Some people attempt to disregard John’s message because he was a follower of Jesus. While the prophets of old attempted to bring Israel back to Yahweh, Israel rejected the message instead and killed the prophets. Ezekiel gives us the finality of the Merkabah coming to take away the Spirit of Glory from the temple. After this time, the Spirit did not inhabit the temple any longer. John’s vision of heaven encompasses some of the elements of Ezekiel’s vision of the chariot throne. It is understandable that those same beings are still attending to the throne in the heavens. Because of Israel’s rejection of Yahweh there are no more visions given to them. Ezra tells us that there are others who will believe on Yahweh without having the benefits of visions, signs, or the prophets.
Because Israel rejected Yahweh, the people turned to observances for signs of Yahweh’s coming. They observe the moon for signs. They observe a lunar calendar. They incorrectly observe all the feast days which were set days on a solar calendar, and were to be celebrated along with angels. They observe the stars for signs. They observe the culture for signs. They observe false prophets for signs. What signs are they looking for? Israel is looking for the coming Day of the Lord. However the kingdom does not come by observance. It comes when something else is fulfilled. Israel skips the coming of Jesus in the clouds when he calls for his redeemed on the day of redemption, the harpazo. Yet Jesus will come three times before the kingdom is established on the earth.
Let’s look at Ezekiel’s vision and John’s vision together. Ezekiel representing the end of visions for Israel and John representing visions for the people under grace. We want to pay particularly close attention to the Ophanim/Gelgel as we may recognize something interesting.
Revelation 4:6-8 (AMP)
6 And in front of the throne there was also what looked like a transparent glassy sea, as if of crystal. And around the throne, in the center at each side of the throne, were four living creatures (beings) who were full of eyes in front and behind [with intelligence as to what is before and at the rear of them].
7 The first living creature (being) was like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature had the face of a man, and the fourth living creature [was] like a flying eagle.
8 And the four living creatures, individually having six wings, were full of eyes all over and within [underneath their wings]; and day and night they never stop saying, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty (Omnipotent), Who was and Who is and Who is to come.
While we, the people of grace, did not see these beings on the earth at this time as our age came after Jesus died, these beings came to earth with the Merkabah. As we compare Ezekiel’s words to John’s vision, we notice that these beings were moving, running back and forth. It might be that in our imaginations we think all the heavenly beings stand still, but they have movement that is unique to them.
Ezekiel 1:14 G2532 And G3588 the G2226 living creatures G5143 were running G2532 and G344 returning G5613 as G1491 the appearance G3588 of the G953.3 lightning.
2226ζῶον zōon dzo'-on Neuter of a derivative of G2198; a live thing, that is, an animal KJV Usage: beast.
5143 LSJ Gloss:τρέχω to run
Dodson:τρέχω I run, exercise myself I run, exercise myself, make progress.
Thayer:
1) to run
1a) of persons in haste
1b) of those who run in a race course
2) metaph.
2a) of doctrine rapidly propagated
2b) by a metaphor taken from runners in a race, to exert one's self, strive hard
2c) to spend one's strength in performing or attaining something
2d) word occurs in Greek writings denoting to incur extreme peril, which it requires the exertion of all one's effort to overcome
τρέχω
trechō trekh'-o Apparently a primary verb (properly θρέχω threchō ; compare G2359); which uses δρέμω dremō , drem'-o (the base of G1408) as an alternate in certain tenses; to run or walk hastily (literally or figuratively) KJV Usage: have course, run.
344 LSJ Gloss:ἀνακάμπτω to bend back
Dodson:ἀνακάμπτω I return I bend or turn back; I return.
Thayer:
1) to bend back, to turn back
2) to return
ἀνακάμπτω
KJV Usage: (re-) turn.
1491LSJ Gloss:εἶδος that which is seen, form, shape, figure
Dodson:εἶδος visible form, shape, appearance, kind visible form, shape, appearance, outward show, kind, species, class.
Thayer:
1) the external or outward appearance, form figure, shape
2) form, kind
εἶδος
eidos i'-dos From G1492; a view, that is, form (literally or figuratively)
KJV Usage: appearance, fashion, shape, sight.
What Ezekiel saw was lightning moving forward and backward. Lightning moves in multiple directions, perhaps up and down or side to side, but whichever direction it travels it returns in the opposite direction. Generally we only see the return stroke of the flash, but here Ezekiel notes what would take years for science to confirm, lightning moving forward and backward.
