Come and See – Chapter 7 – Déjà vu . . .

Come and See

Chapter 7 of the Gospel of John

Déjà vu

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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After These Things

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After these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him. (John 7:1)

   We begin Chapter 7 with the repetition of ‘After these things.’ Since the Spirit of God has repeated this phrase in Chapter 6:1 and in Chapter 7:1 this should have a deep meaning for it is a decisive repeat from the Spirit of God. In John’s gospel the Spirit of God repeats ‘after these things’ in three chapters in the very first verse.

After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is [the sea] of Tiberias. (John 6:1)

After these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him. (John 7:1)

After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he [himself]. (John 21:1)

   These three chapters not only begin with ‘after these things,’ but they are tied specifically to Galilee. This is deliberate for inside these chapters is a continued story that began at the sea of Tiberias in Chapter 6, and ends at the sea of Tiberias in Chapter 21:1.

   In Chapter 6, verse 1, we have the sea of Galilee and the sea of Tiberias linking both the Jew and the Gentile in the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ. After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is [the sea] of Tiberias. (John 6:1) The massive crowd of five thousand plus was undoubtedly both Jew and Gentile, and through these three chapters (6:1, 7:1, and 21:1) we see the gospel moving throughout the span of time to the finality of the catch of the fishes at the sea of Galilee and these fishes were called ‘great fishes.’ Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken. (John 21:11) The gospel is now seen as spreading its outreach over the entire world. In 7:1 the Lord continues His walk in Galilee for six months until the Feast of Tabernacles in the seventh month.

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The Feasts of Jehovah

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After these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him. (John 7:1) Now the Jews’ feast of tabernacles was at hand. (John 7:2)

   In Chapter 6 of the gospel of John, verse 4, we have the passover described as ‘a feast of the Jews.’ And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh. This began in the first month, In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the LORD’S passover. (Leviticus 23:5) In Chapter 7 of John we travel to the last recorded feast of Jehovah. This would complete the feast of Jehovah for that year.

   The connection of Chapter 21:1 is that the Lord revealed Himself to His disciples after His resurrection at the sea of Tiberias. After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself. The Spirit of God deliberately used the Roman name (Tiberias), for now the word of God is open to both Jews and Gentiles. Even the Jewish leadership referred to the area of Galilee as Galilee of the Gentiles. Then said the Jews among themselves, Whither will he go, that we shall not find him? will he go unto the dispersed among the Gentiles, and teach the Gentiles? (John 7:35) The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, [by] the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles; (Matthew 4:15)

   We have to believe that this also included the Samaritans of Chapter 4. In John 7:1 the Lord is continuing His walk in Galilee, He continued this walk for six months for on the seventh month we are introduced to the feast of tabernacles or the ingathering. In this verse in Chapter 7, we see a definite difference between the Jews in Jerusalem and the people in the area of Galilee. The attitude of the Jews in Jerusalem showed a disdain for the people of Galilee; they even proclaimed that no prophet ever came out of Galilee. They answered and said unto him, Art thou also of Galilee? Search, and look: for out of Galilee ariseth no prophet. (John 7:52) They referred to the Scriptures as the authority of the birth place of ALL the prophets, and yet, in many cases in the Old Testament the birthplace of the prophets is not mentioned. This is determined by the Spirit of God for the prophets of God belonged to Jehovah, and not to the world. All the prophets were sent as the vehicles of God to both condemn the current world, and to give a prophetic witness to the things that would come. They had the mind of the Lord yesterday, today, and forever. If the Jewish leadership were actually being diligent in their position of scriptural responsibility, they would have searched to find the birth place of Christ; and when they had found that it matched the scriptures revealing Bethlehem of Judah as the birth place of Christ they would have known that THIS was their Messiah, or did they really know? Was all this talk just misdirection so that they could discredit the Lord Jesus and have the vineyard for themselves? To the vital question: they would have found their answer that Jesus was born in Bethlehem in the city of David. Could we say that this is willful ignorance? If the magi (from the east) could find a young child approximately two years old, could not these ‘great Bible scholars’ of the Jews (including Nicodemus) find the birth place of Christ? They were definitely living in an age of disinformation, as we are today. Thank God for His Word. His Word dispels all the rumors of both the Jews and the Gentiles; even the professing Church in Christ has swayed from the truth and manipulates mankind with their own disinformation. It is not up to us to presume what Scripture says, but it is up to us to believe what it says, as, Thus saith the Lord. All Scripture is the very words breathed and spoken by God Himself.

   Let us compare Chapter 6 and Chapter 7 of the gospel of John. In Chapter 6:2, we have many miracles spoken of. And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased, and let us not forget the feeding of the five thousand plus women and children in Chapter 6 verse 14, and the miracle of the calming of the storm in John 6:19 – 21. In verse 26 in Chapter 6, the Lord Jesus referred to His own miracles that He had performed. 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. Therefore, Chapter 6 is a Chapter of many miracles; however, in Chapter 7 there are NO miracles recorded, only the mention of the man made whole referred to in Chapter 5. From Chapter 6:26 onward it became a battle of the flesh against the Spirit and continued a fleshly battle all the way through Chapter 7.

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Sought the More to Kill Him

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After these things  Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him. (John 7:1)

   Verse 1 of Chapter 7 connects two thoughts: (1) bringing in the idea of Galilee, and then (2) the understanding that the Jews sought to kill Him. This verse also gives us a continual thought that draws us back into Chapter 6 with the words, After these things. It also gives us the assurance that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word is established. In Chapter 6 they wanted to make Him king. In Chapter 7 they wanted to kill their King. This is a carry over from Chapter 5:18, Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God. In the parameters of 5:18, the words on both sides were very intense, the Jews were boiling with anger when the Lord declared that He and His Father were One, making Himself equal with God. They not only wanted to kill Him, but they sought and conspired how they could accomplish this. They were enraged, and their hatred took complete control of their minds, hearts, and souls. This hatred would continue to the final outcome when they stood before Pilate and condemned the Lord Jesus by saying, We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God. (John 19:7) This was the very Law that they did not believe and were not obedient to. Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the law? Why go ye about to kill me? (John 7:19) In Chapter 5, verse 18, the word ‘more’ describes an expansion and a continuation of action. Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God. It also describes their prior thoughts and conspiracy against the Lord Jesus.

   There is a subtle reason that Nicodemus came to Jesus by night. Nicodemus was searching for the truth, but was hindered by his own pharisaical beliefs. Nicodemus would have a prior knowledge of the Jewish leadership wanting to kill the Lord Jesus, and he also would have known the conspiracy that the Pharisees had against John the Baptist when they sent both Levites and priests to gather evidence against John. Their questioning in John Chapter 1 was not open and truthful; behind the scenes they were looking for something to condemn John. This was taken out of their hands by a wretched adulterous woman who demanded John’s head on a charger, thus, allowing the Jews to turn all their attention to condemning Christ. Their thoughts and their hearts were exposed in John Chapter 8. Their hearts were as Cain, and they were doing the will of their father, the devil. Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. (John 8:44) Again in Chapter 8, they sought to kill the Lord Jesus and He exposed their thoughts in Chapter 8:37. I know that ye are Abraham’s seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you. At the end of Chapter 8, the Jews took up stones to stone the Lord Jesus, to kill Him, the intent of their hearts had reached to the end of their fingers. The stones were in their hands, and yet, it was not the Lord’s hour; therefore, He passed through the mist of them and so passed by. Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by. (John 8:59) They were so close, for they had picked up stones to stone Him, however, His hour had not yet come. This shows the intensity of their hatred, a crime against the very law that they expounded. (I am reminded of an incident of a woman holding an image of the bloody head of the President of the United States. This is a hatred far beyond any sanity. It existed in the days of the Pharisees, and this hatred still exists in our world today.) Those who hold this hatred are of their father, the devil, and they have confirmed this by their lies, for Satan is the master of lies, and he has lied from the beginning. The heart of Antichrist never goes away. Hatred festers in the darkness within the thoughts of evil men.

   In the days of the Pharisees, the Jews who condemned Christ had two systems of laws: one for themselves, and another (quite stern) for their opposition and for the people. When you compare Chapter 8 with Chapter 7:1, all these things that the Jewish leadership was doing were known to the Son of God. He KNEW their hearts. But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, (John 2:24) And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man. (John 2:25) The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? (Jeremiah 17:9) I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings. (Jeremiah 17:10) 　

   The heart of man cannot be trusted for in Adam it wants to overthrow God. Man (in Adam) is still chasing the lies of the devil. For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. (Genesis 3:5) This attitude toward God existed at the fall of man. It has continued even to the manifestation of God Himself in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ, and it continues on today with hatred and scorn to the Man who is in heaven at the right hand of God: the Lord Jesus Christ. Sin is the diabolical dagger that cuts out the heart of mankind, removes it, and gives man a heart of stone ruled by sin and the devil. Only faith in the Lord Jesus Christ can remove the blight of sin and the penalty of death. Only faith in the Lord Jesus Christ can give man a new heart, a new spirit, and a renewed soul.

   Although Chapter 6 of the book of John shows us many marvelous things that the Lord did, it ends with the flesh and the devil. Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? (John 6:70) He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve. (John 6:71) We are enlightened in these verses: first, the Lord KNEW who would betray Him from the very beginning. He KNEW that one of the twelve apostles was a traitor. Secondly, He KNEW it was Judas Iscariot the son of Simon, and he was a devil. I believe that the Spirit of God included the future when Satan entered into Judas as recorded in John 13:26 and 27. Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. (John 13:26) And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly. (John 13:27) As Satan entered into Judas he became a complete minister of evil, the epitome of Antichrist. In the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ, Chapter 12:9 the dragon is referred to as the old serpent, the devil. Revelation 13:2, the man of sin (which is now a beast) received both the power and his seat (or throne) from the dragon. The dragon also gives him great authority. And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. These three gifts of influence (power, seat and authority) allow the beast to control the world, and to usher in the tribulation. When the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ is translated OUT of this world to join the resurrected saints with the Lord in the air (no longer to be subject to this world and to its misery, but to be home with the Lord with great jubilation and praise) then this man of sin will be revealed.

