QB89 Understanding the Middle East (Part 4)

25 Jul 2024

Understanding the Middle East

"(15) And for this reason He (Christ) is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance." - Hebrews 9:15 NKJV

On the night Jesus was betrayed, in those solemn final hours with His disciples, He fulfilled the promise foretold by the prophet Jeremiah (Jer 31:31-33) of a New Covenant. This promise kept the hope of the Jewish Messianic expectation alive, until one day, after the sun had set on an evening some 600 years later, within the intimate settings of a furnished upper room, Jesus and His twelve disciples shared a final Passover meal. On that grave night after supper, Jesus took the cup and declared, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.” (Luke 22:20 ESV)

Biblical covenants provide the legal framework through which a relationship with God is enacted based on the promises and expectations articulated within them. The Old Covenant, initiated with Abraham and formalised through Moses, was given to Israel after their exodus from Egypt. It defined their relationship with God, focusing on their moral and ritual conduct, with the promise of land being a significant aspect. This marriage contract established the foundational principles of God's relationship with Israel requiring their obedience in exchange for His blessings and protection. The detailed laws, sacrificial systems, and rituals governed every aspect of Israelite life and guided Israel towards holiness. Yet the requirements of the Old Covenant underscored Israel’s (and ultimately humanity's) inability to fully meet God's standards thus preparing the way for the New.

The New Covenant, prophesied by Jeremiah and inaugurated by Jesus Christ, represented a significant shift from the Mosaic Covenant. Unlike the continual offering of slaughtered animals, the New Covenant is rooted in the “once for all” sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus and provides the absolute atonement for sin, establishing the basis for a deeper intimacy with God through faith. The New Covenant emphasises internal transformation. It promises the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and the writing of God's laws upon human hearts. It transcends race and extends God's promises to all who believe in His Son, thereby fulfilling the Abrahamic promise of blessing all nations.

Now why am I sharing this and what does it have to do with understanding the outplay of events in the Middle East?

In short, if God abides by the protocols of righteousness and justice encoded within His laws and precepts, then His interaction with events in the Middle East is an outworking of what has already been legally ratified and expressed within His covenant with Israel.

Consequently, understanding God's relationship with modern Israel requires a careful exploration of both the Old and New Covenants as described in the Bible. I suggest that God's relationship with Israel is not exclusively under either the old or new Covenant but their relationship has evolved to encompass both. The New Covenant does not abolish the Old Covenant but fulfils it. Jesus Himself said, "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfil them" (Matthew 5:17). The moral and ethical teachings of the Old Covenant are still significant but are now understood through the lens of Christ's teachings and sacrifice.

The moral and ethical foundations of the Old Covenant remain relevant, but the New Covenant brings a new dimension of relationship based on faith in Jesus Christ.

It is in Christ and through Him, that all the promises made to Israel including the restoration and return to their homeland will be fulfilled. The Old has been fulfilled in the New, and yet as the writer in Hebrews alludes, there is a transition in which the old passes.

When God speaks of “A new covenant,” He makes the first one obsolete. And whatever is becoming obsolete (out of use, annulled) and growing old is ready to disappear. Hebrews 8:13 AMPLIFIED

If the outworking of God’s promises is contingent upon the Covenant in which those promises are made, and in particular the promise to bring Israel back to the land He promised Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is now fulfilled (or will be fulfilled) in Christ then it raises some important questions concerning the current hostilities in the Middle East. To me, this seems a critical point not easily ignored. If we are to support Israel’s territorial claims, then on what basis? On the basis of God’s promises? As we have seen, if those promises are conditional, and ultimately will not be fulfilled until the Day of the Lord, then perhaps we are not only witnessing the outstretched hand of God but also other agendas in both the seen and unseen realms. And this is the point I’m making here, that we might take that step back and gain a more comprehensive Biblical foundation because when we do that, I believe it enables us to discern with greater clarity in order that we may know how to pray and respond more effectively. If we are to look at the situation in the Middle East concerning Israel and the nations surrounding her, and especially the relationship between Israel and Palestine through the Biblical lens, then we must do so through the relationship between God and Israel as exemplified in the Covenant between them.

This restoration of Israel to their homeland has taken place before:

"(11) For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. (12) Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. (13) And you will seek Me and find [Me], when you search for Me with all your heart. (14) I will be found by you, says the LORD, and I will bring you back from your captivity; I will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you, says the LORD, and I will bring you to the place from which I cause you to be carried away captive." - Jeremiah 29:11-14 NKJV

Though dark days still lie ahead, the Lord will remember His promise spoken over Israel once more.

"(8) He remembers His covenant forever, The word [which] He commanded, for a thousand generations, (9) [The covenant] which He made with Abraham, And His oath to Isaac, (10) And confirmed it to Jacob for a statute, To Israel [as] an everlasting covenant, (11) Saying, "To you I will give the land of Canaan As the allotment of your inheritance,"" - Psalm 105:8-11 NKJV

What has been decreed and prophesied concerning the future of Israel and Jerusalem is certain and unchangeable. No matter what juxtaposition and geopolitical uprisings may ensue, the Lord has made known the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10), and His purposes shall always prevail.

"(11) The counsel of the LORD stands forever, The plans of His heart to all generations." - Psalm 33:11 NKJV

Therefore, what concerns us more at this point in time is not so much the inevitability of future outcomes but how we might partner with the steady progression of God’s Eternal purpose as it unfolds step by step.

A partnership in prayer and action that arises from a sound Biblical interpretation and application is what is called for here. This is why it is crucial to revisit the covenantal framework between God and Israel—because every event, past, present, and future, carries legal and spiritual implications. These events and motivations behind them are being recorded in Heaven, and they will provide the substance for legal accusation and rebuttal as Satan attempts to change times and laws in sway of his own agenda for Jerusalem, Israel and all nations.

Every seeming victory of the enemy in the Middle East will not be because the forces of darkness have overpowered those of light, or because the armies of Heaven have been outwitted by the schemes of the enemy, but because legal arguments have been presented and enforced in the Courts of Heaven.

In the final reckoning, every nation will be judged. Judged not only according to God’s law, but even by their own judicial precedents.

"(15) "For the day of the LORD upon all the nations [is] near; As you have done, it shall be done to you; Your reprisal shall return upon your own head." - Obadiah 1:15 NKJV

I believe this principle of retributive justice is applicable to all nations and especially to Israel. For example, long before Jesus shed His blood to inaugurate the New Covenant, God’s heart for the “sojourner” living within the borders of Israel was made resoundingly clear through the Law and the Prophets.

"(33) 'And if a stranger dwells with you in your land, you shall not mistreat him. (34) 'The stranger who dwells among you shall be to you as one born among you, and you shall love him as yourself; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I [am] the LORD your God." - Leviticus 19:33-34 NKJV

God holds Israel accountable for how they treat those who are not their own. This principle, rooted in Israel's own experience as aliens in a foreign land, becomes foundational in guiding their love and treatment of strangers. Their life in Egypt was meant to nurture a heart of love and compassion for the displaced within their borders. This concept is reiterated multiple times in God's instructions to Israel:

"(21) "You shall neither mistreat a stranger nor oppress him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt." - Exodus 22:21 NKJV

"(17) "For the LORD your God [is] God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality nor takes a bribe. (18) "He administers justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the stranger, giving him food and clothing. (19) "Therefore love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt." - Deuteronomy 10:17-19 NKJV

If these scriptures are relevant for the modern-day relationship between Israel and Palestine and how they are to treat each other, then profound spiritual implications may arise. Here are two passages I’d like to finish with. The first passage from Jeremiah makes a direct connection between Israel’s right to occupy the Promised Land with how they treat foreigners living on the land:

"(5) "For if you truly amend your ways and your deeds, if you truly execute justice one with another, (6) if you do not oppress the sojourner, the fatherless, or the widow, or shed innocent blood in this place, and if you do not go after other gods to your own harm, (7) then I will let you dwell in this place, in the land that I gave of old to your fathers forever." - Jeremiah 7:5-7 ESV

And finally, a passage from Ezekiel concerning the allocation of land to Israel in the restoration.

"(21) "Thus you shall divide this land among yourselves according to the tribes of Israel. (22) "It shall be that you will divide it by lot as an inheritance for yourselves, and for the strangers who dwell among you and who bear children among you. They shall be to you as native-born among the children of Israel; they shall have an inheritance with you among the tribes of Israel. (23) "And it shall be [that] in whatever tribe the stranger dwells, there you shall give [him] his inheritance," says the Lord GOD." - Ezekiel 47:21-23 NKJV


QB88 Understanding the Middle East (Part 3)

24 Jul 2024

In this series so far, "Understanding the Middle East" (QB84 and QB85), I have highlighted the nature of the spiritual battle presiding over the events unfolding in the Middle East. A complex tapestry of prophetic and geopolitical threads is being woven together in both the seen and unseen realms. The reconciliation between the ancient scriptural oracles and current world events is becoming increasingly clear, with any haziness over the eschatological narrative lifting like morning fog scorched by the rising sun. A specific outcome awaits—a culmination of all that has gone before, converging to one final conclusion. The Middle East, with Jerusalem as the ultimate prize, is the arena where this endgame is unfolding.

Even a casual read through Jesus’ teachings on the end times and the apostles’ letters leaves no doubt: there is trouble ahead. The apostle John, entrusted with recording the Apocalypse, reveals that things will get much worse before the ultimate triumph of good over evil. When the Lord Jesus Christ returns in the fullness of His majesty, power, and authority, He will complete His Messianic commission, bringing salvation to all those ready and waiting for His glorious return. This is the eternal hope to which we have all been invited—not in what is now, but in what the final outcome shall be. No matter the suffering of this life, a glory awaits those who have put their faith in Jesus Christ that far outweighs the temporal trials we face.

The Contention Over Land

One of the core threads of this tapestry is the contention over land, where historical claims leave little room for harmony, and geopolitical and religious rights become confused. Consequently, the world seems more polarised now than ever before concerning Israel and Palestine, with a lasting solution beyond the aspirations of most. My aim in this series is not to advocate for one side against the other. I do not wish to be contentious or further polarise opinion—far from it! Instead, it is to take a step back from the labyrinth of social media opinion and geopolitical reporting and earnestly examine scripture for wisdom and understanding to discern world events with a compass calibrated to the Word of God rather than any other agenda or prejudice. Before aligning ourselves with either the Israeli or Palestinian perspective, we should ensure we have a comprehensive Biblical view, a lens through which we may identify some robust principles that can help formulate a clearer perspective and process thought and opinion. This way, we avoid being unwittingly recruited into a campaign that may fuel Satan’s seditious schemes.

Scriptural Conditions for Restoration

Previously, I highlighted how there are specific conditions and a timeline indicating why and when the Lord will fulfil His promise to bring Israel back from where she had been scattered among the nations. We saw in Deuteronomy 30:1-6 that a prerequisite for activating God’s promise of their return was a prior return of their hearts to Him, obeying His voice according to all He had commanded them. The onus is upon Israel to return in heart and soul to the Lord and His commands because the Lord’s promise of restoring Israel to their homeland is dependent upon this criterion.

Developing this concept of restoration further, we are familiar with 2 Chronicles 7:14, which reads: "if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land." This beloved verse is used in many contexts, but it essentially makes the connection that forgiveness of sin and healing of land are conditional upon the people's heart, demonstrated through their repentance and humility in seeking the Lord. Connecting these two passages together, we observe that:

Restoration is not a work of man but of God, and it requires the penitence of a nation to procure His mercy and avert judgment.

Has Israel Met These Conditions?

The question naturally arises as to whether this condition of humility and repentance has been met, either in full or in part. While some debate may exist concerning this point, what we can be certain of, however, is that the day still tarries when Israel will accept Jesus as their Messiah (Luke 13:35). For, as Paul writes,

"(25) Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. (26) And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, 'The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob'; (27) 'and this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins.'" - Romans 11:25-27 ESV

These verses and others demonstrate that as a nation, Israel has yet to acknowledge Jesus as their Messiah. That day awaits when the Lord will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on Him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over Him, as one weeps over a firstborn (Zechariah 12:10 ESV).

The Healing of the Land

Let’s stop and think for a moment. If the healing of the land is an act of God in response to a people's repentance, yet the basis to forgive sins is no longer through the blood of bulls or goats (Hebrews 10:1-4) but through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus (Hebrews 9:12-14), then until Israel accepts their Messiah, it raises the question: how can their land be healed? Furthermore, if scripture indicates the salvation of Israel awaits the Day of the Lord, does that mean their land will remain under contention until Jesus returns? I believe so. Are we therefore without hope for peace in the Middle East? Certainly not. Indeed, we are to pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6-9). Ultimately, the answer to those prayers can only be found in the One who is the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). But peace comes in many guises and is attainable at some level when there is a willingness to seek for it on all sides.

Conclusion and Looking Ahead

In summary, I have developed the concept that restoration of the land is only possible through the restoration of the relationship between Israel and God, and the basis of that relationship is through His Son, their Messiah, Jesus Christ. The principle here is simple: first relationship, then restoration. This applies on both individual and corporate levels. Through a personal relationship with Jesus as Lord and Savior, our lives are restored from slavery to sonship, from darkness to light, from death to life. On a corporate level, a nation also has a relationship with God. He remains sovereign over all nations and holds each to account (Acts 17:26-31). Here’s what Jeremiah recorded concerning God’s relationship with nations:

"If at any time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be uprooted, torn down, and destroyed, and if that nation I warned repents of its evil, then I will relent and not inflict on it the disaster I had planned. And if at another time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be built up and planted, and if it does evil in my sight and does not obey me, then I will reconsider the good I had intended to do for it." - Jeremiah 18:7-10

Everything God does is outworked through the legal protocols of righteousness and justice. He is a covenant-making and covenant-keeping God. When God delivered Israel from Egypt, He entered into a marriage contract with her on Mount Sinai. The Mosaic Covenant formalised the basis of their relationship and included conditions for their occupation of the land promised to Abraham. Additionally, it incorporated promises of restoration and return to their homeland should they be dispossessed due to any failure in upholding their covenant obligations.

The outworking of God’s promises is contingent upon the covenant in which those promises are made.

Next time, we’ll explore further the implications of both the Old and New Covenants as they pertain directly to the tumultuous hostilities in Israel and Palestine. That’s because the intricate dynamics of the Middle East conflict are deeply intertwined with prophetic and covenantal themes rooted in Scripture. The promise of land and restoration is directly linked to Israel's spiritual return to God and acceptance of Jesus as the Messiah. While the current geopolitical landscape is fraught with tension and complexity, the biblical narrative offers a hopeful perspective. Restoration and peace are ultimately found in the fulfilment of God's promises, centred on a relationship with Him through Jesus Christ. As we engage with these profound issues, let us remain guided by Scripture, seeking to understand the deeper spiritual truths that inform our perspective and actions. In the end, true and lasting peace for the region and the world will come through the realisation of God's redemptive plan, which surpasses all human conflict and division.


QB87 The Rapture from the Apostle Paul’s Perspective

8 Apr 2024

1 Thessalonians 4:16
The rapture and resurrection

The debate surrounding the timing of the rapture has been both divisive and longstanding. Over the years, it seems that the church has remained polarized on this issue, with proponents of a pre-tribulation rapture, in my experience, often holding a particularly aggressive stance. It's understandable, really. Faced with the daunting prospect of the tribulations prophesied in scripture, it's comforting to entertain the notion that God, in His love, would spare His faithful from such persecution and troubles. This perspective, advocating for the removal of the church from the earth before the onset of the great tribulation, finds support from influential leading voices with global reach, impacting millions. However, as I've listened to these popular teachers, I've often found myself taken aback by the rhetoric that sometimes strays from what the Bible actually teaches—and what it doesn't. For example, how many times have we heard “the lion shall lay with the lamb”, as an anecdote for the millennial reign? I have, and often when advocating for a pre-tribulation rapture. It's a picturesque image, evoking a sense of harmony and peace. But here's the catch: the Bible doesn't actually say that. It may come as a surprise, but if you examine it for yourself, you'll find no such verse. The closest resemblance to this imagery is found in the prophecy of Isaiah:

"The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, The leopard shall lie down with the young goat, The calf and the young lion and the fatling together; And a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze; Their young ones shall lie down together; And the lion shall eat straw like the ox." - Isaiah 11:6-7 (NKJV)

While it's tempting to presume that the sentiment of the lion lying with the lamb can be inferred from Isaiah's imagery, it remains just that—a presumption. It's easy to inadvertently read into the text something that isn't explicitly stated. But why does this matter? Because when we grapple with weighty matters like the timing of the rapture, it's imperative we approach them with discernment and clarity, avoiding the pitfalls of rhetoric and popular opinion. Allow me to convey my earnest intention here. I deeply respect and honour the freedom we each possess to form our own beliefs and opinions, including those concerning the rapture. My aim is not to alienate or sow discord within the body of Christ. On the contrary, I am driven by a desire for readiness and a call to embrace our role as the Bride, embodying the spirit of Elijah as we prepare the way for the Lord's return right up to the Day of His glorious appearing.

The discourse surrounding the rapture has become muddled and laden with conjecture, straying at times from the foundation of scriptural support. With your permission, I propose we wield the Word as a sword, cutting through the haze to examine the Apostle Paul's perspective. It was Paul, after all, who articulated the concept of the rapture in his letter to the Thessalonians. Let's delve into his words:

"(15) For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive [and] remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. (16) For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. (17) Then we who are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. (18) Therefore comfort one another with these words." - 1Th 4:15-18 NKJV

These verses leave little room for ambiguity. Paul explicitly states that the rapture, referred to as being "caught up," will coincide with the resurrection. He emphasizes that the dead in Christ will rise first, followed by those who are alive, who will be caught up together with them to meet the Lord in the air. Now whilst there may be much speculation on when the rapture shall be, far less so the resurrection. Since the rapture and resurrection and simultaneous, knowing the timing of the resurrection assures us of when the rapture shall be, and therefore, asking if the rapture occurs before the great tribulation is akin to asking if there is a resurrection before that troublesome time also. At this juncture, some suggest a resurrection occurring before the great tribulation, but this view lacks scriptural support.

Rather than delving into speculative interpretations here, since Paul is the one who introduced the rapture let's focus on his beliefs about the resurrection rather than our conjecture. Thankfully, scripture does provide a beautiful insight into Paul’s position on the resurrection. In fact, it was this very belief of the resurrection, for which he was arrested and questioned before a hierarchy of rulers. Let’s take a look at what the apostle Paul affirmed when giving his defence before Felix the governor.

"(14) But this I confess to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets, (15) having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust." - Acts 24:14-15 ESV 

In this pivotal moment of defending his beliefs before Felix, Paul staunchly affirms his belief in the resurrection, emphasizing his loyalty to "everything laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets." By invoking the authority of the Law and the Prophets, Paul aligns himself with the entirety of Old Testament scripture, including its prophecies concerning the resurrection. This underscores the direct connection between the prophetic writings and the timing of the rapture, as they are inherently intertwined. To be clear at this point, I’ll connect the dots here as follows:

To know the timing of the rapture is a matter of knowing the timing of the resurrection as foretold by the “Old Testament” prophets.

In this quest for clarity, let’s turn to the voices of Isaiah and Daniel, both of whom not only spoke of the resurrection but also provided insights into its timing. Remember, this is precisely what Paul passionately advocated for—embracing "everything" the prophets recorded.

"(19) Your dead shall live; [Together with] my dead body they shall arise. Awake and sing, you who dwell in dust; For your dew [is like] the dew of herbs, And the earth shall cast out the dead. (20) Come, my people, enter your chambers, And shut your doors behind you; Hide yourself, as it were, for a little moment, Until the indignation is past. (21) For behold, the LORD comes out of His place To punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity; The earth will also disclose her blood, And will no more cover her slain." - Isaiah 26:19-21 NKJV

This passage resonates with the promise of resurrection, as the earth is depicted casting out the dead. The imagery of entering chambers and hiding until the Lord's wrath passes suggests a period of tribulation preceding the ultimate judgment. While there may be some ambiguity regarding the precise sequence of events, the essence of resurrection intertwined with tribulation is evident. The apostle Paul, being well-versed in the Scriptures, would have undoubtedly been familiar with these verses and their implications. Despite potential nuances in the sequence of resurrection and tribulation here, Daniel provides a clearer perspective.

"(1) "At that time Michael shall stand up, The great prince who stands [watch] over the sons of your people; And there shall be a time of trouble, Such as never was since there was a nation, [Even] to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, Every one who is found written in the book. (2) And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, Some to everlasting life, Some to shame [and] everlasting contempt. ... (7) Then I heard the man clothed in linen, who [was] above the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever, that [it shall be] for a time, times, and half [a time]; and when the power of the holy people has been completely shattered, all these [things] shall be finished." - Dan 12:1-2, 7 NKJV

Here, the sequence of resurrection and tribulation (known as Jacob’s trouble) is clear. The resurrection of the righteous and unrighteous comes after three and a half years (time, times and half a time). Jesus also taught about this end-time harvest in His parable of the dragnet Matthew 13:47-50, a gathering of both the righteous and unrighteous at the end of the age.

Therefore, if the resurrection comes after the tribulation, then so must the rapture.

In my opinion, this interpretation offers the simplest reading of the biblical narrative, devoid of any need for forced scriptural connections or personal biases, and lets scripture speak for itself.

In conclusion, the Apostle Paul's perspective on the rapture, intricately woven with his beliefs in the resurrection, offers profound insights for believers navigating the complexities of end-times theology and the unfolding of prophecy in real-time.  If we adhere to Paul’s teaching of a rapture then we must also adhere to his passionate belief about the resurrection, which he so vehemently connected with everything the Prophets had written down. By grounding our understanding in Paul's teachings and aligning them with Old Testament prophecies, we gain clarity on the timing and significance of these eschatological events and a solid foundation upon which we can stand. As we heed Paul's call to embrace the entirety of scripture, including the Law and the Prophets, we find assurance in the consistent message of God's redemptive plan unfolding across generations and a blueprint for us to follow.

We are not without a cause. There are essential preparations to be made, not only personally, but also in partnering with Heaven and contending for the nations.

In today’s world, with all the tragedy and sorrow we witness unfold daily, let us also be confident that we have been called for such a time as this. May we approach these matters with humility, discernment, and a steadfast commitment to truth, eagerly anticipating the blessed hope of Christ's return and our eternal union with Him.


QB86 God is Love

6 Nov 2023

God is Love

"(16) And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. (17) Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. (18) There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. (19) We love Him because He first loved us." – 1 John 4:16-19 NKJV

There is no greater testament we could ever aspire toward than a life that has known the love of God.

To know love is to be changed by its power, for it lifts us out of the despair of loneliness and caresses our souls as His treasure. God is love. Immutable and perfect, His love can neither diminish nor increase, for He has loved us without limit or condition and will love us always throughout eternity. Knowing everything there could ever be to know about you and me He loves us individually to the uttermost. Nothing can ever separate us from His love, no circumstance in which His gaze will depart, for in Christ we are eternally secure no matter what challenge life may bring. Our God is Love. It heals our sorrows and forgives, it bestows dignity, and fuels our hearts with passion to rise above the prevalent cultures of this world into a life of wonder and thrill.

To know such love is our greatest reward for there lies the home our restless heart seeks.

Like a flower to the sun let your heart open to His love for you today.

Wherever you are, whatever pain you suffer, isolation or fear, discouragement or failure, God is love, and He will never give up believing in you or lavishing His love. The answer you need is found in His love, all you need to do is be still and breathe.

Love divine, all loves excelling,

Joy of heaven to earth come down,

Fix in us Thy humble dwelling;

All Thy faithful mercies crown!

Jesus, Thou art all compassion,

Pure, unbounded love Thou art;

Visit us with Thy salvation;

Enter every trembling heart.

