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Monday, June 25, 2012

The Sheep Fold, the Constellation of Cancer, & Paul’s Mysteries



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.  

Monday, June 18, 2012

The Congregation, The Pleiades, Our Hope Hidden in Christ



When considering the heavens there seems to be mysteries upon mysteries.  At least with me it takes time for God to unravel these mysteries in my understanding.  I have a tendency to think on and wrestle with some things because for whatever reason they seem curious to me. The Pleiades is one of those curiosities for me because God says it in his word three times.  That in and of itself should cause us to look at it, as the number three denotes a divine perfection and a completeness. So as I’ve pondered this idea of the Pleiades in scripture; read and re-read and studied some more, I started noticing something peculiar; the Pleiades in the scope of Taurus tells us a tremendous story.  It would seem that in our culture we have had teachings and Bible teachers that cluster together times or events and that seems to be the way they are taught to the general population.  However the word of God was first written in the heavens, and the heavens were of old, not recreated when the earth was recreated.  Each constellation is telling us a story; I realized it would be better to cluster subjects for teaching in the way the heavens do.  When we put together the stories of the heavens, combined with the Bible we see something deeper, a bit more of the mysteries of our Heavenly Father, and taught to us in the order he wanted it known.

Pleiades is not a constellation itself, but part of the constellation of Taurus.  Taurus is a constellation symbolizing a bull that denotes the Lord, who comes judging and to judge.  This year the sun is in Taurus from about May 14th to June 21st, 2012.  This is one of the longer constellations for the sun to travel through. The constellation has two star clusters in it which is unique.  One called the Hyades means the congregation, and the other star cluster the Pleiades which means the congregation of the judge or ruler in the Septuagint.  What was it about this part of Taurus that God wants to draw our attention to?  In the Hebrew,   the word kiymah is a cluster, to store away like jewels.  So by its Hebrew name the Pleiades means a cluster of hidden gems.  In Arabic the Al Cyone means the center.  As we explored once before some may have thought this was the center of the universe, but probably more so, this was the center of the congregation of the sons of God or the place of the departed saints.

OT:3598 Kiymah (kee-maw'); from the same as OT:3558; a cluster of stars, i.e. the Pleiades:
KJV - Pleiades, seven stars.(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.)

OT:3558 kuwmaz (koo-mawz'); from an unused root meaning to store away; a jewel (probably gold beads): KJV - tablet.
(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 Pleiades is translated in the Syriac as Succoth, or booths as well.  With these ideas in mind we should look at the word congregation. 


Sometimes on these research trails we come across something that needs a side note of explanation.  

Ps 82:1 God [Elohim 430] standeth in the congregation[5712] of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods [Elohim 430].

God OT:430 'elohiym (el-o-heem'); plural of OT:433; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative:(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.)

Standeth OT:5324 natsab (naw-tsab'); a prim root; to station, in various applications (literally or figuratively):KJV - appointed, deputy, erect, establish,  Huzzah [by mistake for a proper name], lay, officer, pillar, present, rear up, set (over, up), settle, sharpen, establish, (make to) stand (-ing, still, up, upright), best state.(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.)

Congregation OT:5712 `edah (ay-daw'); feminine of OT:5707 in the original sense of fixture; a stated assemblage (specifically, a concourse, or generally, a family or crowd): KJV - assembly, company, congregation, multitude, people, swarm. Compare OT:5713.
Mighty OT:410 'el (ale); shortened from OT:352; strength; as adjective, mighty; especially the Almighty (but used also of any deity):KJV - God (god),  goodly,  great, idol, might (-y one), power, strong. Compare names in "-el."(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.)

Judgeth OT:8199  shaphat (shaw-fat'); a primitive root; to judge, i.e. pronounce sentence (for or against); by implication, to vindicate or punish; by extension, to govern; passively, to litigate (literally or figuratively):KJV -  avenge,  that condemn, contend, defend, execute (judgment), (be a) judge (-ment),  needs, plead, reason, rule.(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.)

In this verse we have to gather the context of who the elohim are that Elohim is going to judge.  In context we see they are the sons of Elohim, ben elyown from verse 6, sons of the most high but they will be judged in the congregation of the Almighty.  In verse seven we see that these sons of God will die like men.  This tells us they are not men, so in this Psalm we see a congregation where God judges the angels in the congregation.  This must also mean that there are some angels, sons of God, that did something wrong and they will be judged.  Some would speculate that these are the Nephilim, but that does not seem possible as the Nephilim were the sons of the fallen angels who cohabitated with earthly women.  The Nephilim were never called the sons of the most high. These may be the angels themselves who did the cohabitating, but also may include any other angel that rebelled at any time. In the Old Testament the sons of God are known as the angels but in the New Testament, we believers are called the sons of God.  However, this verse is not talking about men because we are men and will die as men. Therefore this is expressly talking about sons of the Almighty, those in the spiritual beings category, who did something (s) wrong and will be judged in the congregation and die like men.  As of today that judging has not happened as we have wicked spirits, fallen angels, principalities, powers, rulers of darkness; that are all still influencing our world or age. 