Ezekiel 1:15 G2532 And G1492 I beheld, G2532 and G2400 behold, there was G5164 [2wheel G1520 1one] G1909 upon G3588 the G1093 earth G2192 being next to G3588 the G2226 living creatures, G3588 next to the G5064 four.
5164 LSJ Gloss:τροχός anything that runs round
Dodson:τροχός a wheel, course.
Thayer:
1) a wheel
τροχός
trochos trokh-os' From G5143; a wheel (as a runner), that is, (figuratively) a circuit of physical effects KJV Usage: course.
1093 γῆ gē ghay
Contracted from a primary word; soil; by extension a region, or the solid part or the whole of the terrene globe (including the occupants in each application) KJV Usage: country, earth (-ly), ground, land, world.
The circular moving beings on the earth actually have a name. As we know from the Hebrew language, vowels were not used. This is why there are discrepancies in the way words are spelled. Ezekiel hears the name these beings were called. We have to add vowels.
Ezekiel 10:12 G2532 And G3956 all G3588 G4561 their flesh, G1473 G2532 and G3588 G3577 their backs, G1473 G2532 and G3588 G5495 their hands, G2532 and G3588 G4420 their wings, G1473 G2532 and G3588 the G5164 wheels G4134 were full G3788 of eyes G2943 round about G3588 to the G5064 four G5164 wheels G1473 of them.
H1534גּלגּל
galgal gal-gal' By reduplication from H1556; a wheel; by analogy a whirlwind; also dust (as whirled) KJV Usage: heaven, rolling thing, wheel.
Brown-Driver-Briggs' Hebrew Definitions
גּלגּל
1. wheel, whirl, whirlwind, whirling
a. wheel
b. whirl (of dust, chaff)
Origin: by reduplication from H1556
TWOT: 353i
Parts of Speech: Noun Masculine
GelGel, GilGal, GalGal, any of these vowel combinations are acceptable. What Ezekiel heard was the name of these things that revolve. They are called wheels or whirlwinds. Trochos is the Greek word for three different Hebrew words, ophan, galgal, or morag. The Greek expects us to be able to decipher through context; a chariot wheel from a whirlwind or a grinding mill wheel. A problem the Masoretes created was that they separated ophan and gelgel indiscriminately. Solomon’s temple has the likeness of these beings. They were not chariot wheels, because they have eyes, backs, eyebrows, they walk, run, etc. Chariot wheels don’t walk and run, or have eyes and backs. By changing the one Greek word, trochos, into three different words, we have ophan with these characteristics, as well as gelgel. Both are one in the same. The wheels/revolving/whirlwinds are the beings that are called gelgel. Yet most people wrote and noted them as ophan, or ophanim. Have we ever seen a whirlwind? Sure. We have also seen hurricanes and tornados that spin. These whirlwinds are only seen if the dirt gets picked up and swirls. Yet the Gelgel have the spirit of life within them, thereby being different than tornados or hurricanes. When we speak of heavenly beings moving and lifting the Merkabah, we might recognize the theory of wormholes. Moving things between places or dimensions is the job of the Ophanim/Gelgel.
Ezekiel 1:16 G2532 And G3588 the G1491 sight G3588 of the G5164 wheels G2532 and G4161 their action G1473 G5613 was as G1491 the sight G2292.1 of Tharsis stone . G2532 And there was G3667 [2likeness G1520 1one] G3588 to the G5064 four; G2532 and G3588 G2041 their work G1473 G1510.7.3 was G2531 as G302 if G1510.4 it may be G5164 a wheel G1722 in G5164 a wheel.
4161 LSJ Gloss:ποίημα anything made
Dodson:ποίημα a thing made a thing made, a work, workmanship.
Thayer:
1) that which has been made
2) a work
2a) of the works of God as creator
ποίημα
poiēma poy'-ay-mah From G4160; a product, that is, fabric (literally or figuratively) KJV Usage: thing that is made, workmanship.
2041ἔργον
ergon er'-gon From ἔργω ergō (a primary but obsolete word; to work); toil (as an effort or occupation); by implication an act KJV Usage: deed, doing, labour, work.
The motion of the Ophan/Gelgel takes on the look of a Tharsis stone, chrysolite, which seems to be green colored. Their work or labor is like a whirlwind within a whirlwind. They produce a green colored whirlwind, one inside the other, and the spirit of life is inside them.
Ezekiel 1:17 G1909 Upon G3588 G5064 [2four G3313 3parts G1473 1their] G4198 they went; G3756 they did not G1994 turn G1722 in G3588 G4198 their going, G1473
18 G2532 and G1161 yet G3588 G3577 their backs G1473 G2532 and G5311 height G1510.7.3 was G1473 to them. G2532 And G1492 I beheld G1473 them, G2532 and G3588 G3577 their backs G4134 full G3788 of eyes, G2943 round about G3588 to the G5064 four.