   Judas was one of the twelve and he had a devil. This is one of the marvels of the Lord’s foreknowledge, for the Lord KNEW from the very beginning when He had first chosen these twelve. Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? (John 6:70) He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve. (John 6:71) These two verses in Chapter 6, correlates very nicely with John Chapter 13 and Revelation Chapter 13. The Lord addressed His disciples and informed them that one of you is a devil. This understanding has been taken out of our society and removed from the Church. The devil is NOT an imaginative figure. He is REAL and very ACTIVE in this present evil world in these last days. In the New Testament the word ‘devils’ is used many times in forty-four verses. These are just a few to persuade the unbeliever that the devil has his own agents in this world TODAY. The Holy Spirit describes them as ‘devils.’ Why? Because they are children of their father (as the Jewish leadership in the Lord’s age).

And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them. (Matthew 4:24)

When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick: (Matthew 8:16)

And they that kept them fled, and went their ways into the city, and told every thing, and what was befallen to the possessed of the devils. (Matthew 8:33)

And he preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils. (Mark 1:39)

And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them. (Mark 5:12)

Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils. (Mark 16:9)

Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid. (Luke 8:35)

Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.(1st Timothy 4:1)

   The reality of devils (plural) is brought forth in the Scriptures and in the presence of the Lord Himself. He dealt with these devils then, and they will be judged in the last days at His great judgment when He sits on the great white throne; thus, symbolizing the purity, the righteousness, and the holiness of God’s judgment against ALL evil.

   In the first epistle of John, Chapter 5, verse 19, we read that the whole world lies in wickedness. And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness. Now, since you are reading this, you need to do a reality check. The world around you in every aspect is entrenched in wickedness. By being a child of God, you are separated unto God and God alone. You are here as a foreigner from heaven. You are the TRUE illegal alien because you are seated IN Christ in the heavenlies, therefore, the reality is love not the world, neither things that are in the world.

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. (1^st John 2:15) For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. (1^st John 2:16) And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. (1^st John 2:17) Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. (1^st John 2:18)

Side Note: The date is August 25, 2020, the Democrats held their convention and they want to remove God from the pledge of allegiance. It is interesting how these people over many years have been removing the name of God from our society. These are the people who are elected by the electorate NOT to destroy our republic, but to enhance it, and to OBEY the law that was established by our founding fathers. In these last days, the devil has been extremely active among both political parties. Congress is entirely under his spell. They refuse to obey the laws that have been written. They will not acknowledge that there IS a purpose for the separation of the legislative branch, and the executive branch, and the judicial branch. Both Speakers are actively attempting to destroy the Constitution and the Bill of Rights that our founding fathers gave to us as a gift out of their own persecution and suffering. Remember, this country was separated from a tyrant, King George of England, where there was NO religious freedom, only a state church. I know that this will cause the hair to stand up on the back of many professing Christians in this country of the United States of America. The very fact of taking tax exemption from the government is the entrance of government involvement into the Church. With tax exemption there is NO separation from the powers of government and the Church, and this was purposed by our government when they established the Church exemption. Now this is not all: why did the Church fall for this deception hook line and sinker? They did not understand the Constitution. The founders of our government wanted the government to keep its ugly hands off the Church. It was to separate the spirit of King George from interfering with spiritual matters. In the thoughts of the founders (known from their letters and writings) they knew from past experience that government would become intrusively involved in the Church. In the very reality of these experiences, they considered the world, the flesh, and the devil: the founders wanted a Church which was and is, the worshipers of the Lord Jesus Christ, and Him alone. No other man made religion qualifies to be the Church of God. Only the Body of Christ is the Church of God. This places us in a tremendous dilemma today, for the men and women of the Congress of the United States are trying to snuff out Christianity from this country. They are active as the devils in Scripture trying to overthrow the God of heaven and the worship of the Lord Jesus Christ. One cannot enact evil without being a devil. Satan must be in control when men and women outwardly and diabolically promote evil, then they are of their father, the devil. We see this every day with the satanic news media. They are liars, as their father, the devil, and he was a liar from the beginning. Many of us who love the Lord have no time for their evil, so therefore, we do not watch their perverted newscasts, which is no longer news, but a hate-cast against one person, the President of the United States. In these last days we see the preparatory work for the man of sin. For it is the WHOLE WORLD that lieth in wickedness.

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Walk in Jewry

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After these things  Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him. (John 7:1)

   In verse 1 of Chapter 7 we have the word ‘Jewry.’ This is a word that came about during the captivity of Israel in Babylon. The first time that this word is recorded in Scripture is in Daniel 5:13, Then was Daniel brought in before the king. And the king spake and said unto Daniel, Art thou that Daniel, which art of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Jewry? Chapter 5 of the book of Daniel is a very interesting chapter, for it is a chapter that attacks God by a despot king which led to his death, and to the complete overthrow of his kingdom. This should be a message to us concerning this word ‘Jewry.’ This term is used in a negative way by a despot king. This has no reflection on Daniel’s dedication to God for the king was looking back to the Jewry that existed BEFORE the captivity, and the wickedness of the people of Israel AT THAT TIME. The word ‘Jewry’ is mentioned three times in the Bible.

Then was Daniel brought in before the king. [And] the king spake and said unto Daniel, [Art] thou that Daniel, which [art] of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Jewry? (Daniel 5:13)

And they were the more fierce, saying, He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place. (Luke 23:5)

After these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him. (John 7:1)

   In the two references in the New Testament we see what Jewry was like. They used their authority to promote their own will and not the will of God. The word is derogatory to the Jews in both New Testament verses. The word ‘Jewry’ speaks of the spiritual condition of the Jews who came out of Jerusalem in the captivity, and taken to Babylon. The term ‘Jew’ is also brought to light in a book of the captivity: the book of Esther. Mordecai (Esther’s uncle) was the first one that the Holy Spirit called a Jew. Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate. (Esther 5:13) The term ‘Jew’ is used six times in the book of Esther: the number of man. Also remember that the name of ‘God’ or ‘Jehovah’ is absent from the book of Esther.

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The Counterfeit Substitute Altar

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   Once again, this does not cast a shadow over Mordecai, or Esther. The word ‘Jew’ is a result of the waywardness and wicked works of Ahaz, the king of Israel prior to the captivity. The first historical reference that this word ‘Jews’ was used was under the reign of Ahaz in 2^nd Kings 16:6. At that time Rezin king of Syria recovered Elath to Syria, and drave the Jews from Elath: and the Syrians came to Elath, and dwelt there unto this day. Here under Ahaz we have the plurality of the word ‘Jew.’ Why is this important that at this time (under the reign of Ahaz) God judged both Judah and Jerusalem for the sins of Ahaz? When Ahaz placed this heathen altar in the courtyard of the house of the Lord he defiled the courtyard AND the temple AND the priesthood. This altar brought with it the gods of Damascus. The plans for this false altar was sent to the high priest who instructed the men in the construction of this altar. There was no variation, it was to be an EXACT copy of the altar in Damascus.

And king Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglathpileser king of Assyria, and saw an altar that was at Damascus: and king Ahaz sent to Urijah the priest the fashion of the altar, and the pattern of it, according to all the workmanship thereof. (2 Kings 16:10)

And Urijah the priest built an altar according to all that king Ahaz had sent from Damascus: so Urijah the priest made it against king Ahaz came from Damascus. (2 Kings 16:11)

And when the king was come from Damascus, the king saw the altar: and the king approached to the altar, and offered thereon. (2 Kings 16:12)

And he burnt his burnt offering and his meat offering, and poured his drink offering, and sprinkled the blood of his peace offerings, upon the altar. (2 Kings 16:13)

And he brought also the brasen altar, which was before the LORD, from the forefront of the house, from between the altar and the house of the LORD, and put it on the north side of the altar. (2 Kings 16:14)

And king Ahaz commanded Urijah the priest, saying, Upon the great altar burn the morning burnt offering, and the evening meat offering, and the king’s burnt sacrifice, and his meat offering, with the burnt offering of all the people of the land, and their meat offering, and their drink offerings; and sprinkle upon it all the blood of the burnt offering, and all the blood of the sacrifice: and the brasen altar shall be for me to enquire by. (2 Kings 16:15)

Thus did Urijah the priest, according to all that king Ahaz commanded. (2 Kings 16:16)

   Remember that under the Levitical priesthood, the king had NO authority OVER the priesthood. This means that the high priest submitted himself to this evil that king Ahaz brought into Israel. This was the condition of the king, the priesthood, and of the people: they were at rock bottom for Ahaz even offered his son on the altars of heathen gods. But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, yea, and made his son to pass through the fire, according to the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out from before the children of Israel. (2 Kings 16:3)

   Now let us get up to speed to our present evil world. The altars of this world are offering children every day. They do this all over the world. Today, the demonic altar is the abortion table. This world is promoting this evil as Ahaz promoted the altars of heathen gods. The judgment for this will be unsurmountable for mankind. Paul tells us, Be not deceived, for God is not mocked, for whatsoever a man soweth THAT shall he also reap. Is it any wonder that we see world unrest? Is it any wonder that we see the INSANITY of mobs? Is it any wonder that we see wars upon wars? Can you not hear the children crying, How long O Lord?

Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, (Jeremiah 1:4) Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. (Jeremiah 1:5)　

For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb. (Psalm 139:13) I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. (Psalm 139:14) My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. (Psalm 139:15) Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. (Psalm 139:16) How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! (Psalm 139:17)

   Do you realize that our nation and the world WILL experience, and IS experiencing, the judgment of God? Until the nation as a whole REPENTS of this wicked sin, and TURNS to the Lord Jesus Christ, God’s hand of judgment WILL NOT and CANNOT be turned away from our nation.

   Under Ahaz it was HERE the name ‘Jews’ was first mentioned. This ties us with John Chapter 7, verse 1.

