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
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.
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.
Is Satan on the earth now?
Going to take a break from John his week to answer a question that has come up a few times and I have seen it answered a couple of different way. Does Satan walk the earth today?
We know that Satan has been on the earth. He was with Adam and Eve in the garden. In Job God asks him where he’s been. Job 1:7 And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. Later on, the Gospels tells us how, when Christ was in the wilderness fasting for forty days, that Satan came to tempt him.
So he’s been here before and some argue that nothing has changed and that he is only waiting to reveal himself at the start of the tribulation using this scripture as their proof:
2 Thessalonians 2:3: Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 4: Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
Others say that Satan was banished from the earth when Christ ordered him to get behind him which puts him behind the throne of God. They use this scripture as their reference:
Luke 4:5 And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6: And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. 7: If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine. (4:8) And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
So naturally Satan is tempting Christ and Christ isn’t falling for his crap, but does this stop Satan? Is he suddenly banished? Let’s read on to find out.
Luke 4:9 And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence: 10 For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee: 11: And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. 12: And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. 13: And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season.
Seems to me that the temptations continued and the devil left when he ended the temptation.
Well you can say that Christ was still on earth and wasn’t sitting next to God on the throne yet. OK, I don’t have a problem with that. Christ does have power over him, but it says he departs for only a season thus he isn’t locked up anywhere. Next we find he isn’t in physical form. He has entered Peter.
Mar 8:31 And he (being Christ) began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again 32: And he spake that saying openly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him. (8:33) But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.
So does this mean that Satan isn’t allowed here in physical form? That now he can only enter the hearts and minds of those who have carelessly let him in? Well the bible doesn’t tell us of another time of him being on earth until the tribulation, but is that all there is to it? No. Christ has foretold us all things and this isn’t any different.
John 12:28 Father, glorify thy name. (Christ speaking) Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again. 29: The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him. 30: Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes. 31: Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.
Who is the prince of this world? Satan of course. Did you ever wonder why this flesh age is so crappy? This isn’t God’s kingdom friends. This is Satan’s little playground and for those of you who didn’t know, the reason God allows it to run on the way that it does is so that we can all learn at the deepest part of our souls that if you don’t do it God’s way it leads to nothing but crap.
The word now in English makes you think at that very moment, but read on.
John 12:32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. 33: This he said, signifying what death he should die.
He meant Now, as in the very moment He died and defeated death, Satan was judged and cast from the earth.
Great so does that mean we are done with him? Unfortunately no, Satan wants to be God. Go back to 2 Thessalonians 2 if you don’t believe me or check out Isaiah 14 and move on down to verse 12. So what does that tell us? It tells us that everything God does, Satan will imitate. Christians understand that God comes in three forms, the Father, The Son and the Holy Spirit. Man, who was created in the image of God, too has three forms. Don’t believe me? Do we not have a mind, body and soul? Of course we do, all of God’s children do, and Satan isn’t any different.
We know Christ is coming back. Well guess what? So is Satan.
So where does that leave us right now? Let’s see what Christ said after the crucifixion:
John 16:5: But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou? 6: But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart. 7: Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. 8: And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9: Of sin, because they believe not on me; 10: Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; 11: Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
We don’t see Christ walking the earth just as we don’t see Satan. We have The Comforter a.k.a. The Holy Spirit, but we also have Satan’s spirit working in this world and he is the prince of it and how do we know this?
Ephesians 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
In conclusion, Satan has three parts, mind, body and soul. Satan has been on the world in physical form, but since Christ conquered death on the cross, only Satan’s spirit is able to roam among us until, as we see in Revelation 12, Michael and his angels kick him out of heaven and out onto the earth.
John Part 9 The woman at the well
The beginning of this chapter is really a continuation from the last.
John 4:1: When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John,
The Pharisees were angry that John was baptizing and it wasn’t time for them to take hold of Christ.
John 4:2: (Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,)
It is important that Christ doesn’t baptize the masses. Just as he didn’t feed the 4000 and the 5000 with the loaves and fishes. The disciples did. He blessed it and gave to his disciples and they gave it to the people. We see this again in the millennium age when only the overcomers are able to go into the temple to commune with him and those overcomers go out to the people.
John 4:3: He left Judaea, and departed again into Galilee.
John 4:4: And he must needs go through Samaria.
Location is very important when trying to understand everything the Lord is trying to show us. Samaria is located north of Judaea and is part of the old Israel Kingdom. As you may know the kingdom split in two. The northern 10 tribes called Israel or Ephraim and the southern two forming Judah. The northern kingdom continued on until we get to 2 Kings 17. I encourage you to read this whole chapter but for the sake of brevity I will only insert a few verses.
2 Kings 17:5: Then the king of Assyria came up throughout all the land, and went up to Samaria, and besieged it three years. 2 Kings 17:6: In the ninth year of Hoshea the king of Assyria took Samaria, and carried Israel away into Assyria, and placed them in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.
So if Israel wasn’t there then who is?
2 Kings 17:24: And the king of Assyria brought men from Babylon, and from Cuthah, and from Ava, and from Hamath, and from Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel: and they possessed Samaria, and dwelt in the cities thereof.
