4 Horsemen of Peace, 4 Horsemen of Apocalypse; the 4 Winds; Standing Before the Lord; Watchers

Is the sky really falling or is it just an acorn? Actually it’s just an acorn. Timing is everything, and before peace is taken off the earth several events must take place. Before any of the seals of the scrolls are opened, the redeemed are in heaven waiting to see who is worthy to open them. When the Lamb who looks as if he was killed comes forward, the redeemed sing a new song about being redeemed by his blood and are made into kings and priests. There are no other beings that are redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ, only humans can be redeemed by His blood. Once that takes place, Jesus is given the scroll and proceeds to open the seals. Each seal has an effect on the earth. We studied this a while back and I will post links to relevant blogs for further study. But what are the horsemen doing before they ride out during the start of the tribulation? They are keeping peace on the earth. If you happen to be upon the earth after the redeemed are taken up or harpazo’d, you will experience a time when peace will be taken off of the earth and you will see the mission of the four horsemen. But today, before the redeemed are taken up, harpazo’d, the horsemen have a mission to subdue evil and/or allow certain events. These four horsemen are also known as the four winds of heaven. The Hebrew can be a little confusing here as the Greek word for winds means winds of the four quarters, but the Hebrew changes the Greek word winds to spirit. In many cases the word for wind is indeed a spiritual being/s, but they should not be lumped into the category of spirit, they are a separate entity from Angels, Cherubim, Seraphim, Ophanim, etc, as we will see.

We will start in Zechariah, written during the southern kingdom’s captivity. This is important to remember. And while we see that there are wars taking place on the earth, overall they are nothing like what the people on earth will see when the seals are opened.

Zech 6:1 And I turned, and lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, four chariots coming out from between two mountains; and the mountains were brazen mountains. 2 In the first chariot were red horses; and in the second chariot black horses; 3 and in the third chariot white horses; and in the fourth chariot piebald and ash-coloured horses. 4 And I answered and said to the angel that talked with me, What are these, my Lord?

5 And the angel that talked with me answered and said, These are the four winds (417) of heaven, and they are going forth to stand before (3936) the Lord of all the earth. 6 As for the chariot in which were the black horses, they went out to the land of the north; and the white went out after them; and the piebald went out to the land of the south. 7 And the ash-coloured went out, and looked to go and compass the earth: and he said, Go, and compass the earth. And they compassed the earth.

3936 Dodson: παρίστημι I bring, present, come up to and stand by; I bring, present, prove, come up to and stand by, am present.

Strong's: παρίστημι, or prolonged παριστάνω to stand beside, i.e. (transitively) to exhibit, proffer, (specially), recommend, (figuratively) substantiate; or (intransitively) to be at hand (or ready), aid
Derivation: from G3844 and G2476; KJV Usage: assist, bring before, command, commend, give presently, present, prove, provide, shew, stand (before, by, here, up, with), yield.

We have four winds that ride chariots pulled by different colored horses. They are going somewhere. Clearly this is not a figure of speech that the wind is simply just blowing. The winds are going to present themselves before Yahweh. They compass the earth. Just to put a bit of science into perspective, the earth is a sphere, there are no corners. There are two jet streams, one in the northern hemisphere and one in the southern hemisphere, both flowing west to east. This is not what Zechariah is talking about. He is not talking about the natural weather patterns, he is talking about spirit beings that can bring wind but are part of the group called the “Sons of God”, Bene Elohim. They each have a quarter of the earth. If we remember our study on the Ophan, or Ophanim, we will remember they are “revolving ones”, beings that are spinning, transporting the glory of God in Ezekiel. They are not wheels but spirit beings with backs, eyes, eyebrows and hands; they can walk or spin. These four winds who ride on horses, present themselves before God, just like the other Sons of God present themselves at regularly scheduled times. 

Job 1:6 And it came to pass on a day, that behold, the angels of God came to stand (3936) before the Lord, and the devil came with them. 7 And the Lord said to the devil, Whence art thou come? And the devil answered the Lord, and said, I am come from compassing the earth, and walking up and down in the world

Job 2:1 And it came to pass on a certain day, that the angels of God came to stand (3936) before the Lord, and the devil came among them to stand (3936) before the Lord. http://ecmarsh.com/lxx/Job/index.htm

Looking back to our study from “The Secrets of Enoch”, we looked at the Ioanit Stations of Light. Enoch notes nine regiments of beings, all different. We can search for each of these beings and find them in the Bible, but Enoch lists them which makes them easier to understand. But every one of those beings are found in our Bible. We simply have to stop lumping everything into one big group. There are many spirit beings, that are sons of the Most High, and they all have different functions. We are not the center of the universe nor the only creation Yahweh has ever made. We are not even the center of the story, we are only a part of a bigger story. There is a bigger story going on around us. But this is why it is confusing for the Hebrew to list these four winds as spirit. They are not The Holy Spirit which is obvious as there are four beings. The Hebrew word ruach means “breath, wind, or spirit, yet in the Greek the word means wind and not just any wind. In the Greek there are words for south wind, breeze, blow, and spirit, as well as wind from the four quarters of the earth. What is the division of the four quarters of the earth? We don’t know, but this word for wind has a particular portion, one fourth, to inhabit.

http://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2014/03/obscure-violence-in-spiritual-realms.html

http://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2014/03/unseen-and-invisible-spiritual-world.html

417 ἄνεμος anemos an'-em-os From the base of G109; wind; (plural) by implication (the four) quarters (of the earth)

The four winds/horsemen/spiritual beings who are given a portion of the earth to guard and give account to the Lord sometimes work together as verse 8 suggests. Let’s go on.

Zech 6:8 And he cried out and spoke to me, saying, Behold, these go out to the land of the north, and they have quieted mine anger in the land of the north.

9 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 10 Take the things of the captivity from the chief men, and from the useful men of it, and from them that have understood it; and thou shalt enter in that day into the house of Josias the son of Sophonias that came out of Babylon. 11 And thou shalt take silver and gold, and make crowns, and thou shalt put them upon the head of Jesus the son of Josedec the high priest; 12 and thou shalt say to him, Thus saith the Lord Almighty;

Behold the man whose name is The Branch; and he shall spring up from his stem, and build the house of the Lord. 13 And he shall receive power, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and there shall be a priest on his right hand, and a peaceable counsel shall be between them both.

14 And the crown shall be to them that wait patiently, and to the useful men of the captivity, and to them that have known it, and for the favour of the son of Sophonias, and for a psalm in the house of the Lord. 15 And they that are far from them shall come and build in the house of the Lord, and ye shall know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to you: and this shall come to pass, if ye will diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord your God.

http://ecmarsh.com/lxx/Zacharias/index.htm

The four horsemen quieted the anger of the Lord in the Northern region by subduing the spiritual powers that were stirring there. The winds/horsemen were preparing the way for the captivity to end and the rebuilding of the temple. If we read this carefully, this prophecy tells us that the things these people will do are only a shadow of what Jesus Christ will do. Jesus the Messiah will build the house of the Lord and He shall rule.

Prior to this Zechariah saw the horsemen and asked about them.

Zech 1:8 I saw by night, and behold a man mounted on a red horse, and he stood between the shady mountains; and behind him were red horses, and grey, and piebald, and white. 9 And I said, What are these, my lord? And the angel spoke with me said to me, I will shew thee what these things are. 10 And the man that stood between the mountains answered, and said to me, These are they whom the Lord has sent forth to go round the earth. 11 And they answered the angel of the Lord that stood between the mountains, and said, We have gone round all the earth, and, behold, all the earth is inhabited, and is at rest.