Ps 82:1 God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods.KJV
2 How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah.
3 Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy.
4 Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked.
5 They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course.
6 I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.
7 But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes.
8 Arise, O God, judge the earth: for thou shalt inherit all nations.KJV

What we see then is a picture of the constellation of Taurus, the judge coming to judge in the congregation.  There are two clusters or congregations in Taurus, the Pleiades as we have seen, and the Hyades.  Pleiades is located in the shoulder of Taurus the bull and the Hyades is located in the head of the bull.   Which is the congregation we are speaking of in Psalm 82?  That is hard to tell but some further research may give us the answer.  For now, we should remember that there are two congregations, thought of as sisters in mythology. The Hyades were five sisters, while the Pleiades were seven sisters. 

Ps 1:5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation [5712] of the righteous.KJV

This would seem contradictory if we did not understand that there are two congregations.  It is obvious that the sons of God who did something wrong are going to be punished in the congregation of the Almighty, but here in Psalm 1 we see the sinners won’t be in the congregation of the just.  Since Taurus has two congregations the Psalms do not contradict each other. Let’s look at the word congregation again.

Congregation OT:5712 `edah (ay-daw'); feminine of OT:5707 in the original sense of fixture; a stated assemblage (specifically, a concourse, or generally, a family or crowd): KJV - assembly, company, congregation, multitude, people, swarm. Compare OT:5713.
OT:5713 `edah (ay-daw'); feminine of OT:5707 in its techn. sense; testimony: KJV - testimony, witness. Compare OT:5712.(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.)
OT:5712 `edah —a congregation, a gathering
OT:5713 `edah —testimony, witness; always plural and always of laws as divine testimonies(from The Online Bible Thayer's Greek Lexicon and Brown Driver & Briggs Hebrew Lexicon, Copyright © 1993, Woodside Bible Fellowship, Ontario, Canada. Licensed from the Institute for Creation Research.)

Another word for congregation can also be translated as seasons

Ps 104:19 He appointed the moon for seasons [4150]: the sun knoweth his going down.KJV

Isa 14:13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation [4150], in the sides of the north: KJV

OT:4150 mowed` (mo-ade'); or moed` (mo-ade'); or (feminine) mow`adah (2 Chron 8:13) (mo-aw-daw'); from OT:3259; properly, an appointment, i.e. a fixed time or season; specifically, a festival; conventionally a year; by implication, an assembly (as convened for a definite purpose); technically the congregation; by extension, the place of meeting; also a signal (as appointed beforehand): KJV - appointed (sign, time), (place of, solemn) assembly, congregation, (set, solemn) feast, (appointed, due) season, solemn (-ity), synogogue, (set) time (appointed).(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 word mowed, is seen as the appointed time of the meeting of the congregation which is where Lucifer wanted to set up his seat to judge as we explored in a previous blog.  In this next verse we have the word congregation with judgment, again a picture of Taurus.

Ps 75:2 When I shall receive the congregation [4150] I will judge [8199] uprightly.KJV

OT:8199 shaphat (shaw-fat'); a primitive root; to judge, i.e. pronounce sentence (for or against); by implication, to vindicate or punish; by extension, to govern; passively, to litigate (literally or figuratively): KJV -  avenge,  that condemn, contend, defend, execute (judgment), (be a) judge (-ment),  needs, plead, reason, rule.(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.)

Another word for congregation qahal is used as a multitude of saints.

Ps 89:5 And the heavens shall praise thy wonders, O Lord: thy faithfulness also in the congregation [6951] of the saints.KJV

OT:6951 qahal (kaw-hawl'); from OT:6950; assemblage (usually concretely):KJV - assembly, company, congregation, multitude.(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.)

Next we have a usage of an assembly of people that divine lies, and will not be in the assembly of his people.  Being in the assembly or congregation seems to be conditional. 

