Russia issued an ultimatum for Ukraine to surrendeder its forces in the Crimean Peninsula or else it would attack.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26424738
For Further Reading: http://thegospelarmor.com/news/russia-tightens-grip-on-crimea-bbc
All posts by Lightdancer
Russia Tightening Its Grip on Crimea
With Russia tightening grip on Crimea, we can see prophecy falling into place. As you may already know, Ezekiel 38 tells us that Russia will strengthen its forces and band together with nations in the Middle Eastern Head and focus its intent against Israel. However, when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, know the end is not yet here. This is not the final battle of Armageddon, but it will lead to the deadly wound to one of the heads of the beast. The battle of Armageddon happens on a much deeper level a little later.
Son of God Movie
Last night I took the family to see the Son of God movie. It was refreshing to have something, for lack of a better word, wholesome to go and see.
I heard that many of the scenes came from the ten-hour t.v. series that aired last year. That didn’t make it sound all that exciting, but I hadn’t seen much of the series so it would be fine.
The movie was bittersweet. I have to say I did enjoy it and I wish Hollywood would do more movies like this. The special effects we have today would make it visually stunning and there are so many stories that have never been done. However there were things that bothered me. Why do they have to change what was said? Why do they insist on letting little lies creep in? I don’t want to go through the entire thing and break it down, but I will mention this: Christ never told Caiaphas he was the Son of God. That is a HUGE problem. Christ never defends himself. He only says, “You say that I am.”
Christ was the lamb slain. He didn’t defend himself. Why would you put that in there? You have to watch for these things my friends as it is these things that can cause great harm.
Remember: Matthew 23:2 Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat:
Scribes are the ones that write things down be careful that you do not let them twist the Word of God for you.
The Healing Pool? John 5:3-4
- We left off looking at how the sheep’s gate was made by the high priest, Eliashib and that the gate was used to usher in the sacrificial lambs. Today we move on to look at what the people where doing there.
John 5:3 In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water. (4) For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.
Many people read over this and if your bible notes make any mention of it at all it will say, “as was supposed.” Because yes, there isn’t any proof that anyone was ever healed at this pool and that it was probably just local legend, but there is so much more here so let’s break it down.
First off, God never told anyone to be healed this way. None of these people are looking to God to be healed; they are seeking after some angel. It doesn’t tell us the angel was sent from God. Whose to say that this isn’t a fallen angel?
Second, I want you to look at the larger picture being shown here. This is where Christ should be and instead these people are waiting for an angel. Much like before Christ returns and Satan stands in his spot claiming to be God. The waters or the sea is often a symbol of the peoples of the world and this angel waits for the waters to calm so it can trouble them. Remind you of anyone? What does Christ do with the waters?
Mark 4:36-41 And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships. (37) And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. (38) And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? (39) And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. (40) And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? (41) And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?
You all know this story. Christ does the exact opposite to the waters. Looking at John 5:3, who is it that this great angel heals? The first into the water.. but what does God tell us?
Mark 10:30-31 But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life. (31) But many that are first shall be last; and the last first.
Lastly, are we supposed to be stepping into the water or standing on the Rock? When Peter walked on the water it was only when he took his eyes off the Savior did he go in.
In the next segment we will be looking at the one guy in this great multitude that Christ takes out of this multitude to heal. Hope you tune in, God Bless
Christ visits the Sheep Gate John 5:1-2
In the next couple of posts we are going to cover John chapter five where it tells us how Christ heals a man and the Jews get upset about it. In this first part we are going to look at the location where this takes place.
John 5:1: After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
The law at the time was for the men of Israel to go to the temple three times a year, Passover, the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost) and the Feast of Tabernacles. At first glace, this looks like Passover, in the last chapter we have the barley harvest ready early and in the next chapter we have Christ feeding the multitude with barley loaves, but this is probably Purim. Purim that was added later by man, in large part, to mark the events that happened in the book of Ester.
John 5:2: Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches.
Since we are given a specific location it means it is important. In the picture below if you look at the north side of the temple you will see a spot marked as the sheep gate with pools around it. That is where this is taking place.
What is important about the sheep gate? The sheep gate is where they brought the sheep into the temple for sacrifices. Nehemiah chapter three tells us that Eliashib, the high priest built the gate with his brethren. Today Christ is our high priest and today it is His blood, His sacrifice that washes away our sin and it is only through him that we can enter into the kingdom of God.
This is further emphasized by mentioning Bethesda and the five porches. Five, as many of you know, means grace and Bethesda which mean house of mercy or house of kindness.
