Christian Life Page 18

River of time (1 of 2)

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

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

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

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

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

Twelve Manner of Fruits Re.22:2

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2/2

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

The one who understands let them understand.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"And sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished." (Dan.12:7)

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

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

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

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

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

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

Time, Times and half

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

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

"Forever and ever"

"None shall pass through it for ever and ever.(Is.34:10)

Isaiah refers to the day of vengeance and God shall recompense the heirs for all their loss and suffering. "For it is the day of the Lord's vengeance, and the year of recompences for the controversy of Zion."(34:8). Israel of course comes up for reckoning. While consigning the Jerusalem of old to perpetual desolation the Spirit gives us two sets of time and it is signified by the term, forever and ever.Let us examine this verse, "from generation to generation it shall lie waste; none shall pass through it for ever and ever.". The forever is in the conventional sense as indicated by the will of the Father. It refers to his Son in whom it pleased the Father that his fullness should dwell. 'And ever refers to the Son in his own right. In practice we have this verse to support it, "My Father worketh hitherto, and I work" ( John 5:17) So it refers to an unshakeable kingdom, " But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever."(Dan.7:18)

The beast whose authority is derived from the dragon is set in terms of Jesus Jesus. By Law of gradation 42 months sets one against the other. So the little horn declares war against his co-heirs, "Beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them;/ Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom"(Dan.7:21-22)

In Re.19 we have the battle where the beast and the false prophet are take. In the next chapter we read of thousand year reign "and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years." The story does not end there. This explains the distinction between season and time. "As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time."(Dan.7:12)

The Word of the Lord unto the land of Israel;An end,the end is come upon the four corners of the land.

Ezekiel 7:3-16

3Now is the end come upon thee, and I will send mine anger upon thee, and will Judge thee according to thy ways, and will recompense upon thee all thine abominations.

4And mine eye shall not spare thee, neither will I have pity: but I will recompense thy ways upon thee, and thine abominations shall be in the midst of thee: and ye shall know that I am the Lord.

5Thus saith the Lord God; An evil, an only evil, behold, is come.

6An end is come, the end is come: it watcheth for thee; behold, it is come.

7The morning is come unto thee, O thou that dwellest in the land: the time is come, the day of trouble is near, and not the sounding again of the mountains.

8Now will I shortly pour out my fury upon thee, and accomplish mine anger upon thee: and I will judge thee according to thy ways, and will recompense thee for all thine abominations.

9And mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity: I will recompense thee according to thy ways and thine abominations that are in the midst of thee; and ye shall know that I am the Lord that smiteth.

10Behold the day, behold, it is come: the morning is gone forth; the rod hath blossomed, pride hath budded.

11Violence is risen up into a rod of wickedness: none of them shall remain,nor of their multitude, nor of any of their's: neither shall there be wailing for them.

12The time is come,the day draweth near:let not the buyer rejoice, nor the seller mourn:for wrath is upon all the multitude thereof.

13For the seller shall not return to that which is sold,although they were yet alive:for the vision is touching the whole multitude thereof, which shall not return;neither shall any strengthen himself in the iniquity of his life.

15The sword is without,and the pestilence and the famine within:he that is in the field shall die with the sword;and he that is in the city, famine and pestilence shall devour him.

Dan.7:8 "The Little Horn"

"I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things."(v.8)

The Spirit calls him the little horn and he sets him implacable enemy to the saints that are attached to the Branch. Jesus Christ came out of royal line of the House of David, He is also the Branch. It signifies the new Order of Melchizedek different from that of Aaron.

Mass shooting in our times is live streamed. Those who enter the church precincts and fire at worshipers do shown a zeal and in Christchurch and Buffalo had similar as Jesus 'cleansing the temple.' So Satan is a copycat.

Jesus Christ is the branch and Satan empowers this version. It is thus we need interpret the little horn. He had eyes like the eyes of man and a mouth speaking great things.'. Satan is the father of lies, God created cherubim the fiery serpents that jealously guard the majesty of the Lord God, -the brazen snake on a pole in the wilderness was a symbol. So what does Satan do but give voice to a serpent in the Garden of Eden to beguile Eve? It has been thus from the beginning. Satan is ever at heels of the Gentile church. Jesus Christ is the Branch. Satan's take on it,- and the Spirit calls it the little horn, and he shall be representing the beast of the latter days. (Re.13) We shall have number of such world leaders before we come to him and none of them bodes good for the world.