12 Then the angel of the Lord answered and said, O Lord Almighty, how long wilt thou have no mercy on Jerusalem, and the cities of Juda, which thou has disregarded these seventy years? 

They are sent to go around the earth, reporting what they find. First the whole earth is inhabited. That means the whole earth, not just the Middle East, all the continents and the islands are inhabited. Secondly, the earth is at rest. While there have always been wars between tribes, at this time the whole earth was at rest. Take note that this was during the seventy year captivity in Babylon. Pretty soon Babylon would be overcome by Assyria. Remember Daniel reading Jeremiah and praying because he knew the captivity was almost over? Here we see the captivity coming to an end, a king named Cyrus will allow the Israelites to go back to Judah and rebuild the temple. It will be the temple of Nehemiah which will later be rebuilt as Herod’s temple. However this means that shortly there will be a war and the earth will not be at rest, at least not in Babylon.

Now take note here, the angel is asking Yahweh questions. Angels don’t know what is in the future, they desired to look into the time that the Holy Spirit would be poured out as Paul tells us. They have a function and a mission and they do not have future insight. Paul also told us we will judge them. Here, they seem to petition Yahweh for Jerusalem.

Zech 1:13 And the Lord Almighty answered the angel that spoke with me good words and consolatory sayings. 14 And the angel that spoke with me said to me, Cry out and say,

Thus saith the Lord Almighty; I have been jealous for Jerusalem and Sion with great jealousy. 15 And I am very angry with the heathen that combine to attack her: forasmuch as I indeed was a little angry, but they combined to attack her for evil. 16 Therefore thus saith the Lord: I will return to Jerusalem with compassion; and my house shall be rebuilt in her, saith the Lord Almighty, and a measuring line shall yet be stretched out over Jerusalem. 17 And the angel that spoke with me said to me, Cry yet, and say, Thus saith the Lord Almighty; Yet shall cities be spread abroad through prosperity; and the Lord shall yet have mercy upon Sion, and shall choose Jerusalem.

18 And I lifted up mine eyes and looked, and behold four horns. 19 And I said to the angel that spoke with me, What are these things, my lord? And he said to me, These are the horns that have scattered Juda, and Israel, and Jerusalem. 20 And the Lord shewed me four artificers. 21 And I said, What are these coming to do? And he said, These are the horns that scattered Juda, and they broke Israel in pieces, and none of them lifted up his head: and these are come forth to sharpen them for their hands, even the four horns, the nations that lifted up the horn against the land of the Lord to scatter it.

http://ecmarsh.com/lxx/Zacharias/index.htm

At the time of the Exodus, Yahweh calls the wind. Notice that the Greek says Moses stretched out the rod into the heaven, but the modern translations derived from the Masoretic text say Moses stretched out his rod over Egypt. Heaven is the correct word and it makes a huge difference.

Ex 10:13G2532And G1614Moses stretched out G* G3588the G4464rod G1519into G3588the G3772heaven, G2532and G2962the lord G1863brought G417[²wind G3558¹ the south] G1909upon G3588the G1093land G3650[²entire G3588 G2250³day G1565¹that] G2532and G3650entire G3588 G3571night. G4404In the morning G1096came G3588the G417[²wind G3588 G3558¹south] G353lifting up G3588the G200locust

Ex 10:13 And Moses stretched forth his rod over the land of Egypt, and the Lord brought an east wind upon the land all that day and all that night; when it was morning, the east wind brought the locusts. AMP

Moses submitted to heaven (Yahweh) he did not spiritually attack Egypt of his own accord. In other words, Moses submitted to Yahweh, Yahweh sent the wind. Moses did not point out Egypt as if to demand Yahweh do something to Egypt. That is the kind of thing that seems like a small error but we don’t demand that Yahweh serve us, we submit to Yahweh. This small error can have big consequences if we attempt to tell Yahweh what to do. He is The Creator, not a genie in a bottle.

David sings a song to the Lord, and notes the Lord was seen on the wings of the wind. But the Greek makes wind plural.

2 Sam 22:1 DAVID SPOKE to the Lord the words of this song on the day when the Lord delivered him from the hands of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul………11 He rode on a cherub and flew; He was seen upon the wings of the wind. AMP

2 Sam 22: 11G2532And G1910he mounted G1909upon G5502cherubim, G2532and G4070.3was spread out, G2532and G3708was seen G1909upon G3588the G4420wings G417of the winds

The Lord was spread out on the wings of the winds of the four quarters, the four horsemen. In the context of the temple, the gate keepers were stationed according to the four winds. Again there is a slight discrepancy here as the word winds is omitted.

1 Chron 9:22-24 All these chosen to be keepers at the thresholds were 212. These were enrolled by their genealogies in their villages [around Jerusalem], these men [whose grandfathers] David and Samuel the seer had established to their office of trust.23 So they and their sons had oversight of the gates of the Lord's house, that is, the house of the tabernacle, by wards. 24 The gatekeepers were stationed on the four sides [of the house of the Lord] — on the east, west, north, and south. AMP

1Chr 9: 24G2596[³according to G3588⁴the G5064⁵four G417⁶winds G1510.7.6²were stationed G4440.1¹ The gatekeepers] -- G2596according to G395the east, G2532and G2596according to G2281the west, G2532and G1005north, G2532and G3558south

On earth as it is in heaven, the gate keepers were stationed according to the four winds, the horsemen. Jeremiah notes that the Lord will bring the four winds to scatter the nation of Elam.

Jer 49:36 And upon Elam will I bring the four winds from the four corners of heaven; and I will scatter them toward all those winds, and there will be no nation to which the outcasts of Elam will not come. AMP

At the same time period Zechariah records for the people to come out of land of the north. Again some discrepancy here between the modern and the Greek translations.

Zech 2:6 Ho! ho! [Hear and] flee from the land of the north, says the Lord, and from the four winds of the heavens, for to them have I scattered you, says the Lord. AMP

Zech 2:6 G5599Oh, G5599Oh G5343flee G575from G1093the land G1005of the north! G3004says G2962the lord . G1360For G1537from out of G3588the G5064four G417winds G3588of the G3772heaven G4863I will gather G1473you, G3004says G2962the lord 

There is a difference between being scattered and being gathered. One is aggressive implying punishment, one is compassionate implying nurture. One is to fear the four winds, one is to recognize the help of the four winds. Notice this verse in Mark.

Mark 13:27 And then He will send out the angels and will gather together His elect (those He has picked out for Himself) from the four winds, from the farthest bounds of the earth to the farthest bounds of heaven. AMP

Gathering via the four winds is a good thing. This verse regarding the end of days helps us to understand which translation in Zechariah 2 is more accurate. Now also note here the disciples speculating just how it is the wind and sea obey Jesus.

Mark 4:39 And He arose and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, Hush now! Be still (muzzled)! And the wind ceased (sank to rest as if exhausted by its beating) and there was [immediately] a great calm (a perfect peacefulness). 40 He said to them, Why are you so timid and fearful? How is it that you have no faith (no firmly relying trust)? 41 And they were filled with great awe and feared exceedingly and said one to another, Who then is this, that even wind and sea obey Him? AMP

The wind and sea do obey him but so do the four horsemen of the apocalypse/the four winds that ride chariots. Second Ezra is an apocalyptic prophecy that matches events in Revelation. A huge multitude come from the four winds of heaven to subdue the one who comes out of the sea. http://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2013/04/apollyonabaddon-locusts-bound-spiritual.html

2 Esd 13:3-5 And I beheld, and, lo, that man waxed strong with the thousands of heaven: and when he turned his countenance to look, all the things trembled that were seen under him.4 And whensoever the voice went out of his mouth, all they burned that heard his voice, like as the earth faileth when it feeleth the fire.5 And after this I beheld, and, lo, there was gathered together a multitude of men, out of number, from the four winds of the heaven, to subdue the man that came out of the sea KJV

Now this is interesting, the four spiritual beings stationed at the four corners of the earth, the four horsemen, the four winds, actually hold back the earthly wind.

