Come and See
Chapter 9 of the Gospel of John
Part i
They Who Are Blind and He Who Was Blind
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)
And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. (John 9:1)
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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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Spiritual Blindness
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  In the 8th Chapter in the gospel of John, those who had eyes to see could not behold the wonders of the Son of God. Although the word ‘blind’ is not mentioned in Chapter 8, those at the highest religious order were blind to the knowledge of God. They had the oracles of God; yet, they could not see the wonder or their responsibilities to the oracles of God.
  Overflowing with symbolism, typology, and historical significance this 9th  Chapter cannot be spiritually seen from only one point of understanding. In Chapter 9, we have the word ‘blind’ mentioned fifteen times, making this Chapter a center point in both physical and spiritual blindness. The word ‘blind’ is mentioned more in Chapter 9 then in any other chapter in the Bible. The word ‘blind’ only appears three more times in the entire gospel of John.
Others said, These are not the words of him that hath a devil. Can a devil open the eyes of the blind? (John 10:21)
And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died? (John 11:37)
In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water. (John 5:3)
  All these references are connected to the man who was born blind in John Chapter 9. Although the word ‘blind’ is recorded in the gospel of John eighteen times, the leaders and the people were also blind to the law, and blind to the new day. The law is symbolized by the number ten, and the number 8 symbolizes the new day, the 8th day, and the Jews were blind to both. In John 5:3, we have the pool of Bethesda, then in John Chapter 9 ( And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.) we have the pool of ‘Sent’ or Incense, this ties both of these pools together, for in Bethesda we see the mercies of God, and in the pool of Sent or Incense we see that which ascends up to God, and gives God pleasure. For the incense is fulfilled in His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. When Adam trespassed against the Almighty God, the eyes of his understanding were sealed with spiritual blindness. In the course of the history of man, only faith in the Almighty God would remove that blindness. Man has proven his blindness to the things of God throughout the Scriptures.
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Blindness in Scripture
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1. The Blind Judge
  Tracing blindness through Scripture, we are made aware of spiritual blindness in its progressive state. Follow this summary in capsule form. Let us begin with the first blind judge called Samson: the first blind man in the Scriptures. He was called to be a Nazarite, and yet, he betrayed his position before God. His blindness was a result of his disobedience, however, in the very end of Samson’s life, he cried out to God, and God’s ears were opened to Samson’s whimper, and Samson brought down the entire house of Dagon. He destroyed the temple of the Philistines and killed more in his death then in his life. (Judges 13 – 16)
  We see in Samson the great strength of the flesh, we also see his intelligence with his riddles, however, what was lacking in Samson? Samson was found wanting in his communion and in his obedience to God. He was called to be a Nazarite from his mother’s womb, just as Jeremiah was called to be a prophet to the nations from his mother’s womb. Samson could not be obedient to his position; therefore, his death was of a blind man with the strength of God. God would not let Samson’s disobedience tarnish the glory of God. In the end of the life of Samson, God revealed His strength and destroyed His enemies through Samson. It was the flesh that overthrew Samson. It was the lust of his eyes that overthrew Samson. It was an unstable heart that overthrew Samson. But God received His glory in the end of Samson’s life by God’s omnipotent power through Samson.
2. The Blind Priest
  The next blind man was a priest of God, in fact, the high priest, Eli. Eli was not consistent in his position before God. He was satisfied with his position without his responsibilities. He allowed both of his sons (Hophni and Phinehas) to pervert the offering of God, and to ransom the offering to the people. Consequently, God raised a young man called Samuel. At the end of Eli’s life, he was obese, his eyes were dim or blind, and because of the wickedness of his sons they were both slain by the Philistines. Under their charge of the Levitical priesthood to minister and care for the things of God, the Ark of God was taken captive by the Philistines. ‘ICABOD, the Glory has departed’ is written over the names of Eli, Hohpni and Phinehas.
And there came a man of God unto Eli, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Did I plainly appear unto the house of thy father, when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh’s house? (1st Samuel 2:27) And did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to offer upon mine altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me? and did I give unto the house of thy father all the offerings made by fire of the children of Israel? (1st Samuel 2:28) Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice and at mine offering, which I have commanded in my habitation; and honourest thy sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel my people? (1st Samuel 2:29)
And thou shalt see an enemy in my habitation, in all the wealth which God shall give Israel: and there shall not be an old man in thine house for ever. (1st Samuel 2:32)
And the man of thine, whom I shall not cut off from mine altar, shall be to consume thine eyes, and to grieve thine heart: and all the increase of thine house shall die in the flower of their age. (1st Samuel 2:33) And this shall be a sign unto thee, that shall come upon thy two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas; in one day they shall die both of them. (1st Samuel 2:34)
And the ark of God was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain. (1st Samuel 4:11)
And when Eli heard the noise of the crying, he said, What meaneth the noise of this tumult? And the man came in hastily, and told Eli. (1st Samuel 4:14) Now Eli was ninety and eight years old; and his eyes were dim, that he could not see. (1st Samuel 4:15)
And his daughter in law, Phinehas’ wife, was with child, near to be delivered: and when she heard the tidings that the ark of God was taken, and that her father in law and her husband were dead, she bowed herself and travailed; for her pains came upon her. (1st Samuel 4:19)
And she named the child Ichabod, saying, The glory is departed from Israel: because the ark of God was taken, and because of her father in law and her husband. (1st Samuel 4:21) And she said, The glory is departed from Israel: for the ark of God is taken. (1st Samuel 4:22)
3. The Blind Prophet
  The third blind man was a prophet of God named Ahijah. We find him recorded in 1st Kings 14:4, And Jeroboam’s wife did so, and arose, and went to Shiloh, and came to the house of Ahijah. But Ahijah could not see; for his eyes were set by reason of his age. Ahijah’s blindness is harder to understand for it was related to the times in which he lived. He lived under the reign of Jeroboam, and remember that it was Jeroboam who made Israel to sin. To keep the Israelites from going to the temple of God in Jerusalem Jeroboam placed a golden calf and an altar in Bethel (the house of God) to prevent the Israelites from going to Jerusalem to worship Jehovah. Jeroboam surrounded his kingdom by placing another golden calf and an altar in the most northern part of his kingdom in the territory of the tribe of Dan. The idolatry was the worship of Baal, and not the Almighty God. This early seed of idolatry eventually destroyed the entire northern kingdom also known as the ten tribes of Israel. Although Ahijah was not the cause of Jeroboam’s trouble, when the king sent his wife to beg for the life of his child, Ahijah had to pass judgment upon Jeroboam for Jeroboam’s blindness to the things of God. When studying the life of Jeroboam, one sees the promise that God made to him was based on one word IF that IF Jeroboam obeyed God then he would be the recipient of God’s blessings; however, in the deep crevices of the heart of Jeroboam the old lie of Satan possessed him, ye shall be as gods. Therefore, Ahijah is a symbol of the blindness of the whole nation, although he was not the trespasser, as the blind man in John Chapter 9, he was there as God’s witness to what man is and was.
