Category: Restoration


Lord, who believes our tidings?

Filed Under: Double Witness, God's Laws/Teachings, Restoration by admin — Comments Off on Lord, who believes our tidings?
October 10, 2010

Yet, after His having done so many signs in front of them, they believed not in Him, that the word of Isaiah the prophet, which he said, may be being fulfilled, “Lord, who believes our tidings?  And the arm of the Lord, to whom was it revealed?”  Therefore they could not believe, seeing that Isaiah said again that He “has blinded their eyes and callouses their heart, lest they may be perceiving with their eyes, and should be apprehending with their heart, and may be turning about, and I shall be healing them”.  John 12:37-40 Concordant New Testament

          Lord, who believes our tidings?  It is quite impossible to comprehend the restoration of all things apart from illumination by the Holy Spirit.  If you have seen it dear reader, but no one will believe your glad tidings, do not become discouraged. 

           The careful reader will observe that prophecy is “being fulfilled”, and the same prophecy may have application to different people in different generations at different times.  In the case of Isaiah’s prophecy (Chapter 53 and Chapter 6) it was initially applied to Judah and Jerusalem in Isaiah’s day, then again by the Lord Jesus to Judah and Jerusalem during His first coming.  We believe it has been being fulfilled from that day until our day on a worldwide basis.  As with all prophecies, there comes a final fulfillment.  And after that, there comes a day when they may be perceiving with their eyes and be apprehending with their heart, and may be turning about, and He shall be healing them.  We are saying that day commences the restoration of all things. 

          We also say that until such time, God bears the responsibility for “blinding their eyes and callousing their heart”.  It is offensive enough to most of the modern church that unbelievers, along with the rest of creation, will be restored–that is, that they will not be punished by burning eternally or (somewhat more charitably) merely annihilated.  But to acknowledge that the Lord Jesus attributed the blindness of the world to Himself is beyond the most generous sensibilities of the modern church.  These words are troubling for those who feel man’s free will is the highest and most powerful force in the universe and that God’s justice requires Him to punish forever unbelievers: 

Therefore I speak to them in parables; because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.  In their case the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled, which says, “You will keep on hearing but will not understand; you will keep on seeing, but will not perceive; for the heart of this people has become dull, with their ears they scarcely hear, and they have closed their eyes, otherwise they would see with their eyes, hear with their ears, and understand with their heart and return”, and I would heal them.   Matthew 13:13-15  NASB

          Because Isaiah’s prophecy ends with “and be healed” (see for yourself in Isaiah 6), we believe the Lord Jesus ended His quote with “return” (there are no quotation marks in the original Greek).  The last five words were the Lord’s conclusion, not part of the quote from Isaiah.  Basically, the Lord was saying, “Father and I do not want them to see, perceive, hear, comprehend, understand, and repent, because if they did, I WOULD HEAL THEM.”   A time has been set by Father for this healing, and it was not in Isaiah’s time, and it was not during the Lord’s first coming, and has not occurred yet.  But one day it will occur, at which time He will heal them of their sin condition (symbolized by leprosy in the Bible).

          Until that time, all who have been blinded, who cannot see, whose hearts have become dull, are God’s responsibility, because He has blinded them.  The Lord Jesus said so; first, through Isaiah, then Himself, then finally through John.  This fact has been legally established by the Law of the Double Witness.  Deuteronomy 19:15; Matthew 18:16  Under the Law of the Blinded Servant, God must set free all whom He has blinded for the sake of their eye, or their ear, or their heart, etc.:

If a man strikes the eye of his male or female slave, and destroys it, he shall let him go on account of his eye.  Exodus 21:26

          Are all men the slaves of God?  Yes, under the Law of Redemption, Jesus Christ paid on the cross the sin debt of all men.  Because all men are dying, all men have committed legal offenses (hamartia), and also have missed the mark (hamartano), therefore each and every man has a sin debt.  When the debt of a man is paid by the kinsman redeemer, that man is transferred to the one paying the debt and thus becomes the slave of the redeemer.  Leviticus 25:47-55  The man shall be a slave to kinsman redeemer until the set time when the slave is set free.

          And so, some will be believing our tidings, and some will not.  Perhaps most will not.  But one day, they will.  Until then, dear reader, keep on loving!  As Dr. Stephen Jones has so eloquently stated it:  “There are only two kinds of people in the world; believers, and future believers!”

Blessed are You, O Lord, our wonderful God, our healing God, YHWH Rapha.  You are the God that healeth us.  Blessed is Your holy name forever!

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For ONE Missing Sheep

Filed Under: Restoration by admin — 1 Comment
August 29, 2010

Now all the tax collectors and the sinners were coming near Him to listen to Him.  Both the Pharisees and the scribes began to grumble, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”  So He told them this parable, saying, “What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?  When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.  And when he comes home, he call together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, “Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!”  I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.”  Luke 15:1-7, New American Standard Bible

          All of the Savior’s questions deserve careful consideration and an answer.  And what IS the answer to His question?  First, we should note that the question implies that there IS a man among them who will go and search for his lost sheep, or His question would have been:  IS there a man among you…  If you have spiritual eyes to see, Jesus the Good Shepherd is that man!

          Secondly, notice that the blame for the missing sheep is laid upon the man, not upon the sheep.  It is not the dumb sheep who has gone and gotten himself lost; instead, it is the man who has lost his sheep!  However, we do not wish to offend any Arminians, and so we will agree that the sheep used his free will to wander off, although admittedly the passage does not say so.  All the passage says is that the sheep “is lost.”  But we wish to emphasize that the Good Shepherd has a will, also–a greater will, a driving will, a sacrificial will, one that will not rest until the missing sheep is found!  Praise you, Lord!