My meat also which I gave thee, fine flour, and oil, and honey, wherewith I fed thee, thou hast even set it before them for a sweet savour: and thus it was, saith the Lord GOD. (Ezekiel 16:19)

Moreover thou hast taken thy sons and thy daughters, whom thou hast borne unto me, and these hast thou sacrificed unto them to be devoured. Is this of thy whoredoms a small matter, (Ezekiel 16:20)

That thou hast slain my children , and delivered them to cause them to pass through the fire for them? (Ezekiel 16:21)

For thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will sling out the inhabitants of the land at this once, and will distress them, that they may find it so. (Jeremiah 10:18)

Woe is me for my hurt! my wound is grievous: but I said, Truly this is a grief, and I must bear it. (Jeremiah 10:19) My tabernacle is spoiled, and all my cords are broken: my children are gone forth of me, and they are not: there is none to stretch forth my tent any more, and to set up my curtains. (Jeremiah 10:20)

   The captivity of Israel removed the nation from their land and from their God. God was so tired of their evil that He banished them into a foreign land of idolatry. We should give much thought concerning the captivity: they were surrounded by idolatry for they had already given themselves to idolatry before their captivity. This entrenched this spirit of idolatry into their hearts. When they returned to the land (under Nehemiah, and under Ezra) they returned with a great hindrance. There were all sorts of people and nations mingled together in the land upon their return. The king of Syria, the king of Assyria, and the king of Babylon had planted people from all nations into the land of the Jews. And many Jews did not return, they had assimilated into the Babylonian culture, and many who returned with Nehemiah and Ezra brought with them the doctrines and traditions of Babylon with them. They also brought the culture of the Medes and of the Persians. God’s Law which was given to Moses never recovered its full weight, and the temple that Ezra built was never possessed with the glory of God as the temple of Solomon had been.

   To understand the full weight of the times of Christ, we need to pay close attention to the last book of the Old Testament. The book of Malachi was a rebuke to the Jews. It was a rebuke to the people who had forsaken the Lord. Here are just a few verses that show their condition.

I have loved you, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob’s brother? saith the LORD: yet I loved Jacob, (Malachi 1:2)

A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have  we despised thy name?(Malachi 1:6) Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the LORD is contemptible. (Malachi 1:7) And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? offer it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the LORD of hosts. (Malachi 1:8)

Who is there even among you that would shut the doors for nought? neither do ye kindle fire on mine altar for nought. I have no pleasure in you, saith the LORD of hosts, neither will I accept an offering at your hand. (Malachi 1:10)

But ye have profaned it, in that ye say, The table of the LORD is polluted; and the fruit thereof, even his meat, is contemptible. (Malachi 1:12)

But cursed be the deceiver, which hath in his flock a male, and voweth, and sacrificeth unto the Lord a corrupt thing: for I am a great King, saith the LORD of hosts, and my name is dreadful among the heathen. (Malachi 1:14)

And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you. (Malachi 2:1) If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the LORD of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart. (Malachi 2:2)

And ye shall know that I have sent this commandment unto you, that my covenant might be with Levi, saith the LORD of hosts. (Malachi 2:4)

But ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the LORD of hosts. (Malachi 2:8)

Ye have wearied the LORD with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied him? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and he delighteth in them; or, Where is the God of judgment? (Malachi 2:17)

   Now before anyone seeks to understand the times of the Lord Jesus Christ, they should understand the complete spiritual condition of the Jews. Therefore, I urge you to take an entire day and study the book of Malachi, and its description of the Jewish people in the age of Malachi. Also, remember, that we had four hundred years (called the four hundred silent years) from Malachi to the birth of Christ without a recorded prophet, or any mention of a sacrifice in which the Jews did that which was right in their OWN eyes. When the Savior was born, He was born among a people without the true knowledge of God. How do I know this? The Pharisees themselves confessed this in the closing part of Chapter 7 of the gospel of John.

Then came the officers to the chief priests and Pharisees; and they said unto them, Why have ye not brought him? (John 7:45) The officers answered, Never man spake like this man. (John 7:46) Then answered them the Pharisees, Are ye also deceived? (John 7:47) Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed on him? (John 7:48) But this people who knoweth not the law are cursed. (John 7:49)

   This statement reflects back to Malachi, Chapter 2, verse 7, For the priest’s lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts. This was not the nature of the Jews at this point in history: they had not kept the knowledge of God, nor did they seek the law at His mouth, and they were no longer the messengers of God. If the people knew not the Law it was because the priests had not taught them the Law. If the people were ignorant of God’s Word it was because they were deliberately kept ignorant by the chief priests and by their religious leaders. But this people who knoweth not the law are cursed. A lot can happen in twenty years, imagine what transpired during the four hundred years from Malachi to the birth of Christ. Only a very small remnant of faithful Jews were aware of the promise concerning the appearance of their Messiah.

Side Note: Without a Cause.Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: [neither] let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause. (Psalm 35:19)

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)

They compassed me about also with words of hatred; and fought against me without a cause. (Psalm 109:3)

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)

He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. (Isaiah 53:3)

But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people. (Psalm 22:6)

Side Note: Self Examination. Now is a good time for self examination. In Psalm 49 is a wonderful formula to search the hearts of mankind. It is not pleasant to go into one’s own heart, and to search the cords of sin within, and yet, Psalm 49 is a very good tool of examination. The Jews, in the day of the Lord Jesus, would have done well to read and study this Psalm. If they had laid hold of the truth within this Psalm they might not have been as wicked as they were. Psalm 49 can be the person that you see in the mirror, or Psalm 49 can change your heart, soul, and spirit to be the person that God desires you to be. You can be a person of this mad world, or a person who reflects the glories of the Lord Jesus Christ. You can embrace the wickedness of the Jews in the days of the Lord Jesus, or you can embrace the Man in glory at the right hand of God: the Lord Jesus Christ.

   When Christ approaches those who were under the control of demons, they were like mad dogs that cannot control themselves. It bites at everything living or dead. He is a beast set loose, so also, are the rulers of THIS world today. Is it any wonder that the world that we once knew is disappearing rapidly into a dark cloud of evil? The first World War came to wake up the populace of the world, and they went into a deeper sleep. And then we had the World War II, and instead of being enlightened they began to embrace the very darkness that they had just defeated. And after this, there was Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, the war in Afghanistan, and the fighting in Syria, and many other skirmishes too many to name, and now, the Dragon is blowing smoke and fire. How fitting, as we consider Revelation Chapter 13, verses 4 and 11. For the Dragon will give the man of sin his power. Soon the mad dog will bite himself for the days are evil, and everyone is doing what is right in his own eyes, and not what is right in the eyes of God. In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes. (Judges 21:25)

   The word of God never changes. What it revealed about the days of the judges, it reveals about our day today. The word of God is true in every age. It is man who despises God and His word. Adam (today) is still guilty. He is still under sin and death. Only the new birth can eliminate the sin of Adam. A new creature, a divine creature who has the Spirit of God within has to be formed by God out of the old dust, a supernatural act of God alone, and under His sovereignty, and NO one can interfere with this transaction. For it is God who chooses, who convicts, and it is God Himself who justifies the sinner through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. All this to glorify the Son of God, to glorify God the Father.

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The Cabal Held Back by His Words

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   The Jews of the Jewry sought to kill the Lord Jesus. Their conspiracy included sending out a band of men to seize the Lord Jesus and to bring him back to the Pharisees and the rulers of the Jews in Jerusalem. However, when these men returned, they came empty handed. Then came the officers to the chief priests and Pharisees; and they said unto them, Why have ye not brought him? (John 7:45) The officers answered, Never man spake like this man. (John 7:46) Then answered them the Pharisees, Are ye also deceived? (John 7:47) Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed on him? (John 7:48) But this people who knoweth not the law are cursed. (John 7:49) What kept them from seizing the Lord Jesus Christ? It was the word of God for, Never man spake like this man. The very words of God kept their hands from reaching out and from taking the Lord Jesus Christ. There was such power in His words that they could not obey the orders of the Pharisees and the rulers of the Jews. This was not only a rebuttal against the Pharisees, but it was a continued rebuttal against Satan himself. For as in Matthew Chapter 4, the Lord Jesus used HIS words to rebuke the devil and his hosts. For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)

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The Seventh Month

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   The Lord knew that the Pharisees were hiding behind the blinds of the Law of Moses ready to strike at any time. And knowing their hearts He walked in Galilee for six months until the seventh month. His return to Jerusalem would, of course, be perfectly timed and tied to the feast of tabernacles. In Chapter 6, we have the passover of the Jews, now in Chapter 7:2 it is the feast of tabernacles, Now the Jews’ feast of tabernacles was at hand. The seventh month is very important. On the first day of this month was the blowing of the trumpets which is not mentioned by the Holy Spirit in John Chapter 7. On the tenth day of the month was the day of atonement, which was one of the most important days of the year for the Jews. What better time to return to Jerusalem as the Lamb of God. However, He was returning to a place that Satan had acquired and had placed his seat. As God had chosen His rulers, Satan had chosen his as well. The Pharisees, the Sadducees, and the Herodians with the rulers of the Jews were under Satan’s beckon call. And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. (Revelation 11:8) In the close of Revelation 11:8, the Holy Spirit connects us BACK to the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ for the condition of the Jews and Jerusalem was the same as in Revelation Chapter 11, verse 8. This is the closing testimony of Jerusalem before the Lord’s return: first, the Holy Spirit mentions Sodom, a city of the most heinous sins. Secondly, the Holy Spirit mentions Egypt, the land of Israel’s enslavement; thus, we see the relationship back to the Jews being in bondage to Rome, and the conspiracy of wicked men to kill the Prince of Life.

