The Mount of Olives

HIS FEET SHALL STAND IN THAT DAY UPON

THE MOUNT OF OLIVES

January 11, 2009

The title for this study came from where Zechariah prophesied: “And his feet shall stand in that day upon the Mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east.”  Zechariah 14:4-a

Yea, JESUS standing on the Mount of Olives was one of the many signs GOD gave Israel to confirm that JESUS was indeed their Messiah.   Many were the times JESUS’ feet trod upon the Mount of Olives.  Luke said:  “In the day time he was teaching in the temple; and at night he went out, and abode in the mount that is called the Mount of Olives. And all the people came early in the morning to him in the temple, for to hear him.” 

Luke 21:37-38

And JESUS said of Himself: “The Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.”  Luke 9:58   Now that is most humbling, to say the least, especially since Luke said:  At night, JESUS went out, and abode in the mount that is called the Mount of Olives.    Taking into consideration what Luke said, of necessity, His feet trod the Mount of Olives hundreds of times.

No, it didn’t register with Israel in general nor does it score with the modern day scholars.

Yea, numerous times JESUS’ feet stood on “The Mount of Olives which is before Jerusalem on the east.”  His disciples often met with Him on the Mount of Olives to receive their orders for that day.   Matthew said : “And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples, [2] Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me. [3] And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them.” Matthew 21:1-2    Then they brought JESUS the colt and His disciples sat Him upon it.   Luke said: “And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen;” Luke 19:37

Mark said after JESUS had prophesied many things concerning the fate of Jerusalem and the end of the world.   He wrote: “And as he sat upon the Mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?” And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceives you.  For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ;” Mark 13:3-6

After that concourse, JESUS and His disciple’s came together to eat the Lord’s Passover.

Mark said: “And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body.   And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it.  And he said unto them, This is my blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many. Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God. And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the Mount of Olives.” 
Mark 14:22-26 

After that event JESUS took His disciples into the Mount of Olives.” As they proceeded they came to a garden, the garden of Gethsemane. (Gethsemane was a garden within the Mount of Olives complex.)   John said it was in that garden that JESUS prayed until His sweat become as great drops of blood.  Luke 22:44 

“Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid.   There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews' preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand.”   John 19:41-42

Then John said: “The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.” John 20:1

Yea, the Angel told Mary Magdalene: “He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.  And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.   And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.   And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.” Matthew 28:6-9  

When it was time for JESUS to ascend back to Heaven, the author said:

“And, being assembled together with His disciples, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.”  Acts 1:4

Then He told them: “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” 

Acts 1:8

Luke continued: “And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.” Acts 1:9

“Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey.”  Acts 1:12 

May GOD richly bless His Church.    Amen!

THE MOUNT OF OLIVES SHALL CLAVE

IN THE MIDST THEREOF

February 2, 2009

In the previous study we dealt with were Zechariah said: “And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east.” Zechariah 14:4-a

But now let’s consider part b of verse four where Zechariah said: “And the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.”

Zechariah 14:4-b

Yea, in the previous document we found that the feet of JESUS standing on the Mount of Olives to be status-quo.   While on the other hand: “The mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst,” was anything but, for it is Supernatural and for the most part it is understood through a symbolic language.

Such was the case where Jeremiah told Israel: “The Lord called thy name, A green olive tree, fair, and of goodly fruit: with the noise of a great tumult he hath kindled fire upon it, and the branches of it are broken.”  Jeremiah 11:16

That goodly fruit, as it were, was the people of Israel thus they were the Mount of Olives that clave in the midst.

Then Isaiah made use of the Olive Tree to portray what should befall the beloved Israel in the latter days. He wrote: “When thus it shall be in the midst of the land among the people, there shall be as the shaking of an olive tree.”  Isaiah 24:13-a

Then holding true to form, the Great Apostle Paul told the Gentiles: “For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?”

Romans 11:24  

Yea, we’ve found Israel to be depicted as an olive tree and its fruit as her members.