John Wesley 1747


QB85 Why the Day of the Lord is Key to Understanding the Middle East (Part 2)

4 Nov 2023

"The Day of Û the Lord is key to Understanding the Middle East"

"(9) Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, (10) Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:" - Isaiah 46:9-10 KJV

If the return of Israel to the land of her fathers was a promise made by Yahweh that would be fulfilled upon the Day of the Lord, then I believe the conditions of that promise serve as a vital piece of the puzzle concerning the Middle East because it raises questions over the past 100 years of history in the Holy Land. It’s such a contentious issue I must tread very carefully and make clear from the outset that what I’m sharing comes from my own interpretation as I seek to reconcile scripture with world events. I might be wrong either in whole or in part. In no way am I trying to mitigate Israel’s right to a homeland, that’s not the point I’m making. But equally, I have to question the legality of any such claim based on scripture if the conditions of those scriptural promises have not yet been met. Are we truly able to say that Israel’s return to Palestine is an outworking of the Lord’s promise? And if so then how? Since the nation of Israel was re-established in 1948 is this a partial fulfilment of the promise or is there another storyline here?

So many questions! Yet the reason I’m unpacking this is not to be contentious but to help counter any obfuscation by Satan in what’s really taking place. The Oxford Dictionary defines obfuscation as “the act of making something less clear and more difficult to understand, usually deliberately.” Alternately obfuscation can mean to mystify, confuse, cloud, hide, complicate or muddy, the result of which brings a sense of disorientation, misunderstanding, isolation, and detachment from truth. In a military context a key ploy might be to smoke-bomb the battlefield enabling ground forces to manoeuvre undetected, target networks to blackout communications, or use propaganda to peddle a false narrative, all of these I’m sure we’ll be familiar with.

Let’s be clear, Israel and in particular Jerusalem is the prize of Satan’s seditious campaign.

Why? Because he fully intends to deceive the whole earth with his antichrist and false prophet as Israel’s long-awaited Messiah and entice worship from every living person upon the planet. World events are moving towards that scenario, the Bible is quite clear on this outrageous devilish scheme. Ultimately Satan’s plans will fail and be met with the unfurled wrath of the Almighty. Eternal fiery damnation awaits, but not before the Day of the Lord.

Up until that apocalyptic day will be an escalation of demonic deployment and agenda as the various pieces are put into place to pull off the greatest deception the world has ever known.

That doesn’t mean the Lord was not in the reformation of Israel as a nation in 1948. Indeed I believe He was very much at work, but we must differentiate between the return of Israel before the Day of the Lord and the return of Israel after if we are to have wisdom and discernment to know how to pray and align with Heaven’s purposes and times.

This obfuscation of times and laws is a major strategy of our adversary because it severs the prophetic partnership between Heaven and Earth.

Does this mean we should not pray for Israel, or that Israel has no right to occupy what was previously known between the years 1920 to 1948 as “Mandatory Palestine”? By no means! Then what am I saying? Only this: that if this is not the Lord’s appointed time of His promise to gather the houses of Judah and Israel and restore them to their previous homeland, (which as we have seen is on the Day of the Lord), then there must be another justifiable position in support of Israel, which leads to the obvious question of what that argument for occupation is. The answer lies with the Zionist Movement which began to emerge towards the end of the 19th century against a backdrop of continual and increasing antisemitism, particularly in Europe. Quoting from Wikipedia “From 1897 to 1948, the primary goal of the Zionist Movement was to establish the basis for a Jewish homeland in Palestine, and thereafter to consolidate it.”What gave legal sway for the enactment of the Zionist vision was the fundamental principle of “self-determination” which states “that peoples, based on respect for the principle of equal rights and fair equality of opportunity, have the right to freely choose their sovereignty and international political status with no interference”. This principle strengthened as a fundamental right from the 1860s, then, especially after the First and Second World Wars when it was codified as an international legal right in the UN Charter.

The reason I’ve taken time to unpack what I have so far is because it helps frame the events in the Middle East in a way that provides wisdom for not only how we might pray but how we might avoid falling into error which would increase vulnerability to deception. I like something Chuck Missler said when he wrote, “All of us are subject to limitations imposed by the presumptions we bring to a topic, and it may be essential to step back from time to time and reestablish a fresh perspective. The only certain barrier to truth is the presumption that you already have to it.”

If the world is to be deceived by such climactic events as a world ruler, false messiah, return of daily sacrifices at the temple, and so on, then I believe it will happen in full view and everyone will be coerced either knowingly or not to accept the narrative of global events as they unfold. The only way to reject such coercion is by knowing and holding onto Truth. Whether a fundamental reset of global banking and economy, one world order and government, environmental and ecological reform, or a paradigmatic shift across any sector of society, we must anchor ourselves to the infallibility of the Word of God, and a lifestyle of abiding in Christ to be positioned exactly where we need to be, not only to avoid deception, but to partner with the Lord in the most privileged of all commissions, to prepare the way for His glorious return.

The epicentre of global events is Jerusalem which will come increasingly into view and hereby we are given the primary arena of the illusionist’s hocus-pocus and trickery.

This arena of deception includes Israel and the Middle East, but rest assured, despite any apparent “upper hand” of the enemy, the Lord remains absolute Sovereign and any latitude afforded the enemy will serve only to build the gallows upon which lies his ultimate demise. I’d like to close with my prayer I posted at the beginning of the current conflict in the Middle East.

Lord we lift our voices to join the millions around the world to intercede on behalf of Israel and the Palestinian people. Let peace prevail and wisdom to all those in negotiations and positions of influence and power. May you Lord protect the vulnerable, those whose lives are in peril and fear, and for all those who are displaced, traumatised and mourning the lost of loved ones, through these catastrophic and horrific events that are unfolding in the Holy land. May hope be found through the Gospel of Peace, and a pathway of reconciliation and forgiveness through Your example of love and mercy. We magnify the name of Yeshua over the entire region and pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Amen

"(14) For the earth will be filled With the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, As the waters cover the sea." - Habakkuk 2:14 NKJV


QB84 Why the Day of the Lord is Key to Understanding the Middle East (Part 1)

1 Nov 2023

May be an image of text that says "The Day of the LORD and the Middle East"

"(9) Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, (10) Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:" - Isaiah 46:9-10 KJV

Ever since the Garden of Eden, we are given a very intricate and multi-faceted depiction of an ancient rebellion that has not abated but rather is accelerating toward a series of climactic events the likes of which the world has never seen before. Make no mistake the end quickly approaches with a palpable spiritual tension in the air discernible to even the most apostate, though, of course, it will take far more than a spiritual sensitivity to really understand what is truly at work here. Thankfully, the Lord Almighty has made known the end from the beginning and inscribed His Eternal Purpose for us to seek diligently through the illumination of the Holy Spirit upon His written Word.

The road to understanding this ancient rebellion is fraught with many obstacles not least the obfuscation of the enemy through a myriad of smoke and mirrors to distort perceptions but also those obstacles which arise from our own persuasions, opinions, or prejudices.

Any such bias must be ruthlessly cross-examined and abandoned should it fail to align with the absolute authority of scripture. Yet even here we must tread carefully because our biblical study must adhere to principles of sound exegesis if we are to arrive at the correct interpretation of what we see unfolding now and in the days to come within the Middle East. Whilst I do not consider myself a scholar I do strive as the Bereans did to search the scriptures diligently in the pursuit of truth. So as best I can I want to share with you what I believe to be a fulcrum in discerning the times and seasons in the hope it may prove useful to you in your own journey, although I urge you also to be as a Berean and search the scriptures for yourselves with all readiness of mind to see if these things are so. Acts 17:11.

I suggest the Day of the Lord is key to understanding the Middle East crisis, and when I talk of crisis, I mean not only the tragic eruption of hostilities currently unfolding across Palestine and Israel with all its horrific consequences, but the tensions which have existed for millennia and are now quite clearly entering into an entirely new phase, or as it might be described in chess the “endgame”. And like chess, we might understand whilst many pieces are upon the board, it is the hand above that moves them. Similarly, and this is important, there is need to isolate what takes place in the spirit realm from what takes place in the natural realm.

For example, when considering Israel, it is vital we are able to separate the social-political nation of Israel, from the spiritual nation of Israel, because the two are not the same, and analysis without this distinction is a road leading to confusion and dissension.

The Day of the Lord provides a very clear demarcation of how events will be before that day, from how they will be after it, and right at the centre is the city of Jerusalem. Events will unfold in the visible realm but these will be the outworking of things in the unseen realm, for ultimately this is more than an earthly contest but a spiritual conflict of the highest order, between the Lord Almighty and Satan, between the armies of Heaven and the minions of darkness.

Before the Day of the Lord, there will come an escalation of lawlessness, wickedness, war, pestilence, famines, and earthquakes, and for a short time (namely three and a half years) all hell will be let loose upon the earth. There’s no other way I can say that because it’s clearly written in the Bible. It’s certainly not my intention to incite fear, but the reality is what lies ahead in the short term will not be easy and we must be ready.

The future is not something to be afraid of but rather to embrace and be empowered by an end-time anointing for the Bride to partner with Heaven in the days leading up to the glorious return of her Bridegroom and Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Lord is able to protect His own and I believe will do so, but that’s not the focus of this Quick Bite, so hopefully we’ll come back to the Divine measures in place, but for now, my intention is to highlight the centrality of the Day of the Lord as key to understanding the Middle East and Israel.

With that said the first point I want to make concerns the timing of the Jewish return to Israel. Let’s look at what scripture says about this restoration of Israel back to its homeland.

"(1) "Now it shall come to pass, when all these things come upon you, the blessing and the curse which I have set before you, and you call [them] to mind among all the nations where the LORD your God drives you, (2) "and you return to the LORD your God and obey His voice, according to all that I command you today, you and your children, with all your heart and with all your soul, (3) "that the LORD your God will bring you back from captivity, and have compassion on you, and gather you again from all the nations where the LORD your God has scattered you. (4) "If [any] of you are driven out to the farthest [parts] under heaven, from there the LORD your God will gather you, and from there He will bring you. (5) "Then the LORD your God will bring you to the land which your fathers possessed, and you shall possess it. He will prosper you and multiply you more than your fathers. (6) "And the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live." - Deuteronomy 30:1-6 NKJV

There are many scriptures I could have used to illustrate God’s promise to Israel, the sheer volume of those promises punctuating the Old Testament simply makes it impossible to ignore, viz Israel will return to the land their fathers possessed. However, as we shall see it’s not quite that simple.

The question we must ask is whether this promise is conditional or not.

Certainly in the above passage of Deuteronomy 30, verses 1 and 2 do suggest the restoration to their homeland is provisional. That if Israel should remember the covenant He made with them in the desert, and if they return to the Lord and their children with all their heart and with all their soul then the Lord will bring Israel back to their homeland from all the nations where they have been scattered. That reminds me of another familiar promise:

"(14) "if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land." – 2 Chronicles 7:14 NKJV

As we have seen the restoration of land is by no means guaranteed and there are certain requirements that first must be fulfilled. When shall come the salvation of Israel? Well, the Bible has much to say on this also, so let’s take one example and look at what the prophet Joel foretold:

"(30) "And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: Blood and fire and pillars of smoke. (31) The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD. (32) And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the LORD Shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance, As the LORD has said, Among the remnant whom the LORD calls." (1) "For behold, in those days and at that time, When I bring back the captives of Judah and Jerusalem, (2) I will also gather all nations, And bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; And I will enter into judgment with them there On account of My people, My heritage Israel, Whom they have scattered among the nations; They have also divided up My land."– Joel 2:30 - 3:2 NKJV

In this excerpt from a wider prophecy, Joel specifically connects Israel’s salvation and gathering of Judah’s captives at the time of the “awesome day of the Lord”. There are many other scriptures connecting the gathering of the houses of Israel and Judah on the Day of the Lord. Here’s what Zephaniah wrote concerning that day:

"(19) Behold, at that time I will deal with all who afflict you; I will save the lame, And gather those who were driven out; I will appoint them for praise and fame In every land where they were put to shame. (20) At that time I will bring you back, Even at the time I gather you; For I will give you fame and praise Among all the peoples of the earth, When I return your captives before your eyes," Says the LORD." - Zephaniah 3:19-20 NKJV

And finally, here’s what Isaiah spoke concerning the Day of the Lord:

"(9) They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD As the waters cover the sea. (10) "And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse, Who shall stand as a banner to the people; For the Gentiles shall seek Him, And His resting place shall be glorious." (11) It shall come to pass in that day [That] the Lord shall set His hand again the second time To recover the remnant of His people who are left, From Assyria and Egypt, From Pathros and Cush, From Elam and Shinar, From Hamath and the islands of the sea. (12) He will set up a banner for the nations, And will assemble the outcasts of Israel, And gather together the dispersed of Judah From the four corners of the earth." – Isaiah 11:9-12 NKJV

At this point, we’ve already entered some turbulent terrain so we’ll take a pause here to digest the points I’ve made so far. But by way of summary, I’m proposing we need to understand the demarcation provided by the Day of the Lord between how things shall be before and after that time. And as we have seen, as far as the gathering to Israel, that is a promise made by the Lord that He would fulfil when they receive Him as their Messiah when He comes again. Next time, we’ll unpack this further to answer the question, if the promise to restore Israel to the land of her fathers is upon the Day of the Lord, what are we to make of Israel’s establishment as a nation in 1948 and the root issues concerning peace (or lack of) in the Middle East?

"(37) "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under [her] wings, but you were not willing! (38) "See! Your house is left to you desolate; (39) "for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, 'Blessed [is] He who comes in the name of the LORD!' "" – Matthew 23:37-39 NKJV


QB83 The Bride in the Wilderness (Part 1)

30 Oct 2023

May be an image of heart and text that says "There is a glory only attainable in the Bridal desert, preparation that can come no other way. Not amongst the cacophony If religious voices but by embracing the solítude hiddenness. Not Nottobe to be alone, but to be alone with Him. আমই"

In the last Quick Bite (QB82), the Wedding at Cana, I brought attention to the first time the Lord’s glory was revealed. But what’s really interesting to note is that just before this occasion - Jesus had been in the wilderness. The Bible records immediately after His baptism (Matthew 3:13-17), “Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.” (Matthew 4:1).

His time in the wilderness modelled something very profound: His preparation as Bridegroom in the desert set a precedent for those He would later betroth to follow.

Then just like His glory manifested at Cana, so shall we also exhibit a glory befitting a marriage, yet not anyone else's marriage, but His own as His Bride, the Wife of the Lamb!

As we have learned previously, for the Bridegroom to become “one flesh” with His Bride, it requires the two to be absolutely compatible with each other, for He can only unite with those who have come from Him “bone of His bone, and flesh of His flesh” (Genesis 2:23), being the same spiritual DNA “partakers of the Divine nature” 1 Peter 1:4. One definition of compatible means “capable of existing or performing in harmonious or agreeable combination. Capable of being grafted, transfused or transplanted from one individual to another without reaction or rejection.” So the question is: How do we become compatible with our Bridegroom? By allowing His life to permeate our own so we might live as He lived.

Glory comes through our association with Him, not only imputed through relationship but activated by walking in His footsteps.

Yes, we too are being led by the Spirit into the wilderness, not as a place of suffering or self-pity, but as the place of romance. It is where we are separated out from the crowds into solitude to be alone with Him. It is the place of intimacy.

Typically, when we think of the wilderness we imagine it unwelcoming, arid, and hostile. To be avoided, the wilderness is a place we seldom see as intentional or a positive experience, and yet through the desert lies our destination of fulfilled promise and hope. When the Bride comes of age, it is to the desert she is drawn, for there awaits an encounter away from the madding crowd and bustling agendas, into the unfamiliarity of real freedom and untethered expression of love for the Bridegroom. It becomes a place of romance, where the thorns of anguish are replaced by the superiority of His peace and the dreary task list by the thrill of knowing He walks beside.

There is a glory only attainable in the desert, a Bridal preparation that can come no other way. Not amongst the cacophony of religious voices but by embracing the solitude of hiddenness. Not to be alone, but to be alone with Him.

O that we might find the well in the desert and know its Source who is Christ. O that we may cherish this most holy and secret place. The Bride loves the desert. She sings in the desert and turns the Valley of Baka into refreshing springs (Ps 84:6) That’s because Creation recognises the Bride. When she sings Creation hears and responds. The Bride is drawn to the desert, because just as He looks for her, so also she craves to be alone with Him.

Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak tenderly to her.” Hosea 2:14


QB82 The Wedding at Cana

27 Oct 2023

No photo description available.
The Wedding at Cana

And he said to him, “Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!” This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him. John 2:10-11

It is worthy of note the first miracle of Jesus recorded for us by John was that of turning water into wine and the occasion for this “beginning of signs” was a Wedding in Cana. What an occasion it must have been, celebration and joy as Bride and Bridegroom join in the holy union provided by the Lord for Husband and Wife. Yet as the wedding celebrations continued it became clear to those serving that the provision of wine was not sufficient to last the duration of the feast and when it finally did run out unless something was done quickly the happy occasion was not going to end well. Thankfully, amongst the wedding guests, is none other than our Bridegroom Jesus, who when approached by His mother Mary for help, replied “Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come.” When Jesus said this, it didn’t mean He was not ready to help, on the contrary,

Jesus will never turn someone away when they come to Him on the basis of who He is, and this is how Mary came, she knew who He was and that He could help.

So Jesus’ comment wasn’t refusal but it was revelatory. He revealed something even His mother did not understand: His time had not yet come! It was not yet time for the world to see His glory.

This is seen many times throughout His earthly ministry, when Jesus did not openly reveal His glory, instead, He purposefully chose to avoid such opportunities that presented themselves. He also instructed His disciples “Then he warned his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ.” Matt 16:20. And commanded the demons “He would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.” (Mark 1:34) And also those He had healed “Then He commanded them that they should tell no one; but the more He commanded them, the more widely they proclaimed it.” Mark 7:36.

Although His time had not yet come the glory of Jesus was first revealed at a wedding He had been invited to. That day only a few were there to witness this manifestation of who He really was but

soon is coming a day when the whole world will see the full manifestation and glory of who Jesus is when He returns for His Bride to take her to His own wedding.

For as “For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.” Matthew 24:27. "(7) Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen." - Revelation 1:7 NKJV

Beloved, our journey of miracles began with our Bridegroom when He became our Kinsman Redeemer and paid our ransom through His own shed blood. He remains affectionately attendant in our lives to help us in our hour of need. He is not far from us but lives in us through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Just like the wine, He saves “the best till last”. There is so much more for us to encounter, so much more for us to know.

Lovingly He caresses our hearts with words to awaken love and quicken our hearts to a place outside the confinements of our earthly limitation or despair.

If you need a miracle today, He is able and He bids you Come.

"(2) [The Shulamite] Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth--For your love is better than wine." – Song of Songs 1:2 NKJV


QB81 The Rapture of the Bride (Part 3)

24 Oct 2023

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Last time we explored the parable of the Wedding Feast (Matthew 22:1-14) and discovered the Wedding of the Lamb arranged for Israel was not cancelled but extended to include the Gentiles also, and therefore a separate wedding for the church before Israel’s salvation or resurrection of her saints is not Biblically supported. But what’s also very insightful in this parable is that we are given a definition of who the Lord referred to later in Matthew 24 when He spoke of “His Elect”. Now that is extremely useful because identifying “His Elect” should end the rapture debate that has caused so much divide. Here are the key verses again that connect the gathering of the elect with the tribulation.

"(29) "Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. (30) Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. (31) And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other." - Matthew 24:29-31 ESV

Notice the gathering of “His Elect” will be “after the tribulation of those days”. So the question we are asking is who does Jesus refer to as “His Elect” and that’s where the parable of the Wedding Feast comes to our aid. The word “elect” in the original Greek is “eklektos” (G1588) and it means elect or chosen, it’s the same word used at the end of the parable when Jesus concludes by saying:

"(14) For many are called, but few are chosen [eklektos G1588]." Matthew 22:14 ESV

In this parable, Jesus admonishes the Pharisees and religious leaders for their stubborn refusal to accept Him as their Messiah and confronts their religious pride and misplaced confidence in their natural identity as Israel, Yahweh’s chosen people. This wasn’t the first time their religious pride had been challenged. For example, when the Pharisees came out to meet John the Baptist in the wilderness of Judea he rebuked them saying:

"(9) And do not presume to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father,' for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham." - Matthew 3:9 ESV

Later the Pharisees also encountered Yeshua’s admonition:

"(39) They answered him, "Abraham is our father." Jesus said to them, "If you were Abraham's children, you would be doing the works Abraham did," - John 8:39 ESV

Both John the Baptist and Jesus brought a sword to confront their pride of being Abraham’s children, likewise, this is what we discover in Matthew 22:14; a redefining of who the chosen (eklektos) are. Not by natural birthright of being Jewish, for many had been called (Matthew 22:3) to the wedding, but to be chosen required their acceptance of the wedding invitation and as the parable reveals to wear the right clothes meaning those washed in the blood of the Lamb. Wow, how powerful is that! At this point hopefully, the haze around Israel’s true identity and “His Elect” should be clearing. As Paul writes,

28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither [is that] circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: 29 But he [is] a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision [is that] of the heart, in the spirit, [and] not in the letter; whose praise [is] not of men, but of God. Romans 2:28,29 (NKJV)

Then later, “they are not all Israel who are of Israel, nor are they all children because they are children of Abraham” Romans 9:6,7.

At this stage, I have already laid a number of foundational biblical principles, but before I summarise this short series on the Rapture of the Bride, I’d like us to look at a few resurrection verses. First of all, a selection from the Old Testament.

"(19) Your dead shall live; their bodies shall rise. You who dwell in the dust, awake and sing for joy! For your dew is a dew of light, and the earth will give birth to the dead." - Isaiah 26:19 ESV

"(15) As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness; when I awake, I shall be satisfied with your likeness."- Psalms 17:15 ESV

"(25) For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth. (26) And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God, (27) whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. My heart faints within me!"- Job 19:25-27 ESV

"(2) And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt." - Daniel 12:2 ESV

This verse from Daniel is particularly interesting in our study of the rapture of the Bride because it’s part of a much larger vision (see Daniel 12:1-7) that includes “a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time” (v 1), and when asked how long it shall be for the time of trouble and the subsequent resurrection, the answer was “for a time, times, and half a time” which students of Bible prophecy will recognise as three and a half years, the time of the Great Tribulation. The question we are left with then is did that change in any way in the New Testament? Well, let’s take a look at what the apostle Paul affirmed when giving his defence before Felix the governor.

"(14) But this I confess to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets, (15) having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust." - Acts 24:14-15 ESV

Paul completely upholds the doctrine of the resurrection as it had been revealed through the scriptures, and his conviction finds its way into so much of what he wrote in his letters to the various churches. As when he wrote to the church at Corinth, connecting the resurrection with the last trumpet:

"(52) in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed." – 1 Corinthians 15:52 ESV

Or when he wrote to the Thessalonians assuring them they hadn’t missed the Lord’s coming or being gathered to Him since that day would be after the rebellion and man of lawlessness revealed:

"(1) Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, (2) not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. (3) Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction," – 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3 ESV

The apostle Paul knew he could rely upon everything he had come to believe through the Law and the Prophets, even if that meant the cost of his own life. He passionately believed in the One New Man and upholding all the promises made to Israel. His letters do nothing to deviate away from anything written previously in scripture, rather he fervently expounds upon the promises in a way that is entirely inclusive of both Jew and Gentile, not one replacing the other, although he always maintained the centrality of the Jewish legacy. For example,

"(16) For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek." - Romans 1:16 NKJV

Okay, time to wrap this up, and if you’ve reached this far, I really want to thank and honour you for staying with me. It’s not an easy or popular subject to teach, and I’ve found it a challenge not to go down any number of side shoots or “rabbit holes” but try to give a succinct yet honest exegesis on the rapture from a Bridal perspective and let scripture interpret scripture. My intention was not to refute any other view, merely to present as best I could a discourse that interwove scripture in its context and keep both the Bride and Israel in full view.

And so to close here is a summary of the main points presented in sequence that support a rapture after the great tribulation:

There is only one Bride and one Wedding which was originally arranged for Israel. Since the wedding requires a previous resurrection, and the Old Testament saints are not raised until after the great tribulation, it means the one Wedding is also after the great tribulation. The date has not been cancelled, postponed or brought forward, rather the Gentiles have been invited to the Wedding by being “grafted in”, which means adopting the promises and covenants made to Israel. These promises include that of resurrection and therefore rapture as upheld by the apostle Paul. To suggest a pre-tribulation rapture requires a pre-tribulation resurrection, which then requires a different resurrection for Israel as it does for the Gentile church, and if we do that we are creating a separate set of promises and divorcing ourselves from the very one to whom we have been grafted in.


