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Monday, November 10, 2014

God’s Among Men; Unraveling Satan; Superhuman Potentates; Czars Over Spiritual Enemies; Exodus 4:24 Insight

Clearly, human history is full of stories about gods and demi-gods, and the Bible tells us even more about this topic than we realize. After the flood, humans developed many types of gods which in truth were the worship of demons. Every society and culture had their deities which taught man a great lie, that we were subservient to these gods. It seems silly to us today to think that someone could make a statue from a piece of wood or clay and then worship it, because that would make man the authority over that statue. Man could make it any way he wanted, yet the twist to this practice is that man then becomes enslaved to this statue. What we find is that evil spirits seduced people into turning away from Yahweh by enslaving humans. Yet Yahweh tells us we are superhuman and we are to be rulers over these evil demons.   

When Nimrod was 20, his father Cush gave him the animal skins that Adam wore. Ham had stolen them from Noah and they believed that those animal skins had some sort of power. Whether they did or not we can only guess, but many times believing is all one needs to gain boldness. At that time Nimrod was a skilled hunter and made sacrifices to God. But by the time Nimrod was 40 he turned his heart away from God. This is the quest or journey of man and God. Can man continue in relationship with God or will man turn away? The “Book of Jasher” enlightens us about Nimrod as does the “Book of Jubilees”. When the sons of Japheth and the sons of Ham started a war against each other, Nimrod became a leader of this fight.

Jubilees 11:2.  And the sons of Noah began to war on each other, to take captive and to slay each other, and to shed the blood of men on the earth, and to eat blood, and to build strong cities, and walls, and towers, and individuals (began) to exalt themselves above the nation, and to found the beginnings of kingdoms, and to go to war people against people, and nation against nation, and city against city, and all (began) to do evil, and to acquire arms, and to teach their sons war, and they began to capture cities, and to sell male and female slaves. 

They shed blood and they ate blood. Notice that male and female slaves were being bought and sold. These are some of the atrocities that Babylon will account for in the tribulation times. After this, Nimrod was honored by the people to become their leader, and Nimrod governed all those in that region. At the same time the people were being led astray by Nimrod and by satan.

Jubilees 11:4. And they made for themselves molten images, and they worshipped each the idol, the molten image which they had made for themselves, and they began to make graven images and unclean simulacra, and malignant spirits assisted and seduced (them) into committing transgression and uncleanness. 5. And the prince Mastêmâ exerted himself to do all this, and he sent forth other spirits, those which were put under his hand, to do all manner of wrong and sin, and all manner of transgression, to corrupt and destroy, and to shed blood upon the earth.  http://www.sacred-texts.com/bib/jub/jub27.htm

One of the things that happened at the time of the flood was that the disembodied spirits of the Nephilim, the hybrid offspring from the union of the angels that fell and human beings, did not have a place to go once their bodies were dead. God imprisoned ninety percent of them and left ten percent under Mastema’s (satan’s) control. This is our adversary, the one who opposes man and is accusing humans before the throne of God day and night. The disembodied spirits that roamed the earth became part of satan’s corruption. Demons roam the earth looking for people to inhabit as Jesus tells us in Luke 11:24-ff. And they also enjoy the worship of man, transforming themselves into gods even though they were demi-gods, the half-breeds of angels and humans. By convincing man to make idols and worship images or stars and planets, these demons gain power and strength. Mastema was behind all the planning to send out demons to corrupt and destroy man.

One thing is clear, every ancient civilization after the flood had a series of gods to worship. Most all had gods for the planets and gods for the earth. It seems that even without broadcast media these ideas spread and influenced the culture. So much so that the Israelites were carried away with their worship. We wonder how this can happen as Israel had God, Yahweh, to guide them. Abraham’s family worshipped other gods as Joshua tells us.

Josh 24:1-4 Then Joshua assembled together all of the tribes of Israel at Shechem. He called for the leaders, officials, judges, and tribal officers of Israel. They assembled in formation before God, 2 and Joshua told all of the people, “This is what the Lord God of Israel has to say: ‘Long ago your ancestors lived beyond the Euphrates River, including Terah, father of both Abraham and Nahor, where they served other gods. 3 Then I took your ancestor Abraham from the other side of the Euphrates River and led him through the entire land of Canaan. I multiplied his descendants, and gave him his son Isaac. ISV

Abraham grew up in Noah’s household because Nimrod had attempted to kill him. On the night of his birth Abraham’s birth sky proclaimed that he would be fruitful and multiply and possess the earth and that his seed would slay kings and inherit their lands, Jasher 8:4. Abraham grew up learning about God from Noah and Shem. We know that there were at least three people in the region of Ur that didn’t worship demons. There were probably many more people who didn’t worship idols, but they may not have lived in this region of the world. Abraham was different as he was a lover of Yahweh. Abraham was tried in many things. We read from Jasher about a time when satan accused Abraham in the same style that Job was accused before God.

Jasher 22:46 And the day arrived when the sons of God came and placed themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came with the sons of God before the Lord. 47And the Lord said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? and Satan answered the Lord and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. 48 And the Lord said to Satan, What is thy word to me concerning all the children of the earth? and Satan answered the Lord and said, I have seen all the children of the earth who serve thee and remember thee when they require anything from thee. 49 And when thou givest them the thing which they require from thee, they sit at their ease, and forsake thee and they remember thee no more. 50 Hast thou seen Abraham the son of Terah, who at first had no children, and he served thee and erected altars to thee wherever he came, and he brought up offerings upon them, and he proclaimed thy name continually to all the children of the earth. 51 And now that his son Isaac is born to him, he has forsaken thee, he has made a great feast for all the inhabitants of the land, and the Lord he has forgotten. 52 For amidst all that he has done he brought thee no offering; neither burnt offering nor peace offering, neither ox, lamb nor goat of all that he killed on the day that his son was weaned.53 Even from the time of his son's birth till now, being thirty-seven years, he built no altar before thee, nor brought any offering to thee, for he saw that thou didst give what he requested before thee, and he therefore forsook thee. 54 And the Lord said to Satan, Hast thou thus considered my servant Abraham? for there is none like him upon earth, a perfect and an upright man before me, one that feareth God and avoideth evil; as I live, were I to say unto him, Bring up Isaac thy son before me, he would not withhold him from me, much more if I told him to bring up a burnt offering before me from his flock or herds. 55 And Satan answered the Lord and said, Speak then now unto Abraham as thou hast said, and thou wilt see whether he will not this day transgress and cast aside thy words. http://www.ccel.org/a/anonymous/jasher/22.htm

That is a good word for us today, do we beg God for something then forget about Him when we have what we want? Notice how satan starts out accusing everyone and then targets Abraham. Abraham is nearly 137 years old, which means he already had a lot of years of service to God. Notice Isaac was not a child either. The amusing thing is that Abraham doing this is a foretelling of the Heavenly Father sacrificing his Son. This prince, satan, is helping to plan Jesus’ arrival and his taking back the keys to hell and death. Now let’s read this from Jubilees.