          At this point it is very important to note that the Good Shepherd in our parable leaves 99 sheep in the open pasture.  These 99 have what they need:  safety, fellowship, and food–all that is attendant to open pasture.  We must ask, Why does the missing sheep not come to the pasture?  Surely it is because the missing sheep does not know the way!  Perhaps it is academic because in any event the Good Shepherd is not waiting to be accompanied by a delegation from the 99 sheep to go and find the lost one.

          Notice also that the parable makes it clear that the last missing sheep will be found, for the Savior uses “when” and not “if”.  In our view, this passage is about the restoration of all things by our Messiah who wills that all men be saved, and who will not “rest” until it is accomplished!

          And what happens when the missing sheep is found?  Some preachers have said that the shepherd will sometimes break the leg of the wayward sheep to increase its dependence upon the shepherd.  We do not see that in this passage, nor have we experienced it in our own life.  Rather, it is our experience that the lost sheep is delighted to be carried in the loving arms of the Good Shepherd who is rejoicing over the nearness of the missing sheep, and we bless the Lord for this sweet time of togetherness!  After the repentance, let the fellowship begin!

          During David’s reign, God moved him to seek out the descendants of Jonathan, to fulfill the covenant he had made with Jonathan pertaining to when he, David, would become king. (1 Samuel 18:3, 1 Samuel 23:18)  In the beautiful story of Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s son, we see a fore-shadowing and type of how the Son of David would treat the missing sheep.  We pick up the story in 2 Samuel 9.

The king (David) said, “Is there not yet anyone of the house of Saul to whom I may show the kindness of God?”  And Ziba said to the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan who is crippled in both feet.”  So the king said to him, “Where is he?”  And Ziba said to the king, “Behold, he is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel in Lo-Debar.”  Then King David sent and brought him from the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, from Lo-Debar.  2 Samuel 9:3-5, New American Standard Bible

           Jonathan made this covenant with David because, as the scripture says, he loved David “with his own life.”  One cannot help but notice the similarity with Jesus, who has loved us all with His own life!   It is in David, however, the shepherd/king sets the prophetic pattern.  Notice that he seeks to show the kindness of God to the house of his enemy.  It is the kindness of God that leads to repentance, according to Romans 2:4.  Although David the king would be justified in bringing judgment upon the descendants of his enemy, that is NOT the kindness of God!  And how does God treat His enemies?  In exactly the same way He has taught us to treat our enemies in Matthew 5:44:  Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your father who is in heaven…  For this fulfills the entire law of God, in one statement:  You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 

          In fact, it is the expectation that the king will exact retribution and judgment upon Saul’s house that causes all of Saul’s servants to flee in terror.  Mephibosheth, who was just a small child of five at the time, had no say whatsoever in the matter.  It was NOT Mephibosheth that fled in terror, but others upon whom in the providence of God he depended.  In their haste to flee the wrath of the king, Mephibosheth was dropped on his head, resulting in paralysis in both feet.  (2 Samuel 4:4)  All his life, he has lived in fear of the wrath of the king whom he has been told to fear.  But do you notice that even if he wanted to, Mephibosheth is unable to come to the king; instead he must be brought, for he is crippled in both feet! 

          Mephibosheth, as a missing sheep, is separated from the king who desires to show him the kindness of God.  The shepherd/king takes the initiative to locate him and says, “Where is he?”  And it  is here, that we find the indisputable evidence of the foreshadowing.  Mephibosheth is in Lo-Debar, which being translated means “no pasture” or “without pasture” (Strong’s Concordance H3810).  Mephibosheth is not in the open pasture; instead, he is lost in “no pasture” living out his days under the mistaken understanding, given to him by others, that the king desires only his death. 

          Finally, when brought to the king’s presence, he is given food from the king’s own table and his inheritance is restored.  Thus we see that there is rejoicing by the missing sheep AND by his shepherd.  We candidly do not see vengence, retribution or destruction in these verses; rather, we see a cause for great praise for the shepherd/king who loved us with his life, and who has sought us out and carried us, each and individually, upon his shoulders with rejoicing and fellowship to the inheritance we thought had long ago been taken from us forever.

Blessed are you, O Lord.  Our wonderful God, you are the king of forever!  Blessing, honor, glory and power belongs to you for the ages, for you have not rested until you have found the last missing sheep, whom you have loved just as much as the first missing sheep.  There is no one like you, Lord!

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Nebuchadnezzar, A Picture of Restoration

Filed Under: Restoration by Jamie — 2 Comments
July 27, 2010

“Immediately the word concerning Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled; and he was driven away from mankind and began eating grass like cattle, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair had grown like eagles’ feathers and his nails like birds’ claws.  “But at the end of that period, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever;
         For His dominion is an everlasting dominion,
         And His kingdom endures from generation to generation. 
    All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing,
         But He does according to His will in the host of heaven
         And among the inhabitants of earth;
         And no one can ward off His hand
         Or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’

 “At that time my reason returned to me and my majesty and splendor were restored to me for the glory of my kingdom, and my counselors and my nobles began seeking me out; so I was reestablished in my sovereignty, and surpassing greatness was added to me.

 “Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, exalt and honor the King of heaven, for all His works are true and His ways just, and He is able to humble those who walk in pride.”

Daniel 4:33-37

“…that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” 

Philippians 2:10-11

Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, went from the height of power, to the depths of depravity, overnight.  In his proud state, he said essentially, “I am my own god. I need no other.” God forewarned him of the discipline to come should he remain in that proud state, but after 12 months, he continued in his arrogance.  So God gave him up to depravity, and he became like an animal.  He “died,” in a sense.  In that humbled state, God disciplined him. The Bible says that period was 7 “times”, whether it was seven years or months, we do not know, but the number 7 in the Bible represents perfection.  God was perfectly disciplining Nebuchadnezzar.  He knew just what was necessary to bring the king to a point of recognizing his own need for God. 