QB80 The Rapture of the Bride (Part 2)

23 Oct 2023

May be an image of 1 person and text that says "The Rapture of the Bride (Part 2)"

Previously I shared there can be no wedding before the resurrection because to become “one flesh” with our Bridegroom first requires our lowly bodies to be transformed to be like His glorious body (Php 3:21). I laid this point down as our first foundational principle because when considering eschatology (the study of the end times) I believe we need to do so from a Bridal perspective and that requires our solidarity with Israel. Now that should come as no surprise since the culmination of this era will end with the Wedding of the Lamb and yet alarmingly in my personal experience I still find the Bride woefully misunderstood or even accepted. Now since this series is entitled “The Rapture of the Bride”, I need to explain why my approach to understanding the timing of the rapture is to look at the resurrection and the wedding. So let’s begin with the only passage which explicitly mentions the rapture which is found in Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians.

"(15) For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive [and] remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. (16) For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. (17) Then we who are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord." – 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 NKJV

Now if we simply read this passage and allow it to speak for itself then we have no alternative but to accept the rapture does not happen until the resurrection. Furthermore, one might argue that the resurrection and rapture happen when Jeshua comes again, descending from heaven with a shout, the voice of an archangel, and the trumpet of God. It’s at this point where the debate between a pre-tribulation or post-tribulation really hots up. Those holding to a post-tribulation view will refer to Jeshua’s teaching in Matthew 24 that the gathering which includes the resurrection/rapture event is immediately after the great tribulation, whereas the pre-tribulation view argues the gathering does not refer to either the resurrection or the rapture but is the gathering of “the elect” viz the tribes of Israel and the resurrection/rapture has already taken place. Here’s the passage in question:

"(29) "Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. (30) "Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. (31) "And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other." - Matthew 24:29-31 NKJV

It's at this point where we could get lost down any number of rabbit holes and I have no intention of following worn-out trails which so many have taken before, rather as I’ve often said I believe the key to understanding the end times, is through the Bridal lens which holds Israel at the centre. So that’s the approach I’m taking here to see if by looking through this lens we might observe from a higher elevation and perceive more clearly what has been partially obscured until now.

As we shall see, perhaps the biggest contributing factor to a multiplicity of end-time perspectives is the sidelining of Israel and the creation of a different set of promises for the Gentile church.

For example, there is a popular supposition made by pre-tribulation advocates who adopt the ancient Jewish wedding custom as an argument to support a pre-tribulation rapture of the Gentile church to enter into the Wedding of the Lamb for a seven-year period, whilst Israel suffers during “Jacob’s Trouble”. This is a very salient point because it highlights the danger of a Bridal identity not in solidarity with Israel but separate from her. And yet, did you know there is only one Bride? Furthermore, did you know that the only arranged wedding was for Israel and the date has not been cancelled, brought forward or postponed? The Bride will be on time, hallelujah! This point is powerfully demonstrated when Jeshua taught the parable of the Wedding Feast in Matthew 22:1-14. Jeshua used this parable to admonish the Pharisees and those opposing Him. They had been invited to a wedding but refused to come and therefore as the parable teaches the King said to his servants:

"'The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. 'Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.' Matthew 22:8,9

Notice in this parable the wedding arranged for Israel was not cancelled but instead, the invitation was extended to as many as could be found in the highways, and that means the Gentiles who Paul describes in his letter to the Romans:

"(25) As He says also in Hosea: "I will call them My people, who were not My people, And her beloved, who was not beloved." (26) "And it shall come to pass in the place where it was said to them, 'You [are] not My people,' There they shall be called sons of the living God."" - Romans 9:25-26 NKJV

The only wedding is the one that has always been arranged for Israel, and we have been invited to it! This is consistent with every blessing or promise that we have ever received from the Lord. Whether salvation, being gathered, married, reigning, raptured or resurrected, they have all been made first to Israel and we will do well to remember this and anchor it into our eschatological roadmap. In other words to understand salvation, look at God’s promises to Israel. If we want to know about being gathered, look to Israel. When the wedding will be, again look at God’s covenant with Israel. If we want to know about reigning, look to God’s promises to Israel, or when will the resurrection and rapture be, you’ve got it – look at God’s promises to Israel. This is where I’ll pick up next time.

"(4) They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. (5) To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen."- Romans 9:4-5 ESV

Maranatha.


QB79 The Rapture of the Bride (Part 1)

20 Oct 2023

May be an image of 1 person and text that says "The Rapture of the Bride (Part 1)"

As we see the escalation of tumult, depravity, suffering and destabilisation across the world I feel it is time to talk once more about the rapture from a bridal perspective. As the Body of Christ, for the most part, we’ve come to where we are regarding the rapture on a basis of openness and respect for different views concerning when the rapture will take place. I rarely touch on the subject because I know the immediate disconcertment it raises in so many and the lack of appetite many have to discourse with others on the subject. Yet, this is exactly what I feel the Lord is leading me to do, that is to invite a respectful conversation about the rapture from a bridal perspective. Now I realise the ongoing debate is incredibly complex so as best I can I want to avoid going down any number of possible “rabbit holes”. As a starting point, I will present a sequence of scriptural principles that undergirds my own personal conviction for a post-tribulation rapture. And here’s where I openly welcome your comments, questions or thoughts you have regarding what I’ve shared. I’ll share each principle in a separate post to keep a sense of progression, and so today the first point is:

There is no wedding before the resurrection.

Eph 5:31-32 NKJV - 31 "For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh." 32 This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

The concept of marriage is that the two shall become one flesh. Developing this thought further, there has to be a compatibility of that flesh in order for them to become unified as one. This was foreshadowed in the Genesis account of Adam and Eve. Gen 2:18 NKJV - 18 And the LORD God said, "[It is] not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him." But then once each animal had passed him by, the Bible says that “there was not found a helper comparable to him.”Gen 2:20. Then of course, we remember the story of how Adam was put into a deep sleep and out of his side a rib was taken from which the Lord created a wife for him. Then when Adam awoke he declared “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.” Gen 2:23

In order to become “one flesh” it requires a compatibility of the two bodies, that they are exactly alike and able to be co-joined together. This leads to the important question, when will we have a body that is comparable to our Bridegroom’s? Paul answers this question in his powerful discourse on the resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15. It’s a lengthy passage and I encourage you to read it, but here for our purposes, I’ll select just a few of the verses:

1 Corinthians 15:42-44 NKJV - 42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. 43 It is sown in dishonour, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. 44 It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.

1 Corinthians 15:51-53 NKJV - 51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed-- 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal [must] put on immortality.

In these verses, Paul makes it very clear that before the resurrection our bodies are not yet gloried, but that at the last trumpet, the dead will be raised incorruptible and we shall be changed. And to whose image shall we be changed, well Paul answers that also

1 Corinthians 15:49 NKJV - 49 And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man.

Okay, in summary, the point I’ve made today is that there can be no wedding before the resurrection because to be married requires our bodies to be like His glorious body, and that won’t happen until the resurrection. Now you might be wondering what this has to do with the rapture, and that’s where I’ll pick up next time. But for now, I welcome your comments and questions on the points I’ve raised here.

Lastly, I just want to say what a wonderful hope we have in Christ. To know we shall be changed to be like Him, and that we shall become one with Him as a Bride to her Groom. Lord, we hasten the day and join the Spirit to cry “Come!”


QB78 Contending For the Birthright of a Nation

10 Oct 2023

May be an image of 1 person, flower and wedding

When looking at spiritual warfare from a Bridal perspective the picture is indeed most glorious for it is no less than contending for the birthright of a nation.

You see, God is very intentional when it comes to nations, seeing the end from the beginning, nations have always been central to His Eternal purpose conceiving the New Jerusalem as a multi-national expression of oneness which is only possible through a Bridal identity.

Listen to what the apostle John wrote when he saw the New Jerusalem coming down out of Heaven prepared like a Bride adorned for her husband.

"(22) But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. (23) The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb [is] its light. (24) And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honour into it. (25) Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there). (26) And they shall bring the glory and the honour of the nations into it." - Rev 21:22-26 NKJV

John describes how the glory and honour of the nations will be brought into the New Jerusalem. This naturally raises the question: what is the glory and honour of a nation? It is its birthright, its God-ordained destiny which He concealed when He brought the nation forth into being.

"(2) It is the glory of God to conceal a matter [H1697 a cause], But the glory of kings is to search out a matter." - Pro 25:2 NKJV

Every nation has a glory concealed by God within it which one day will be brought into the New Jerusalem, the Bride beautifully adorned. But before then, Satan has always desired the birthright of the nations for himself gloating in their splendour and seducing the fallen hearts of men with notions of their glory. Wasn’t this temptation also offered to our Lord when the devil took Him to an exceedingly high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory? Indeed, and we also must heed the warning well, for the Bride will undergo the same temptations as her Beloved Bridegroom.

The temptation of kingdoms continues to lure hearts and minds with delusions of grandeur, but at what cost? We have witnessed the depravity of our fallen state far too long to know that there is only One who is worthy, only One who is able to reign in perfect righteousness and justice: the Prince of Peace, King of Kings and Lord of Lords. And how will He receive His inheritance? Certainly not by bowing to Satan, oh no, a far more beautiful plan has been put into action.

For the Bride has been planted in the nations around the world and to her the commission entrusted to recover the stolen birthright of a nation and bring its glory back into the New Jerusalem as a love gift to Yeshua.


QB77 The Warrior Bride (Part 3)

9 Oct 2023

May be an image of 1 person and text that says "The place of overcoming begins with being still"

Partnering with Heaven’s Armies through the Posture of Peace

Probably the last thing we think about when considering spiritual warfare is not the recital of scripture, or the vocalising of decrees, but the imperative of being still. We must understand that spiritual warfare is not dependent upon us following any preformatted agenda as though it were our battle to win or lose, rather

success on the battlefield depends upon the posture of the heart we adopt in the secret place before the Lord.

This was the lesson Joshua needed to learn before the defeat of Jericho when he lifted his eyes and beheld a Man stood opposite him with a drawn sword in His hand. Naturally, Joshua enquired “Are You for us or for our adversaries?”(Joshua 5:13), but the reply of the Warrior took Joshua by surprise and totally reframed the context of the battle he was about to engage in.

“Neither,” he replied, “but as commander of the army of the LORD I have now come.” Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, “What message does my Lord have for his servant?”. Joshua 5:14 (NIV)

The Lord proceeded to answer Joshua, first by telling him to take off his sandals because he was standing on holy ground, but then gave him a very peculiar battle plan for how to take the city. Walk around Jericho for seven days without saying a word then blow the trumpets and make a shout would have sounded ridiculous under any normal circumstances, but his encounter with the Lord instantly put the whole battle scenario into the supernatural, and Joshua understood his place was to partner with Heaven’s armies, because the battle belonged to the Lord.

When we posture our hearts in peace before the Lord, we are engaging with Heaven’s armies to act on our behalf and we silence the taunts of fear to plumb the depths of intimacy where assurance and instruction await.

In this sense peace is not passive but the fruit of a wilful adoption of faith over a given conflict. Now, to be clear, I’m not suggesting we should not fight, but it’s the manner of how we engage with the enemy that is critical here. On our own, it’s not a fair fight, and we are no match for our adversary. Oh yes, of course, greater is He who is in us, than he who is in the world, but that’s the point, it’s the Lord in us that tips the balance in our favour. So what am I saying? Only this, that before we get lured into the gladiatorial ring by invitation of our enemies, there’s a different approach we can employ: One that spares us the blows of direct confrontation and instead partners with Heaven’s armies through the posture of peace.

Whatever battle you’re facing today, whatever fear lurks, the place of overcoming begins with being still. That’s the place to contend for, go there today, the Lord will meet you there.

"(18) He has redeemed my soul in peace from the battle [that was] against me, For there were many against me." - Psalms 55:18 NKJV


QB76 The Warrior Bride (Part 2)

17 Aug 2023

https://youtu.be/6Fi5Tb1tJXw

"(7) "Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready." ( And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints." - Revelation 19:7-8 NKJV

In part 1 of the Warrior Bride, I reminded us of what Yeshuah taught His disciples on the Mount of Olives in answer to their question “what will be the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age?” Matthew 24:3. Despite the disturbing reply, His intention was not to discourage them, but to prepare them with the Truth, so they might not be deceived by the entourage of false christs and false prophets that would surely follow and provide a different more attractive narrative. This of course remains as important for us today as it was for the early disciples, and we must heed the instruction well lest we be deceived.

However, this inevitability of trials and tribulations should not produce in us a defeatist attitude as though we were without the means to bring change. Rather it should create in us a resolute determination to do all we possibly can to fulfil the mandate we have been entrusted with to make disciples of all nations. After all, ever since Yeshuah taught on His glorious return, for the last two thousand years the Bride has endured and transitioned through all the epochs of church history until now. Great things have been accomplished through the passion of men and women whose lives were sold out to God not only in the harvest fields of mission but in all sectors of society, whether politics, education or medicine, the arts, social reform or philanthropy.

When Yeshuah returned to the Father, He did not leave us without the means to overcome or prepare the way for His return. Here’s the account in the Book of Acts:

"(6) Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, "Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" (7) And He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. ( "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."" - Acts 1:6-8 NKJV

We know this scripture well, and take great encouragement and instruction from it, for we have indeed received power through the baptism of the Holy Spirit, which empowers us mightily for tremendous exploits and testimony. In this Quick Bite, I want to make the connection between being a witness in the power of the Holy Spirit to being the Warrior Bride engaged in preparing for the return of her King. Okay, so let’s take a closer look at what’s going on here, and we’ll begin back in Matthew 24.

"(3) Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be? And what [will be] the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?" ... (14) "And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come." - Matthew 24:3, 14 NKJV

In answering His disciples’ question “what will be the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age?”, Yeshuah talks of great deception, wars and rumours of wars, but the end is not yet. Nation will rise against nation, kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines, pestilences and earthquakes in various places, which Yeshuah calls “the beginning of sorrows”. Then persecution and martyrdom, betrayal and apostasy, false prophets and so on, but he who endures to the end shall be saved. Now as remarkable as each of these are, it is what follows in verse 14 that completes the sequence and serves to answer their question the end will come when the gospel of the kingdom has been preached as a witness to all the nations. Note, at this point the Kingdom has still not yet come in its earthly consummation, but its gospel will have been preached as a witness to all nations. This is a key point and forms part of the judicial process necessary before the Second Coming that creates a straight path of righteousness for the return of the King, as though to herald His soon return and provide opportunity to repent and prepare.

The gospel of the kingdom will be preached as a witness. The word preached is G2784 kēryssō (kay-roos'-so) and means to proclaim in the manner of a herald but always comes with the suggestion of formality, gravity and an authority which must be listened to and obeyed. It is more than proclamation or the propagation of news, because it carries with it a legal connotation. This point is important to grasp because everything the Lord does is always within a legal framework of righteousness and justice. Listen again, the gospel of the kingdom will be preached as a witness. The word witness is G3142 martyrion (mar-too'-ree-on) also carries a judicial meaning and is synonymous with the word testimony as in a court of law, and it’s also connected with being a witness to the end of the earth in Acts 1:8.

Now you might be wondering where I am going with this, and how does this connect with the Warrior Bride? So to answer that, let’s look at another scripture, this time in Revelation 19 just before the Battle of Armageddon.

"(11) Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him [was] called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war." - Revelation 19:11 NKJV

This is the ultimate in spiritual warfare, the final battle before the Lord’s millennial reign upon the earth as King of Kings and Lord of Lords, when finally the Kingdom of God shall come and be restored in all its glory. Did you notice though, the manner in which Yeshuah, as Faithful and True, will come? It says He will come in righteousness to judge and make war.

That’s because judging and warfare go together, and both in righteousness. They are interlinked with each other; the legal protocols of righteousness and justice are necessary and inseparable from the outworking of spiritual warfare. When the Lord returns in glory, it will be foreshadowed by the requirements of legal precedent to bring testimony and witness to the ends of the earth of His coming Kingdom.

And this is the point I’m making, that we must understand the nature of the battle we are engaged in from a legal point of view, so that we too can operate along the protocols of righteousness and justice, and in particular, make the legal argument in the courts of heaven to counter the adversary’s accusation in a way that grants a ruling in favour of the saints and subsequent victory upon the battlefield.

I appreciate the depth of the points I’m making here and I don’t want you to miss what I’m saying. I believe the Warrior Bride is commissioned to the battlefield not without wisdom or understanding but in partnership with the courts of Heaven, living out of intimacy with Her Beloved, where her garments are not the encumbrance of another’s armour but “arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints” Revelation 19:8. The word “righteous acts” here, is the word G1345 dikaiōma (di ki oh ma) and also carries legal connotation with it as in that which has been deemed right so as to have force of law, for example what has been established and ordained by law, or a judicial decision or sentence.


QB75 The Warrior Bride (Part 1)

15 Aug 2023

https://youtu.be/1LHOkC2sC-4

"(12) Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; (13) but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy."– 1 Peter 4:12-13 NKJV

Since scripture repeatedly warns us about the trials and tribulations which are to come, and especially so as the Day of the Lord draws ever closer, it should come as no surprise that despite the eternal victory of the Cross, the authority of the believer and as we have seen in the previous Quick Bite series “The Bride Has Come of Age” the accession of the Bride to royal position, that hardships and persecution still await us. It is not a message many readily accept, preferring instead the grandeur of an alternate and spurious exegesis which distort the Word of God to a far more palatable consideration, one that elevates either the individual believer to a pre-resurrection glorification (and in some cases escaping death altogether), or the church to a re-incarnation of the Lord Himself in a way that negates the need of His return at all, since as they teach, it will be through the church the anti-Christ will be overthrown, and the Kingdoms of this world subdued. How did we arrive at such error when scripture makes it abundantly clear otherwise? Later in this series, I will expand a little more about these heresies, but for now it behoves me to attest to this important and foundational truth: things will get worse before the Lord’s Second Coming which will be as the angels at His ascension declared "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven." - Acts 1:11 NKJV Jesus will return in the same manner, that is in His glorified physical body. Here’s what Jesus Himself taught us:

"Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be? And what [will be] the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?" And Jesus answered and said to them: "Take heed that no one deceives you. "For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many. "And you will hear of wars and rumours of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all [these things] must come to pass, but the end is not yet. "For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. "All these [are] the beginning of sorrows. "Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake. "And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. "Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. "And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. "But he who endures to the end shall be saved. "And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come." - Matthew 24:3-14 NKJV

No matter what exegetical wrangling or attempt to reframe the Olivet discourse, we simply cannot alter one iota of what scripture so adamantly teaches that things will get worse before the Lord’s bodily return. Hope is misplaced if it relies upon a triumphant church before the Second Coming, as Paul writes "looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ," - Titus 2:13 NKJV or "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable." – 1 Corinthians 15:19 NKJV. Now it is certainly not my intention to preach “doom and gloom”, far be it, for there is hope now and joy now, there is strength now and a victorious position now, indeed there is much to celebrate not only in the glories to come, but in the favour that awaits us right now. Prayer remains most effective, and the Bride has come of age, meaning she has crossed a legal threshold granting her full rights directly as a Bride, rather than vicariously through a guardian. But it is necessary from the onset of this new series on the Warrior Bride (and spiritual warfare), to provide the context into which all our teaching and prophetic principles must align. This prophetic timeline of the Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24,25, Luke 21 and Mark 13) provides a backbone for all other subsequent teaching, revelation and prophecy. You see, there is an important distinction between the warfare of the Bride and the warfare of the church. That might sound strange since I make no distinction between the Bride and the church, but it is a matter of the heart and the maturity of love to which I refer. The Bride has been in the wilderness, and she knows without a shadow of doubt to whom she belongs, and her sole desire is for her beloved to come for her.

She isn’t fighting for vineyards or territory, even though the offer is given for half the Kingdom, the fire of true love cannot be appeased by anything other than being together in love’s embrace and union.

This is how Song of Songs finishes in chapter 8, which foreshadows Revelation 22:17 “the Spirit and the Bride say Come”. It’s so beautiful, listen to these last couple of verses.

"(The Beloved) You who dwell in the gardens, The companions listen for your voice--Let me hear it!" – Song of Songs 8:13 NKJV

Here, a window into the Lord’s heart, it reveals His longing to hear His Bride’s voice. Then the final verse in this love poem, gives her response.

"(The Shulamite) Make haste, my beloved, And be like a gazelle Or a young stag On the mountains of spices." - Song of Songs 8:14 NKJV

So beautiful, so enchanting, here the portrayal of love awakened in all its simplicity, “make haste my beloved”. This is the cry of the Bride, “Come”. But not in some love-sick, rose-coloured glasses way, that reduces her to a state of passivity, but a ferocity of love that will not be satisfied with anything other than love’s reward or traded for the allure of anything in this life.

"Many waters cannot quench love, Nor can the floods drown it. If a man would give for love All the wealth of his house, It would be utterly despised” – Song of Songs 8:7 NKJV

The Bride is fighting for all those she can advocate for, she is fighting for love, and she is fighting for Her Bridegroom’s return. The Bride embraces the fellowship of sharing in her Beloved’s suffering, because it provides the veil through which she is invited to love Him at depths unknown. Well that’s the beginning of this series on the Warrior Bride. But it’s important to lay this marker and context down, understanding yes the end is drawing near, but there is a battle that only the Bride can engage in that prepares the way for the return of her beloved King.


QB74 The Bride Has Come of Age (Part 6)

27 Mar 2023

https://youtu.be/BV2lTBsGXXU

QB74 The Bride Has Come of Age (Part 6)

The Changing of the Guard

Previously in this series we have explored the concept of the Bride’s coming of age, noting the importance of this watershed moment in the life and maturity of the Bride of Christ. It marks her transition between not holding legal capacity and having guardians who make decisions on her behalf, to reaching the age of majority when she is legally recognised as entitled to determine her own course and therefore the tenure of her former guardians has officially ended. However, all is not quite that simple, because she must be proactive in accessing the rights now afforded her, since the guardians will not relinquish their position easily. If she is to complete her maturity and desirability in the eyes of her Bridegroom it necessitates a departure from the guardians she has known. However, despite her awakened heart and desire to respond to her Bridegroom’s call to “Come away with me”, there is one further aspect we must now inquire into because even though a doorway has been anointed for her exodus, the resistance against her will become so great and the obstacles seemingly so unsurmountable, she will need help if she is to succeed in this season of change and transition. Thankfully, the Bridegroom is sending some of His closest friends to assist. 

This is what happened in Egypt. When the Lord determined it was time for Israel to leave Egypt and enter into a marriage covenant with Him on Mount Sinai He raised up Moses as His friend (Exodus 33:11) and prophet demanding Pharoah to “Let My people go” and enforce His decree. Likewise it is imperative that among the prophets being raised today there are among them those who can fulfil this vital role on behalf of the Bridegroom. I’ll share more about this and who those prophets may be a little later, meanwhile let’s take a look at a very insightful passage in Numbers 11 which records what happened not long after Israel had passed through the Red Sea. The people began to complain displeasing the Lord enough to kindle His anger against them and cause a fire to consume on the outskirts of the camp. On that occasion Moses interceded for them and the fire ceased but the Israelites never learnt the lesson that day because soon after they complained again when all they had to eat was the manner graciously provided for them from heaven. Rather than gratitude they displayed nostalgia as they reminisced over the delicacies of the Egyptian diet left behind.