Mastêmâ proposes to God that Abraham shall be put to the Proof (xvi. 15-18).
Jubilees 17:15. And it came to pass in the seventh week, in the first year thereof, in the first month in this jubilee, on the twelfth of this month, there were voices in heaven regarding Abraham, that he was faithful in all that He told him, and that he loved the Lord, and that in every affliction he was faithful. 16. prince Mastêmâ came and said before God, "Behold, Abraham loveth Isaac his son, and he delighteth in him above all things else; bid him offer him as a burnt-offering on the altar, and Thou wilt see if he will do this command, and Thou wilt know if he is faithful in everything wherein Thou dost try him." 17. And the Lord knew that Abraham was faithful in all his afflictions; for He had tried him through his country and with famine, and had tried him with the wealth of kings, and had tried him again through his wife, when she was torn (from him), and with circumcision, and had tried him through Ishmael and Hagar, his maid-servant, when he sent them away. 18. And in everything wherein He had tried him, he was found faithful, and his soul was not impatient, and he was not slow to act; for he was faithful and a lover of the Lord. http://www.sacred-texts.com/bib/jub/jub39.htm

What we see is that among so many false gods and deities Abraham was a lover of Yahweh. He was faithful and not impatient. This is what set Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob apart from everyone else. As we have studied previously, Jacob dedicated his life to Yahweh, he served Yahweh for over 32 years alongside Shem and Eber in Salem. Jacob was not a sly trickster, but an honest servant. That is why Jacob’s sons were honored to be a called out nation unto Yahweh, because Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were lovers of Yahweh. Yet as much as a father can teach his children, the children have to walk on their own as lovers of Yahweh.

Just before Moses led the heirs of Jacob out of Egypt he has his own scuffle with the devil. Our King James Version tells us it was Yahweh that wanted to kill Moses, but the Septuagint clarifies it was a messenger/angel that found an occasion to kill Moses. In fact, the Septuagint makes more sense as to the context. Someone probably altered the text to promote the agenda of circumcision.

Exodus 4:24 And it came to pass that the angel of the Lord met him by the way in the inn, and sought to slay him. 25 and Sepphora having taken a stone cut off the foreskin of her son, and fell at his feet and said, The blood of the circumcision of my son is staunched: 26 and he departed from him, because she said, The blood of the circumcision of my son is staunched. http://ecmarsh.com/lxx/Exodus/index.htm

Staunched means to stop the flow of blood from a wound. Once the circumcision was done, the messenger was stopped from killing Moses. Zipporah fell at Moses feet after she circumcised their son. Moses was too sick to do it himself, yet once the blood stopped and she announced that, the evil messenger left. If, by her words it was Yahweh who left, Zipporah would have to be more powerful than Yahweh. Since that is not the case let’s look at this a little closer.

Exodus 4:24 G1096And it came to passG1161 G1722during G3588the G3598journey G1722in G3588the G2646lodging, G4876[3metG14734himG321an angelG29622of the lord],G2532andG2212soughtG615to killG1473him.

G4876 συναντάω - Strong's Greek Lexicon Number
Bottom of Form
LSJ Gloss: συναντάω to meet face to face
Strong's: συναντάω to meet with; figuratively, to occur Derivation: from G4862 and a derivative ofG473; KJV Usage: befall, meet.G4862 G473
Thayer: 1) to meet with 1a) of events: to happen or befall

G32 ἄγγελος - Strong's Greek Lexicon Number
Bottom of Form
LSJ Gloss: ἄγγελος a messenger, envoy
Strong's: ἄγγελοςcompare G34) (to bring tidings); a messenger; especially an "angel"; by implication, a pastor Derivation: from ἀγγέλλω (probably derived from G71; KJV Usage: angel, messenger.G71 G34
Thayer:1) a messenger, envoy, one who is sent, an angel, a messenger from God

G2962 κύριος - Strong's Greek Lexicon Number
Bottom of Form
LSJ Gloss: κύριος having power a lord, master
Strong's: κύριος supreme in authority, i.e. (as noun) controller; by implication, Master (as a respectful title) Derivation: from κῦρος (supremacy); KJV Usage: God, Lord, master, Sir.
Thayer: 1) he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master, lord  1a) the possessor and disposer of a thing  1a1) the owner; one who has control of the person, the master  1a2) in the state: the sovereign, prince, chief, the Roman emperor  1b) is a title of honour expressive of respect and reverence, with which servants greet their master  1c) this title is given to: God, the Messiah
For Synonyms see entry 
G5830

It seems that an angel/messenger met Moses face to face on the road and had a reason to kill him. The reason was regarding the circumcision of his son. Now it seems that Zipporah was not angry with Moses as our King James reads, but instead recognized the need for Moses to be obedient. Zipporah was a direct descendant of Abraham and Keturah. Her father Jethro (Reuel) was the one who taught Moses about Yahweh. However, as the sons of Ishmael, the sons of Keturah did not have to preform circumcision on the eighth day, but instead at young adulthood, just prior to marriage. Moses was a descendant of Abraham and Sarah, which meant that the covenant he was to keep was for circumcision to be done on the eighth day. Yahweh must have told Moses to keep this covenant on the eighth day, but Moses did not do it, possibly to be respectful of his father-in-law. Once they left his father-in-laws house, Moses had an accusation against him. This led to an opening for satan to attack Moses. Let’s read Jasher and Jubilees regarding this incident.

Jasher 78:7In those days Moses, the son of Amram, in Midian, took Zipporah, the daughter of Reuel the Midianite, for a wife.8And Zipporah walked in the ways of the daughters of Jacob, she was nothing short of the righteousness of Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel and Leah.9 And Zipporah conceived and bare a son and he called his name Gershom, for he said, I was a stranger in a foreign land; but he circumcised not his foreskin, at the command of Reuel his father-in-law.10 And she conceived again and bare a son, but circumcised his foreskin, and called his name Eliezer, for Moses said, Because the God of my fathers was my help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh. http://www.ccel.org/a/anonymous/jasher/78.htm

Now we have established why his son was not circumcised, we should look at the next part closely. The angel of God sought an occasion against him. Zipporah knew what was going on and did what was needed. Moses was fortunate to have a wife who knew Yahweh.