19 G2532 And G1722 in G3588 the G4198 going, G3588 the G2226 living creatures G4198 went, G3588 the G5164 wheels G2192 being next to G1473 them. G2532 And G1722 in G3588 the G1808 lifting away G3588 [4the G2226 5living creatures G575 6from G3588 7the G1093 8earth G1808 3lifted away G3588 1the G5164 2wheels].
20 G3739 Where G302 ever G1510.7.3 [3was G3588 1the G3507 2cloud] G1563 there G3588 the G4151 spirit G3588 G4198 was to go; G4198 [3went G3588 1the G2226 2living creatures], G2532 and G3588 the G5164 wheels G2532 also G1808 lifted away G4862 with G1473 them; G1360 because G4151 spirit G2222 of life G1722 was in G3588 the G5164 wheels.
4151 LSJ Gloss:πνεῦμα a blowing
Dodson:πνεῦμα wind, breath, spirit.
Thayer:
1) the third person of the triune God, the Holy Spirit, coequal, coeternal with the Father and the Son
1a) sometimes referred to in a way which emphasises his personality and character (the "Holy" Spirit)
1b) sometimes referred to in a way which emphasi
πνεῦμα
pneuma pnyoo'-mah From G4154; a current of air, that is, breath (blast) or a breeze; by analogy or figuratively a spirit, that is, (human) the rational soul, (by implication) vital principle, mental disposition, etc., or (superhuman) an angel, daemon, or (divine) God, Christ’s spirit, the Holy spirit KJV Usage: ghost, life, spirit (-ual, -ually), mind.
2222 LSJ Gloss:ζωή a living
Dodson:ζωή life life, both of physical (present) and of spiritual (particularly future) existence.
Thayer:
1) life
1a) the state of one who is possessed of vitality or is animate
1b) every living soul
2) life
2a) of the absolute fulness of life, both essential and ethical, which belongs to God, and through him both to the hypostatic "logos" and to Christ in whom the "logos" put on human nature
2b) life real and genuine, a life active and vigorous, devoted to God, blessed, in the portion even in this world of those who put their trust in Christ, but after the resurrection to be consummated by new accessions (among them a more perfect body), and to last for ever.
For Synonyms see entry G5821
ζωή
zōē dzo-ay' From G2198; life (literally or figuratively) KJV Usage: life (-time).
The spirit of life, the wind of the spirit is inside the Ophanim/Gelgel. This tells us that these are beings that are alive, with eyes and backs. They aren’t simply created by air flow or tropical depressions. They have life. They hang around the living creatures. They lift themselves and the living creatures away. This tells us they function as transportation. If they spin or revolve, they are like tornadoes that lift things up and away from the earth. These beings that have the spirit of life within them, create the energy that moves the chariot throne, the Merkabah, which Ezekiel saw with the likeness of a man upon the throne.
Ezekiel 1:21 G1722 In G3588 G4198 their going, G1473 G4198 the wheels went; G2532 and G1722 in G3588 G2476 their standing, G1473 G2476 the wheels stood; G2532 and G1722 in G3588 G1808 their lifting away G1473 G575 from G3588 the G1093 earth, G1808 the wheels lifted away G4862 with G1473 them; G3754 for G4151 spirit G2222 of life G1510.7.3 was G1722 in G3588 the G5164 wheels.
22 G2532 And G3667 the likeness G5228 above G2776 the head G3588 of the G2226 living creatures G5616 was as G4733 a firmament, G5613 as G3706 the vision G2930 of ice G1614 being stretched out G1909 over G3588 G4420 their wings G1473 G1883.1 on top.
23 G2532 And G5270 under G3588 the G4733 firmament G3588 G4420 their wings G1473 G1614 were stretching out G4420.1 flapping, G2087 the other G3588 to the G2087 other; G1538 to each G1417 two G1943 covering G3588 G4983 their bodies. G1473
24 G2532 And G191 I heard G3588 the G5456 sound G3588 G4420 of their wings G1473 G1722 in G3588 G4198 their going, G1473 G5613 as G5456 the sound G5204 [2water G4183 1of much], G5613 as G5456 the sound G2425 of a worthy one G1722 in G3588 G4198 their going; G1473 G5456 a sound G3588 of the G3056 word G5613 as G5456 a sound G3925 of a camp; G2532 and G1722 in G3588 G2476 their standing G1473 G2664 [3rested G3588 G4420 1their wings]. G1473
26 G2532 of the one G1510.6 being G5228 above G2776 their head, G5613 as G3706 a vision G3037 of stone G4552 of sapphire G3667 with a likeness G2362 of a throne G1909 upon G1473 it; G2532 and G1909 upon G3588 the G3667 likeness G3588 of the G2362 throne G3667 was a likeness G5613 as G1491 a form G444 of a man G509 from above.