“We remember the fish which we ate freely in Egypt, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic; but now our whole being [is] dried up; [there is] nothing at all except this manna [before] our eyes!" Numbers 11:5,6 (NKJV)

At this stage Moses was exasperated, here’s the account given:

10 Then Moses heard the people weeping throughout their families, everyone at the door of his tent; and the anger of the LORD was greatly aroused; Moses also was displeased. 11 So Moses said to the LORD, "Why have You afflicted Your servant? And why have I not found favour in Your sight, that You have laid the burden of all these people on me? Numbers 11:10-11 (NKJV)

When Moses lamented he recited what the Lord had previously told him to do:

12 "Did I conceive all these people? Did I beget them, that You should say to me, ‘Carry them in your bosom, as a guardian carries a nursing child,’ to the land which You swore to their fathers? Numbers 11:12 (NKJV)

Did you notice what the Lord had asked of Moses? He was to carry Israel in his bosom as a guardian carries a nursing child, the word for guardian is H539 āman (ah man) and in this context means to foster as in a parent or nurse. It is a key point to grasp: Although the tenure of the guardians ends when the Bride comes of age and she is granted every right to accession free from custodial restraint, she will have new guardians appointed. However, they will look and act very differently to the ones she has known before because rather than confining her, they will lead her out. This is clearly the case with the prophet Moses. I call this the changing of the guard. Reading further,

"(14) "I am not able to bear all these people alone, because the burden [is] too heavy for me. (15) "If You treat me like this, please kill me here and now--if I have found favour in Your sight--and do not let me see my wretchedness!"" - Numbers 11:14-15 NKJV

Moses was well acquainted with his inability to fulfil the Lord’s assignment and considered himself better smote dead rather than struggle in such an impossible position. Thankfully, the Lord had mercy upon him and provided the following solution:

"(16) So the LORD said to Moses: "Gather to Me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people and officers over them; bring them to the tabernacle of meeting, that they may stand there with you. (17) "Then I will come down and talk with you there. I will take of the Spirit that [is] upon you and will put [the same] upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with you, that you may not bear [it] yourself alone. ... (24) So Moses went out and told the people the words of the LORD, and he gathered the seventy men of the elders of the people and placed them around the tabernacle. (25) Then the LORD came down in the cloud, and spoke to him, and took of the Spirit that [was] upon him, and placed [the same] upon the seventy elders; and it happened, when the Spirit rested upon them, that they prophesied, although they never did [so] again." - Numbers 11:16-17, 24-25 NKJV

The Lord’s answer to Moses’ confession of weakness was to take the Spirit upon him and place the same upon a group of seventy elders of Israel who would assist in his role as guardian and therefore share the assignment with him. Notice when the Spirit rested on the elders they each prophesied revealing the manifestation of the Spirit upon Moses as a prophet. I believe a precedent is established here that a changing of the guard requires the raising of a prophetic council to foster the Bride. Indeed this council is necessary to advocate on the Bride’s behalf before, during and after her transition across the threshold of her present confinement.

"(7) Surely the Lord GOD does nothing, Unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets." - Amos 3:7 NKJV

The word used here for secret is sôḏ (H5475 sode) and carries with it the notion of a secret council, or a company of persons in close deliberation. In other words there is a posture of intimacy the prophet is called into that positions them within the Lord’s secret council before He acts. This is what I see in the spirit and believe passionately that there must come the raising of a prophetic council to steward the Word of the Lord over a nation and in particular to advocate on His behalf and relay the decree made in Heaven “THE BRIDE HAS COME OF AGE”. Not all prophets will carry this assignment and I’ll explain why: Every prophet has a particular lens through which they observe and it filters their interpretation of what they see. Each lens releases different prophetic streams as a valued revelation to the church but in the context of “THE BRIDE HAS COME OF AGE” and all its ramifications, it requires the raising of prophets who are looking through the lens of the Bridal Paradigm. Without this bridal consciousness they will either fail to see the centrality of the Bride in the heart and eternal purpose of God and therefore be of little help in the Bride’s departure from her guardians or accession to her rightful position, or though they totally embrace the centrality of the Bridegroom and Bride paradigm, they carry a different mandate. In concluding this Quick Bite “The Changing of the Guard”, whilst I have predominantly focused on the raising of prophets to form council and foster the Bride I want to add that I equally recognise the importance of both apostles and prophets who compliment each other’s role and gifting and indeed that of the pastor, teacher and evangelist also. Scripture is quite clear that revelation is not unique to the prophet, for example on the night Jesus was preparing to leave His disciples who were also apostles He told them

"(12) "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear [them] now. (13) "However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own [authority], but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come." - John 16:12-13 NKJV

Later when writing to the church at Ephesus the apostle Paul affirmed that the revelation of the Gentiles inclusion into Abraham’s promise was made to both apostles and prophets (Ephesians 3:5), and how this revelation became the foundation of the church as the One New Man. (Ephesians 2:14-20). Since there can only be one foundation as there can only be one chief cornerstone, namely Christ (Ephesians 2:20) some argue for the cessation of the apostle and prophet with the early church. Whilst I agree their role was uniquely foundational, we should also note Paul’s teaching later in the same letter to the Ephesians in chapter four, which quite clearly instructs the necessity of not only the apostle and prophet but the pastor, teacher and evangelist.

"(13) till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;" - Ephesians 4:13 NKJV

In other words, until the Bride is fully mature without spot or wrinkle, and therefore compatible with Yeshua, there will always be need of the five gifts given by the Bridegroom to His Bride to operate. (Ephesians 4:7). But the prophet is unique in that by definition the word prophētēs (G4396 ‘prof-ay-tace’) defines their role as one who “speaks forth”. They are called (or summoned) to stand before the Lord that they should speak forth by virtue of being in council with Him.

This concludes “The Bride Has Come of Age” series of Quick Bites, and I do hope you’ve been blessed even inspired as you’ve read or listened to this teaching. I feel I’ve shared enough to relay what I believe I heard in the Lord’s council whilst providing a solid Biblical exegesis to support the suppositions made regarding why and how the Bride should leave home and the Lord’s provision for her to do so. There’s more I could say but next time I’d like to begin a new series on the Warrior Bride, which will build upon the principles here and take a closer look at the battle facing the Bride’s accession and how the Spirit of Elijah will come to her aid.


QB73 The Bride Has Come of Age (Part 5)

19 Mar 2023

https://youtu.be/fI3r9UdCqQU

QB73 The Bride Has Come of Age (Part 5)

The Anointing and Baptism of the Bride

"(2) [The Shulamite] I sleep, but my heart is awake; [It is] the voice of my beloved! He knocks, [saying], "Open for me, my sister, my love, My dove, my perfect one; For my head is covered with dew, My locks with the drops of the night." (3) I have taken off my robe; How can I put it on [again]? I have washed my feet; How can I defile them?” – Song of Songs 5:2,3 NKJV

I have shared previously in Quick Bites 65 to 68 how this night encounter in Song of Songs between the Shulamite and her beloved provides a beautiful window into our own personal journey of intimacy with Yeshua, now I would like to adopt this same passage and explore how it can also be applied to us on a corporate level, and in particular when the Bride comes of age. Let’s recap briefly on the story. The Shulamite (representing the Bride) describes herself as asleep but her heart awake when she hears her beloved approach and ask her to open the door to him. However, rather than the safety and secrecy of hosting him within her chamber, she soon discovers the romantic interlude hoped for takes an entirely different turn when upon opening the door she finds him gone. I explained previously why I reject the view he had left because she delayed approaching the door, rather it was an invitation for her to leave home in search of him during the night.

We have grown accustomed to Yeshua coming to us. There is an expectation wherever two or more gather in His name He will be in the midst of them (Matthew 18:20). Certainly our whole Christian community is based upon this one principle that when we congregate He will be there: Immanuel God with us. Certainly this is a justified and welcomed belief, after all, has He not promised to never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5)? And when commissioning His disciples did He not reassure them “Lo I am with you always even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:18)? Indeed, it is of great comfort knowing His abiding presence and it is right we should hold to Him tightly in this way. But I suggest beyond the familiar walls of our past and current experience with Yeshua as Saviour and Lord, there is yet a deeper revelation and encounter with Him as our Bridegroom that requires us to muster and move out from our positions (Joshua 3:3).The church worships Yeshua as Saviour and Lord and of course this we should do with all our heart, but a different dynamic exists in the relationship between Yeshua as Saviour and Yeshua as our Bridegroom one which necessitates our departure into the unknown. We are most assuredly comforted by His promise to never leave nor forsake us, yet if we truly desire to know Him in the deepest way then another intrinsic element is required. I believe He has come to His church and is asking her to “come away with me”. Can you hear His call? “Come, come leave your Father’s house to the place of encounter prepared for us beyond the veil of knowing because beyond which you have seen or understood exists a place in which only My Bride may enter.

Let’s explore this idea a little further.

"(4) My beloved thrust his hand in through the latch opening. My heart pounded for him. (5) I rose up to open for my beloved. My hands dripped with myrrh, My fingers with liquid myrrh, On the handles of the lock. (6) I opened to my beloved; But my beloved left; gone away. My heart went out when he spoke. I looked for him, but I didn't find him. I called him, but he didn't answer." – Song of Songs 5:4-6 HNV

Notice the account given here. The beloved thrust his hand through the latch opening which aroused the Shulamite’s heart for him, but rather than let himself in, he smothered the handles of the lock from the inside with liquid myrrh then departed. This smearing with myrrh could be described as anointing them, because that’s what anointing means: to smear. Myrrh is the Bridegroom’s aroma and it arouses the Bride’s desire towards Him. I believe this is true of the church today. The Lord has thrust His hand inside the church and aroused His Bride to awake, but something has changed: He has not come in a way we have known Him come before. Instead He has left a fragrant anointing upon a handle that compels His Brides towards the door provided for her exodus. Like the Shulamite, the Bride must venture into the night even when not fully knowing where He may be only that she can no longer stay where she has been.

Previously we have seen how the guardians will not readily allow the Bride to leave, as with the Shulamite her brothers said if she was a door they would enclose her with boards of cedar (SOS 8:9), but when the Bride touches the handle of the door, she touches Yeshua’s anointing left there for her, and her hands and fingers will drip with this anointing. I believe it is a breaker anointing that will breach the control and restraint imposed upon the bride by her guardians. In other words, no matter what attempts made by the Bride’s guardians to confine her, the anointing she carries will enable her to break through, it is an anointing to open doors no man can shut and shut doors no man can open.

"(7) The watchmen who went about the city found me. They struck me, they wounded me; The keepers of the walls Took my veil away from me." – Song of Songs 5:7 NKJV

Once the Shulamite had gone out into the night in search of her beloved she was not treated well by the watchmen or keepers of the wall. Like her brothers, these also represent guardians. Their duty was a protective one as watchmen and keepers, and yet they were unable to assist the Shulamite in the pursuit of her Beloved. They cared not for her wellbeing rather to guard against any perceived threat to the city even if that meant cruelty to those in their ward. Her behaviour was unacceptable to them, and they took offence at her candid display of passion in the night hours. The tragic consequence of such abandon in pursuit of love was her wounding by those supposed to protect her, and her veil stripped away. This word veil (H7289 rāḏîḏ ra deed) here means a cloak or covering. This was the covering the Shulamite brought from home out into the night. In the same way when the Bride ventures beyond the boundaries of her guardians the covering she had once known will also be stripped from her. Any denominational covering will not be afforded to the Bride, that’s because she cannot be found wearing any garment or covering that belongs with the guardians. Okay, just to be clear what am I saying here? I’m saying that when the Bride comes of age, her covering will not be, cannot be one of any denomination, institution or any other form of designation, any such apparel has to be removed.  

The following is an excerpt from a prophecy I released in 2021, and it talks very much about the removal of garments we have grown accustomed to.

Then the One who stands amid the seven lampstands reached out and touched me saying, “Write down this despatch for my church. I will heal the fallen image of whom you think you are to Me, and I will render your hearts with an inoperable ferocity for passion and a love for all that is pure. My Bride will be untethered from the rhythm of this world and be yoked to Me as the Lion roaring by her side.” Then I heard a different sound than the war-cry I had heard before, this warrior sounded like the roar of thunder. “If you trust me, if you really trust me, I want you to take off your armour. For you cannot come into my bridal chamber with your armour on, but it is here that I will anoint you for the day of battle. Do not go out in your armour,” says the Lord, “but go out in the strength that you have with a vulnerability towards me and each other, for my strength is made perfect in your weakness. Do not fortify your positions neither embellish yourselves with armour, because your bastions will be a snare to you and your armour a weakness. Behold the day is coming and now is when your confidence in me shall be resolute and with the sound of the trumpet blast you shall invoke my jealousy toward you, and I will respond like a mighty warrior to fight on your behalf and assign angels to your stations. I will delight in your vulnerability,” says the Lord, “for you are irresistible to me. Wherever you go My Bride, I will enshroud you with My glory which will dazzle and confound your adversaries. I will place a canopy over you and keep you concealed; I will hide you away until the great day of unveiling comes. When they seek you they will not find you, but when they seek you they will stumble upon me standing guard over you by day and night and their audacity will melt like wax in the heat of my passion. Behold, I will bewilder their strategy so they will come at you in one way but flee from you in seven. See I am faithful in my love towards you, and I have no other. No one else who has ravished my heart; I am captivated with just one look of your eyes.”

Although the guardians will strip away the veil from the Bride, this veil or covering is not befitting for the Bride of Yeshua. She may become exposed and vulnerable but what the guardians will fail to anticipate is how the Lord Himself will cover His Bride with His glory. I believe when the Bride makes this transition out into the darkness of the unknown she will be baptised into a new glory she has not known before. That’s exactly what happened when the Bride of Israel came of age and left the home of her guardians in Egypt. The Bible tells us they were baptised into Moses in the cloud and in the sea (1 Corinthians 10:2). This pillar of cloud by day and fire by night was a manifestation of the glory of God that enabled them to travel by day or by night, but it also hid them out of sight from their former guardians, the Egyptians (Exodus 14:20). Baptism is the immersion into Christ. It is the identification with His death, burial and resurrection. We have known this individually upon salvation, but there is a corporate baptism for the Bride that awaits her when she leaves her guardians. When that happens her former identity is crucified upon the Cross as she returns back into Him, identifying entirely with Him in death, that she might arise most glorious indeed. There is a new anointing for the Bride that enables her to pass through the gate, and there is a glory for the Bride that provides her with a new veil and covering.


QB72 The Bride Has Come of Age (Part 4)

14 Mar 2023

https://youtu.be/HD6Bj5PKpgc

When the Bride Leaves Home

"(9) Kings' daughters are among Your noble ladies; At Your right hand stands the queen in gold from Ophir. (10) Listen, O daughter, give attention and incline your ear: Forget your people and your father's house; (11) Then the King will desire your beauty. Because He is your Lord, bow down to Him." - Psalms 45:9-11 LSB

The first half of this beautiful psalm is all about the Bridegroom King where the psalmist addresses Him most eloquently with adorning praise and words of adulation ending the final observation spoken of Him by acknowledging the queen standing at His right hand. Then from verse ten, the address is made directly to the Bride, and as a most emphatic precursor to all that follows, the psalmist instructs three times with the words “Listen”, “give attention”, and “incline your ear”. It’s a literary ploy to highlight the importance of what is about to immediately follow: “forget your people and your father’s house”. In the context of this series ‘THE BRIDE HAS COME OF AGE’ there comes a time when the Bride must leave her guardians, in this case her father’s house. But look at what happens when the Bride forgets her guardian in verse eleven. It says, “then the King will desire your beauty”. I love the cause and effect we find in these verses. Note the emphasis is not upon whether the Bride is beautiful or not, but upon her desirability. She would be desirable when she comes of age and forgets her guardians. To clarify, forget here does not reference the inability to remember but rather no longer consider or reflect upon. The instruction therefore is not to look back or reminisce on what once was instead look forward to the promise of what shall be.  There’s something irresistibly attractive to the Lord when the Bride’s thoughts turn away from all she had once known in her upbringing to a diverted gaze now solely upon Him. It’s an activation point, a transitional moment that ushers her into a new posture before Him. The second half of verse eleven also makes this point, “because He is your Lord, bow down to Him”.  The word bow down is šāḥâ (H7812 sha kha) and means to prostrate in homage to the Lord, to reverence, bow down, honour, worship. The NET translation writes “Then the king will be attracted by your beauty. After all, he is your master! Submit to him!“

Let us take comfort in knowing our Bridegroom asks nothing more of us than what He has already done. "(24) Therefore a man will leave his father and his mother, and will join with his wife, and they will be one flesh." - Genesis 2:24 HNV (also Ephesians 5:31). Yeshua left His Father’s House and humbled Himself becoming obedient even to death upon a cross to pay the ransom for His Bride, to deliver us from the enslavement of sin so we could be free to follow Him. Since the Bride is perfectly compatible with the Groom, what is true for the Bridegroom is true for the Bride, and in this way the reciprocation in the manner of love affirms the covenant relationship. The principle of the Bride leaving home is repeated throughout scripture. First of all, there was Abraham.

"(1) Now the LORD had said to Abram: "Get out of your country, From your family And from your father's house, To a land that I will show you." - Genesis 12:1 NKJV

"(8) By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. (9) By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. (10) For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God." - Hebrews 11:8-10 NIV

Interesting isn’t it, that Abraham left his father’s house, not knowing where he was going, because he was looking forward to the city with foundations whose architect and builder is God, which is of course the Bride, the New Jerusalem. Since the Bride Israel would come through Abraham and Sarah, the principle of the Bride leaving her father’s house is inherent within the Bridal paradigm from the outset. I believe we can extend this concept of the father’s house to include guardians also, as when Rebekah left the home of her brother Laban (Genesis 24:58), or just one generation later when Rachel and Leah also left Laban (Genesis 31:14-16). Then there was the time when Esther left her guardian Mordecai to become the wife of king Ahasuerus (Esther 2:7-17), or when the Shulamite left her brothers to go up from the wilderness leaning on her Beloved (Song of Songs 8:5) but perhaps this principle of the Bride leaving her guardians is most powerfully demonstrated in the exodus of Israel from Egypt. Four hundred years had passed until Yahweh determined she had come of age and commissioned Moses who was out in the back end of the desert tending sheep to return to Egypt and decree on His behalf.  

“(1) And afterward Moses and Aaron came and said to Pharaoh, “Thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel, ‘Let My people go that they may celebrate a feast to Me in the wilderness.’”” – Exodus 5:1 LSB

As we have seen in previous Quick Bites, the guardians will not readily release the Bride who they have benefitted greatly from, and of course we know very well the vehement refusal of Pharoah to allow Israel to migrate, which ultimately led to the death of his firstborn son and all firstborn males throughout Egypt when the Passover Angel visited that dreadful night. Interestingly, at this onset of their journey with Yahweh they were not yet aware of the marriage covenant they would soon enter into on Mount Sinai, only that the Lord had wrought such mighty deliverance to procure their freedom from slavery and exodus from a land they had sojourned in for four centuries. This is an important point, because even though the Bride has reached the age of majority, does not necessarily mean she has yet understood or received the revelation of her Bridal identity. Nonetheless, it is who she is whether revealed or not, whether accepted or not. Developing this thought further, when I consider any form of exodus or migration of the church today, I’m always asking where are they headed? Because for Israel it was to Mount Sinai to enter into a marriage covenant with Yahweh and for us today it must be towards the Bridegroom.

When the Bride comes of age, there is a journey she must make because the familiar surroundings of life as she once knew it will no longer suffice to provide the conditions necessary for her final preparations. Ultimately she cannot get ready for her wedding whilst still at home under the ward of her guardians. There is an attraction only attainable in the wilderness, an uninhibited charisma only acquired once the Bride abandons herself in full assurance of faith to the One who is calling her to come away with Him. All of our ecclesial fabrications will fail to produce a glorious church without spot or wrinkle, holy and without blemish (Eph 5:27), our hope cannot rest therefore on denominational reform, but a far more revolutionary axe must be laid to the root of the tree (Matthew 3:10). I do not suggest we should henceforth depart from our denominations, merely to point out there must come a paradigm shift so radical it will threaten the very existence of all we have come to rely upon in the past. New alignments and Holy Spirit order are necessary to position us where we need to be, a re-calibration of the corporate mindset to align with our spiritual DNA and Bridal identity must supersede all that has gone before. Ultimately we cannot have a church-oriented or denominational mindset because in so doing it will paradoxically exclude the very One to whom we are betrothed. We need an upgrade into the mind of Christ and allow His thoughts to permeate our own. We must embrace how the Bride defies all attempts of designation; she has no name other than the one bestowed by Her Bridegroom.

If the Bride must leave the comfortability and familiarity of all she has known before, naturally we might ask, to where should she go and how will she get there? If there is one final venture beyond the walls of where she has resided until now how will she know the way? And that’s where I’ll continue next time.


QB71 The Bride Has Come of Age (Part 3)

12 Mar 2023

https://youtu.be/OXubeBF8Pmk

Accession of the Bride

Last time in this study of “THE BRIDE HAS COME OF AGE” I shared that coming of age, means reaching the age of majority when certain rights and privileges are bestowed that were previously held on trust by a legally recognised guardian. There are two initial implications we can draw from this: first the Bride is now recognised as of legal age where her decisions and choices are upheld in a court of law, and secondly the tenure of her guardians has legally ended and she is now entitled to leave.  The problem is that despite reaching this threshold there is still necessary the appropriation or activation of the rights granted. Just because a right may be provided for within a legal framework (e.g. of a nation), it still needs to be claimed or exercised. I call this the accession of the Bride. The dictionary defines accession as the time when someone starts a position of authority, especially a king or queen. It is the act of coming into the possession of a right, title or office, as in accession to the throne. Now although the accession of the Bride was inaugurated when she came of age, it still requires more on her part. It is necessary for a fearlessness to come upon her. She must not harbour passivity but instead a relentless determination should arise within for accession to her rights bestowed the moment she came of age. The impetus is upon the Bride to forcibly appropriate these rights rather than any misplaced hope or expectation her guardians will acknowledge them willingly. In other words, the Bride cannot rely upon her guardians to either recognise who she truly is or that she has come of age but must be pro-active is ascending to her rightful place alongside Yeshua even when her guardians oppose her.

"(8) [The Shulamite's Brothers] We have a little sister, And she has no breasts. What shall we do for our sister In the day when she is spoken for? (9) If she [is] a wall, We will build upon her A battlement of silver; And if she [is] a door, We will enclose her With boards of cedar. (10) [The Shulamite] I [am] a wall, And my breasts like towers; Then I became in his eyes As one who found peace." – Song of Songs 8:8-10 NKJV

These fascinating few verses from the last chapter in the wonderful Song of Songs present us with a unique insight into the relational dynamic at work between the Bride and her guardians. Let’s take a look at what’s happening here. First of all note the position assumed by the Shulamite’s brothers as her guardians. The narrative catches a conversation they held when considering how they might best protect her since they regarded her as vulnerable and physically immature without breasts. At first glance we might consider the intentions of the young woman’s siblings to be thoughtful and caring. There is a suggestion of genuine concern here and the protective older brothers seem resolved on how best to shield their little sister. Yet on closer study, I suspect something else is taking place other than a loving concern. The language used is revealing. If she was a wall a Biblical precedent existed (Deuteronomy 22:8) for building a defence upon the roof of a new house to protect anyone from falling, is this what they had in mind when they considered building a battlement of silver? Or, if not a wall perhaps a door? In which case their solution is a little less obscure, “we will enclose her with boards of cedar”. To me it seems pretty clear, leaving little room for doubt; the determination by the brothers to protect their sister meant restraining her from venturing beyond the boundaries of home. If this seems controlling there are other scripture to suggest an unfavourable attitude of her brothers towards her earlier in the Song of Songs.

"(6) Do not stare at me because I am dark, because I am darkened by the sun. My mother’s sons were angry with me and made me take care of the vineyards; my own vineyard I had to neglect." – Song of Songs 1:6 NIV

The implication here is that these vineyards to which she had been assigned did not belong to her since she informs of her woe in having neglected her own. Interesting isn’t it? The Shulamite proved very useful to her brothers by tending their vineyards, I wonder if this influenced their attitude towards her and decision to keep her boarded up. This key point reveals how guardians can sometimes exploit the Bride for their own purpose or gain as evident in Pharoah’s attitude towards Israel. Enslaved in Egypt Israel proved extremely useful in the expansion and development of the Egyptian empire. In Pharoah’s eyes they were slaves, but not so in the eyes of Yahweh who saw Israel as His Bride and waited for her to come of age. You see, being a guardian does not equate to being righteous or holy. It does not mean they will be gracious or kind towards the Bride. In many cases this is far from the truth, history is filled with many dark chapters when the Bride had suffered greatly at the hands of those she should have been able to trust for her care and protection. It is not about moral qualification but stewardship and ward over the Bride on behalf of the Bridegroom until she comes of age even when the guardians do not act in the best interest of those entrusted to them. In this regard, a guardian can be a ruler as in Pharoah, a monarchy or government administration operating within a nation, it can be family as it was for Esther and Mordecai, or the Shulamite and her brothers, but I believe it can also be applied to church denominations.