Jasher 79:8And Moses rose up to go to Egypt, and he took his wife and sons with him, and he was at an inn in the road, and an angel of God came down, and sought an occasion against him.9 And he wished to kill him on account of his first born son, because he had not circumcised him, and had transgressed the covenant which the Lord had made with Abraham.10 For Moses had hearkened to the words of his father-in-law which he had spoken to him, not to circumcise his first born son, therefore he circumcised him not.11 And Zipporah saw the angel of the Lord seeking an occasion against Moses, and she knew that this thing was owing to his not having circumcised her son Gershom.12 And Zipporah hastened and took of the sharp rock stones that were there, and she circumcised her son, and delivered her husband and her son from the hand of the angel of the Lord. http://www.ccel.org/a/anonymous/jasher/79.htm

This points out that Moses and their son were both being attacked by this messenger. Now let’s add the context of Jubilees.

Jubilees 48:2. And thou thyself knowest what He spake unto thee on Mount Sinai, and what prince Mastêmâ desired to do with thee when thou wast returning into Egypt on the way when thou didst meet him at the lodging-place. 3. Did he not with all his power seek to slay thee and deliver the Egyptians out of thy hand when he saw that thou wast sent to execute judgment and vengeance on the Egyptians? 

We have now rounded out the story of who was trying to kill Moses. At the time of the first century, circumcision was a hot topic and to put people into the subjection of the law someone made it look like Yahweh was trying to kill Moses. Even the KJV context does not bear out the idea that Yahweh wanted to kill Moses, as Yahweh tells Moses to go to Egypt and tell Pharaoh to let the children of Jacob go. Then Yahweh tells Aaron to meet Moses before he gets there. Yahweh is not in the business of killing humans that he made in his own image and gave rulership to, we will see this more clearly shortly. Shame on us for thinking that our creator, Yahweh, would behave in that manner when we clearly see an enemy of humankind in the Bible.

“With all his power”, means that satan has some power. He is not all powerful but he can do some things by permission like the magic tricks of the Egyptian priests, or sending out the destroyer to kill the first born. Prince Mastema has the power to kill, he has the power to hinder, and he has demons to work for him. Just like the destroyer of the first born, Abaddon/Apollyon/Gog the Locust king. He also has some power to influence people to work for him.

Jubilees 48:9. And the prince of the Mastêmâ stood up against thee, and sought to cast thee into the hands of Pharaoh, and he helped the Egyptian sorcerers, and they stood up and wrought before thee. 10. The evils indeed we permitted them to work, but the remedies we did not allow to be wrought by their hands. 11. And the Lord smote them with malignant ulcers, and they were not able to stand for we destroyed them so that they could not perform a single sign. 12. And notwithstanding all (these) signs and wonders the prince of the Mastêmâ was not put to shame because he took courage and cried to the Egyptians to pursue after thee with all the powers of the Egyptians, with their chariots, and with their horses, and with all the hosts of the peoples of Egypt. 13. And I stood between the Egyptians and Israel, and we delivered Israel out of his hand, and out of the hand of his people, and the Lord brought them through the midst of the sea as if it were dry land.  http://www.sacred-texts.com/bib/jub/jub85.htm

We have to understand that satan has power, although it is limited to what God allows. But satan cannot create and he knows he cannot create. Satan can rearrange things like organisms, but he cannot create anything new. God did not craft satan for this purpose, satan became this way. John tells us that satan was a sinner from the beginning.

1John 3:7. My Children, let no one* mislead* you, whoever performs righteousness is righteous, like the Anointed One he becomes holy. 8. And whoever takes on* sin is of Satan. Because from the beginning Satan was a sinner, and that is why the Son of Allaha was revealed, so as to unravel the works of Satan. 9. Whoever becomes born of Allaha will not commit sin, because the seed is in them and they cannot sin, because from Allaha they are born. 10. By this are differentiated the children of Allaha from the children of Satan. Whoever does not do righteousness and does not love his brother, does not become born of Allaha.
*human being
*lose
*remains in

Jesus came to unravel the works of satan. The adversary, satan, sinned from the beginning. The beginning of what? The Jewish people would understand this as Genesis; in the beginning, that is when satan sinned. Satan sinned sometime after the heaven and earth were created and before the earth became formless, void, and dark. When the heavens and earth were created, it was a completed work and was made perfect. The heavens and earth were not created in an unfinished state. The earth later became formless, void, and dark. Notice that the heavens were not affected, just the earth. Here is the reason satan sinned.

Wisdom 2:23-24 For God created man to be immortal, and made him to be an image of his own eternity.24 Nevertheless through envy of the devil came death into the world: and they that do hold of his side do find it. KJV

Through envy, jealously, and pride, satan sinned. Man was created to be immortal, and in God’s image of eternity. Man is made a little less than Elohim, but yet crowned with glory and honor and to have dominion over the works of Elohim’s hands. If we are to have dominion we have to be magistrates, judges, or rulers. Isn’t that what Elohim means? Remember Elohim is plural so in Psalms we are speaking of many people not just one or two, it has to be three or more as that is what “im” infers in Hebrew.  

Ps 8:3-6 When I view and consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained and established, 4 What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of [earthborn] man that You care for him? 5 Yet You have made him but a little lower than God {Elohim, #430} [or heavenly beings], and You have crowned him with glory and honor. 6 You made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet: [1 Cor 15:27; Eph 1:22,23; Heb 2:6-8.] AMP

If greater is he that is in us than he that is in the world, 1John 4:4, we now understand that having dominion over Yahweh’s works is our calling. This is what Yahweh created man to be. This is what Yahweh created man to do. It has been an effective spin campaign by satan to tell us we are weak and helpless. But satan wasn’t completely dishonest in the garden when he told Eve that if they ate of the fruit of the tree that their eyes would be open and they would be as gods; Jesus tells us that we are called gods just as David did in Psalms via the Holy Spirit. The difference is that Adam and Eve were not like Yahweh, but became like the other ruling beings knowing good and evil; however they lost their authority in the garden and turned it over to satan. So on the one hand, they did “see” like the other ruling sons of Elohim but they lost their rulership on earth.

John 10:34-36 Jesus answered, Is it not written in your Law, I said, You are gods? [Ps 82:6.] 35 So men are called gods [by the Law], men to whom God's message came — and the Scripture cannot be set aside or cancelled or broken or annulled —  36 [If that is true] do you say of the One Whom the Father consecrated and dedicated and set apart for Himself and sent into the world, You are blaspheming, because I said, I am the Son of God? AMP

Ps 82:6I have said, Ye are gods {Elohim}; and all of you are children of the most High. KJV

Firstly, Psalm 82:6 is not in the law; it is possible that this verse is referring to Exodus’ usage of Moses being made a god (Elohim) to Pharaoh Ex 7:1. Also Exodus 21:6, 22:8-9 the word translated judges is Elohim. If we understand that Elohim is not a name but a title, we can understand this. We are made a little lower than Elohim, and put in dominion over His works. Man has authority as civil leaders, rulers, magistrates. Man has authority over demons and animals. Man is to judge on earthly matters. We are to dominate the earth for Yahweh. That is a big statement that we need to let sink into our lives so we can live as overcomers. This is why we are made a little lower than Elohim. Paul tells us more.

