Come and See
After These Things
Chapter 6 of the Gospel of John – Part i
Come and see the works of God: he is terrible in his doing toward the children of men. (Psalm 66:5)
For I [know] their works and their thoughts: it shall come, that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see my glory. (Isaiah 66:18)
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He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about tenth hour. (John 1:39)
And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see. (John 1:46)
And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see. (John 11:34)
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Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; (Philippians 1:27)
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And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see. (Revelation 6:1)
And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see. (Revelation 6:3)
And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. (Revelation 6:5)
And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see. (Revelation 6:7)
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Introduction
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  Come and see the wonders of the word of God through both the written and the Living Word. The Author of all life wants to communicate with mankind. He has done this over the millenniums by His written word, and by His prophets with the seal of God upon them. He testified to man through His Law, and brought mankind to a point where Adam has no hope, but in these last days He has spoken unto us by His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, the Living Word.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1) The same was in the beginning with God. (John 1:2) All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. (John 1:3)
  The manifestation of God’s dear Son has brought grace and truth to mankind. In the writings of man all authors have a purpose in their minds, whether fact or fiction, there is a purpose and usually truth is the victim of their vanity and pride. All philosophies come from a corrupt source which is all men in Adam. You cannot expect to hear a fine sound from a broken instrument especially since man in Adam is under sin and the corruption of death. Man, in Adam, is born into the kingdom of Abaddon; he is their father, and he reigns in his own kingdom. When the devil lied to Eve and Adam, Adam in turn took that lie upon himself. At the tree of the knowledge of good and evil the devil declared, ye shall be as gods; mankind has come far short of that.
  Sin deformed mankind. It deforms his thoughts, his spirit and his soul. Sin dictates to man what he thinks, and how he acts because man acts on the basis of sin and not on the righteousness of God. Before the fall of Adam, he thought and acted on the principle within him which was the righteousness of God. After the fall Adam thought and acted on the principle of sin and death, completely opposite from God’s righteousness. Sin turned Adam’s heart against his Creator; therefore, God, in His righteousness, banished Adam from the garden and from life. The kingdom of Adam became the history of sin and death in all of mankind. Then man strove to build the kingdom of sin throughout millenniums; however, God always held out His hand with mercy and grace beginning with Abel. His mercy and grace were passed on through the line of Seth. And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the LORD. (Genesis 4:26) This was called the line or the seed of the sons of God, for they attached the name of God to themselves, and called their name the sons of God, and they called on the name of the Lord. This continued until all was corrupted through the line of Seth, and by the line or evil seed of Cain, (Genesis 6) and consequently, God was left with a world in total moral decay.
  None of us would be here today except for the preaching, and the affections of one man, a preacher of God’s righteousness, and his name was Noe/Noah. And Noah was perfect or pure in his generations. He was the last seed of Seth who had not been corrupted by the daughters of men through the evil seed of Cain,  neither had he mingled with the apostate line of Seth. He was an outcast, he was separated unto God and the world hated him for the preaching of righteousness. All the sons of God (in the line of Seth) had gone in the way of Cain, and all the world was corrupted except for Noah. Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core. (Jude 1:11) They were marrying and given in marriage to the daughters of men (the line of Cain) to spread the lie that they shall be as gods. Can one man make a difference in an ungodly world? Yes! For Noah found grace in God’s sight. But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. (Genesis 6:8) Truly, none of us would be here today except for the preaching of Noah, a determined preacher who believed in God and preached the righteousness of God. And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; (2 Peter 2:5) Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. (1 Peter 3:20)
  The mercy and grace of God allowed the Almighty to bring Noah and his family through the flood. Because of Noah’s preaching and faith in God, his family was brought safely through the flood. Noah was the ONLY preacher of righteousness in his day, not Shem, nor Ham, nor Japheth. God’s mercy was given to Noah’s family, but only Noah found grace in the sight of God. Their actions on the other side of the flood proved their hearts. Only Noah built an altar to God. Somewhere among his sons, the corruption of the daughters of men, or from the seed of Cain, came through the flood into the new world. This is how the giants came through the flood masked in the family of Noah. This leads us to Nimrod (a grandson of Ham). There is no mention of God’s righteousness throughout all the generations after the death of Noah until God called Abraham. Nimrod was still following the old lie of the devil, and to link Nimrod to the line of Cain, God called Nimrod ‘a mighty one in the earth.’ (Genesis 10:8) And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth. This links Nimrod with the men of Genesis 6. Before the flood, the men of the line of Cain were the giants who dominated all of mankind except for Noah. Nimrod was the first to develop a kingdom upon the earth; thus, he was the first king and the first throne sitter. The reality of the tower of Babel was that it was the temple of Nimrod so that he could show himself as god (and ye shall be as gods), which will be fulfilled by the man of sin in the book of Revelation, Chapter 13.
  This is why we have the construction of the tower of Babel where the entire known world met in one language to worship the stars and themselves. Much as today, mankind believes that he can conquer the stars in space. We should search the Scriptures and understand that God has witnessed against these things. There have been astronauts and space vehicles vaporized into eternity, yet, man will not hear the voice of God. With the computer age, once again, the whole world is of one language. The whole world is again looking to the stars, looking to the planets for hope, for they do not have hope in God. God will continue to slow them down and there will be more lives lost, but according to the record of mankind, they will not listen. God gave man a beautiful dwelling place, a garden, the beauties that we cannot even begin to describe, and man cast all that aside for sin, and death. God created the earth as a special and a unique dwelling place for man. If man today would fall on his knees and repent and turn to God with a whole heart, the desert would bloom as a garden, the mountains would sing through their waterfalls, and man again would be blessed of God; yet, man will not repent.
  If He wanted man to have wings as the angels, He would have given man wings. If He wanted man to soar through space, He would not have created gravity. THIS is our set place in Adam. True ascension has to come through the Lord Jesus Christ, and the heavens of heavens is our destination, not the stars, and neither the planets.Â
  In the case of Nimrod, God confounded the entire language of the whole world so that they were unable to communicate, and then He scattered them all over the world. Why? To SLOW their progressive sin, so that they would not destroy themselves. Through the centuries, through the millenniums of mankind, God has corrected kingdoms so that man could not fulfill the devil’s lie, and ye shall be as gods. God works AGAINST the kingdoms of man, and the evidence of this was the tower of Babel.
  From the flood all the way to Abraham, the word ‘righteousness’ is not found in that span of time. We go from a preacher of righteousness to NO righteousness in the hearts of man. Therefore, God, in His divine election, called Abraham out of Ur of Chaldees. This was the FIRST appearance of God to man since the flood and Noah. God called Abraham OUT of a world of idolatry, for the whole world, once again, had corrupted themselves with man-made gods and in the worship of themselves.
  In Genesis Chapter 17, Abraham BELIEVED God. This included believing IN God, and this was counted unto him for righteousness. God brought Abraham under the veil of His grace and mercy. God repeats this phrase counted it to him for righteousness, twice; however, God also displays His righteousness by reckoning Abraham under His grace and righteousness. The word ‘reckoned’ shows that the slate of sin is cleared, and there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. In the word ‘accounted’ it is simply that God’s mercy outweighed Abraham’s sin. Abraham was justified by the Justifier of man. In James 2:23, the word ‘imputed’ takes us deeper into God’s righteousness for Christ has fulfilled all righteousness for it is only through the Lord Jesus Christ that God can impute righteousness to anyone. This is ALL based on the Lord of glory’s sacrifice on the cross of Calvary.
And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness. (Genesis 15:6)
For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. (Romans 4:3)
Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. (Romans 4:9)
Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. (Galatians 3:6)
And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. (James 2:23)
  We see in Abraham a divine separation, he was separated from his family, he was separated from his nation, and he was separated from the world. God KEPT a divine circle of faith around the life and travels of Abraham. Everything that Abraham needed for his spiritual well-being and for his physical preservation was given by God. Abraham was in the world, but had no roots in the world. For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. (Hebrews 11:10) But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city. (Hebrews 11:16) He was so separated that God could visit him at will. There is no other visitation in ALL of Scripture by the Lord to man as the manifestation of Himself to Abraham. As a friend, God visited with Abraham, and he received the first double call: Abraham, Abraham, (Genesis 22:11) Even when the Lord was upon the earth He declared His relationship with Abraham, He had revealed to Abraham His day, and Abraham rejoiced in it because the Lord Jesus (through His Melchisedec priesthood) disclosed His sacrificial death upon the cross and the plan of redemption for mankind. Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. (John 8:56) Abraham was unique, even though, he is called a ‘Hebrew’ he was by birth a Chaldean, even the word ‘Hebrew’ denotes a separation from all nations and the people of the world. His life and call of God are so unique that Stephen in Acts Chapter 7 began with Abraham, not with Adam, nor with Seth, neither with Noah, but he began with Abraham being called of God by a direct visitation of the Lord Jesus Christ to Abraham when he was in Ur of Chaldees. What is so amazing about the witness of Stephen was that he even used the word ‘appeared.’ God APPEARED to Abraham when He called him out of the wickedness of idolatry. We cannot find this record in the book of Genesis, God the Holy Spirit reveals this in the testimony of Stephen in the book of Acts. And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran, (Acts 7:2)
  Idolatry  is not just the worship of stone, wood, and metal. (Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:. (Exodus 20:4) (Leviticus 26:1; Deuteronomy 4:15-19; 5:8; 27:15; Psalm 97:7 ) These are images, and those who worship these images give these images names. Names of their god, or gods, but this is not all, with this idolatry comes a false priesthood: religious rites and abominable acts in the guise of righteousness. Consequently, false religion becomes a fetish or lust for their god, and the chief mover behind the scenes is Beelzebub who pulls the strings. He is not merely a deceiver, but he is also an instigator to do evil, to promote evil, and to multiple evil. The result, in the days of Noah, was that evil became insanity that controlled the masses, and caused them to rebel against ALL authority, both divine and temporal.