I hope you can hear my heart about denominations, because I’m deeply grateful for the way the Lord has accommodated our diversity, though not our division, through different expressions of His church, but make no mistake, denominations have no part of the Bride. In fact, recently I was in prayer contemplating Ephesians 5:27 NKJV "(27) that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish." I asked the Lord about the wrinkles and He answered, “denominations are wrinkles”. The word wrinkle is rhytis (who teece)  (G4512) and means “bunched up, drawing together, contracted, a wrinkle from ageing”. Normally when we think of the Bride without wrinkle we think of her eternal youth, ageless and beautiful. But what causes the wrinkle is the bunching up which is what denominations inevitably do, by their very definition they draw people together and when they do a wrinkle is created. But denominations are ageing, even when new groups form there can be a youthful attractiveness about them which gathers people together, but it cannot escape the ageing process inherent within its DNA. In one form or another, denominationalism has been evident in the church since the days of the first apostles and church fathers, but certainly the Reformation spawned a multiplicity of denominations not seen before that has continued ever since. Now my point is not to argue for or against their inception or creed, merely to highlight their role has been to provide a haven in which the Bride could mature. Denominations have a guardian’s role to foster the Bride until she comes of age, but once the Holy Spirit comes for her, as did Abraham’s chief servant for Rebekah, then the guardians must co-operate and not oppose that which is ordained and decreed in Heaven of what shall be.

One reason guardians may oppose is because the notion and acceptance of her bridal identity directly confronts their governance over her and reliance upon her. If we accept denominations can be considered a type of guardian, to a degree, the concept and doctrine of the Bride may be tolerated even celebrated providing it fits within the existing paradigm, but herein lies the heart of the matter: The accession of the Bride demands a fundamental paradigmatic shift for she cannot be contained within the administration, systems and structures the guardians have implemented around her. She has to be free from such impositions in order to make her final preparations and journey towards the Bridegroom. Consequently a tension exists between the guardians and the Bride, which will sooner or later lead to confrontation but the guardians will not concede or release her easily. However, although enigmatic it is no less true: in the unfathomable wisdom and foresight of God, the need for an anointing to break her free had always been understood and provided for. We will explore this breaker anointing later.

I believe this is why the Shulamite responded so defiantly as she did in Song of Songs 8:10. When it came to tending her brother’s vineyards she had neglected her own and suffered as a consequence. Though not desirable, her situation was at least tolerable, but that was before love had been awakened within her heart and love changes everything!  Now her subjection to labour in her guardians’ vineyards under a tanning sun was no longer acceptable, and she would come to risk everything for the one her soul loved.  Her brothers said she had no breasts, but as we learn this is not the case at all, because in her own words, “I am a wall and I have breasts like towers”. She then finishes her admonishment by another very insightful affirmation “Then I was in his eyes like one who found shalom.” HNV. The use of the word ‘shalom’ here adds impact and depth to her statement. Its root meaning is peace with God especially in covenant relationship, and also means completeness, fulness, health and prosperity. In other words she was without need of them, because she had found absolute acceptance and peace in the love of another. She knew this was how her beloved saw her. “I was in his eyes like one who found shalom.”  When he looked at her, he saw fulness and maturity, far from how her brothers looked upon her with disdain and belittlement.

May this be our testimony also, to be in His eyes like one who has found peace. To know with certainty the deep love He has for us, and that when He looks at us He sees what our guardians will never be able to fully see or understand, the awakening of a Bridal love within our hearts that can never be quenched or contained. It is time to arise, it is time for the accession of the Bride into her destiny.

"(6) Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm, for love is strong as death, jealousy is fierce as the grave. Its flashes are flashes of fire, the very flame of the LORD. (7) Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it. If a man offered for love all the wealth of his house, he would be utterly despised." – Song of Songs 8:6-7 ESV


QB70 The Bride Has Come of Age (Part 2)

10 Mar 2023

https://youtu.be/IfDYZ0cRgqs

The Age of Majority

Anyone who looks into Church history will soon discover how incredibly complex and multi-faceted it is, although the astute disciple will readily note pivotal times in her past often accompanied by costly upheaval and social reform that became a defining moment or period in her journey to where she is today. Since the early missional movement chronicled in the Acts of the Apostles to take the Gospel of the Kingdom to the “ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8) the timeline of the church has been delineated with historical landmarks epitomising key moments or periods of this saga until now. Like the various councils of the early church fathers who contended for the faith and defence of Truth against many heresies, their rulings consequently formulated much foundational doctrine to influence church dogma for the next two millennia. But it would be wrong to think the church always got it right or has been above reproach. Sadly there are far too many occasions when the practice of the institutional church grossly failed to exhibit the nature of the Saviour it professed, and rather than a light to the world became enshrouded in sinister darkness. Yet behind the ecclesial veneer persisted a remnant whose testimony of faith, hope and love pierce through the doleful pages of church history to reassure us the Holy Spirit has always been present where He has been welcome.

The advent of the Gutenberg Bible around 1455 was another defining moment heralding the dawn of an era in which the printed Bible would become widely distributed and available to all, whether ordained or not. Like the missional movement, this essential Bible translation and distribution still continues to unreached people groups around the world.  Then shortly after Gutenberg came the protestant reformation in the 16th century which finally rendered a break away from Catholic Rome and established the Bible as the sole authority for all matters of faith and conduct with the sacrosanct doctrine of salvation entirely a work of God’s grace through the confession and belief in the person of Yeshua Messiah. Dissatisfied with Pope Clement VII refusal to consent to his divorce, it was King Henry VIII who led the way for the Reformation in England, founding the Church of England to legitimise the annulment of his marriage to Catherine of Aragon in 1533 in order to marry Anne Boleyn in the hope of siring a male heir to the throne. The events of his life and six wives are well documented, but the reason I mention this tumultuous time is because it was part of another defining season that would set the course of church history on a trajectory eventually culminating in the life and death of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022.

I realise I am applying a very large brush stroke over an intricate and particularly European church history and so ask for a little leeway because my aim is not to get bogged down by an exhaustive account of such a complex past, but to tease out the prophetic significance of how all these things have led us to where we are today. Regardless of our location in the world or national history, what I will share is not restricted geographically, politically, or denominationally, but takes a step back (or should I say higher) to look through the Bridal lens and perceive the spiritual reality unfolding which supersedes the natural realm entirely.

In other words, what we may learn from the historical record is an indication of something taking place in the unseen realm. In this way history serves us with a gateway to discern the spiritual development of the Bride.

Of course, each nation has its own story to tell and defining moments or periods of how receptive it was or not to the missionaries who crossed their borders and whether the church was persecuted, compromised or indeed flourished, but no matter the unique narrative of a nation’s history,  there is a shared spiritual identity that embraces the diversity of the church across all boundaries, because as Paul instructed the Ephesians we are one.

"(4) [There is] one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; (5) one Lord, one faith, one baptism; (6) one God and Father of all, who [is] above all, and through all, and in you all." - Ephesians 4:4-6 NKJV

In short, all of church history has brought us through the millennia with a remarkable testament to the faithfulness and provision of God during times of great darkness and apostasy, but also times of great renewal and reformation, revival and refreshings. Incredible as it may seem, somehow we have arrived in the 21st century and reached another watershed moment this time a decree from Heaven “THE BRIDE HAS COME OF AGE”. Whatever has gone before must now give way to that which is ahead because the reality facing the church though climactic is glorious indeed: beyond her wildest expectation or merit she is betrothed to another and destined for a wedding, the wedding of the Lamb, in which she shall be most beautifully adorned for her Husband without spot or wrinkle. The overarching question we must ask ourselves therefore is not if this day shall come but will we be ready for it when it does? For whilst the church still wakes to her Bridal identity the prophetic timeline of God’s eternal purpose ticks unabated.

First of all then I should clarify what I understand “THE BRIDE HAS COME OF AGE” to mean, namely, the Bride has reached the “age of majority” which Wikipedia describes as “the threshold of legal adulthood as recognized or declared in law. It is the moment when minors cease to be considered such and assume legal control over their persons, actions, and decisions, thus terminating the control and legal responsibilities of their parents or guardian over them”. This is a concept we are all familiar with because every nation has determined its own legal age threshold between someone considered a “minor” from someone who is not. In other words the age from childhood to adulthood. Typically, a minor will be legally prohibited from certain privileges or rights such as the right to vote, sign a binding contract, or marry, and until they reach the age of majority they remain under the supervision (or ward) of another, usually this would be parental supervision, or that provided by foster parents, grandparents, or another family member. But when someone reaches the “age of majority” they become legally entitled to make certain choices and legally binding decisions they were not entitled to before including marriage. As we shall see later, this is an extremely important point, because it means the decisions made by the Bride who has “come of age” are legally enforceable and upheld in a court of law.

Now we understand the concept, let’s see how it applies to the Bride of Yeshua Messiah and as we proceed I will navigate carefully across scripture upholding its doctrine whilst exploring deeper into the treasures contained. Whilst we have always been betrothed through the New Covenant, and therefore have always been the Bride (although strictly speaking the wife see Quick Bite XX), I am proposing a threshold exists between a minor and an adult in the eyes of God. It is a legal threshold that Heaven recognises and until the Bride comes of age, she is awarded a guardian who is charged with her care until she reaches the age of majority and crosses this threshold. Okay, before I go any further let’s take a look at a few examples in scripture. The first is from Song of Songs:

"(8) [The Shulamite's Brothers] We have a little sister, And she has no breasts. What shall we do for our sister In the day when she is spoken for? (9) If she [is] a wall, We will build upon her A battlement of silver; And if she [is] a door, We will enclose her With boards of cedar." – Song of Songs 8:8-9 NKJV

We’ll come back to Song of Songs later because it’s very insightful concerning the dynamic at work between the Bride and her guardians. For now though, notice the guardians disclosed are the Shulamite’s brothers whom we find asking what their response should be when she is spoken for. This is consistent with ancient Semitic culture in which the brother could be the guardian of the sister as seen with Laban who kept watch over his sister Rebekah.

"(51) "Here [is] Rebekah before you; take [her] and go, and let her be your master's son's wife, as the LORD has spoken."" - Genesis 24:51 NKJV

Another great example is Mordecai with his cousin Esther.

"(7) Now he was acting as the guardian of Hadassah (that is, Esther), the daughter of his uncle, for neither her father nor her mother was alive. This young woman was very attractive and had a beautiful figure. When her father and mother died, Mordecai had raised her as if she were his own daughter." - Esther 2:7 NET

In each of these examples, whether the Shulamite, Rebekah, or Esther, the Bride had a guardian until a time arrived when she came of age and would no longer be held under the ward of her guardians but leave her custodial home to live with her husband. I believe this same principle is also true when Israel sojourned and was later enslaved for four hundred years in Egypt.  

"(22) "Your fathers went down to Egypt with seventy persons, and now the LORD your God has made you as the stars of heaven in multitude." - Deuteronomy 10:22 NKJV

Only Jacob’s household first went to live in Egypt, but during those four hundred years a Bride came of age. The custodial role of the pharaohs who in this context were Israel’s guardians, had most emphatically come to an end and even though Pharoah refused to co-operate with Yahweh’s command to “Let My People Go”, the Lord raised up the prophet Moses to enforce the decree. In summary then, when we consider the implication of “THE BRIDE HAS COME OF AGE” it is most profound indeed.

Something has shifted in the spiritual realm, and certain rights and privileges have been imputed directly to the Bride, which were previously held on trust by her guardians. She is in an unprecedented position which affords her a unique and legally enforceable opportunity to determine her destiny free from the control of others.

But all is not that simple or straight forward not least because the Bride has many enemies, and even some previously entrusted for her care will eventually try and oppose her. Another battle looms portending great upheaval and change, but make no mistake, I do not refer to any existing reformation in the church whether past or present, but something not yet beheld upon the earth.

To be continued.


QB69 The Bride Has Come of Age (Part 1)

9 Mar 2023

https://youtu.be/03wh35Ifko0

QB69 The Bride Has Come Of Age – Part 1
Introduction

On the eighth of June 2022, I documented in my prayer journal these words I heard the Lord say in my spirit, “Mike, I am summoning you to come before me, but come alone!”. It was a defining moment in my life although back then I had no idea the impact my obedience to His calling was about to make personally. For a while, I had felt the Lord drawing me into a deeper place with Him, I knew there was somewhere beyond the veil I had been invited into, but I also sensed this transition, this passage to the other side of what I could only see dimly, would require absolute surrender. I took comfort in the Apostle Paul’s own testimony, who recounted "(7) But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. (8) Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ" – Philippians 3:7-8 ESV And so that’s what I did. I laid everything down, every role and responsibility I once held, to truly be alone with Him having nothing to offer except my heart in extended periods of solitude and stillness, listening to His heart and being restored by His love.

As painful as they may be, times like these are essential for our spiritual well-being, because without them we would undoubtedly persist in an outdated framework of thought or circumstance with no means to divert into new streams of revelation or direction, imperative if we are to fulfil our destiny and be ready for the days ahead. There’s so much the Lord has for us, so much more we have yet to receive. Impartations and activations are ready to be released as He calls us to posture before Him in ways perhaps we have never done before. I’m sure you’ll agree how difficult this actually is to do, but there are untapped reservoirs of grace awaiting those who determine to pursue Him further with a relentless hunger to venture beyond the veil. Now it’s one thing to let go when what we hold is no longer productive or needed, but a far greater test of faith to abandon something still fruitful or valued by others, yet John 15:2 teaches, how it is those very fruit bearing branches which are the ones pruned to be even more fruitful. Painful, yes, but what sweetness awaits us there abiding in the Vine, a rare intimacy with Yeshua surpassing anything of this world we might treasure. I needed to posture like this because something of enormous impact and implication was about to be decreed from Heaven I had to be ready to hear and receive.

Exactly three months later on the eighth of September 2022, Queen Elizabeth II died whilst residing at Balmoral, Scotland. As the nation mourned with a profound sense of loss difficult to articulate, deeper than the emotional outpour was a spiritual turbulence many experienced and sought to understand. I enquired of the Lord during those days to discern the prophetic significance of the Queen’s life and death and was astonished by the revelation that came. I released a commentary about this during the official week of mourning, but rather than take time here, I encourage you to refer to the commentary because it explains a significant connection from the Reformation years of the 16th century to our current time in the 21st century. In short however, one of the main points I make in the commentary is that what happened during the English Reformation during the time of King Henry VIII was very bridal and typified through a Mary and an Elizabeth. His divorce from Catherine of Aragon, meant divorcing the church in England from the church in Rome, which brought great trauma to the Bride. King Henry VIII actions were not without severe consequence because when his successor Queen Mary I came to the throne In 1553, I believe the Lord decreed a period of 400 years would pass until a new reformation would begin and the chronological progression through this period would be marked by the passing of six queens. And so it was that a prophetic clock began ticking when Queen Mary I came to the throne in 1553, then precisely 400 years later in 1953 Queen Elizabeth II was coronated becoming the sixth queen regnant and when she died on the eighth of September 2022, it marked the passing of six queens since Henry VIII, and the completion of the decree made during the Reformation.

In this Quick Bites series I want to share with you a new decree I heard in my spirit resounding from Heaven’s court. I will unpack as best I can the revelation and some its implications for us today with a sense of trepidation because its weight and enormity are held within the fragility of my own earthen vessel frame. This prophetic teaching marks a defining moment for the worldwide body of Messiah in all her wonderful expressions and variation. Some may disagree and others take offence yet I am compelled in all humility to place myself above the parapet to herald this decree from Heaven’s court. I must proceed for much is at stake. I pray as you read or listen, your heart will resonate with the mind of the Spirit and a flame ignited never to be extinguished.

The most remarkable season of our entire history is upon us in which we have nothing else more important, profound or significant in this hour than what the Spirit is saying to the churches: From the highest court in Heaven it has been decreed “THE BRIDE HAS COME OF AGE”. Although the writing has been on the ecclesiastical wall for many years this moment has crept into view quite unexpectedly, yet in the foreknowledge of the Heavenly Father, this day had been determined and written down long before the first dawn cast its light upon a sinless world. As we shall see, the implications of this decree “THE BRIDE HAS COME OF AGE”, are far-reaching. We have reached a watershed in the history of the church and now the moment has come an urgency for the Bride to arise charges the spiritual climate over the nations of the world. Even so, these things are spiritually discerned (1 Corinthians 2:6-16), and despite the gravity of the decree, it weighs upon the prophets, as it always has, to steward the word of the Lord over a nation. "(7) Surely the Lord GOD does nothing, Unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets." - Amos 3:7 NKJV Later in this series, we will explore the role and responsibility of the prophets in more detail, understanding the vital importance to raise a bridegroom and bride conscious prophetic council in every nation of the world, but for now I want to encourage you to go beyond the veil in your personal devotion and intimacy with Yeshua. Whatever has gone before, whatever situation or circumstance you find yourself in, be assured the best is yet to come. There’s a place of encounter waiting for you beyond the veil, your past has brought you to where you are right now, but it doesn’t have to determine where you will be tomorrow. May the Word of Messiah quicken your heart and mind to bring restorational truth and His Spirit revival with fresh fire.


QB68 Come Away With Me (Part 8)

17 Jan 2023

https://youtu.be/CKtlho4dpEU

"(6) I opened for my beloved, But my beloved had turned away [and] was gone. My heart leaped up when he spoke. I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer. (7) The watchmen who went about the city found me. They struck me, they wounded me; The keepers of the walls Took my veil away from me." - Sng 5:6-7 NKJV

For all we might conclude from the Shulamite’s ignominy, the truth retains her willingness to suffer much in the face of danger and persecution in love’s pursuit. Night brought not the safety of a comfortable encounter seclusion would have procured, instead her destiny the bare and brutal exposure of devotion which cost dearly. That’s because the diligent search of her Beloved through city streets was not acceptable to the watchmen on their duty nor the keepers of the walls. I suppose her intentions were sorely mistaken for a woman of the night, and they took offence at her, or perhaps they questioned her infidelity to Solomon as she called upon another they did not know.  Whatever crime they assumed; her wounds were undeserved. There are some profound parallels here with our Lord’s Passion. For His unrelenting love brought upon Him the cruelty of undeserved punishment from those entrusted as guardians of their ancestral faith and observances, when He too was struck, wounded and stripped before His ultimate atoning sacrifice upon the Cross.

"(3) He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, [our] faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. (4) Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. (5) But He [was] wounded for our transgressions, [He was] bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace [was] upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed." – Isaiah 53:3-5 NKJV

There is something here we must heed, and why I write as I do. Before us, an unavoidable yet fundamental necessity we must embrace if we are ever to be His glorious Bride without spot or wrinkle. The anointing of myrrh studied previously in this series is an invitation into the wounds of Christ. This is twofold. First, by faith to know the crucified Saviour, second (as Paul writes in Php 3:10,11) “to participate in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, and so somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.” Do you remember after the resurrection when Thomas missed Jesus visit the disciples? They reported to him their wonderful news saying, “We have seen the Lord!”, but he replied, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.John 20:25 Then a week later Jesus appeared to them again, this time Thomas was among them, and Jesus said to him “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” John 20:27 NIV. We quickly dismiss Thomas as the doubter, the one needing additional reassurance because of his lack of faith, but I believe more is happening here than admonition. Did you know it was not only Thomas who doubted the resurrected Christ? Luke 24:36-49 gives the account and recalls how all of the disciples were troubled with doubts in their minds when Jesus appeared to them (Luke 24:38). Jesus invites, "(39) Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have." (40) When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet." – Luke 24:39-40 NIV

There’s a lot going on here, but the point I’m making is we are invited to touch the wounds of Christ, because it is through His wounds we might believe and know His resurrection working most powerfully in us (Romans 6:3-5).

When you place your hand into wounds of Christ something deeply intimate is invoked. It is an invitation into Christ as His bride.

Over the years, the Bride has had many enemies: abused, misunderstood and wounded, she has suffered much. Furthermore, a time will come and is already here when the Bride will not be tolerated at all by the “watchmen in the city” or “keepers of the walls”. She is an offence to them. They neither know the Bridegroom nor where He might be. And yet, the Shulamite’s example challenges any defensibility of compromise and confronts most undeniably any lukewarm demeanour lurking in the Laodicean Church. Like faith, love must be proven, and often the test is suffering. Yet adversity to the humble and wise is a door to maturity and an invitation to spiritual growth. Here then lies the heart of the matter. We are presented with a choice: Choose this perilous venture in pursuit of love the hour of its awakening or decline the invitation to “come away with me” altogether. There was not the demand made to the Shulamite only the invitation urged. She was not required to leave her repose, yet her heart compelled it. Likewise, we should arise from passivity to our Bridegroom’s call casting aside the fear of consequence or the imposition of respectability as King David once avowed:

"(22) I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes. But by these slave girls you spoke of, I will be held in honour."" – 2 Samuel 6:22 NIV

Such exposure when we take off the apparel not befitting a Bride will posture us most beautifully in our Bridegroom’s eyes and be held in honour by others on their bridal journey. This necessity of vulnerability brings the inevitability of being wounded, but if in some way my suffering should glorify Him how can I refuse? Or if by my wounds the nature of Christ is perfected in me, what shall I say? Should I not embrace the fellowship of sharing in His suffering if, by the same means, I might know Him more? Yes, let my soul arise and sing the song of the Bride, who has forsaken all things in seeking the One whom her soul loves in response to His call upon her heart “Come away with me”. The tragedy in this particular passage (Song of Songs 5:2-7), is that the Bride did not know where to find the Bridegroom. Despite already her assurance of where she might find him at midday (Song Of Songs 1:7,8), this was now the night and the immediacy of His visitation diverted her attention away from the verdant pastures of previous instruction in the hope of finding him in the city. After all, she had found him there before

1 The Shulamite By night on my bed I sought the one I love; I sought him, but I did not find him. 2 "I will rise now," [I said,] "And go about the city; In the streets and in the squares I will seek the one I love." I sought him, but I did not find him. 3 The watchmen who go about the city found me; [I said,] "Have you seen the one I love?" 4 Scarcely had I passed by them, When I found the one I love. I held him and would not let him go, Until I had brought him to the house of my mother, And into the chamber of her who conceived me. Song of Songs 3:1-4 (NKJV)

Like the Shulamite the Bride has gone out into the night risking everything for love and many have been wounded in the pursuit by those she should have been able to trust. What do we do when Jesus isn’t where we expect to find Him or where we once knew Him before? What do we do when the seasons change and what we once held trustworthy has become to us the very source of our pain? What do we do when our vulnerability and exposure invite the cruelty of others, even those commissioned with our safety? In this Quick Bite series I have sought to answer those questions by drawing our attention to the quality of our inner spiritual life and nurture a lifestyle of intimacy. Because unlike the Shulamite, we are never alone, and though we may seek Him in the city, remember first of all Jesus lives in us. When we lose our way, abide in Him, when sorrow like sea billows roll, rest in His eternal presence, when Jesus seems distant, look within, for there abides the Bridegroom Shepherd of our soul who will lead us to safe pasture. There is a restoration coming to the Bride. She has gone out into the city and been wounded, but the Lord has come to lead her beside the still waters and restore her soul.