4. The Blind King
  The next blindness that is recorded is a blind king: Zedekiah. This king should have embraced the truth that was brought forth by Josiah, when Josiah turned the hearts of the people to the Almighty God. However, when Zedekiah would not be obedient to God, and as Samson, his eyes were bored out by the enemies of God. So they took the king, and brought him up to the king of Babylon to Riblah; and they gave judgment upon him. (2nd Kings 25:6) And they slew the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, and put out the eyes of Zedekiah, and bound him with fetters of brass, and carried him to Babylon. (2nd Kings 25:7)
  Zedekiah watched the enemies of God kill each one of his sons, the last thing that he saw was the penalty of sin and death, and then his eyes were put out. His last memory of his sons and their blood would always be before him because of his sin. This was a devastating bloody scene burned into Zedekiah’s memory for the remainder of his life.
5. The Blind Nation
  In the latter prophets after Daniel, we behold the blindness of the entire nation of Israel, even in their return from Babylon, the majority of the people did not lay hold of God’s truth. In fact, the priests and the Levites were not obedient to God. We see their state in the last book of the Old Testament Malachi. This blindness of the nation was at its peak at the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. He had come into the world to be the life and light of man, but the nation preferred darkness and not the light which was brought by the Son of God. The apostle Paul, through the Spirit, also gives us the condition of Israel in the book of Romans, Chapter 11, verse 25: For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
6. The Blind Church
  We will see the depth of this blindness in Chapter 9 of John. Therefore, we shall pass on to the blind church of Revelation Chapter 3.Â
Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:Â (Revelation 3:17) I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. (Revelation 3:18)
  The responsibility of the Church was far greater than the responsibility of Israel under the Law. The Church was born of blood and water from the wounded side of the Son of God, the Son of God’s love; and yet, at the end of the Church Age we now behold the complete blindness of a world Church.
  The proof of this church of material wealth is in the patrons of this evil Church. They tell you how they have been blessed of God in money, possessions, land, and position. Very rarely do you hear anyone say that they have been blessed by their knowledge of the Word of God. For if they had the knowledge of the Word of God all these other things would be but dross. True wealth must be found in the Word of God. It is not monetary, but spiritual. It is not natural, but it is supernatural; however, the Church today knows nothing of a supernatural Savior, a supernatural Creator, and a supernatural God. The supernatural is Jesus Christ. The Church has embraced the world. They go to bed with the world every night, loving the world, loving the lust of the flesh, loving the lust of the eyes, and loving the pride of life. In the Lord’s letter to the Laodicean Church He was direct and final to their ungodly positions that they were not part of Him, or His body, for He spewed them out of His mouth. This is the age that we live in today, not tomorrow, but today. It has come to its fullness in this wicked idolatrous Laodicean Church. At the end of the Church Age there is no end to names of churches. They have more false doctrines without understanding. They have more laws, membership requirements, social protocols, more Bible interpretations and so-called translations then most governments have key board clickers. But one thing that these churches of the Laodicean world does not have . . . they do not have the Son of God.
7. The Blind World
  The last blindness takes place in the kingdom of the Beast in Revelation Chapter 16, verse 10. And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain, Absolute darkness removes all light. In the kingdom of the Beast, the world has cast off all that is of God. They have exalted mankind to the place of world worship for they worship the Beast. In this kingdom of the Beast, mankind finally acknowledges that by the fall at that tree of good and evil, man cast off ALL spiritual well being, and became a beast before God. What occurred in Genesis Chapter 3 is completely fulfilled in Revelation Chapter 16.
  The darkness that God cast upon mankind is a darkness of pain — and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain. They gnaw their tongues, and afflict themselves because the darkness is very deep and very evil. They have taken the mark of the Beast which in reality is the mark of Satan. They acknowledge that they are children of the devil, and by their works they will be known. Even in our time frame, we see the preparation, the scheming, the lying, and the deceiving of world governments preparing the people for the kingdom of the Beast.