Thanks to biblewalks.com we can see what Bethesda looks like today. Click the link to see the many pictures they have of the site.
John 4:45-54
I feel like we have been in John chapter 4 forever, but finally we come to Galilee. Galilee means circuit. When I was in sunday school I always thought of Galilee as a small town, but really it is the name of an area made of of twenty towns that sort of form a loop or circuit which is where it got it’s name.
John 4:45: Then when he was come into Galilee, the Galileans received him, having seen all the things that he did at Jerusalem at the feast: for they also went unto the feast.
Note that they receive him because of what they have SEEN not like the Samaritans who believed him because of his word.
John 4:46: So Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum. 47: When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judaea into Galilee, he went unto him, and besought him that he would come down, and heal his son: for he was at the point of death. 48: Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.
Note how this guy doesn’t have faith. Sure he asked, but Jesus is very clear that the guy needs to see in order to believe.
John 4:49: The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die. 50: Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way.
Now this part I wonder about because it says he believed and it is the same word in the Greek, but when you get to verse 53 it says he believed and his whole house. I tend to think that this belief is more like he was consoled. Like when you talk to a loved one and they say everything will be alright and you believe they are right and feel better. It’s the kind of belief that isn’t very deep and will fade quickly.
John 4:51: And as he was now going down, his servants met him, and told him, saying, Thy son liveth. 52: Then enquired he of them the hour when he began to amend. And they said unto him, Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him. 53: So the father knew that it was at the same hour, in the which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth: and himself believed, and his whole house.
Again here we see how once he saw he truly believed.
John 4:54: This is again the second miracle that Jesus did, when he was come out of Judaea into Galilee.
Remember the field that was ready four months early? Well that didn’t count as a miracle. We are told of a lot of people Jesus healed so why are we given this one? And why is this given specifically as his second? Remember Christ teaches on many levels so let’s look at what he did and see what he was trying to teach us.
Remember Christ came for the lost sheep of the tribe of Israel. What was the state of Israel at this time? They were on the point of death. Ten tribes were gone and had forgotten who they were. The ones that remained bearly had a country. In a few years the temple would be mowed down. The priests were a bunch of crooks that were more interested in profits than teaching and their faith was a joke. Much like the life of this son.
Christ healed this son at the seventh hour. Seven in biblical numberics mean spiritual completeness. What does that tell us here? First, I want to tell you that if this goes over your head don’t worry and if you ever want a question answered just ask or ask for a study to be done on a topic. The Lord’s day is the seventh day. Peter tells us in 2 Peter 3:8 that a day with the Lord is like a thousand years with man. This is what many call the Millennium. It is the time when we are not in the flesh. Christ is in the temple and only the those that overcame in the flesh can come to him. Satan is locked up for all to see and the word is taught without his junk getting in the way. At the end of that time Satan is released again only this time he doesn’t get to do his fancy magic tricks and whoever wants to follow him into the lake of fire is welcome to go and unfortunately many do. That marks the end of the Lord’s day and the beginning of eternity. That is when Israel is complete and that is what this seventh hour is referring to.
John 4:39-44
In an effort to keep these posts short we stopped the last one right after Christ showed the disciples that the field was white and ready to harvest. We talked about how this was a sign of the firstfruits and today we are going to see how those firstfruits are firstfruits because they have the faith to believe like a child.
John 4:39: And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did.
Christ told this woman that he was the messiah. Why was she the only one he told directly who he was? I believe it was because she didn’t question. She didn’t say, “well in Isaiah it says this…” or “I thought that.” She just believed and went and told her town who also believed.
John 4:40: So when the Samaritans were come unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days. (41): And many more believed because of his own word; (42): And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.
These are people who the Jews refused to have any dealings with and yet they are calling him the messiah. They are not asking if he is Elijah or some other prophet and they believed because of his words. Yes the woman drew them in, but it was the WORD that cemented their belief.
John 4:43: Now after two days he departed thence, and went into Galilee. (44): For Jesus himself testified, that a prophet hath no honour in his own country.
Here is one final proof that while this is largely a gentile controlled part of the world these people were not gentiles because Jesus identifies it as his country. One scripture that could run counter to this line of thinking is:
Matthew 12:50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.
It is possible that because these people had faith and accepted him he considered them his people. But we have to remember Christ was sent, but to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
John 4:31-38
We left off with the woman at the well charging off into the city to tell them about Christ. I want to bring one thing up before we move on. Christ revealed himself to this woman and it was a woman that brings the town to him. We also see that after the the crucifixion it was the two Marys that waited by the tomb that brought the news to the world. We could do several studies on this topic alone so I only want to remind you in passing that both these women are symbols of Israel and it is Israel that reveals Christ to this world.