Ezek 13:9 And mine hand shall be upon the prophets that see vanity, and that divine lies: they shall not be in the assembly [5475]of my people, neither shall they be written in the writing of the house of Israel, neither shall they enter into the land of Israel; and ye shall know that I am the Lord God.KJV

Ps 25:14 The secret [5475] of the Lord is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.KJV

OT:5475 cowd (sode); from OT:3245; a session, i.e. company of persons (in close deliberation); by implication, intimacy, consultation, a secret: KJV - assembly, consel, inward, secret (counsel).(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.)

In our understanding the word assembly and congregation are interchangeable, but here one word is for a holiday while the other is a multitude that will be sanctified. Interesting this is in regard to the bride and bridegroom.

Joel 2:15-16 Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly[6116]:16 Gather the people, sanctify the congregation[6951], assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.KJV

OT:6116 `atsarah (ats-aw-raw'); or `atsereth (ats-eh'-reth); from OT:6113; an assembly, especially on a festival or holiday: KJV - (solemn) assembly (meeting).(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.)

As we look at the New Testament we have to understand that there are multiple translations in English of the same Greek word, sunagoge. It is translated Synagogue, congregation and assembly. 

Acts 13:43 Now when the congregation  [4864]was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.KJV

James 2:2 For if there come unto your assembly [4864] a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; KJV

Matt 4:23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, [4864] and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.KJV

NT:4864 sunagoge (soon-ag-o-gay'); from (the reduplicated form of) NT:4863; an assemblage of persons; specifically, a Jewish "synagogue" (the meeting or the place); by analogy, a Christian church: KJV - assembly, congregation, synagogue.(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.)
NT:4863 sunago (soon-ag'-o); from NT:4862 and NT:71; to lead together, i.e. collect or convene; specifically, to entertain (hospitably):KJV -  accompany, assemble (selves, together), bestow, come together, gather (selves together, up, together), lead into, resort, take in.(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.)
NT:4864 sunagoogee, sunagoogees, hee
1.         an assembly of men: Rev 2:9; 3:9
2.         a synagogue,
·         an assembly of Jews formally gathered together to offer prayer and listen to the reading and exposition of the Holy Scriptures
·         the building where those solemn Jewish assemblies are held
(from Thayer's Greek Lexicon, Electronic Database. Copyright © 2000, 2003, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)

We see the word sunagoge as it applies to the church as well as a synagogue.  As we look back at the Pleiades and the Hyades we see two gatherings where according to the Bible there must be one congregation for judging the sons of God and one for the righteous, where sinners are not judged. The mystery of the church being hid before the beginning can be looked at as a treasure hidden away.  Like hiding treasures from a robber, God hid the church.  Now we have to think, if God went through all the trouble to hide the church and his plan to make us joint heirs with Christ, and to keep secret that our citizenship is in heaven, he must have wanted to preserve the way to enter into His Kingdom until the time was right.  As the Bible tells us, the devil would never have crucified Christ if he would have known. 

Rom 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.KJV

Rom 16:25-26 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, 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: KJV

1 Cor 2:7-8But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, 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

Eph 1:9-12Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: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

We are citizens of heaven.

Phil 3:20 For our conversation [4177] is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: KJV

NT:4175 politeuma (pol-it'-yoo-mah); from NT:4176; a community, i.e. (abstractly) citizenship (figuratively):KJV - conversation.(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.)

Phil 3:20-21 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. NKJV

Our citizenship is in heaven, we are of the ones who look for new bodies when Christ comes.  Now that we have established the mystery of hiding the church we should look at the rest of the words for congregation in the New Testament.  And we will have one more rabbit trail to follow to understand this next verse.

2 Thess 2:1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming [3952] of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together [1997] unto him,KJV

NT:1997 episunagoge (ep-ee-soon-ag-o-gay'); from NT:1996; a complete collection; especially a Christian meeting (for worship): KJV - assembling (gathering) together.(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.)
NT:1997 episunagoogee, episunagoogees, hee
  • ·         a gathering together in one place, 2 Thess 2:1
  • ·         (the religious) assembly (of Christians): Heb 10:25

(from Thayer's Greek Lexicon, Electronic Database. Copyright © 2000, 2003, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)

NT:1996 episunago (ep-ee-soon-ag'-o); from NT:1909 and NT:4863; to collect upon the same place: KJV - gather (together).(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.)
NT:1909 epi (ep-ee'); a primary preposition; properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution [with the genitive case], i.e. over, upon, etc.; of rest (with the det.) at, on, etc.; of direction (with the accusative case) towards, upon, etc.: KJV - about (the times), above, after, against, among, as long as (touching), at, beside,  have charge of, (be-, [wherefore-]), in (a place, as much as, the time of, -to), (because) of, (up-) on (behalf of), over, (by, for) the space of, through (-out), (un-) to (-ward), with. In compounds it retains essentially the same import, at, upon, etc. (literally or figuratively).(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.)

