaster on themselves and were destroyed by one of their own. It just shows what is empowering these factions but Satan who is the author of confusion. What do megachurches represent but partisanship and their head is certainly not Christ when they hold truth in unrighteousness?

Jud.9:1-6 "The Hireling: (2 of 2)

God promised to bless Israel and by oath they made covenant with Moses and Joshua to obey Him with all their heart, and will all might and with all their soul. What was Shechem who conspired with an usurper to further his case? Partisan spirit to overthrow the word of God because Abimelech's mother was one of them is evident even now in the way white Americans and ethnic minorities would see of the country. 'He is our brother' and this is what old Party cadres in Soviet Russia thought of Comrade Stalin. Once the wily Georgian tightened his grip over all he would sweep away the entire comrades of old on the Great Purge in 1933. Coincidentally the same year Hitler would take over the helm of Germany and events from old were shaping to purge the history of nations that are still leading to another tribulation.

And his mother's brethren spake of him in the ears of all the men of Shechem all these words: and their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech; for they said, He is our brother./And they gave him threescore and ten pieces of silver out of the house of Baalberith, wherewith Abimelech hired vain and light persons, which followed him.

5And he went unto his father's house at Ophrah, and slew his brethren the sons of Jerubbaal, being threescore and ten persons, upon one stone: notwithstanding yet Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left; for he hid himself.

6And all the men of Shechem gathered together, and all the house of Millo, and went, and made Abimelech king, by the plain of the pillar that was in Shechem.

Jud.9:1-6 "The Hireling" (1 of 2)

The superscription refers to men whom Abimelech could hire to form his base. Hireling is a generic term collectively used to distinguish servants who work for their hire in a household while sons work to ease the burden of their father. Value of silver and of love do tell in secular as well as in heavenly relationships. Accordingly in times of danger ("The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep"-John10;13)"on the other Jesus as the good shepherd teaches what he shall do for his Father. "As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep( John 10:15)".

In the world of the flesh hirelings are determined to better their prospects so they would gain more in terms of hire. Any improvement can be only in the tangible dollars and cents.The prodigal son in time of want was willing to work for offal because his prospect in an alien country could not be any better. He did some simple arithmetic and found in his father's house, labor of his hands fetched far greater as he had himself seen in the case of his servants."How many of my father's hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!( Luke 15:17-NIV)." Value of hire made sense to him only when he could relate his spiritual value in terms of his Father. It was matter of life and death. In the world of the flesh he was in the wrong place to count in terms of hire value of which fluctuates.

Ironically great many all of them do not think in terms of life, and of the spirit but work themselves for golden sunset years only to find their life annuities have swindled away by companies they trusted. From the passage of the gospel cited earlier a child of God has a place of permanence to go to. Jesus as the good shepherd teaches from example of his life. "All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers:(10:8)" But Jesus speaks of them as thieves and robbers.

Jud.9 "Abimelech"

Abimelech the son of Gideon from a concubine."And his concubine that was in Shechem, she also bare him a son, whose name he called Abimelech(8:31).

The Spirit mentions him separately after placing his seventy sons in the preceding verse which ought to help us understand his place in the genealogy of his father, the same significance that bar sinister holds in heraldry. Abimelech in Hebrew means 'My father the king' which is not same as Jether his firstborn who accompanied his father in his wars with the nations. From the manner Abimelech comes to power he was anything but kingly. He was an usurper and he had his base which is what kept him in power.

God wanted to prove the people of Israel which had corrupted themselves as easily as they turned their backs on their deliverer as soon as he was no more. "And it came to pass, as soon as Gideon was dead, that the children of Israel turned again, and went a whoring after Baalim, and made Baalberith their god./And the children of Israel remembered not theLordtheir God, who had delivered them out of the hands of all their enemies on every side:/Neither shewed they kindness to the house of Jerubbaal, namely, Gideon, according to all the goodness which he had shewed unto Israel(8:33-35).

Of what value was the oath of the Israelites or their pledge of alliance? 'Then the men of Israel said unto Gideon, Rule thou over us, both thou, and thy son, and thy son's son also: for thou hast delivered us from the hand of Midian(8:22)". The Spirit sets their lip-service to God boomerang on themselves. They were taken in easily by the intrigue of Abimelech and his faction. In our time also when psychopaths take the reins of nations they shall have tricks up their sleeve to legitimize their rule.

This Abimelech episode is for our instruction in righteousness. God shall take the wicked by their own snares.

Jud.8:28-35 "The Seventy" (2 of 2)

"And Gideon made 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.(8:27)."The ephod built up from other man's riches became a snare to the children of Israel and also to Gideon. How did it entangle him him is described in the following chapter but v.30 gives a number, 70. Its spiritual significance points to the latter days when the seat of Satan is very much in the church ('even where Satan's seat is'-Re.2:13) that dictates the doctrine of the beast as politically correct."And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast(Re.13:11-12)", On secondary sense Gideon had seventy sons from so many wives, whose lives were at stake on account of Gideon setting up an ephod which was unlike the altar set up under the direction of God, "And build an altar unto theLordthy God upon the top of this rock, in the ordered place(6:26a)"

33And it came to pass, as soon as Gideon was dead, that the children of Israel turned again, and went a whoring after Baalim, and made Baalberith their god./And Gideon had threescore and ten sons of his body begotten: for he had many wives./ And his concubine that was in Shechem, she also bare him a son, whose name he called Abimelech.

Jud.8:28-35 (1 of 2)

"The Seventy"

God's calling and his gifts are irrevocable.(Ro.11:29). Gideon's sword became an extension of that God. The word of God by faith serves every believer so hero of faith is tested by trials one undergoes as His instrument. It serves to untangle the mental confusion as Job testified,"After I had spoken, they spoke no more; my words fell gently on their ears( Job 29:22-NIV)". It is not without reason the Spirit speaks of the word of God as a two edged sword. It helps your hearer as in the case of Job and also refreshes as it is digested so one uses it to profit and for own edification. "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.(He.4:12). The word of God is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.. It saves as well as cuts.

Forty years of rest that the land enjoyed speaks of the foreknowledge of the glory of his Word.The number 4 speaks for the word of God. When Gideon feared for his life because he saw the Lord face to face how did He answer him? " And theLordsaid unto him, Peace be unto thee; fear not: thou shalt not die.(6:.22-23). This revelation prompted him worthy of a hero to follow his faith with appropriate works. "Then Gideon built an altar there unto theLord, and called it Jehovah-shalom(6:24).' He was called by God and it was up to him to continue with faith as before so he made his election sure. Forty years of peace is given a concrete imagery in the name Jehovah-shalom or God our peace.

In this context what does the ephod Gideon set up at Ophrah signify?It set up a precedent for Jeroboam to set up two golden calves. "And he set the one in Bethel, and the other put he in Dan./And this thing became a sin: for the people went to worship before the one, even unto Dan(1 Ki.12:29-30)".

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.