State and religion by their unholy alliance have spawned an apostate church,- and democratic notions of the state deeply flawed. The little horn is a creature of man, your guess is as good as mine.- of technocrat and shaman, but still a marionette whose authority like the beast of the latter days come from the dragon."and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority."(Re.13:2)

Dan.7:7 (2 of 2)

"After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns."(Dan.7:7)

The fourth was exceedingly powerful because it had no heart to begin with. The first beast the lion with eagle wings were given a man's heart. Therein lay the way forward for the Salvation Plan. "He fashions their hearts individually; He considers all their works."(Ps.33:15-NKJV). Like a potter He works individually with a marred vessel and in the Parable of the Marred Vessel every one holds relationship with his Maker. "O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clayisin the potter's hand, soareye in mine hand, O house of Israel."(Je.18:6). This heart is a blessing as longs we understand His indescribable grace is poured not because of our merits but in his Son He see something remarkable in each one of us. We have been foreknown even before the worlds were founded.

The Spirit in giving us these four beasts is also sounding warning that the sin unconfessed has festered his institutions state and religion alike. A heathen may profess his God but his works are as bad as the ungodly does. The so called winning souls that accompanied Colonial masters in earlier century achieved precious little. "for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves." Matt.23:15.TheLamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth was found worthy. In him was perfection since Number Seven is a tag to indicate it. On the other hand the fourth beast had ten horns. Ten is a tag and the Spirit informs us that it it is judged already.

Dan.7:9-10 (1 of 2)

Introduction

Before we go into the fourth beast we need to consider these two verses, in order to understand the significance of the little horn in.v.7

"I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire./A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened." (7:9-10)

The Spirit introduces the Ancient of Days from the standpoint of God the Father. The back page of these two verses are found in these verses from the Book of the Revelation. Re.5:1-7 It is from the standpoint of the Son. Both are set in heaven and both are in the 'Now".

In the Book of Daniel what we discussed from Ch.7 can have the title Sinner's Progress leading to Judgment where four beasts carry history of nations forward without disruption whatsoever., "Judgment was set, and the books were opened" It is in pluperfect tense. It is how God had us foreknown and we find no mention with regards to the slain Lamb or the Salvation Plan of God.

Here in the Vision of St John the same 'Now and the Redemption from the slain Lamb give us the history of the perils of Sin. It continues with the cavalcade of four horsemen which is controlled by the Prince of Peace who sets forth to conquer. The passage quoted in the post New World we have the same Rider on the white horse defeating the sinful world.(Re.19:17)

Now let us compare with Re.5:6-7

And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, 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.

7And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne".

Dan.7:5

"Bear Necessities" (2 of 2)

The bear as a beast cannot help itself for the ribs between the teeth have their own necessities. 'Arise, devour much flesh' nationalism says even in our times.

"After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it." (v.6)

This vision of Daniel is unusual because the Holy Spirit has taken a hand here to instruct us the manner sinful man has progressed without God. At first God gave the nation of Israel His commandments and bore them as of old upon eagle wings.and brought them himself to the land promised to Abraham.

Action begins in heaven and it shall also be completed from heaven. The v.12 tells the first three beasts shall lose their dominion but their full end is not yet. These are times of the Gentiles,

Thus God initiated action with the first beast. Second beast 'like to a bear', a beast that can adapt itself to its environment 'raised up itself on one side,' The beast leopard often associated in the Greek pagan context (Bacchus) is now set in the Americas. Leopard is a sacred animal for the Aztecs. Mayan and Aztec empires shall know who their masters are once the maritime powers get their head start. Old Spain and Portugal by the blessings of the Pope and their Catholic kings would plunder the south America while the native Americans in the north shall similarly meet another depredation also of Christian faith in name. Four wings of a fowl plucked of the New world: turkey buzzard condor and macaw, you name it. "/And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army." (Re.19:17-19) They also have their feast day.

Dan.7:5

"Bear necessities" (1 of 2)

And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh.

The beast 'like to a bear' signifies the Gentile nations. Like the range of bears from polar bears to pandas in China they thrive on anything from grass, nuts and berries to carrion their tastes are catholic. The coming of the Gentiles into the holy mountain of God was by design. (Is.56:7). In Abraham all families of the earth were included. What hasted it was the failure of Israel as a nation to follow God with all their heart, brought the Gentiles along. Religion similarly brings in nations in chains, so they may glory in their hypocrisy without earnestly contending for the faith.