   At this point in Chapter 7 we should understand the mind of the Lord. For there are two phrases that speak of His omniscience and His omnipotence. In both His omniscience and in His omnipotence we see the overlay of His foreknowledge. This is all contained in the statement in Acts 2:23, Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain. For His determinate counsel and foreknowledge are united in His omniscience and omnipotence. When the Lord Jesus was crucified, He KNEW the battle that He was going to fight, and He KNEW the power within Him to fight that battle. Victory was never at question, however, He MUST endure the suffering and the pain that Adam caused to redeem mankind.

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My Time

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Then Jesus said unto them, My time is not yet come: but your time is alway ready. (John 7:6)

   ‘My time is not yet come.’ What time? The time that He will reveal Himself as the King of kings and Lord of Lords.

And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. (Revelation 19:11)

His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. (Revelation 19:12)

And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. (Revelation 19:13)

And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. (Revelation 19:14)

And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. (Revelation 19:15)

And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. (Revelation 19:16)

   Speaking to His brethren, Then Jesus said unto them, My time is not yet come: but your time is alway ready. He acknowledged that Adam’s time was always ready. It is IN mankind to want to receive the glory from others for his acts. Mankind wants to be the center of attention. He wants to be known for his good works and gifts. Man wants the higher seat before others. Man wants to be exalted. Yes, man wants to be God.

  What a difference that the Creator of all things, the One who humbled Himself even to the death of the cross, the One who endured the spitting and the chastening, and the buffeting at the hands of man, the One who instead of wearing a royal diadem endured a crown of thorns, and the One who would bear the scars within His hands for ALL eternity was the One who would love me unto death — humbled Himself. This is the humility, the humbleness of the One who is Wonderful. Even now, at the right hand of God, He works in the hearts of men in the silence of their own thoughts. He brings them up out of the mire and places their feet on an indestructible rock of His own righteousness. Should not this One, in His day, be lauded by all saints as King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, Glory to God in the highest?

Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; (1^st Timothy 6:15) Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen. (1^st Timothy 6:16)

  In His day all the kings of the world will be put under His feet.

<<A Psalm of David.>> The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. (Psalm 110:1) The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies. (Psalm 110:2) Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth. (Psalm 110:3)

   In the day of His power, He will rule the nations with a rod of iron.

Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. (Psalm 2:8) Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel. (Psalm 2:9)

   This will be His time (when heaven and earth and even under the earth) will bow the knee to the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ. What jubilation for the saints of God when we shall see Him as He is. Go ye up unto this feast: I go not up yet unto this feast; for my time is not yet full come. (John 7:8)

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His Hour – Their Hour

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   Then they sought to take him: but no man laid hands on him, because his hour was not yet come.(John 7:30) This hour speaks of the suffering that He will endure on the cross of Calvary. This hour would come to glorify the Son of God, and in turn, He would glorify His Father in heaven.

   The Jews also had specific time in which they would manifest the mind, the heart, and the works of the devil in their betrayal and in the crucifixion of the Prince of Life. This was their hour. When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness. (Luke 22:53) This was their hour. Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? (Psalm 2:1) The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, . . . . (Psalm 2:2)

Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. (John 12:27)

These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: (John 17:1)

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His Feasts

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Now the  Jews’ feast of tabernacles was at hand. (John 7:2)

   The Lord’s hour is very important, and to fully understand it we should fully understand the feast of tabernacles in verse 2 of Chapter 7 of the gospel of John. The feast of tabernacles was in the seventh month, as was, the day of atonement.

   In Chapter 6, verse 4, we are in Galilee and the Passover is nigh, and it was called ‘a feast of the Jews.’ The symbols are quite evident for after the Passover we have the feast of unleavened bread, which also takes place by the feeding of the five thousand with five barley loafs (speaking of God’s grace) and two small fishes. We also see that the Lord did not return to Jerusalem at this time because it was the ‘Jews’ passover’ and not His passover. There is no mention of the feast of unleavened bread, as in Chapter 7 with the Jews’ feast of tabernacles, and there is no mention of the blowing of the trumpets on the first day, or the day of atonement on the tenth day. Only the feast of tabernacles that belonged to the Jews (and not the feast of Jehovah) is mentioned. Also an interesting point is that the day of atonement is only mentioned three times in the entire Bible.

Also on the tenth [day] of this seventh month [there shall be] a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD. (Leviticus 23:27) And ye shall do no work in that same day: for it [is] a day of atonement, to make an atonement for you before the LORD your God. (Leviticus 23:28)

Then shalt thou cause the trumpet of the jubile to sound on the tenth [day] of the seventh month, in the day of atonement shall ye make the trumpet sound throughout all your land. (Leviticus 25:9)

   Why is the ownership of these feasts so important? Because when these feasts were given, God (through the Holy Spirit) called them ‘His feasts’ thus taking ownership of these feasts. Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, Concerning the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my feasts. (Leviticus 23:2) These feasts (His feasts) portrayed His sacrificial life here on earth while on the cross and in His daily life through His daily walk as He tabernacled among men. In His sacrificial death, and in His atoning blood, He was and is the True Passover of God. Notice that in Leviticus 23:2 how precise the Holy Spirit is: first, He says, the feasts of the LORD, and if that was not direct enough, He said, even these are my feasts, thus, claiming that ALL the feasts belonged to Him; every feast of the year BELONGED TO HIM because they all spoke of His work of redemption.

In the first month, the Passover is called the Lord’s passover. In the fourteenth [day] of the first month at even [is] the LORD’S passover. (Exodus 23:5)

And thus shall ye eat it; [with] your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it [is] the LORD’S passover.(Exodus 12:11)

That ye shall say, It [is] the sacrifice of the LORD’S passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses. And the people bowed the head and worshipped. (Exodus 12:27)

   Three times the LORD’S passover is recorded so this shows that the Lord is very possessive regarding HIS feasts. However, in John Chapter 6 and 7, it was the husbandman and the vine dresser who had taken over the vineyard, and therefore, they claimed the feasts for themselves as ‘feast of the Jews.’ This is why the Holy Spirit leaves out the feast of unleavened bread in John Chapter 6, and points directly at the Lord Jesus Christ as He stated of Himself that HE is the BREAD of God, and that this bread of Himself gives life unto men.

For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. (John 6:33)

And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. (John 6:35)

   In John’s gospel in Chapter 7 at the feast of tabernacles, the Holy Spirit does not mention the blowing of the trumpets (plural) OR the day of atonement. The Jews at the Passover were only taking that which was for them, and not appreciating or celebrating that which was for God. In the feast of tabernacles they were only receiving what THEY wanted to receive.

   They kept also the feast of tabernacles, as [it is] written, and [offered] the daily burnt offerings by number, according to the custom, as the duty of every day required;  (Ezra 3:4) In the day of Christ these offerings were absent. There is no mention whatsoever in the gospels (during the walk of Christ among the Jews) that they offered the daily burnt offerings by number, according to the custom, as the duty of every day required during the feast of tabernacles according to Old Testament scriptures as in the days of the return from the Babylonian captivity in the book of Ezra.

   When we have the blowing of trumpets it will be at the return of Christ, and this was exactly what they were refusing in their denial of the Lord Jesus Christ as their King. They refused the day of atonement, and most likely the sacrifice of atonement because they did not want to acknowledge their sin. They were happy with their own interpretation of the Law of Moses and the feasts of Jehovah leaving out the very One who gave them both the Law and the feasts, the great I AM.

   This is an interesting point in the shadows, in both feasts of the Jews, the Lord Jesus was not welcomed. He did not attend the feast of the passover because He knew the heart of the Jews that they were seeking to kill Him. Therefore, He walked in Galilee for six months until the seventh month and until the feast of tabernacles. Why did He return at this particular point? This was His last attempt to present Himself as the Tabernacle of God to the wicked hearts of the Jewish leadership. We see this at the denial of His Kingship before Pilate by the Jews when they refused Him as their King. However, they had already refused Him in the feast of tabernacles. The feast of tabernacles is also called the feast of ingathering. Thou shalt observe the feast of tabernacles seven days, after that thou hast gathered in thy corn and thy wine: (Deuteronomy 16:13)

And the feast of harvest, the firstfruits of thy labours, which thou hast sown in the field: and the feast of ingathering, which is in the end of the year, when thou hast gathered in thy labours out of the field. (Exodus 23:16)

And thou shalt observe the feast of weeks, of the firstfruits of wheat harvest, and the feast of ingathering at the year’s end. (Exodus 24:22)

   This is very important, for we see the second aspect of the return of Christ. Go ye up unto this feast: I go not up yet unto this feast; for my time is not yet full come, (John 7:8) when He will receive ALL Israel unto Himself. Although, they will weep and mourn when they look upon Him whom they have pierced, He will receive them with the love of the everlasting arms, and with the nail pierced hands; He will be Israel’s Tabernacle. He will be Israel’s dwelling place.

And it shall come to pass, [that] every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles. (Zechariah 14:16)

And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, that [have] no [rain]; there shall be the plague, wherewith the LORD will smite the heathen that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles. (Zechariah 14:18) This shall be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of all nations that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles. (Zechariah 14:19)

  As the Jews had usurped ownership over the passover, and over feast of tabernacles, they had also perverted the Law of Moses to become ‘their’ law which Chapter 6 and 7 prove. Nicodemus also confirmed that the Jews had taken possession of the Law when He stated in John 7:51, Doth our law judge any man, before it hear him, and know what he doeth? Notice how easy ‘our law’ rolled off the lips of Nicodemus. It was an accepted phrase and understand that ‘their law’ superceeded God’s law. For if God’s law interfered with ‘their’ law, then ‘their law’ took preeminence; consequently, they would not keep the Law of Moses and rejected the Law of Moses as the Lord declared in John 7:19, Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the law? Why go ye about to kill me? This was a sharp condemnation. They not only were not keeping the law, but they conspired to kill the Lord Jesus which would completely shatter the Law of Moses.

   In the realm of Adam, history seems to repeat itself. As Adam disobeyed, so also his line disobeyed throughout their history. The disobedience of the Jews loudly spoke concerning their inherent sin from Adam in denying the Person of God’s dear Son, and wanting to be gods over God’s heritage by refusing the Heir, the Son of God.

