I
love a good mystery, maybe because when I was a kid I read lots of Nancy Drew
Books. I live life as if there is always one more mystery to solve. While my sleuthing may not always reveal the
entire mystery, I get closer every time I go on the hunt. When I study the
constellations there are several things that seem to be mysteries to us that
maybe were well understood at an earlier time period. There are always people
inspired by the enemy that try to hide the things of God. Going back to the
constellations to then understand scripture brings to the forefront some of the
things God wants us to know. Along with the
Pleiades and the Hyades as we saw last week is the message of the sheepfold
which we find in the constellation of Cancer.
The
constellation of Cancer was never a crab, it was in fact the sacred scarabaeus,
the dung beetle. EW Bullinger in his book witness of the stars states the
scarabaeus was sacred to the Egyptians as an emblem of resurrection. (Kregel
Publications, reproduced from the 1893 edition in London, p147) Hakim Awayan
points out that the scarab was looked at as the human skull, with seven
openings for our senses. Cancer was also known as two Asses (donkeys);
the Northern Ass and the Southern Ass which is where the symbol of Cancer came
from. One of the meanings of Cancer is
the cattle-folds which comes from the Denderah.
In Egypt it was called the resting places, in Syrian it is the one who
holds or the traveler’s resting place as Helena Lehman points out in her book “The
Language of God in the Universe”, Pillar of Enoch Ministry Books, copyright
2004-2009, page347. One of the decans of Cancer is Argo, the ship that brings
the travelers safely home. Two of the decans of Cancer are Ursa Minor and Ursa
Major, (the little dipper and the big dipper) known as the lesser sheepfold and
the sheepfold respectively. The pole
star is in Ursa Minor, Al Ruccaba which means the turned or ridden on. If we remember back to our understanding of
the circle in the heavens, the pole star used to be in Draco, but is now in
Ursa Minor. To explore what a sheep fold
is and what that has to do with us we need to look back to some things that
Jesus told us.
Sheepfold NT:833 aule
(ow-lay'); from the same as NT:109; a yard (as open to the wind); by
implication, a mansion: KJV - court, ([sheep-]) fold, hall, palace.(Biblesoft's
New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew
Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International
Bible Translators, Inc.)
The
sheepfold or fold is an open air courtyard.
It is a place where the wind can blow through while the sheep or people
inside the courtyard are still in an enclosure.
John
10:1-2 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into
the sheepfold [833], but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief
and a robber. 2 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the
sheep. KJV
In
a sheepfold the shepherd stood or rested in the doorway of the sheep fold. The Shepherd would remain in the doorway so
that the sheep would not leave while watching for enemies such as wolves. The
sheep do not live in the sheepfold, they sleep there. The sheep go out during the day and are
gathered up at night to stay protected. Here
Jesus says that you have to enter into the sheepfold through Him. In other words there is no other way into the
sheepfold except by going through Jesus.
If one enters by climbing in another way that person is a thief and a
robber. Jesus then goes on to say something else.
John
10:16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold [833]: them
also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold
[4167], and one shepherd.KJV
Flock NT:4167 poimne
(poym'-nay); contraction from NT:4165; a flock (literally or figuratively): KJV
- flock, fold.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with
Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc.
and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
This
was before the day of Pentecost. Jesus
was speaking to those who believed he was the Messiah. He had not brought the
other sheep in yet. The church is not in this fold, the fold he was speaking
to, because the church had not been born yet.
The sheep of the church were yet to come in until after Pentecost. The key is that the sheep, either at the time
Jesus was speaking or in the future, hear his voice. We have to understand this in light of what
Jesus was also teaching them about the kingdom of God coming. It was for the disciples to know the secrets
of the kingdom of God, but not for everyone which is why Jesus spoke to them in
parables. The sheep who he was speaking
to and the sheep he was alluding to were the same people who were going to
enter into the kingdom of God. We can
see the sheepfold as part of the mystery of the gentiles coming into the body
of Christ. Another word we can look at
is the word flock.