1491 LSJ Gloss:εἶδος that which is seen, form, shape, figure
Dodson:εἶδος visible form, shape, appearance, kind
visible form, shape, appearance, outward show, kind, species, class.
Thayer:
1) the external or outward appearance, form figure, shape
2) form, kind
εἶδος
eidos i'-dos From G1492; a view, that is, form (literally or figuratively) KJV Usage: appearance, fashion, shape, sight.
444 LSJ Gloss:ἄνθρωπος manfaced
Dodson:ἄνθρωπος a man, one of the human race.
Thayer:
1) a human being, whether male or female
1a) generically, to include all human individuals
1b) to distinguish man from beings of a different order
1b1) of animals and plants
1b2) of from God and Christ
1b3) of the angels
1c) with the added notion of weakness, by which man is led into a mistake or prompted to sin
1d) with the adjunct notion of contempt or disdainful pity
1e) with reference to two fold nature of man, body and soul
1f) with reference to the two fold nature of man, the corrupt and the truly Christian man, conformed to the nature of God
1g) with reference to sex, a male
2) indefinitely, someone, a man, one
3) in the plural, people
4) joined with other words, merchantman
ἄνθρωπος
anthrōpos anth'-ro-pos From G435 and ὤψ ōps (the countenance; from G3700); manfaced, that is, a human being KJV Usage: certain, man.
509 LSJ Gloss:ἄνωθεν from above, from on high
Dodson:ἄνωθεν from above, from the beginning, again
(a) from above, from heaven, (b) from the beginning, from their origin (source), from of old, (c) again, anew.
Thayer:
1) from above, from a higher place
1a) of things which come from heaven or God
2) from the first, from the beginning, from the very first
3) anew, over again
ἄνωθεν
anōthen an'-o-then From G507; from above; by analogy from the first; by implication anew KJV Usage: from above, again, from the beginning (very first), the top.
The man from above is seated on the throne, which is being lifted away in a living whirlwind, along with the living creatures and cherubim. It is interesting as we saw last week that we are created in the image and likeness of the Living God. Ezekiel sees the one on the Merkabah along with molten bronze, fire, and something like a rainbow, many bright colors.
Ezekiel 1:27 G2532 And G1492 I beheld G5613 as G3799 an appearance G2240.1 of molten bronze, G5613 as G3706 a vision G4442 of fire G2081 within G1473 it G2945 round about G575 from G3706 the vision G3751 of the loin G2532 and G1883 up; G2532 and G575 from G3706 the vision G3751 of the loin G2193 unto G2736 below G1492 I beheld G5613 as G3706 a vision G5613 as G4442 of fire, G2532 and G3588 G5338 its brightness G1473 G2945 round about.
28 G5613 As G3706 the vision G5115 of a bow G3752 whenever G1510.3 it might be G1722 in G3588 the G3507 cloud G1722 in G2250 a day G5205 of rain, G3779 thus G3588 was the G4714 position G3588 of the G5338 brightness G2943 round about. G3778 This G3588 is the G3706 vision G3667 of the likeness G3588 of the G1391 glory G2962 of the lord . G2532 And G1492 I beheld, G2532 and G4098 I fell G1909 upon G4383 my face, G1473 G2532 and G191 I heard G5456 a voice G2980 speaking
5115 LSJ Gloss:τόξον a bow
Dodson:τόξον a bow.
Thayer:
1) a bow
τόξον
toxon tox'-on From the base of G5088; a bow (apparently as the simplest fabric) KJV Usage: bow.
1391 LSJ Gloss:δόξα a notion
Dodson:δόξα honor, renown, glory splendor honor, renown; glory, an especially divine quality, the unspoken manifestation of God, splendor.
Thayer:
1) opinion, judgment, view
2) opinion, estimate, whether good or bad concerning someone
2a) in the NT always a good opinion concerning one, resulting in praise, honour, and glory
3) splendour, brightness
3a) of the moon, sun, stars
3b) magnificence, excel
δόξα
doxa dox'-ah From the base of G1380; glory (as very apparent), in a wide application (literally or figuratively, objectively or subjectively) KJV Usage: dignity, glory (-ious), honour, praise, worship.