The second beast raised up itself on one side." "They have moved me to jealousy withthat which isnot God; they have provoked me to anger with their vanities: and I will move them to jealousy withthose which arenot a people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation."(De.32:21; Ro.10:19)

God allowed the Gentiles come in but the church history following the collapse of the Imperial Rome shows a beast more rapacious than any other. For old Spain it was 3 G's:Gold God and Glory. Third rib is Reason that has given ideologies. Under Stalin's Bolshevik regime some 22 millions of souls would have perished. Yet we hear the cry,' Arise devour much flesh.'

Dan.7:2-4

"The Lion of Judah"

"Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea."

The ground zero is the Mediterranean sea and lands surrounding it. The four is a number indicating cardinal directions. Palestine, Syria Africa Asia Minor about the sea, and the farthest corners are under the wind blast. God in heaven rides on the wings of the wind. (Ps.104:3) He is in control. Compare Re.7:1 "I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree."

3And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another. The number Four gives each beast geographical areas where they shall exert control.

4The first was like a lion, and had eagle's wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man's heart was given to it.

The first was like lion referring to Israel and the Lion of Judah in particular. The eagle wings refer to Jehovah. "Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, andhowI bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself." Ex.19:4. Also in this passage, "And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness,"(Re.12:14)

"I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked," God rejected the nation and allowed Assyria and Babylon to scatter them to the ends of the earth.

"and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man's heart was given to it." Here we have the mention of the Son of man. Like a tender shoot (Is.53:2). He was on the earth in human likeness.

A remnant of Israel shall be added in the latter days v..12: "As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time." Compare with time, times and half a time."

Dan.7:1 Vision of Daniel

overview

7:1 Daniel had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed: then he wrote the dream, and told the sum of the matters.

This is not about events related to world empires as in earlier dreams and changes in the immediate future but a a general description about what gives the four beasts, each diverse from the other, their power to control the history of nations.

Think of it as jottings in a memo book with tear off sheets. In general terms we have the history of nations,- Israel, the Gentiles, Ideology of three ribs. These ribs are not for making Eve or the bride of Christ but crass ideals of power of people, of divine rights or of reason. In the names of these there shall be desolations, misery and bloodshed.

Thirdly these ribs becoming three monsters in the fourth beast, which bring them even to our times. Totalitarian regime, oligarchy and technology. This Iron monster relies on technology:"dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it. "The John Deere of Hi-Tech with its great jaws shall pulverize the earth in order to corner all precious metals and also reach the interstellar planets if it could. It shall also tread all opposition without mercy. What conscience prick can you expect from AI directed killer robot'?

Parables

The word parable is derived from the Greek word parabole and it is a general term for a figurative saying. Parables of Jesus compare spiritual truth concerning kingdom of God or heaven with the natural world. The world is a field and the word of God is the seed, for example refers to our physical world. In the book of Job we find parables used for different purpose.

We find Abraham interceding with God with regards to the imminent judgment over Sodom. He asks, "And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?" Ge.18:17-33).

Truth is the only basis that 'still small voice' as in the case of Elijah, plays a crucial role in the parables of Job. Job uses a parable, which in the parlance of the Spirit is to instruct us the depths and riches we have in the eternal God.

For example what is the confidence of Job? "For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:(19:25)" How do we reconcile this idea 'For as the heavens are higher than the earth' (Is.55:8-9) with our thoughts ? Truth in our heart is the only medium of instruction. The Spirit has set the Book of Job with this in mind as a series of parables.

Parables are to be understood as introduction 'How To Do the Will of My Father in some easy lessons' could well be the by-line to the whole body of Parables. Key to understand him is to do the will of God the Father," If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself ( John 7:17)."

Similarly Jotham's parable reveals the temporal kingdoms are run by brambles (Jud.9:6-21). Abimelech is a bramble but his base, all vain and shallow shall never produce worthwhile fruits. "Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?(Matt.7:16)". They may go by fancy names and like the one spearheaded by Theudas, their movements are doomed to fail. Then as now.

Dragnet

Matt.13:47

The kingdom of heaven is compared to a net cast into the sea. We may assume it as dragnet, which considering the area to be scoured must be of infinite size. The Son of man deputes angels to gather the good and throw away the bad. It is not difficult to imagine it is about judgment by which God shall have the good to himself as in the case of the Parable of the tares. Basically the kingdom of heaven distinguishes two groups of people, namely children of light and children of wrath.