Flock NT:4168 poimnion
(poym'-nee-on); neuter of a presumed derivative of NT:4167; a flock, i.e.
(figuratively) group (of believers):KJV - flock.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive
Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary.
Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible
Translators, Inc.)
Luke
12:29-32 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be
ye of doubtful mind.30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek
after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.31 But rather
seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.32
Fear not, little flock [4168]; for it is your Father's good pleasure to
give you the kingdom.KJV
Jesus
calls the people He was speaking to the little flock. He tells the little flock to seek the kingdom
of God because it is the Father’s good pleasure to give them the kingdom. Remember the time period, this is before
Pentecost, and he is speaking to followers of that day. Then Paul tells us after Pentecost that
wolves will come in devouring the flock.
Acts
20:25-32 And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching
the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more.26 Wherefore I take you to record
this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men.27 For I have not shunned to
declare unto you all the counsel of God.28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves,
and to all the flock [4168], over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you
overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own
blood.29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter
in among you, not sparing the flock [4168].30 Also of your own selves
shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.31
Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to
warn every one night and day with tears.32 And now, brethren, I commend you to
God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give
you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.KJV
Before
Pentecost Jesus told the people they were to seek the kingdom of God, and after
Pentecost Paul was still preaching the kingdom of God. Paul was speaking to
some leaders who he said the Holy Ghost made them leaders over the flock. He said that as soon as he left, wolves would
come in; men from among them would speak perverse things and draw people
away.
1
Peter 5:1-4 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and
a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that
shall be revealed:2 Feed the flock [4168] of God which is among you,
taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy
lucre, but of a ready mind;3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but
being ensamples to the flock [4168].4 And when the chief Shepherd shall
appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.KJV
Peter
tells us to feed the flock, willingly, and not for money. He also says not to be lords over God’s
heritage but to be examples to the flock.
If we do that we will receive a crown of glory.
The ideas of the sheep fold and flock are in
the names of the stars in the constellations.
In Ursa Minor we have the star meanings of waiting for him who cometh, the redeemed assembly, the stronghold of
the saved, and the traveling company.
Ursa Major gives us the star meanings of the assembled, strength, the flock in the fold, the guarded or numbered, and
the travelling. What these two decans of Cancer show us is
that there are two sheepfolds, one larger, one smaller. I think we can learn from the ideas that God
protects his own. One group may have been the company of believers that died
before Jesus came and the second after Jesus came, as we saw Jesus saying he
will bring them in and they will also hear his voice. This was a mystery to the first century
church as much of this knowledge had been lost before Jesus was even born. Therefore with distortions and
misunderstandings of a crab instead of a scarab, we want to apply the
understandings we can from the word which brings us to the mysteries the apostle
Paul talks about.
Mystery NT:3466 musterion
(moos-tay'-ree-on); from a derivative of muo (to shut the mouth); a secret or
"mystery" (through the idea of silence imposed by initiation into
religious rites):KJV - mystery(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and
Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006
Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
Rom
11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery
[3466], lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is
happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.KJV
The
constellations of Ursa Minor and Ursa Major would not make sense to a first
century believer until this mystery was revealed. Up until the time that Peter went and witnessed
to Cornelius’ household, the gentiles were not part of the kingdom of God. Yet God had already made provision for the
gentiles in Ursa Major and Jesus told His disciples but not that they could
understand it at that time. And although one of the definitions of the star
names for Ursa Major is numbered, no
one would have understood that the Gentiles are numbered in the church age
until Paul revealed it. When the number
of Gentiles is fulfilled the Lord will return.
Rom
16:24-27 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.25 Now to him
that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of
Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery [3466], which
was kept secret since the world began,26 But now is made manifest, and by the
scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting
God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:27 To God only wise,
be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.KJV
The
mystery of the Gentiles entering into the sheep fold now could be understood by
re-reading the scriptures of the prophets, because God commanded the Gentiles to
come in and that it should be made known to all nations. Again a parallel to the kingdom of God coming
to all the world.