Rev 7:1 AFTER THIS I saw four angels stationed at the four corners of the earth, firmly holding back the four winds of the earth so that no wind should blow on the earth or sea or upon any tree. [Zech 6:5.] AMP

We might not understand this as we have another mistranslation to confuse us. But in Deuteronomy the nations were divided according to the number of angels of God. This means angels were assigned to the nations.

Deut 32:8 When the Most High divided the nations, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the nations according to the number of the angels of God. 9 And his people Jacob became the portion of the Lord, Israel was the line of his inheritance. http://ecmarsh.com/lxx/Deuteronomy/index.htm

Here is the Masoretic translation in the King James.

Deut 32:8-9 When the most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel.9 For the Lord's portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance. KJV

Here is the interlinear.

Deut 32:8G3753When G1266[³divided ⁵into parts G3588¹the G5310²highest G1484⁴nations], G5613as G1289he disseminated G5207the sons G*of Adam, G2476he set G3725the borders G1484of nations G2596according to G706the number G32of the angels G2316of God;

 9G2532and G1096[³became G3310⁴a portion G2962⁵ for the lord G2992¹his people G1473 G*²Jacob]. G4979.1[²is a piece of measured out land G2817³of his inheritance G1473 G*¹Israel].

http://studybible.info/ABP_Strongs/Deuteronomy%2032

Out of all the translations, the Message gets it right.

Deut 32:8-9 When the High God gave the nations their stake, gave them their place on Earth, He put each of the peoples within boundaries under the care of divine guardians. 9 But God himself took charge of his people, took Jacob on as his personal concern. (from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.)

We need to recognize what we have learned so far. There are beings called horsemen who ride chariots, also known as the four winds. There are Angels who petition Yahweh for Jerusalem. There are angels assigned to nations. These beings present themselves to Yahweh at scheduled times. So without mentioning other Sons of God, we see a group of spiritual beings who have a mission on the earth. What is the significance of these beings and their roles on earth?

We talked about the “Book of Jubilees”, that it was highly regarded in the Essene/Nazarene/Therapeutae communities and there were several translations found among their writings. It is written from the perspective of an angel speaking to Moses on Mt Sinai. Angels are taking note of things on the earth and are reporting it back to Yahweh on those regularly scheduled meetings on the Mount of the Congregation in the sides of the North.

Jubilees 4:4. And the Lord reproved Cain because of Abel, because he had slain him, and he made him a fugitive on the earth because of the blood of his brother, and he cursed him upon the earth. 5

5. And on this account it is written on the heavenly tables, "Cursed is he who smiteth his neighbour treacherously, and let all who have seen and heard say, So be it; and the man who hath seen and not declared (it), let him be accursed as the other." 6. And for this reason we announce when we come before the Lord our God all the sin which is committed in heaven and on earth, and in light and in darkness, and everywhere. http://www.sacred-texts.com/bib/jub/jub16.htm

The Watchers, a particular class of angelic being was to instruct the children of men. Let’s think this through for a moment. The people of the pre-flood era had instruction from spiritual beings to live better. Adam had to be taught how to grow food. But as Enoch notes, some started teaching knowledge of the wrong things. When the Sons of God come before the Lord they give an account of what is happening on the earth.

http://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2014/04/zombies-rephaim-valley-of-hinnom.html

http://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2015/04/sodom-part-2-inbred-witchcraft-blinded.html

Jubilees 4:15. And in the second week of the tenth jubilee Mahalalel took unto him to wife Dînâh, the daughter of Barâkî’êl the daughter of his father's brother, and she bare him a son in the third week in the sixth year, and he called his name Jared; for in his days the angels of the Lord descended on the earth, those who are named the Watchers, that they should instruct the children of men, and that they should do judgment and uprightness on the earth. http://www.sacred-texts.com/bib/jub/jub17.htm

Yet something happened, the Watchers sinned.

Jubilees 5:1 And it came to pass when the children of men began to multiply on the face of the earth and daughters were born unto them, that the angels of God saw them on a certain year of this jubilee, that they were beautiful to look upon; and they took themselves wives of all whom they chose, and they bare unto them sons and they were giants. 2. And lawlessness increased on the earth and all flesh corrupted its way, alike men and cattle and beasts and birds and everything that walketh on the earth-all of them corrupted their ways and their orders, and they began to devour each other, and lawlessness increased on the earth and every imagination of the thoughts of all men (was) thus evil continually.  3. And God looked upon the earth, and behold it was corrupt, and all flesh had corrupted its orders, and all that were upon the earth had wrought all manner of evil before His eyes. 4. And He said: "I shall destroy man and all flesh upon the face of the earth which I have created." 5. But Noah found grace before the eyes of the Lord.  6. And against the angels whom He had sent upon the earth, He was exceedingly wroth, and He gave commandment to root them out of all their dominion, and He bade us to bind them in the depths of the earth, and behold they are bound in the midst of them, and are (kept) separate. 7. And against their sons went forth a command from before His face that they should be smitten with the sword, and be removed from under heaven. 

Look at what happened to the Watchers that sinned, they were sent to the depths of the earth (Enoch tells us the same thing). But look at what is to happen to their offspring, they are to be killed by the sword and not given a place in heaven. Yikes. I am sure that as the fallen ones watched their children be killed they were heartbroken over their sins.

Jubilees 5:8. And He said "Thy spirit will not always abide on man; for they also are flesh and their days shall be one hundred and twenty years."

This does not mean men live for 120 years, it means that from that time, in 120 years there would be a flood that would kill everyone, all but eight people. Now notice the rest of this section. The Watchers saw the destruction of their offspring.  

Jubilees 5:9. And He sent His sword into their midst that each should slay his neighbour, and they began to slay each other till they all fell by the sword and were destroyed from the earth. 10. And their fathers were witnesses (of their destruction), and after this they were bound in the depths of the earth for ever, until the day of the great condemnation when judgment is executed on all those who have corrupted their ways and their works before the Lord. 11. And He †destroyed† all from their places, and there †was† not left one of them whom He judged not according to all their wickedness. 12. And He †made† for all His works a new and righteous nature, so that they should not sin in their whole nature for ever, but should be all righteous each in his kind alway. 13. And the judgment of all is ordained and written on the heavenly tables in righteousness--even (the judgment of) all who depart from the path which is ordained for them to walk in; and if they walk not therein judgment is written down for every creature and for every kind. http://www.sacred-texts.com/bib/jub/jub18.htm

What we have just noticed is a class of spiritual beings, Watchers, which caused humankind to become adulterated with their genetic makeup. They were not overlords for mankind but were teachers. Some sinned and caused trouble on the earth. The spirits of their offspring comprise the demonic class of spirit beings, working with the satan to entice humans to sin. On the other side of the spiritual realm the Creator placed several ruling classes of beings on earth to help and support humankind. But when the fullness of this age comes, the redeemed will be brought to heaven to prepare for the millennial kingdom. The only one worthy enough to open the seals to the document that has been written concerning future events is Jesus. When the seals are opened the four horsemen/four winds do not subdue evil spiritual beings but allow them to attack humanity, causing widespread death and destruction. This is only the beginning of the seven year period of trouble.

http://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2012/04/where-do-demons-come-from-casting-out.html