"(1) A Psalm of David. The LORD [is] my shepherd; I shall not want. (2) He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. (3) He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake. (4) Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You [are] with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. (5) You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. (6) Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever." - Psalm 23:1-6 NKJV


QB67 Come Away With Me (Part 7)

13 Jan 2023

https://youtu.be/6FD-vEs8JKw

"(6) I opened for my beloved, But my beloved had turned away [and] was gone. My heart leaped up when he spoke. I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer. (7) The watchmen who went about the city found me. They struck me, they wounded me; The keepers of the walls Took my veil away from me." - Sng 5:6-7 NKJV

It was one of the most difficult times in my life. I had been inner-city church planting with Jo for a number of years, reaching out to the vulnerable and outcast of society showing them the love of God by bringing them into our home as part of our family until they knew Jesus well enough for themselves, developing the maturity of faith and life-skills they would need to live independently free from alcohol, drugs or any vice which had previously brought so much pain and devastation. But something wasn’t right. Certainly the Lord was moving beautifully in many lives, bringing healing and deliverance, restoration and hope. We often experienced miracles of the Lord’s faithfulness and provision over the years, but the closer I came to Jesus in my own devotion and study, the more I realised the fragmentation and division that existed within the Body of Christ. Often, we were unsupported, criticised and opposed even from within the denomination we represented, until one day, and I still remember it clearly, the Lord spoke to me the words in John 12:24.

"(24) "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain." - John 12:24 NKJV

I knew then the Lord was calling me to lay everything down and resign as a pastor. We had given so much, it was all I knew, and now the time had come to abandon everything for a new season to begin. I had absolutely no idea what the future would look like, only that the current season was ending. Over the following six months everyone in the church relocated to a new spiritual home and then that’s when it hit me. I didn’t see it coming but by the depth of suffering, I knew it was here. Others had written about it, but now I was experiencing personally what brought me to the very end of myself. I refer to what Saint John of the Cross in the 16th century called the ‘dark night of the soul’. I felt so betrayed and alone by those I had trusted, I felt used and deeply wounded by those who professed to love the Lord. My spiritual life hung by a thread and I had nowhere or no one I could turn to. Oh, I still deeply loved the Lord, but I could hardly pray or read my bible, until one day the Lord showed me a forlorn picture of myself and said, “I love you!” When I was empty and had nothing left to give, when I was broken, depressed and confused He said, “I love you!”. I knew then more than I had ever known before, the depth of His love pierce through my brokenness and wrap around my heart. I felt ‘born again’ again! I wept and asked His forgiveness for ever doubting Him and gently He opened my eyes to see what I couldn’t see before. It wasn’t much but it was enough; a glimmer of hope which gave the strength to carry on and the faith to believe He would one day fulfil His promise to me: ‘if a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies it produces much grain’.

Oh I wish I could say it was all over then, but it would be another eight years of solitude in the wilderness until I received the commission I am still running with today: to romance His Bride. What a privilege, what an awesome responsibility; to help His Bride prepare for His soon return, yet it required everything from me, a lifestyle of abandon, familiarity with the desert and the pain of sharing in His suffering. I became so used to the desert, it became my home until I learnt to treasure those wilderness places more than the crowds or congregations. Over the years I came to embrace the privilege of living in the barren place, and discovered the wells contained therein, precious places of restoration, revelation and romance. I wasn’t in obscurity because I had done something wrong, but because I had been called there; it would be there in the shadows, beyond the noise and bustle of church life, I would encounter my Bridegroom at the deepest level. I weep as I write because I know many have experienced this too.

When the Shulamite opened the door to her Beloved (the handles of which were covered in myrrh), she became anointed as his Bride to go out into the night, but little did she know the anguish about to befall her or the wounds soon to be inflicted by those she should have been able to trust. As she arose for her Beloved her heart pounded anticipating the amorous encounter beyond the door. She hoped for love’s embrace, instead the void of the night greeted her. She sought her lover but could not find him, she called yet without response. What are we to make of this? What manner of injurious love imposes such wounds? Think we to escape the suffering of Christ? Listen to what Paul wrote in his letter to the Philippians

"(10) My aim is to know him, to experience the power of his resurrection, to share in his sufferings, and to be like him in his death," - Philippians 3:10 NET

It is the anointing of myrrh by which the Bride may share in her Bridegroom’s suffering. Myrrh is obtained by “wounding” or “bleeding” the tree from which it comes and collecting the resin which bleeds out. The drops gathered are called “tears” because of their shape. This is significant. Myrrh is released by being wounded. Through the cuts inflicted bleeds a beautiful aromatic resin used as the number one fragrance of love. It is this fragrance of Christ that we are now called to share (2 Cor 2:15) and how it was for the Twelve disciples. On the night Jesus was betrayed after their last supper together (which was a wedding betrothal), this is what He said to them:

"(30) I will not say much more to you, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold over me, (31) but he comes so that the world may learn that I love the Father and do exactly what my Father has commanded me. "Come now; let us leave." - John 14:30-31 NIV

Come now; let us leave. And from the intimacy of their betrothal they headed out as His Bride into the night, down the Temple Mount, across the Kidron Valley and into the Garden of Gethsemane where the Bridegroom rendered Himself to agonised death as He anguished through the prevalent evil baying for His blood. That night of betrayal was the first time the Bride entered out into the night, but it would not be the last, for the Day will come, when the wise virgins shall venture a final time with lamps lit going out to meet Him. Soon that Day shall come, but not yet, for the Bride must first prepare. First, we must follow the steps of our Bridegroom to the garden of Gethsemane because there are wounds we must partake of and humiliation endure. Ultimately, we must follow our Bridegroom to the Cross if we are truly to be crucified with Him. Alas Gethsemane, the garden of suffering by which all must partake, what secrets there we shall find. If by suffering we shall be free we embrace this dark night of the soul, knowing whom we seek had never left our side. There is purpose in pain, there is a hope that darkness cannot extinguish.

"(1) "The Spirit of the Lord GOD [is] upon Me, Because the LORD has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to [those who are] bound; (2) To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, (3) To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified."" - Isa 61:1-3 NKJV


QB66 Come Away With Me (Part 6)

11 Jan 2023

https://youtu.be/5MMEtB31by0

"(4) My beloved put his hand By the latch [of the door], And my heart yearned for him. (5) I arose to open for my beloved, And my hands dripped [with] myrrh, My fingers with liquid myrrh, On the handles of the lock." - Sng 5:4-5 NKJV

These verses immediately follow the Bride’s question "(3) I have taken off my robe; How can I put it on [again]? I have washed my feet; How can I defile them?" - Sng 5:3 NKJV As we saw last time, the Bride had a different expectation of how this encounter with her beloved might unfold. When she heard his voice, her heart immediately went out to him (verse 6), then straight after, her mind began to ask the question, “but how?” And there you have it in a few verses: the ongoing wrestle between the heart and the mind we are all too familiar with. The Lord invites us to open the door to Him, our hearts are drawn to His voice, but then how quickly we question the manner in which we might come and ask ‘how?’ Isn’t this the malady of our frail condition, a window into our soul? Our minds resisting the quickened heart.

The response in these verses is typically paradoxical of our Bridegroom’s manner, we are given no verbal answer to the Bride’s question ‘how’, rather an action of profound meaning and significance, thus answering her concerns, but in a way she did not expect. For we read “My beloved put his hand by the latch of the door and my heart yearned for him”. Other translations have

"(4) My beloved thrust his hand through the latch-opening; my heart began to pound for him." - Sng 5:4 NIV

"(4) My lover thrust his hand through the hole, and my feelings were stirred for him." - Sng 5:4 NET

There was an opening in the door which gave access for the Bridegroom to place his hand through the hole to the latch and that’s what he did. He was on the outside, but when he thrust his hand inside, the Bible says her heart pounded for him, her feelings were stirred even aroused. What a fascinating account we are given here. Look what happened next (5) I arose to open for my beloved, And my hands dripped [with] myrrh, My fingers with liquid myrrh, On the handles of the lock." - Sng 5:4-5 NKJV That myrrh wasn’t there before, but it certainly was now. It was all over her hands and dripping from her fingers, the handles of the lock were covered with it!  That’s because the Bridegroom poured out liquid myrrh onto the handles when he thrust his hand through the opening, but why would he do that? Well, I believe it was His response to the Bride’s concern, ‘how can I go out with you into the night?’ (see QuickBite 64). Let me explain what I believe is happening here, and it’s all about the anointing!

Anointing in the Old Testament was the process of smearing, rubbing or pouring a specially prepared oil on someone’s head or an object to symbolise that person (or object) had been chosen by God to be made holy and set apart for a holy purpose. Exodus 30:22-32 goes into great detail about the anointing oil, describing precisely how it should be made and used for consecrating the priests, the tent of meeting, the Ark of the Testimony and all the other items in the tabernacle. One of the main ingredients to blend this most holy compound was 500 shekels (about 12lbs) of myrrh for every hin of oil (about 3.5 litres). So when the Bridegroom thrust his hand through the hole in the door, and smeared liquid myrrh over the handles, you could say that he anointed them. From this point on, for the Bride to see her Beloved, she would need to touch his anointing because she could not open the door without touching the handles covered in his myrrh.  Now something very special happens when you touch an anointed object because whatever (or whoever) touches an anointed object they too will become holy (or separated) unto the Lord. Here’s what the Lord told Moses about the anointing:

"(29) You shall consecrate them, that they may be most holy. Whatever touches them will become holy." - Exo 30:29 ESV

When the woman placed her hands upon the handles to the door, she touched her Bridegroom’s anointing and became holy (or separated) unto him. Before she could go out into the night in search of her lover she first had to be anointed as his Bride. This is true of us also. Beloved, there is an anointing in our hearts placed there by Jesus that when touched, it prepares us to go out to meet Him as His Bride.  I know this is deep, but even as I write I am moved most profoundly at such a mystery being opened to us. When Jesus anointed the door by which He may enter our hearts, He also opened the way for us to enter His as His Bride!

The door is central to this passage in Song of Songs 5:2-7. It represents the interface between the two lovers, the portal between the Bridegroom and the Bride, through which either may pass in and out in pursuit of the other. In the well-known passage John 10 when Jesus taught He is the Good Shepherd, He also described Himself as the Door and rightly we associate this with salvation, but there’s more in what Jesus actually said;

"(9) I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture." - Jhn 10:9 ESV

In addition to salvation, we are presented here with the concept of going in and out through Him to find pasture. We’ll come back to Jesus as our Shepherd in a couple of Quick Bite’s time, but for now I’m highlighting Jesus is the Door through which we may enter in and out of our spiritual life. Yet this Door is like no other because we not only pass through but remain in also, and therefore whatever we enter through Him, we also enter in Him. Once again, we see this duality at work, not only is Christ in us, but we also are in Him, not theoretically or even theologically, but in a very real, personal and intimate way, a union made possible by the Holy Spirit of God. Now to reiterate from previous Quick Bites in this series, all of this takes place within our hearts. We are talking here of the inner spiritual life which is where our experience and foundation must begin before we are ready to encounter the world outside. (This is not new: first intimacy then mission, first relationship then assignment and the two are tethered, one should always lead into the other.)  When we open the door to our hearts and allow Jesus to enter, we are receiving within us the One who is Himself the Door, and through this Door within our hearts we are being invited to enter. I see this as an inside out paradigm. There is a Door in us, that opens out into an infinitely larger space. Where will this Door lead should we enter? Well, I believe it will lead us to many places. The first time we passed through was upon salvation.

"(6) Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." - Jhn 14:6 ESV

Did you notice how we come to the Father? Jesus said it is “through me”. Jesus was the Door we passed through to come to the Father.

"(1) Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." - Rom 5:1 ESV

Again by coming “through” Jesus we have peace with God. And in Hebrews we are told

"(19) Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, (20) by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh," - Heb 10:19-20 ESV

In all the ways in which we might pass through Jesus as the Door, whether for salvation, provision, peace or healing, there is one which only the Bride may enter. It’s there somewhere in your heart, have you found it yet? Have you searched for the Door leading to romance, you’ll know it when you find it, because like the Shulamite your heart will be enflamed when you sense the hand of Jesus has entered and anointed it with myrrh.


QB65 Come Away With Me (Part 5)

10 Jan 2023

https://youtu.be/4G_pkH5Fi_0

Have you ever had a special night planned with someone you love and it didn’t work out the way you expected? Or ever said to yourself ‘Well, that didn’t go as I had imagined’ when a dream you’ve had for a while took a different turn? In this Quick Bite, we’re going to look at when this happened to the Shulamite in Song of Songs as a continuation in the “Come Away With Me” series. So Here’s our key text again in Song of Songs.

2 [The Shulamite] I sleep, but my heart is awake; [It is] the voice of my beloved! He knocks, [saying], "Open for (to) me, my sister, my love, My dove, my perfect one; For my head is covered with dew, My locks with the drops of the night." 3 I have taken off my robe; How can I put it on [again]? I have washed my feet; How can I defile them? 4 My beloved put his hand By the latch [of the door], And my heart yearned for him. 5 I arose to open for my beloved, And my hands dripped [with] myrrh, My fingers with liquid myrrh, On the handles of the lock. 6 I opened for (to) my beloved, But my beloved had turned away [and] was gone. My heart leaped up when he spoke. I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer. 7 The watchmen who went about the city found me. They struck me, they wounded me; The keepers of the walls Took my veil away from me. - Song of Songs 5:2-7 NKJV

The Song of Songs is a rich, passionate, yet mysterious account of how the love relationship between two people developed at the time of King Solomon’s reign. However we’re not studying this from the literal historical context (which I plan to come back to another time), rather, we’re drawing out of the text the applicable parallels as they relate to us in our relationship with Jesus. From this point on therefore, I’m going to refer to the Shulamite as the Bride, and the Beloved as the Bridegroom. The context here, is that the Bride is deeply in love with the Bridegroom, and longs to be with him. She cannot stop thinking about him, even at night, although she sleeps, her heart is awake dreaming of him, and then one night in particular she hears him approach and knock on the door. This is the moment she has been waiting for. Remember, she is sick with love, her heart yearning and faint, then finally her Beloved has come and asks her to open to him. But is this really the moment she has longed for? I ask because her response is a curious one, and immediately suggests something is not quite right. Listen to her words in verse three “I have taken off my robe; How can I put it on [again]? I have washed my feet; How can I defile them? “. That’s a strange reply, isn’t it? Personally, I find it hard to accept the commentators view I have read on this verse who each see this as revealing the Bride’s reluctancy to get out of bed, or a delayed response to the Bridegroom’s visit, and suggesting this is why there was no one outside when she did finally open the door to him.  Now far be it from me to dismiss what others have said on this, especially since Song of Songs lends itself to many interpretations, instead I’ll just offer my own understanding here and let you decide, it’s one in which I believe is consistent with the context and flow of the Song of Songs narrative.

As I’ve mentioned, I do struggle reconciling the besotted love-sick Bride being reluctant to get out of bed or move so slowly the Bridegroom simply gave up waiting for her. I suggest this was not about her reluctancy to be with the One her soul loved, but where she wanted their encounter to be and the nature of it. What do I mean by that? Well, I suspect when the Bridegroom came, there was something troubling in what he said to her. He was stood outside her door covered with dew and the drops of the night saying “open for me”, other translations have “open to me” here. But it wasn’t just what he said, but the impact it had on her. We read of this later in verse six “My heart leaped up when he spoke.” The word for leaped is H3318 (yāṣā') and means to go out, come out, go forth, and spoke is H1696 (dāḇar) meaning speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten or sing. Although a number of translations don’t use either “leaped up” or “spoke” I believe these two words help understand the meaning and context of this whole passage. The NIV and CSB uses “My heart sank”, whilst the NET reads “I fell into despair.” Other translations however do include both these words, like the YLT which says, “My soul went forth when he spake” or the HNV “My heart went out when he spoke”. We have a cause and effect here. The Bridegroom speaks causing the heart of the Bride to go out to him. Ultimately, we will do well not to read too much into a single verse (especially in Song of Songs) rather we need to take the context into account and look at what else is happening, to form a consistent and uniform interpretation which makes sense. That’s why I struggle to accept the Bride’s lethargy in this passage, because we know she was desperately in love with him and longed to be with him. For him to then arrive during the night and be turned away just doesn’t sit right with me. Is there something else from this passage to help us get a grip on what’s taking place here? I believe there is, it’s easy to miss, and we’ve already seen it. The Bride’s response wasn’t just about being naked, but she also said, “I have washed my feet; How can I defile them?” Bible students will be familiar with the custom of washing feet upon entering a home from the dirty, dusty streets outside, but the thought of defiling them within her own home in my opinion is misplaced here. In other words, she understood her Bridegroom was calling her to come outside with him, and that’s why her feet were in danger of being defiled. To me she wasn’t saying come back another time, rather, I’m not dressed to go out with you into the night, I am clean and I’ve taken off my garment, wouldn’t you rather stay here with me?

Dear friends, this is such an important point for us to understand and why I’ve taken some time to unpack this. True intimacy is not ego-centric or a one-sided affair, if that be the case there is a real danger of the Bride becoming narcissistic, but if we really want closeness with Jesus we have to leave the comfort of our making and follow Him out into the night. This is the question the Bride needs to be asking, how can I prepare to follow my Beloved into the night, since I do not know what awaits me there, except for the drops of the night. There is a maturity in love we must embrace, a willingness for adversity and suffering, but it is there into the darkness of the unknown that we are now being summoned, can you hear Him call, “Rise up, my love, my fair one and come away with me!” Like the Shulamite, we may have our own ideas, dreams and visions of how we want our relationship with Jesus to work out, and He is loving enough to come to us, even abide in us, but what of our response to Him? What if that response should require our absolute surrender whatever the cost? Oh yes, how willingly to Him we have opened the door of our hearts allowing access to our deepest parts, are we now as willing to enter the door to the depths of His heart because He is inviting us there? How can we prepare for such an encounter? Well, I’ll answer that next time.


QB64 Come Away With Me (Part 4)

7 Jan 2023

https://youtu.be/IIq9AzmsvCc

Come Away With Me (Part 4)

So far our studies in this Quite Bites series “Come Away With Me”, has led us to understand there is a place of encounter the Lord is inviting us into for romance. It is the most beautiful and intimate of experiences available to us, the very implication of the word “Come” reveals the longing and invitation of His heart to engage with us at a much deeper level than any we have been accustomed to or known before. Yet, this has always been the Lord’s intentionality toward us, to be not only our Saviour but our Bridegroom also. Furthermore, we have recognised the inability of our natural minds to apprehend any notion of God; therefore if we should experience any awareness of His Divine presence at all, it is only because it has been quickened to us by the inner working of the Holy Spirit, and this not in the peripheral mind of our unregenerate nature, but within the heart, the mind within, which as we have seen, has been dovetailed with the mind of Christ.

In summary, therefore, what I am saying is in order to encounter Jesus and respond to His call to “Come Away With Me”, we must understand this is an appeal to the heart and not one to the mind, and if that be so, then we must learn to still the outer thoughts that readily dominate our consciousness so we might access the inner thoughts of the heart. Why? Because it is here we shall find our Beloved waiting.

In this Quick Bite, I want to delve a little deeper into how this amorous encounter with Jesus may be understood in greater detail. Let’s return back to Song of Songs this time we’ll read from chapter five.

2 [The Shulamite] I sleep, but my heart is awake; [It is] the voice of my beloved! He knocks, [saying], "Open for me, my sister, my love, My dove, my perfect one; For my head is covered with dew, My locks with the drops of the night." 3 I have taken off my robe; How can I put it on [again]? I have washed my feet; How can I defile them? 4 My beloved put his hand By the latch [of the door], And my heart yearned for him. 5 I arose to open for my beloved, And my hands dripped [with] myrrh, My fingers with liquid myrrh, On the handles of the lock. 6 I opened for my beloved, But my beloved had turned away [and] was gone. My heart leaped up when he spoke. I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer. 7 The watchmen who went about the city found me. They struck me, they wounded me; The keepers of the walls Took my veil away from me. - Song of Songs 5:2-7 NKJV

In verse two, the Shulamite woman tells us that although she is asleep her heart is still very much awake. I love the picture this gives us. It’s a great illustration of where we have arrived in this series. The Shulamite is sleeping, in other words, she is resting, she is still, the thoughts in her head have been silenced which enables her heart to hear the voice of her beloved who has come knocking on her door saying, "Open for me, my sister, my love, My dove, my perfect one; For my head is covered with dew, My locks with the drops of the night."  What a wonderful insight this gives us about the inner workings of the spiritual life. I don’t know about you, but I often find my heart awake in the middle of the night, those precious hours I have learnt to treasure as time alone with Jesus sensing the warmth of His caress upon my soul, without the exchange of words instead the mingling of hearts. At night it is almost effortless to silence those peripheral thoughts, because I am already in a posture of rest, and therefore the veil to the inner chamber is easily swept aside with one simple desire to be with Jesus. Of course this encounter in His Divine Presence is available at any time whether night or day, but whatever the hour, the principle and protocol remain the same: We must posture our hearts and still our minds before we can encounter the depths of intimacy we are invited into.

Here we read it is the Beloved who comes to the Bride with his head covered with dew, and his locks with the drops of the night. It parallels with Jesus’ invitation in Revelation chapter three.

20 "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. - Rev 3:20 NKJV

Now before I continue, I’d like to clarify an important point here to avoid any confusion. That’s because at times we have the imagery it is Jesus who comes to us knocking on the door, as though from the outside to come in, and yet upon salvation we believe Jesus enters every repentant heart. So is Jesus within us or not? Are there times when He departs and we need to allow Him back in? These are valid questions, and I’ll share what I have come to believe. Before salvation, a soul is empty and without the indwelling of Jesus through the Holy Spirit, but the benevolence of the Father’s love is readily lavished upon every penitent soul, transforming them into a new creation, adopted, forgiven, restored, healed and cleansed to be a fit habitation for Him in which to live. Listen to what Jesus taught His disciples on His last evening with them.

23 Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. - Jhn 14:23 NKJV

This verse is certainly not alone, for the scripture teaches us this wonderful truth many times

15 For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name [is] Holy: "I dwell in the high and holy [place], With him [who] has a contrite and humble spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones. - Isa 57:15 NKJV

11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. - Rom 8:11 NKJV

4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. ... 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. – 1 John 4:4, 15-16 NKJV

These verses are more than enough to support this splendid truth as Paul declared it “Christ in you the hope of glory!” Col 1:27. So let us be clear, Jesus lives in you as indeed you live in Him. This is not some theological tenet aloof without a meaningful and personal implication, but a remarkable assertion how intimacy with God is available through the glory of “Oneness”. Now since Christ has entered the human heart and dwells therein, to seek Him is not an external endeavour but a communion within. The essential characteristic of this union and encounter with the Lord is occasioned by both His pursuit of us and our pursuit of Him, and all of this takes place within the inner chambers of the heart. You see, the heart is not just a single room, but has many rooms, it is not of simple construction, but a complex spiritual frame intricately woven by the hand of God and one in which He is intimately knowledgeable and aware. The psalmist writes:

13 For you formed my inward parts (H3629) ; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. 14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. 15 My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. - Psalm 139:13-15 ESV

When King David was inspired to write these profound words, I believe he saw something more than the sum of his physical parts, but the intricate nature of his inmost being. The Hebrew Word here is H3629 kilyâ (kil yah), and it is also found in

My inmost being (H3629) will rejoice when your lips speak what is right. Proverbs 23:16 (NIV)

I will praise the LORD, who counsels me; even at night my heart (H3629) instructs me. Psalms 16:7 (NIV)

We gaze with awe at the complexity of the human body, as modern science and research continues to unravel its secrets. But although we become increasingly aware of the wonders of our physical frame, even at the molecular level of our DNA unlocking the mysteries of the genome, we are most woefully unacquainted with our inmost being. And yet I believe our inmost being is no less a miracle than our physical body, God’s masterpiece, no wonder David marvelled when he glimpsed upon His Maker’s handiwork and wrote “I praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made”.

When God designed and created our inmost part, He had in mind a place in which He Himself would dwell, a garden of romance and intimacy with us.

Oh, we can barely imagine the glorious chambers within, and over the years some enlightened pilgrims have journaled their thoughts and experiences on the inner life. I think of Teresa of Avila who in the 16th century described these chambers of the heart in her classic work “The Interior Castle”. When we recognise the heart is not just a single room, but one of complex design and chambers, it then becomes quite clear how this “hide and seek” nature of the inner life is entirely plausible. Jesus comes to the door of our awareness and invites us to open to Him.