Side Note: This article began with Déjà vu. At the beginning of the founding of this country a body of men drew up three distinct documents: The Bill of Rights, The Constitution of the United States, and The Declaration of Independence. These documents were given to ensure future generations that they would enjoy the same freedoms and the same rights as the writers proposed. This was a gift to an infant nation, so every man placed his name to the articles as a gift to this new nation. These documents had emerged from much pain and suffering at the hands of a tyrant, the king of England, King George. Each writer had paid the price in some way, and wanted to give the nation the full value of the price that was paid. They wanted a nation UNDER GOD, not above Him, not beside Him, but in reverence and humility, and devotion, UNDER Him. That He would be supreme in their thoughts, in their hearts, and in their actions.

Their mind set was to create a nation under God’s authority giving mankind certain inalienable rights under His authority, and this was the ONLY religion that they considered: faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. This does not mean that all the men who signed were saved, what it means is that the body of thought was that Christianity was the only religion. We have come a long way since then — not for the good of this country. At the present time, the Bill of Rights and The Constitution, and the Declaration of Independence are fighting for their existence against a block of politicians in Congress who only see through the lusts of their own eyes with the lust for power with the heart of Cain. And in some cases have openly shown their hatred for the Constitution and the country that they preside over.

Side Note: The Word of God. As the Jews religiously selected only the parts of the Law and God’s Word that reflected their actions, so also in like manner, the professing Church has done the same. What is even a deeper distress is the professing church in their ‘higher criticism’ is attempting to tear apart the Word of God. When approaching ‘higher criticism’ the KJV Bible has no authority with them. They believe that God through the Holy Spirit is NOT able to keep a written copy of His Word unless it is approved by them. God wrote His word in stone for a reason so that it would bear its power and its dominion over mankind throughout their history. The Word of God is eternal. It rests in heaven, and if this is not enough, the very One who gave the Word is called The Word of God. And he [was] clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. (Revelation 19:13) God has given His authority to the KJV.

The Holy Spirit and the Word are mightier than ALL the ungodly forces who fight against God the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. No matter how mighty ‘higher criticism’ elevates itself it only exists in the lowliness of sin in Adam. The only Bible that is continuously attacked is the KJV. As the Jews attacked the Law of Moses in their unbelief, so today, the KJV is attacked by unbelief. If there was only one Christian left on planet Earth, they would have the Word of God settled in heaven. God would not leave them without a testimony no matter how hard the world tries (in their unbelief). God’s Word is settled in heaven, and He breathes this into those He loves. LAMED. For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven. (Psalm 119:89)

As Noah, who was the only preacher of righteousness in his day, was given the specific word to condemn a sinful world because He was a preacher of RIGHTEOUSNESS. He spoke the Word of God, the Word that is settled in heaven. The Word of God is a Supernatural gift to mankind. The Christian walk is a Supernatural walk, and God will make sure that those who belong to Him will have the Supernatural Word that glorifies His Supernatural Son with the very glory that is Supernatural.

   The feast of tabernacles is the display of God walking with man, or tabernacling among them. It is the last feast beginning in the last age. It is also called the ingathering because it stretches through time to the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. (Zechariah 14) On the first day of the seventh month there was the blowing of trumpets (plural). Here we see the great day of the Lord Jesus Christ, as the ingathering of Israel in the day of His millennial kingdom. For His day and His time has come. The blowing of the trumpets in the future will be undoubtedly the day of Jubilee. He will gather all Israel from the east, from the west, from the north, and from the south so that they may tabernacle with their God. This will be their response.

I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the LORD, and the praises of the LORD, according to all that the LORD hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which he hath bestowed on them according to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his lovingkindnesses. (Isaiah 63:7) For he said, Surely they are my people, children that will not lie: so he was their Saviour. (Isaiah 63:8) In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old. (Isaiah 63:9)

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The LORD of Hosts

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   Read the book of Zechariah Chapter 8, and underline each time that the Lord was identified as the LORD of hosts. Eighteen times in this one chapter, more than any other chapter in the Bible, the phrase ‘the LORD of hosts’ is recorded, therefore, this title is very important to the children of Israel. Let us follow the LORD of hosts and see the connection to Chapter 7 in the gospel of John. All the threads of Scripture interconnect, and all intertwine through WHO Christ is, and WHAT He has not only accomplished, but what He is yet to accomplish. The best is yet to come.

Again the word of the LORD of hosts came to me, saying, (Zechariah 8:1)

Thus saith the LORD of hosts; I was jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I was jealous for her with great fury. (Zechariah 8:2)

Thus saith the LORD; I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of the LORD of hosts the holy mountain. (Zechariah 8:3)

Thus saith the LORD of hosts; There shall yet old men and old women dwell in the streets of Jerusalem, and every man with his staff in his hand for very age. (Zechariah 8:4)

And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof. (Zechariah 8:5)

Thus saith the LORD of hosts; If it be marvellous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days, should it also be marvellous in mine eyes? saith the LORD of hosts. (Zechariah 8:6)

Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Behold, I will save my people from the east country, and from the west country; (Zechariah 8:7)

And I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness. (Zechariah 8:8)

Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Let your hands be strong, ye that hear in these days these words by the mouth of the prophets, which were in the day that the foundation of the house of the LORD of hosts was laid, that the temple might be built. (Zechariah 8:9)

   The first mention of the host of the LORD is in the book of Joshua, when the Lord Jesus is portrayed as the Captain of the Lord’s host in Chapter 5, verse 14, And he said, Nay; but [as] captain of the host of the LORD am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant? In the book of Joshua, the Lord Jesus received the title of Captain, which bonds with us today, for He is Captain of our salvation. (Joshua’s worship was accepted and allowed, and not forbidden because the Captain of the host of the LORD was Deity. )

For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. (Hebrews 2:10) For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, (Hebrews 2:11)

   The phrase, the LORD of hosts, is recorded eighteen times in Chapter eight of the book of Zechariah, the number of new beginnings. The Lord Jesus is seen as Captain of the LORD’S hosts in Joshua, and the Lord Jesus is the Captain of our salvation in Hebrews Chapter 2; thus He is the LORD of hosts, and consequently He bears the responsibility and the power to combat the hosts of evil. In the day of Joshua, HE defeated the enemy of Israel. In our day and time, He HAS defeated our enemies as Captain of our salvation. In a future, as the LORD of hosts, with all His armies from heaven, He will defeat ALL the enemies of Israel. It is by His own arm as Captain of the LORD’S host that HE and HE alone has brought about our salvation, and will bring salvation to Israel when He returns with all His glory to embrace Israel in the millennial kingdom. There will (then be) a great blowing of trumpets in honor of the great King.

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The Journey of the Trail of Blood

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   On the tenth day of the seventh month was the day of atonement. Once every year, this day was given for the remission of sins so that Israel could begin anew on the day of atonement. This was for the whole nation and was instituted for the whole nation during the journey of the Tabernacle in the days of their wilderness trial. The high priest would take the blood of the sacrifice on THIS day, ONCE a year, into the holy of holies (the holiest of all) into the presence of God, and place that blood on the Mercy Seat after sprinkling the Ark, and the surroundings seven times with the blood. This journey of the blood began at the Brazen Altar where the sacrifice was slain, and the fires of judgment consumed the richness of the fat; then the blood was applied to the four horns of the altar partly symbolizing (in type) the four wounds which held the Lord Jesus to the cross: the wounds in His hands and His feet.

   In the New Testament, the Altar was the cross, and the blood was from the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world. His cross from top to bottom spiritually spanned the distance from heaven to the things under the earth. The horizontal of the cross spanned ALL eternity, as far as the east is from the west, never touching, always separated in a long expanse that is endless. His cross, spoke of things in heaven, today thou shall be with me in paradise. His cross spoke of things on the earth and things under the earth. 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) And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. (Colossians 1:20)

    The Brazen Altar was the beginning of the journey of this most precious blood. After the high priest placed the blood on the four horns of the altar, he began his journey into the Holy of Holies. He would continue to the Laver, and at the Laver, he would cleanse himself with the waters of sanctification: to remove the sin that stained the flesh. (This would relate not only to the blood, but the water that flowed from the side of the Lord Jesus Christ when the Roman centurion thrust his spear into His side, and into the heart of the Savior. The rupture of His heart sent forth both blood and water.) There at the Laver, the high priest was cleansed completely. Only in this cleansed position could he represent the whole nation of Israel. In type, he was to bear all their sins as he entered into the Tabernacle. His walk, from the Laver through the Tabernacle, was to be sinless in type. With the bread of fellowship (the Table of Shewbread) on his right, and the Lampstand (the Light of God) on his left, and the Altar of Incense before him, the priest would then enter in through the Veil of death, and stand before God at the Mercy Seat. There (at the Mercy Seat) he would sprinkle the blood seven times, and place the blood upon the Mercy Seat. Only then would God look on THAT blood as a satisfying sacrifice for the nation of Israel.

And the priest shall dip his finger in the blood, and sprinkle of the blood seven times before the LORD, before the vail of the sanctuary. (Leviticus 4:6)

And the priest shall dip his finger [in some] of the blood, and sprinkle [it] seven times before the LORD, [even] before the vail. (Leviticus 4:17)

And he sprinkled thereof upon the altar seven times, and anointed the altar and all his vessels, both the laver and his foot, to sanctify them. (Leviticus 8:11)

And he shall take of the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle [it] with his finger upon the mercy seat eastward; and before the mercy seat shall he sprinkle of the blood with his finger seven times. (Leviticus 16:14)

And he shall sprinkle of the blood upon it with his finger seven times, and cleanse it, and hallow it from the uncleanness of the children of Israel. (Leviticus 16:19)

   The bread (in the Tabernacle – the Shewbread) which was twelve loafs, spoke of God’s fellowship with Israel. The promise of His presence among them would be partially fulfilled (Go ye up unto this feast: I go not up yet unto this feast; for my time is not yet full come. [John 7:8]) in the days of the Lord Jesus as He walked His sinless path through the nation presenting Himself as the Bread of life, and fulfilled completely during His millennial reign in His promise to dwell among His people.