And what happens? The king says at the end of that time he lifted his eyes to heaven, and worshipped the King of heaven, acknowledging that God was God, to be praised and adored.  At that time, God restores Nebuchadnezzar to a place that was BETTER than the power and position he had before!  He “resurrects” him from the dead into a new man, with a new heart.  And look what Nebuchadnezzar says about it: “God is able to humble those who walk in pride.”

So what do we see here? We see a picture of how God can and does bring a man to love and fear Him, but not out of coercion.  He disciplines (and its not pleasant), but perfectly, and in love.  And so the king CHOOSES to love and follow God. Not because God beat him into submission, but because he had a repentant heart and genuine love for God.  Somehow, God is able to turn a heart with love to love Him back, and yet it does not violate the man’s voluntary decision or choice to love God.  Philippians tells us that every human being is going to bow and acknowledge Jesus as Lord.  But does God want people bowing to Him grudgingly, or out of fear, or under His hand forcing them to do so? Does that bring glory to God? No, God wants glory and acknowledgment from those who love Him.  He wants worshippers who worship Him in spirit and in TRUTH-who truly love Him.  THAT brings Him glory.  And He gets the most glory-all the glory-when everyone is bowing out of love. 

So God can take a life-one full of arrogance and pride and God-lessness, and He is ABLE to humble that man so that the man, of his own choice, acknowledges God.  Nebuchadnezzar himself says that God is just in doing so-ALL his ways are just.  God does only that which is good, and discipline for restoration and regeneration is the heart of our Father.  His discipline is always to bring us closer to, not further from, Him.  He wants to restore us, but He first has to correct us.  But then He makes us better than we were before!

So if someone dies in this life, and they do not acknowledge Jesus as King and Savior, they are not lost forever.  Our God is the God who searches for the one lost sheep, the one lost coin, waits for the one lone prodigal son.  He will have to correct and discipline that person, but one day, they too, of their own choosing, will in love and faith say “God, YOU are God. I am not.  I need You, there is no other.” 

And so one day, it will be as Jesus says in Revelation: He will make ALL things new.  All will be new creations in Christ Jesus.

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What is God’s Will?

Filed Under: Love of God, Restoration by Jamie — Comments Off on What is God’s Will?
July 19, 2010

“I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” 1 Timothy 2: 1-6

Many times we wonder “What is God’s will?” We ask this question at many levels, and in many circumstances. However, at the largest, and frankly most important level, we ask the question “What is God’s will for mankind?” This text gives tremendous insight into the heart and will of God.

In verse 1, Paul exhorts (strongly urges) us that we should pray with requests (supplications), we should intercede, and we should give thanks for ALL men. He goes on in verse 3 to tell us why he is so strongly urging us to do this:  because it is good and acceptable to God our Saviour.  God is not only pleased when we pray for all men, but He accepts those prayers.  Verse 4 tells us why this is good to God:  because He WILL have ALL men to be saved and to come unto a knowledge of the truth.  THERE IT IS: THE WILL OF GOD FOR MANKIND.  God will have all men to be saved.  Job 42:2 says “I know that Thou can do all things, and that no purpose of Thine can be thwarted.”  God is pleased with prayers and supplications for all because He LOVES all and plans to save all! And His love never fails, which is why we can give thanks for all, because, in God’s timing, ALL will come to a knowledge of the truth.

But to make sure that we are clear on how all men will be saved, and what that “truth” is that he is referring to, Paul explains: there is one God (not many gods) and one mediator between man and God-Jesus Christ.  Jesus Himself said “I am THE way, THE truth, and the Life. NO one comes to the Father BUT BY ME.”  There are not multiple ways to be saved. ONLY through the mediation of Jesus Christ on a man’s behalf can the man be saved.  Paul ends his explanation by stating Christ’s authority to do this: He gave Himself as a ransom for all. He paid for (ransomed, with His own life) all people, and thus can-and will- save all people. 

 “But,” you may say, “we know this isn’t true because not everyone is saved (know the truth, ie, Jesus, and His role of Savior) before they die.”  But Paul addresses that too, at the end of verse 6: He writes, “to be testified in due time.”  To testify means to make declaration and/or solemn affirmation.  The phrase “in due time” tells us that it is yet to come, BUT that a time will come when this mediation and ransoming of all by Jesus is affirmed, and all men will know this truth.  This will happen in the ages to come. …and while that is a discussion for another post, the GOOD NEWS that the angels spoke of to the shepherds in the field is that God has GOOD will and peace toward ALL men.  And that is indeed Good News.

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The Martyrdom of Ralph

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July 3, 2010

          Our post is an addition to Notes on Leprosy and the Second Coming.  It is dedicated to our brother, Ralph, who was delivered into the presence of the Father, holy and blameless, with mighty shouts of everlasting joy on Father’s Day, June 20, 2010.  Praise you, Lord!

           According to all that I grant you to see, the pattern of the Dwelling and the pattern of all its implements, thus are you to make it.  Exodus 25:9

          While Moses was on the mountain, YHWH/Jesus showed him activities in the heavenlies which were to serve as patterns for the same activities upon earth.  The verse in Exodus 25:9 in particular relates to the construction of the tabernacle, but we do not believe it is unreasonable to conclude that the teachings and instructions of the various temple activities, including the sacrifices, were patterned upon God’s activities in the heavenlies and even in the earth.  Thus, each sacrifice is a foreshadow, an image, an incomplete picture of the reality of God’s doings.  It is important to understand that the ritual on earth was always intended to be an emulation of what God has done and is doing in the heavens and in the earth.  Unfortunately, none of the Hebrews except One, consistently said what He heard His Father saying, and consistently did what He saw His Father doing.  That Hebrew’s name, of course, is Jesus.