  The Holy Spirit of God speaks of completion and God’s rest through Stephen’s message in Chapter 7 of the book of Acts because the number 7 speaks of completion, and God’s rest. It was at the completion of the work of God in Genesis Chapter 1 that God looked upon it and all was ‘good.’ Of course, this was before the fall of man, and this takes us to Acts Chapter 7. The rejection of the message of the servant of God, in Stephen, was the rejection of the Spirit of God by the Jews, and by the world. Stephen testified to the Jews, who had rejected the Lord Jesus, that this was their final call by the Spirit of God. How do I know this? I know this because of the testimony of Stephen: we have two voices, one was the testimony of Stephen, and the other voice in Chapter 7 was the voice of the Spirit of God concerning Stephen. After his testimony to the Jews, and at his death, Stephen looked up and saw the rejected Son of God standing at the right hand of the Almighty God. This is recorded in Acts 7:55 through 59. And the call of Abraham is found in Acts 7:2.
And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran, (Acts 7:2)
But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, (Acts 7:55)
And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. (Acts 7:59)
  Reading the testimony of Stephen that he gave to the political and religious Jewish leadership there was not one hesitation nor error in his message. He was in the light of the Spirit of God, and he was receiving the promise of the Lord Jesus Christ that when they bring you before the magistrates have no fear for at that time, He will give you the words to speak. But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. (Matthew 10:19) For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you. (Matthew 10:20)
  We are told today by the professing church to ignore these Scriptures because the attitude is that the God of the Bible does not exist in the world today. Well, let this preacher tell you, He is not only able to put words in MY mouth, but He is also able to put His words in ALL the mouths of His children. This, of course, excludes the hireling, the men of profit, and the extortionists who use the name of Christ for their own greed and gain to fill their coffers with filthy lucre. The nuts and bolts of the whole scheme of Satan is to overthrow ALL that is of God. As Satan entered into Judas, so he also entered into the hearts of those who stoned Stephen.
  The same heart of Adam (who was driven out of the garden) was in those who stoned Stephen. It is the same heart, in Adam, that cried with a loud voice, Crucify him, crucify him when they condemned the Lord to death on the cross. They had rejected their Messiah, they had rejected their King, they had rejected their God, and with the death of Stephen, they rejected the Holy Spirit of God. When they cried out against the Lord Jesus, they not only proclaimed their own judgment, but they also pronounced their own sentence for the evil that they were doing. With the same loud shrill voices they proclaimed to the whole world, His blood be on us, and on our children. (Matthew 27:25) This blood is still being spilt by the Jews and their children throughout the whole world. This river of blood began at the fountain of hatred and rebellion against God and His Messiah within the evil hearts of the Pharisees, the Sadducees, and the rulers of the Jews, and let’s not forget Rome. Pilate is still washing his hands in hell, and this blood will never wash off. He stained his hands with divine blood for all eternity. He will never cleanse his hands. He should have listened to his wife when she implored him, by a messenger, to have nothing to do with this just man (speaking of the Lord Jesus Christ). For she had suffered many things in a dream. When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him. (Matthew 27:19) Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified. (Matthew 27:26) When Pilate received this message from his wife he was sitting down on the judgment seat. This message was his final call; however, Pilate remained on the seat and delivered the Lord to be crucified, this was Pilate’s end.
  All this in the introduction to get to John Chapter 6. Why? Well . . . the number 6 testifies to the number of man, and our short introduction is to show us the heart of man will be completely fulfilled in Revelation Chapter 13, and his number is 6 – 6 – 6. His title is ‘man of sin,’ and ‘the beast,’ his companion is the ‘false prophet,’ and his father and master is the devil. He finally will achieve his ultimate position: the MAN OF SIN in Adam (the first man who brought sin into the world) will finally (in type) walk into the temple of God and show himself and declare himself as God at the direction of Satan. The lie of the devil after all these centuries and millenniums will come to its fullness in the man of sin: and ye shall be as gods.
Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; (2nd Thessalonians 2:3) Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. (2nd Thessalonians 2:4) Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? (2nd Thessalonians 2:5)
  Therefore, we needed a ‘little’ introduction about man, and who man really is. Now we will begin our study of Chapter 6 of the gospel of John with the first three words in this Chapter, After these things.
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Chapter 6 of the Gospel of John
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After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias. (John 6:1)
  After WHAT things? The Spirit of God has made sure that we understand that what is about to take place (as recorded in John Chapter 6) was one of the greatest testimonies to the work and power of God within His Son the Lord Jesus Christ. This tremendous miracle is recorded in all of the four gospels. This is not a light thing for the Lord fed about five thousand men, besides women and children. (Matthew 14:21; Matthew 16:9) (Mark 6:44; 8:19) (Luke 9:14) (John 6:10) By the repetition in all four gospels by the Spirit of God makes THIS miracle unique and one that we should pay attention to.
  Now, we understand that the Spirit of God is the Spirit of Christ, His Son. We understand that the Spirit of God is the Spirit of the Father, we also understand that the Holy Ghost is the Spirit of God. In the fullness of the Godhead, all three are united in fullness in the divine manifestation of the Son of God with the title and the divine name of the Lord Jesus Christ. That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; (Philippians 2:10) (We have a divine name given to the Lord Jesus Christ over the three realms of His creation: heaven, earth and the things under the earth, or the things not seen.) The Spirit of Christ is the CENTER of the manifestation of God. God the Spirit is the working power as the Spirit of Christ so that we worship the Father in Spirit and in truth. All the Godhead is manifested in the Living Son of God, who is the brightness of God’s glory and the express image of His Person. (Hebrews 1:3) The Lord Jesus Christ in His manifestation was filled with the divine Spirit of God, for He (being the Spirit of God) which is the Spirit of Christ received not the Spirit by measure, but by ALL fullness of the Godhead bodily. Unlike the prophets who received the Spirit of Christ in measure, Christ was the Spirit of God unto Himself. The evidence in the Word of God that testifies to these profound facts is found in the following Scriptures.
But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. (Romans 8:9)
For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him. (John 3:34)
And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. (Galatians 4:6)
For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, (Philippians 1:19)
Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. (1st Peter 1:11)
  The Spirit of God makes a declaration in John 6:1, After these things; therefore, before continuing on into Chapter 6, let us examine what took place just prior to Chapter 6. The most important thing is found in Matthew 14:10-13.
And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison. (Matthew 14:10) And his head was brought in a charger, and given to the damsel: and she brought it to her mother. (Matthew 14:11) And his disciples came, and took up the body, and buried it, and went and told Jesus. (Matthew 14:12) When Jesus heard of it, he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart: and when the people had heard thereof, they followed him on foot out of the cities. (Matthew 14:13)
  The beheading of John the Baptist was at the request and conspiracy of Herodias and her malodorous daughter. Herodias was the wife of Herod’s brother Philip, and John had strongly rebuked Herod for taking his brother’s wife. However, Herodias must have taken John’s rebuke much harder than Herod. Although Herod had put John in prison, it was Herodias who desperately wanted John’s life and head. Herod was a notably evil man and he was the true son of his father Herod recorded in Matthew 2:16. also the father of Archelaus, (another evil man). Don’t forget Rachel weeping for her children when Herod gave the order to murder all the children from two years old and under in the city of Bethlehem.
Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men. (Matthew 2:16) Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, (Matthew 2:17) In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not. (Matthew 2:18)
  This was the heart of the political world that John and the Lord of glory came into. All was evil, from Caesar down to the centurions, with their individual idols fearing not the Almighty God. These men were ministers in the devil’s kingdom, and were being led by Satan to the ultimate pot of fools gold of Revelation Chapter 13. Satan believed his own lie (and ye shall be as gods) even to the point of attempting to overthrow the Son of God as documented n Matthew 4:8-10.
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; (Matthew 4:8) And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. (Matthew 4:9)
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. (Matthew 4:10)
  One thing that is rarely brought out in these verses is that the Lord Jesus never rebuked the devil concerning the devil’s power over the kingdoms of the world. Christ rebuked him on the fact of worship: that worship only belongs to the Almighty God. This was the thorn in Satan’s side for he was thrown out of heaven’s realm because of his desire to be worshiped higher and mightier than the Almighty God. Satan/Lucifer wanted the throne of God. For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: (Isaiah 14:13) I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. (Isaiah 14:14) Since the second that he was cast down to the dust of the earth, he has desired to usurp the authority of God over mankind, and to build his own kingdom upon the earth. Therefore, he picked man as his stooge to be the promoter of his kingdom of evil. Through the centuries and millenniums, he has led mankind by the nose ring of evil. No one needs a divine testimony for the evil that is in man, even today, many will die at the hands of the evil that is promoted by Satan, and by Adam. There is no denying that we live in an evil world, only the ostrich does not see above the ground. The world has buried their heads in the sand of their own lust and corruption, and they are paving the long path to Revelation Chapter 13.