When Jesus of Nazareth assembled his disciples he had assured Peter and Andrew them that,". Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men(Matt.4:19)". In the parable we find the waters mentioned. The waters speak of the world. "But the wicked are like the tossing sea, which cannot rest, whose waves cast up mire and mud (Is.57:20)". In eternity no more sea shall be found (Rev.21:1

) In the Book of Genesis we read of several separations. One such separation spoke of light from darkness. Water below the firmament and above is another. Instead of sea we shall have pure water of life coming from heaven instead of the sea.

The parable of the net teaches as what it is to be found for use of God. In Christ we are new creation no longer to be lumped together with groups that wage their struggle with the world using their own weapons. (See entry under C-custom,culture)

Another aspect of separations is the fulness found only in his Son. Light is separated from darkness and the true Light is in Jesus Christ.

Dispersion of Mankind

After Babel was overthrown division of man among nations became on the basis 'every one after his tongue, after their families, in their nations.' (Ge.10:5)

This must be seen in the backdrop of God's commandment , ""And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years."(Ge.6:3) God made the gospel of Christ foreshadowing the Advent of his Son.

Having said this let us consider the bounds of people wherever they chose to live. So Jesus Christ before his Ascension would tell his disciple thus:"All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth./Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:"(Matt.28:18-20) "Teach ye all nations"is a commandment. This explains the significance of the verse spoken by Moses

"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)

Dispensation (2 of 2)

"By him all things consist." When God sent his Son, the word of his power was made manifest and his death and resurrection also proved what St Paul would say, "For it pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell."(Co.1:15-19) Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today and forever. God sent his word and it shall never return to him void. (Is.55:11). To treat God's authority and governance of his kingdom as dispensational is to play into the hands of Satan. Where the Spirit speaks of 'comparing spiritual with spiritual' literal approach is to walk on the wild side and land in a bad neighbourhood.

For I am the LORD, I change not;... Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. (Mal.3:6-7). God's holiness love, mercy, justice are all facets of it.

Dispensation

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This is an extra-biblical term however accepted by many sects. Dispensation as a theological term is derived from four verses found in NT. ('A dispensation of gospel is committed unto me'-1 Co.9:17; 'Dispensation of the fullness of times'-Ep.1:10; 'Dispensation of the grace given to me to you-ward'- Ep. 3:2; *Col.1:25)

Dispensationalism refers to a period of time during which people are tested in respect to their obedience to a specific revelation of God's will. It is saying God speaks to people in a certain manner and in other times not. The worlds framed by the word of God are eternal as the quality of divine Will and Christ (The same yesterday, today and forever) are consistent.

In the verses quoted above Each time it translates the Greek oikonomia, which refers to an office and the management functions related to administration. It is heresy #1 to attribute changeability to God.

* Dispensation that St Paul refers in Col.1:25 is about fulfilling the word of God as a minster. He is referring to his own case Ac.13:2.

Economy of management for example we see the manner the early church supplanted the Imperial Rome. The two legs of iron in the king's dream became western and eastern empires each ruled by its own emperor. Church of Rome and Greek Orthodox church in taking over the remains of the empire showed economy of management by recycling the old to fit new circumstances. In terms of quality what concord can Christ has with Belial? Or iron with miry clay? (Dan.2:41-43)

God is not a man to scale down his Salvation plan because of his weak nature. The everlasting covenant remains the fixed anchor for the building of Zion despite of the boisterous winds beating upon human enterprises.

The Song of Degrees

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" For the Lord hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation./ This is my rest for ever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it."/ King David blesses the nation with these words, "The Lord that made heaven and earth bless thee out of Zion." This is the highway a child of God carves out by abiding in Christ. He produces fruits for glory and honour of God who blessed him before the worlds began.(Ep.1:4)

When Hannah sings, "Pillars of the earth are the Lord's, and he hath set the world upon them (1 Sa.2:8)," she was referring to his sovereignty. The spiritual foundation of a Christian instructs him how to walk with God.. Our case as to our future is no different from of Abraham. (He.11:9)" It is a pilgrim's progress when he begins and ends it is with Him. Where are we going? Like the patriarch we look for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God(v.10)"

In this context we shall appreciate v.1, "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. This city is founded on the Rock of Ages."

Degrees, the song of

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A title given to fifteen psalms from 120 to 134 inclusive of which four are attributed to King David and one to his son Solomon. There were three appointed feasts namely Passover, Pentecost and Tabernacles. By tradition pilgrims expressing their joy in going up to Jerusalem would have sung. There are 15 songs in this series and each psalm may correspond to the step leading a pilgrim.