There is a bow or a rainbow providing bright color and light around the glory of the Lord. John too saw a rainbow, beautiful colors around the throne. Ezekiel is seeing this vision on the earth, John is seeing his vision in heaven. The glory of Yahweh seen by John, Ezekiel, Isaiah, Daniel, Moses, Abraham and others, is not as mysterious when we look at what different people saw. In some ways we are anxious to see heaven, to see the throne, to see Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. We want to see with our eyes, all the different sons of God, and we want to experience His presence. We feel that if we see these things with our eyes, we will know and believe. We think seeing a sign is the way for us to not be fearful of death or the future.
We are mistaken when we think we can see and observe the coming kingdom by watching the things around us on the earth. Jesus and Paul both tell us that we won’t have visual evidence. We won’t know when the harpazo will occur by looking at the calendar, we won’t know when the apocalypse will occur by looking at the stars or planets. We can’t even discern the heavenly holy days because people have been observing the moon instead of the sun. So what are we waiting for?
Luke 17:0 G1905 And having been asked G1161 G5259 by G3588 the G* Pharisees, G4219 When G2064 comes G3588 the G932 kingdom G3588 G2316 of God? G611 he answered G1473 them G2532 and G2036 said, G3756 [4comes not G2064 G3588 1The G932 2kingdom G3588 G2316 3of God] G3326 with G3907 observation.
3907LSJ Gloss:παρατήρησις observation
Dodson:παρατήρησις observation
observation, careful watching.
Thayer:
1) observation
παρατήρησις
paratērēsis par-at-ay'-ray-sis From G3906; inspection, that is, ocular evidence KJV Usage: observation.
3906 LSJ Gloss:παρατηρέω to watch closely, observe narrowly, to watch one's opportunity
Dodson:παρατηρέω I watch I watch, observe scrupulously.
Thayer:
1) to stand beside and watch, to watch assiduously, observe carefully
1a) to watch, attend to with the eyes
1a) of auguries, to see what he is going to do
1b) in a bad sense, to watch insidiously
1c) to watch one's self
1b) to observe, keep scrupulously
1b1) to neglect nothing requisite to the religious observance of
παρατηρέω
paratēreō par-at-ay-reh'-o From G3844 and G5083; to inspect alongside, that is, note insidiously or scrupulously KJV Usage: observe, watch.
This idea of observing is always used in a negative connotation in the Bible because it is up to man’s discernment. What we have to recognize is that man does not have the ability to control God, nor the planets, moon, or sun. Man’s observations always lead humankind astray. We are fallible in so many ways, why would the creator of the heavens and the earth leave such important decisions up to men who can be liars, deceivers, and impersonators of the children of the Living God? Why would the Creator expect us humans to judge the perfection of the days, times, holy days, and seasons when he knows how deceived and misdirected humans would become? Notice what Paul points out.
Galatians 4:9-11 (AMP)
9 Now, however, that you have come to be acquainted with and understand and know [the true] God, or rather to be understood and known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and beggarly and worthless elementary things [of all religions before Christ came], whose slaves you once more want to become?
10 You observe [3906] [particular] days and months and seasons and years!
11 I am alarmed [about you], lest I have labored among and over you to no purpose and in vain.
9 Now, however, that you have come to be acquainted with and understand and know [the true] God, or rather to be understood and known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and beggarly and worthless elementary things [of all religions before Christ came], whose slaves you once more want to become?
10 You observe [3906] [particular] days and months and seasons and years!
11 I am alarmed [about you], lest I have labored among and over you to no purpose and in vain.
Paul is scolding the Galatians. Remember our study from last week? We are the holy of holies with the Holy Spirit residing inside us. We know and are known by the Living God, and yet today we have been tricked into searching for signs and observing weak elements. Did the Creator set us up to fail? No. We followed after the imperfect god of this world instead of the Creator’s perfect order.
Ezra is going to establish the “who” and “when” of His return. While he won’t give us an exact date, he will give us the conditions necessary for the harpazo and the day of the Lord. Notice in 2 Ezra the Almighty Lord says “your solemn feast days, your new moons” pointing out these are mans’ days not His days.
2 Esdras 1:28-37 (KJVApocrypha)
28 Thus saith the Almighty Lord, Have I not prayed you as a father his sons, as a mother her daughters, and a nurse her young babes,
29 That ye would be my people, and I should be your God; that ye would be my children, and I should be your father?
30 I gathered you together, as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings: but now, what shall I do unto you? I will cast you out from my face.