  Herod was living the lie literally that ye shall be as gods. He had a group of followers (the Herodians) who worshiped him in his own religious sect. Ye shall be as gods, was his daily thought because both Herod and Caesar viewed themselves as gods. This is why Caesar put his image on his coin so that he would be worshiped by all of Rome. When the Lord was tempted concerning the image of Caesar on Caesar’s coin, He declared unto the Jews, Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s. This was never about taxes, it was about Caesar’s image on the coin brazenly flaunting his godlike dominance and sovereignty over the known world – Ye shall be as gods. Through this monetary object Caesar had declared himself to be a god.
  The Jews KNEW that they had been called out of Egypt by the great I AM, that Moses had given them the commandments by the finger of God, and gave them the Levitical structure with its ordinances and sacrifices from the hand of the Almighty God. Their devotion should have been to God, and not to Caesar. The Lord Jesus was presenting to them the world that they lived in, and His world that He represented which was the entire creation. Mankind has perverted the concept that God is sovereign over all. They do not believe Psalm 24, but they do believe in render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, but they totally ignore and unto God the things that are God’s. In Deuteronomy Chapter 10, verse 14, we are reminded that, Behold, unto Jehovah thy God belongeth heaven and the heaven of heavens, the earth, with all that is therein.
  In the book of Job 41:11 we read, Who hath first given unto me, that I should repay him? Whatsoever is under the whole heaven is mine. The hungry lust of man for money has perverted all of the political and religious systems, they are under Caesar’s domain which in turn is the building of the kingdom of the devil leading to Revelation Chapter 13. Examine the words in Matthew 22:17-22 and Matthew 4:8-10.
Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk. (Matthew 22:15)
And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men. (Matthew 22:16)
But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites? (Matthew 22:18)
Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny. (Matthew 22:19)
And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? (Matthew 22:20)
They say unto him, Caesar’s. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s. (Matthew 22:21)
When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way. (Matthew 22:22)
  There have been many men through world history who thought of themselves as the god of this world. Satan led them to their own destruction just as he is leading himself to his own destruction in the lake of fire.
  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; (Matthew 4:8) And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. (Matthew 4:9) What the devil promised the Lord Jesus in Matthew Chapter 4, Caesar was reaching out for the lure of the devil, and this brought about Caesar’s end. Remember although the devil has great authority on planet Earth, it is still God Almighty who sets up and removes kingdoms as if they never existed. The once great city of Nineveh vanished. The great kingdom of Nebuchadnezzar is but mounds of dust. The Egyptian Pharaoh lays decaying in the sands of Egypt, and both the Median and Persian Empires have dissolved into time. Centuries since the Lord was crucified has shown us the fulfillment of the word of the Lord Jesus Christ, He came not to bring peace into the world but the sword. Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. (Matthew 10:34) Since the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ there has been untold blood shed upon this planet. The rejection of the Lord of glory brought a sword to the kingdoms of mankind, and therefore, the blood continues to flow, and will come to an end when Christ returns and destroys the kingdom of Satan, and the kingdoms of this world.
  Many would say there is a contradiction in Matthew 10:34, did not the Lord Jesus promise peace? Yes, He did promise peace to His disciples, and to all those who would follow and believe in Him and have their life in Him. Contrary to popular belief within the religious community there are no different grades of Christians, there is not an A Christian, or a B grade of Christian, or a C grade Christian, etc. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:28) It is to these chosen vessels, who have the seed within themselves, that the seed within has sprung forth into everlasting life by the watering of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ: the Word of God. They have been born anew into the kingdom of God to show forth God’s righteousness to an ungodly world. These found in Jesus Christ the peace and rest of God which no one can take away or destroy. All the venom of the devil cannot take their peace and their rest away. They are possessed and indwelt by the Spirit of Christ which will not depart, and cannot depart, from their hearts, souls, and spirit. They have been grafted into the true vine of God: the Lord Jesus Christ, and these branches will bring forth fruit for the Almighty. Adam has no place, and Adam resents it that he has no place whatsoever in God’s vine; thus, his enmity against God spills over to the children of God. Adam will always be a child of the world, and of the kingdom of the devil. Only through the Lord Jesus Christ can mankind be delivered out of the grips of Adam’s sin and death. Only Christ can give His Spirit (the Spirit of His life) to the immortal souls of His children.
  The evil kingdoms of this world will be destroyed when the Lord comes to set up His millennial kingdom. He will have a great conflict with the kingdoms of this world. Many kingdoms will be destroyed, and those that remain will be put into subjection to the Lord of glory, and the King of Kings. But this is not the final conflict! After the thousand-year reign of Christ, the devil (Abaddon, Beelzebub, Satan, the old serpent, Lucifer the fallen) will be loosed for a short season. He will stir up the kingdoms of the world against God’s Christ. It worked once for Satan. Surely it will again work . . . but not this time. Christ will take these kingdoms and judge them at the great white throne, as well as the resurrection of the dead, as well as the judgments against the man of sin, the false prophet, and Satan himself. They will all be cast into the lake of fire throughout all eternity where there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth with a punishment that will never end.
  It is quite evident that Satan has developed a tremendous material world to be worshiped by all sorts of humanity. The fallen Lucifer has taken away truth and righteousness, and left Adam with sin and death. Adam does not want to forfeit his material world; regardless of political or religious systems, Adam’s kingdom must stand because all is based upon mammon. Money drives his heart, soul and spirit, and Adam (mankind) will never forfeit his vineyard (kingdom) unless God tears it from his grasping hands. Mankind has surrendered his heart, soul and spirit to his material god which is all driven by lust and greed for wealth. Mankind today, as Caesar, sees himself as god.’
  I was shocked to see a video clip of violent terrorist protestors demanding that police officers bow the knee to them — Ye shall be as gods. We are in a frightful state for I also saw some officers willingly agree to their wicked demands and bowed the knee. These people are so full of Satan (whether they understand it or not) that they desire the worship of others that are not of their ilk — Ye shall be as gods. Consequently, we have the worship of man, but this is what man’s religion is all about. Truly, it is inspired by Satan. Adam still believes the lie of the garden, Ye shall be as gods. When anyone joins a religious system or a church organization, they enter in to dwell among many gods not wanting to forfeit their hearts, their souls, and their spirits to the Almighty God in Jesus Christ. They are so busy (as bees) building their individual tower of Babel; however, their tower, no matter how great, will be destroyed in the extermination of Babylon the Great, the mother of harlots, and the abomination of the earth. And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. (Revelation 17:5) Hatred does not have to have a reason because hatred is the blindness of the heart of mankind in his madness.
  After these things . . . what else had taken place before Chapter 6 of the gospel of John? In Chapter 5 of John, the pharisaical enmity against the Lord was so great that they sought to slay Him because He had claimed equality with God the Father. This infuriated the Jews to the point of murderous insanity. Hate is beyond all reason, and Adam has developed a propensity for insane hatred. The word ‘enmity’ in the Scriptures denotes hatred for the Almighty God.  The actions of the Jews in Chapter 5 of John displayed that enmity and that hatred for God. Sin is much more than action. Sin has its roots in the devils lie, and the very root of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The tree is a symbol of the bridge: on one side we have good, and on the other side we have evil. If left alone, the tree can do no damage, but when God told Adam that if he partook of that tree that he would surely die. God told Adam, ‘Don’t cross that bridge from good to evil. Don’t try to join those branches together.’ Adam did not (and would not) leave that tree alone. Adam crossed that bridge unable to return back to the other side to righteousness. Do not think that God didn’t know what Adam was going to do, and do not think that God didn’t know what HE was going to do in the sacrifice of Himself to take the very curse of sin out of the world in Jesus Christ. The very root of sin is intertwined with evil and the lie of the devil for the author of evil is the fallen angel himself. Lucifer brought evil into the world, and Adam brought sin and death into the world, and consequently became a partaker of the evils of Satan. Hatred does not have to have a reason because hatred is the blindness of the heart of mankind in his madness.