          Accordingly, when a leper was healed, the ritual sacrifice involving the two doves not only represented the circumstances of the person individually involved, it also bore witness of something comparable that God is doing as a witness in the earth.  And so we come to the martyrdom of Ralph.

          Those who knew Ralph must decide for themselves what happened to him; this decision will be made according to the individual’s particular belief in the sovereignty of God.  From a human standpoint, Ralph was 56 years of age, had been under a controlled weight loss program under a doctor’s supervision, and was feeling great.  He and a friend were cycling in a Texas coastal resort town, when the friend heard Ralph say “Passing out!” and looked around to see him go over the handlebars of his bicycle.  Although he was wearing a cycling helmet, he somehow sustained a bloody head injury in the fall.  The friend found no pulse when he got to Ralph seconds later and was unable to revive him using CPR.

          We do not believe Ralph’s passing was an accident, nor do we believe it was a matter of his choice.  Many have said, “He would not have chosen this for his family” and they are correct.  Either it was a “bad hap”, or God is the One responsible.  God accepts full responsibility at all times.

          We believe the Lord’s words when He said, “(E)veryone who lives and believes in Me will never die.”  John 11:26  And we believe Paul’s words, that when one is absent from the body, he is at home with the Lord.  2 Corinthians 5:8.  Not even a sparrow falls from the tree apart from the watchful eyes of Father, and Ralph was worth far more than many sparrows!  Therefore, we believe Ralph had concluded his race and crossed the finish line without disqualification, receiving an incorruptible crown of life.  Simply stated, Ralph was called.  The meaning of the Hebrew name for the book of Leviticus, quoted below, is taken from its first few words:  Now He called.  Ralph was carried instantaneously from this realm into realms of everlasting light.  This much we believe by the word of the Lord, but while in prayer, we asked, “Lord, what is up with the head wound?”  Father replied simply, “See the two doves!”

YHWH spoke to Moses, saying:  This is to be the Instruction for the one-with-zara’at (translated “leprosy”), on the day of his being-purified:  he is to be brought to the priest.  The priest is to go outside the camp; when the priest looks, and here: the affliction of zara’at (leprosy) has healed on the one-with-zara’at (leprosy), the priest is to command that they take for the one-to-be-purified two birds, live, pure, and wood of cedar and scarlet of the worm and hyssop.  Then the priest is to command that they slay the one bird in an earthen vessel, (held) above living water, and the live bird–he is to take it, and the cedar wood, and the scarlet of the worm and the hyssop, and is to dip them and the live bird in the blood of the slain bird, (held) above living water.  Then he is to sprinkle (it) over the one-to-be-purified of zara’at seven times, declaring-him-pure, and is to send-out the live bird into the open field.  Leviticus 14:1-7 Schocken Bible
          The Greek word for “witness” in the New Testament is marturia (Strong’s Concordance G3141) from which we derive our English word for “martyr”.  It is the same word used in Revelation 20:4–And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony (marturia) of Jesus and because of the word of God…  When one gives one’s life, voluntarily or involuntarily, as a witness for something, one can be called a martyr.  One does not take the honor to himself, but receives it when he is called by God.  Hebrews 5:4  The use of such a word is not to be taken or given lightly and it should always arrest our attention.  Such is the case in the matter at hand.
 
          Once the roles of the participants are identified, the pattern becomes clear and the witness is established.  First, the priest goes outside the camp and looks, and observes that the leprous man is healed.  The priest in this pattern is our high priest forever, Christ Jesus (Hebrews 7-8) and he has gone outside the heavenly camp to observe that the formerly leprous man is no longer leprous.  The two doves in the case at hand are Ralph and our sister, his wife.  The first dove “in an earthen vessel” is realized by a man who contains the treasure of living water in his heart, as Paul says.  2 Corinthians 4:7  The slaying of the first dove was by an injury to the head, since this is the only way to get blood in sufficient quantity in which to dip the remaining dove.  Leviticus 1:15  Thus, to fulfill the type, it was necessary that Ralph injure his head as he fell, no small feat considering he was wearing a helmet designed to prevent that very thing.
 
          His blood is symbolic of his life, because the “life of the flesh is in the blood.”  Leviticus 17:11  Our sister was certainly thoroughly immersed in Ralph’s life.  The live bird, too, is held above the living water, illustrating that our two doves contain the same treasure of salvation.  Our live dove is sent out into the open field, meaning the world.  For in the parable of the sower, we have learned from the Savior that “the field is the world.”  Matthew 13:38  Our live dove carries the testimony that the formerly leprous man has been healed.  Notice that he is declared to be pure.  This is a legal declaration that the man in question is no longer obligated under the law to comply with all the rules and regulations attendant with leprosy–but the main point is:  he is now welcomed back into the camp, whereas before he was excluded and was thus an outcast.  Leviticus 14:8  
 
          Our last participant remains to be identified.  Who is this “man” whose leprosy has been healed, and is now declared pure and welcome to return to the heavenly camp?  Recall that the “leprosy” is symbolic of a very curable condition:  not a skin condition, but in reality a sin condition. This symbolizes the wonderful good news that mankind is now conciliated to God, and the doors of heaven are open–that which separated man from God, which caused him to be an outcast from the fellowship of the redeemed, which excluded him from partaking of the divine life, has been removed by the blood of Jesus.
 
          Because this is a legal matter, we may be certain that one or more individuals in Ralph’s life and realm of influence will be adjudicated pure.  However, we have no revelation as to who it may be.  Furthermore, on a larger level, the “man” can be representative of mankind in general, whose trespasses are no longer being counted against them because of the death that Christ died for all.  2 Corinthian 5:19  In this respect, Ralph has joined in a great cloud of witnesses (martus,  Strong’s Concordance G3144) who continue to bear witness that exactly as in Adam all die, in just the exact same manner in Christ all will be made alive.  1 Corinthians 15:22 
 
          Way to go, brother!
 