Rev 6:1-8 THEN I saw as the Lamb broke open one of the seven seals, and as if in a voice of thunder I heard one of the four living creatures call out, Come! 2 And I looked, and saw there a white horse whose rider carried a bow. And a crown was given him, and he rode forth conquering and to conquer. [Ps 45:4,5; Zech 1:8; 6:1-3.] 3 And when He broke the second seal, I heard the second living creature call out, Come! 4 And another horse came out, flaming red. And its rider was empowered to take the peace from the earth, so that men slaughtered one another; and he was given a huge sword. 5 When He broke open the third seal, I heard the third living creature call out, Come and look ! And I saw, and behold, a black horse, and in his hand the rider had a pair of scales (a balance). 6 And I heard what seemed to be a voice from the midst of the four living creatures, saying, A quart of wheat for a denarius [a whole day's wages], and three quarts of barley for a denarius; but do not harm the oil and the wine! [2 Kings 6:25.] 7 When the Lamb broke open the fourth seal, I heard the fourth living creature call out, Come! 8 So I looked, and behold, an ashy pale horse [black and blue as if made so by bruising], and its rider's name was Death, and Hades (the realm of the dead) followed him closely. And they were given authority and power over a fourth part of the earth to kill with the sword and with famine and with plague (pestilence, disease) and with wild beasts of the earth. [Ezek 5:12; Hos 13:14.] AMP

We are talking about a very specific period of time here. Too many false prophets have claimed some of the seals have already been opened, but we know that is not the case. Seal One has to be opened before Seal Two, and Seal Three has to be opened before Seal Four. They are listed numerically for a reason. Ordinal numbers imply order. In keeping with logic and good sense, we understand that the redeemed are not partakers on the earth at this time but are watching the seals being opened, praying and worshipping about being purchased by Jesus’ blood. This is the time of the revealing of who Jesus is which has been stolen and hidden by a kleptomaniac; the apocalypse. It is only a harsh and sorrowful time for those who rejected Jesus. This is why the Chicken Littles’ with predictions of cataclysms based on superstitions only serve to confuse humanity regarding Jesus as Messiah. (Who would be behind that?) Jesus comes for his own, he is building the temple and he doesn’t need bricks and mortar. 

http://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2013/09/apocalypse-revealing-what-has-been.html

http://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2014/06/seals-trumpets-and-beginning-of-sorrows.html

http://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-seals-opened-trumpets-sound-first.html

The four horsemen of peace keep peace on the earth and allow some unrest. While it seems there are wars and murders, and general evil everywhere, this is not global catastrophe. Some evil slips in because of the evil of mankind. Some evil is demonically inspired.  Some evil is allowed for a higher purpose. And when it happens to us, or is close to home it may feel like the tribulation has started. But realistically the fourth seal, if opened today, would kill 1,750,000,000 people. I think we would take notice if nearly 2 billion people died. The four winds that ride chariots with various colored horses have a mission to the earth now. They will continue it until the redeemed are called up. Meanwhile they present themselves to the Lord and announce the happenings of earth at regularly scheduled times. While we only see through a glass darkly, we realize angels also have no view of the future other than what is written in the Bible. The winds of the four quarters have assignments on the earth now and in the future their assignments are recorded so that we are fully aware of the earth’s future.

http://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2014/05/the-mysteries-of-heaven-heavenly.html

http://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2013/04/enoch-foretells-jesus-coming-how.html

http://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2013/04/becoming-like-angels-in-resurrection.html

http://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2014/05/the-mysteries-of-heaven-heavenly.html

http://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2012/02/throne-of-god-firmament-what-was.html

http://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-scapegoat-capricorn-mazzaroth.html

Feast of Weeks & Rainbows; Pentecost; Lost Calendar & A New Celebration

As we noticed a few weeks ago, Passover and Easter of 2016 are several weeks apart. Pentecost is not calculated as to when Easter falls, but as per Passover’s date. Therefore, Pentecost is June 11^th/12^th in 2016. However, it may be that we have misunderstood the origins of this holy day. We previously discussed the Essenes/Nazarenes/Therapeutaes and the Prophets initiating from Shem. Further study reveals that Noah, Shem’s father, was the originator of the Feast of Weeks. The Essenes at Qumran had several copies of the Book of Jubilees hidden in caves and they esteemed it very highly. Jubilees will give us some clues as to the origin of the holy day we call Pentecost.  

Also, to understand the perspective of the things that Jesus said, we have to read them in context. Not just the immediate context, but the remoter context. In some instances we split up the words that Jesus spoke, but they were recorded as Jesus spoke them in a particular time frame. Therefore it is better to look at the entire block of time that Jesus was speaking as the context to understand the meaning of his words. Jesus gave the disciples some very important information during and just after the last supper that he ate with them before his crucifixion. He reiterates “a command” several times and some have mistakenly taken this out of context to apply to the Mosaic Law. That is not the best way to interpret the written word given by the Holy Spirit. We will look at this as we near the day that the Holy Spirit was poured out upon the called out, because that outpouring would not have occurred if Jesus had not been offered up.

While it is not commonly understood in the church, Noah was the one who established the Feast of Weeks, Shavuot, later called Pentecost.

Gen 9:9-17 Behold, I establish My covenant or pledge with you and with your descendants after you 10 And with every living creature that is with you — whether the birds, the livestock, or the wild beasts of the earth along with you, as many as came out of the ark — every animal of the earth. 11 I will establish My covenant or pledge with you: Never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of a flood; neither shall there ever again be a flood to destroy the earth and make it corrupt. 12 And God said, This is the token of the covenant (solemn pledge) which I am making between Me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: 13 I set My bow [rainbow] in the cloud, and it shall be a token or sign of a covenant or solemn pledge between Me and the earth. 14 And it shall be that when I bring clouds over the earth and the bow [rainbow] is seen in the clouds, 15 I will [earnestly] remember My covenant or solemn pledge which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters will no more become a flood to destroy and make all flesh corrupt. 16 When the bow [rainbow] is in the clouds and I look upon it, I will [earnestly] remember the everlasting covenant or pledge between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth. 17 And God said to Noah, This [rainbow] is the token or sign of the covenant or solemn pledge which I have established between Me and all flesh upon the earth. AMP

The rainbow was the sign to Noah and his descendants to remember the flood and that Yahweh would not destroy the earth with water again. But the Book of Jubilees makes a few very important points we should consider. Jubilees was written from the perspective of an Angel giving Moses these instructions on Mount Sinai, Exodus 19. The Book of Jubilees records it this way, remember that the Angel is speaking to Moses.

Noah's Sacrifice; God's Covenant with him (cf. Gen. viii. 20-ix. 17). Instructions to Moses about eating of Blood, the Feast of Weeks, etc., and Division of the Year (vi. 1-38).