1
Cor 2:7-8 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery [3466], even the
hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:8 Which none
of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have
crucified the Lord of glory.KJV
And
had the princes of the world known what God hid before the world began, they
would not have crucified Jesus. On the
day of Pentecost, dunamas power entered into all those who believed, and the
church grew in numbers due to the coming of the Holy Spirit.
1
Cor 15:51-53 Behold, I shew you a mystery [3466]; We shall not all
sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye,
at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised
incorruptible, and we shall be changed.53 For this corruptible must put on
incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.KJV
Another
mystery is that we will not stay dead but we will be changed. The mystery of the catching away, or the
gathering together or the rapture is that we don’t stay dead we put on
incorruption or if the Lord comes when we are alive we put on immortality. This is an awesome mystery that again the
princes of the world did not know.
Eph
1:9-12 Having made known unto us the mystery [3466]of his will,
according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:10 That in the
dispensation[3622] of the fulness of times he might gather together in
one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth;
even in him:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being
predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the
counsel of his own will:12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who
first trusted in Christ.KJV
Again
the mystery of the gathering or rapture happens in the dispensation of the
fullness of times and he will gather together in one body, the body of Christ, those
in heaven and on earth. Here we find out
those who first trusted in Christ were predestinated to this gathering. An interesting word picture here is in the
word he hath purposed or beforehand, in
verses 9 & 11, meaning engraved or tattooed. He engraved us on himself.
Dispensation NT:3622 oikonomia
(oy-kon-om-ee'-ah); from NT:3623; administration (of a household or estate);
specifically, a (religious) "economy": KJV - dispensation,
stewardship.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with
Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc.
and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
Eph
3:2-11 If ye have heard of the dispensation[3622] of the grace of God
which is given me to youward:3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the
mystery [3466]; (as I wrote afore in few words,4 Whereby, when ye read,
ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery [3466] of Christ)5 Which in other ages was not made
known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and
prophets by the Spirit;6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the
same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:7 Whereof I was
made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the
effectual working of his power.8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all
saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the
unsearchable riches of Christ;9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship
[3622] of the mystery [3466], which from the beginning of the world hath
been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:10 To the intent that
now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the
church the manifold wisdom of God,11 According to the eternal purpose which he
purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: KJV
Again
Paul uses the word dispensation here, this time not in the fullness of times
but the dispensation of grace. In the Administration of grace the gentiles are
fellow heirs and of the same body, and partakers of His promise. The promise was now no longer exclusive; the
mystery was revealed through Paul that the sheep fold would include
Gentiles. And here is a big surprise,
the word fellowship is the same word as dispensation. I know there are a lot of
people who don’t believe in dispensations but Paul has now told us there are
three dispensations that are related to the mystery. One of the fullness of times, one of grace
and one of the mystery itself. Three
administrations Paul speaks of are telling us that there is one at the end
times, and there is a season or time of grace, and another time period of the mystery. That the Gentiles would be fellow heirs is
the multifaceted wisdom of God which is now made known to the principalities
and powers. I can imagine as Paul was
writing this the principalities and powers were probably having fits that they
had been deceived so badly.
Now
Paul will explain to us about a parallel mystery.
Eph
5:30-33 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.31 For
this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto
his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.32 This is a great mystery [3466]:
but I speak concerning Christ and the church.33 Nevertheless let every one of
you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she
reverence her husband.KJV
As
a husband and wife are joined together in one flesh so also are the church and
Christ now one flesh. This is another
great mystery. When Christ comes back
for his body, it is one body, one church.
So now whether Jew or Gentile, all who believe on Christ are one body.