          Blessed are You, O Lord, our wonderful God, for You have done all things according to the pattern shown on the mountain.  Your ways are just and true and You have given to faithful men the privilege of bearing witness of your beautiful ways. 
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Notes on Leprosy and the Second Coming

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June 5, 2010

Now, at His descending from the mountain, vast throngs follow Him.  And lo! a leper, coming to Him, worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, if Thou shouldst be willing, Thou canst cleanse me!”  And, stretching out His hand, He touches him, saying, “I am willing!  Be cleansed!”  And immediately, cleansed is his leprosy.  And Jesus is saying to him, “See that you may tell it to no one, but go away; show yourself to the priest and bring the (approach) present which Moses bids, for a testimony to them.”…yet the sons of the kingdom will be cast into outer darkness.  There will be lamentation and gnashing of teeth.   Matthew 8:1-4, 12 Concordant Version

          See this familiar story with new eyes, and consider its prophetic implications.  We have used the Concordant Literal New Testament to purposefully take the text out of the past tense used by most other translators.  The Lord Spirit wants us to understand there is much more here than merely the story of one man’s healing; that is, another wonderful prophecy of the restoration of all things when the Lord Jesus takes up His throne in His kingdom.

          Before we launch into the prophecy, a word or two about leprosy is in order.  First, it is entirely likely that the disease known to modernity as leprosy is not the disease referred to in Torah, or referred to by the Savior.  Here is what the Jewish Encyclopedia (1906) has to say about it:

In the Septuagint “ẓara’at” is translated by “lepra.” It is reasonable to assume that the Hebrews attached the same meaning to “ẓara’at” that the Greeks did to “lepra,” which is derived from “lepros” (= “rough” or “scaly”). According to the medical writings of Ægineta, Ætius, Actuarius, Oribasus, and others, lepra was uniformly regarded as a circular, superficial, scaly eruption of the skin; in other words, their lepra was the psoriasis of modern times. There is absolutely nothing in the Greek description of lepra that suggests even in a remote manner the modern leprosy…The confusion and obscurity that have enveloped this subject for centuries have resulted from the use of different terms in successive ages to designate the same disease, and from the total change in the meaning and application of the word “lepra.”
 
          We make this point because the law given to Moses dealt with a prophetic sacrifice to be made after the afflicted person was cured, and modern leprosy is incurable.  If a person were never cured of the skin disease referred to in Hebrew as “zara’at”, there would be no physical or prophetic purpose to the wonderful offering Moses commanded.  That leads us to the second point:  what is translated “leprosy” is symbolic of a condition that is very curable!  That is the whole point of the offering Moses commanded!  And, as we shall see, the point of the healing of the leprous man in Matthew 8.  “Leprosy” is symbolic of sin, that condition in man that causes him to miss the mark, fall short of the ethical and lawful ideal, and to commit offenses against God.  (This word for “sin” in Greek is hamartano, and is to be distinguished from hamartia, which refers to legal offence.)
 
          We apologize if this post has become technical–hang in there, dear reader, it will be worth it!
 
YHWH spoke to Moses, saying:  This is to be the Instruction for the one-with-zara’at, on the day of his being-purified:  he is to be brought to the priest.  The priest is to go outside the camp; when the priest looks, and here: the affliction of zara’at has healed on the one-with-zara’at, the priest is to command that they take for the one-to-be-purified two birds, live, pure, and wood of cedar and scarlet of the worm and hyssop.  Then the priest is to command that they slay the one bird in an earthen vessel, (held) above living water, and the live bird–he is to take it, and the cedar wood, and the scarlet of the worm and the hyssop, and is to dip them and the live bird in the blood of the slain bird, (held) above living water.  Then he is to sprinkle (it) over the one-to-be-purified of zara’at seven times, declaring-him-pure, and is to send-out the live bird into the open field.  Leviticus 14:1-7 Schocken Bible
 
          Notice here the person with leprosy/sin is the “one-to-be-purified”.  One may note initially that the purification follows after the “healing”; which we may equate to realizing one’s condition without Christ.  How is the “purification” accomplished?  By taking one live bird, slaying the bird (not as in other ritual slayings of birds elsewhere in Leviticus, but by a different and unique method) in an earthen vessel, as Christ Jesus took on himself an earthen vessel (see 2 Corinthians 4:7) and was slain by a different and unique method.  Notice also the Hebrew expression for running water:  “living water”.  Do you not recall how the Lord said, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you:  Give me a drink, you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.” (John 4:10) and “He who believes in Me, as the scripture said, from his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.” (John 7:38)?  Living water is always synonymous with purification; both point to the saving work of Jesus the Christ!
 
          We are indebted to Dr. Stephen Jones, who has taught with much clarity on these two birds.  The first bird is a picture of Jesus, who was slain “in an earthen vessel”; the second bird is also a picture of Jesus, who in His second work is released alive “into the open field”, which we now know is the world.  (See Matthew 13:38) In His second coming, He will be “clothed with a robe dipped in blood.” (Revelation 19:13; see also Exodus 37:31, relating to His second work as a “son” of Joseph.)  On an individual level, the one-being-purified is now free from the law of sin and death represented by the leprosy/sin, and is now free to serve the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus. On the worldwide level, the “release” of the “second bird” will bring with Himself freedom from sin and purification for the entire world!
 
          At His descending from the mountain (of the Lord, in heaven) vast throngs follow Him, says our text.  Dear reader, have you not heard the slanderous accusation, usually uttered by one exasperated over what is perceived to be the excessive immorality of unbelievers in the world, that Jesus will return in anger and judgment, slaying those who do not receive Him with a sword coming out of His mouth?  (See Revelation 19:15)  Suppose, however, that the sword coming out of His mouth brings repentance, instead of physical death.  This is the true meaning of the verse, as can easily be seen by Hosea 6:5-6.  The true purpose of the sword?  To bring about mercy, which the Lord delights in–if physical death were intended, the Lord would have said: “I delight in sacrifice, not mercy.”   Because mercy is preferred over sacrifice, we may be certain that the purpose of the sword in the mouth of the Lord Jesus is not to kill.  Mercy always triumphs over judgment.
 