1 Cor 6:2-3 Do you not know that the saints (the believers) will [one day] judge and govern the world? And if the world [itself] is to be judged and ruled by you, are you unworthy and incompetent to try [such petty matters] of the smallest courts of justice? 3 Do you not know also that we [Christians] are to judge the [very] angels and pronounce opinion between right and wrong [for them]? How much more then [as to] matters pertaining to this world and of this life only! AMP

Humans are to have rulership right now, on earth; we are gods, not the creator, but simply magistrates of the most high. The ones who are lovers of Yahweh and are faithful to Him are to be the judges in authority in our countries and in our governments. Jesus also told us something interesting that gives us a clue to our rulership on earth. When the 70 disciples returned, they were excited that the demons were in subjection to them. Jesus says he beheld satan fall from heaven. The word beheld means he was a spectator of the incident. What happened?

Luke 10:18 And he said unto them, I beheld [2334] Satan [4567] as lightning fall from heaven. KJV

NT:2334 theoreo (theh-o-reh'-o); from a derivative of NT:2300 (perhaps by add. of NT:3708); to be a spectator of, i.e. discern, (literally, figuratively [experience] or intensively [acknowledge]): KJV - behold, consider, look on, perceive, see. Compare NT:3700.(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:4567 Satanas (sat-an-as'); of Aramaic origin corresponding to NT:4566 (with the definite affix); the accuser, i.e. the devil:KJV - Satan.(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:4566 Satan (sat-an'); of Hebrew origin [OT:7854]; Satan, i.e. the devil: KJV - Satan. Compare NT:4567.(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 have seen that satan is busy accusing us before the throne of God day and night, and we are all in good company as saints who have been accused. But notice this. When the 70 went out, the demons were subject or in subjection to, or under the authority of the 70 disciples. When satan’s army of demons started getting beat up by the disciples (and let’s remember this was before the day of Pentecost) satan stopped accusing people before the throne and made an emergency trip to earth to regroup his demons. Literally, satan fell as lightning because he was in a hurry, and Jesus watched him. I’m sure Jesus was amused by this sight. But there is more. Jesus tells the disciples something else.

Luke 10:19 Behold [2400], I give unto you power [1849] to tread [3961] on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power [1411] of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. KJV

NT:2400 idou (id-oo'); second person singular imperative middle voice of NT:1492; used as imperative lo!; KJV - behold, lo, see. (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:1849 exousia (ex-oo-see'-ah); from NT:1832 (in the sense of ability); privilege, i.e. (subjectively) force, capacity, competency, freedom, or (objectively) mastery (concretely, magistrate, superhuman, potentate, token of control), delegated influence: KJV - authority, jurisdiction, liberty, power, right, strength.(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:3961 pateo (pat-eh'-o); from a derivative probably of NT:3817 (meaning a "path"); to trample (literally or figuratively): KJV - tread (down, under foot).(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:1411 dunamis (doo'-nam-is); from NT:1410; force (literally or figuratively); specially, miraculous power (usually by implication, a miracle itself): KJV - ability, abundance, meaning, might (-ily, -y, -y deed), (worker of) miracle (-s), power, strength, violence, mighty (wonderful) work.(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.)

Jesus says “Look I’ve given you authority, ability, mastery, to trample and tread over serpents and scorpions and over all the force of the enemy”. Notice the definition of exousia: “magistrate, superhuman, potentate”. Why truly we are Elohim aren’t we? Jesus said we are magistrates and superhuman potentates over the force or miraculous power of the hateful one. Serpents and scorpions can’t hurt you if you live an obedient submitted life to Yahweh. However, if by disobedience, like Moses, we neglect to do what God asks, we leave an opening for the accuser.

Let’s go back to this point, satan fell like lightning when his kingdom was being messed with. The seventy were telling people about the kingdom and probably casting out demons and healing the sick. They were in authority over the spiritual realm where they were witnessing. Shouldn’t we mess with satan’s kingdom more often so that we keep him scrambling on earth rather than allowing him to continue accusing us before the throne? Satan can only be in one place at any given time. Jesus organized this evangelistic outreach and only 70 people caused satan to hurry to earth fix their mess. What can more of us do today with the Holy Spirit leading us?

Now look at what Jesus said regarding serpents and scorpions. Did Jesus mean reptiles and insects? No, he was declaring the message in the Mazzaroth, the serpents and scorpions are written in the heavenly gospel. We have superhuman, potentate, magistrate, supremacy, or supernatural monarchy as judicial czars over the serpents and scorpions in the heavenly realms. When was the last time someone told you that? Humans have been so fooled and so beaten down to think that we “evolved” from some ancient cosmic accident while the truth is completely the opposite.


Jesus came to unravel the works of satan, just like 1John said. But we are gods, judges, and rulers on the earth today over the spiritual powers. Instead we have cowered and bowed in fear to dumb idols and fanciful legends that were communicated to enslave us. Not only did humankind become enslaved and subservient to demons, we allow them to influence humans around us to continue to beat us down. It’s time we gain some backbone in the spiritual realm and do what we were called to do. If you are a lover of Yahweh and are faithful, you have every right as gods, to bind, rebuke, direct, and stop demonic activity. You were created above the demonic realm, you were created above satan. And while he may be the god of this world, we are gods for Yahweh and represent Yahweh on this earth. We have every right to judge, subdue, and command the spiritual realm because Jesus gave us exousia, so that we are magistrates who are superhuman potentates and czars over the heavenly enemies of Yahweh.  

Monday, November 3, 2014

Jesus’ Face; God of the Living; Resurrection, the Missing Portion of Job; Spirit, Soul, and Body

What is true beauty? Our culture tries to tell us what is beautiful; models and actors are some people’s idea of beauty. True beauty may be the opposite of the prevailing popular thought. Artists render images of Jesus before and after his death, but what does Jesus look like now? Does the Bible tell us? It actually does give us some clues, but it seems that most artists have not noticed these details. It seems likely that Jesus was not blond haired and blue eyed, and he didn’t glow or have a halo; his image after his crucifixion is more distinct then we realize. What should spark our attention is a phrase from Revelation, there is a big clue here and we can put the pieces together from supporting scripture. We see some discrepancies in the text between the Greek and Hebrew regarding Jesus’ appearance at the resurrection, so we will explore this. But Jesus said something curious that should also catch our attention. He told us that it would be better to enter into life with one eye or one hand if those body parts cause us to sin. What does that mean?
 
One of the first sections we need to look at is in the Book of Isaiah. The Septuagint reads differently than the modern texts, but it may be that the modern texts are correct in this case. Let’s explore this prophecy regarding Jesus.