2 [The Shulamite] I sleep, but my heart is awake; [It is] the voice of my beloved! He knocks, [saying], "Open for me, my sister, my love, My dove, my perfect one; For my head is covered with dew, My locks with the drops of the night." Song of Songs 5:2


QB63 Come Away With Me (Part 3)

20 Dec 2022

https://youtu.be/fkxxjnxtp6o

Arise, my love, my beautiful one, and come away”. SOS 2:13

Last time we stepped into the romance found in the Song of Songs and made the allegorical connection between the passionate love affair described in those eight blissful chapters to the fervent love Jesus has for us as His Bride. The invite for romance is made by the Beloved as He bids us to “Arise, my love, my beautiful one, and come away with me”, and yet if we are to respond, we must know how, and if to go away with Him, we must know where He is so we may follow. Now, all this may seem very strange since we might say we have found Him already. But if so, then where? Where is He who is fairer than ten thousand? (SOS 5:10) The Shulamite woman had known intimacy with her Beloved yet later did not know where He had gone.

1 On my bed by night I sought him whom my soul loves; I sought him, but found him not. 2 I will rise now and go about the city, in the streets and in the squares; I will seek him whom my soul loves. I sought him, but found him not. - Sng 3:1-2 ESV

Similarly, we can rely upon past moments of joyful encounter to sustain us, without the gratification of love in the present moment. Do you know where your Beloved is? Oh yes, we know by faith where He is, but this is not as straightforward as it may first appear. Of course, we believe Jesus lives in us and I’m not suggesting otherwise, yet why is it we can at times feel so very far from Him, or He from us? By the same faith we have in Jesus as our Saviour, there awaits a deeper, fuller, more vibrant and passionate encounter with Him as the Lover of our souls. Does not Hebrews 11:1 teach us, that faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen? Yes, faith not only grants the certain assurance of our hope in Jesus as Bridegroom, but it brings the proof of this romance also: when the unseen, conception of fervent love, becomes most undeniably real.  You see, salvation is not only about redemption and restoration from sin and separation from God; the eternal work of the Cross brought us much more. It positioned and prepared us for union and ardent romance as His Bride.

So where is Jesus that we might be with Him? Where do we seek Him whom our soul loves? How do we even begin this journey to a deeper more intimate life? That’s the question all thirsty souls are well acquainted with and know how quickly the mind postulates to offer an answer. However, let’s be clear: Whatever supposed discovery is made in the outer courts of our thinking alas must there remain, there in the peripheral consciousness to contend with a thousand other thoughts to oppose it. No earthly mind is capable of apprehending a revelation of the Lord on its own. If our pursuit of the Bridegroom is one of rationale, we will fail from the outset and no persistent rumination or endless reasoning will lead us to find Him. Yet find Him we must if we are to respond to His call that bids us “Arise, my love, my beautiful one, and come away”. What are we to do then? Are we without remedy? Thankfully not! Then what am I saying? Well to answer that, let’s read from Paul’s letter to the Corinthians:

9 But, as it is written, "What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him"-- 10 these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. 11 For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. 13 And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. 14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. 15 The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. 16 "For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ. - 1Co 2:9-16 ESV

This insightful passage underlines the inability of man, whether by sight, sound, imagination, or understanding to grasp anything beyond that which is immediately evident to him through his senses, mind, or spirit. One is simply beyond the reach of the other. That is to say, the unseen depths of God’s heart and mind are beyond the discernment of our natural faculties. And yet, the Lord has revealed Himself to us by a different means, hallelujah! That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the spirit is spirit. (John 3:6). When we were born again, we were quickened by the Holy Spirit who brought spiritual life to our spirit, soul and body.

Our minds were supernaturally empowered by the spirit of God to discern the very thoughts and mind of Christ. This renewed mind is dovetailed to become one with His and through this intersection flows all revelation and understanding.

This then is the answer to the question I posed earlier. We will find our Beloved who is calling us to arise and come away with Him beneath that which is temporal and of our flesh, in the deeper chambers of our frame which has been quickened by the Spirit of the Living God.

All Divine inspiration resides in the renewed mind, the mind of our spirit and not the mind of our flesh. This renewed mind is the mind within. It is not the tireless thoughts in our head, but the intuitive knowing of a heart at rest and quickened by the Spirit of God. Yet one is masked by the other. That which lies in the heart does not demand or compete for our attention, it does not shout but whispers quietly within and waits for the willing enquirer to come before divulging its knowledge and pearls of wisdom. Whilst, on the other hand, the craving of the outer mind is rarely satisfied; its self-centred craving threatens no end to restlessness. But just like the bully in the playground, the outer mind must be confronted and its wild outbursts tamed if we are ever to be free from its harassment. This is the spiritual discipline of silence, the forging of a new pathway to access the mind within where there is no deliberation or search for answers, no machination, fear or uncertainty. Why? Because here in the depths of the human heart is where the mind of Christ is hosted, a mind which knows all things lies beneath the clamour of peripheral thought. This is where our Beloved awaits us, this is where our journey must begin.  


QB62 Come Away With Me (Part 2)

14 Dec 2022

https://youtu.be/v4z0W5CDCHs

QB62 Come Away With Me (Part 2)

10 My beloved speaks and says to me: Arise, my love, my beautiful one, and come away, 11 for behold, the winter is past; the rain is over and gone. 12 The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land. 13 The fig tree ripens its figs, and the vines are in blossom; they give forth fragrance. Arise, my love, my beautiful one, and come away. Song of Songs 2:10-13 (NET)

When it comes to the Song of Songs, otherwise known as the Song of Solomon, we are faced with an immediate disagreement amongst scholars over the interpretation and therefore meaning and application of this most unique and it has to be said, quite erotic book in the Bible. My aim is not to go into those arguments here, only to say that despite the controversy surrounding this enigmatic love song, it is generally accepted in both the Jewish and Christian canon of scripture, and therefore I too am happy to accept it in the same way that Paul wrote to Timothy, “all scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work”. 2 Timothy 3:16 ESV

The challenge we are faced with then is not whether it should be accepted, but in knowing how this ancient love song applies to us today. By its poetical nature, the text is somewhat obscure and allegorical, and therefore we should be careful to avoid an overly literal or restrictive hermeneutical approach. My preference is to glean from this wonderfully portrayed romance, an understanding of the essence of love with all its nuanced suggestions of intimacy and delight, then regard this understanding as it pertains to the affection held between Jesus and His Bride. That’s because, irrespective of any original characters portrayed in these eight short chapters, when it comes to the manner and excellence of love, Ephesians 5 teaches the love between a husband and wife typifies the love between Jesus and His Bride. If we can accept this approach to the Song of Songs, there opens to us the most enthralling insight and engagement of our hearts into a Divine romance barely conceivable. Can it be true? Is God romantic towards us? I guess that depends upon our definition of romance. But if by romance we mean an intense desire to be with another, or to love beyond reason, or to feel a sense of deep longing when apart, or to set our hearts on intimacy with someone to the exclusion of all others, then yes, absolutely, there is a Heavenly romance between the Lord and His Bride. Listen to how the Lord describes His love for Jerusalem

8 "When I passed by you again and saw you, behold, you were at the age for love, and I spread the corner of my garment over you and covered your nakedness; I made my vow to you and entered into a covenant with you, declares the Lord GOD, and you became mine. - Ezekiel 16:8 ESV

This chapter in Ezekiel records in great detail the love story between Jehovah and Jerusalem. The language used is one of romance; an intense love affair with highly emotive symbolism describing the nature of their relationship but tragically also the betrayal of this love by Jerusalem. The use of sexual metaphors for Jerusalem’s unfaithfulness and idolatry later in Ezekiel 16, is deliberately provocative and used many other times in scripture. Thankfully, there has been a redemptive plan of God in place from before the foundation of the world (1 Peter 1:20). The book of Revelation climaxes with this restoration of all things, and at the core of God’s eternal purpose is the wedding of the Lamb, and the New Jerusalem coming down from Heaven dressed like a Bride beautifully adorned for her husband Revelation 21:1-2.

The Lord calls us His Bride for that is truly who we are, and how He sees us. His feelings towards us are those of a Husband towards His wife. O what bliss we encounter; when we pass through the veil of holiness, an intensity of love awaits. Can you hear Him call you even now? “Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away with me”. We have settled for far too less an encounter than the one available to us, a portion too small at His table. Until we enter the abandonment of a love awakened by the tenderness of His kiss upon our soul, we have not yet known the magnitude of intimacy our Bridegroom longs for us. There is no greater delight we might experience in life than one of deep and intimate communion with Jesus Christ. Yes, still, He appeals to our hearts, “Come away with me”.

Come”. In just one word the approachability of Jesus is defined. In just one word an invitation for romance is given. “Come”. How it echoes through the ages. We cannot say “He does not see me”, neither “I am of no consequence to Him”. How wrong if ever such thought should find its place in our mind. For our Beloved sees you right now, and loves you intensely. The passion of His heart that led Him to Calvary, still burns with the same desire today as it did then. No passing of time, not two thousand years could ever diminish the Saviour’s love for you, but more than Saviour, He is your Bridegroom, and salvation is merely the door into a romance you dare not miss. This romance is not without hazard, for love always carries with it great risk. Love risks much in the hope of love’s reward. With love comes vulnerability. It has to be this way, otherwise, we are guarded by the fear of hurt or the denial we could ever truly be loved and therefore dip our toe into the water from the sidelines, rather than immerse fully into love’s adventure and be swept along by its course.  You see, the invitation is not only to “Come”, but “Come away with me”, and therefore it implies a journey, a destination other than where we are at right now. There’s somewhere we have to go. O this is escapism, yes, but in its finest expression, not from reality but towards it! Towards the truth of all we are in Christ, all He is and all He has done.  Our Bridegroom is calling “Arise, my love, my beautiful one, and come away”, what will be your response today? Will you go? Will you allow a bridal love to be quickened within you? Will you take that risk, daring to believe there is so much more for you than you have yet known? Then arise and posture your heart for romance and position yourself for a new journey. Where? To the place Jesus has set aside for you to know Him more deeply.  


QB61 Come Away With Me (Part 1)

6 Dec 2022

https://youtu.be/gGWz-uvyuwY

Quick Bite 61 - Come Away With Me (Part 1)

My beloved spoke, and said to me: “Rise up, my love, my fair one and come away.”
Song of Songs 2:10 NKJV

As we begin the second volume of “The Gospel According to the Bride”, let us first and foremost ensure we remain correctly positioned and postured before our Lord Jesus Christ enabling us to receive all He longs to impart. That means more than our minds, it is our hearts in view here, and more than our works it is a posture of rest with Him that is needed if we are to listen intently to the Bridegroom’s voice. One of the subtle risks of study is to be satisfied by mental ascent alone, without the transformation of the heart, yet this is exactly where our intercourse with the Word should take us, for His words cannot truly be understood by the mind unless it is sown first into a heart that is well prepared, only then will it yield lasting fruit. This was the enduring lesson from the Parable of the Sower (Matt 13:1-9, Luke 8:4-8, Mark 4:1-12) where Jesus cites Isaiah saying ‘you will indeed hear but never understand, you will indeed see but never perceive. For this people's heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.' Matt 13:14,15. Here Jesus mentions three faculties: the eye, the ear, and the heart. Though we may see with our eyes and hear with our ears it is with the heart that we understand. Still more than this, the condition of our hearts will determine how we see and how we hear.

Whilst this is true,  our minds do also determine how we see and hear.  I’m sure we are all familiar with those optical illusion challenges when tasked to look at an image and report what we see. There’s one, in particular, I recall: a line drawing of a woman’s face, and depending on how you look at the depiction, one may see an old unattractive woman, whilst another a beautiful young lady. The point I’m making is that how we interpret what we see is predisposed by something at work in our minds. I want to develop this idea further and suggest that our minds can be influenced, though not exclusively, in one of two ways. Firstly, our minds can be influenced by the opinions (or even the deliberate conditioning) of others. Rather than thinking for ourselves, we can easily and inadvertently adopt what others think (or impose on us) without necessarily working through the steps involved coming to that particular opinion on our own. When this happens, you could say we are looking through someone else’s eyes and not our own. Someone else's perspective. The truth is, what other people say or think can affect the way we look at things. There is a danger here, for we must learn to look with our own eyes, and hear with our own ears, not vicariously through another.

Is it possible we can go through life without ever really seeing through our own eyes? How can we be sure if the interpretation of what we see happening around the world or in day-to-day life is our interpretation or one we have been predisposed to by the opinions of others? It’s an important point and one we should discern,  because if we are to truly live the life that awaits us in Christ, then we must learn to see it through our own eyes. Thankfully, grace is at hand, for the Lord is able to open our eyes so what we see is our own unique and personal encounter with Him. Luke records for us the time after Jesus’ resurrection when he appeared to two disciples on the road to Emmaus. Although Jesus explained all that had happened concerning himself, along the road, Luke 24:16 informs us the disciples’ eyes were restrained from recognising him. That tells me, it is possible for Jesus to walk alongside, even tell us many things, yet we may still not see Him right there beside us, not as he truly is. It was not whilst on the move Jesus revealed himself to them, but later when they were sharing a meal together. Luke 24:30-31 describes what happened:

30 When he was at the table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. 31 And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight.

This is an important point,  resting and communing with Jesus always opens our eyes to see Him more clearly.  

Secondly, in addition to how our minds can be influenced by others, it is certainly influenced by the heart. For example, if we dislike someone (in our heart) then it may influence the way we think about them and create a predisposition in our interpretation of what we see when we look at them. On the other hand, if we love someone, then it will definitely influence the way we think about them and our interpretation of what we see when we look at them. The adage “love is blind” comes to mind here. When we make this connection between the heart and the mind, we realise how our vision, or hearing for that matter, is affected by our hearts. In this instance, you could say we are seeing with our hearts. There is a direct connection between the heart and the eye because our minds are affected by our hearts. Listen to what Jesus taught:

“The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light” Matt 6:22

The apostle Paul prays most beautifully in his letter to the Ephesians when he writes

16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, - Eph 1:16-18 ESV

Did you notice how Paul prayed for the eyes of their hearts to be enlightened? This is my prayer for us also. If we want to see and hear clearly, then it is a matter of the heart. I want to lay this founding principle as we begin a new series of teaching: that whatever we explore together here, will serve no benefit if it were merely informatory, rather let us determine not for mental ascent but for understanding in our hearts. Let us calm the peripheral noise in our minds so prevalent and eager for attention and let us go a little deeper. Deeper than the outer layers of temporal thought, and into the eternal realm residing in our hearts. Yes, this is always our first step toward the Bridegroom, not an outward stretch for the ethereal spheres, with the notion our Lord is somewhere beyond reach, but an inner pursuit with full assurance of faith He resides in our heart and awaits us there. O what mystery divine, what glorious repose. This was the delight of the mystics, like Brother Lawrence, Teresa of Avila, and others, whose life and witness left a timeless trail the earnest pilgrim might follow.

I have shared all the above to say this: understanding is rooted in the heart and not the mind, and therefore if we want to see through our own eyes then we must tend to the heart, if we want understanding we will find it within.  This is what we read earlier when Jesus cited the prophet Isaiah ‘you will indeed hear but never understand, you will indeed see but never perceive.’ Why? Because the people's hearts had grown dull. We do not need more information but transformation. To disembark the treadmill of pursuing knowledge (Daniel 12:4), and abide in the source of all wisdom and truth (John 15:1-7). Where is this source, where is Jesus? It is a profound mystery, yet true nonetheless, for He who sits at the right hand of the Father, abides in all those who have heard him knock at the door and open their hearts, for He has surely promised “I will come in to him, and eat with him, and he with me” Rev 3:20

Our Bridegroom calls us to come away with Him. But the truth is before we can go away with Him, we must first discover Him within the chambers of our hearts. O how I hope you can hear His voice even now as you read these words. Wait a while, learn to linger in the silent shadows of life, He is near, and calling you to a deeper life filled with hope. One that is entirely restorative and not burdensome, compelling and not fearful, one that is romanceful, thrilling and extraordinary.


QB60 The 144,000 (Part5)

27 Sep 2021

https://youtu.be/mQiAhYX06QE

Today we will not only conclude this mini-series on the 144,000 but also volume one of “The Gospel According To The Bride”. Last time I shared the need for a rapture immediately after the great tribulation will have changed by the time Jesus returns as the Lamb back to Mount Zion with the 144,000. That’s because something supernatural will take place on Mount Zion in those days that will provide a different means of entry into Heaven. Let’s pick up the narrative from where we ended last time and look at Isaiah 4:5 again.

Then the LORD will create over all of Mount Zion and over those who assemble there a cloud of smoke by day and a glow of flaming fire by night; over all the glory there will be a canopy.

I just love this verse, there’s so much here for us to unpack, further study will be well rewarded. How often have you read this verse or heard a sermon on it? How is it we have not seen this before, or is it just me getting excited here? This verse sits in a wider prophecy of Isaiah concerning the future of Jerusalem, it hasn’t yet been fulfilled because it will be as the Bible so often tells us “in that Day[1] meaning the Day of the Lord. Just as Israel experienced the Divine cloud and fire for forty years in the wilderness until they reached the Jordan river[2], so all those who assemble on Mount Zion will experience the cloud and fire of glory again. The glory of God will come down upon this sacred site just as it did on Mount Sinai when Moses met with the Lord face to face. And just as it did in the wilderness during the first exodus, the manifestation of God’s presence[3] will descend upon Mount Zion as a lasting touchpoint between Heaven and Earth.

Now for me, here’s the real clincher: Isaiah writes “over all the glory there will be a canopy”. This word “canopy” (Strongs H2646) is where we get the word chuppâh[4] which is the Bridal Canopy under which the ancient Jewish wedding took place. We see this word used two other times in scripture and on both occasions, it describes a bridal chamber[5]. How glorious a picture we are given here of Mount Zion and the returning 144,000. When we look through the Bridal lens what a splendid vision we see, and how wonderfully the Lord has interwoven all the prophetic destinies of His Bride together. There will be a chuppâh over Mount Zion! Hallelujah! The glory and presence of God will come down manifested in the cloud and the fire and over it all will be a chuppâh, a bridal canopy!

This is a very different picture to when Jesus first returns as the Son of Man. At that time, Jerusalem will be surrounded by hostile nations and her inhabitants in need of a deliverer[6]. There will have been three and a half years of great tribulation, the darkness of man’s iniquity will be at its peak and Mystery Babylon, the “mother of harlots and abominations of the earth”[7], will be fully intoxicated[8]. The wedding canopy will not yet be over Mount Zion; not until Israel is redeemed and brought back to Jerusalem will this lasting touchpoint between Heaven and Earth be finally established.  Yes, a rapture will be necessary when Jesus first comes, a harvest of the ready and waiting Bride from off the face of the earth, but not so on that glorious return of the 144,000 as they follow the Lamb all the way to Mount Zion. Why? Because when the new song sung in Heaven before the throne is harmonized by the redeemed Bride upon the earth the Wife will have finally made herself ready[9] and Mount Zion will be enshrined by the glory of God. At this point the need for rapture will no longer be necessary because Heaven has come down. Wow, how incredible, we really have to just stop and let the mind of Christ illuminate our thinking to a whole new level. I realise I’m sharing things you’ve probably never heard before, but I hope you can see everything I’m presenting here is supported in scripture. Here’s what the last verse of the 144,000 standing with the Lamb says will happen on Mount Zion.

And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God. Revelation 14:5 [NKJV][10]

Did you catch that? It’s really easy to miss. In Revelation 14:1 we saw the 144,000 standing on Mount Zion with the Lamb, but now in verse five we read “they are without fault before the throne of God”. I believe we should not try to allegorise these two texts but accept them both for how they are written. That these 144,000 who will stand upon Mount Zion in Jerusalem, will also be found blameless before the Throne of God. They are in both the physical and spiritual realms, both in the seen and unseen. I am not saying that the two will happen simultaneously, only that there has been a development in John’s vision from seeing them at first in the physical realm and then in the spiritual realm. A transition has taken place. Indeed, in the following chapter Revelation 15 we see this great bridal company now at last all together this time standing on a sea of glass mixed with fire and they are singing the song of Moses and the Lamb.[11] [12]

And now I just have one final thought to share with you. After this wonderful journey looking at scripture through the Bridal lens, I can think of no better ending for this first volume than to help us realise, when Jesus will one day stand on Mount Zion with the 144,000, it will mark the prophetic fulfilment of the Feast of Tabernacles. This, the last of all the Lord’s Feasts, is the one we will take with us into eternity. All of the others will have been fulfilled historically but the Feast of Tabernacles will be perpetual because we will live in the continual manifestation of the Presence of God who will come to reign and tabernacle with man forever. Just like the spring feasts were all fulfilled in quick succession on Jesus’ first coming, so will the autumn feasts be on His second coming. Previously we have studied how the Feast of Trumpets and the Day of Atonement are fulfilled through the return of Jesus when He comes to deliver Israel, but here on Mount Zion is the prophetic completion of all the autumn feasts.

When Jesus stands on Mount Zion with the 144,000 it will be the fulfilment of the Feast of Tabernacles. Why do I say this? Well, first of all, there are only fifteen days between the Feast of Trumpets and the Feast of Tabernacles, and since Jesus has already been upon the earth with Israel for at least ten days to the Day of Atonement, there are only a few more days for Tabernacles to be fulfilled. Then secondly, the Feast of Tabernacles is a pilgrimage festival, the other two being Passover and Pentecost, when the ancient Israelites were required to return back to the temple in Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast. The difference now, is that Jesus Himself will lead Israel on that pilgrimage back to Mount Zion. For the third reason I see this as a prophetic fulfilment of the Feast of Tabernacles let’s read from Isaiah 4:5 once more:

Then the LORD will create over all of Mount Zion and over those who assemble there a cloud of smoke by day and a glow of flaming fire by night; over all the glory there will be a canopy.

We have already seen how there will be a covering over Mount Zion, but this verse has one more secret to reveal. For it is not only Mount Zion mentioned here which will be under this bridal canopy, but reference is also made to “those who assemble there”. This word “assemble” is the word miqrā' (Strongs H4744) and means “sacred assembly” or “convocation”, it is the same word used in Leviticus 23 which describes the Feasts of the Lord in great detail including Tabernacles.

And finally, the fourth reason I believe this picture of the Lamb standing on Mount Zion with the 144,000 is the fulfilment of the Autumn Feasts is because the Feast of Tabernacles is also known as the Feast of Ingathering when all the crops were gathered at the end of the harvest. This is exactly what we have seen in these last two series of “The Second Exodus” and “the 144,000”. What a perfect picture we have here of this fulfilment. The Feast of Ingathering Israel celebrated for thousands of years has always been about God’s promise to her.  After all her dispersion throughout the corners of the earth, Israel will finally be gathered in and come home. The Lord will come for her as He will for us. Even though there will be a literal fulfilment of this great ingathering and pilgrimage to Mount Zion through the wilderness, there is a way in which we are already on this voyage now. There is a journey for the Bride to take. The way to Mount Zion is through the desert. The way to the Throne Room is upon a Highway of Holiness. Oh, we do not know how we should venture since we have never been this way before, except the glory of God will go before us in a way which is discernible to those who have ears to hear what the Spirit is saying to the Bride. But more than this, if we look carefully, we will see the footsteps of the Lamb who has gone before us to guide us through the night, for the Lamb who will one day stand on Mount Zion is also our Good Shepherd who has come to lead us safely home.


[1] In that day the Branch of the LORD will be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land will be the pride and glory of the survivors in Israel. Isaiah 4:2

[2] From this point on they were to follow the Ark of the Covenant Joshua 3:3

[3] Exodus 13:21 And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so as to go by day and night.
Exodus 14:19 And the Angel of God, who went before the camp of Israel, moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud went from before them and stood behind them.

[4] A chuppah (also huppah) is defined as a canopy under which the bride and bridegroom stand during a Jewish wedding ceremony. It symbolises the home the married couple will build together. It is open on all sides to represent the welcome and hospitality that everyone could expect when they entered the tent of Abraham and Sarah.