That said here we are with the woman running off to tell the town and Christ is alone with his disciples.
John 4:31: In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat. (32): But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of.
Remember earlier in the chapter he brought up the living water and now he is moving onto meat.
John 4:33: Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat?
And the disciples aren’t any different than the woman because they are thinking flesh.
John 4:34: Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. (35): Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. John 4:36: And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together. (37): And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth. (38): I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours.
I have read and listened to a lot of preachers cover this and say that the world was ready for Christ. This town, as we will see in the next segment, is certainly ready to accept Christ so this statement is true. And it is true that the disciples who didn’t tell this town about the coming messiah is going to reap the benefits of another’s work, but there is more to it.
On the absolute deepest level this is pointing to predestination and even giving some hints as to the timing of the tribulation, but let’s not take it that far at this time. Right now I want to to note the three things Christ has given us, a four month early crop, a white harvest and the field.
Let’s start with the field. We know from the parable of the sower that the field is the world and I think we can all agree that the symbolism carries over. The four months early also points to the earth since four in biblical numerics is earth. So what about this white harvest and what does it mean exactly that it is ready early?
At this time there were basically three harvests, spring (barley and wheat), summer (grapes) and fall (olives). Olives and grapes do not turn white when they are ready to harvest so were are talking about one of the spring harvests. The wheat always comes after the barley. Barley being symbolic of the firstfruits or election makes it safe to say that if a crop is early it’s going to be barley. Taking it a step further Christ is talking about finishing his work. The work he finished for his first dispensation was dying on the cross, which points to Passover. Remember Christ became our Passover (I Corinthians 5:7) and barley was the grain used during Passover.
Knowing that barley is harvested at or around Passover, late March to early April we can say that this took place late November to early December.
So putting that all together what is Christ teaching us here? The people in this town is going to accept Christ at his word. That is faith and by their faith they are justified, made white. Remember Christ is on his way to Galilee and we are going to see there that they are quite different. They are going to need a sign and what sign do they get?
Matthew 16:4 A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.
So when we cover that I want you to remember this picture that Christ has given us.
RFID chips short circuit salvation???
Can a can a tracking chip take your salvation? Is it the mark of the beast? Do we have to worry that having an RFID chip will cause us to enter into the lake of fire? Is it the unforgivable sin? If you believe most of the stuff you see on facebook or church billboards then you are no doubt worried. So the question is should we be worried? Let’s put down the pictures of flaming devils and let’s look at what our Father has said on the subject.
Revelation chapter 13 starts with with the first beast that rises up out of the sea and receives a deadly wound or at least on part of it. Then this head is healed and everyone wonders after the beast and wonders who is able to make war with him.
Revelation 13:11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.
So who is this? Who is the dragon and who is coming to to pretend he is the Lamb of God? I should hope you can answer that.
Revelation 13:12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
So what is this first beast? What are they worshiping? In Daniel, we are told that the tribulation is a week and in the midst of the week the daily sacrifice stops. Why? Because Satan shows up in the middle of the tribulation and people turn to worship him. So we know that this happened in the middle of the tribulation. I know I may be going a bit fast, but you can always post questions and ask for clarification.
Revelation 13:13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, 14: And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.
So Satan has the power to make fire rain from heaven and he is going to impress everyone and tell them to make an image to the beast.
Revelation 13:15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. 16: And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: 17: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. 18: Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.
Let’s take this one step at a time first what do we know about this mark? We know that the whole world receives it, not just the people in the United States. Second who is receiving this mark? Those that worship the beast and worship here is the key. This mark gets down to Christianity 101. How do you receive salvation? By accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and by the blood he shed for the forgiveness of our sins. Worshiping Christ isn’t something someone can take from you. God will not leave you or forsake you, but many will leave him. Many will turn and worship this beast.
Let’s look at the location of this mark. It is either IN your forehead or IN your hand. Well I hope you know what is IN your forehead. It’s your brain. It is what you are thinking. And IN your hand. Your hand is what you do things with. This is about what is in your heart, my friends.