          The leper in Matthew 8, representative of these vast throngs following Jesus, comes in worship to Him, having heard the slanderous accusation to which we refer, and says, “If You are willing…”   God never has been willing, is not now willing, and never will be willing that any should perish, “but for all to come to repentance.”  (2 Peter 3:9)  Accordingly, Jesus does what He sees Father doing, and says, “I am willing; be cleansed.”  And once again we see that all who call upon the name of the Lord will be saved, for his leprosy/sin is immediately cured. 
 
          In that day, great throngs of people will follow Jesus, aware of their leprosy/sin and will realize that only He has the words of life.  In humble repentance they will understand, as all eventually do, that they deserve the judgment that the Church for centuries has been threatening them with.  But in worship they will exclaim that He can heal them if He is willing–and He will, because He is willing. 
 
          The purpose of the offering of the two doves was to illustrate the marvelous truth that Jesus the Christ will not only satisfy the penalty for the legal offence (hamartia), He will also remove the sin condition to which we have been referring (hamartano).  However, because the Church as a whole has neither heard the voice of Father, nor understood His mind, nor cared for His Instructions, it has accused Father and Son of false attitudes and actions.  As sons of the Kingdom of God, the followers of Jesus should have told the world that He would at all times be willing to cleanse them, and that in fact one day cleansing would come to all.  But instead it promoted fear, lawlessness, denominationalism, and exclusion.  Because of unbelief, they will have no part in the first resurrection, and when the Church comes to realize this, there will be great lamentation and gnashing of teeth:  precisely the exact measure of judgment that the Church measured to others.  
Do not judge, lest you may be judged, for with what judgment you are judging, shall you be judged, and with what measure you are measuring, shall it be measured to you.   Matthew 7:1
 
          The “outer darkness” spoken of by the Lord, we believe, is the earthly realm and not the spiritual realm where the attainers of the first resurrection will minister to the Lord Jesus in the “linen garments” spoken of by Ezekiel 44:15-19, referring to the glorified body.  In the earthly realm, those who attain to the first resurrection will put on “woolen garments”, meaning a physical body when ministering.  There will be great sadness when the Church realizes what was available to it, and what was lost because of unbelief.  We do not say that such a person’s salvation will be lost; just that they will have to await the second resurrection to receive their glorified body.  Much more could be said about these resurrections, but the point for now is that once again, the Lord’s words are justified.
 
Blessed are You, O Lord.  Come, thou fount of every blessing, give us this Living Water, and purify us from the sin condition by filling us with Yourself.
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Notes on the House of God

Filed Under: Double Witness, God's Laws/Teachings, Restoration by admin — Comments Off on Notes on the House of God
April 25, 2010

And-he-will-be  in-last-of  the-days  he-will-be  mountain-of  temple-of YHWH  being-established  as-chief-of  the-mountains  and-he-will-be-raised  he  above-hills and-they-will-stream   to-him  peoples.  And-they-will-come  nations, many-ones,  and-they-will-say  “Come!  and-let-us-go to mountain-of YHWH and-to  house-of God-of  Jacob.  And-he-will-teach-us  of-ways-of-him  so-we-may-walk  in-paths-of-him.  Micah 4:1-2  Kohlenberger Interlinear NIV Hebrew-English Old Testament

And-he-will-be  in-last-of  the-days  being-established  he-will-be mountain-of  temple-of  YHWW  as-chief-of  the-mountains  and-he-will-be-raised  above-hills  and-they-will-stream  to-him  all-of  the nations.  And-they-will-come,  peoples,  many,  and-they-will-say,  “Come!  and-let-us-go-up  to  mountains-of  YHWH,  to house-of  God-of  Jacob.  And-he-will-teach-us  of-ways-of-him so-we-may-walk  in-paths-of-him.  Isaiah 2:2 Kohlenberger Interlinear NIV Hebrew-English Old Testament

          We have used the Hebrew interlinear above, which gives a word for word translation; the hyphenated English words are a single Hebrew word.  It shows two very important things about these two passages.  First, while similar in large degree, Micah’s prophecy is definitely different from Isaiah’s.  Micah, writing about twenty years after Isaiah, is quoting YHWH, not Isaiah.  (Micah 3:5)  He is in fact establishing the subject matter of the prophecy as a second witness to Isaiah, according to the law of the double witness.  (Deuteronomy 19:15, Matthew 18:16)

          The second important thing: The subject of these prophecies is clearly NOT an “it”.  Rather, the subject is a “he”, and the “he” is none other than YHWH-Jesus.  The Hebrew word translated “and-he-will-be” is repeated twice by both writers for emphasis in the opening words of each passage.  The passages are emphatically personal throughout.

He will be being established, he will be…..

He will be raised up, he……

They will stream to him, all of the nations…..

They will come to him, many nations……

He will teach us his ways……

So we may walk in the paths of him……

          It is the emphatic repetition by which the Holy Spirit signifies that the subject is a masculine person, as opposed to a masculine, but inanimate, noun like “house.”

          The phrase, “the last of the days”, in Hebrew is “acharet hayamim.”  It has special prophetic significance, and is believed by many Jews to refer to the rule of Messiah.  We believe they are correct.  (See for example, Hosea 3:5, where the sons of Israel will come trembling to YHWH and to His goodness.)

          When will these “latter days” occur?  Many claim to know, and have said so.  However, we are content to wait until the time that is appointed has actually arrived.  From the texts we can see that the process of “being established” will be on-going. 