Our word episunagoge is used as a reference in one of two events.  Epi is an over or above congregation, a complete collection of a Christian meeting.  The first event is the coming, the parousia, where Christ comes to punish Jerusalem.
Coming NT:3952 parousia (par-oo-see'-ah); from the present participle of NT:3918; a being near, i.e. advent (often, return; specifically, of Christ to punish Jerusalem, or finally the wicked); (by implication) physically, aspect:KJV - coming, presence.(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.)

We see here that there is a time when Jesus comes to judge Jerusalem and also when the church is congregated up.  As we have previously seen we are saved from the wrath to come if we are of the church.  But the unrighteous are not saved from the wrath.  We have to see the difference, if we are of the church we are not like everyone else, we are not appointed to wrath.  During the tribulation there will be two separate wraths, the wrath of the Lamb and the wrath of God. By definition the parousia is the wrath of the Lamb.  But the Church is not on earth at that time.  Who endures punishment? The unrighteous and the disobedient. 

Rom 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; KJV

Rom 5:8-10 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.KJV

Eph 2:3-6 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: KJV

We were children of wrath but now we’re made alive in Christ and raised us up and we will be made to sit in heavenly places.

Col 3:6 For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: KJV

1 Thess 1:10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.KJV

1 Thess 2:13-16 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.14 For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews:15 Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men:16 Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.KJV

The wrath is coming upon whom? The ones who persecute the church. Those in Thessalonica were just like the Jews who were persecuting Paul and the other Apostles, even contending for them not to speak the word of God to the Gentiles so that they could be saved.  The wrath is coming upon them to the uttermost. The question to ask yourself is, are you one who hinders the work of the Lord on earth? If so the wrath will come upon you, not just a little but to the utter most.

1 Thess 5:9-11 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.KJV

He didn’t appoint us to wrath, but to salvation. What is the purpose of salvation if we aren’t saved from the wrath of God? What is he supposed to be saving us from?

Rev 6:15-17 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand? KJV

Here we see the all the important people who were not saved, wanting to hide in caves because of the coming punishment of Christ.  Wouldn’t it be better to get these people saved instead of crying like Chicken Little saying the church is going to suffer the wrath of the Lamb?  Did he save us or didn’t he?
  
Rev 14:10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: KJV

Here we see that the traumatic events have continued and now the Father brings his wrath while the Lamb and angels watch. Surely that will be a sad day for those people.  So our charge should be to encourage each other with the understanding of the hope we have in Christ.  Saved, spared and not appointed to wrath, but congregated up.  If we are of the congregation of the righteous then one of those congregations in Taurus denotes us, while one denotes the judgment of the angelic class.  Some speculate that the seven visible stars or the Pleiades are likened to the seven churches of Revelation.  Interestingly, one star is sometimes not visible leaving only six to be seen by the naked eye. Some go on to wonder if that would not be the church of Ephesus which was in danger of losing its star. Jesus is the one who holds the seven stars in his hand. 

Rev 1:12 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.KJV

Who was speaking here was the Alpha and the Omega, as we previously saw in a blog, Jesus from the Old and New Testament called the beginning and the end the first and the last.  If Jesus is holding the seven stars, and God tells us in Amos 5:8 to seek the one who made the seven stars, there is something about those seven stars we should look into. 

Rev 1:20 The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches. KJV

The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches and the seven candlesticks are the seven churches, the congregation in the constellation of Taurus would appear to be the church and its angelic representatives.  The Pleiades and the Hyades are sisters, meaning relationship; we are now sons of God just as the angels are known as the sons of God.  The unrighteous and the disobedient are not part of the congregation. This is the mystery that the sons of God on earth would be spared from the wrath of the Lamb and this would appear to be the place of the church in the heavenlies.  Here is another usage of episunagoge.

Heb 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling [1997]of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.KJV

The day, what day?  Why would we forsake worshipping together? I suspect we will be worshipping together in heaven and that is the day we are looking toward.  Here the general assembly is also used to denote a heavenly gathering.

Heb 12:22-23 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,23 To the general assembly [3831]and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, KJV 

NT:3831 paneguris (pan-ay'-goo-ris); from NT:3956 and a derivative of NT:58; a mass-meeting, i.e. (figuratively) universal companionship: KJV - general assembly.(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 is the only usage of paneguris.  Again denoting a heavenly gathering. 