But now to determine what it was that portrayed the feet that caused the cleavage that clave Israel in the midst and caused them to scatter in all directions.

When JESUS sent His apostles out to preach the Gospel, He told them: “Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”

Luke 10:19

(Such treading was done through the Word they preached.)

In reference to His Testimonial, the Psalmist said: “Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.”   Psalm 91:13

And he prophesied: “Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies.” Psalm 108:13

Thus, after JESUS begins to minister, He and His ministry caused great divisions among the people it was to the fulfillment of where Zechariah called: “A very great valley.   JESUS did cause division, or cleavage among the people.  While at Jerusalem He warned them: “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.   For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.” 

Matthew 10:34-35

John said of some: “And there was much murmuring among the people concerning him: for some said, He is a good man: others said, Nay; but he deceiveth the people.” John 7:12 

“Others said, This is the Christ. But some said, Shall Christ come out of Galilee?” John 7:41 

And even until this very day division exists among the descendants of Abraham.

The radio series “Unshackled” has dramatized many a story that suggests that when one of a Jewish family that  becomes a Christian the remaining members of that clan writes  him/her off as dead.

Therefore in our allegory Israel was an Olive tree and each of her members was counted as olives.  And therefore since they numbered as the sand of the sea, they were prefigured as a Mountain of Olives.

Yea, after JESUS began to minister, He and His ministry caused humongous division among the people and such division Zechariah called: “A very great valley.”

 

 

 

The Seed of the Woman and the Seed of the Serpent

THE SEED OF THE WOMAN AND THE SEED OF THE SERPENT

January 20, 2012

Now the Lord God had told our first parents: “Of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” Genesis 2:17  

But the serpent beguiled Eve and she saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.” Genesis 3:6

After that escapade, the LORD GOD confronted the serpent with: “I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.”  Genesis 3:15   With his Old Testament logic, Paul wrote: “For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.” Romans 5:19

Not forgetting that the Lord God had said to the serpent: “I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.   Yea, GOD did induce an adverse hostility between the seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent that is still ongoing.   Now JESUS was the Seed of the woman, even the seed of the Virgin Mary whom she named JESUS.   Not many days before the Jews crucified Him, JESUS addressed them as: “Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?”   Matthew 23:33   (Now He was not slandering their name but identifying them as: “The seed of the serpent that was to bruise His heel.”)

Likewise, John the Baptist reckoned the scribes and Pharisees to be the seed of the serpent when they came to be baptized of him.

Luke said: “Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?”  Luke 3:7

Yea, the Lord God told the serpent that the seed of the woman shall “bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.”  Genesis 3:15

Bruise His heels they did when they drove the nails into His hands and feet as they nailed Him to the cross.

Up to that time it might have appeared that JESUS was the loser, but nay; the prophecy didn’t end there and neither did the conflict.  

Yes, the seed of the serpent killed the SON of GOD and then He was buried by His friends.  However the story didn’t end there, for on the third day GOD raised Him from the dead.

Yea the detailed account of His death, burial and resurrection is the Gospel.   And when preached in the power of the SPIRIT, it bruises the head of the Devil and Satan.

The late Reverend Bob Jones of Toledo Ohio said it best.  He said with a great big smile, that through the work of the cross JESUS pulverized the head of the Devil and Satan.  I agree whole heartily. Amen and Amen!

Here’s a portrait of where the seed of the woman bruised the head of the serpent.   When JESUS sent His disciples out to preach His Gospel, He told them: “Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” Luke 10:19   In that context Paul said: Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; [15] And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;” Ephesians 6:14-15 

Note***

In the following doctrine the results is the same but the language differs.  For the Church is represented in the woman and her offspring is the Risen Saviour JESUS CHRIST and  He is her firstborn.   The Apostle declared CHRIST to be her firstborn.   He wrote: “Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:”  Colossians 1:15

Here is the way that Paul taught that to the Romans.  He wrote: “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.” Romans 8:29

That is to say that God’s firstborn Son must be first born from a child of GOD before a child can be born into the Kingdom of GOD.  What do you think?