So wait, how is it that you wont be able to buy or sell unless you have this mark? These people are thinking that Christ has returned and are celebrating. The people without the mark are not. They will be the handful of people that are still waiting. Think about when Christ was crucified. Everyone was cheering and jeering for his death except for a handful of people. Peter was trying to blend in, but he was picked out of the crowd. If you go to a rock concert and everyone is practically worshiping the people on stage and your the one person not cheering do you think you stand out? Certainly. So if you don’t have the mark at this time people are going to think you don’t like Christ and will treat you worse than blacks were in 1950’s south. There wont be “colored” bathroom for you or a colored entrance it will be your just not allowed.
Remember Revelation means the unveiling so you don’t have to just take what I say on the topic because we are given an ensample of this.
Daniel 3:1-6 Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. 2: Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes, the governors, and the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. 3: Then the princes, the governors, and captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, were gathered together unto the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 4: Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages, 5: That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up: 6: And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
What do you think Satan will be saying at this time? He is going to say that if you don’t have the mark of the beast, if you are not worshiping him you are going to the lake of fire. Remember those that seek to save their life will lose it.
Daniel 3:7-11 Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of musick, all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. 8: Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews. 9: They spake and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live for ever. 10: Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, shall fall down and worship the golden image: 11: And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, that he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
Note how this thing is 6 cubits and we now have 6 types of music. God is telling you to pay attention.
Daniel 3:12-19 There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. 13: Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king. 14: Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up? 15: Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands? 16: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. 17: If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. 18: But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. 19: Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated.
Do you see how Nebuchadnezzar starts off nice and when they tell him they don’t give a crap “the form of his visage was changed.”
You know the rest of the story. The children are tossed into the fiery furnace and inside with them was the Son of God.
If someone forces a chip into your hand you don’t lose your salvation. Does that mean I want to be forced to have a chip put into my hand? No, certainly not and I wont allow that to happen and I daresay you are the same, but it does not affect salvation.
Satan knows this isn’t his mark and most people living in the United States and a better part of the world know or have heard of the mark of the beast. They know what Christians will say or do when something they think appears to be the mark of the appears. So why create this RFID chip in the first place? From the research I have done it appears that the RFID chip isn’t mandated to have. Is it just to make Christians look like fools? Think about that. Satan is constantly at work and I want you to remember this and never forget it. If Satan is showing you this mark, it means he wants you looking at that while he is doing something else.
I will try my best to back to John next week. I just felt this topic needed to be addressed. If I have time I will perhaps get an extra article out. God Bless.
Barley, the firstfruit
During the time the bible was written there were basically three harvests. The spring wheat and barley harvest. The summer grape harvest and the fall olive harvest. Barley is a staple of the Hebrew. It is planted in the fall along with wheat. It is ready before the wheat and was the grain used to make the Passover bread. In the bible it is used as a symbol of the firstfruits.
Leviticus 23:5 In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the LORD’S passover.
Remember Christ became our Passover when he became the Lamb slain.
Leviticus 23:6 And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto the LORD: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread.
Seven is spiritual completeness.
Leviticus 23:7 In the first day ye shall have an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein. 8: But ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD seven days: in the seventh day is an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein. 9: And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 10: Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest:
Barley is the only thing ready this time of the year. Wheat is ready later for the Feast of Weeks or Passover. Thus barley is the firstfruit.
Leviticus 23:11 And he shall wave the sheaf before the LORD, to be accepted for you: on the morrow after the sabbath the priest shall wave it. 12: And ye shall offer that day when ye wave the sheaf an he lamb without blemish of the first year for a burnt offering unto the LORD.
God didn’t want our burnt offerings he wanted our love. Most everyone understands that the lamb is a symbol for Christ, but what is this sheaf they are waving around? That is the barley, the firstfruits. So why are they waving it around? God certainly didn’t need them to do that, but he told them to do that so why? I will answer by asking you who were the disciples? Were they not the firstfruits? Was not Peter the one that lead the church on Pentecost day and the church multiplied exponentially?
OK let’s back up and I can show you something.
Judges 7:7 And the LORD said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thine hand: and let all the other people go every man unto his place.
God has just eliminated all the people that were fearful and all the people who didn’t draw the water up to their mouth to drink and we are left with these 300
Judges 7:8 So the people took victuals in their hand, and their trumpets: and he sent all the rest of Israel every man unto his tent, and retained those three hundred men: and the host of Midian was beneath him in the valley.
Did you notice this is taking place in a valley? Just to give you a heads up, this whole battle is an ensample of the battle of Armageddon so perk up.
Judges 7:9 And it came to pass the same night, that the LORD said unto him, Arise, get thee down unto the host; for I have delivered it into thine hand. 10: But if thou fear to go down, go thou with Phurah thy servant down to the host: 11: And thou shalt hear what they say; and afterward shall thine hands be strengthened to go down unto the host. Then went he down with Phurah his servant unto the outside of the armed men that were in the host.