  Evil has permeated every form of government of the earth. Evil has permeated ALL manmade religions. Evil has permeated every area of life, whether it is religious, political, financial, etc. , etc., The world that we once knew does not exist today. We have been thrown into the grips of Satan, and his world leaders. And all we can say is, Even so, come Lord Jesus.
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Man Born Blind
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 This blind man who was born blind so that God’s glory could be known, so the purpose of God could be shown in one man. When the Lord Jesus saw the blind man who was born blind, He knew the purpose, the plan, and the outcome. This is much more than mere allegory. This blind man’s life was symbolic of the nation of Israel that was in total darkness. They (Israel) were blind from birth to the things of God. This blind man was neither a fable, nor a parable, but he was a living allegory showing the depth of sin in Adam that ALL men come into this world with spiritual blindness, and only God can open their eyes and give them sight. The blind man was there for God’s purpose, and for His purpose alone. The man sat and begged in this dark world, hour after hour, day after day, year after year in his physical blindness while God was marching through time to meet with him on this very day in John Chapter 9.
And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. (John 9:1)
And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? (John 9:2)
Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. (John 9:3)
I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. (John 9:4)
As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. (John 9:5)
  The first thing that we find out about this man is that he was blind from his birth. Sight is the dearest of all senses. It stands out by its communication within us. What we see our sight records, and we remember the images of light of the creation, and even the brightness of the sun. In the brightness of the sun, our sight dictates our moods, and darkness also dictates our mood. All our circumstances in our surroundings are dictated by our sight. It is not just an image we see, but a feeling within, in our minds, our intellect, our hearts. Sight allows us to communicate the things that we have seen, the things that we read about, and give us understanding; therefore, sight is a predominant force in our intellectual comprehension of our very life. For a man to be born blind and be in darkness ALL of his lifetime is the absence of this very important sense of comprehension.
  The disciples completely misunderstood the purpose of that day. Their question was, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? To misunderstand the judgment of God is one of the frailties of mankind. Mankind denies God’s judgment or he rationalizes it according to his own measure of thought, and not according to the Word of God. God’s judgment is based on His inherent righteousness, and therefore, the boundaries of His judgment are controlled by that righteousness. Man’s thoughts are not God’s thoughts, and man’s ways are not God’s ways. For my thoughts [are] not your thoughts, neither [are] your ways my ways, saith the LORD. (Isaiah 55:8) For [as] the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:9) Everything changed at the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, even how Adam thought and reasoned. The Lord explained to His disciples that there are certain things in the realm of God that God uses for His purposes to reveal not only His power, but His mercy and grace.
  This man of Chapter 9, born blind, lived in total darkness, and the Man who came to rescue him was full of light. This meeting was like no other in the history of Israel. For there was no record of a man being born blind whoever received his sight. This was all about to change. The Light of the world had come, and although mankind lives in darkness, and loves the darkness Light was going to be ministered to this blind man by the Sovereign and Bearer of ALL Light: the Lord Jesus Christ.
  In John Chapter 8, we saw the men of spiritual darkness: the children of the devil, their spirits were darkened by sin and the sin that was within them. The man who was born blind was not under God’s judgment, but he was prepared for God’s purpose. This one man in the course of all time would receive sight from the One who was the Light and Life of man.
  In Chapter 9 we have to keep the word ‘blind’ before us at all time. The fifteen mentions of the word ‘blind’ shows us the darkness and the state of all men. The first mention of ‘blind’ is in relationship to this man’s birth. On the spiritual side, all men are blind at birth to the spiritual things of God. No man is born with grace and truth. This has to be a gift from God because of Adam’s transgression. Man was cast into a world of darkness of sin and death. The pain of sin and death in this world can neither be minimized, nor ignored for it is obvious to all of us.
  This man was born blind. He did not lose his sight through disease, or by accident, but he came out of his mother’s womb into this world of darkness. He had never experienced light until he felt the sun upon his skin. He heard the voices of the people, he smelled the smell of life, and he tasted the food that sustained him; yet, all the visions of these things were hidden from him. The voices of his mother and father were without faces, and as he begged those who gave to him he could not recognize them by sight that he did not have. A world of total darkness, and yet, this man was born for the purpose of God that the works of God might show forth the glory of God in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. (John 9:3) In this verse, the Lord referred to the works of God, not singular, but plural, for when we consider the entire 9th Chapter we find that there are many works within this Chapter. Not only did this blind man receive sight in the physical, but he was also transformed from a world of darkness into a world of light in the Lord Jesus Christ.
  In Chapter 8 of John, the Lord Jesus exposed the spiritual blindness of the Pharisees. He was trying to enlighten the Jews to their true condition of blindness. Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. (John 8:12) The Lord Jesus proclaimed that He is the light of the world, and that all who followed Him would not walk in darkness. The depth of this is all have sinned, all have come short of the glory of God, all are blind at birth to the spiritual things of the Almighty.
  It takes a work of faith and grace to impart life into the soul. He restores my soul, and He quickens my spirit. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. (Psalm 23:3) Thus, in the child of God, there is new life and new light in the child of God. The Lord Jesus was manifested before man to bring light and life to man. In His manifestation He performed many works and miracles, verse 3 bares this out, and is directly related to this man who was born blind. The works that was going to be manifested were completely of God. No physician, no healer, no man could have a part in His divine work. It was solely a work of the Son of God that God the Father had given Him to do.