The Roman army marching towards Jerusalem under Titus also must have been seized with joyous expectation of the spoils when they beheld the splendiferous skyline. So for spiritual significance of the song of degrees we ask ourselves how well our hearts are settled on the matter.

Historically the children of Israel showed that they moved on their bellies in the wilderness. How often did they grumble against Moses and Aaron? (Ex.16:3) They would have stoned them and they despised manna, which God gave. He fed them with angel's food. Yet what was their cry? "And said, Who shall give us flesh to eat?"(Nu.11:4-5) God sent them quails, which gives us a revealing glimpse as to why they stopped short from doing the commandments with their heart and soul. Their rebellious spirit brought cancer to their souls since they would not worship God, a Spirit in spirit and truth. "And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.(106:15). A wasting disease nevertheless.

These are examples and left for 'our admonition upon whom the ends of the world are come'. In short the Spirit warns us to search our hearts well as we are pilgrims and sojourners even as they. The Spirit of Christ revealed to Prophet Elisha what motivated his servant, "And he said unto him, Went not mine heart with thee, when the man (Naaman) turned again from his chariot to meet thee? Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and olive-yards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants? (2 Ki.5:26)

Deuteronomy, the Book of

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What Moses intended with the second law, for their king as the history of Israel would show was like a kingdom built upon sand. "And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book...that he may learn to fear the Lord his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them. " (17:18-19). Moses was in fact referring to the coming of their king who however would not need a nation per se that was not upright in their heart. For this reason Jesus before Pilate declares, "My kingdom is not of this world."( John 18:36)

In his lament over Jerusalem he gives us a reason why. Their love of God was as superficial as their kingdom, which would not endure. "Behold, your house is left unto you desolate"(Matt.23:38)

To recap: The fifth of the Pentateuch matches with the Book of Psalms, also in five fold divisions. The Spirit uses numbers as tags to indicate the word of God is as much essential for the inner man as is for a child of God to be perfected.

Deuteronomy, The Book of



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The fifth book in the Pentateuch in Hebrew, like the preceding books, it takes its name from its commencement, 'These be the words which Moses spake unto all Israel on this side Jordan in the wilderness,' The rabbinical text would have it as Sepher Debarim, the book of debarim, or the book of the words. The book is considered as the second law or Deuteronomion.

"According unto all that the Lord had given him in commandment unto them,"(De.1:3) we have in three discourses delivered by Moses shortly before his death, the second Law to which we shall come anon. Three discourses and three appendices, namely the Song of Moses (De.37:1-47) Blessings (De.33) His death and aftermath, are alike stapled together by the command number Three and it refers to the Son.

In short the hand of Moses set down what was God breathed. It fits with God document. His discourses spoken to all Israel in the plains of Moab consequently come within frame of reference to the Gospel account of the Beatitudes. (Matt.5)

(See entry under B-Beatitudes)

"When thou art come unto the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, and shalt possess it, and shalt dwell therein, and shalt say, I will set a king over me, like as all the nations that are about me." (De.17:14-15) The Spirit refers to the possibility of people of Israel opting for a king over them 'like as all the nations' that are about them. In such a case a second law is to be given to the future king. We see this fulfilled but in the manner Jesus avoided those who by force would make him a king ( John 6:15) is a commentary on the Law given by Moses was inadequate. In Jesus was the fulfilment of the Law. God had set a Day by decree for his Son (Ps.2:7) and he was content to abide by his Will.

Ge.4:15 Mark of Cain

"And theLordset a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him./And Cain went out from the presence of the Lord, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden." (vv.15-16)

First we shall take up the significance of the mark that God had set upon him. God is a Spirit whose mark cannot go against his holiness. Of his perfection Jesus had thus to say, "For he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust."(Matt.5:45) Here we are on sure ground to say that we see the Spirit of grace is in operation. Just as He called out Adam and created him in his own image so he is a double for his Son, he set the mark to remind of the Son whom He shall send in fullness of time. As the Word become flesh there could only be one mark that fits here.