From the Old Testament we saw the congregation as a place of judgment for the angels. As in Job where the angels come to present themselves before God at regularly scheduled times, satan also comes to present himself.  From this place God will judge the fallen angels.  This is where Lucifer wanted to put his throne to judge the congregation, but God said no. Then we see there is a place for the congregation of the righteous.  This is exactly what Taurus is telling us, there are two different congregations. This is what we should be reminded of when we look at the night sky and see the constellation of Taurus, the judge coming to judge and his two congregations, one for the righteous and one for the heavenly sons of God.  We should also be reminded that today, we have the opportunity to be saved from the wrath to come.  We do not have to go through the wrath, the judge is coming to judge but we are already saved, spared and not appointed to wrathful judgments.   E W Bullinger notes that when Jesus comes to rule on earth, the church is with him, and in him.  This is what we want to learn from God pointing out the Pleiades, the one who made the seven stars is the one who hid the church, congregation, in Jesus, until he could reveal the mystery. Now Jesus holds the seven stars in His hand. 

As an end note there are many who will think that they can predict future events by looking at the heavens.  There have been date setters all through history; however God tells us that we should not be doing that.  E W Bullinger, writing from before Israel became a nation in 1947 spoke of this idea of date setting in the context of Palestine. Bullinger writes “After all, they can be only approximate, for man has so misused every gift that God has ever given him, that even with such wondrous heavenly time-keepers he cannot really tell you what year it is!” (E.W. Bullinger Witness of the Stars , Kregel Publishing, 1983 edition pg. 194) That made me laugh, to think just because our calendar says 2012 we really don’t know what year it is do we?

Monday, June 11, 2012

The Father of Lies; Jesus I AM. Witchcraft Part 6



In this very unusual world we live in there is twisting, spinning and continual fighting for control of others. In this series on witchcraft I’ve pointed out a few different ways this happens. One reason people twist and spin the truth as we saw in part one is in covering for their own mistakes and not being man (or women) enough to admit the truth.  The second way we looked at witchcraft was with the King and Queen who were greedy and lusted for what was not theirs.  The Third way we saw witchcraft’s twisting was with rulers who wanted to subdue a perceived enemy.  The forth way of witchcraft included drugs and fortunetelling, again in an attempt to rule over others.  The fifth way we looked at witchcraft is in fear motivation, attempting to get someone to do something or buy something they would not originally want to. That leaves us with a summation that is twisted and spun in every direction and in everyday life. The only truth on this earth is Jesus Christ.  This is where our focus should be every day, not on anything or anyone else which includes church activities, political parties and good causes.  Now that I’ve offended just about everyone, I’ll proceed to explain why our focus should be on Jesus Christ. 

We have to travel skyward, to the 40,000 foot view of the earth.  When we get there the earth looks very different.  If we could stay there, suspended in the sky, while we read our Bibles’ we might be able to understand God’s governmental plans and Kingdom plans a bit better. When we read from Paul how we are to share what we gather with those who cannot gather as much, from earth it seems rather socialistic, and from the grand social experiments of socialism on earth, we can see why socialism doesn’t work.  But from our perch skyward how would it work? It would work if we were all on the same page with God as our focus, not motivated by sin but love, that’s how 2nd Corinthians works.  When we read Peter telling us to obey all ordinances, on earth we dig our heels in, refusing to obey what secular people impose on us.  But again from sky high we can see how it would work if again everyone knew God and was not motivated by sin.  As we read the Acts of the Apostles, we then would see why dunimas (power) is connected with salvation. The inherent power of the Holy Spirit is manifest when people are getting saved, not for what we want to use it for, or when we think we should use it.  From our view point we can now see why healings are most times hit or miss, we distort the things of God to fit our understanding and then try to do what we think is best in operating the gifts of the Spirit.  But from 40,000 feet up, the things of earth look small and insignificant.  Yet God’s Kingdom comes to us, on that little ball when we believe, and we then have a different citizenship.  While the problems and pressures on earth can seem overwhelming living on earth, from the heavens we realize something important.  We’ve been lied to.  There is no other purpose for believing believers of the Lord Jesus Christ but to make disciples of the unsaved.  When we witness, we have dunamis, and then we have added to the Kingdom of God on earth.  This in turn makes the saved/unsaved scales on earth tilt in favor of God Almighty.  Who would lie to us? Ultimately the burden falls on the father of lies, the devil.

John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.KJV

As Jesus spoke with the Pharisees we can see he was speaking from firsthand knowledge.  In this section He told the Pharisees’ that they were not of His Father but that their father was the devil. Jesus also said that whoever sins is a servant to sin.  Keeping this in mind let’s look at a few cultural spins that can bind us if we allow it, then we will see our victory in our Savior Jesus. 