Jubilees VI 1. And on the new moon of the third month he went forth from the ark, and built an altar on that mountain.  2. And he made atonement for the earth, and took a kid and made atonement by its blood for all the guilt of the earth; for everything that had been on it had been destroyed, save those that were in the ark with Noah. 3. And he placed the fat thereof on the altar, and he took an ox, and a goat, and a sheep and kids, and salt, and a turtle-dove, and the young of a dove, and placed a burnt sacrifice on the altar, and poured thereon an offering mingled with oil, and sprinkled wine and strewed frankincense over everything, and caused a goodly savour to arise, acceptable before the Lord.  4. And the Lord smelt the goodly savour, and He made a covenant with him that there should not be any more a flood to destroy the earth;  that all the days of the earth seed-time and harvest should never cease; cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night should not change their order, nor cease for ever.  5. "And you, increase ye and multiply upon the earth, and become many upon it, and be a blessing upon it.  The fear of you and the dread of you I shall inspire in everything that is on earth and in the sea.  6. And behold I have given unto you all beasts, and all winged things, and everything that moveth on the earth, and the fish in the waters, and all things for food; as the green herbs, I have given you all things to eat.  7. But flesh, with the life thereof, with the blood, ye shall not eat; for the life of all flesh is in the blood, lest your blood of your lives be required. At the hand of every man, at the hand of every (beast), shall I require the blood of man.  8. Whoso sheddeth man's blood by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God made He man. 9. And you, increase ye, and multiply on the earth." 10. And Noah and his sons swore that they would not eat any blood that was in any flesh, and he made a covenant before the Lord God for ever throughout all the generations of the earth in this month. 11. On this account He spake to thee that thou shouldst make a covenant with the children of Israel in this month upon the mountain with an oath, and that thou shouldst sprinkle blood  upon them because of all the words of the covenant, which the Lord made with them for ever. 12. And this testimony is written concerning you that you should observe it continually, so that you should not eat on any day any blood of beasts or birds or cattle during all the days of the earth, and the man who eateth the blood of beast or of cattle or of birds during all the days of the earth, he and his seed shall be rooted out of the land. 13. And do thou command the children of Israel to eat no blood, so that their names and their seed may be before the Lord our God continually.  14. And for this law there is no limit of days, for it is for ever. They shall observe it throughout their generations, so that they may continue supplicating on your behalf with blood before the altar; every day and at the time of morning and evening they shall seek forgiveness on your behalf perpetually before the Lord that they may keep it and not be rooted out. 15 And He gave to Noah and his sons a sign that there should not again be a flood on the earth. 16. He set His bow in the cloud for a sign of the eternal covenant that there should not again be a flood on the earth to destroy it all the days of the earth.

Compare this section to Genesis 9, we can see that there is no contradiction between the Bible and Jubilees. Humans were not to shed the blood of other humans, or eat blood throughout the age. The covenant of the rainbow is an everlasting covenant, and this was the day that was to be remembered. Noah made a sacrifice offering for atonement; comparatively, Jesus is the sacrifice of atonement for us. Jesus’ innocent blood atones our sin. This was the day to remember, the new moon of the third month. Remember that Jesus died on the 14^th of Nisan, the first month. Sivan is the third month, and Noah’s day of celebration was on the new moon of that month. In 2016 however, the new moon of the third month is June 5^th.  Let’s go on.

Jubilees 6:17. For this reason it is ordained and written on the heavenly tables, that they should celebrate the feast of weeks  in this month once a year, to renew the covenant every year. 18. And this whole festival was celebrated in heaven from the day of creation till the days of Noah-twenty-six jubilees and five weeks of years: and Noah and his sons observed it for seven jubilees and one week of years, till the day of Noah's death, and from the day of Noah's death his sons did away with (it) until the days of Abraham, and they ate blood. 19. But Abraham observed it, and Isaac and Jacob and his children observed it up to thy days, and in thy days the children of Israel forgot it until ye celebrated it anew on this mountain.

Just to take notice of the numbers here, a week of years is one seven year cycle, and a jubilee is fifty years. 26 Jubilees is equal to 1,300 years, plus 5 seven year cycles, equals 1335 years of heavenly celebrations of this holy day. Yes, apparently they do party in heaven. Then after the exit from the ark, 7 jubilees equals 350, plus 1 seven week cycle equals 357 years.

Shem was Noah’s son, the one who started the school in Jebus for prophets and godly men. They observed this festival, but notice in the days of Abraham that the people ate blood. Those would be the days of Nimrod and forward. People forgot about this holy day, but Abraham, Isaac and Jacob observed it. Jacob’s children forgot about this festival while in Egypt but Moses was to reinstitute it. 

Jubilees 6:20. And do thou command the children of Israel to observe this festival in all their generations for a commandment unto them: one day in the year in this month they shall celebrate the festival. 21. For it is the feast of weeks and the feast of first-fruits:  this feast is twofold and of a double nature:  according to what is written and engraven concerning it celebrate it. 22. For I have written in the book of the first law, in that which I have written for thee, that thou shouldst celebrate it in its season, one day in the year, and I explained to thee its sacrifices that the children of Israel should remember and should celebrate it throughout their generations in this month, one day in every year. 23. And on the new moon of the first month, and on the new moon of the fourth month, and on the new moon of the seventh month, and on the new moon of the tenth month are the days of remembrance, and the days of the seasons in the four divisions of the year. These are written and ordained as a testimony for ever. 24. And Noah ordained them for himself as feasts for the generations for ever, so that they have become thereby a memorial unto him. 25. And on the new moon of the first month he was bidden to make for himself an ark, and on that (day) the earth became dry and he opened (the ark) and saw the earth. 26. And on the new moon of the fourth month the mouths of the depths of the abysses beneath were closed. And on the new moon of the seventh month all the mouths of the abysses of the earth were opened, and the waters began to descend into them.  27. And on the new moon of the tenth month the tops of the mountains were seen, and Noah was glad.  28. And on this account he ordained them for himself as feasts for a memorial for ever, and thus are they ordained. 29. And they placed them on the heavenly tables, each had thirteen weeks; from one to another (passed) their memorial, from the first to the second, and from the second to the third, and from the third to the fourth. 30. And all the days of the commandment will be two and fifty weeks of days, and (these will make) the entire year complete.  31. Thus it is engraven and ordained on the heavenly tables. And there is no neglecting (this commandment) for a single -year or from year to year.

Here is where the times and dates have to be noted. Jubilees notes 52 weeks (weeks of days is a one week cycle), and every thirteen weeks there is a holy day. That is four observed holy days per year, every thirteen weeks on the new moon. Now add this holy day in the third month on the new moon. This assumes a 364 day per year calendar, on a solar cycle. But other cultures observed days months and years differently. But by the time we get to Daniel in captivity, they were using a 360 day year on a lunar cycle. In modern times we added one whole day to make 365 days per year with a leap year every four years. But the modern Jewish calendar is on a lunar cycle, adding days to it to match up with the solar cycle, which in turn mixes up all the days and holy days.

Also notice here that the Angel says this holy day, the new moon of the third month, has a double meaning, it’s the day Noah left the ark, and the rainbow covenant, and the day Moses received these words on Sinai. Now this holy day has a quadruple meaning, we have to add the first wheat and the day that the Holy Spirit was poured out on humans. The Angel goes on.

Jubilees 6:32. And command thou the children of Israel that they observe the years according to this reckoning-three hundred and sixty-four days, and (these) will constitute a complete year, and they will not disturb its time from its days and from its feasts; for everything will fall out in them according to their testimony, and they will not leave out any day nor disturb any feasts. 

Notice that other events were supposed to take place on these holy days, the holy days have multiple reasons to celebrate. On Tishri 1, the new moon is the calendar New Year, Rosh Ha Shanna. It is also the day that the waters started to recede for Noah. It is also Jesus’ birth date. By this insight given to Moses, it would not be out of character for other significant holy days to have multiple observances. But in hindsight we can see that people did not stay true to these days and observances. This was something the Essenes/Nazarenes/Therapeutaes and Prophets viewed as a problem that needed to be rectified. We can see how holy day observances have lost some of their meanings and have been mixed with the practices of other nations.

Jubilees 6:33. But if they do neglect and do not observe them according to His commandment, then they will disturb all their seasons, and the years will be dislodged from this (order), [and they will disturb the seasons and the years will be dislodged] and they will neglect their ordinances. 34. And all the children of Israel will forget, and will not find the path of the years, and will forget the new moons, and seasons, and sabbaths, and they will go wrong as to all the order of the years. 