Isaiah 50:4 The Lord even God gives me the tongue of instruction, to know when it is fit to speak a word: he has appointed for me early, he has given me an ear to hear: 5 and the instruction of the Lord, even the Lord, opens mine ears, and I do not disobey, nor dispute. 6 I gave my back to scourges, and my cheeks to blows; and I turned not away my face from the shame of spitting: 7 but the Lord God became my helper; therefore I was not ashamed, but I set my face as a solid rock; and I know that I shall never be ashamed, 8 for he that has justified me draws near; who is he that pleads with me? let him stand up against me at the same time: yea, who is he that pleads with me? let him draw nigh to me. 9 Behold, the Lord, the Lord, will help me; who will hurt me? behold, all ye shall wax old as a garment, and a moth shall devour you. http://ecmarsh.com/lxx/Esaias/index.htm

We know Jesus was beaten, whipped, hit, and spit on. He endured this brutal pummeling for our sake. Let’s compare Isaiah 50 verse 6 of the Septuagint to verse 6 in the Amplified.

Isa 50:6 I gave My back to the smiters and My cheeks to those who plucked off the hair; I hid not My face from shame and spitting. [Matt 26:67; 27:30; John 19:1.] AMP

Here we see that Jesus’ hair from his beard was pulled out. Why the discrepancy? The word in question here is actually G575, translated from but it actually means off.

Isaiah 50:6G3588 G3577My backG1473 G1325I have givenG1519toG3148whips,G3588 G1161andG4600my jawsG1473 G1519forG4475slaps,G3588 G1161andG4383my faceG1473 G3756I did notG654turnG575fromG152the shameG1715.2of ones spitting.

G575 ἀπό - Strong's Greek Lexicon Number
Bottom of Form
LSJ Gloss:  ἀπό  from, away from. c. gen.
Strong's:  ἀπό  "off," i.e. away (from something near), in various senses (of place, time, or relation; literal or figurative)  Derivation: a primary particle;  KJV Usage: (X here-)after, ago, at, because of, before, by (the space of), for(-th), from, in, (out) of, off, (up-)on(-ce), since, with.  In composition (as a prefix) it usually denotes separation, departure, cessation, completion, reversal, etc.
Thayer:  1) of separation
1a) of local separation, after verbs of motion from a place i.e. of departing, of fleeing, ...
1b) of separation of a part from the whole
1b1) where of a whole some part is taken
1c) of any kind of separation of one thing from another by which the union or fellowship of the two is destroyed
1d) of a state of separation, that is of distance
1d1) physical, of distance of place
1d2) temporal, of distance of time
2) of origin
2a) of the place whence anything is, comes, befalls, is taken
2b) of origin of a cause

ἀπό  apo  apo'
A primary particle; “off” , that is, away (from something near), in various senses (of place, time, or relation; literally or figuratively)

The Hebrew takes that word off and translates it #4803, to pluck off the hair.
    
Isa 50:6

‏yw]G@  ‎
my back
1460
G¢wî


‏yT!t^n`  ‎
I gave
5414
n¹¾attî


‏<yK!m^l=  ‎
to the smiters,
5221
l®makkîm


‏yy~j*l=W  ‎
and my cheeks
3895
ûlµ¹yay



‏<yf!r+m)l=  ‎
to them that plucked off the hair:
4803
l®mœr‰îm


‏yn~P*  ‎
my face
6440
p¹nay


‏aý  ‎
not
3808
lϡ


‏yT!r+T^s=h!  ‎
I hid
5641
histartî



‏toMl!K=m!  ‎
from shame
3639
miklimmô¾


‏.qr)w`  ‎
and spitting.
7536
w¹rœq.

(Interlinear Transliterated Bible. Copyright © 1994-2011 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved. [For more detail see the full copyright page.])

OT:4803 marat (maw-rat'); a primitive root; to polish; by implication, to make bald (the head), to gall (the shoulder); also, to sharpen: KJV - bright, furbish, (have his) hair (be) fallen off, peeled, pluck off (hair). (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:4803 marat —
to bare, to polish, to make smooth or bald or bare
a)         (Qal)
1)         to make bare
2)         to scour, to polish
b)         (Niphal) to be made bald
(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.)

The Hebrew takes the idea of something being pulled off the cheeks, a beard, and translates it in that way. We see the Orthodox Jewish Bible puts brackets around the words the beard to indicate that the word beard is not actually in the text but implied by the context.

 6 I [Moshiach] offered My gev (back) to them that deliver blows, and My lekhi (cheeks) to them that pulled out [the beard]: I hid not My face from kelimot (humiliations, shame) and rok (spitting, saliva).

This then seems to indicate that Jesus had a beard that was pulled out at the time of his crucifixion. All Jewish men of that time had beards, but Jewish men did not have long hair on their heads but short hair. So it may be that our pictures of Jesus with a short beard and long hair are the opposite of what he looked like. Let’s continue with Isaiah 52 in the Amplified

Isa 52:14-15 [For many the Servant of God became an object of horror; many were astonished at Him.] His face and His whole appearance were marred more than any man's, and His form beyond that of the sons of men — but just as many were astonished at Him, 15 So shall He startle and sprinkle many nations, and kings shall shut their mouths because of Him; for that which has not been told them shall they see, and that which they have not heard shall they consider and understand. [Rom 15:21.] AMP

People were astonished at how badly Jesus looked, his face was marred so badly that he didn’t even look human anymore. Knowing that his face was hit, and his beard pulled out his face would have been bloody, bruised, and swollen, and he would have truly looked non-human. While he hung on the cross his face must have looked unrecognizable. Kings will be surprised because they hadn’t been told about Jesus’ appearance. Let’s go onto Isaiah chapter 53.

Isa 53:1-2 WHO HAS believed (trusted in, relied upon, and clung to) our message [of that which was revealed to us]? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been disclosed? [John 12:38-41; Rom 10:16.] 2 For [the Servant of God] grew up before Him like a tender plant, and like a root out of dry ground; He has no form or comeliness [royal, kingly pomp], that we should look at Him, and no beauty that we should desire Him.

When Jesus was growing up he didn’t look special in any way. He didn’t glow or have a special presence about him. He didn’t look like a supermodel or an all-star quarterback. He looked average. But people despised and rejected him.

Isa 53:3-6 He was despised and rejected and forsaken by men, a Man of sorrows and pains, and acquainted with grief and sickness; and like One from Whom men hide their faces He was despised, and we did not appreciate His worth or have any esteem for Him. 4 Surely He has borne our griefs (sicknesses, weaknesses, and distresses) and carried our sorrows and pains [of punishment], yet we [ignorantly] considered Him stricken, smitten, and afflicted by God [as if with leprosy]. [Matt 8:17.] 5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our guilt and iniquities; the chastisement [needful to obtain] peace and well-being for us was upon Him, and with the stripes [that wounded] Him we are healed and made whole. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord has made to light upon Him the guilt and iniquity of us all. [1 Peter 2:24,25.]