Personally I hate the doom and gloom prophets that just tell us all the bad news and make us feel hopeless and helpless.  That is not my intent; stay at 40,000 feet, cruising altitude, while we see the schemes of the father of lies and put them into perspective with who we serve, the Lord Jesus. 

Throughout history there have always been those who dominate people and try to overtake them.  In past blogs I wrote about what happened with Cain and Able, some of the historical stories that we can see from Jasher and Jubilees.  Remember Rikayon the first Pharaoh, he was the smart guy who came from Babylon to Egypt and figured out a way to tax people by setting himself up as a tax collector.  Today we might look at him as a smart business man; incidentally it is surprising how many searches people do for Rikayon, which lead them to my blog.  Fast forward a bit to Constantine who made a one world religion by combining a few religious sects. Rome was also the governing authority of the world, ruling from Rome and Constantinople.   When Rome fell apart, Constantinople continued under Byzantium.  Some think Constantine was a smart ruler, uniting and unifying religion.

Jumping ahead to more modern history, there was a man with the last name of Bauer.  He had a bright idea, he would loan people money and charge interest.  His son took that a step further and decided to lend money to governments and charge interest.  Well someone today might say that they were smart businessmen, as they made a fortune.  To insure their continued wealth these men, who now had changed their name to Rothschild had to influence and at times strong arm governments.  Numerous secret societies popped up worldwide to promote the interests of these individuals.  While the free market countries are under this ruling authority there are those nations that are not under this arrangement, and there is conflict, sometimes manufactured conflict, to eventually bring us all together in a one world government.  At least that’s someone’s great idea.  Mix in with this free market capitalist culture, religion, and now we can see the mixing, spinning and twisting of propaganda by the devil to distract us from the one thing

If you’ve ever seen the card game Illuminati: New World Order (you can view the playing cards on line) you will understand how the devil has set up spinning and twisting in every direction of our world culture to keep us from the mission of the one thing. On one hand we have greedy big business (boo they are bad). Then there are militant counter big business groups that fight the big business’ (yay, they are supposed to be the heroes). Yet both are propagated and supported by the same people.  Surprise!  Here’s another example.  On the one hand there are the scientists who are attempting genetic engineering to find ways to help human sickness using animals for testing (boo more bad guys).  And on the other hand there are the animal rights activists who don’t want any animal testing (yay they are the heroes again).  But both are supported and funded by the same group.  Surprise again! We can now see how the song Crazy Train by Ozzy Osbourne makes perfect sense!

Just like we talked about with genetic engineering in Part 5, sometimes this is very beneficial to people, yet some fight against it because of the testing on animals.  Then there are people who call themselves Christians who try to scare people into thinking scientists are building the Nephilim.  Then there are the sick people who are trying to raise money for funding to help with scientific advancement for their sickness.  Then there are the desperate that are willing to be the guinea pigs in testing.  And of course there are the scientists and doctors with the ideals of relieving human suffering with genetic advancements.   Some have died without treatment. And sadly there are those who tried the approved medications or surgeries who did not benefit from it.  Then there are the heartbroken families who wish a cure was available for their loved one who died. I think of Michael J Fox and his life with Parkinson’s disease. There are so many aspects to each issue, whether that of medicine, world politics, world religions, world economies, this is the devil twisting spinning, and setting up witchcraft to keep us away from the one thing.  If you hear a one sided diatribe on a subject, before forming an opinion, do some research to find out for yourself.  Better than being gullible to every lie of the devil.

As long as we are at it, here is another one.  There are groups that come out of the Church that say they are like the church, because they believe in the Bible.  But sometimes they don’t believe in many parts of the Bible because they think there are forgeries in the Bible.  Big Church is bad (boo). Small group that has odd ideas is good (yay).  I’ll share a story of some friends of mine here so this makes even more sense.  Once there were some people who were heathens, they accepted Jesus as their Lord.  Now they are called……Christians, right.  But somehow they got disgruntled with the church so they made up a new name for themselves, indicating that they believe in Jesus but not the New Testament.  They decided the New Testament is all made up so therefore people should follow them.  Some of these folks even changed their birth names.  Then they attack the church and bash the church for the things the church believes. Yet they take people out of the church to make them their followers.  Now those new people support the ones who are the church bashing name changers.  What is even more ridiculous is that this unusual group misses the one thing.  They don’t get anyone saved; heathen, Jew, Gentile, or any other category of personhood you can think of. The followers of this group give money to the name changing church bashing leaders for them to live on, instead of the churches who have missions and outreach programs to get people saved.  I have to ask, why would anyone follow these people?   It is another way the devil creates a spin to make you distracted so you forget the one thing.