  If we can see the amount of darkness in John Chapter 8, we will see the brightness of light in John Chapter 9. The Lord proclaimed that as long as He is in the world that He is the Light of the world, and this light is for the soul of man and not for the eyes of man. Physical blindness was a tool of deliverance. After the Lord Jesus anointed the eyes of the blind man, He required him to go to the pool of Sent or Incense (Siloam) for only then would the eyes of this blind man receive light. The man obeyed and received his sight. However, there was unbelief all around him. Many could not accept what had occurred. Was this, or could this be the one who was blind from birth? Had anyone ever heard of such a miracle?
The neighbours therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged? (John 9:8)
Some said, This is he: others said, He is like him: but he said, I am he. (John 9:9)
But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and received his sight, until they called the parents of him that had received his sight. (John 9:18)
And they asked them, saying, Is this your son, who ye say was born blind? how then doth he now see? (John 9:19)
His parents answered them and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind:Â (John 9:20)
But by what means he now seeth, we know not; or who hath opened his eyes, we know not: he is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself. (John 9:21)
These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue. (John 9:22)
 Although his parents testified to the Pharisees that this was their son and that he was born blind; yet, in fear, they referred to their son as the witness of the miracle and not themselves. But by what means he now seeth, we know not; or who hath opened his eyes, we know not: he is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself. (John 9:21) These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue. (John 9:22)
  Religious fear is one of the greatest fears there is. It intimidates, and when intimidation does not work, then it judges in all measures of ways. People are shunned, they are afflicted, and the harshness of death is the tool of the darkest religions of man. His mother and father feared being put out of the synagogue, and therefore, they deferred to the witness of their son.
  This was a wonderful day for the man who was born blind, however, it seemed that no one else appreciated this wonder of wonders. And it was the sabbath day when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes. (John 9:14) Since this miracle was done on the Sabbath, the Pharisees could only condemn both the One who performed the miracle, and the miracle itself. In the entire Chapter 9 there is not one voice of rejoicing over this miracle, but only skepticism and unbelief, and of course, there were also the evil minds and hearts of the Pharisees.
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Anointed by the Anointed One
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  When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, (John 9:6) In the sequence of this miracle, the Lord took that which was of the earth mingled with that which was from heaven in His spittle, and anointed the blind eyes of this man who was born blind. The word ‘anointed’ is mentioned twice in this Chapter: not smeared, nor painted, but anointed. (9:6, 11) This word draws together the heavenly attributes of His omnipotent power and His priestly function as the Priest forever after the order of Melchisedec.
  In Chapter 9 of the gospel of John, we behold the things of grace and truth. The clay of the earth (speaks of man) as well as the manifestation of the Son of God in the likeness of flesh. Then the spittle from the Son of God speaks of the water of God, the cleansing healing power of God, the water of the laver, and the sanctifying power of the water by the Word of God from the mouth of God. Now that which was sent from above was magnified in the clay. For He became man for us. He took on the image of clay so that He might give us the image of the divine.
  Just imagine all the emotions that ran through this man when he looked around his new surroundings and his eyes communicated within him all the wonders that he was able to see for the very first time. He had felt the hands of the Savior upon his eyes, and yet, he did not see Him. His first vision was not of the Lord Jesus, but of the world around him. What joy he must have experienced until the religious tribunal began, how could so many people be so unhappy for this poor man who was born blind. Instead of enjoying this miracle with him, their suspicion, their religion and their unbelief got in their way of unrealized joy. In answer to the question of how he received his sight, he replied, He answered and said, A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash: and I went and washed, and I received sight. (John 9:11)
  To add more understanding to both the pool of Bethesda (Chapter 5) and the pool of Siloam (or Sent) we should examine the two men: the infirm man at Bethesda and the blind man at the pool of Siloam. The man at Bethesda never entered into the pool of water, yet, he received the mercy of God by the Word of God in Jesus Christ. He was physically healed, but there is no record or evidence of him being spiritually born again. In John Chapter 5, the record of this man seems to be a witness against the Lord and not for the Lord. There is no record of a positive reaction to faith, or of faith. Even the Lord Himself does not say to the man that the man’s faith had made him whole. This man had been in this condition for 30 and 8 years, the exact number of years that Israel wandered in the wilderness because they had rejected God’s purpose and plan. This man was a symbol of the disobedience of Israel to God. In all the evidence of Chapter 5, the man was not delivered out of spiritual darkness. When he was confronted by the Pharisees for his own transgression, he deliberately shifted the blame to another, and later, when he found out the identity of the Lord Jesus he rushed to the authorities to turn in the Savior of man. The whole of Chapter 5 has a theme of grace and truth being rejected. (This rejection is partially shown when religious authorities sought to kill the Son of God). Although the pool of Bethesda spoke of God’s mercy, remember that this man had no contact with the water or with the Savior. It was the Word of God from the Savior Himself that made this infirm man physically whole. There was no evidence of light within this man. Chapter 5 ends with a negative theme of the entire Chapter. 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)
  Chapter 5 speaks of physical well being by a God of mercy. We also see in this the wanderings of Israel. Although Israel wandered year after year, and day after day (not believing God’s mercy and care) they received the mercy of God for thirty-eight years. They received manna from above, yet rejected the God who gave them the bread of life. We see their dreadful epitaph in Hebrews Chapter 3. Therefore, all who came out of Egypt perished in the wilderness without faith. They would not see the promised land. Only the two (Joshua and Caleb) who believed in the mercies of God and in the power of God entered into the promised land. All the rest who came out of Egypt were left behind in the dust of the earth.