We know from the Masoretic period in history that the Masoretes actually deleted 240 years. The reason being was to make someone else the Messiah. So the Angel is correct in telling Moses that if they don’t observe these days they will disturb all the seasons and dislodge years. It is easy to trick people into believing the calendar is different if people haven’t been observing the holy days. The Jews have lost the path of years. They have gone wrong as to all the order of the years. Thankfully, Bible History students and secular historians can piece back together the distortions the rabbis created. Add 240 years back to the Jewish calendar (5776 + 240=6016) to get the accurate year. Look what is foretold.

Jubilees 6:35. For I know and from henceforth shall I declare it unto thee, and it is not of my own devising; for the book (lieth) written before me, and on the heavenly tables the division of days is ordained, lest they forget the feasts of the covenant and walk according to the feasts of the Gentiles after their error and after their ignorance. 36. For there will be those who will assuredly make observations of the moon--now (it) disturbeth the seasons and cometh in from year to year ten days too soon. 37. For this reason the years will come upon them when they will disturb (the order), and make an abominable (day) the day of testimony, and an unclean day a feast day, and they will confound all the days, the holy with the unclean, and the unclean day with the holy; for they will go wrong as to the months and sabbaths and feasts and jubilees. 38. For this reason I command and testify to thee that thou mayest testify to them; for after thy death thy children will disturb (them), so that they will not make the year three hundred and sixty-four days only, and for this reason they will go wrong as to the new moons and seasons and sabbaths and festivals, and they will eat all kinds of blood with all kinds of flesh.

It is interesting to see how emphatic the Angel was that because they will mix this up they will eat blood. It is understandable to note that Nimrod probably changed the calendar dating year as Babylon observed the 360 day year. But the Israelites were to observe 364 day years, and by the time of Moses, they had already stopped observing the months and new moon celebrations properly. This is what the Essenes wanted to get back to, but with limited communication technology, everyone followed the dominant system of the day. This was the danger of having people change the calendar, they would observe the wrong days. To Israel, Judaism was a law and a religion, as it is in part today. Islam is a law and a religion as well, but Christianity is not a law, it is a religion. Therefore Christianity can exist under any nation because it is only bound to one command, as Jesus will later tell us. Here are Moses’ commands.

Ex 34:22 You shall observe the Feast of Weeks, the firstfruits of the wheat harvest, and the Feast of Ingathering at the year's end.  AMP

Ex 34:22G2532And G1859a holiday G1439.1of a period of sevens G4160you shall observe G1473to me, G746the beginning G2326of the harvest G4447.1of wheat, G2532and G1859a holiday G4864gathering G3322being in the middle G3588of the G1763year

Lev 23:15-17 And you shall count from the day after the Sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering, seven Sabbaths; [seven full weeks] shall they be.  16 Count fifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath; then you shall present a cereal offering of new grain to the Lord.  17 You shall bring from your dwellings two loaves of bread to be waved, made from two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour; they shall be baked with leaven, for firstfruits to the Lord.  AMP

Yahweh had to give them different ways to determine the feast of weeks. Instead of the new moon of the third month, count 50 days from Passover. Now keep in mind our previous studies on Passover; the nation as a whole rarely observed Passover; from the time of Samuel, to once with Hezekiah, and once with Josiah. The temple became the place for all sorts of evil practices including male and female prostitution, worshipping of the stars and the cherubim, abortion, and fire rites. This is instruction given to Moses, and while they wandered for 40 years, they kept these observances while also worshipping the cherubim in the wilderness. But soon after they entered the Promised Land, they did not observe the proper feast days.

Deut 16:8-12 For six days you shall eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day there shall be a solemn assembly to the Lord your God; you shall do no work on it. 9 You shall count seven weeks; begin to number the seven weeks from the time you begin to put the sickle to the standing grain. 10 Then you shall keep the Feast of Weeks to the Lord your God with a tribute of a freewill offering from your hand, which you shall give to the Lord your God, as the Lord your God blesses you. 11 And you shall rejoice before the Lord your God, you and your son and daughter, your manservant and maidservant, and the Levite who is within your towns, the stranger or temporary resident, the fatherless, and the widow who are among you, at the place in which the Lord your God chooses to make His Name [and His Presence] dwell. 12 And you shall [earnestly] remember that you were a slave in Egypt, and you shall be watchful and obey these statutes. AMP

People were to mark the first fruit with a stick as it was growing; and at the time of the Feast of Weeks, Shavuot, they were to cut it off the plant and take that first fruit into the tabernacle as a free will offering. This is another “extra” holy day observance. Not simply the day they left the ark, or the day Moses received these words, but also the day to celebrate the first wheat or other fruit of the season, and then later, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

This is an interesting story from Tobit.

Tob 2:1-7 Now when I was come home again, and my wife Anna was restored unto me, with my son Tobias, in the feast of Pentecost, which is the holy feast of the seven weeks, there was a good dinner prepared me, in the which I sat down to eat.2 And when I saw abundance of meat, I said to my son, Go and bring what poor man soever thou shalt find out of our brethren, who is mindful of the Lord; and, lo, I tarry for thee.3 But he came again, and said, Father, one of our nation is strangled, and is cast out in the marketplace.4 Then before I had tasted of any meat, I started up, and took him up into a room until the going down of the sun.5 Then I returned, and washed myself, and ate my meat in heaviness,6 Remembering that prophecy of Amos, as he said, Your feasts shall be turned into mourning, and all your mirth into lamentation.7 Therefore I wept: and after the going down of the sun I went and made a grave, and buried him. KJV

Tobit was in captivity in Nineveh, but he was still observing the holy days. There in the streets of Nineveh was a murdered Israelite lying in the market place. Notice that Tobit was sincere in that he was doing what the Mosaic Law prescribed when he was going to share his food with a poor person. But there on a holy day lay a dead man in the market place. Why wasn’t anyone concerned about a strangled man in the market? Was it because the dead man was an Israelite and they were captives there? Tobit leaves his home to retrieve the dead man’s body, then he waits until sundown, washes (as per the cleansing rites of the law), and remembers Amos’ words. But on the Day of Pentecost, the day the Holy Spirit came, just as Jesus said, it once again became a feast day of celebration.

Acts 2:1-4 AND WHEN the day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all assembled together in one place, 2 When suddenly there came a sound from heaven like the rushing of a violent tempest blast, and it filled the whole house in which they were sitting. 3 And there appeared to them tongues resembling fire, which were separated and distributed and which settled on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled (diffused throughout their souls) with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other (different, foreign) languages (tongues), as the Spirit kept giving them clear and loud expression [in each tongue in appropriate words]. AMP

This feast day was a command to remember the covenant between Yahweh and Man marked by the Rainbow, the day Noah came out of the ark, the day Moses received the covenant on Sinai, the first fruits of the season, and the pouring out of the Holy Spirit. To prepare the disciples for the pouring out of the Holy Spirit Jesus told them what was about to take place, and he gave them one commandment to observe. The full context starts before Jesus’ last meal. Jesus knows what is to take place and he washes his disciple’s feet. John gives us a bit of back story here. 

John 13:1 [NOW] BEFORE the Passover Feast began, Jesus knew (was fully aware) that the time had come for Him to leave this world and return to the Father. And as He had loved those who were His own in the world, He loved them to the last and to the highest degree.