          “Established” is the Hebrew word “kun” (Strong’s Conc. #H3559). The breadth of its many applications illustrates its utility in meaning a process.  It can mean a) to be set up, fixed in a permanent sense, b) to be directed rightly, c) to prepare and to be prepared, and d) to be arranged and to be ready.

          We believe the first sense is intended, because the text complements this meaning by also saying “he is being raised up”, not just in a resurrection sense.  Rather, He will be given authority over the kings (mountains) of the earth, as well as other rulers (hills), probably referring to elected officials.  This of course could happen overnight, but we believe a longer period of time will be involved as the stone kingdom grows into a mountain.  (Daniel2:35, 44)

          The symbolism used in Daniel is the same as the texts here.  The symbol “mountain” is to be taken for the King inseparably united with His kingdom.  Daniel says the kingdom will fill the whole earth and will endure forever (Hebrew, “olam”, meaning an indefinite period).

          The passage in Daniel creates a large problem (no pun intended) for those who insist that Isaiah and Micah are talking about Jerusalem as it is located today and a “house of God” meaning a Third Temple.  No one has seriously contended the physical city, much less a physical building within that city, will expand to fill the whole earth.  If Daniel, Isaiah, and Micah are all talking about the same occurrence and even use the same symbolism, who decided Daniel was figurative but Isaiah and Micah were literal, or vice versa?

          If this is a physical house, having a physical location, then there is another problem lurking beneath the translation.  It is the small prepositon “to”.  As used in the above texts, it is only a single Hebrew word that can be used in different ways.  Does it mean “in the general direction of”?  Or does it mean “into”, denoting motion from the exterior towards the interior?  Clearly, the nations and the streaming people have a destination in mind.

          In the Greek language, the preposition “into” is the word “eis“.  It is used as a mathematical and geometric term.  Think about a straight line, one end of which dead-ends into the center of a circle, and you have the idea.  “Eis” means motion along the straight line into the interior of the circle as a destination.  (See The Companion Bible, Appendix 104, Bullinger, for an excellent discussion of prepositions used in scripture.)   In the Septuagint, an ancient Greek translation by Hebrew scholars of the Old Testament, the word “eis” is used to translate the “to” used in each of our texts.  The result was translated this way:

Come! Let us go up INTO the mountain of YHWH, (and) INTO the house of God….

          Here is the point the Holy Spirit wants us to get:  YHWH-Jesus IS the mountain AND the house of God!  He is the desire of all nations–all will want to be IN Him.  All will want Him to teach them His ways.  All will want, from the bottom of their hearts, to walk as He Himself walks.  To know Him is to love Him.

          He has promised to write His laws, teachings, precepts, commandments, and instructions on the hearts of all men, from the greatest of them to the least.  Jeremiah said so; the writer to the Hebrews established it according to the law of the double witness.

“BEHOLD, DAYS ARE COMING, SAYS THE LORD,
         WHEN I WILL EFFECT A NEW COVENANT
         WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL AND WITH THE HOUSE OF JUDAH; 
   
    10FOR THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL
         AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD:
         I WILL PUT MY LAWS INTO THEIR MINDS,
         AND I WILL WRITE THEM ON THEIR HEARTS.
         AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD,
         AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.
    11AND THEY SHALL NOT TEACH EVERYONE HIS FELLOW CITIZEN,
         AND EVERYONE HIS BROTHER, SAYING, ‘KNOW THE LORD,’
         FOR ALL WILL KNOW ME,
         FROM THE LEAST TO THE GREATEST OF THEM. Hebrews 8:8,10-11 New American Standard Bible

          When all men see that He is what they have desired all along, they will want to walk in His ways, as John said in his epistle.

6the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.  1 John 2:6

          The house of God is not now, and will not be, a church, a mosque, or a temple, or any other structure built by the hand of man, any more than the “house of Israel” is.  It will not be “located” here, or there, or in the wilderness–if you  hear of such, do not go.  Where the carcass is, there will the buzzards be gathered.  Meaning, if you are looking for a new and living way, an incorruptible way, it has been inaugurated through the veil of His flesh, which is never to die or become corruptible again.  Buzzards aren’t really interested in living things.  Look up, for your redemption draweth nigh.

Blessed are you, O Lord.  Our wonderful God, you are the mountain that will fill the whole earth!

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Notes on being a friend of Jesus

Filed Under: Restoration by admin — 1 Comment
March 21, 2010

Greater love as no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends (philos).  You are my friends if you do what I command you.  No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My father I have made known to you.  You did not choose me, but I chose you….   John 15:13-15 New American Standard Bible

And Jesus said to him (Judas), “Friend (hetairos), (do) what you have come for.” Matthew 26:50 New American Standard Bible

…and Zabud, the son of Nathan, a priest, (was) the king’s Friend,… 1 Kings 4:5

          The kingship of Solomon over all Israel is widely regarded as a type of the reign of Messiah Jesus over all the earth.  It is fitting to note, then, that Solomon instituted a new office in his administration called the King’s Friend.  It was based upon the role of Hushai in frustrating the counsel of Ahithophel during the revolt of Solomon’s half-brother, Absalom in 2 Samuel 15.  For his service in aiding David, Hushai is called the King’s Friend in 1 Chronicles 27:33-34.

          The title was bestowed upon Zabud by King Solomon.  The name “Zabud” according to Strong’s Concordance (H2071) means “he has bestowed upon”; it is the diminutive of Zebediah or Z’badyahu–Yahweh bestows.  Thus we see that prophetically there will be those upon whom Yahweh Jesus will bestow the title of “Friend”.