31 When ye offer unto me, I will turn my face from you: for your solemn feastdays, your new moons, and your circumcisions, have I forsaken.
32 I sent unto you my servants the prophets, whom ye have taken and slain, and torn their bodies in pieces, whose blood I will require of your hands, saith the Lord.
33 Thus saith the Almighty Lord, Your house is desolate, I will cast you out as the wind doth stubble.
34 And your children shall not be fruitful; for they have despised my commandment, and done the thing that is an evil before me.
35 Your houses will I give to a people that shall come; which not having heard of me yet shall believe me; to whom I have shewed no signs, yet they shall do that I have commanded them.
36 They have seen no prophets, yet they shall call their sins to remembrance, and acknowledge them.
37 I take to witness the grace of the people to come, whose little ones rejoice in gladness: and though they have not seen me with bodily eyes, yet in spirit they believe the thing that I say.
Since Israel rejected the Almighty Lord, the Lord himself will gather another people that believe on him, even though they have not seen any signs or heard any prophets. These other people will do what the Lord commands, they will repent, and their little children will rejoice. These other people are under grace, and even though they have not seen Him with their physical eyes, yet in spirit they believe. The wicked generation does not get any sign except the sign of the prophet Jonah. The Jews didn’t even believe that sign after it occurred.
Matthew 12:38-40 (AMP)
38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Him, Teacher, we desire to see a sign or miracle from You [proving that You are what You claim to be].
39 But He replied to them, An evil and adulterous generation (a generation morally unfaithful to God) seeks and demands a sign; but no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.
40 For even as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the sea monster, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
Matthew 16:1-4 (AMP)
1 NOW THE Pharisees and Sadducees came up to Jesus, and they asked Him to show them a sign (spectacular miracle) from heaven [attesting His divine authority].
2 He replied to them, When it is evening you say, It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,
3 And in the morning, It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and has a gloomy and threatening look. You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.
4 A wicked and morally unfaithful generation craves a sign, but no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. Then He left them and went away.
Mark 8:11-12 (AMP)
11 The Pharisees came and began to argue with and question Him, demanding from Him a sign (an attesting miracle from heaven) [maliciously] to test Him.
12 And He groaned and sighed deeply in His spirit and said, Why does this generation demand a sign? Positively I say to you, no sign shall be given this generation.
A wicked and morally unfaithful generation craves a sign. We should not fall into this trap of craving a sign. This generation, the generation rejecting Jesus does not get a sign. We should not be following Jesus rejecters. The generation of grace, those that believe on Jesus as Lord and Savior, do not get a sign because they do not need one. They believe before they see with their eyes. They are sealed with the Holy Spirit. It is that simple.
Believers themselves may produce signs for the unbelievers such as miracles, healings, casting out demons, etc. Specifically tongues are called a sign for unbelievers. The children of God do not need a sign before they believe on Jesus, but the Jews did. This has become a problem because Jews are still looking for signs and Christians are being led to look for signs like the Jews. It’s not signs. It is numbers.
2 Esdras 2:35-41 (KJVApocrypha)
35 Be ready to the reward of the kingdom, for the everlasting light shall shine upon you for evermore.
36 Flee the shadow of this world, receive the joyfulness of your glory: I testify my Saviour openly.
37 O receive the gift that is given you, and be glad, giving thanks unto him that hath led you to the heavenly kingdom.
38 Arise up and stand, behold the number of those that be sealed in the feast of the Lord;
39 Which are departed from the shadow of the world, and have received glorious garments of the Lord.
40 Take thy number, O Sion, and shut up those of thine that are clothed in white, which have fulfilled the law of the Lord.
41 The number of thy children, whom thou longedst for, is fulfilled: beseech the power of the Lord, that thy people, which have been called from the beginning, may be hallowed.
35 Be ready to the reward of the kingdom, for the everlasting light shall shine upon you for evermore.
36 Flee the shadow of this world, receive the joyfulness of your glory: I testify my Saviour openly.
37 O receive the gift that is given you, and be glad, giving thanks unto him that hath led you to the heavenly kingdom.
38 Arise up and stand, behold the number of those that be sealed in the feast of the Lord;
39 Which are departed from the shadow of the world, and have received glorious garments of the Lord.
40 Take thy number, O Sion, and shut up those of thine that are clothed in white, which have fulfilled the law of the Lord.
41 The number of thy children, whom thou longedst for, is fulfilled: beseech the power of the Lord, that thy people, which have been called from the beginning, may be hallowed.