Another area of spin is the false prophetic ideas that make the United States of America the center of the universe to God. Everything regarding our prosperity is because God likes us, or if something goes wrong its God punishing us as a nation.  The best determination of the America’s in scripture is in the usage of the outer islands.  How did we push the USA up next to Israel? Spin.  While God does not like abortion (and let me say I am against it), He is not going to just punish just the USA for that, what about mass genocide in Rwanda, starvation deaths in Somalia and Sudan, or planned abortion according to gender in China.  How about the awful news report of late that the Chinese capsulate processed fetuses and sell them to South Korea for sexual enhancement.  Who gets punished? The Chinese, the Koreans or both?  We have to take the global view of the world.  We are all sinner nations.  There are no Godly nations, just Godly people in those sinning nations. But wait, where is our citizenship? Is it in the USA or the Kingdom of God? Since the time of Jesus walking on the earth does God look at entire nations or individuals. Good questions.  From 40,000 feet what does it look like to you? 

Now we are getting somewhere.  The devil has twisted world events, world leaders and religious groups in every direction imaginable to keep everyone off balance and contentious with everyone else.  The truth in anything lies somewhere in the middle of the mess.  And again we are not under the kingdom of any man, but of God Almighty, therefore as we live under His authority we do not fulfill the sins of the nations. We are saved from the wrath to come.

Rev 18:3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.KJV

Rom 5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.KJV
1 Thess 5:9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, KJV

Somehow the other side of this type of superstitious thinking is when you go to the mall and get a parking spot in front, God is obviously blessing you, right?  Sure he blesses you in America but is looking the other way in Syria.  Really?  Have we become that superstitious that we believe God is only concerned with how far we have to walk while others are murdered and starved, obviously forgotten by God? Wait don’t they have Christians in other nations? Simply put we prosper here because of the structure of our society and governance that allows individual prosperity. People can invent, and work hard, and figure out a way to make money. But God is not rearranging the parking lot at the mall just for you; that is called hyper spiritualism, attributing good events to God and bad events to the devil.  Look we have bad weather and storms all over the world, but we’ve only been tracking them for 100 years or so.  That is simply not long enough to tell anything.  And 100 years ago, one would be lucky to find out if there was a storm somewhere they didn’t live, forget about details.  I think a key is when Jesus said we would hear of commotions or war etc the key word is “hear”.  One hundred years ago we might hear or might not hear of things happening in a timely manner.  Today we hear almost instantly about a newsworthy event. The key is in the efficiency of hearing, not the event itself. Note Luke 21:9. One hundred years ago we or may not have heard about the happenings in Uganda, but with mass media, we’ve all heard about what has been taking place there.

There are people who say the Bible is full of forgeries or mistakes and we cannot trust it.  If you hear someone say that, they are either working for the devil or they are very uneducated.  Here is why. God protected his word with codes and structures that could not have been engineered by any man, ever. Even today with the usage of computers I challenge anyone to duplicate what God did in the Bible, Old and New Testament.  One type of coding by God is equi-distant letterings, but another is heptadic structure.  I’ll include sites for your consideration in the end notes.  Can you write a paper today, and use only a number of words that are divisible by seven?  Then in your paper make the number of consonants divisible by seven as well as the vowels divisible by seven.  Then make sure the number of repeated words in your paper is divisible by seven, as well as proper nouns, verbs, etc.  Get the point?

Jesus made it clear who he was while he was on earth.  He told us plainly so let’s explore the book of John.  These are the things he said about himself; about who he is and was, but the people didn’t all believe him.  His biggest fighters were the religious leaders who were concerned with rules, laws and their public appearance.  I’ve broken these things down into sections. There are seven plain explanations of who Jesus was saying he was using the phrase “I am”.  Then there are seven figurative “I am” phrases, that then there are fourteen different “I am” phrases which I did not include.  One of the fourteen was his declaration as to himself being from the beginning.  As we look at the verses, we can see that some were restated several times.  In E.W. Bullingers work “Numbers in the Scripture”, we have an explanation of the numbers in scripture.  I will site them following this section.