By and through his beatings we are healed. A question we will look at a bit later is when we will be made whole. Today we are not made whole, as sickness abounds; certainly we may be healed from sickness or disease today, but sometimes it seems like we just get sick again tomorrow.

Isa 53:7-12 He was oppressed, [yet when] He was afflicted, He was submissive and opened not His mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He opened not His mouth. 8 By oppression and judgment He was taken away; and as for His generation, who among them considered that He was cut off out of the land of the living [stricken to His death] for the transgression of my [Isaiah's] people, to whom the stroke was due? 9 And they assigned Him a grave with the wicked, and with a rich man in His death, although He had done no violence, neither was any deceit in His mouth. [Matt 27:57-60; 1 Peter 2:22,23.] 10 Yet it was the will of the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief and made Him sick. When You and He make His life an offering for sin [and He has risen from the dead, in time to come], He shall see His [spiritual] offspring, He shall prolong His days, and the will and pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand. 11 He shall see [the fruit] of the travail of His soul and be satisfied; by His knowledge of Himself [which He possesses and imparts to others] shall My [uncompromisingly] righteous One, My Servant, justify many and make many righteous (upright and in right standing with God), for He shall bear their iniquities and their guilt [with the consequences, says the Lord]. 12 Therefore will I divide Him a portion with the great [kings and rulers], and He shall divide the spoil with the mighty, because He poured out His life unto death, and [He let Himself] be regarded as a criminal and be numbered with the transgressors; yet He bore [and took away] the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors (the rebellious). [Luke 22:37.] AMP

What we see is that before Jesus was crucified, he did not look like one of the Elohim. People had no problem identifying angels, but Jesus didn’t look like an angel. Abraham and Moses recognized Yahweh/Jehovah, but when he came to earth in human form no one could understand it was the same one that Moses and Abraham knew. That is why Jesus announced himself to the Pharisees as I AM. He didn’t look any different than any other human, he looked ordinary. When he was beaten he was so badly disfigured that people couldn’t even look at him on the way to Golgotha. While technically we know that the Jews did not beat him, clearly they forced the hands of the Romans to beat him. He endured this not only for us, but for the Jews as verse 8 tells us. He is the only atonement for sin today and it pleased the Heavenly Father to bruise him. Do you understand that the accuser, satan, had been accusing the Jews before the throne of God on the mount of the congregation for years, and legally the only way to take away their sins was to offer someone who was sinless. After his crucifixion, Jesus rescued the righteous, redeemed dead, those who died believing the Messiah would come, and took them out of Hades. Jesus then took the keys to hell and death and opened Paradise for the righteous redeemed people who believe on Jesus as Messiah.

But what will Jesus look like on the day of redemption? He will look like a lamb who was slaughtered.

Rev 5:6 And there between the throne and the four living creatures (beings) and among the elders [of the heavenly Sanhedrin] I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain [4969], with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God [the sevenfold Holy Spirit] Who have been sent [on duty far and wide] into all the earth. [Isa 53:7; Zech 3:8,9; 4:10.] AMP

NT:4969 sphazo (sfad'-zo); a primary verb; to butcher (especially an animal for food or in sacrifice) or (generally) to slaughter, or (specifically) to maim (violently):KJV - kill, slay, wound.(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 need to add to what we know so far. Let’s look at the prophetic foretelling of Jesus’ crucifixion from Psalms 22.

Ps 22:1 MY GOD, my God, why have You forsaken me? Why are You so far from helping me, and from the words of my groaning? [Matt 27:46.] AMP

Remember these words were spoken on the cross. How could David have written the words Jesus would speak on the cross?

Ps 22:6-10 But I am a worm, and no man; I am the scorn of men, and despised by the people. [Matt 27:39-44.] 7 All who see me laugh at me and mock me; they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, [Matt 27:43.] 8 He trusted and rolled himself on the Lord, that He would deliver him. Let Him deliver him, seeing that He delights in him! [Matt 27:39,43; Mark 15:29,30; Luke 23:35.] 9 Yet You are He Who took me out of the womb; You made me hope and trust when I was on my mother's breasts. 10 I was cast upon You from my very birth; from my mother's womb You have been my God. AMP

In verse 9 we are shown Jesus’ human beginnings. When we look ahead to verse 14 we see that Jesus’ bones were out of joint, which must have caused great pain.

Ps 22:14-18 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart is like wax; it is softened [with anguish] and melted down within me. 15 My strength is dried up like a fragment of clay pottery; [with thirst] my tongue cleaves to my jaws; and You have brought me into the dust of death. [John 19:28.] 16 For [like a pack of] dogs they have encompassed me; a company of evildoers has encircled me, they pierced my hands and my feet. [Isa 53:7; John 19:37.] 17 I can count all my bones; [the evildoers] gaze at me. [Luke 23:27,35.] 18 They part my clothing among them and cast lots for my raiment (a long, shirtlike garment, a seamless undertunic). [John 19:23,24.] AMP

Verse 16 has a Masoretic alteration in some texts which eliminates the word pierced and changes this section to: (16) Dogs are all around me, a pack of villains closes in on me like a lion [at] my hands and feet https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+22&version=CJB  Such alterations were done to disqualify Jesus as Messiah.

Ps 22:22 I will declare Your name to my brethren; in the midst of the congregation will I praise You. [John 20:17; Rom 8:29; Heb 2:12.] AMP
Ps 22:31 They shall come and shall declare His righteousness to a people yet to be born — that He has done it [that it is finished]! [John 19:30.] AMP

After Jesus’ resurrection he still didn’t look like a supermodel. Jesus still bears the marks of a back that was whipped, hands/wrists and feet/ankles that were impaled with stakes, and a hole in his side. He also bears the marks of a face that was beaten beyond the recognition of human form, with chunks of his beard missing from his face. Jesus also has scars on his head from the crown of thorns that were pounded into his scalp. He looks like he was slaughtered. We will be surprised on the day of redemption to see a man who was slain rather than a blond haired, blue eyed, renaissance type portrait of a man. In today’s world of image, fashion, and beauty, Jesus’ grotesque look will be shocking to everyone.

On the road to Emmaus the two disciples didn’t recognize him, he didn’t look the same, but also, he was wearing a coat, which had a hood. Many cultures think it is rude to look into someone’s eyes, so they probably all looked down at the ground while walking. It wasn’t until Jesus lifted his hands to bless the bread that they saw the nail holes in his wrists while his hood probably slipped back exposing his face.

Luke 24:16 But their eyes were held, so that they did not recognize Him. AMP
Luke 24:30-31 And it occurred that as He reclined at table with them, He took [a loaf of] bread and praised [God] and gave thanks and asked a blessing, and then broke it and was giving it to them 31 When their eyes were [instantly] opened and they [clearly] recognized Him, and He vanished (departed invisibly). AMP

A short while later, Jesus popped in on the disciples and showed them his hands and feet. That tells us they still had holes in them. So even if they couldn’t recognize his face, they knew him by his hands and feet.