Some fifty days after the death and Resurrection of JESUS CHRIST, Peter stood and preached to some that had participated in His death.

He told them: “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.”

The writer continued:

Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?  Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Acts 2:37-38

Did you notice how the tide had turned against the Devil and Satan?

Yea, many that had taken part in JESUUS’ death were pricked in the heart and asked: “Men and brethren, what shall we do?   Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.”  Acts 2:36-38

“Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.” Acts 2:41

WOW!

At that time how could a scripture be more appropriate than where the Psalmist wrote? “The heathen are sunk down in the pit that they made: in the net, which they hid, is their own foot taken.” Psalm 9:15

May the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob be blessed forever.

Amen!

 

 

Tribulation and Anguish Upon Every Soul and The Great Tribulation

TRIBULATION AND ANGUISH UPON EVERY SOUL

THAT SINNETH

(TO THE JEW FIRST AND ALSO TO THE GENTILE)

Today’s study comes from where Paul wrote: “Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile.” Romans 2:9

But when the apostle said: “Of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile.” Romans 2:9-b that reference was where JESUS sent His apostles out to preach His everlasting Gospel.  He told them: “Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.”  Matthew 10:5-7

That brought to mind the time the Jews rejected the Gospel.

“Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.” Acts 13:46

Such doctrine was in agreement of what JESUS said to the Canaanite Gentile lady who asked Him to cast the devil out of her daughter.  After much dialogue between them JESUS told her, “I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”   However after an exchange of many words: JESUS said to her:  “O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.” Matthew 15:24, 28

Paul explained elsewhere why JESUS told her that He was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel, when he wrote: “Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers.” Romans 15:8

You know what?  “Tribulation and anguish,” of which Paul spoke is none other than good old fashioned conviction of sin.  Today’s scholars don’t associate “Tribulation and anguish” with conviction of sin.  And the assumption by some, that it is yet to come, has given way to the easy belief doctrine which is to say Salvation without conviction and repentance of sin.

Yea, the Psalmist gave us a perfect example on what to expect after being bombarded by the Gospel of CHRIST he said: “I cried unto the Lord with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah.” Psalm 3:4  

Then he concluded: “For God’s anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.”

Psalm 30:5

The perfect intent of the Gospel of CHRIST is, as Paul said, to cause sin to appear as being exceedingly sinful.

Yea Conviction was designed to cause repentance for without repentance there can be no Salvation.

JESUS put a lot of emphases on repentance where He said: “I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”  Luke 13:5

(Therefore the reason tribulation and anguish was to the Jew first was that they were the first to hear and receive or reject the good news of the Gospel from the mouths of JESUS and His Apostles.)

(Yea, let it be known that tribulation and anguish are the heart felt ingredients that brings good old fashioned conviction of sin and that it in turn brings repentance unto salvation .)

After seeing the Harvest brought about by JESUS and those whom He commissioned to go into all the world and preach the Gospel the elder asked John: “What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest.  And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation.” Revelation 7:13-14-a   Then the elder said to John: “And they have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” (Verse 14-b) 

And the Angel told John: “And to her (the Bride of CHRIST) was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.” Revelation 19:8

The Apostle told us how they and all of GOD’S children are to keep their robes pure and white.   Here is that process:  “If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1John1:7 

Then said the Revelator: “They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.” Revelation 7:16

John had already heard JESUS tell his peers: “… I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.” John 6:35

Then knowing that during the Old Covenant the sun and moon were an essential part of life: “But nay, since Pentecost the Kingdom has been spiritual in nature.   Thus “The city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.” Revelation 21:23

May the GOD and FATHER of our LORD and Saviour JESUS CHRIST be blessed forever, Amen.