   The Lampstand was the illuminant. It was the Light of God that was sent down from heaven to illuminate the mind, the heart, the spirit, and the soul of man, and of course, that light is the Lord Jesus Christ, for He is the Light of the world.

   The Altar of Incense spoke of the sweet savor of the sacrifice ascending up to God His Father, that His beloved Son had pleased God the Father in every way, and God could breathe in the sweetness of the very Person of the Lord Jesus Christ as the sacrifice bore the sin of the world. And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. (Ephesians 5:2)

   There is only one more article and this is the Veil of death. This veil at the very moment of the Lord’s death was rent from top to bottom. Heaven opened to acknowledge the death and sacrifice of the Son of God and the Son of man. He fulfilled both in bringing God to man as the Son, and then returning with the power of redemption into heaven’s glory as the Son of man to bring in the end time His Bride coming with Him.

Concerning the priesthood: as Aaron presented the sacrifice at the Brazen Altar, so Christ, as Melchisedec (Melchizedek) , presented Himself a sacrifice on the cross of Calvary.

The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek. (Psalm 110:4)

For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: (Hebrews 9:24) Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; (Hebrews 9:25)

So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. (Hebrews 9:28)

   As both Priest and Sacrifice, the Lord Jesus fulfilled EVERY part of the day of atonement. Even the tenth day speaks of the Law for the Lord Jesus fulfilled the whole Law. He, as the Lamb, was brought to the slaughter by the true Priest of God, Jesus Christ. He presented Himself to both God and man as Priest and as the Sacrifice.

   In the gospel of John, Chapter 17, He presented Himself to God the Father. When He was taken by the Pharisees, and their band, He presented Himself to the Jewish court where they could find no fault in Him. Then, He presented Himself to the Gentile court, to Pilate, the Roman governor. He declared to Pilate to this end was I born. Which not only referred to His Kingship, but also to His sacrificial death. He, as the Eternal High Priest as Melchisedec presented Himself as both sacrifice and Priest of the most high God. And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. (Genesis 14:18)

Note: The Four Court Appearances of the Lord.  (Read the four court appearances of the Lord in this link). 

   Let’s open our minds to what we have before us: what is the mind of the Spirit? The mind of the Spirit is always to glorify the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ. Melchisedec in Genesis Chapter 14 is a priest of the most high God. The phrase, the most high God, is recorded eleven times in the Bible, eight times in the Old, and three times in the New Testament. The consistency of this title leads us to the last mention which is also the very same as the first mention.

And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he [was] the priest of the most high God. (Genesis 14:18)

For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him; (Hebrews 7:1)

   Am I taking too much liberality in tying the first mention to the last mention, or the Alpha to the Omega, or the beginning to the end? In the three mentions in the New Testament, two of them refer directly to the Lord Jesus Christ. And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, [thou] Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not. (Mark 5:7) The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation. (Acts 16:17)

   In Mark 5:7, the demons proclaimed that the Lord Jesus IS the Son of the most high God. In the book of Acts, Paul is referred to as a servant of the most high God, which in turn, he was a servant of Christ. For Paul exclaimed to the Lord Jesus, Lord, what would thou have me to do. (Acts 9)

   In Genesis Chapter 14, the most high God is mentioned four times. To concentrate and connect our thoughts to Melchisedec: the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Himself on the cross had to be offered by a sinless and heavenly Priest to be accepted as the sacrifice for sin both in heaven and on the earth. And of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her: and the highest himself shall establish her. (Psalm 87:5) That man in this psalm is the Lord Jesus Christ, and He is identified as the highest himself. This connects the Lord Jesus with Hebrews 7:26, For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens.

   The enigma of the Son of God and the Son of man is hard for the human mind to grasp, however, God had ordained to give us a portrait of both the Son of God, and the Son of man as ONE and the SAME. It is the complete image of God manifest in the flesh, and then as the Son of man, He ascends to the highest, even higher than the heavens. He, as the Eternal Priest, not only offered Himself on the cross, but carried that offering in His blood to the Eternal Mercy Seat which is in heaven. Study the Levitical priesthood and see the flow of Melchisedec through the earthly priesthood as a type that would be fulfilled in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ.

   As we follow the priest’s journey in the earthly Tabernacle, we are able to follow the journey of THAT day of eternal life when the Lord Jesus gave Himself for the sin of the whole world; thus, we are able to follow the footsteps of Melchisedec all the way to the heaven of heavens when He placed His blood on the Eternal Mercy Seat. After His immediate resurrection He spoke to Mary, He KNEW that she wished to embrace Him, however, He said to her, Touch me not. 

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

But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre, (John 20:11)

And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him. (John 20:13) And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. (John 20:14) Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. (John 20:15) Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. (John 20:16) Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. (John 20:17)

   He was referring to His first ascension. He had to complete the work of His priesthood. He had to ascend into heaven and place His blood on the Eternal Mercy Seat. He had to do this in the presence of His Father. This blood in heaven is an eternal witness of His work of redemption, His sacrificial life and His love for mankind. Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. (Acts 20:28)

   On the Ark of the covenant there were two Cherubims looking over the Mercy Seat, now in heaven the Cherubims see and witness that eternal sacrifice that the Son of God made with His shed blood upon the Mercy Seat. As we wonder about He who is Wonderful, so they also wonder at this most holy Wonder of His blood IN heaven on the Mercy Seat. The blood of He who is Wonderful. For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)

Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; (1^st Peter 1:18) But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: (1^st Peter 1:19) Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, (1^st Peter 1:20) Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. (1^st Peter 1:21) Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: (1^st Peter 1:22) Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. (1^st Peter 1:23) Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. (1^st Peter 2:24)

Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into. (1^st Peter 1:12)

And thou shalt make two cherubims of gold, of beaten work shalt thou make them, in the two ends of the mercy seat. (Exodus 25:18) And make one cherub on the one end, and the other cherub on the other end: even of the mercy seat shall ye make the cherubims on the two ends thereof. (Exodus 25:19) And the cherubims shall stretch forth their wings on high, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and their faces shall look one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubims be. (Exodus 25:20)

And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: (Ephesians 3:9) To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, (Ephesians 3:10) According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: (Ephesians 3:11)

(Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? (Ephesians 4:9) He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) (Ephesians 4:10)

   The Lord’s first ascension was to place His blood on the Eternal Mercy Seat as Melchisedec, the Priest of the Highest. This was between the Son of God and His Father. In His second ascension (before His disciples) He ascended as the Son of man to take His place at the right hand of God, and to take His place as the great high priest to the Church. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. (Hebrews 4:15) Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16)

   Many of the mysteries of God have been revealed to the Church, and one of the great mysteries that was hidden in the Old Testament is the priesthood of the Lord Jesus Christ. This mystery was foretold in Melchisedec. It is fulfilled NOW in the glorified Son of man, the Lord Jesus Christ. The unveiling of this mystery allows each and every one of us to go into the presence of our great high Priest with the burdens of our hearts, the convictions of our soul, and the sorrow of our spirit. We feel His compassion because He is a faithful and a true high Priest as we see in Hebrews 4:16.

   I realize that we have covered a lot of ground scripturally, but we must see the unfolding of God’s determinate counsel because now, thanks to the New Testament, we not only see the things of earth, but we are introduced to the things in heaven and the work of redemption. In this, the Lord has also shown us the mysteries of the Revelation of Jesus Christ. Although this covers a lot in history and in time, and as Peter said about Paul’s writing, Some things (are) hard to be understood.

And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; (2^nd Peter 3:15) As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. (2^nd Peter 3:16)

   There are things that are unseen that have not been revealed to us, and these things still remain mysteries; however, through the Word of God, God has been kind to us to unfold His  plan of redemption within His glorious Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. We have been blessed by the knowledge of our own redemption, and we see that even the creation has been delivered and waits for the manifestation of the sons of God.

For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. (Romans 8:19) For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, (Romans 8:20) Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. (Romans 8:21) For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. (Romans 8:22) And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. (Romans 8:23)

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)

That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: (Ephesians 1:10)

And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. (Colossians 1:20)

   These verses give us an overview of things that the Lord has accomplished and completed and in this completion, things which are yet to come. This will be His time, and in the end He will judge the quick and the dead. All those who have refused the Son of God have trampled under foot the blood of Christ. They have done despite to the Spirit of grace, and they have no hope in THIS world, or in the eternity to come. The oil in their lamps has gone out, and they will have the deepest darkness throughout eternity. We see them every day as Noah viewed the masses before the flood; they laughed and sang in their sins to their own destruction.

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Ichabod

The Glory Departed

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   As the Lord Jesus stepped outside from Jewry, ( for he would not walk in Jewry) He wept over Jerusalem as He pronounced their final call.

And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out. (Luke 19:40) And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, (Luke 19:41) Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. (Luke 19:42) For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, (Luke 19:43) And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation. (Luke 19:44)

Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation. (Matthew 23:36) O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! (Matthew 23:37) Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. (Matthew 23:38)

   When He stepped aside from Jewry, He no longer entered into THEIR synagogues. He set His attention on the center of evil. He focused on the Temple and on Jerusalem. His hour was getting closer. He had to display His righteousness in contrast to their evilness (which we will cover in John Chapter 8).

   At the end of Chapter 7, things concerning His hour and the hour of the Jews appear to speed up. The Spirit’s anticipation is brought forward in the combination of the men in the Temple when their own conscience exposed them, and they left from the eldest to the youngest taking their sins with them instead of casting themselves on the mercies of God in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. His righteousness was before them. They had seen His writing, and they left without redemption, truly, a sad state of the children of Adam.

   In Chapter 7 concerning the feast of tabernacles, the Lord Jesus was fulfilling the type that was His manifestation when He tabernacled among men, which the Holy Spirit bore witness to in John Chapter 1, verse 14. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. Concerning, the Word made flesh: the Word was made flesh, the fact of His manifestation that this flesh was Supernatural is brought out in 1^st Timothy 3:16, And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. Putting these two verses together (John 1:14, and 1^st Timothy 3:16) unlocks a treasure house of knowledge.