This fulfillment of the number of believers is the condition for the first time that Jesus will come in the clouds, the harpazo. Paul reiterates this in Romans.
Romans 11:25 (AMP)
25 Lest you be self-opinionated (wise in your own conceits), I do not want you to miss this hidden truth and mystery, brethren: a hardening (insensibility) has [temporarily] befallen a part of Israel [to last] until the full number of the ingathering of the Gentiles has come in,
What we are waiting for is a specific number of people to be saved, those confessing Jesus as Lord and Savior. This is the first group harpazo’d off the earth. We are waiting for this number of the nations (goyim) to be fully ingathered. These are the saints singing a new song before the throne as Jesus takes the scroll. This is the first group to be harpazo’d.
Revelation 5:8-9 (AMP)
8 And when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders [of the heavenly Sanhedrin] prostrated themselves before the Lamb. Each was holding a harp (lute or guitar), and they had golden bowls full of incense (fragrant spices and gums for burning), which are the prayers of God's people (the saints).
9 And [now] they sing a new song, saying, You are worthy to take the scroll and to break the seals that are on it, for You were slain (sacrificed), and with Your blood You purchased men unto God from every tribe and language and people and nation.
The second time that Jesus comes is after his coronation (Revelation 11). Jesus comes for the 144,000 who had been sealed (Revelation 7). Jesus’ coronation occurs three and a half years after the harpazo, after the two witnesses are killed on the earth.
2 Esdras 2:42-48 (KJVApocrypha)
42 I Esdras saw upon the mount Sion a great people, whom I could not number, and they all praised the Lord with songs.
43 And in the midst of them there was a young man of a high stature, taller than all the rest, and upon every one of their heads he set crowns, and was more exalted; which I marvelled at greatly.
44 So I asked the angel, and said, Sir, what are these?
45 He answered and said unto me, These be they that have put off the mortal clothing, and put on the immortal, and have confessed the name of God: now are they crowned, and receive palms.
46 Then said I unto the angel, What young person is it that crowneth them, and giveth them palms in their hands?
47 So he answered and said unto me, It is the Son of God, whom they have confessed in the world. Then began I greatly to commend them that stood so stiffly for the name of the Lord.
48 Then the angel said unto me, Go thy way, and tell my people what manner of things, and how great wonders of the Lord thy God, thou hast seen.
The Son of God crowns them. Compare this to Revelation 14, where the 144,000 are gathered off the earth when Jesus has the authority to come to Mount Zion. Remember the first harpazo, Jesus calls from the clouds, the second harpazo Jesus comes to Mount Zion.
Revelation 14:1-3 (AMP)
1 THEN I looked, and behold, the Lamb stood on Mount Zion, and with Him 144,000 [men] who had His name and His Father's name inscribed on their foreheads.
2 And I heard a voice from heaven like the sound of great waters and like the rumbling of mighty thunder; the voice I heard [seemed like the music] of harpists accompanying themselves on their harps.
3 And they sang a new song before the throne [of God] and before the four living creatures and before the elders [of the heavenly Sanhedrin]. No one could learn [to sing] that song except the 144,000 who had been ransomed (purchased, redeemed) from the earth.
1 THEN I looked, and behold, the Lamb stood on Mount Zion, and with Him 144,000 [men] who had His name and His Father's name inscribed on their foreheads.
2 And I heard a voice from heaven like the sound of great waters and like the rumbling of mighty thunder; the voice I heard [seemed like the music] of harpists accompanying themselves on their harps.
3 And they sang a new song before the throne [of God] and before the four living creatures and before the elders [of the heavenly Sanhedrin]. No one could learn [to sing] that song except the 144,000 who had been ransomed (purchased, redeemed) from the earth.
Before Jesus comes to the earth with his armies at the end of the tribulation (the Day of the Lord) to establish his kingdom, there is another number we are waiting to fulfill.
2 Esdras 4:33-37 (KJVApocrypha)
33 Then I answered and said, How, and when shall these things come to pass? wherefore are our years few and evil?
34 And he answered me, saying, Do not thou hasten above the most Highest: for thy haste is in vain to be above him, for thou hast much exceeded.
35 Did not the souls also of the righteous ask question of these things in their chambers, saying, How long shall I hope on this fashion? when cometh the fruit of the floor of our reward?
36 And unto these things Uriel the archangel gave them answer, and said, Even when the number of seeds is filled in you: for he hath weighed the world in the balance.