THE GREAT TRIBULATION

July 1, 2016

We begin this study where JESUS said: “Then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.” Matthew 24:21

Then after prophesying of several other upcoming events He said: “Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.” Matthew 24:34

It’s obvious that the trauma that caused The Great Tribulation began when He told His Apostles: “Ye know that after two days is the feast of the passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified.” Matthew 26:2 

Then He gave a sign or indicator that would signify the ending of such trauma.   He said: “Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:” Matthew 24:29

Matthew saw the earth become dark and said:  “Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.” Matthew 27:45

Seeing all, JESUS had told His apostles they would also be traumatized.  But nay, just hours before their Master was crucified Luke said: “There was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest.”

Luke 22:24-a

(They just didn’t grasp what JESUS had said concerning the trauma JESUS was to be faced with, however their trauma was not long in coming.)

During supper JESUS told His disciples that one of them was to betray Him.  As it turned out it was Judas Iscariot and JESUS excused him and told him, “What thou doest do quickly”.

John said that after they had finished eating the Passover and He had washed His Apostles feet “…he went forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden, into the which he entered, and his disciples.” John 18:1

After that Luke said: “And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation.” Luke 22:40  

Again said Luke: “JESUS being in agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” 

Luke 22:39-44

(Considering those things, it was obvious that JESUS was referring to His own stress and trauma when He said: “Then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.” Matthew 24:21

Then said Matthew:  “And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.” Matthew 26:39  

“AS IT WERE GREAT DROPS OF BLOOD, falling down to the ground.”
Luke 22:44

And another said: “And while He yet spake behold a multitude and he that was called Judas went before them, And he drew near to Jesus,  to kiss Him but Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?”

Luke 22:48    

Then he said: “And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor.” Matthew 27:2

Then Pilate sent Him to Herod and Herod sent Him back to Pilate.

Then said Luke: “They all, Art thou then the Son of God?  And he said unto them, Ye say that I am.” Luke 22:70  

Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy.”  Matthew 26:65

But Jesus held his peace.  By that time the High Priest had come on the scene and said to Jesus: “I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God.” Matthew 26:63 

“And when they had mocked Jesus they took off the purple robe  from him, and put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucify him.” Mark 15:20  

Mark went on to say: “And it was the third hour, and they crucified Jesus.” Mark 15:25

And from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.  Matthew 27:45   That meant that the sun went down at noon.   Yea, JESUS gave an omen that told when the Great Tribulation would end.  He said: “Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:” Matthew 24:29

Up to that time, JESUS suffered trauma at the hands of the Jews and Gentiles ,  but no more for the last three hours He willingly suffered at the hand of GOD.   And thus HE said I mused while the fire burned, the fire being the wrath of GOD.   Therefore the hour was free from trauma and prophecy told us what He felt the last three hours before His death.

The Spirit of CHRIST in the Prophet Jeremiah prompted him to say: “From above hath he sent fire into my bones, and it prevaileth against them: he hath spread a net for my feet, he hath turned me back: he hath made me desolate and faint all the day.”  Lamentations 1:13

And His spirit in the heart of the Psalmist encouraged him to say: “My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned.” Psalm 39:3 

Luke said: “And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.”  Luke 23:46  

What better way to end this study than where the Apostle said:

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

Amen and Amen!!

 

Jesus Defeated the Devil in 42 Months

JESUS DEFEATED THE DEVIL IN FORTY TWO MONTHS

February 18, 2010

 

The conflict of all conflicts was launched on the day of Jesus’ baptism. He ended it forty-two months later, even on the day that He arose from the dead.

Matthew described the first forty days of that forty-two months altercation:

He wrote;  “Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.

The dialogue between Jesus and the Devil went like this:

“And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.   But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.   Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.   Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.   Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;  And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.

Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.   Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.” Matthew 4:1-11

Now the first forty days of that  conflict  Jesus contended with the Devil himself, however the remaining forty months and twenty days were played out by the Devil working through the heads of Governments residing in Jerusalem at the time.

During those remaining days the men of Israel and the Gentiles came together with the soul purpose of destroying Jesus. What they did is history.   Jesus took on the Devil on the day of His baptism’ and ended it on the day of His Resurrection.