SIDE NOTE: Without a Cause: It is recorded in Scripture concerning the Lord Jesus Christ, they hated Him without a cause. But [this cometh to pass], that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause. (John 15:25) This was the fulfillment of Old Testament Scriptures, both in word and in type. In Psalm 69:4, it was fulfilled in the word of God, it was the Spirit’s prophecy of the hatred of Adam directed to the Son of God. They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of mine head: they that would destroy me, [being] mine enemies wrongfully, are mighty: then I restored [that] which I took not away. (Psalm 69:4) Notice in this psalm their hatred is without a cause, and not only do we have individual hatred, but the multitude of haters are more than hairs on the head. Their hatred develops only to destroy their enemies wrongfully. The haters are mighty, however, what they thought that they destroyed in the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus, Christ restored that which he took not away. Adam brought sin INTO the world, and Christ took sin OUT of the world. But there is more to the hatred of mankind. In Psalm 109:3, they gathered around, they circled the wagons, They compassed me about. This is a circle which they employed so that the righteous cannot escape. No matter how large the circle there is still the ascension of the Lord Jesus, their words are words of hatred, they obey not the law, nor the commandments of God. They tear them up. And it came to pass, that when Jehudi had read three or four leaves, he cut it with the penknife, and cast it into the fire that was on the hearth, until all the roll was consumed in the fire that was on the hearth. Yet they were not afraid, nor rent their garments, neither the king, nor any of his servants that heard all these words. (Jeremiah 36:23, 24) They showed their despite for the things of God, and fight against what is true without a cause based ONLY on their insane hatred for anything that is right and just. (The whole world witnessed this hatred when the Speaker of the House in Congress tore up the speech of the President of the United States showing her disdain for his constitutional rights of free speech. This act was to show the people of the United States that the Speaker of the House demanded more power than the President of the United States. The speech of the President was one of unity; however, it was met with division and hatred by the resistors against freedom. We are suffering this division today because of these acts by the Speaker of the House.) They compassed me about also with words of hatred; and fought against me without a cause. (Psalm 109:3)
In the life of David, who is a type of the Lord Jesus Christ, Saul intended to slay David and shed innocent blood without a cause. David had delivered Israel from the hands of the Philistines by slaying Goliath  who is not only a type of Satan, but a figure of the evil kingdoms of the monstrosity of mankind. The description of Goliath having six fingers, and six toes, is a picture showing us the aberrant and abnormal condition that sinful deviant mankind became. This is all fulfilled in Revelation Chapter 13.
And in Psalm 119:78 we read: Let the proud be ashamed; for they dealt perversely with me without a cause: [but] I will meditate in thy precepts. They dealt perversely in secret places, in secret meetings to slay the King of Kings, to usurp the kingdom of God and to replace it with the kingdom of men. Which is impossible for the kingdom of God is far greater than the powers of men. However, man, in his heart, can believe that he can accomplish such a feat. He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. (Psalm 2:4)
The psalmist in Psalm 119:161 had a heart that stood in awe of God’s word. Princes have persecuted me without a cause: but my heart standeth in awe of thy word. The Lord Jesus stated to the tempter in the wilderness recorded in Matthew Chapter 4 that, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. At that very moment, God was speaking to Satan and proclaiming the omnipotence of His written, the omnipotence of His Living Word, and the omnipotence of His own Being. ♦ End of Side Note.
SIDE NOTE of a SIDE NOTE: We have established the wickedness of the heart of man, and the hatred of man without any cause, or reason, or rhyme since the election of Donald J. Trump. I have seen this hatred by the masses for this man without a cause through the Democrat/Republican UniParty spewing its venom and hatred beyond all reason and sanity. They are completely responsible for all this country has suffered through since the 2016 election of Donald J. Trump.
Every Marxist Democrat-Republican that holds to this philosophy of evil and hatred is responsible. You are not merely a voter because if you align yourself with this evil and hatred then you become part of this evil. There is no room for this hatred in ANY country, let alone the United States of America. In their expression of hatred they are voicing their hatred for God and the Lord Jesus Christ. They had openly and verbally declared that they are ungodly, and unjust through their actions. Out of their hearts they have cried, Give us Barabbas. The religious Jews preferred a murderer and a thief over the Son of God, and today the system of evil politics of the deep state prefers Barabbas to the Lord Jesus Christ. And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas: (Who for a certain sedition made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison.) (Luke 23:18, 19) But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; (Acts 3:14) They hate the American people, especially Christians, and they are doing everything they can to destroy the Constitution and this country. The world is being overrun by the devil. Freedom and liberty is disappearing every day. This is why mankind (both politically and religiously) is centered on their god of mammon and the material wealth that they possess.
I do not like political rhetoric, but nevertheless, I see the hatred from all circles and in their hatred there is no loyalty, there is no compassion, there is no justice. Many do not realize that this country has fallen into the abyss through this immense insane hatred by the Marxist/Democrat/Republican UniParty. I will guarantee that once they take control of this country, this nation will plunge into the abyss and never return. This is the last bastion of liberty. The governments of many European nations have all been over run by Satan and socialism. The eastern nations have given their hearts, souls and spirits to the murderous works of Satan, they have gone in the way of Cain. World leaders have berated our President, they have belittled him, they have purposely lied against him, they have even risked the lives of people all over the world by destroying the masses with a predetermined virus, recklessly and purposely distributed all over the world. The communist philosophy has never cared about lives. The Marxist Democrat-Republican Uniparty philosophy has never cared about lives. Just search out its history and you will find total wickedness buried within its beginnings. Their goal (at the bequest of Satan) has always been to cause conflict among the masses. The devil knows that the end is near, and he is doing all he can to take power so that he can put the man of Revelation Chapter 13 upon his throne.
Today, whether you want to believe it or not, through these very web sites God is issuing His Final Call to a world to repent and to turn to God Almighty. Let these words sink deep into your hearts, let God be God. And let Him work in your heart today.
After these things . . . as it was in the days of Noah . . . But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.(Matthew 24:37) For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, (Matthew 24:38) And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. (Matthew 24:39) ♦ End of Side Note of a Side Note.Â
  After these things . . . I need to repeat the truth of the days of Noah because in our present age the truth of THAT day has been under attack. Unscrupulous men have brought in insane theories, not fact, into reality of the days of Noah.
Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, (2 Peter 3:3)
And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. (2 Peter 3:4)
For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: (2 Peter 3:5)
Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:(2 Peter 3:6)
  So once and for all, the Spirit of God is going to reckon the truth of the days of Noah, and the righteousness that he proclaimed before the sons of men.
  The sons of God are titled in the line of Seth, and in the days of Noah, they had completely corrupted themselves with the daughters of men (which was the line and seed of Cain). This evil seed dominated the sons of God through Eve (the daughters of men) to the point that the whole world was corrupted and every imaginable evil was in their hearts. They were drinking in drunkenness. They had become fools in their hearts because they had declared that there is no god. They were committing all sorts of evil in joining with the evil seed of Cain until ALL was corrupt. And God looked down . . . down . . . down . . . and what did He see?
There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown. (Genesis 6:4)
And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. (Genesis 6:5)
And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. (Genesis 6:6)
And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them. (Genesis 6:7)
  How did we get to this point? How did mankind overthrow himself and cast out the knowledge of God? It was by believing the lie of Satan, ye shall be as gods.
  Seth had a son, and his name was Enos it was at this point in time that they began to call on the name of the Lord. They also, by doing this, took the name of the Lord to themselves, and they called themselves the sons of God. And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the LORD. (Genesis 4:26)
SIDE NOTE: There are five mentions of this phrase, call upon the name of the LORD, in the Bible.
And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the LORD. (Genesis 4:26) 　
I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD.(Psalm 116:13)
I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD. (Psalm 116:17)
For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the LORD, to serve him with one consent. (Zephaniah 3:9)
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Romans 10:13)
  That which first began in the first book of the Bible, Genesis, has been restored in the Church age by the divine act of the new birth. John in his first epistle declared by the Spirit of God, Now, are we the sons of God.
Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. (1 John 3:1) Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. (1 John 3:2)
  In Genesis they acquired the title of sons of God because they called on the name of the Lord. Beloved, how did WE acquire this name? We are the sons of God because we too have called on the name of the Lord. What man lost through sin, God restored Himself by taking sin upon Himself and judged sin on the cross of Calvary.
  I have a mechanical history; therefore, I see in the Scriptures a wonder of the mechanics of the Spirit of God in the word of God. Every truth of God’s mechanism lines up and meshes with the next truth in perfect harmony. Therefore, what took place in Genesis that was forfeited, God restored with the death of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ on Calvary’s cross. He created a way for mankind to take back his sonship by the beloved Son of God. Again, I will show you, and confirm, that before the fall, Adam was called a son of God. Which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God. (Luke 3:38) Adam lost this title because of sin, which he, himself, had brought into the world. He not only lost his link with the divine life of God, he lost his heirship, he lost his dominion, he lost his communication with the Almighty God, he lost his paradise, and was subjected to the dust of the world that God had created him from.  Something else also came with the fall — it was a mistrust of man because of the lie of the devil, not only was there a sword between God and man, but there was the deception of sin and mistrust between man and woman. This would continue on throughout time, until God created a new people who had no relationship to nationality, or difference of sex, nor of condition of life status, their whole purpose would be to glorify God on earth and in heaven. What man lost through sin, God restored Himself by taking sin upon Himself and judged sin on the cross of Calvary. (They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of mine head: they that would destroy me, being mine enemies wrongfully, are mighty: then I restored that which I took not away. Psalm 69:4) On the cross the Lord Jesus made of twain one new man. He took Adam out of the way, and dominated man by the death of Himself on the cross of Calvary to give us a new Man who is in heaven for us. Who in turn has given us the liberty to be called the sons of God once again in this ungodly world.
  Although mankind had defiled himself, God still raised up a preacher of righteousness in Noah. Noah had not believed the great lie that ye shall be as gods. He had said, No to man’s sin, and said, Yes to God’s righteousness. Noah looked upon all of his ancestors, and he considered after these things. He saw what mankind had become. God had put His thoughts and His words into the heart of Noah. The message of Noah was a message of judgment because of ALL their ungodly deeds. They were warned of God, through His servant Noah; yet, they kept all their ungodly ways. They had given themselves to an ungodly imagination, to an ungodly mind, to an ungodly heart, to an ungodly spirit, and to an ungodly soul. They were about to be cast into the deep, but they refused to give up their sin. As the rains came, and the fountains of the deep were broken up, they laughed, they played, they shook their fists at Noah, and more profoundly, they shook their fists in the face of God. Today, the world is doing the same thing. Besides the many schemes of the world, the religious systems (the lifeless professing church) has done the same as those in the days of Noah. They have corrupted themselves with the daughters of men. It is all about the earthly and not about the heavenlies. They laugh at Set your affection on things above, not on things of the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. (Colossians 3:1) Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. (Colossians 3:2) For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. (Colossians 3:3)
  We have a direct statement concerning the pollution of the daughters of men, the line and seed of Cain within the Church in Revelation Chapter 2, verses 20 – 23.
Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. (Revelation 2:20)
And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. (Revelation 2:21)
Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. (Revelation 2:22)
And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works. (Revelation 2:23)
  This corruption developed over centuries, it is NOT a corruption of the children of God, but a corruption of the professing church who are supposed to be a witness to the world concerning the righteousness of God and His Son, Jesus Christ. We cannot be affiliated with devils and do the work of God. I say this because of the dark clouds of evil throughout the world. Shortly in the future of this world, I am hearing the cries, Crucify him, crucify him. I believe, in my heart, that soon the whole world will spew forth its hatred against the true sons of God. They will hate you; they will curse you, and ultimately, they will kill you. Remember, all the apostles laid down their lives for the Lord Jesus Christ, in one way or another, and this was at the very beginning of the Church age. What will be the end of the Church age just prior to the translation of the body of Christ? The sons of God will be shut out of the professing church. They will be marked, and they will be ignored until their message reverberates outside the church in condemnation of the church. The religious world will not stand for this, as history has witnessed the heinous acts against not only the early Waldensian communities, but also later when the Huguenots were slaughtered by the Jesuits; the enemies of God will also come after those who hold the truth and who are not afraid to speak the truth and seek to remove their witness and their voices from this world. I have already witnessed this in my day.
  In the days of Noah, all perished from this world, but that was not the only thing, for they await the final judgment for their sin and evil. If you would like to understand more about the days of Noah, in comparison with our age today, then turn to Chapter 1 of the book of Romans, verses 18 – 32. Since some readers might not have the word of God with them, we will, therefore, insert these verses at this time from the word of God.
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; (Romans 1:18)
Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. (Romans 1:19)
For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: (Romans 120)
Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. (Romans 1:21)
Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, (Romans 1:22)
And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. (Romans 1:23)
Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: (Romans 1:24)
Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. (Romans 1:25)
For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: (Romans 1:26)
And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. (Romans 1:27)
And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; (Romans 1:28)
Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, (Romans 1:29)　
Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, (Romans 1:30)
Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: (Romans 1:31)
Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. (Romans 1:32)
  These verses from Romans Chapter 1 are self-explanatory; however, the casual reader will not receive the full impact of the madness of mankind, it is up to those who will mediate with the Spirit of God and the word of God to seek the divine truth within these verses.
  The only message to an ungodly word is God’s righteousness, and all the righteousness of God was fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Today, all we see are the wicked imaginations in the hearts of mankind under the influence of Satan. As Satan entered into the heart of Judas he is also entering into the hearts of wicked men of our age. As Satan sent the Sabeans to destroy everything that Job had, so to, Satan today is sending the Sabeans to not only destroy material possessions, but to take away the knowledge of God. If this is permitted to continue then the whole world will be under the control of Satan. It will be a world without justice. We see the seed of this plot in operation today. It will be a world of tyrants. A world of slavery, and Satan will put his mark on almost everyone: every man, woman and child. Only divine intervention will preserve a remnant for the Lord. Many will pay with their lives for the night is far spent, and the days of Noah are upon us.
  In Chapter 6, verse 1 of John, we repeat these words: After these things. The Lord’s disciples had returned from their road trip. The Lord had given them power to heal the sick, to cast out demons, and to do miracles. This power was directly given to them from the Lord Jesus Christ. It was not IN them, Christ GAVE it to them, and this is a big difference. For the reality is that Christ’s power went with them. When they returned, they wasted no time in telling the Lord Jesus what great things that THEY had done. For they did not understand that it was HIS power, and HIS power alone that performed those miracles: that had healed the sick, and that had cast out the demons. They proceeded to tell the omniscient God what they had done. It was still THEM, and their self-glory, their self-exaltation, and not the humility of a servant to their Master. Truly, this must have caused a groan from within the Lord Jesus, but He KNEW what He had to work with, for He knew all men, and knew the hearts of all men, He had chosen twelve, and knew that one was a devil: Judas, by name.
After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias. (John 6:1)
  The Lord Jesus entered into the territory of the seaside of Galilee. This brings us to the Jewish side, but we also see the sea of Tiberias, showing us the Roman side, or Gentile side. There is a lot of history to the city of Tiberias: Herod had dedicated this city and named it after Tiberias Caesar to establish Rome’s mark in the land of Israel. And of course, in Jerusalem (the Capitol of Israel) Herod had built a temple that took forty and six years to build.
  Although the Jews knew that this edifice was not the temple of God, it was a monument to Herod, to the Herodians, to the Roman system, and its domination over the Jewish people. When the Lord cleansed the temple He exposed the hypocrisy of the Jews and their corrupt religious system, and at the same time, He claimed the temple of Herod for His Father by saying in John 2:16, make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise. Heaven had demonstrated its power over man’s dominion politically and religiously. They claimed to be of God when they had cast off all that was of God because of their sin: the temple of Solomon had been destroyed, the temple of Ezra had been allowed to decay, and was unusable until Herod removed its remnants and built his shrine that took forty and six years in building. (John 2:20) (The number forty and six years is a combination of forty (the number of trial and testing) with six — the number of man.) So, Tiberias, on the sea of Galilee, was just another visible declaration of the dominion of Roman over the nation of Israel in the northern part of Israel. Herod was a forceful personality, he had put down an insurrection which killed many Galileans. This politically fragile and religiously corrupt territory of Herod’s domain was the area that the Lord Jesus ministered; John the Baptist had already been beheaded; and in Jerusalem, the Pharisees, Sadducees and leaders of the Jews sought to slay Him; consequently, He left Jerusalem for Galilee while the devil stirred the pot of the hearts of evil men.
And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased. (John 6:2) When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? (John 6:5)
  Many followed Him in His journey from Jerusalem to the sea of Galilee because of the miracles that He had performed. He took His disciples to a high mountain overlooking this great multitude, even though we do not have a written record of the direct ministry of the Lord at this time, as the Beatitudes, it must have been a tremendous message for He held the attention of this great throng throughout the entire day. They had been listening for hours upon hours that His disciples expressed concern over the need of this throng to eat.
And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things. (Mark 6:34)
And when the day was now far spent, his disciples came unto him, and said, This is a desert place, and now the time is far passed: (Mark 6:35)
Send them away, that they may go into the country round about, and into the villages, and buy themselves bread: for they have nothing to eat. (Mark 6:36)
He answered and said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they say unto him, Shall we go and buy two hundred pennyworth of bread, and give them to eat?(Mark 6:37)
  The Bread of Life was in their midst, and they were worried about hunger. This multitude (that had followed the Lord) had witnessed many miracles that He had previously performed; yet, many of these miracles are not recorded in the word of God. The Spirit of God documented specific miracles so that we might know that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: (John 20:30) But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name. (John 20:31) In John 21:25 we read,  And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.
  In John 6:3 our hearts are centered on Christ and His disciples, and the Lord takes them up to a mountain apart. In verse 4, the Spirit of God takes us all the way back to Jerusalem, to the Passover, which at this time was called ‘the feast of the Jews.’ The number 4 speaks of the world, the number 3 speaks of the unity of the Godhead so there is a big contrast between the Bread of Life being on the mountain in 6:3, and the Jews in Jerusalem in 6:4 who have been in submission to the world power of Caesar. The Spirit of God, once again, declares to our hearts . . . Come and see . . .
  It was at the time of the Passover. The Jews had claimed it as their feast. This is what happens when mankind teaches the doctrines of men because not only does he teach these doctrines, but he becomes the authority of these doctrines, and uses them to boast and to increase his religious system. The contrast between 6:3 and 6:4 is to emphasis that while the Jews celebrated their feast of the Passover in Jerusalem and groveled in Herod’s temple, the Lord of the Passover was in the mountain. And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples. (John 6:3) And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh. (John 6:4)
  In the phrase ‘feast of the Jews’ we see the hearts of the usurpers, we see the unlawful possession of the vineyard, and we also see the reign of sin and death for the leadership of Jerusalem had conspired to slay the Lord of glory. The Spirit of God unfolds the propensity of the corruptness of mankind to supplant the things of God with the things of man as Herod’s temple over the Lord’s temple, and the Jews with their feast superseding the Passover by describing the Passover for being ‘feast of the Jews.’ This same supplantation of the things that belong to God has occurred in many different areas in Church history. The remembrance of the Lord and His death for us has been taken over by men in all sorts of ways, and in various amounts of control, in fact, religious man has put the remembrance of the Lord in a closet with the key in the hand of man, and not in the hands of the Spirit of God. When John was alone and exiled on Patmos, he had the freedom to worship God in Spirit and in truth. It was in this freedom (on the Lord’s day) that the Lord appeared unto him, and gave John the ministry from heaven, and prophetic writing that is unmatched in all of Scripture.