John 13:3-5 [That] Jesus, knowing (fully aware) that the Father had put everything into His hands, and that He had come from God and was [now] returning to God, 4 Got up from supper, took off His garments, and taking a [servant's] towel, He fastened it around His waist. 5 Then He poured water into the washbasin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the [servant's] towel with which He was girded. AMP

John 13:12-16 So when He had finished washing their feet and had put on His garments and had sat down again, He said to them, Do you understand what I have done to you? 13 You call Me the Teacher (Master) and the Lord, and you are right in doing so, for that is what I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher (Master), have washed your feet, you ought [it is your duty, you are under obligation, you owe it] to wash one another's feet. 15 For I have given you this as an example, so that you should do [in your turn] what I have done to you. 16 I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, A servant is not greater than his master, and no one who is sent is superior to the one who sent him. AMP

Jesus basically says ‘You owe it to one another to use my example and wash each other’s feet’. We should think this way today because it will be to our advantage if we do.  

John 13:17-20 If you know these things, blessed and happy and to be envied are you if you practice them [if you act accordingly and really do them]. 18 I am not speaking of and I do not mean all of you. I know whom I have chosen; but it is that the Scripture may be fulfilled, He who eats My bread with Me has raised up his heel against Me. [Ps 41:9.] 19 I tell you this now before it occurs, so that when it does take place you may be persuaded and believe that I am He [Who I say I am — the Christ, the Anointed One, the Messiah]. 20 I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, he who receives and welcomes and takes into his heart any messenger of Mine receives Me [in just that way]; and he who receives and welcomes and takes Me into his heart receives Him Who sent Me [in that same way]. AMP

After Judas leaves, Jesus continues his instruction.

John 13:31-38 When he had left, Jesus said, Now is the Son of Man glorified! [Now He has achieved His glory, His honor, His exaltation!] And God has been glorified through and in Him. 32 And if God is glorified through and in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and He will glorify Him at once and not delay. 33 [Dear] little children, I am to be with you only a little longer. You will look for Me and, as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: you are not able to come where I am going. 34 I give you a new commandment: that you should love one another. Just as I have loved you, so you too should love one another. 35 By this shall all [men] know that you are My disciples, if you love one another [if you keep on showing love among yourselves]. 36 Simon Peter said to Him, Lord, where are You going? Jesus answered, You are not able to follow Me now where I am going, but you shall follow Me afterwards. 37 Peter said to Him, Lord, why cannot I follow You now? I will lay down my life for You. 38 Jesus answered, Will you [really] lay down your life for Me? I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, before a rooster crows, you will deny Me [completely disown Me] three times. AMP

Jesus gave a new commandment, just like there would be a new reason to celebrate the upcoming holy days. Jesus’ death on Passover, as the perfect Passover lamb, is not a defeat, but a victory. His death and resurrection freed the dead redeemed from Hades, and cleansed the living redeemed. “You will follow Me afterwards”, meaning when we die, we will follow Him, but Peter could not follow him at that time until Jesus took back the keys to hell and death. Jesus then explains he is preparing a place for the redeemed.

John 14:1-7 DO NOT let your hearts be troubled (distressed, agitated). You believe in and adhere to and trust in and rely on God; believe in and adhere to and trust in and rely also on Me. 2 In My Father's house there are many dwelling places (homes). If it were not so, I would have told you; for I am going away to prepare a place for you. 3 And when (if) I go and make ready a place for you, I will come back again and will take you to Myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And [to the place] where I am going, you know the way. 5 Thomas said to Him, Lord, we do not know where You are going, so how can we know the way? 6 Jesus said to him, I am the Way and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except by (through) Me. 7 If you had known Me [had learned to recognize Me], you would also have known My Father. From now on, you know Him and have seen Him. AMP

We cannot get to the Heavenly Father unless we go through Jesus. We cannot cast Jesus aside and commune with the Father, we have to go through Jesus. Jesus is The Way, The Truth, and The Life. We cannot have audience with the Father unless we go through Jesus. Then Jesus brings up the command he gave them just a short time ago.

John 14:15 If you [really] love Me, you will keep (obey) My commands. AMP

We see that this is all part of the same conversation from John 13:1; the commands are to love one another and wash each other’s feet. They are all still in the same place eating, Judas left, and Jesus explains he is going to send the Spirit of Truth once he (Jesus) leaves. That Spirit of Truth is another comforter. Jesus was/is a comforter and the Holy Spirit is another comforter.

John 14:16-20 And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby), that He may remain with you forever —  17 The Spirit of Truth, Whom the world cannot receive (welcome, take to its heart), because it does not see Him or know and recognize Him. But you know and recognize Him, for He lives with you [constantly] and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans [comfortless, desolate, bereaved, forlorn, helpless]; I will come [back] to you. 19 Just a little while now, and the world will not see Me any more, but you will see Me; because I live, you will live also. 20 At that time [when that day comes] you will know [for yourselves] that I am in My Father, and you [are] in Me, and I [am] in you. AMP

He didn’t leave us forlorn or helpless, he sent the Holy Spirit, aka the Spirit of Truth, another comforter to help us. Then notice that when that day comes, the day he comes out of the grave, they will know he really is inside the Father and that those who believe on Jesus as Messiah are inside Jesus. And once again, he mentions his commands.

John 14:21 The person who has My commands and keeps them is the one who [really] loves Me; and whoever [really] loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I [too] will love him and will show (reveal, manifest) Myself to him. [I will let Myself be clearly seen by him and make Myself real to him.] AMP

Again, in the same context Jesus mentions the commandment he gave them, all three times they hinge on “if we really love Him”. First, if we keep his command to love one another, it will be a witness of being a disciple. Second, if we keep his command, we will have the Holy Spirit forever. Third, if we keep his command, we will be loved by the Father. If we really love him, we will keep his commands and he will reveal Himself to us. This is all in the same context as Jesus being the way, truth, and life. But he mentions keeping his commands again in just a bit. Jesus explains how he will reveal himself.

John 14:22-26 Judas, not Iscariot, asked Him, Lord, how is it that You will reveal Yourself [make Yourself real] to us and not to the world? 23 Jesus answered, If a person [really] loves Me, he will keep My word [obey My teaching]; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home (abode, special dwelling place) with him. 24 Anyone who does not [really] love Me does not observe and obey My teaching. And the teaching which you hear and heed is not Mine, but [comes] from the Father Who sent Me. 25 I have told you these things while I am still with you. 26 But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will cause you to recall (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance) everything I have told you. AMP

Anyone who does not really love Jesus does not observe and obey His teaching. Remember that we can’t bypass Jesus to get to the Father. Who are people claiming to be in relationship with? Is it someone other than Jesus? He told us this while he was still on earth and again reiterated the Holy Spirit would be poured out on those who really love Him and the Holy Spirit will remind them of Jesus’ words.

John 14:27-29 Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.] 28 You heard Me tell you, I am going away and I am coming [back] to you. If you [really] loved Me, you would have been glad, because I am going to the Father; for the Father is greater and mightier than I am. 29 And now I have told you [this] before it occurs, so that when it does take place you may believe and have faith in and rely on Me. AMP

Do not be afraid, he arose. Do not be disturbed, he arose. Do not be agitated, he arose. Do not be troubled, he arose. Jesus defeated death, do not be fearful or intimidated. During the same evening Jesus then remarks that the prince of this world is coming. Do not be afraid, the prince of this world has nothing in those who really love Jesus.

John 14:30-31 I will not talk with you much more, for the prince (evil genius, ruler) of the world is coming. And he has no claim on Me. [He has nothing in common with Me; there is nothing in Me that belongs to him, and he has no power over Me.] 31 But [Satan is coming and] I do as the Father has commanded Me, so that the world may know (be convinced) that I love the Father and that I do only what the Father has instructed Me to do. [I act in full agreement with His orders.] Rise, let us go away from here. AMP

Now they get up and start walking to the garden of Gethsemane. Appropriately, Jesus starts using the description of vines.