  Now it becomes very interesting: the eyes of this blind man were now opened, and for the first time he would see light. He would embrace his surroundings. He would be able to see his parents, and yet, the very miracle of his sight seems to be rejected by all. Only he alone appreciated the miraculous work of the Son of God is in the light of these fifteen mentions of the word ‘blind.’ When I worked as a printer, we had what we called ‘a grey scale.’ It went from total white through shades of grey until it became totally black. Although it was just a measurement of light, it speaks of the extreme from total light to total darkness. This is exactly what this man experienced. He went from total darkness in sight to the abundance of light, what a wonder. What emotion must have flooded his heart. He was excited, but the people around him were not. Their entire denial ranged from absolute denial of his receiving sight to the denial that he was even the blind man who had sat daily begging.
Side Note: True Light and Life denied by those who remain blind. When anyone comes to the Lord Jesus Christ, they are totally excited in heart, soul and spirit. It is a wonderful thing. The glory of God has come upon them and their eyes have been opened to the wonder, the glory, and the majesty of Jesus Christ. However, the realization that not everyone accepts, shares, or appreciates this joy and happiness in Christ comes very quickly.
Many of individuals closest to born again ones would rather that these born again ones would remain blind beggars sitting on a wall of despair. The truly blind do not understand that a supernatural transaction has taken place between heaven and earth.
  The first ones who rejected this man were his neighbors, and those who daily passed by him as he sat begging. The next group was the religious pimps of the world. Not only were those without rejecting this man, but the dearest and nearest ones to him, his mother and father, would not profess to the Pharisees for fear for being put out of the synagogue. They stated only that their son was of age. Therefore said his parents, He is of age; ask him. (John 9:23) This meant that the man was above the age of thirty. He was capable of speaking for himself. He was also old enough to inherit, and if he had been in the line of Aaron he would have qualified to serve as a Levite.
  However, this recorded act of worship shows another aspect that although this nameless blind man was not of the line of Aaron he was (in his own right) able to worship. The point being: worship was now not limited to the Levitical priesthood. The Lord Jesus (being God manifested to mankind) accepted worship from His own.
But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. (John 4:23) God [is] a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship [him] in spirit and in truth. (John 4:24)
  The Levitical priesthood no longer existed in the form that God had originally established under Aaron, the first high priest; therefore, since John the Baptist (the last of the priesthood) had been rejected from assuming his position as the legitimate high priest, Christ (the True High Priest) now accepted worship apart from the Levitical priesthood.
He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him? (John 9:36) And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee. (John 9:37) And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him. (John 9:38)
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The Eternal Royal Priest
creates a member of a
Royal Priesthood
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  When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, (John 9:6)
  He answered and said, A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash: and I went and washed, and I received sight. (John 9:11)
  Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, [is] God; (2nd Corinthians 1:21)
  But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light; (1st Peter 2:9)
  The anointing in John 9:6 relates the Lord as Royal Divine Priest. Through this act of worship, by this formerly blind man, we see another aspect of this believing worshiper.
 What is so remarkable here is that when we are born again, we become members of a royal priesthood. Let’s read this text from 1st Peter 2:7-11.
Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, (1st Peter 2:7)
And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. (1st Peter 2:8)
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: (1st Peter 2:9)
Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. (1st Peter 2:10)
Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;Â (1st Peter 2:11)
  I will emphasize the ninth verse, But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light. There is no greater position on earth as the royal priesthood of the children of God. At the moment that anyone is born again, and their eyes are opened to the spiritual light in Jesus Christ, the Spirit of Christ anoints them with His own priesthood, as a joint-heir with Jesus Christ. However, this priesthood has been denied by church leaders (men of renown, ungodly men come in unawares, the Nicolaitans) from the very beginning of the Church. The very moment that you are born again, you are brought into sonship, and you are a child of the living God, you are a member of a royal family which is presided over by the King of righteousness and the Prince of peace. You become a member of the royal priesthood of Melchisedec. How do I know this? I know this from the Word of God.
  I will emphasize three points out of many points. The first point is found in 1st Peter. As the children of God, we belong to a royal family. We have been born of royal blood. And we have come of age to be a member of a royal priesthood. And who is the Royal Priest? There is only one Royal Priest in Scripture. His name is Melchisedec, the Son of God.
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;Â (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)
Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils. (Hebrews 7:4)
  The second point in Scripture is that the Lord Jesus is the Eternal Priest as well as the Eternal King. The Lord Jesus (being the fullness of the Godhead bodily) is the Royal Head of ALL righteousness. As the Prince of peace, and as the King of Salem, He is the fulfiller of ALL peace.
  Now, the third point takes us back to Chapter 9 of John, verses 35 – 39.
Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?(John 9:35)
He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him? (John 9:36)
And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee. (John 9:37)
And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him. (John 9:38)
And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind. (John 9:39)
  What is the point in the divine here in Chapter 9? It is that the whole world lies in wickedness, the whole world was blind, and God had sent Light into the world in His Son, Jesus Christ for the world was in darkness. The man who was born blind and received sight was also quickened by the Spirit of Christ. The Lord Jesus sought him out when this man was cast out of the Temple. This will be dramatically revealed in Chapter 10, for the Lord is the good Shepherd of the sheep. However, in Chapter 9 there is a testimony of the Spirit that we need to see, the divine point in all of this is to show us the inward working of the Spirit of God in the heart, soul and spirit of the man who was born blind. When the Lord found the man, He revealed Himself as the Son of God. There is no question here that the Lord Jesus in this private audience of one, revealed His divine nature to the man who was born blind. Melchisedec had come into this man’s presence. The fullness of all righteousness was revealing His Sonship to the man who was born blind. Now, when asked the question, Dost thou believe on the Son of God? The man responded immediately, and was reassured that the One before him was the Son of God. Now, here you have a man who has received physical sight and spiritual sight. When he received his physical sight, he became a witness to that miracle. When he received his spiritual sight, or new birth, immediately he took the position of a member of the royal priesthood and worshiped the Son of God. He had that position and understood this from the moment of his new birth. The Lord Jesus had openly declared Himself as the Son of God, the Son of righteousness with healing in His wings. This man was transformed into a spiritual realm as a new born creature and priest instantaneously; thus, he immediately worshiped the Savior, the Son of God. There is a divine witness to the priesthood of the man who was born blind receiving his inward and outward sight. When the Lord Jesus saw his worship, He did not rebuke the man who was born blind, but He accepted his priestly worship. Therefore, this further reveals the Deity of the Son of God, as the King of righteousness and the Savior- God as the Priest after the order of Melchisedec.
  In the earthly priesthood of Aaron and his sons, Aaron was the head, and his sons were in subjection to him. Only the high priest stood above them all. For in the midst of his sons, there was supposed to be an equality that they were all joint-heirs with Aaron to the earthly priesthood of God. This earthly Levitical priesthood was but a fading shadow symbolizing the eternal substance of the royal priesthood of all believers united together in Jesus Christ the True High Priest after the order of Melchisedec.
Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;Â (Hebrews 1:2)
The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:Â (Romans 8:16) And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. (Romans 8:17)
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Blindness and Light
Determined – Purposed and Fulfilled
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  In John Chapter 4, verse 22, we have this phrase, Ye worship ye know not what. This is the result of blindness in the religious crutch of humanity. Mankind refuses to see the truth, but will hang on to a blind religion that cannot give him sight. The Spirit of God speaks to us in our present day of world blindness in the book of Ephesians, Chapter 1, verses 18 – 20.
The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, (Ephesians 1:18) 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)
  As Adam’s understanding was darkened by sin, the new creature has eyes to see, his understanding is enlightened. Therefore, he discovers his hope, his calling, and what the riches of glory are in the inheritance of the saints. Remember that one can only receive the inheritance being an heir of salvation. In John Chapter 9, we see the finger of God writing through the darkness of blindness and we draw it together with our own salvation that we (the chosen of God before the foundation of the world) are purposed by God (as He purposed His will) in the blind man . . . 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) And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. (John 9:1) And there came a day when the Spirit of Christ passed by . . . and we became the children of adoption by Jesus Christ. This was according to the good pleasure of His will, and according to the glory of His grace He has made us accepted in the beloved.
  The Son of God descended from heaven to be manifested as a man. A heavenly Man came to earth to call out a heavenly people from the earth. We have redemption through His blood. We have forgiveness of sin, and our eyes of our understanding have been opened to endow us with the riches of His grace. He is made known unto us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure which He hath purposed IN Himself that in the dispensation of the fullness of time for us, He might gather in one all things in Christ.
 The purpose of the blind man was to show us the determinate counsels of God. When we consider the blindness of this man, we will see our own blindness of the truth that the world and nations have turned their backs on the life of heaven; the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord came into this world seeking wheat and found only thorns and thistles. The spiritual Richter scale (regarding the Jews of the days of Christ) was off the charts. The hatred within them shook their bodies, souls, and spirits to its core. If this had been in the days of Moses, the ground would have swallowed them up as it swallowed up Korah and his rebellious cabal members.
  If grace was not present today, I suppose all the Capitals of the world with their ungodly leaders would be swallowed up and seen no more, but grace and truth has come. He has come to fulfill all time, and in His purpose He came in the fullness of time.
To every [thing there is] a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:Â (Ecclesiastes 3:1)
I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for [there is] a time there for every purpose and for every work. (Ecclesiastes 3:17)
Because to every purpose there is time and judgment, therefore the misery of man [is] great upon him. (Ecclesiastes 8:6)
Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:Â (Ephesians 1:9) 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)
  This was the hinge pin in God’s fulfillment of time when God was going to reveal the fullness of His grace and the fullness of His truth IN His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Again, the dreaded darkness of John Chapter 8, was shattered by the brightness of light in John Chapter 9 when the man living in darkness, and the Man from above full of light and truth would meet in the fullness of time. The fullness of time was not a physical date. Although the Savior was born in the fullness of time, the fullness of time is a continuous line of time stretching from Abel to the last soul of righteousness in Jesus Christ. The fullness of time is not a date, but a continuous path of faith, an endless time carrying the souls of man into the unseen world of faith. For faith is the substance of things hoped for, it is the divine evidence of the unseen.
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Blind to the Law of Sin and Death
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In John Chapter 8, the Lord Jesus passed through the midst of them, and so passed by, and is still passing through the midst of them today. It is time to separate our minds from the words of man to the words of God, and to put away the false doctrines and myths of all the religious elements in the world.
  In the Word of God, Adam is totally revealed as the bearer of sin. Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (Romans 5:12) This one man, Adam, brought sin into the world and death by sin. God always keeps these two realities (sin and death) together to remind mankind of the cause and its result. When Adam brought sin into the world his DNA was changed, his genetic code was changed, his flesh was changed, his heart was changed, his soul and spirit were changed, and Adam was NAKED before God in ALL unrighteousness.