  Concerning the remembrance of the Lord, today, the individual Christian has to keep an open ear, and listen for the Lord’s voice calling to turn the door knob, and to open that door and let the Lord come in and have fellowship with Him. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. (Revelation 3:20) In this fellowship the Lord Jesus will expound the Scriptures in the heart from the writing of Moses, the Prophets, the Psalms, and the New Testament things concerning Himself. He will teach the depth of Calvary, and what it cost the omnipotent God to redeem man who was unworthy of redemption. No one will ever understand the depth the Lord went into to give us His life so that we can spend eternity with Him. To remember the Lord is a privilege for every child of God. The Spirit of God is the One who opens communion between the Lord Jesus Christ and His children. It is the Spirit of God who directs the heart to a place of remembrance, to a place of humility and to a wonderful place of peace with God because of the unfathomable love of the Lord Jesus Christ for us.
  The children of God can meet with the Lord at any time, any day, in any number, and it can be at any place, even on a barren island called Patmos. As we partake of the bread and the wine, we see the smitten body of our Lord and Savior, we also see the blood that has cleansed us from all sin. When we partake in this solemn moment we show forth the Lord’s death till He comes.
For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: (1 Corinthians 11:23)
And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. (1 Corinthians 11:24)
After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. (1 Corinthians 11:25)
For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come. (1 Corinthians 11:26)
I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say. (1 Corinthians 10:15)
The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?(1 Corinthians 10:16)
For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread. (1 Corinthians 10:17) (The Bread of Life is in our midst, Sir, we would see Jesus.)
  The remembrance of the Lord is also a divine testimony to an ungodly world ministered by the Spirit of God to reveal the Son of God; even one person alone (as John on the isle of Patmos) can know the presence of the Lord Jesus at His remembrance. At HIS remembrance He has promised that where two or three collectively gather that He will be in their midst. There will not be any great crowds, there will be no pomp and ceremonies because the Spirit of God requires that only those who are indwelt by the Spirit of God may worship the Son of God in remembrance of His death till He come. Such simplicity . . . and yet, look what Adam has done. The usurper is always there to take away something that doesn’t belong to him. Only those who are bought with the blood of Christ can unlock the door to spiritual intimacy with the Lord of glory . . . this door is open to all, but not all will pass through, and no man can shut this door.
  As the multitude followed the Lord because of the miracles that He had performed, their hearts still did not understand that God Himself was amongst them. There stood One among them whom they knew not. After the Lord Jesus fed the five thousand, on the other side of the sea of Galilee, He rebuked them for only following Him because they had been filled with the five barley loafs and the two small fishes. They were on a mountain side and they had been fed by the Bread of Life while the Jews in Jerusalem had a feast of emptiness in the house of barrenness, truly, when this filtered back to Jerusalem it must have upset the Jewish leadership even more. The Lord of glory was raining on their parade. However, sadly, even the multitude did not perceive the divine power within the Son of God. The Messiah had come, but the scales of sin, vanity and pride had blinded their eyes, and had hardened their hearts.
  After John 6:4 (when He finished His message to the multitude) compare Mark Chapter 6, verses 34 and 35. And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things. (Mark 6:34) And when the day was now far spent, his disciples came unto him, and said, This is a desert place, and now the time is far passed: (Mark 6:35)
  Once again, after verse 4 we go from the ‘feast of the Jews’ with no sustenance to the Bread of Life as the Lord Jesus looked on this great throng and had compassion upon them. He was about to prove that He could prepare a table in the wilderness. Yea, they spake against God; they said, Can God furnish a table in the wilderness? (Psalm 78:19) He was about to present the manna from heaven for the multitudes. This was predetermined for He KNEW what He was about to do; however, let’s look and see how this miracle unfolds, and how many turns it takes in the hearts of His disciples and in the hearts of the multitudes. Verses 5 and 6 are woven together to show us His omnipotent purpose and the lack of faith that is in the hearts of men.
When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? (John 6:5) And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do. (John 6:6)
  This was a teaching moment for Philip, especially after all that he and the other disciples had experienced on their road trip. And the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught. (Mark 6:30)
And the apostles, when they were returned, told him all that they had done. And he took them, and went aside privately into a desert place belonging to the city called Bethsaida. (Luke 9:10)
When Jesus heard of it, he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart: and when the people had heard thereof, they followed him on foot out of the cities. (Matthew 14:13)
  Looking at these three verses consider these three words found in John 6:1, After these things. The disciples had returned, the multitudes had followed Him, and John had been beheaded, and after all this, the Lord decided to depart and go into a desert place. This is what is so important: the Lord departed into a desert place and THERE He ministered to them the word of God. And when the day was far spent, He alone prepared a table in the wilderness, and made them sit down in green pastures. (Psalm 23)
  In Mark 6:34 and 35 we see the tireless Servant. And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things. And when the day was now far spent, his disciples came unto him, and said, This is a desert place, and now the time is far passed.
  The Lord’s teaching and His message was not a fifteen-minute sermonette. This was a long discourse, too bad we don’t know the exact context and the words that He spoke to these people. The fact is that He gave them words from heaven, He gave them words from His heart, and He gave them words for eternity. It must have been wonderful because look at all the things that had transpired just before this message from the mountain. He verbally and supernaturally captivated five thousand men, plus women and children throughout the whole day until the day was spent and night was upon them. It was probably at dusk just before darkness, what a perfect time to end and close a message of life. We are struck in our hearts of the tirelessness of this divine Being who was sent of God to reclaim the vineyard and to be the Savior of mankind. As darkness settles around us today, once more, we cry out to God, ‘Raise up a tireless servant filled with the Spirit of God to bring forth the light of God in Jesus Christ, thy beloved Son. Put into the mouth the words of truth, seal them in the heart to minister to the hearts of men.’ Wouldn’t it be nice to see crowds who could not get enough of the word of God? Wouldn’t it be nice to see the sermonette turn into an all day discourse of the word of God so that thousands would repent and fill their hunger with the Bread of Life? Lord we hear your word, man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. 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. (Matthew 4:4) And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live. (Deuteronomy 8:3)
  They listened to their Creator for the span of a whole day in a desert place, however, His word made the desert bloom, He prepared a table in the wilderness, and satisfied their hunger in the green grass of the valley. I have read of George Whitefield preaching for twelve to fourteen hours even when he was very ill. Many feel that George Whitefield died of exhaustion, and I am sure that he felt that it was for the glory of God, and time for him to depart to God. The world has been blessed with men as these, and since Abel we have had a long line of servants of God who would not turn to the left nor to the right but forged a path of righteousness straight forward. Here are a few names that you might not recognize but they have been very important in the word of God: Jael, a brave woman who ended the reign of a tyrant with a nail (or tent peg); Jabez who was more honorable than all his brethren; Shamgar who stood tall against the enemies of God with only an ox gourd; Jehoiada who kept an infant king seven years hidden in the temple of God to preserve the kingdom of Judah; and Micaiah who was sent to prison for the word of God, and then came out from prison to stand before Ahab, and was told to make sure that his message would not offend, it was to be a real smooth message from the Dairy Queen. However, Micaiah spoke the word of truth, And Micaiah said, If thou certainly return in peace, then hath not the LORD spoken by me. And he said, Hearken, all ye people. (2 Chronicles 18:27) Consequently, speaking the words of truth from God sent Micaiah to a deeper prison where he was fed water and bread of affliction. What a message that he gave to an ungodly king.
  Moving on to the New Testament: we have many names, all the apostles, plus Stephen who gave his life for the truth. We know Epaphroditus (Philippians 2:25, 26) and lastly, the only martyr who is mentioned by name in the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ: it is a sad tale that could fill many pages, and yet, the Lord just gives us a few words, Antipas, my faithful martyr which was slain among you speaking of the church. I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, [even] where Satan’s seat [is]: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas [was] my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth. (Revelation 2:13) These are the servants of the Word of God, these are the ones who preached righteousness, these are the servants who gave their lives for the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, and they (although not well known) are well known by God. They shadow the tireless servant of Mark 6:35. Even though Antipas was the only name of a martyr mentioned in the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ, there are many more, and soon there will be more to join them. Antipas was slain among professing Christians for Satan not only had put his seat there, but he was dwelling among them, this means he was directing them, they were not being directed by the Lord. Satan, with the men of deception, had come in to destroy what was of God, and Antipas got in their way, and they killed him. And that is all I have to say about that.
  We should remember and understand that after the joy of Pentecost, Satan put on his gloves of evil, took his shield of deception, and raised up corrupt men to erase the things of God. Satan and the flesh took over at the very beginning of the Church sending ungodly men to spy out the liberty of the children of God. Paul expressed his feeling by the Spirit of God to the Galatians with the words, who hath bewitched you?
  There is only one who would and could bewitch the Church at Galatia and that is Satan. O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? (Galatians 3:1) Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth? (Galatians 4:16) Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? (Galatians 5:7) This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you. (Galatians 5:8) Through these verses the attitude of the present professing church is unveiled: first, they are bewitched; secondly, they reject the truth and the messengers of the truth; thirdly, they have turned out of the path, they have quit the race, and fourthly, they bond themselves with ungodly men. We have just a general time period for two thousand years plus the Spirit of God, through His messengers, have issued this rebuke, Adam what have you done . . . after these things?