Who He Is
1. Name:           John 5:43 I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.KJV
2. From Him:     John 7:28-29 Then cried Jesus in the temple as he taught, saying, Ye both know me, and ye know whence I am: and I am not come of myself, but he that sent me is true, whom ye know not.29 But I know him: for I am from him, and he hath sent me.KJV
3. Above:          John 8:23 And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world.KJV
4. Son:             John 10:36 Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God? KJV
5. Father:          John 14:10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.KJV
John 14:11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.KJV
John 14:20At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.KJV
6. Not Alone:     John 16:32 Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.KJV
John 8:16 And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me.KJV
7. World:           John 17:11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.KJV
John 17:14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.KJV
John 17:16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.KJV

Jesus tells us about himself in figurative language so that we can get a picture of what he was saying about who he is.  We have seen paintings of Jesus offering bread or as a shepherd. These descriptive words tell us in images that stay in our minds’.
                                               
1.Bread:            John 6:35And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.KJV
John 6:41The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven.KJV
John 6:48 I am that bread of life.KJV
John 6:51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.KJV
2. Light:            John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.KJV
John 9:5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.KJV
John 12:46 I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.KJV
3. Door:            John 10:7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.KJV
John 10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.KJV
4. Shepherd:     John 10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.KJV
John 10:14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.KJV
5. Resurrection: John 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:KJV
6. Way:             John 14:6Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.KJV
7. Vine:             John 15:1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.KJV
John 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.KJV

The over encompassing “I Am” statement comes after discussing with the Pharisees who he was.  They did not believe on Jesus and therefore Jesus said they were of their father the devil.  What Jesus was saying is that he is the I AM, the one who spoke to Moses.

John 8:58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.KJV

To give us a few more clues in this section Jesus tells the Pharisees that before Abraham was, He was I AM.  Now remember in verse 56 Jesus told them Abraham saw his day and he rejoiced.  The Pharisees responded by saying that Jesus wasn’t even 50 how could he see Abraham.  Who was it who walked and talked with Abraham as a friend, during the time of visitations before Sodom?  Who called Abraham a friend?  The same one who gave Moses the commandments is also the same one who stood before them testifying of himself. 

John 8:18 I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me.KJV

I Am He            John 8:24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.KJV
John 8:28 Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.KJV
John 13:19 Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he.KJV
John 18:5-8 They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them.6 As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground.7 Then asked he them again, Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth.8 Jesus answered, I have told you that I am he: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way: KJV

Jesus bears witness of himself and by His coming we can have eternal life.  This is the one we have to keep our eyes on.  This is why nothing else matters in the world, with all of its spin, and twists, and lies.  Remember walking in love is concerned with the here and now, not on what possibly may be or could be some day.  We see that Jesus said things multiple times in some instances. He calls Himself the vine twice and the bread four times, while saying ‘I am he’ five times.  Here is a look at what some of the repetitive numbers mean.
·         One denotes unity and commencement
·         Two denotes difference
·         Three denotes completeness
·         Four denotes creative works/earth
·         Five denotes divine grace
·         Six denotes the human number
·         Seven denotes spiritual perfection
·         Eight denotes resurrection, regeneration
·         Nine denotes finality of judgment
·         Ten denotes ordinal perfection
The Spiritual Significance of Numbers , appendixes 10, page 14, The Companion Bible, EW Bullinger, Zondervan Bible Publilshsers. Reprinted by permission of The Bullinger Publications Trust 1964,1970,1974.

The conclusion to the matter is that our focus should be on Jesus, and if God gives us a passion about something then we should pursue it, be it politics, causes and the like as long as we keep in mind along the way the one thing. The Devil will make us crazy trying to figure out the way things are but we are dead to the world.

Colossians 3:1-3 Therefore, if you have risen with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ sits at the right hand of God. 2 Think what is above and not what is on the earth, 3 for it is dead to you and your life is hidden with Christ in God. (Aramaic  Peshitta New Testament Translation, Janet M Magiera, Light of the Word Ministry, LWM Publications, Copyright 2005, 2006.) 

Now for the one thing.

Matt 28:18-20 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.KJV
Mark 16:15-20 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;18 .They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.20 And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.KJV
Luke 24:46-49 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.48 And ye are witnesses of these things.49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.KJV
Acts 28:30-31 And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.KJV
Rom 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.KJV

The one thing is to call people to repentance and make them disciples.  If we get distracted with the world, and the fears of the evil people ruling the world, we will miss the one thing. If Luke were here today he would be writing Acts chapter 29 and following about what we have done since.  According to Romans there is a number of Gentiles that has to be fulfilled, we are not privy to the number but we have the obligation to keep adding to the church.  Therefore keeping our eyes on Jesus is the key. And if we are fighting and contending with each other, we are not keeping our eyes on Him.  The things of this earth are dead to us so now we can live as though they are truly dead. We have victory over witchcraft.


End Notes:

Heptadic structure in scripture.




History of Money