  Once again, I will mention the end of things in the Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ that the last church, Laodicea, is as Adam was: naked before God. Laodicea has no righteousness for the Lord tells her that she needs to . . . buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. (Revelation 3:18)
Adam was transformed into a man of the earth: earthly and earthy. All of man’s  desires revolve around what he had become: a blind sinner without the Spirit of God. He had become a harbinger of sin and death, and all who followed him, born of a woman, by man, are the carriers of the same DNA, the same genetic code, the same sinful lusts, the same darkened heart, of the same lost souls, and of the same spiritual darkness, the spirit of man’s father: the devil. Laodicea (as Adam) stands in the same spiritual nakedness in all unrighteousness. Many do not understand that before the Law of Moses, man was under the Law of sin and death and still is under the Law of sin and death.Â
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23)
But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. (Romans 7:23)
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (Romans 8:1) For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:2) For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: (Romans 8:3)
  Is there a difference between the Law of Moses and the Law of Sin and Death? the difference between them is this: one is within, the other is without. The one is set and the other is conditional. The inward Law of Sin and Death is upon ALL man, and it is inherent. The Law of Moses is an outward declaration based on the works of man, judging man’s outward sin. The Law of Sin and Death condemns ALL men in Adam, for ALL have sinned and come short of the glory of God. The Law of Moses was given to reveal to mankind man’s frailty and failure under sin. The Law was given to be a stern schoolmaster: to educate and to reveal the very deepest depths of man’s sins. God gave a set if judicial judgments for sin that was committed; however, the Law was given in the realm of man, and man was made the supervisor of the Law. This was the penalty that man is a sinner. However, a sinner does not see with the eyes of divine righteousness. Consequently, under Aaron and the Levitical priesthood, the Law of Moses became frail at best, and man began to pervert the Law for his own needs to continue in sin. It was difficult for mankind (under sin) to continue in righteousness and in the judgment that was given by God. Mankind was unable to judge sin because of the sin that was in him. Thus, sin shaped and sculptured the history of mankind.
  So in all simplicity: the Law of Sin and Death is WITHIN mankind, and it continuously reveals, in the end, that ALL men are sinners before God. They are blind to all spiritual life. Since the Law of Moses was outward it was given for a certain period of time. It was to reason with man to show the depth of sin within man, and to judge the outward works of man and his sin. Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. (Isaiah 1:18)
  It is foolishness for mankind to believe that sin does not bring judgment for the very first act of sin, as well as sin itself, brought with it the judgment of death. Death is the predominant witness of Adam’s initial sin, and no one can hide from this judgment. To deny that God is the Judge of the whole earth would deny that mankind is a sinner which many like to do.
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Blind to the Purposes of God
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 There is a huge difference between the meaning of the word ‘chance’ and the word ‘purpose.’ The word ‘chance’ comes from humanity’s lack of understanding and ignorance of God’s purpose. When the disciples asked (as recorded in John 9:2), Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? this showed their ignorance of God’s purpose and workings.
  There are many witnesses within the Scriptures showing the judgment of God upon the sin of man. One only has to reflect on the days of Noah, and on many other occasions wherein man believes that he is doing right in his own eyes which resulted in the judgment of God upon them. This false concept that mankind insists in acting on is documented five times in the Bible through the following references. Through this number five we can clearly see God’s mercy and grace in His temporarily allowing man to enjoy and act on this false premise; however, never equate this allowance with God’s acceptance.
Ye shall not do after all [the things] that we do here this day, every man whatsoever [is] right in his own eyes. (Deuteronomy 12:8)
In those days [there was] no king in Israel, [but] every man did [that which was] right in his own eyes. (Judges 17:6)
In those days [there was] no king in Israel: every man did [that which was] right in his own eyes.(Judges 21:25)
The way of a fool [is] right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel [is] wise. (Proverb 12:15)
Every way of a man [is] right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts. (Proverb 21:2)
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Blind Inwardly and Outwardly
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 The first king of Israel, Saul, was given a specific command by God, but he unabashedly disobeyed that command. After Samuel arrived on this scene, he confronted Saul and spoke the words of God. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king. (1st Samuel 15:23)
And Samuel said, What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear? (1st Samuel 15:14)
And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. (1st Samuel 15:22)
  A predominant theme in the Word of God from beginning to end is the disobedience and rebellion against God and against His Word. The outward works of Saul came from a disobedient man with a heart of rebellion showing the force and power of sin from within. Outward work and acts are directly born and stimulated from inward wickedness. The disobedience of Saul showed the inward blindness which cost him to lose his position as king over the kingdom of Israel. And Samuel said unto Saul, I will not return with thee: for thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD hath rejected thee from being king over Israel. Saul was told twice that as he had rejected God, God had rejected him.
  This was the divine effect of Saul’s sin for it grieved the Lord that He had made Saul king over Israel. And Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death: nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul: and the LORD repented that he had made Saul king over Israel. (1st Samuel 15:35) It repented Him of His decision to give Israel their first king in Saul. In this section of Scripture, and in the life of Saul, a man brought to preeminence and given a high order and position over the people of Israel, a man of preeminence, a man of power, and a man who was high in the eyes of the people, and yet, sin had the power to overthrow all that Saul was. He disobeyed a specific order that God had commanded of him. God had stated the destruction of ALL the Amalekites, men, women, children, cattle and herds. NOTHING would be left on the earth of the Amalekites. Why? Because they were a danger to the children of Israel, which was the nation that God had chosen for Himself.