As the son of perdition is marked 666 God set 12 as the mark of Cain. By the same rationale we have this verse in connection with Noah again another double for his Son, "And theLordsaid, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years."(Ge.6:3) Life of man is formally established in terms of the Gospel of God so this number appeared frequently. We have 12 tribes of Israel and 12 disciples.(Matt.10:1)

After his Ascension the eleven disciples cast lots for tha apostle to take the place of Judas Iscariot. Here also the Spirit meticulously gives us the number 120 who gathered in the upper room. (Ac.1:15) The Spirit uses the number 12 to signal the rounding off the body of Christ and he employs the Min-Max mode of narrative. Thus the city of New Jerusalem coming down from heaven is in multiples of 12. "Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife./And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending..." (Re.21:9-10)

Does knowledge of the mark add to our spiritual growth? I think not.

New Jerusalem

Notice the word 'again used by the writer to the Hebrews. He is clearly referring to Haggai. "Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain." In the second instance while we speak of God shaking the heavens and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land let us not forget Jesus has gone up to heaven even as Moses did. What things that cannot be shaken may remain is what is founded on the foundation of the risen Christ, the Church. It is New Jerusalem and we are no longer considering the old but the new heaven and the new earth. What happens in Jerusalem of old is insignificant and sum total of it shall be nothing. Isaiah describes it as though God has dismissed it as a waste heap."And he shall stretch out upon it the line of confusion, and the stones of emptiness."(Is.34:11b). "Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain."Ps.127:1-2)

God has put up a marker saying "This property is condemned." Notice the expression forever and ever in vv. 9-10? This is to be spiritually understood. The smell (or smoke) arising from the stench rises even to heaven. Cleansing of the world ushers a new heaven and new earth. Forever wherever used is in relation to the Son.

"And the streams thereof shall be turned into pitch, and the dust thereof into brimstone, and the land thereof shall become burning pitch./It shall not be quenched night nor day; the smoke thereof shall go up for ever: from generation to generation it shall lie waste; none shall pass through it for ever and ever."

A day is decreed for the Son. To which all the days mentioned in the Abstract (Ge.ch.1) shall flow into. It is the day of the Lord and is marked with horrors for those who refused the blessedness the Lord God held out for the blessed in the Son. It is the Day of vengeance. In order to understand the passage from Isaiah we need two passages that shall throw light on the day specified in the Book of Isaiah. "For it is the day of theLord's vengeance, and the year of recompences for the controversy of Zion"(34:8)

"Come, behold the works of the Lord, what desolations he hath made in the earth./ He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth;....Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth(Ps.46:8-10)". The earth abides forever since the fulness of God who lives in inapproachable light is shown in terms of knowledge. "For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea."(Hab.2:14). This glory is what Zion signifies. Before the foundation of the world the Lord laid the foundation stone in Zion. (Is.28:16). In the Book of Proverbs it is described as the house which Wisdom has built. The seven days marking the Abstract in the ch.1 are the pillars. God laid it perfection and it shall be in his Son a city set on a hill, which as Jesus referred cannot be hid. Isaiah refers to this work in his Son, "Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet:"(Is.28:17a)

Day of vengeance has a beginning. To this Jesus warned of, "All these are the beginning of sorrows."(Matt.24:8)Is.34 begins thus:"Come near, ye nations, to hear; and hearken, ye people: let the earth hear, and all that is therein"(v.1) Jesus explains these sorrows in a way we can well understand since we are in the middle of it. "For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquake."

Isaiah gives us the sure foundation on which the House of Prayer for all nations shall be built. "Therefore thus saith the LordGod, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste."(Is.28:16) For those who are called and who abide in his Son need have no fear but rest in His promises. By rejecting the Prince of peace and in their pride 'drunkards of Ephraim) they have taken a covenant with death.

Finally we have another reference to the judgment by line and plummet in the word "forever". The Spirit recalls God's promises to King Solomon when he appeared to him second time in Gibeon. "And he set a graven image of the grove that he had made in the house, of which theLordsaid to David, and to Solomon his son, In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all tribes of Israel, will I put my name for ever: (v.7)

Compare the above with this promise to King Solomon,"to put my name there forever; and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually.

Zerubabbel, a descendant of the royal line of David laying the foundation on the ruins of the temple destroyed by King Nebuchadnezzar, serves as a stand in for Jesus Christ. "The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and thou shalt know that theLordof hosts hath sent me unto you." (Ze.4:9). As with swords and plough shires plumb-line and plummet are symbolic of the work of Jesus Christ as the author and finisher of our faith.

And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more."Let us walk in the light of the Lord."

"Who art thou, O great mountain?" The Spirit uses the emblem of mountain to set to connect the mountain and the rock cut not with hands. (Dan.2:44)