You cannot separate one body without dismemberment; there is no difference as
to what denomination we are partial to, or country we may live in, or what
level of spiritual maturity we are, because we are one body. Like it or not, your brothers and sisters
are one with you. This means if we are critical of our brother or sister we are
critical of ourselves as we are the same body.
Why whine about how we don’t like someone else in the body of Christ; we
are joined together.
Eph
6:18-20 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and
watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;19 And
for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly,
to make known the mystery [3466] of the gospel,20 For which I am an
ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.KJV
Paul
is bound to be a representative of the mystery of the good news; we should also
be ambassadors of the mystery of the good news.
Col
1:25-28 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God
which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;26 Even the mystery
[3466]which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made
manifest to his saints:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of
the glory of this mystery [3466]among the Gentiles; which is Christ in
you, the hope of glory:28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every
man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: KJV
Paul
now tells us he is a minister according to the administration of God to fulfill
the word of God, which is the mystery that was hidden but now is made known
which is Christ in you the hope of glory.
The dispensation of God is to tell others that it is Christ in us the
hope of glory. We are to preach and
teach this so that every man can be presented perfect in Christ Jesus. As we are joined in one body we are to
perfect the body that we are joined to, this is the time period to do
this.
Col
2:2-4That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and
unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement
of the mystery [3466] of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;3 In whom
are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.4 And this I say, lest any
man should beguile you with enticing words.KJV
So
that we are not fooled by the wolves who try to jump over the gate of the sheep
fold, and try to separate us away from God, we are to continue to preach the
mystery where all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are.
Col
4:3-4 Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of
utterance, to speak the mystery [3466] of Christ, for which I am also in
bonds:4 That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.KJV
Again
we are to speak the mystery as ambassadors in bonds.
2
Thess 2:6-8 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his
time.7 For the mystery [3466]of iniquity doth already work: only he who
now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.8 And then shall that
Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth,
and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: KJV
Here
we see that there is a mystery of sin at work and we know what holds this day back
that it should be revealed in its time. Let’s
look at an Aramaic Version of the text.
2
Thes 2:6-7 And now, you know what holds back [this day] that he should be
revealed in its time. For the mystery of
wickedness has already begun to work, however, [it will work] by itself when
that which now holds [it] back is taken away from the middle. (Aramaic Peshitta New Testament Translation,
Janet M Magiera, Lithe of the Word Ministery. Copyright 2005-2006, Pg.488)
In
this passage we have the figure of speech Ellipsis, which means words are
omitted from a sentence or phrase that are necessary to complete the grammar
but not the sense. The words are added
in brackets to make the sentence complete.
The mystery of wickedness is already working, and when that which holds
it back is taken away from the middle the unjust one will be revealed.
1
Tim 3:8-9 Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to
much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;9 Holding the mystery [3466] of
the faith in a pure conscience.KJV
1
Tim 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery [3466] of
godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of
angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into
glory.KJV
The
mystery is to be held in a pure conscience because the mystery of Godliness is
God manifest in the flesh, Jesus, who is justified in the Spirit, and seen of angels,
and now preached to Gentiles, and Jesus was believed on in the world, and
received up into glory. Again the good
news of Jesus is what we preach as ambassadors.
If
we preach the gospel, we add to the sheep fold. The mystery of the sheep fold seems to be that
before Jesus came there was a believing line in the sheep fold of Ursa Minor
and after Jesus came bringing the kingdom of God to his disciples, and after Pentecost
a larger sheep fold in Ursa Major. The
mystery in the stars that God had placed before the world began was not known
by the principalities and powers. Yet
even though the stars were in the sky, the principalities and powers were not
told of the meaning of the constellations. The number of Gentiles entering into
the sheepfold is also not known, just that there is a number that God has
determined. This is the mystery that we are all of one body, that Israel has
received blindness in part until the time of the Gentiles are fulfilled. And we are ambassadors to speak the mystery
to fill the sheep fold before the gathering or rapture comes.