  The Lord finished His discourse on the mountain, then with compassion looked on the multitude, and then He proved Philip. All of this took place after they had returned from their journey. Christ had given them His power, power over disease, power over evil spirits, and power over blindness. And the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught. (Mark 6:30) After these things He took them apart into the mountain. The man of God is never a part of the world, or the world religious systems. Why? Because the world and the religious systems of the world oppose his Master, the Lord Jesus Christ. Even Paul could not find comfort in this world, nor among the disciples because he was separated unto God and God alone. He ministered all through Asia, and at the end he stated by the Spirit of God, that all they of Asia had forsaken him. This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes. (2 Timothy 1:15) For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia. (2 Timothy 4:10) At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge. (2 Timothy 4:16) Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. (2 Timothy 4:17) If this was at the beginning of the Church age, what will the end be? Let’s return to the feeding of the five thousand.
  The Lord tested Philip, after all that Philip had seen, all that Philip had done through the power of the Lord, and yet, Philip could not see, nor remember the declaration of Nathaniel that this One, standing before him, was the Son of God, the King of Israel, with all power in heaven and upon the earth. This testing of Philip would go on to John 14:8 and 9. Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. (John 14:8) Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? (John 14:9) The Lord had to rebuke Philip, He was in their presence as the fullness of the Godhead bodily, as the image of the invisible God, as the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person. Yet, their eyes still could not see the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. Once again, in John Chapter 14, the Lord Jesus proclaimed His equality with God the Father, as the revealed image of BOTH the Son of God, and the Father. In John Chapter 6, Philip did not stand alone for we also see the testing of Andrew, listen to the voice of Andrew in verse 9. One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, saith unto him, (John 6:8) There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many? (John 6:9) Like Philip, Andrew could not understand the resources of the Lord Jesus Christ, as the Creator of all things. We see this when Andrew said, what are they among so many? Oh, ye of little faith.
SIDE NOTE: One very snowy night (in fact, a blizzard), after preaching, I had to drive one hundred miles to minister the next day in upper New York state. The roads were treacherous and I was still suffering from pneumonia with a high temperature; yet, my wife and I, went on, we were broke, but not poor. We had just enough money for one cup of coffee to be shared between us to warm us up and to keep us awake. We pulled off the interstate into a Howard Johnson (years ago), the parking lot was covered with ice, slush, and snow, the cutting wind bent me over as I struggled to walk upright to the door, my eye caught sight of a piece of paper. I will never forget that moment, for in my heart, I heard the voice of the Lord, Oh, ye of little faith. That barely visible paper in the wet snow was a five-dollar bill. Honest Abe never looked so good. I will never forget that moment because one cup of coffee turned into two cups of coffee and two hamburgers plus change, remember we are talking about an economy years ago when after buying two hamburgers and two large coffees I still received enough money back to help pay for the toll. We were broke, but we were not poor. We knew the Bread of Life, we knew His manna, and we could say, nevertheless the Lord stood with us. So what are they among so many?
  The stage is set, and the curtain is about to go up, for the Spirit of God records this moment in all four gospels. This is the big one that the Creator would perform, five thousand men, in addition to women and children, and ONLY five barley loafs and two small fishes. And what are they among so many? The Lord knew what He was about to do, after these things: John had been beheaded, the Lord had been rejected in Jerusalem after He raised the impotent man from his invalid bed. The result was that the Jewish leadership was seeking to slay him. And to top this off, His disciples had returned from their road trip, and every thing was I, myself, and me. They had forgotten that their power came from an all-powerful God. He had given them HIS power. We need also to put this in so that you can see the complete scheme of God’s determinate counsels, they had just come from Bethsaida , and Bethsaida translates into ‘the house of provision.’ (Luke 9:10) Or one could say, ‘the house of bread.’ Remember the pool in John Chapter 5, was called Bethesda, and this means, ‘house of mercy.’ This is where the Lord Jesus spoke the words. Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. Isn’t it amazing how the Spirit of God dove tails two chapters together by two similar names.
  In John Chapter 5 we have ‘the house of mercy,’ and we have He who is all mercy walking among men. In John 6 we have ‘the house of provision’ and the great Provider is walking among them. He takes them from Bethsaida into a mountain apart. The Holy Spirit makes sure that we understand that it was a desert place, and the multitude only followed Him because of the miracles, and none of them perceived or understood what was about to happen next. Five thousand men, and women and children, in a desert place, and yet, it was the Lord’s green pastures. The desert had bloomed and the great Provider had come, and He had come from the ‘house of provision.’ He had come from heaven, and brought manna to the desert. He brought life to the desert world of spiritual emptiness for man’s heart was dry and withered as the desert. The Lord came with life and light to a barren world of darkness and death, and now, they sat in the desert on the green grass, this is the Lord’s doing and it is marvelous in our eyes.
And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples. (John 6:3)
And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. (John 6:10)
And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat. (John 6:31)
And they departed into a desert place by ship privately. (Mark 6:32)
And the people saw them departing, and many knew him, and ran afoot thither out of all cities, and outwent them, and came together unto him. (Mark 6:33)
And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things. (Mark 6:34)
And when the day was now far spent, his disciples came unto him, and said, This is a desert place, and now the time is far passed: (Mark 6:35)
Send them away, that they may go into the country round about, and into the villages, and buy themselves bread: for they have nothing to eat. (Mark 6:36)
And he commanded them to make all sit down by companies upon the green grass. (Mark 6:39)
  This is the Lord Jesus that no one wants to tell you about by attempting to hide the mysteries of the omnipotent God. He is the Creator, therefore, He is Master over His own creation. Not only does He create, but He is able to expand that which He has created. ALL power means ALL power in heaven and on the earth.
There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many? (John 6:9)
  Five barley loafs, notice how the number five shows up in the five thousand, and in the five barley loafs. In the five thousand, we see unlimited grace. This number also shows up in this verse, For they were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, Make them sit down by fifties in a company. (Luke 9:14) And they did so, and made them all sit down. (Luke 9:15) Then he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them, and brake, and gave to the disciples to set before the multitude. (Luke 9:16) In sitting down by fifties speaks of God’s perfect order in all that He does, and it also represents the deliverance and perfect rest in the culmination of Jubilee. In the five barley loafs we see the keeping grace of the Lord Jesus Christ for His own. He is their Manna of Grace, and He rains that from heaven upon them. Let’s consider barley in the Old Testament. There is one Old Testament book where barley is mentioned more than in any other book, and this book only has four chapters. This book is a book of grace and redemption, and is sandwiched between a book where every man did that which was right in his own eyes (Judges), and the book on the other side is the declaration of Israel in demanding that God give them a king like the other nations (1st Samuel). Now in the determinate counsels of God, the Holy Spirit of God sandwiches the book of Ruth (the book of grace and redemption) for it was at barley harvest that Ruth met Boaz, who would be her kinsman redeemer. Boaz filled her apron with barley and she took it to Naomi as a sign to Naomi that all her inheritance and Ruth’s inheritance would be restored by Boaz. From Boaz and Ruth would come Obed, and out of Obed would come Jesse, and out of Jesse would come David, the king, in which the Lord Jesus is both the root and the offspring of David. (Revelation 22:16) The Lord Jesus is the barley of the five loaves of grace, which will be spread to five thousand, and women and children. Isn’t the story of divine grace marvelous to our hearts, our souls and our spirit? Our eyes behold the Manna from heaven in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Side Note: Barley. Moses, through divine guidance and from the word of the mouth of God, penned the first five books of the Holy Word. However, since Moses, we have Joshua, Judges, and Ruth. Ruth is the third book from the closing of the Law from the death of Moses. We need to examine the word ‘barley’ in the book of Ruth. When Naomi and Ruth returned from Moab, it was at the time of barley harvest. (Ruth 1:22) The second mention of barley is concerning Ruth’s work in the fields of Boaz as she gleaned and gathered in about an ephah of barley until evening. The third mention is found in 3:2 in the gathering and the winnowing of the barley: removing the chaff. Boaz came to the threshing floor where the barley was beaten from the chaff. The fourth mention is the gift of barley to Ruth. Boaz gave her six measures of barley, this is important because the number six speaks not only of mankind, but also the NEED of mankind, and their need of redemption. Remember that Ruth is a book of redemption and grace. The word of God specifically says that Boaz laid it on her. It was his gift to her, and then, she went into the city, again speaking of the need of man. She went to Naomi and once again the six measures of barley are a gift, for Ruth stated that it was Boaz who gave her the barley. (Ruth 3:17) What is interesting in this verse, Boaz said to Ruth, Go not empty unto thy mother in law. Ruth was a Moabitess, a Gentile, and now Boaz (who is a type of the Lord Jesus Christ) told her to go to her mother-in-law (an Israelite) and deliver to her the SIX measures of barley. May I remind you that after the Lord fed the five thousand, how many baskets FULL did they pick up? Was it one basket, was it two, or was it six baskets? NO, it was twelve baskets, enough for the whole house of Israel. Enough that in God’s plan and purpose, when the Lord Jesus returns He will fill the WHOLE house of Israel with twelve baskets of barley, twelve baskets of grace. This is the last time ‘barley’ is mentioned in the book of Ruth. The completion of God’s determinate counsels concerning the house of Israel is that their inheritance will be restored by the great Benefactor, and Insurer of their inheritance. There is much more in the book of Ruth, if you apply it to that which was lost and then that which is to be restored, you will have the key that Boaz is a type of the Lord Jesus Christ, who is not only the Kinsman/Redeemer for the nation of Israel, but He is also the great Provider, and Benefactor of all mankind.