So we have non-Israelites living here, but hold on:
2 Kings 17:25: And so it was at the beginning of their dwelling there, that they feared not the LORD: therefore the LORD sent lions among them, which slew some of them. 2 Kings 17:26: Wherefore they spake to the king of Assyria, saying, The nations which thou hast removed, and placed in the cities of Samaria, know not the manner of the God of the land: therefore he hath sent lions among them, and, behold, they slay them, because they know not the manner of the God of the land. 2 Kings 17:27: Then the king of Assyria commanded, saying, Carry thither one of the priests whom ye brought from thence; and let them go and dwell there, and let him teach them the manner of the God of the land. 2 Kings 17:28: Then one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria came and dwelt in Bethel, and taught them how they should fear the LORD.
So we see how God always keeps a remnant. OK so this is all well and good, but how does this pertain to this passage? In the next few verses Christ is going to speak with a woman and this woman is going to symbolize Israel itself.
John 4:5: Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph.
Joseph you can remember had two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh and was given a double portion in Israel.
John 4:6: Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour. John 4:7: There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink. John 4:8: (For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.) John 4:9: Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.
Pulling from our knowledge gained from 2 Kings we can begin to understand why the Jews didn’t like the Samaritans. The Samaritans practiced their religion and this made the Jews jealous because they were God’s chosen people and He was their God.
John 4:10: Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.
It is clear Christ knows her heart. He isn’t telling her that you should’ve asked me for water, he is saying that I know you want the Messiah.
John 4:11: The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water?
Natural enough question.
John 4:12: Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?
She is thinking in the flesh be careful you don’t. What is God trying to show us here? Jacob’s physical seed is what gave us Christ. Just as here Jacob’s well is giving us (the physical) water. Christ is giving us the spiritual water.
Now don’t read over the fact that she said Jacob is their father. Meaning what? Meaning she is one of the twelve tribes. Note Christ did not correct her on this. “But, I thought we just read that those in Samaria are not of Israel.” Yes we did, but we also read that the king of Assyria brought back priests to teach.
OK do you want further proof? Matthew 10:5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and intoanycity of the Samaritans enter ye not:
Matthew 10:6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Jesus would not do something that he told his disciples not to do. Remember Matthew 15:24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
OK so back to John:
John 4:13: Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:John 4:14:But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. John 4:15: The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.
She is still thinking in the physical. Drawing water was a lot of work back then and had to be done constantly. If some guy says he has some magic water I can have that would make life easier then…well is it any different today when a salesman says he can make you lose weight with a pill or has a new super cleaning tool that makes it a joy to clean?
John 4:16: Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither. John 4:17: The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband: John 4:18:For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly.
Here is where everyone turns off their brains and says the woman is a whore. Seldom does Christ bring up a person’s shortcomings so let’s focus on why Christ even brought it up.
Now focus: Christ didn’t make this stop just because he was tired and he didn’t bring up these five husbands for nothing. Remember I told you she represented Israel? Christ is bringing this up so that you will know he is teaching on a much deeper level. Five is the number of grace and surely when Christ is talking about giving the living water and everlasting life we are talking about grace, but there is more to it.
Who was Israel supposed to be married to? God. To God we are his bride and we are to be true to him. Israel was not true which is why God had them carried away by the Assyrians, but God took it a step further and divorced Israel
Jeremiah 3:8: And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also.
*note this is necessary as God was free to remarry the church. i.e. whomsoever will.
So if God was the first husband who are the others? Well when they left God they went to Assyria, making the third Babylon, the fourth Persia, fifth the Greeks and the man she is living with now, but is not her husband the Romans.
John 4:19: The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet. John 4:20: Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.
Why is she talking about his? Do you know what she is talking about? This is again talking about the split between Judah and Israel. Before the split there was one temple in Jerusalem and you had to go there to worship. After the split Jeroboam make another temple in the north. The problem being is he put in two golden calves for them to worship and set the whole thing up at a place of idolatry.
John 4:21: Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.
Naturally, we don’t have to travel somewhere to talk or worship the Father.
John 4:22:Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.
This is Israel at its core. Here is what Paul says:
Romans 10:1-3 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
See this woman, just as Israel is clueless about God and how to please him and I tell you it really isn’t any different today.
John 4:23:But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. John 4:24:Godisa Spirit: and they that worship him must worshiphimin spirit and in truth. John 4:25: The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.
You see she is looking for the Messiah. She wants to know God. She has that zeal.
John 4:26: Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee amhe.John 4:27: And upon this came his disciples, and marvelled that he talked with the woman: yet no man said, What seekest thou? or, Why talkest thou with her?
I would think by this time they knew better.
John 4:28: The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the me John 4:29: Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?John 4:30: Then they went out of the city, and came unto him.
Here again we see that zeal. It is the same zeal we see out of any of God’s children. When they hear the truth. The real truth they are compelled to share it and Israel is the same way. We will continue this story in the next post as this one is getting long, but I pray you can see how this woman represents Israel. How they have that zeal for God, but always finds way to make their own way to him. Pray that you follow His way and are not making your own way else when the Messiah comes you might not recognize him when he speaks. For his sheep know his voice.