The Psalmist said it like this. He wrote; “The heathen are sunk down in the pit that they made: in the net which they hid is their own foot taken.” Psalms 9:15

Amen!

 

 

 

Jesus Christ was Set for the Rising Again of Many in Israel

JESUS CHRIST WAS SET FOR THE RISING

AGAIN OF MANY IN ISRAEL

April 24, 2013

When Simeon blessed the CHRIST CHILD and His mother, he said: “Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against.” Luke 2:34-b  

Now, that the Scriptures has yielded us insight on how JESUS was set for ‘the fall of many in Israel’ let’s search them to find where the CHRIST Child was set for the rising again of many in Israel.

Perhaps a good place to start is where GOD terminated the Law Covenant that had governed in Israel until GOD brought it to an end by annulling it.     

Though GOD annulled the Law covenant He wasn’t done with Israel for He promised a new Covenant.

He told Jeremiah: “Behold the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:” Jeremiah 31:31

Yea, God made a new Covenant with the house of Israel but the small remnant was its only recipient.

After His Resurrection, JESUS made that new Covenant a reality.  The writer said in Hebrews 9:12  “Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.”

The new and better Covenant become of force on the Day of Pentecost. 

There were many other things that Ezekiel saw (which GOD showed him in a vision.)  He saw the results of where Israel’s flesh consumed away while they stood on their feet, which Zechariah wrote about in Zechariah 14:12.

However that was concerning “The falling away of Many in Israel.”

But the rising again of many in Israel is right around the corner.

***This is Very important***

For the sake of understanding this 37th chapter of Ezekiel, we must realize when GOD called upon either JESUS or Ezekiel He addressed them as: “The Son of Man.   This is understandable since JESUS repeatedly referred to Himself as “The SON of MAN.”

In the following Scriptures GOD repeatedly called upon JESUS to perform the things at hand.  Ezekiel could only report the things he saw but could not carry out the command.   The LORD GOD asked JESUS: “Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord God, thou knowest.”

Ezekiel 37:3

JESUS CHRIST continued:  

He said: “Again the LORD GOD said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the Lord.   Thus saith the Lord God unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live:  And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the Lord.” Ezekiel 37:4-6

Then the Son of Man JESUS CHRIST said:

“So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone.  And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above:” Ezekiel 37:7-8

Another Challenge to JESUS CHRIST was:

“But there was no breath in them. Then said he unto me, “Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord God; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.” Ezekiel 37:9

Then the Son of Man, JESUS CHRIST said:

“So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army.
Ezekiel 37:10

(Now that was what JESUS made happen at Pentecost.)

That Army was not so great in number but they were great in faith, and  power in the HOLY GHOST.   Yea, that great Army carried out the great commission.

Paul agreed, he said in Romans 10:18, “But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.”

In fact they did such a good job that their adversaries said: “These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also.” Acts 17:6-b 

The great Apostle also explained why there was so few in the Army of GOD.   He asked: “What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded.” Romans 11:7

Although JESUS’ disciples were few in number, they were returned to  the Kingdom on the Day of Pentecost.   JESUS had told them earlier: “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” Luke 12:32

Yea, through the transitioned from the Law to the better Grace Covenant, wherein that powerful few were the seed of Abraham according to the flesh, at Pentecost they became the members of CHRIST and flesh of His flesh.

The Great Apostle Paul said as much:

He wrote “For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.”  Ephesians 5:30

And from that time on, all the children of GOD have become flesh of JESUS’ flesh and bone of His bone.

During the Old Testament the seed of Abraham issued forth from Abraham, through Isaac, then Jacob, while during the New Testament, the seed of Abraham are gathered to Abraham through CHRIST.

Paul agreed, he said: “And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Galatians 3:29   

“Bless the Lord O my soul for all His benefits!”        

Amen!