          Indeed, hundreds of years later, Lord Jesus made several references to friend, as the fulfillment of Solomon’s type, including one to–of all people–Judas.  The passage above in John quotes Jesus’ words to all his disciples, including Judas.  It is clear that Jesus’ words are no less an appointment than was Zabud’s appointment, because the Lord even said, “I…appointed you…” John 15:16

          Although it is seldom if ever taught, the appointment as Friend of the king could hardly be more important.  It essentially describes a relationship to the Savior as a fully-matured son of God, who knows the mind of Father and is entrusted to carry out the will of Father and King/Son.

          As is so often the case, Lord Jesus is NOT setting out a condition or an if/then scenario.  He is NOT saying, “IF you do what I command you, THEN you are my friends.”  (Admittedly, when these verses are discussed, the emphasis is usually on obedience.)  Nevertheless, Jesus is once again merely stating a fact, notwithstanding His use of the word “if”.  Here is how the friends of Jesus are identified:  they do what he says.  Someone will protest: “But surely that means obedience!” Yes and no; yes, it includes obedience, but no, it is more than obedience.  Think of it this way:  to obey is better than sacrifice; but to agree is better than to obey.

          The emphasis thus misplaced on obedience basically ignores what Jesus said:  No longer do I call you slaves, because as everyone knows, slaves HAVE to obey.  But if friends HAVE to obey how are they different than slaves?  Here the Lord Jesus clarifies the difference:  slaves don’t know, and obey.  His friends DO KNOW, and obey.  The former obey out of obligation, which is reminiscent of Hagar and the old covenant; the latter obey out of AGREEMENT, which speaks of Sarah of promise and the new covenant.  Galatians 4

          The concept of “friend of Jesus” is not mentioned again in Scripture.  Paul referred to himself as a bond-slave, noting his choice under the law of redemption to remain a servant in the house of his Lord, but again, eschewing friendship for servanthood.  This humility reminds us of the prodigal, who said, “I am no longer worthy to be called a son.”

          Nevertheless, “friend of Jesus” is prophetic of an office to come, one that is referred to by various names, but specifically by John in Revelation as “overcomer.”  Upon some will be bestowed by Jesus the right to be called “Friends of King Jesus.”  It will be they who do as He commands, who hear His voice and the voice of Father, who know His mind–how He thinks–and who are given authority to carry out His will in restoring all things.  Their lives are characterized by sonship as described in Galatians 4:1-7.  We are sorry to say that not all Christians will be overcomers, for precisely the same reason Judas declined to be a friend of Jesus.

          Was Judas chosen, as well?  Yes.  (See, Judas Iscariot:  Revisited and Restored by Ivan Rogers.) When Jesus included Judas in the reference of “friends” (philos), was He using the term ironically or sarcastically?  No; instead, factually:  I chose you, Judas, and I appointed you; but you do not know, and you do not agree.  Therefore, Judas, you are a “comrade”, (hetairos), and not a “friend” (philos).  Although Judas heard God’s voice speaking in and through Lord Jesus, he hardened his heart just as his fathers did in the wilderness.  By kissing Jesus fondly when he offered Him up, he fulfilled the words of Isaiah representatively:  “This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.” It is important to note that “Judas” is the Greek form of the Hebrew name “Judah.”

          After the death of King Solomon, the nation of Israel divided into two kingdoms, each with its own monarchy.  The northern 10 tribes kept the name “Israel” as authorized by the blessing of Jacob, that his name would live on in the sons of Joseph (Genesis 48:16).  That authorization for the use of the name “Israel” has never been revoked.  The southern tribes of Judah and Benjamin remained in Jerusalem and the countryside of Judah.  After Solomon it is important to note that there is an House of Israel, with its prophecies, and an House of Judah with its prophecies.

          It was still known as Judah (or Judea) when Messiah came, and it should be still known as Judah to this present day.  That Judah would claim the land of Israel for itself was prophesied by Ezekiel in Ezekiel 11:15.  Tribally-speaking, only Judah and Benjamin were allowed to remain in the land  at the time of Messiah’s advent.

          In Psalm 41:9, David wrote of Ahithophel, but prophesied of Judas, in verse 9:

Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.

          In this verse, the word “friend” is a combination of two Hebrew words, ish and shalom (Strong’s Concordance H376 + H7965).  The first word means “man” in a one-of-a-kind or unique sense.  The second word has several meanings, but here it means “greeting”.  Putting them together, we have “one-of-a-kind, or unique, man of greeting”.  So we see that the reference to Ahithophel was a prophecy regarding Judas who offered up Jesus by greeting Him with a kiss.

          Judas/Judah preferred a different kingdom than the one Jesus has inaugurated for God, in precisely the same way Ahithophel preferred the kingdom of Absalom to the kingdom of David.  (See, The Struggle for the Birthright, Chapter 6 by Dr. Stephen Jones, for an excellent teaching on this subject.)  Note:  Judas representatively fulfilled the second fulfillment/rejection by “seeing” Judah; the first had occurred earlier as recorded in Matthew 15:1-9.  The occasion of the third rejection is not clear to us; it is possibly either Acts 28:23-29 or Hebrews 6:1-8.  Judah as a whole rejected Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  The rejection fulfilled Isaiah 29:13, which says:

Then Yahweh said, “Because this people draw near with their words and honor Me with their lip service, but they remove their hearts far from Me, and their worship of Me consists of tradition taught by men.

          But Note also, the “because” and “therefore” connection between verse 13 and verse 14.  Lord Jesus never, never writes off anyone:

Therefore behold, I will once again deal marvelously with this people, wondrously marvelous.”

          Judas/Judah will not be an overcomer, but he and they will be restored.  The Good Shepherd will not rest until He finds and retrieves every single one of His lost sheep. Luke 15:4-7   Even Judas must be restored, or else “all things” won’t be restored as prophesied in Acts 3:21 and other places.

Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the universe, because You have raised up Friends of King Jesus.

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