It’s clear that God doesn’t count fear to be a sin. It’s natural to feel fear it’s when you fail to act because of your fear that you get into trouble.
Judges 7:12 And the Midianites and the Amalekites and all the children of the east lay along in the valley like grasshoppers for multitude; and their camels were without number, as the sand by the sea side for multitude.
Does this gathering sound familiar to you?
Judges 7:13 And when Gideon was come, behold, there was a man that told a dream unto his fellow, and said, Behold, I dreamed a dream, and, lo, a cake of barley bread tumbled into the host of Midian, and came unto a tent, and smote it that it fell, and overturned it, that the tent lay along. 14: And his fellow answered and said, This is nothing else save the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel: for into his hand hath God delivered Midian, and all the host.
And this is why we came here. God wanted Gideon to hear this dream because he wanted it known what barley meant to him and it certainly isn’t all of Israel
Judges 7:15 And it was so, when Gideon heard the telling of the dream, and the interpretation thereof, that he worshipped, and returned into the host of Israel, and said, Arise; for the LORD hath delivered into your hand the host of Midian.
Don’t read over the fact that Gideon stopped to worship God.
Judges 7:16 And he divided the three hundred men into three companies, and he put a trumpet in every man’s hand, with empty pitchers, and lamps within the pitchers.
Normally you hold your lamp up and let the light shine, but these are covered up.
Judges 7:17 And he said unto them, Look on me, and do likewise: and, behold, when I come to the outside of the camp, it shall be that, as I do, so shall ye do. 18: When I blow with a trumpet, I and all that are with me, then blow ye the trumpets also on every side of all the camp, and say, The sword of the LORD, and of Gideon. 19: So Gideon, and the hundred men that were with him, came unto the outside of the camp in the beginning of the middle watch; and they had but newly set the watch: and they blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers that were in their hands. 20: And the three companies blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers, and held the lamps in their left hands, and the trumpets in their right hands to blow withal: and they cried, The sword of the LORD, and of Gideon.
This sudden surprise of trumpets and light no doubt caused panic. At the battle of Armageddon, Satan will think he has won. The two witnesses will be dead. ****enemy in the street come on guys where is that scripture when you have to keep silent when the enemy passes by??***
Judges 7:21 And they stood every man in his place round about the camp: and all the host ran, and cried, and fled.
When Christ returns they will be praying for the rocks to fall on them.
Judges 7:22 And the three hundred blew the trumpets, and the LORD set every man’s sword against his fellow, even throughout all the host: and the host fled to Bethshittah in Zererath, and to the border of Abelmeholah, unto Tabbath. 23: And the men of Israel gathered themselves together out of Naphtali, and out of Asher, and out of all Manasseh, and pursued after the Midianites. 24 : And Gideon sent messengers throughout all mount Ephraim, saying, Come down against the Midianites, and take before them the waters unto Bethbarah and Jordan. Then all the men of Ephraim gathered themselves together, and took the waters unto Bethbarah and Jordan.
Do you see how all of Israel followed? It starts with the firstfruits. I know your saying to yourself, “but that’s old testament.” OK then I know your asking yourself if there is any of this firstfruit and barley stuff in the new testament. Do you remember when Christ fed the multitude with loaves and fish?
John 6:9 There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?
Oh hey there is barley here and if we were to look earlier in this chapter it is Passover time. Remember five is the number of grace.
John 6:10 And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. 11: And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.
Here is the key. Christ didn’t hand out the food. He gave it to the disciples, who are the firstfruits, and they gave it to the people. They are the ones that wave the barley sheaf about. Don’t get me wrong. This bread is also the body of Christ, but what does that mean? Christ is the light inside us and it is the firstfruits who already have that light and it is they who God expects to pass it out to everyone else.
Romans 12:5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
Once you partake of that body you become part of that body.
John 6:12 When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. 13: Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten.
So we started with five, or grace, and after it was distributed we have twelve baskets. Does twelve ring a bell? It should remind you of the twelve tribes. God always has his firstfruits, but what does that mean for the rest of us? Let’s close with the beginning of the Lord of the Field parable:
Matthew 20:1-9 For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. 2: And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3: And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, 4: And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way. 5: Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise. 6: And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle? 7: They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive. 8: So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. 9: And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.
Do you see how it doesn’t matter when you get into the field and start working the pay is the same. We all receive eternal life.