But if ye will not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you; then it shall come to pass, that those which ye let remain of them shall be pricks in your eyes, and thorns in your sides, and shall vex you in the land wherein ye dwell. (Numbers 33:55) Moreover it shall come to pass, that I shall do unto you, as I thought to do unto them. (Numbers 33:56)
  Did the sin of Saul have an effect on the next generation? Yes, not only the next generation, but many generations to follow. For out of the shadows, God would bring a man named David, and this would be the man of God’s choosing to rule over Israel, and in David, God would make a covenant that is still in effect today. I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. (Revelation 22:16) The Lord Jesus came in the fullness of time as a son of David. The Lord Jesus today sits on His throne that is above all nations that is as high as the heavens, and He rules over the kingdoms of men. Did Saul’s sin have an effect on generations to come? Yes.
  Whenever God issues a specific order on how His will and purpose should be carried out, God does not allow, nor does He accept, options concerning His direct commands. This is something that the Church has never understood, from its infancy, it has denied the work of the Spirit of God among the Church. It has denied the gifts that the Lord Jesus has sent to His Church. In many cases throughout the epistles, we see that the professing body of the Church denied even the apostles whether from the Corinthians, the Galatians, or others. The apostles met with stern resistance from the ungodly men who came into the Church. The workers of Satan not only deceived, directed, and controlled the early infant Church, but these same ‘ministers of righteousness’ continue in the work today of their father and leader: Satan. Repeatedly we see the witness of these ungodly men who were the ambassadors of Satan in the early Church, and they have cultivated their own hierarchical priesthood, and have developed their own organizational system of ordination through the centuries into a world wide richly draped fraternity of evil in this world, cloaked by and falsely called . . . Christianity.
For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him. (2nd Corinthians 11:4)
For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. (2nd Corinthians 11:13) And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. (2nd Corinthians 111:4) Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. (2nd Corinthians 11:15)
  Jude also testifies of these evil men in their character, their deviousness, and in their opposition to the grace of God. Perverting both the grace of God and the Word of God, and they deny the ONLY Lord God, our Lord, Jesus Christ. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. (Jude 1:4) The apostle John also witnessed the vain self inflicted blindness of a man of renown in the formative stage of the Church: Diotrephes. Sadly, but so true, that many Christians in our age have bumped into their own man of renown by the very popular name of Diotrephes.
Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church. (3rd John 1:10)
Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God. (3rd John 1:11)
  Lastly, once again, let us look at the waywardness and disobedience of the Laodicean Church, which is the church of today in all its diabolical craftiness, disobedience, and ungodliness. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: (Revelation 3:17) I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. (Revelation 3:18)
  This takes us back to Chapter 9 of the gospel of John. In the last phrase of Revelation 3:18, we see blindness over the entire Laodicean Church. The Lord told them to anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. In John Chapter 9 the blind man sat and begged from the world. He had no power to deliver himself, and no one who passed by could deliver him until the Lord Jesus came to the appointed time and passed by. In Revelation Chapter 3, the Lord speaks of anointing their eyes. He had already given them truth, yet they denied the truth, and because of their denial they were, and are, blind.
  The eye salve can be found in the previous Church in Revelation Chapter 3, the Church of Philadelphia. The eye salve is the open door of the Word of God given BY the Savior’s authority. Although the Philadelphian Church was in a battle with the synagogue of Satan, they did not deny the name of the Lord Jesus Christ; they kept the Word of God in patience and in all understanding in the Spirit of God.
 It was then, as it is now that the Church of Laodicea sits ever begging from the world. This has become their character, and this is their denial. Remember Eli, the high priest, as he sat by the wayside waiting for word of the battle between Israel and the Philistines; upon hearing that both of his sons had perished and the Ark of God had been captured by the enemy, Eli fell backward breaking his neck, and thus, he died beside the roadway: broken and blind. He knew of his sons lascivious acts (with the women who came to the Tabernacle gate) and the bribery that his two sons committed with the sacrifices in offering blind, lame and blemished sacrifices. Yet, Eli chose to ignore the truth. But God never ignores sin in act, thought or compromise. Acting as priests of God, Hophni and Phinehas offered compromised and blemished sacrifices just as the Church of Laodicea (then and today) compromises the truth of God in exchange for social acceptance to gain more tithes, and offers up another sacrifice, another Jesus, another spirit, and another gospel without the Lamb of God, the Lord Jesus Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or [if] ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with [him]. (2nd Corinthians 11:4)
  The blindness in Chapter 9 of John not only takes us back into the past, but reveals our present day blindness in this world of evil. Scripture also reveals the blindness that will cover this world as a black mask in the kingdom of the beast. And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain, (Revelation 16:10)
  In all this blindness, who is revealed but the Son of God. There is nothing that the blind man could do, he was in total darkness until the Lord passed by. He heard the voice of God, and he obeyed that voice, and his eyes were opened. After he was driven out of the presence of the Pharisees, the Lord sought him to give him a greater sight, a vision of the Son of God when the Lord Jesus introduced Himself as the Son of God, the heir of all things. By opening the inward eyes of the heart of this man, he thus, became a child of God, and worshiped His God, and His Savior, Jesus Christ.
  I close with this statement: there is no other name under heaven whereby you can be saved. Only the name, and the Person, of the Lord Jesus Christ can save. He cries out into the vale of darkness in simplicity, Come unto me. Amen.
© Copyright 2021, 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)