Luke 24:38-40 And He said to them, Why are you disturbed and troubled, and why do such doubts and questionings arise in your hearts? 39 See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself! Feel and handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones, as you see that I have. 40 And when He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet. AMP

We also know that Thomas actually touched Jesus in his resurrected body.

John 20:27-29 Then He said to Thomas, Reach out your finger here, and see My hands; and put out your hand and place [it] in My side. Do not be faithless and incredulous, but [stop your unbelief and] believe! 28 Thomas answered Him, My Lord and my God! 29 Jesus said to him, Because you have seen Me, Thomas, do you now believe (trust, have faith)? Blessed and happy and to be envied are those who have never seen Me and yet have believed and adhered to and trusted and relied on Me. AMP

Jesus probably isn’t still bruised and bloody but he most certainly bears the marks of disfigurement. Let’s look closely at what John says about Jesus’ appearance when John was on Patmos. John heard a voice and saw a man with a long robe on.

Rev 1:12-17 Then I turned to see [whose was] the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 And in the midst of the lampstands [One] like a Son of Man, clothed with a robe which reached to His feet and with a girdle of gold about His breast. [Dan 7:13; 10:5.] 14 His head and His hair were white like white wool, [as white] as snow, and His eyes [flashed] like a flame of fire. [Dan 7:9.] 15 His feet glowed like burnished (bright) bronze as it is refined in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters. [Dan 10:6.] 16 In His right hand He held seven stars, and from His mouth there came forth a sharp two-edged sword, and His face was like the sun shining in full power at midday. [Ex 34:29.] 17 When I saw Him, I fell at His feet as if dead. But He laid His right hand on me and said, Do not be afraid! I am the First and the Last, [Isa 44:6.] AMP

Jesus’ hair was white as wool or snow, and his eyes flash like flames. Jesus may have looked as bright as the sun, and the brightness was centered around his head as his feet were like polished bronze. Jesus simply glowed. John, who surely saw him in his resurrected body, didn’t wonder who he was, however Jesus’ glory was very bright. John doesn’t tell us that Jesus had holes in his wrists or feet, or flesh pulled off his cheek. Yet John’s description speaks of Jesus’ beauty. This is not the beauty of the world, but the beauty of our resurrected Lord and Savior. Just a short time later, as the redeemed have been gathered on the day of redemption and are awaiting the one who can open the seals, the only worthy one looks like he was butchered. Yet instead of weeping and wailing, the redeemed who are the episunogogue or the above assembly, start singing about being redeemed by Jesus’ blood and being made to be kings and priests. That is a different picture of beauty than the world promotes today. What if what we are presented with in this world as beauty, is really not true beauty?

2 Cor 11:13-15 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works. NKJV

If satan transforms himself to look like an angel of light, and his people on earth who sell out to satan’s power can transform themselves to look like apostles and ministers, then we certainly know that what we have been schooled to think regarding Jesus’ appearance of a blond haired, blue eyed handsome man is not accurate. The devil has pushed the world into believing in his idea of beauty which is always the opposite of God’s idea of beauty. Now having said that, many people have seen visions of Jesus, but let’s remember, Jesus knows where we are in our belief and maturity. If Jesus appeared to people as a man who was murdered, most people wouldn’t’ know what to think. Also, keep in mind our limited dimensionality. In our three/four dimensions Jesus had to come back with flesh and bone, but outside our limited dimensions he does not need flesh and bone. On the day of redemption, the day Jesus calls from the clouds, every eye will see him, and what will he look like?

1 John 3:2 Beloved, we are [even here and] now God's children; it is not yet disclosed (made clear) what we shall be [hereafter], but we know that when He comes and is manifested, we shall [as God's children] resemble and be like Him, for we shall see Him just as He [really] is. AMP

We will see Jesus in his glorious resurrected multi-dimensional body, which while bright and glowing, bears the marks of a brutal killing. What is beauty, the smoothed skinned individual, with flowing golden brown hair or the scarred, disjointed body with holes, and a face that looks marred? This brings up Jesus’s words regarding entering life without body parts if those body parts would cause you to go to hell.

Mark 9:43-48 And if your hand puts a stumbling block before you and causes you to sin, cut it off! It is more profitable and wholesome for you to go into life [that is really worthwhile] maimed than with two hands to go to hell (Gehenna), into the fire that cannot be put out. 45 And if your foot is a cause of stumbling and sin to you, cut it off! It is more profitable and wholesome for you to enter into life [that is really worthwhile] crippled than, having two feet, to be cast into hell (Gehenna). 47 And if your eye causes you to stumble and sin, pluck it out! It is more profitable and wholesome for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell (Gehenna), 48 Where their worm [which preys on the inhabitants and is a symbol of the wounds inflicted on the man himself by his sins] does not die, and the fire is not put out. [Isa 66:24.] AMP

Leaving a body part behind in this context is a soul issue. If we have sin, we need to control ourselves; and if controlling our sin means cutting off a hand or foot, it is better to do it then to keep on sinning and end up in hell. Our life in the millennial kingdom is determined by how much of our soul we put into subjection to our spirit. The righteous redeemed dead will have no pain or torment in Paradise, and their spirit and soul will enter the kingdom of heaven in whatever condition their body was in on earth. When we previously looked at Paul and Ignatius, the first century pillars of faith, they both had no concern about being martyred. Polycarp was burned alive, and John was boiled in oil although he didn’t die from that but of old age. They will wear the appearance of their martyrdom in Paradise, yet they will also be clothed in glory. In his resurrected body, Jesus ate, drank, and walked through walls, but scripture clearly shows that he still had holes in his body. And as he told the disciples, a ghost does not have flesh and bones. Notice Jesus didn’t say anything about blood, just flesh and bones.  Yet Paul says flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, 1 Corinthians 15:50. On earth, Jesus came back with flesh and bone for forty days, to witness his resurrection. His resurrected body had a multi-dimensional ability as our new bodies will have when we come back to earth with him to war for Israel. http://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2012/12/our-new-bodies-sagittarius-jesus-coming.html

Jesus is not the only one who was raised from the dead, there are other people recorded in both the Old and New Testaments who have been raised from the dead. The difference is that all the others eventually died again, but Jesus is still alive. Some of the heroes of the faith will enter into life without body parts, but again that will not impair them in the future kingdom.