John 15:1-8 I AM the True Vine, and My Father is the Vinedresser. 2 Any branch in Me that does not bear fruit [that stops bearing] He cuts away (trims off, takes away); and He cleanses and repeatedly prunes every branch that continues to bear fruit, to make it bear more and richer and more excellent fruit. 3 You are cleansed and pruned already, because of the word which I have given you [the teachings I have discussed with you]. 4 Dwell in Me, and I will dwell in you. [Live in Me, and I will live in you.] Just as no branch can bear fruit of itself without abiding in (being vitally united to) the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you abide in Me. 5 I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much (abundant) fruit. However, apart from Me [cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing. 6 If a person does not dwell in Me, he is thrown out like a [broken-off] branch, and withers; such branches are gathered up and thrown into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you live in Me [abide vitally united to Me] and My words remain in you and continue to live in your hearts, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you. 8 When you bear (produce) much fruit, My Father is honored and glorified, and you show and prove yourselves to be true followers of Mine. AMP

More great words for us to hide in our hearts, Jesus using the idea of vines and branches inspires us to live in Him. As they walked along, they probably recognized trees, vines, broken branches, and fruit. And again Jesus brings up the importance of keeping His command.

John 15:9-14 I have loved you, [just] as the Father has loved Me; abide in My love [continue in His love with Me]. 10 If you keep My commandments [if you continue to obey My instructions], you will abide in My love and live on in it, just as I have obeyed My Father's commandments and live on in His love. 11 I have told you these things, that My joy and delight may be in you, and that your joy and gladness may be of full measure and complete and overflowing. 12 This is My commandment: that you love one another [just] as I have loved you. 13 No one has greater love [no one has shown stronger affection] than to lay down (give up) his own life for his friends. 14 You are My friends if you keep on doing the things which I command you to do. AMP

Now, if we really love him, we will abide in His love and live on in it just like Jesus lives on in the Father’s love. And lastly we will lay down our lives for our friends as Jesus laid down his life for his friends. Let’s review the aspects of keeping Jesus’ commands. 1) Others will know we are His disciples; 2) We will receive the Holy Spirit; 3) We will be loved by the Father and Jesus will reveal himself to us; 4) We will abide in and live in His love; 5) We will be His friends. There is one more coming up shortly.

Over the course of the evening Jesus explained all of these aspects of his new commandment and the new reason to celebrate the Feast of Weeks. Of all the reasons to celebrate this holy day, the coming of the Holy Spirit is the most significant for our day and time. This is one of the most un-observed days in the church, but notice how important it is. Jesus goes on.

John 15:15-18 I do not call you servants (slaves) any longer, for the servant does not know what his master is doing (working out). But I have called you My friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from My Father. [I have revealed to you everything that I have learned from Him.] 16 You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you and I have appointed you [I have planted you], that you might go and bear fruit and keep on bearing, and that your fruit may be lasting [that it may remain, abide], so that whatever you ask the Father in My Name [as presenting all that I AM], He may give it to you. 17 This is what I command you: that you love one another. 18 If the world hates you, know that it hated Me before it hated you. AMP

Another reminder, associating this to the vines and bearing fruit, love one another. The 6^th aspect of this command is that the world will hate us like it hated Jesus. But notice how Jesus wraps this whole discourse up by circling back to the beginning, discussing being servants to each other with the washing of feet. It’s the same evening, they are walking towards the brook Kidron.  

John 15:19-22 If you belonged to the world, the world would treat you with affection and would love you as its own. But because you are not of the world [no longer one with it], but I have chosen (selected) you out of the world, the world hates (detests) you. 20 Remember that I told you, A servant is not greater than his master [is not superior to him]. If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word and obeyed My teachings, they will also keep and obey yours. 21 But they will do all this to you [inflict all this suffering on you] because of [your bearing] My name and on My account, for they do not know or understand the One Who sent Me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin [would be blameless]; but now they have no excuse for their sin. AMP

The lost sheep Jesus came to speak to have no excuse for their sin. They hated the miracles he did, but they also hate the Father. Jesus is the only way to the Father. When the Holy Spirit comes, he will testify of Jesus.

John 15:23-27 Whoever hates Me also hates My Father. 24 If I had not done (accomplished) among them the works which no one else ever did, they would not be guilty of sin. But [the fact is] now they have both seen [these works] and have hated both Me and My Father. 25 But [this is so] that the word written in their Law might be fulfilled, They hated Me without a cause. [Ps 35:19; 69:4.] 26 But when the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener, Standby) comes, Whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of Truth Who comes (proceeds) from the Father, He [Himself] will testify regarding Me. 27 But you also will testify and be My witnesses, because you have been with Me from the beginning. AMP

Jesus reveals more to the disciples of the Holy Spirits’ ministry on the earth.

John 16:5-16 But now I am going to Him Who sent Me, yet none of you asks Me, Where are You going? 6 But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your hearts [taken complete possession of them]. 7 However, I am telling you nothing but the truth when I say it is profitable (good, expedient, advantageous) for you that I go away. Because if I do not go away, the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener, Standby) will not come to you [into close fellowship with you]; but if I go away, I will send Him to you [to be in close fellowship with you]. 8 And when He comes, He will convict and convince the world and bring demonstration to it about sin and about righteousness (uprightness of heart and right standing with God) and about judgment: 9 About sin, because they do not believe in Me [trust in, rely on, and adhere to Me]; 10 About righteousness (uprightness of heart and right standing with God), because I go to My Father, and you will see Me no longer; 11 About judgment, because the ruler (evil genius, prince) of this world [Satan] is judged and condemned and sentence already is passed upon him. 12 I have still many things to say to you, but you are not able to bear them or to take them upon you or to grasp them now. 13 But when He, the Spirit of Truth (the Truth-giving Spirit) comes, He will guide you into all the Truth (the whole, full Truth). For He will not speak His own message [on His own authority]; but He will tell whatever He hears [from the Father; He will give the message that has been given to Him], and He will announce and declare to you the things that are to come [that will happen in the future]. 14 He will honor and glorify Me, because He will take of (receive, draw upon) what is Mine and will reveal (declare, disclose, transmit) it to you. 15 Everything that the Father has is Mine. That is what I meant when I said that He [the Spirit] will take the things that are Mine and will reveal (declare, disclose, transmit) it to you. 16 In a little while you will no longer see Me, and again after a short while you will see Me AMP

Jesus then goes on to explain a bit more to the disciples, and then he prays. Jesus reveals all the aspects of the Holy Spirit’s ministry to humans who love and believe on Jesus. It is a shame that some dismiss the gifts of the Holy Spirit as something that is no longer relevant. The Holy Spirit will be with us until the eons. I would suggest that dismissing what we don’t understand could cause us to not keep Jesus’ command. How many times has there been contentions within the body because we don’t keep Jesus’ command, and yet he wraps up his command of loving one another in with the coming age of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth. If we really, really, really love Him we will keep his commandment to love one another. We will observe this holy day with renewed excitement, as it is no longer a day turned to mourning but a day turned to celebration. While the days and years may be mixed up, causing the Jews to lose their way, we can look to the new moon of the third month as a day to celebrate the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, as well as the day that Noah and his family left the ark, the covenant Rainbow, the day Moses received the commands on Sinai, and the first wheat of harvest. Pentecost is a day of commands, covenants, provision, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Certainly this day deserves more than a nod, but a celebration for those who really, really, really love Jesus.