37 By measure hath he measured the times; and by number hath he numbered the times; and he doth not move nor stir them, until the said measure be fulfilled.
Now we should compare this to the fifth seal being opened during the first part of the tribulation. People will be martyred under the altar and those people will go directly to heaven. They ask an important question. When will they be avenged?
Revelation 6:9-11 (AMP)
9 When the Lamb broke open the fifth seal, I saw at the foot of the altar the souls of those whose lives had been sacrificed for [adhering to] the Word of God and for the testimony they had borne.
10 They cried in a loud voice, O [Sovereign] Lord, holy and true, how long now before You will sit in judgment and avenge our blood upon those who dwell on the earth?
11 Then they were each given a long and flowing and festive white robe and told to rest and wait patiently a little while longer, until the number should be complete of their fellow servants and their brethren who were to be killed as they themselves had been.
There is a number of martyrs that is to be fulfilled on the earth before the end of the tribulation. The world is weighed in the balance of these numbers. By number he numbered the times. By a certain number he ordered the times. There is a specific number of gentiles (goyim) to be redeemed before the harpazo before of the tribulation begins. He numbered the times. There is a specific number of martyrs to be killed on the earth during the tribulation before the vengeance of the Lord takes place on the Day of the Lord. He numbered the times. There is a specific number, 144,000 young virgin males he will harpazo from the earth after he is crowned and stands on Mount Zion. He numbered the times. He measured the times, he does not move until the measure and number is fulfilled.
Solomon says the same thing that Ezra says. The Living God ordered all things in measure and number and weight.
Wisdom of Solomon 11:20 (KJVApocrypha)
20……but thou hast ordered all things in measure and number and weight.
There is a lot of confusion regarding Jesus coming to the earth. Remember the first gathering, harpazo, Jesus calls the redeemed from the clouds. The second harpazo, Jesus stands on Mount Zion and gathers the 144,000 virgin males. The third time Jesus interacts with us is when he comes at the end of the age, the Day of the Lord, to war with his armies of saints by his side. He then establishes his kingdom on the earth for one thousand years.
The disciples asked Jesus three important questions as recorded in Matthew 24. We take Jesus’ response to those questions out of context and cause great confusion in the Body of Christ. The three questions the disciples ask are: 1) when will the temple be destroyed and not one stone left upon another; 2) when will he (Jesus) come on the Day of the Lord (remember Paul tells us the harpazo was a secret mystery otherwise the devil would not have killed Jesus, so the disciples didn’t know this was a future occurrence); 3) when is the end of the world, the New Heaven and New Earth.
Matthew 24:3 (KJV)
3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
Jesus explain all three events. The “sign” is His appearing, the Apocalypse. There isn’t anything to signal it except when they see him in the clouds coming to the earth. He will be there to war first, then to establish the kingdom.
Matthew 24:30-31 (KJV)
30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
The first question was fulfilled in 70CE, and for the third question Jesus says that no man knows the day or hour of the end of the world.
Matthew 24:35-36 (KJV)
35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
Heaven and earth shall pass away, but of that day, the day it will pass away, no man knows, not even the angels of heaven. Only the Father knows that day. When we take these words out of context and incorrectly apply them to the harpazo or the Day of the Lord we bring confusion and chaos to the scriptures. The only day or hour not known throughout the heavens is the day of the new heaven and new earth.
What we want to remember is that Ezekiel saw the glory leaving the temple. He saw the beings called Gelgel carrying the Merkabah away. John sees these same beings in heaven around the throne. They are not traveling, they are simply worshipping. If one wants to dismiss John’s prophecy, one also has to dismiss Ezekiel, Isaiah, Moses, etc. There are no signs for those who don’t believe, so we have to remember that we are to be like Abraham, we believe first and then we see. We will not be able to “see” things to alert us to the coming of the harpazo of the redeemed, or the harpazo of the 144,000, or the Day of the Lord. There are predetermined numbers measured and balanced. The first event will be the gathering of the redeemed, there is a number that must be fulfilled as to people confessing Jesus as Lord. The second event is a gathering of the sealed 144,000, that is a fixed number of virgin males, these are young men, not old men by the way. There is another fixed number. During the tribulation there is a number of people who will be martyred. This is a fixed and measured number. Then the event of the Day of the Lord, the Apocalypse, will occur. Let’s consider our frailty and fallibility and recognize that the Living God did not put men in charge of looking for signs. His return is not dependent on our observation, it is dependent on numbers.
By measure hath he measured the times; and by number hath he numbered the times; and he doth not move nor stir them, until the said measure be fulfilled.