  The five barley loafs become so much more than feeding five thousand, and women and children. The Lord Jesus could have accomplished this same outcome with one kernel of barley, but the Holy Spirit wanted us to see that after His ministry to them for an entire day, and after He shed His grace upon them verbally by His word, that now, He would meet their physical need and show them grace from above for the time present. With the twelve baskets, we look into the future, to the millennial kingdom where all of Israel will meet the great Provider and He will provide all things and minister to them both physically and spiritually as the Lord of Lords, and the King of Kings. He will fulfill the great promise that the Holy Spirit gave to the nation of Israel, in the book of Ruth, that which was lost would be restored by their Kinsman Redeemer: Boaz, the Lord of Lords and King of Kings when all Israel will see the glory of God in the face of the Lord Jesus Christ.
  We are not finished with barley because God is using barley as a symbol of sustaining the people, this was the manna from heaven, this was the supernatural, this was a compassionate God feeding the masses and meeting their need. It is also a wonderful overlook of how the gospel is spread throughout the whole world. A small amount of seed such as five barley loafs, and a few small fishes, and look what has happened over the last two thousand plus years. He has drawn a multitude and fed them with the barley of His word for each and every day to every child of God, He ministers His word, and if one is intent at the end of that day, there will be twelve baskets full of the barley that God has given through His word.
  The next subject concerning barley is the man called Gideon. When we are first introduced to Gideon, we meet him on the threshing floor separating the wheat from the chaff. Israel was in dire distress because of their sin. God had allowed the Midianites to enslave Israel for seven years. God introduces us to Gideon, who is very self-conscious of his weakness, and the weakness of his house, and yet, Gideon’s name means ‘a warrior,’ or ‘a thresher.’ God used him to beat down the enemy of God, Midian. God APPEARED to Gideon, and Gideon prepared a sacrifice to offer on the great stone. The Angel provided the fire, and the sacrifice ascended to heaven. The Angel (who is the Lord Jesus Christ) enjoys the wonder of the sacrifice for the Lord knew what He was about to do, not only in the history of Gideon and Israel, but in the much greater sacrifice of Himself on Calvary’s cross in the future of mankind.
  Barley is introduced in the dream of the Midianite about a cake of barley that tumbled through the Midian camp and destroyed them, this cake of barley was given the name of Gideon. (Judges 7:13, 14) But this isn’t the end, for Gideon destroyed the Midiainites by the hand of the Lord. Without going further into all the conflicts, God kept taking away from Gideon the host that Gideon depended on, until Gideon realized that the battle was the Lord’s and not his battle. (What are these among so many.) As a single cake of barley, Gideon, with a few Israelites, was used by the Lord to wield and thrash with the sword of the Lord to accomplish God’s victory over God’s enemy. The light in the pitcher speaks of the grace of God to Israel at that time as the five barley loafs in feeding the five thousand. Both were a supernatural work of God. (Judges 7:13 – 15)
  The last mention of barley in the Old Testament is in Joel 1:11. Joel is a very important book for it is a book of prophecy that intertwines both the Church age and the future glory of Israel in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ in His millennial kingdom. It will not be THEIR glory, but the glory of the Lord that will be upon them. Pentecost was merely a taste of the divine mercy of God in Jesus Christ. It was not only a witness to the Church at THAT time, but a future witness to what God is going to do with the nation of Israel. This is why the Holy Spirit gives us this whole section from the book of Joel of Joel’s prophecy to not only fill out hearts with the glory of Jesus Christ, but to show us the future glory yet to come. (Joel 1:11) Be ye ashamed, O ye husbandmen; howl, O ye vinedressers, for the wheat and for the barley; because the harvest of the field is perished. In the book of Acts, Chapter 2, verse 16 through verse 21 we read the words of Joel in the Old Testament. Words from the Old Testament directed to those of the New Testament. Never listen to those who say that the Old Testament is not relevant for the Church age because over one third of the New Testament IS the Old Testament. Read Acts 2 to see what is in the book of Joel
But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; (Acts 2:16)
And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: (Acts 2:17)
And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: (Acts 2:18)
And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: (Acts 2:19)
The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come: (Acts 2:20)
And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.　 (Acts 2:21)
  To confirm the latter part of this prophecy, the Spirit of God, through the Apostle Paul, unfolds the wonder of a new and gracious covenant with the house of Israel in Hebrews Chapter 8, verse 7 – 13.
But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises. (Hebrews 8:6)
For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. (Hebrews 8:7)
For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: (Hebrews 8:8)
Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord. (Hebrews 8:9)
For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: (Hebrews 8:10)
And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. (Hebrews 8:11)
For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. (Hebrews 8:12)
In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away. (Hebrews 8:13)
  Let us return to the five barley loafs. The last mention of barley in the Old Testament in the book of Joel described the current judgment on the house of Israel at the time of Joel’s prophecy. Their harvests had failed, their fields had perished because of their sin, and their rejection of the Almighty God. Their meat offerings, and their drink offerings had been cut off from the house of the Lord. Be ye ashamed, O ye husbandmen; howl, O ye vinedressers, for the wheat and for the barley; because the harvest of the field is perished. (Joel 1:11) When they returned from the Babylonian captivity, they entered into the land as spiritual vagrants, they had assimilated into the culture of Babylon, and consequently had brought its tentacles back into the land which was already overrun by the Assyrian culture and dominated by heathen gods. This is what Nehemiah returned to, and this is where Ezra constructed the temple in the midst of spiritual dissent and distress by the people of Israel and the inhabitants of the land. Many Levites had no record of their genealogy, and therefore, could not participate in the things of God because they could not trace their lines to the house of Levi.
  In the days of the Lord Jesus the shadows of what Nehemiah and Ezra went through had filled the whole land of Israel. Five barley loafs are symbols of the grace of God being poured out to Israel and to the world. The twelve baskets full is the promise of God of the complete restoration of the nation of Israel under the Lord of Lords, and King of Kings.
  We also have two small fishes, don’t you think it is amazing that a lad, a young man in all this throng had five barley loafs and two small fishes. I can’t help going back to the days of David when his father Jesse prepared provisions for David’s brothers that were away in battle, and then sent David (who would be the future king) to deliver the gifts of food not only to his brothers, but also to the captains in the ranks. And yet, before this multitude in John Chapter 6 was a greater than David. The Lord Jesus received a similar reaction of rejection (from the five thousand) that David experienced from his brethren. Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. (John 6:26) They only followed Him because they had been filled with temporal meat. Later, although the Lord Jesus was their Kinsman, they rejected Him, and crucified Him. David was also rejected of his brethren and mocked, and yet, it was David who brought the Philistines to their knees and beheaded their giant with the giant’s own sword; as the Lord Jesus took Satan’s own sword and destroyed the works of Satan of both sin and death, and the evil works of the devil. Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil. (Hebrews 2:14)
  Now let us consider the two small fishes. Notice that they are not part of the twelve baskets full. Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten. (John 6:13) It is only in this verse that only the fragments of the five barley loaves filled the baskets. This numerical designation of the number twelve speaks of the house of Israel. The two small fishes speak of the number of witness which is being, today, fulfilled by the believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, for they are the witnesses of God upon the earth INDWELT by the Holy Spirit of God. There is NO child of God who has not the Spirit of God, there is NO child of God who has not the Spirit of Christ in their heart. This is proven by Scripture. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. (Romans 8:9)
  The two small fishes are symbols of the inhabitants of the world, the sea of mankind, and we, as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, are witnesses to the sea of humanity. But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. (Isaiah 57:20) Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever. (Jude 1:13) In our witness, we have the power of God within us, as the two small fishes are symbols of God’s work of grace among the whole sea of humanity, so that the least in the kingdom of God is a greater witness than even John the Baptist; for John had part of the story of grace, we have the WHOLE story of grace, for we are living examples of that grace, We have been taken from every realm of life, we have been pulled up out of the muck and mire of sin. We have been fed by the Holy Spirit of God by the sincere milk of the word of God. Fragments from the two small fishes were left in the desert, their remains picked up by the wind and traveled through the world, for the witness of God is far greater than the witness of man. And this was all completed by the tireless Servant of God, the Son of man, the Lord Jesus Christ. Out of the possession of a young lad came provision to feed five thousand for the great Multiplier was there in Person, the great Creator was in their presence, and He fed the multitude out of the compassionate love of His heart. Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: (1 John 3:1a)
  After this great expenditure of His power, He sent His disciples away, He sent the multitude away, and went into the mountain to pray. He, who had given to them, now must spend time with His Father, and remove Himself from the presence of man to spend time in heavenly places. As we end this article we think of the words to come, What manner of man is this?
Amen.
When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. (John 6:12)
The following link will take you to a Scripture section where you will be able to download or read the four sections in the four gospels comparing the feeding of the five thousand for those who may not have access to a Bible. Click Here
© Copyright 2020, Michael Haigh
This article may be used, but not for gain. Freely ye have received, freely give.
All Scripture references are from the Authorized King James Bible. (KJV)