Heb 11:35-40 [Some] women received again their dead by a resurrection. Others were tortured to death with clubs, refusing to accept release [offered on the terms of denying their faith], so that they might be resurrected to a better life. [1 Kings 17:17-24; 2 Kings 4:25-37.] 36 Others had to suffer the trial of mocking and scourging and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned to death; they were lured with tempting offers [to renounce their faith]; they were sawn asunder; they were slaughtered by the sword; [while they were alive] they had to go about wrapped in the skins of sheep and goats, utterly destitute, oppressed, cruelly treated —  38 [Men] of whom the world was not worthy — roaming over the desolate places and the mountains, and [living] in caves and caverns and holes of the earth. 39 And all of these, though they won divine approval by [means of] their faith, did not receive the fulfillment of what was promised, 40 Because God had us in mind and had something better and greater in view for us, so that they [these heroes and heroines of faith] should not come to perfection apart from us [before we could join them]. AMP

These people won divine approval by their faith, but they have not been made perfect just yet because of us. The number of Gentiles hasn’t been fulfilled yet. There is a resurrection of the dead, but by the time Paul wrote to the Corinthians, people had mistakenly thought the dead were not going to rise.

1 Cor 15:16-20 For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised; 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is mere delusion [futile, fruitless], and you are still in your sins [under the control and penalty of sin]; 18 And further, those who have died in [spiritual fellowship and union with] Christ have perished (are lost)! 19 If we who are [abiding] in Christ have hope only in this life and that is all, then we are of all people most miserable and to be pitied. 20 But the fact is that Christ (the Messiah) has been raised from the dead, and He became the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep [in death]. AMP

The dead are not asleep, as in not being conscious, but their bodies look as if they are sleeping when they are laid in the grave. However, they are very much alive, as Jesus told us. God is not the God of the dead but of the living. The issue is that we are three part beings, spirit, soul, and body. We have three parts, the body does not enter the kingdom, but the spirit and soul do. The spirit of man is either made alive through Christ or is unsaved. That determines where you go upon physical death. Your soul is connected to your reward and position in the kingdom. The bride qualifies to come back with Jesus at the end of the tribulation because of his/her actions on earth. Pluck out your eye if it might keep you from the blessings of God, that is what Jesus was communicating. The physical body decays in the earth, the soul is an impression of the body it lived in. Jesus says God is the God of the living.  

Mark 12:25-27 For when they arise from among the dead, [men] do not marry nor are [women] given in marriage, but are like the angels in heaven. 26 But concerning the dead being raised — have you not read in the book of Moses, [in the passage] about the [burning] bush, how God said to him, I am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob? [Ex 3:2-6.] 27 He is not the God of [the] dead, but of [the] living! You are very wrong. AMP

Understand that when we rise we will be like the angels. Angels have bodies when they come to earth, but they are not like ours (Jude said the fallen ones left their own habitation meaning their angelic bodies). In Moses’ day, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were dead, however they were not asleep, or unconscious, they were alive and are still awaiting the resurrection. The understanding that the dead are awaiting the resurrection and are quite alive is not a new idea. In Job we find a missing section of scripture in the very last verse that indicates the resurrection was well known. Some people suspect Moses to have written the book of Job, and some believe that it was one of the first books written, even before Genesis. With that in mind, resurrection is not a new idea. Let’s note the last section of the last verse in the book of Job.   

Job 42:16 And Job lived after his affliction a hundred and seventy years: and all the years he lived were two hundred and forty: and Job saw his sons and his sons’ sons, the fourth generation. 17 And Job died, an old man and full of days: and it is written that he will rise again with those whom the Lord raises up.

[ job.42.17 ] και [AND] ετελευτησεν [CAME TO AN END] ιωβ [IOB] πρεσβυτερος [AN OLD MAN] και [AND] πληρης [FULL] ημερων [DAYS] γεγραπται [IT IS WRITTEN] δε [BUT] αυτον [HIM] παλιν [AGAIN] Top of Formαναστησεσθαι [ANASTEHSESTHAI] μεθ [AFTER] ων [WHICH] ο [THE] κυριος [THE LORD] ανιστησιν [ANISTEHSIN] ουτος [HE] ερμηνευεται [ERMEHNEUETAI] εκ [ON]
Top of Form

These Greek words in the New Testament for resurrection and rise are the same words that we see in Job.

NT:386 anastasis (an-as'-tas-is); from NT:450; a standing up again, i.e. (literally) a resurrection from death (individual, genitive case or by implication [its author]), or (figuratively) a (moral) recovery (of spiritual truth):KJV - raised to life again, resurrection, rise from the dead, that should rise, rising again.(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:450 anistemi (an-is'-tay-mee); from NT:303 and NT:2476; to stand up (literal or figurative, transitive or intransitive): KJV - arise, lift up, raise up (again), rise (again), stand up (-right).(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 brings us to the understanding that the dead are not dead but alive and awaiting the resurrection of the dead; when the dead in Christ rise first then the living are caught up with them. That is what Jesus said in Mark 12. Job was a righteous man and through all the trials he had he did not curse or blame God. Job was accused by the accuser of the brethren and made it through the trials to be announced as one who will rise again when the Lord raises his called out. Paul has to deal with this issue of the dead and the future resurrection when talking to the Corinthians because there was obviously some confusion.

We are not lost if we are in union with Christ, that is our hope. Paul tells us that Jesus was the first one raised and we know that when Jesus was in the grave he was not asleep, but witnessing to the imprisoned spirits, setting the captives free, and taking back the keys to hell and death. Jesus did all these things with a marred and scarred body.

1 Cor 15:21-23 For since [it was] through a man that death [came into the world, it is] also through a Man that the resurrection [386] of the dead [has come]. 22 For just as [because of their union of nature] in Adam all people die, so also [by virtue of their union of nature] shall all in Christ be made alive. 23 But each in his own rank and turn: Christ (the Messiah) [is] the firstfruits, then those who are Christ's [own will be resurrected] [386] at His coming. AMP

One day our bodies will be transformed like Jesus’ body. On the day of redemption we will be conformed to be like him, but we will look the way we do now. However, as we have previously studied we will have new bodies. Bodies that defy the dimensions we are limited to now. Those bodies are the ones that are invincible in the end time battle when we come back with Jesus just before Jesus’ millennial kingdom begins.

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

Jesus’ body is glorious, even if he looks like a lamb that was murdered. Jesus will rule and reign and everyone will see and know that he was the one crucified. Our first look at Jesus may be a surprise as we might be expecting our Messiah to look like a supermodel, but we will know exactly who he is. Imagine his reign as King of kings and Lord of lords, when everyone knows and sees him the way he really is. Imagine the reaction of those who disbelieved Jesus was the Messiah and had him beaten and crucified. Everyone will see what he endured for every human being on earth. On the Day of Lord, at the end of the tribulation people will see him and mourn. Let’s close with Zechariah. 


Zech 12:10 And I will pour out upon the house of David and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace or unmerited favor and supplication. And they shall look [earnestly] upon Me Whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for Him as one who is in bitterness for his firstborn. [John 19:37; Rev 1:7.] AMP