   In John Chapter 1, we are shown the absolute Word that pre-existed WITH God and who WAS/IS God. Now, He is manifested in the flesh as the visible image of the invisible God. (Colossians 1:15) Being made in the flesh does not denote Adam. For the flesh of the Lord Jesus was made of divine purity out of the realm of sin, yet, He walked in a world of sin. The Spirit of God couples grace and truth with the Lord Jesus to magnify the very fact of His purity, a heavenly purity. The fact that God would come and dwell among mankind, or tabernacle with them, is truly a divine thought, for man had rejected the presence of God in the Old Testament when His presence and glory was known IN the tabernacle they rejected Him and God wrote over them Ichabod, the glory has departed. Later in Solomon’s temple, God once again revealed Himself IN His glory that this house would bear His name and would enjoy the presence of His glory. This presence was also rejected by the nation of Israel and by the city of Jerusalem. The glory had departed! In the day of the Lord Jesus Christ the glory had returned to tabernacle among them. This is also revealed in John Chapter 1 where the Spirit of God declared that we beheld His glory, the glory of the only begotten Son. (John 1:14) John referred to his personal experience on the mount of transfiguration when he, Peter and James beheld the manifestation of the flesh changed into the glory of God before them. They beheld His glory. Peter also referred to that time in his 2^nd epistle Chapter 1, verses 15 thru 18. Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance. (2^nd Peter 1:15) For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. (2^nd Peter 1:16) For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. (2^nd Peter 1:17) And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. (2^nd Peter 1:18)

   Once again Israel and the world refused His glory, and His glory departed with Him and He is now at the right hand of God. Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high. (Hebrews 1:3)

   A wonderful expression of His glory by the Spirit is found in the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ, Chapter 4, verses 2 and 3. And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. (Revelation 4:2) And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald. (Revelation 4:3)

   Later in the Lord’s ministry He stated that all things must be accomplished that were written in the Scriptures. We see this in Luke 22:37, For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end. (Isaiah 53) That all things MUST be accomplished leaving nothing out that was written in the Old behind a veil is now revealed in the New to the children of God who love Him. From Moses and the prophets, and the book of Psalms, this was HIS HOUR. This was His testimony, and He was marching as the Captain of our salvation to THAT HOUR where He would fight the battle against the prince of darkness. This was the hour of the Pharisees and the Sadducees and the rulers of the Jews as children of the devil. When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness. (Luke 22:53) They condemned themselves in both word and deed. They stated that they believed in the Law of Moses, yet they did not follow the Law of Moses. They were heaping upon themselves their own condemnation, and there was no turning back. They were on a path that would lead to their eternal destination in the lake of fire.

   I often mention the shrill cry from the Jews in their profound statement to Pilate, His blood [be] on us, and on our children. (Matthew 27:25) This trail of blood has followed the Jewish people and their nation throughout the centuries. In all the words and speeches of evil men this declaration has to be the most profoundly cryptic yet understandably clear, and carried with it the most tragic results.

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The Peace of God Offered

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   At this time that I am writing this article we now have a new peace agreement with Ishmael. This peace agreement is on paper, and not in blood. The peace agreement that the Lord Jesus brought more than two thousand years ago was a proclamation of God’s peace to those who would believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (John 14:27) And this peace of God is affectionately in our hearts. (Colossians 3:15) And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

   By having the peace of God, which only God can give through the Lord Jesus Christ, we enjoy (as Christians) rest for our souls. Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the LORD hath dealt bountifully with thee. (Psalm 116:7) Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. (Matthew 11:29) For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. (Hebrews 4:3)

   God established that His peace, and only His peace can give rest to the soul; this brings in the everlasting arms. This brings in the walk of the Lord Jesus upon the earth as He ministered and performed many miracles. His compassion was unlike any other. He brought the love of heaven from His Father to an ungodly world to manifest that love, and to give peace to the restless souls of mankind. Those who have laid hold, and will yet lay hold, of that peace in God’s dear Son truly have found a resting place for their souls. Today we see with opened eyes, we see through a redeemed heart, soul and spirit, we await the Lord’s command, Come up hither. This is the day that all Christians long for since the beginning of the Church, for more than two thousand years saints have tread upon this earth desiring to be loosed from the earth; yet, it is needful for the light of the Lord (through us) to be here. As the world pulls at our flesh so heaven pulls on our hearts, souls and on our spirits. Our anticipation is to be off with this old body, and be clothed with a new body, and to be manifested as the sons of God in the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ.

For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. (Romans 8:19) For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, (Romans 8:20) Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. (Romans 8:21) For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. (Romans 8:22) And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. (Romans 8:23)

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Opinions Upon Opinions

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   In Chapter 7 we also see the many opinions of mankind in Adam. We see the words from the Lord’s brethren, and their opinion. We see the opinion of the people concerning the Lord Jesus Christ. We see the Pharisees and the rulers of the Jews and their opinion. We see the opinion of the officers who were sent out to bring Christ to the Pharisees bound. We see the opinion of Nicodemus, but all these were the opinions of men. There was no belief, they all had run the gauntlet of opinions, and could not find rest for their souls. Yet, God in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ continued to prod at their hearts, to poke at their souls, to unmask their conscience, and try desperately to illuminate their spirits, and they would not. These opinions, which they all held, were not based on fact, nor truth; the general populace, according to the Holy Spirit, saw the Lord Jesus as both a good man and as a deceiver. And there was much murmuring among the people concerning him: for some said, He is a good man: others said, Nay; but he deceiveth the people. (John 7:12) Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, Of a truth this is the Prophet. (John 7:40)

   The absence of the knowledge of God through the Word of God leads to confusion. We see this every day on the world stage. We see it among the general populace, the political and ruling class of this world, we see this in the running of governments, and we see it in those who are irresponsible to the Word of God for they have usurped the rule of the Church, as the Pharisees usurped the rule of Israel in the days of the Lord Jesus Christ.

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Fear

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   Without the Word of God the devil sows his seed, he promotes mistrust in God, he denies the validity and truth within the Word of God. It is the devil who delights to put fears into the hearts of mankind. Man has all kinds of fears every day. Each and every day, men awake in this world to the fears of this world, the fears that the devil promotes to keep mankind away from the knowledge of God. Children in some cases fear going to school, some men (although they will not admit to it) fear going to work, and what they will have to face in that day, housewives fear for the stability of their families, and yet, there can be no stability based on opinion. As the devil takes out his arrows of fear, there is one fear that is absent and that is the fear of God. The devil will keep mankind busy in all types of fears, the preacher (the devil’s preacher) will preach about prosperity, he will preach about vanity, he will preach about pride; however, this will always be absent from his message: the great white throne judgment and the lake of fire. Just think of the many times in your life time that the devil has kept you busy with your own personal fears. Throughout your lifetime you have faced fears, however, the Lord Jesus Christ in His mercy has come to relieve you of all fears, and to place you into a different realm apart from the devil’s evil world, and to deliver you from all fears including the fear of death. The peace of God that truly passes all understanding, and only through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ can anyone have peace with God.

   In the days of the Lord Jesus (and today) men have fears of even talking about the Son of God because of the Pharisees. I could relate many faces of people that I have known who publically professed Christ, but feared to speak of Him, or to speak of the Word of God. The Pharisees and the rulers of the Jews were the government controlling the Israelites in their spiritual realm which was absent of the knowledge of God. This is confirmed by the Pharisees themselves.

But this people who knoweth not the law are cursed. (John 7:49)

Howbeit no man spake openly of him for fear of the Jews.  (John 7:13)

   Without the knowledge of God the devil and mankind can use fear to manipulate the people under their authority. One of the first acts of tyranny is to create a fear in the people that they rule over. This never changes, this is a formula that the devil has used for centuries, tyrants are not of God. They are the henchmen of the devil. We, today, see this in the Uniparty in the Congress of the Unites States, but men fear to say it because these representatives sit in the seat of tyrants. They want ALL Christians to fear them, and not to speak of the Lord Jesus Christ. You may mention ‘God’ but by no means bring the name of the Lord Jesus Christ into their presence. Sadly, even in the spiritual realm churches have removed the authority of Christ and His rule over them. How? Through the formula of the devil: fear. Fear to speak out about wasted funds. Fear to speak out against ungodly pastors. Fear to speak out against the opposition of man against the Word of God, and the fear to defend the Word of God. This is where we live today. Laodicea is the ruling class in the spiritual realm of the Church, therefore, the glory has departed. The Spirit of God now is witnessing to YOU, the individual, to stand up against your fears, and open the door and let Christ come in and sup with Him. Learn of HIM from the Word of God, and from the voice of the Spirit that comes from Christ Himself. Do not allow man, government, or even the Church, hinder your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Your salvation is not only inward, but outward as well; therefore, declare the unsearchable riches of Christ to an ungodly world.

   To go over certain things more than once is God’s way of instruction: line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little, and there a little. The knowledge of the Word of God removes confusion, removes opinion, and gives both peace and rest to the soul. Remember, the over all rule of Israel belonged to Rome, Rome allowed a limited government for the Jews over their own people; however, the Jews had no authority over Roman citizens. We see this when Paul appealed to Caesar because he was a Roman citizen. This prevented the Jewish court from trying him; consequently, Paul began his journey to Rome.

   The Jewish leadership had a limited government over the Jews. This government of the Jews (spiritual, socially) was ruled by fear. If you put enough fear into the hearts of mankind, most will submit to that fear and become subservient to that fear. This is one of the evil results of the fall of Adam. We see this immediately in the relationship between Cain and Abel. Undoubtedly Cain’s first weapon against Abel was to promote fear in Abel (through aggressive intimidation and threats) to cause Abel to rebel against the Almighty. When fear fails then Cain used a spear, and murdered his brother. We see this combination all throughout the history of mankind.