Jesus Christ was Set for the Fall of Many in Israel

JESUS CHRIST WAS SET FOR THE FALL

OF MANY IN ISRAEL

April 10, 2013

I came up with the title from paraphrasing the scriptures where Simeon blessed the baby JESUS and His mother, Mary.   Luke wrote: “And Simeon said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against;

Luke 2:34

The fall in Simeon’s prophecy was brought on by Israel’s leaders rejecting, and then crucifying the LORD JESUS CHRIST.   John said: “They cried out, away with him, away with him, crucify him.” John 19:15a

During the Old Testament, GOD had a special place in His heart for the children of Israel out of respect for their founding fathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.   In Genesis, GOD told Abram, whom He later called Abraham; “Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;” Genesis 15:13   After serving in Egypt under Pharaoh’s taskmasters, GOD delivered them by His servant Moses.   Yea, He delivered them and set them on a course that would eventually land them to Canaan.   While in route to that good land, the LORD warned:

“That the land spue not you out also, when ye defile it, as it spued out the nations that were before you.” Leviticus 18:28

(That meant that the Good Land had vomited out its predecessors, the fact being, they had committed abominable acts.)

Moses taught the people the Ten Commandments as a means for righteous living.   Then he added:

Thou hast avouched the Lord this day to be thy God, and to walk in his ways, and to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and to hearken unto his voice:  And the Lord hath avouched thee this day to be his peculiar people, as he hath promised thee, and that thou shouldest keep all his commandments; And to make thee high above all nations which he hath made, in praise, and in name, and in honour; and that thou mayest be an holy people unto the Lord thy God, as he hath spoken.” Deuteronomy 26:17-19

GOD was preparing Israel to be a nation that was different from all others as Moses had previously told them:  “The LORD had a delight in thy fathers to love them, and He chose their seed after them, even you above all people, as it is this day.” Deuteronomy 10:15

Subsequently Moses mediated the Law Covenant between GOD and Israel that make them His special people.   Moses commenced:

“Ye stand this day all of you before the Lord your God; your captains of your tribes, your elders, and your officers, with all the men of Israel, Your little ones, your wives, and thy stranger that is in thy camp, from the hewer of thy wood unto the drawer of thy water:  That thou shouldest enter into covenant with the Lord thy God, and into his oath, which the Lord thy God maketh with thee this day: That he may establish thee to day for a people unto himself, and that he may be unto thee a God, as he hath said unto thee, and as he hath sworn unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.   Neither with you only do I make this covenant and this oath;  But with him that standeth here with us this day before the Lord our God, and also with him that is not here with us this day:” Deuteronomy 29:10-15

Moses having dwelt with Israel for the past several years predicted: “For I know that after my death ye will utterly corrupt yourselves, and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you; and evil will befall you in the latter days; because ye will do evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger through the work of your hands.” Deuteronomy 31:29

Israel did provoke God to anger through the work of their hands by killing His Son, the LORD JESUS CHRIST but more on that later.

Yea, Israel’s leaders ignored their pact with GOD and went their own way; and in His displeasure, the LORD said:

Hear, I pray you, O heads of Jacob, and ye princes of the house of Israel; Is it not for you to know judgment?   Who hate the good, and love the evil; who pluck off their skin from off them, and their flesh from off their bones;  Who also eat the flesh of my people, and flay their skin from off them; and they break their bones, and chop them in pieces, as for the pot, and as flesh within the caldron.” Micah 3:1-3

(Now that was only a part of Israel’s abdominal works, and GOD had had enough.)

Then Amos wrote; “The Lord said unto me, The end is come upon my people of Israel; I will not again pass by them any more. Amos 8:1-2

Then in disgust, the LORD said: “Surely I will never forget any of their works.   Shall not the land tremble for this and every one mourn that dwelleth therein?” Amos 8:7b-8a

Then GOD gave them a sign as to when the end should come upon His People Israel.

He said to Amos: “It shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord God, that I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in the clear day:”   Amos 8:9  As you are aware GOD did cause the sun to go down on the day of the crucifixion, from the sixth to the ninth hour which I to say, from noon to three O’clock PM.