   The captivity of Israel was brought about by disobedience to the Law of Moses, and ignorance of the holy Scriptures. Fear is one of the devils most used weapons against mankind. Howbeit no man spake openly of him for fear of the Jews. (John 7:13) This fear is just as real today as in the day of Christ. The professing Church holds their own people in contempt by not teaching the Word of God as it is written. They have no problem teaching the traditions of men, and sweet sounding clichés as truth and facts. If anyone attends church based on fear, he has a big problem. One of the glorious positions that a Christian has is to stand before God in the peace of God.

   The Lord Jesus explained to the Jews that He had been sent by another, and that He was there not to glorify Himself, but to glorify the One who had sent Him, and this was God the Father. When we relate this to ourselves, as the eternal children of God, we see that we have also been sent into this world by the Lord Jesus Christ to glorify Him. Then said Jesus to them again, Peace [be] unto you: as [my] Father hath sent me, even so send I you. (John 20:21)

   The Jewish leadership had taken a position of pride, vanity, and arrogance by perverting the Law of God and by not teaching the truth, nor glorifying the God of heaven. In the Christian position we are to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God. We are not to glorify anything that is in Adam. This is why the Lord condemned the Jews most harshly in Chapter 7 of the gospel of John.

If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. (John 7:17)

He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.  (John 7:18)

Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the law? Why go ye about to kill me? (John 7:19)

   Remember that all this took place as the Lord taught in the temple. Now about the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught. (John 7:14) The Lord Jesus was in the Temple to expose the Pharisees, and their perverted version of the Law of Moses. What better place to expose them then in the place of their authority, and doing it before the people. They were phonies in every sense of the word, as scores of professing Christians today state that they have faith in Jesus. Yet, they do not live their faith, nor do they have the vital signs of life within and without. They are spiritually walking in darkness, yet, they want God to believe their lies. Are you any better then the unbelieving Jews? Chapter 7, verse 19, the Lord condemned these Jews in the very temple that they ruled with hearts of unbelief. Today, if the Lord Jesus stood up in any church and gave the same condemnation to them who merely profess faith without any life He would not be received, but He would be asked to leave. Over the past two thousand years, God has sent His servants into the Church. He has sent the ones who He has chosen, and given them gifts of the Holy Spirit of God, and as they come in the Spirit of Christ many have been asked to leave because the Church is ruled by ungodly men.

   The people answered and said, Thou hast a devil: who goeth about to kill thee? (John 7:20) We see the denial of the Jews concerning their conspiracy to kill the Lord Jesus. They were desperately trying to take the spotlight away from themselves and place it back onto the Lord Jesus Christ.

   The Eternal God looked into the hearts of the murderous Jews, and He exposed the spirit of Cain; so the Lord declared, Why go ye about to kill me? In this we see the complicated conspiracy that the Jewish leaders were trying to bring about. They wanted to kill Him, yet they wanted exemption from the Law of Moses for their ungodly acts. The Lord dumps this judgment right into their laps in the Temple itself. They were guilty and God, manifest in the flesh, proclaimed their guilt. Now the people answered, of course, this is the same people who knew not the law, and according to the Pharisees were cursed. But this people who knoweth not the law are cursed. (John 7:49) This exchange was two fold: first, the omniscient God stated the truth that the Jews were conspiring to kill Him, then we have their reply from the ungodly seed of Adam. First they declared that the Lord Jesus has a devil. Secondly, they asked,  Who goeth about to kill thee? They are struck in their hearts with the ‘I didn’t do it’ syndrome. They knew right well the attitude of the Pharisees and the Sadducees against the Lord Jesus Christ. As they were blind to their own sins, they were blind to the truth of God. They were stepping out of reality because they did not want to condemn themselves. When the people said that they had no knowledge of anyone attempting to kill the Lord Jesus, we hear not a word from the Pharisees. They allowed the people (who knew not the Word of God, and who were cursed) to state a judgment against the Son of God. These are the same people who stood by when John the Baptist was cast into prison, and was then beheaded by a madman because of his lust and his affair with his brother’s wife, which led to her crying out for the head of John the Baptist; yet, the Jews did not go to John’s defense, nor did they utter a word against the Roman leaders. The Lord knew their feelings about John the Baptist, and He also knew about their conspiracy and what they thought about Him. He KNEW their murderous hearts. He took them back to remember their words in the gospel of John Chapter 5, verse 16, where they sought to slay Him. And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day.

   In John Chapter 5 the Lord also condemned the Pharisees for not believing the writing of Moses. Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust. (John 5:45) For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. (John 5:46) But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?(John 5:47)

   The Lord Jesus (through the writings of the Holy Spirit) makes us aware that this was a continuous conspiracy to kill Him. However, when they tried to lay hands upon Him, we read, His hour was not yet come. Then they sought to take him: but no man laid hands on him, because his hour was not yet come. (John 7:30) Once again, we see the sovereign work of God in His foreknowledge and in His determinate counsels. Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:  (Acts 2:3) Within God’s foreknowledge and determinate counsel we have God’s will and purpose.

Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: (Ephesians 1:9)

In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: (Ephesians 1:11)

And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, (Ephesians 1:19) Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, (Ephesians 1:20) Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: (Ephesians 1:21) And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, (Ephesians 1:22) Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. (Ephesians 1:23)

   To interject human thought into the plan and actions of God is to deny His sovereignty over all things, over all eternity, and over all creation whether Old or New. This thought is left off the shelf: He is Sovereign over the past, present and future. He possesses time and eternity. All that He has created, and will yet create belongs to Him. He is the FULLNESS of ALL in ALL. ALL moves according to His will.

   In John 7:30, we see the aftermath in Him condemning the Jews for not obeying the Law. He even used circumcision (that was given to Abraham) as an example of things that were accepted by God. (Genesis 17:10-13) When a child was born eight days before the Sabbath, then on that Sabbath it was lawful to circumcise that child under the Law of Moses, although circumcision was given to Abraham. The reality that the Lord of the Sabbath was among them did not change the conspiracy of their evil hearts. The fact that the Lord Jesus had made a man whole on the Sabbath was a wonderful work of God, but the evil seed of Adam was sown so deep within them that no matter how much evidence was brought before them they would not believe. The masses of the people believed the pharisaical propaganda. When the Lord Jesus was revealing Himself to man, they could only state, as recorded in John 7:27, Howbeit we know this man whence he is: but when Christ cometh, no man knoweth whence he is. This is what becomes of a people who do not know the Word of God. Although the priests of the Levitical priesthood were ministers of the Word of God, the people were also responsible for meditating on the Word of God day and night. The Lord exposed their blindness, their deaf ears, and their dumb and dim minds. Their evil hearts had blinded them to the Scriptures. They willingly ignored the Word of God. They had a comic book religion. Doesn’t this sound familiar? The world has a saying, ‘People come and go, but some things never change.’

   When we look back to the days of Joshua (from the book of Joshua to the book of Judges) Israel had gone astray from the Word of God, they had forsaken their God and had lost their inheritance.

Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest. (Joshua 1:7)

This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. (Joshua 1:8)

And Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God, and took a great stone, and set it up there under an oak, that was by the sanctuary of the LORD. (Joshua 24:26) And Joshua said unto all the people, Behold, this stone shall be a witness unto us; for it hath heard all the words of the LORD which he spake unto us: it shall be therefore a witness unto you, lest ye deny your God. (Joshua 24:27)

In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes. (Judges 21:25)

   God knew their frame and He sent them a Kinsman Redeemer: Boaz came to buy back their inheritance that was lost because they had forsaken their God; however, in the days of the Lord Jesus they had once again forsaken their God as we read in the book of Malachi. They had no problem, however, clinging to their perverted Law that they now ruled over, and in their perversion this Law of God changed from day to day. There was one law for the Pharisees, the Sadducees, and for the leaders of the Jews, and another law for the people. Rome closed its eyes to the injustices of the Pharisees so that they could maintain a form of peace. The Maccabean rebellion was still in the Roman mind, and they did not want another Maccabean revolt. However, peace (of course) failed in 70 A.D., when the Jews revolted against Rome over a string of laws that the Roman governors had placed on them. We have the destruction of Jerusalem and Herod’s temple because of the corrupt hearts of men. The Lord had said to His disciples that there would not be one stone left upon another.

And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple. (Matthew 24:1) And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. (Matthew 24:2)

   To this very day, the Jews have not had a Temple to worship God. They cling desperately to a wall of tears that speak of their own failure to obey the Almighty God.

Mischief shall come upon mischief, and rumour shall be upon rumour; then shall they seek a vision of the prophet; but the law shall perish from the priest, and counsel from the ancients. (Ezekiel 7:26)

We see not our signs: there is no more any prophet: neither is there among us any that knoweth how long. (Psalm 74:9)

For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and [without] teraphim: (Hosea 3:4)

   Since the day that fires destroyed Jerusalem and the temple of Herod, there has been a cloud over Israel, and in this cloud we see the word ICHABOD written over the whole land. This will remain until the great day of the Lord’s glory when He will come to redeem His people Israel. This will be His time, and the glory will return after this long season of absence. The Lord Himself promised His return and with it the glory of the Lord. For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. (Matthew 24:27) For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day. (Luke 17:24)

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The True Tabernacle Enjoyed and Celebrated

The Continuous Feast of Tabernacles

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   There will be a new Temple in the millennial kingdom. Within this Temple will be the Lord’s glory and His presence when He sits on His throne as both Priest and King. Even he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both. (Zechariah 6:13)

For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him; (Hebrews 7:1) To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace; (Hebrews 7:2) Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually. (Hebrews 7:3)

   The fullness of His time will bring peace to Israel by God’s authority, and not by man. It will be the Supernatural decree of the Sovereign God for He will declare throughout the world, Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (John 14:27) Then and only then will there be a continuous feast of tabernacles every day because their God will be dwelling among them. The True Tabernacle will reign in peace over them. Glory to God in the highest. Amen.

© 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)