There was other phenomenon witnessed while JESUS was suffering on the cross. Matthew said: “And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;” Matthew 27:51

Yea, the earth did quake under the feet of those whose flesh was being consumed while they stood on their feet; little doubt the earthquake was a natural event was in sank with the Good Land that was spewing out Israel as it had its predecessors. And it was ridding itself of all Israel.

For the LORD told Ezekiel: And say to the land of Israel, Thus saith the Lord; Behold, I am against thee, and will draw forth my sword out of his sheath, and will cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked.”

Ezekiel 21:3

Also on the day of all days Israel, at large, lost their prestigious position of being GOD’S special people, which has belonged to the Church since Pentecost.   Remember JESUS told those whom He named His Church: “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” Luke 12:32

As formally stated, Israel was special because they were Abraham’s seed according to the flesh.   But under the New Grace Covenant the flesh is excluded altogether.   Therefore the LORD chose to explain in depth when and how Israel suffered that loss.   During the Old Testament, Israel was a holy nation.   No, not because they were good, but to the contrary.   Yet, God imputed holiness (not righteousness) to them because they were the children of Abraham.   Oft times God called her on the carpet for committing the detestable thing.   On one such occasion God asked: "What hath my beloved to do in mine house, seeing she hath wrought lewdness with many, and the holy flesh is passed from thee? When thou doest evil, then thou rejoicest." Jeremiah 11:15

In case you find the words holy flesh offensive, well don’t.    Just remember that God said it first.   The LORD prophesied of the destruction of Israel’s flesh.   He said: “I will bring distress upon men, that they shall walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the Lord: and their blood shall be poured out as dust, and their flesh as the dung.  …for he shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land. Zephaniah 1:17-18b

 

Therefore, when she committed an unholy act, their flesh, as it were, became contaminated.

Prior to “the day of all days” it could be restored to its purity though the sacrificial law.   But not this time; for they had killed the Son of GOD, which caused the cup of iniquity to overflowed its rim.   And therefore their holy flesh consumed away as they stood on their feet, not to be restored.

Here is the prophecy that led up to that reckoning moment.

Zechariah said: "And this shall be the plague wherewith the Lord will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem: their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet. Zechariah 14:12

Yet another prophecy that foretold of Israel’s loss of flesh. Zephaniah wrote: “The great day of the Lord is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the Lord: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly.” Zephaniah 1:14   On the day Israel lost their holy flesh, the Mighty man JESUS did cry there bitterly. He cried “My GOD MY GOD why hast thou forsaken me?”

When Israel lost their favorable position with GOD their unbelievers were completely unaware of their loss.   Daniel foretold of their ignorant event:  He said: “Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.” Daniel 12:10

Now that we’ve seen what Simeon meant when he said that the child JESUS was set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; Luke 2:34

We’ve followed the prophecy all the way to where Israel fell because JESUS became a snare to them.

May our LORD JESUE CHRIST be blessed forever.

Amen!!

 

Leaving The Principles of The Doctrine of Christ

Let Us Go Onto Perfection

March 4, 2013

Our title is a direct quote from where the writer said:

“Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God.  Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of lying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.”   Hebrews 6:1-2

Now what He has said might sound a bit controversial, but no, we learned those truths and believed them to saving of the soul.

My understanding is that the principle doctrine of Christ is the birthright of the newborn in Christ but it is not the will of God that they remain as such at this level of understanding.

Peter said: “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:” 1 Peter 2:2 

However, the Hebrew scribe said that it was time to move on.   He wrote: “For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.   For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.”  Hebrews 5:12-13  

It has been said that the Church is famished because they are being fed with milk rather than with meat.     Paul said:  “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15

If God had His way, the weak in Paul’s stimulus would only be the newborn in Christ.  However, that is seldom the case, for some were saved decades earlier, but yet they are on the milk of the WORD.

May God’s blessings be upon all,

Amen!