[5] It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber (H2646), like a champion rejoicing to run his course. Psalms 19:5
Gather the people, Sanctify the congregation, Assemble the elders, Gather the children and nursing babes; Let the bridegroom go out from his chamber, And the bride from her dressing room(H2646). Joel 2:16

[6] Romans 11:26

[7] Revelation 17:5

[8] Revelation 17:6 I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marvelled with great amazement.

[9] Since from this point the Bride will be in Heaven until the wedding of the Lamb, there are no more “righteous acts of the saints” (Revelation 19:8) to be fulfilled and therefore the wedding garments are complete.

[10] Not all translations will have the second half of this verse, but only those based on the Textus Receptus, for example the King James Version. Over centuries the Textus Receptus has stood up to scrutiny and remains in my opinion a very reliable text. And so after prayer, I have felt it right to include Revelation 14:5 in its entirety.

[11] Revelation 15:2-4 And I saw [something] like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who have the victory over the beast, over his image and over his mark [and] over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God. They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying: "Great and marvellous [are] Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true [are] Your ways, O King of the saints! Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For [You] alone [are] holy. For all nations shall come and worship before You, For Your judgments have been manifested."

[12] Revelation 15 also includes details about the “seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God” (v7). It is not until the Bride both Jew and Gentile have been safely gathered and in Heaven that the wrath of God through the seven bowls is released.


QB59 The 144,000 (Part4)

26 Sep 2021

https://youtu.be/uGpq6_WyMPI

We are coming to the end of our journey through scripture following the footsteps of the Bridegroom and the Bride. This has been their story and throughout all these Quick Bites we have heard “The Gospel According to the Bride”. Even though we have covered a lot of subjects in our studies, I feel we have only just scratched the surface of this most wonderful of all Biblical paradigms and realities. My prayer has always been that you will be encouraged and inspired to see just how much the Lord loves His Bride and will do everything necessary to ensure she is ready in time for their Wedding.

In the first two parts of this mini-series, we began by taking the literal approach since this is the simplest and plainest interpretation of the 144,000. We read in Revelation 7:1-8 how John heard this number was comprised of 12,000 from each of the tribes of Israel. So, this was our starting place: the 144,000 does represent Israel and we would require a very solid reason to deviate away from this interpretation. After all, if this number were not Israel, then why go to such great length to describe their number in this intricate detail? However, we cannot close our study and conclusions at this point, because in many ways, both the Revelation 7 and Revelation 14 passages do contain some metaphor and non-literal details; not least the Lamb in Revelation 14 is clearly symbolic and depicts the Lord Jesus Christ. But more than this, the picture of the Lamb illustrates the Lord as the atoning sacrifice which is consistent with the context of the Revelation passages, which as we saw in Revelation 14:3, describe the 144,000 as being redeemed from the earth. So, by taking only the literal approach the meaning of the text is partially obscured, and therefore we must be willing to consider the figurative also. But therein lies the problem: because as soon as we deviate away from the literal, we immediately open the door to subjectivity. The challenge we are faced with is how to incorporate both the literal and metaphorical interpretation without one cancelling the other. Is there a way in which literal Israel remains represented by this number even though the number itself can be argued as representational? Is there a way in which this 144,000 represents Israel but not exclusively?

I shared last time in part three how to approach this passage metaphorically, and the clue or key is in the number itself. I suggested that 144 is the number of the Bride and is the agreed measurement for the Bride between man and the angel in Revelation 21:17[1].

Therefore, I further suggest that though the tribes of Israel are literal, their number speaks more of their Bridal identity than the size of their population. 144,000 is not arbitrary, not just a number without meaning, but it represents who they are and how the Lord sees them; He is attributing to the tribes of Israel their Bridal identity.

If we can accept this point, then it follows all those numbered as the Bride are included in this number also. In other words, the 144,000 has a dual application! It represents those tribes of Israel who shall be redeemed when the Son of Man (the Lamb of God) comes for them as we have studied previously in the Second Exodus series, but it also represents the entirety of the Bride both Jew and Gentile. I believe this position is consistent with other scriptures and emphatically places Israel at the heart of the Bridal paradigm, and any inclusion within the Bride is only possible by the covenant made between the Lord and her. This is what John saw in Revelation 21:12[2], the twelve gates having the names of the twelve tribes written upon them. Anyone who enters into the New Jerusalem will have done so through the gates of Israel.

Yet I should point out I do not refer to the geo-political Israel, neither to the unregenerate Israel of the Old Testament. But when we consider all the wonderful promises God made with Israel through the Law and the Prophets, we must understand these are fulfilled through the work and person of Jesus Christ.

Yes, the promises and covenant were made to Israel, but their fulfilment is through the atoning work and person of Jesus Christ, who fulfilled the spring feasts on His first coming, and will fulfil the prophetic significance of the autumn feasts on His second.

Even literal Israel cannot be numbered among the Bride without first accepting Jesus Christ for all that He is and all that He has accomplished for her.[3] That’s why He’s coming back for her, to bring her into the New Covenant, Zechariah 12:10 reads:

"And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for [his] only [son], and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn.

Now, finally as promised, I want to share my understanding on how those redeemed from Israel, who have been brought down into the wilderness of the peoples[4], sifted, redeemed, and now returned home to Mount Zion, will enter into Heaven for the wedding of the Lamb. Let me explain the dilemma: When we studied “The Second Exodus[5], I shared that when Jesus first returns to earth on Yom Teruah[6], He will come to gather His Elect; His Bride. That includes those who are saved and waiting for His glorious appearing but also for unsaved Israel, to come as their long-awaited Messiah. It is on this return of Jesus as the Lamb (also the Son of Man), that the resurrection of the righteous and rapture will occur and all those who are ready will enter into Heaven with a glorified body just like the Lord’s body[7]. But for the redemption of Israel Jesus will remain upon the earth for a short time as the Lamb and He will lead them at first into the wilderness to restore them into the marriage covenant and then back to Mount Zion along the Highway of Holiness. However, this creates a real conundrum! Since the rapture will have already taken place by the time the 144.000 return to Mount Zion, how is it these newly redeemed are able to enter into Heaven to join those already there to complete the Bride? As always, I will share my thoughts not as absolute but as my personal belief and best fit from the Bridal lens. Let’s head back to Revelation chapter fourteen for a short exposition on the first three verses and see if they can tell us anything more.

Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred [and] forty-four thousand, having His Father's name written on their foreheads. Revelation 14:1

First of all, let’s look at the symbolism here: The last time we saw the Lamb was in Revelation chapter five where He was hailed as the one worthy to take the scroll and to open its seven seals[8].  On that occasion the Lamb who symbolises our Lord Jesus Christ was in Heaven but now in Revelation chapter fourteen He is no longer in Heaven. Jesus has come down to earth and is standing upon Mount Zion. Also symbolic is the number 144,000 which as we have previously seen represents the Bride. Then finally, the Father’s name written on their foreheads goes beyond the description of the seal of protection on the forehead found in Revelation 7:3[9] and symbolises ownership and adoption[10] [11]. But since the context of this whole passage is about the 144,000 following the Lamb wherever He goes, let us not allegorise Mount Zion here as anything other than the promised physical location of the eternal throne where the Lord shall reign upon the earth.[12]

Now despite the obvious symbolism in this passage, we can be assured there is a literal interpretation also. For here we are presented with a glorious glimpse into the returned and redeemed tribes of Israel standing with their Saviour upon Mount Zion all of which are very real. To have arrived here, is to have survived the great tribulation[13], to have experienced ten days of awe and wrath against the nations[14] and to have been saved individually and corporately on the Day of Atonement. In an act of great deliverance, the Lord has been in their midst and met with them face to face. He has been at their head and led them upon a ‘Highway of Holiness’, from the ‘wilderness of the peoples’ in Edom, all the way back to Mount Zion in Jerusalem.[15]

And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps. Revelation 14:2

The apostle John’s focus is now drawn to the mysterious sounds he hears coming from Heaven. The description here is “a voice from heaven like the voice of many waters” and “like the voice of loud thunder”. Though we find such descriptions elsewhere in the Bible[16], here there is a plurality in their number but a singularity in their voice. John’s continuation sheds further light: “I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps.”

They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the hundred [and] forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth. Revelation 14:3

Remember at this point Heaven’s population has just had a huge upgrade[17]. There will be those who, like the five wise virgins, were ready when Jesus came for them now raptured and transformed into His glorious state. And there will be all those countless souls through the ages already in Heaven who have just received their resurrected bodies. Wow, can you imagine it? What rapturous praise we shall certainly sing together on that day? But there will be more than one new song Heaven will host during that time. For example, we read of a new song in Revelation 5:9,10

And they sang a new song, saying: "You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth."

But this is not the same new song that we read of in Revelation 14:3. Why? Because the song in Revelation 5:9 is sung by the saints still upon the earth before the opening of the seven seals and its focus is upon the worthiness of the Lamb to take the scroll and to open its seals. Whereas the new song in Revelation 14:3 will be sung by the saints in heaven after the seals have been opened and seven trumpets sounded[18]. In Revelation 5:9 we are given the words that are sung, but no so in Revelation 14:3, this is a song reserved especially for that time and for that company of believers who will collectively incorporate and complete the Bride.

There are songs that only the Bride can hear, songs that only she can learn, and songs that only she can sing. I believe this is as true now as it will be then!

In Revelation 14:3 there is something different being heard in Heaven, a new sound coming like never before. This new song in Heaven will be heard and learnt by those standing with the Lamb upon the earth on Mount Zion. O how beautiful, I hope you catch this: for the first time in all of history, there will be an actual harmony between Jew and Gentile that’s never been heard before! A convergence will take place on Mount Zion not only of Jew and Gentile, but between Heaven and Earth also, where the veil between the visible and invisible realms will be removed, the sky rolled back like a scroll[19] and a touchpoint established between that which is seen and that which is unseen. I cannot explain how this will happen, but I can give you scriptural support.

Then the LORD will create over all of Mount Zion and over those who assemble there a cloud of smoke by day and a glow of flaming fire by night; over all the glory there will be a canopy. Isaiah 4:5

We will explore this verse in more detail next time and bring all these wonderful truths together and see how the Lord beautifully fulfils all the Autumn Feasts at the climax of this extraordinary period of the Lamb upon Mount Zion with the 144,000.


[1] Revelation 21:17 Then he measured its wall: one hundred [and] forty-four cubits, [according] to the measure of a man, that is, of an angel.

[2] Revelation 21:12 Also she had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are [the names] of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:

[3] Hence the walls (and therefore the gates) are upon the foundations inscribed with the names of the apostles of the Lamb. Note, these twelve apostles were all Jewish. But it’s not their nationality referenced in Revelation 21:14 but who they were in relation to the Lamb. They represent the atoning work of Jesus to Israel, but as apostles, they also represent the missional reach of the Gospel to all who will receive their Messiah, but Jew and Gentile.

[4] Ezekiel 20:35

[5] Quick Bites 47 to 55

[6] Viz the Feast of Trumpets

[7] 1 John 3:2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.

[8] Revelation 5:5-7 But one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals." And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth.

Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.

[9] Revelation 7:3 saying, "Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads."

[10] Once again, we see this beautiful interplay between adoption and betrothal. For the Son has come to restore us as many children to the Father in a personal and intimate relationship, but the Father presents us corporately to His Son as one Bride.

[11] Incidentally, this mark vividly contrasts with the mark of the beast either on the hand or forehead stamped upon its followers Revelation 13:16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads,

[12] Micah 4:7 I will make the lame a remnant, And the outcast a strong nation; So the LORD will reign over them in Mount Zion From now on, even forever.
Joel 2:32 It will so happen that everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be delivered. For on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be those who survive, just as the LORD has promised; the remnant will be those whom the LORD will call.

[13] For which the 144,000 were sealed three and a half years earlier

[14] This wrath is not the seven bowls which are yet to be poured out once the Bride is in Heaven but is the wrath of the Lamb (Revelation 6:16,17) who will “go forth and fight against those nations, as He fights in the day of battle.” Zechariah 14:3

[15] For an in-depth study about this final pilgrimage of Israel please refer to Quick Bites 47 to 55.  

[16] Revelation 1:15 His feet [were] like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters;  See also Ezekiel 1:24, Ezekiel 43:2

[17] I want to point out how Revelation 14 does present some chronological challenges if we take the way in which John writes to always be sequential. For example, Revelation 14:14-20 contains a duration of time spanning from the rapture and end time harvest to the Battle of Armageddon and it is within this timeframe that Revelation 14:1-5 occurs. But from a literary perspective the passage on Mount Zion has to be written either before or after and in this case John we assume has been instructed to write it down first. Furthermore, when considering the placement of Revelation 14:1-5 we should note that it follows immediately after the mark of the beast passage in Revelation 13:11-18 which includes details of another “lamb” but which spoke like a dragon. The parallels are significant. Revelation 14:1-5 makes a stark contrast and remedy for Revelation 13:11-18.

[18] The seven bowls of wrath are yet to be released.

[19] Isaiah 34:4 And all the powers of the heavens shall melt, and the sky shall be rolled up like a scroll: and all the stars shall fall like leaves from a vine, and as leaves fall from a fig-tree. LXX
Revelation 6:14 Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place.


QB58 The 144,000 (Part3)

27 Oct 2020

https://youtu.be/CYYVj_N5spM

In our study so far of the 144,000 we have set out a framework of good biblical exegesis to provide a means by which we might make our conclusions over their identity. Now I’d like to make a disclaimer at this point, that in no way, do I want to make the things I’m sharing with you an absolute or as ‘the’ right interpretation, I don’t want to come across that way, but rather in all humility share with you some insights and scriptures, from my own study and prayer as I have sought the Lord, in the hope that these things may be of value to you. As we saw last time, taking the literal approach with Revelation 7:1-8 and its sister passage in Revelation 14:1-5 is not entirely possible, for there are several elements within these verses which are clearly not literal and has to be taken symbolically. Now it doesn’t mean we dismiss the tribes of Israel and replace them with the church, or that their number isn’t significant, indeed there is a reason we are given 144,000, which so clearly shouts at us from the pages of our Bibles, as though to draw our attention to this number.

The question I left us with last time, was if there was a clue within these two passages in Revelation to provide a lens by which we might gaze deeper into understanding who are these 144,000? Well, the answer is of course yes, and the clue we are given is the actual number 144,000 itself. So today, I want to go into some really interesting numerology, but before I do so, it’s important to understand that whilst Biblical numerology can be very helpful, it can also be wrongly used and come up with all kinds of misleading conclusions and permutations. That’s because numbers in themselves can be put together in many different ways. By adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing occurrences or patterns we find in the Word of God we can easily fall into error. So here is a principle I like to adopt when considering Biblical Numerology: Any words or numbers we consider should only be used to support a principle that already exists in the Bible, in other words, numbers have a supporting role not a primary one. We are not looking to fit scripture around the numbers, but the numbers to confirm and highlight what the scripture is already saying.

With that said, I want to take you on a journey in which we will follow a numerical footprint. If you know where to look you will find this trail throughout the Old and New Testaments, but because of time, I will start at the end and work backwards from there. Since this whole volume of Quick Bites is what I have called the “Gospel According to the Bride”, it should come as no surprise then, that these are her footprints, and her trail leads us right up to her glorious unveiling in Revelation 21, but let’s pick it up from verses 9-18 in which John is given some details of her formation. Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, "Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife." 10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, 11 having the glory of God. Her light [was] like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal. 12 Also she had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are [the names] of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: 13 three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west. 14 Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. 15 And he who talked with me had a gold reed to measure the city, its gates, and its wall. 16 The city is laid out as a square; its length is as great as its breadth. And he measured the city with the reed: twelve thousand furlongs. Its length, breadth, and height are equal. 17 Then he measured its wall: one hundred [and] forty-four cubits, [according] to the measure of a man, that is, of an angel. 18 The construction of its wall was [of] jasper; and the city [was] pure gold, like clear glass.

In verse 16, we are told that the height, length and breadth of the New Jerusalem, of the Bride, are all the same, that is 12,000 furlongs (or stadia). To help simplify things, if we call 1,000 furlongs a Jerusalem unit, then the volume or total size of the City would be 12x12x12 Jerusalem units which is 1,728. Don’t worry if you’re wondering where I’m going with this, all will become clear soon enough. But for now, just remember the size of the New Jerusalem is 1,728 units.  

There is a process, known as gematria, of assigning a numerical value to a word or phrase based upon its letters. In this way, the numerical value of Jerusalem is 864. Now this might not mean much at first until we realise that 864 is half of 1,728 the number of the New Jerusalem. Or let me put it like this, to arrive numerically at size of the New Jerusalem, or the Bride, we need to add two Jerusalems together. And in Matthew 23:37 and Luke 13:34 this is exactly what we find. Here’s what Matthew writes: "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under [her] wings, but you were not willing!” The value of O Jerusalem, Jerusalem is 1,728 which is the size of the Bride, the New Jerusalem found in Revelation 21. That’s really interesting, I wonder whether this verse of Jesus’ longing to gather Jerusalem, is a picture of His longing to gather His Bride. But what does Jerusalem have to do with the 144,000? Well, did you know the word for Jerusalem is found 144 times in the New Testament? That’s right, and you can check this out for yourselves with a Strong’s Concordance using the references G2419, G2414 and G2415. Similarly, the numerical value of “The Election” as in the chosen ‘Eklektos’ of God is also 144. In Quick Bites 36 to 38 we saw how the Elect were the Bride, so all these numbers are wonderfully linked together, and at the root of them all is the number 144, which of course is the product of multiplying 12 by 12.

One last point, before we pick up on this more next time, in Revelation 21:17 it reads “Then he (that is the angel) measured its wall: one hundred and forty-four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of an angel.” Here we are given the actual wall measurement, which is 144 cubits, confirming once more the significance of this number as Bridal, but there’s a really important addendum which is easily missed, for tagged onto the end of this verse it says, “that is, of an angel”, in other words, when measuring the Bride, there is a calibration between the measurement of man, and the measurement of the angel. They are the same. That’s because both heaven and earth are agreed on the dimensions of the Bride! Wow, that’s an amazing insight, man cannot count the Bride unless he’s using the measurement of the angel. Otherwise, he’ll come up with a different number. To measure the Bride, we need God’s ruler, His measurement, we need our discernment and perspective to be calibrated accordingly to the measurement of the angel. Well, we’ll pick up from here next time.


QB57 The 144,000 (Part2)

20 Oct 2020

https://youtu.be/bu9Si4qQJhI

Today I will lay out some principles of good biblical exegesis that we will need if we are to comprehend and interpret the mystery of the 144,000. These principles will provide guidelines for us to follow and a filter with which we can purify and shape our understanding. There are five principles I’m going to share, which are actually questions to ask when approaching this or any Biblical passage. These principles, or questions, will help enormously to lay a reliable framework in which to make our conclusions. Without them, as we shall see, it would be easy to derail from a sound interpretation. So let’s get started.

The first principle (or question) is this: What does the scripture actually say in the plain sense meaning of the text? The second principle (or question) follows this by asking the opposite, that is: What doesn’t the passage say? Then third, we ask: Are there any other scriptures which shed further light and understanding on the text? Our fourth principle asks: What is the context into which the Bible verses are placed?  And last. but not least, our fifth principle asks: Should we apply a literal or metaphorical meaning to the text?

Okay, let’s now apply these principles to the passages we find in Revelation 7:1-8 and Revelation 14:1-5 which describe a group of people known as the 144,000.  After reading the verses in Revelation 7, let’s apply our first principle and ask, what does this passage actually say in its plain sense meaning? Well, at first glance, this would seem easily answered, because John hears quite clearly, these 144,000 are numbered as 12,000 from each of the twelve tribes of Israel. So, if we went no further in our analysis, we could come to no other opinion than these are all Israelites. To take any other view would require a solid biblical reason in which to deviate. Now, whether such justification exists or not, I shall come to later in this series. But, for now, let’s anchor this point in place: that without further scrutiny, these 144,000 are as simply stated, they are all Israelites.

Okay, now for our second principle or question: What doesn’t this passage say? Well for a start, it doesn’t say that they are the church, the angel speaking with John goes into great detail, verse after verse to list all the tribes in turn with 12,000 from each, as though to underline and emphasise their identity in no uncertain terms. To simply disregard this account and replace Israel for the church would be a gross deviation away from the plain sense meaning of the text, and whether in this passage, or indeed any biblical passage we must tread very carefully when tempted to deviate away from the simplest interpretation. I’m not saying we can’t explore alternate meaning, indeed we should always explore beyond that which is presented to us at face value, but we must have very good reasons to do so.

Now, what else doesn’t this passage say about these 144,000? Nowhere in Revelation 7:1-8 or its sister passage in Revelation 14:1-5 is there any mention of these people being evangelists! This is a key point, and is the popular pre-tribulation view, which in my opinion arises from really bad exegesis and is a great example of eisegesis. To clarify what I mean, let me explain the difference between exegesis and eisegesis. Exegesis is the process of taking the original intended meaning out of scripture, whereas eisegesis is the process of reading into the scripture something that isn’t there, normally because of our own preconceptions and beliefs. We can all do this, especially when we prioritise existing beliefs over scriptural texts. In other words, eisegesis can happen when we read a text with a presumption or preferred viewpoint and seek to apply that opinion or belief into the text. For example, the reason many see the 144,000 as evangelists is because of the second group of people listed in Revelation 7:9-17, the great multitude, which no one could number, from every tribe and nation, people and tongue who come out of the great tribulation. Now since the pre-tribulation view presupposes the saved are raptured before the great tribulation, this great multitude must be saved after the rapture, which would necessitate an army of evangelists still present upon the earth during this time. The theory proposes the only candidates for this army are the 144,000, although, I must add, how this would immediately raise other problems. Since any messianic Jew would be raptured, who would lead the unsaved tribes of Israel to the Lord? In my humble opinion, the pre-tribulation view of the 144,000, is a clear example of eisegesis. To explain the great multitude from every nation, it identifies the 144,000 as evangelists, even though there is no suggestion, zero indication within the text that this is the case.

In fact, nowhere in Revelation 7 is there any other description of this crowd except their number and their descendancy. For further description we must look at Revelation 14:1-5 which does give more detail on their actions and identity, which brings us to our third principle: Are their any other passages which shed further light? The answer is of course yes, Revelation 14:1-5 does shed further light, and describes this number as being redeemed, as those who follow the Lamb, the Lamb of course, a picture of Jesus Christ as the Saviour. This answers our fourth principle about context. The context here, in Revelation 14 is about redemption, about salvation and purity. The bible describes them as first fruits. Surely if they were in any way commissioned as evangelists here is an opportunity to say so. The truth is, it’s not about the salvation of others, but their own, about their redemption, and about them following the Lamb wherever He goes. Unlike Jesus first coming, when He sent out the apostles to evangelise, here Jesus is not sending, but He’s gathering and He’s leading. He’s on the move and the 144,000 are following, they aren’t being sent out, but they have followed the Lamb to Mount Zion. Now where have we heard that before?

If you followed my teaching on the Second Exodus, (and if not, then I encourage you to do) you may remember how the tribes of Israel will be gathered into the wilderness of the peoples Ezekiel 20:33-38, where they will be brought into the bond of the covenant, into the wedding covenant. There they will be purged and as Isaiah 51:11 reads, “therefore the redeemed of the Lord shall return and come with signing unto Zion and everlasting joy shall be upon their head; they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away.” This is another great example of our third principle let scripture interpret scripture. So at this stage in our quest to identify the 144,000 it would seem unquestionable they are indeed Israelites. We have applied the first four principles, of what the passage says and what it doesn’t say, what is the context and a brief look at other scripture to shed further light.

Their identity as from the twelve tribes of Israel has stood up to our examination, which leads us to our fifth and final principle which asks the question: Does this passage have a literal of symbolic meaning? If we take the literal approach, and there is good reason to do so, then our study is complete, we can close our notebooks and move on, having satisfied ourselves that these 144,000 are Israelites, they are not evangelists, but are those who have been redeemed in the wilderness and have now followed Jesus back to Mount Zion. But is it really that simple? Because the literal approach does present some challenges, which you may not be aware of. For example, if we adopt the literal approach, then does that mean the Lamb is a literal lamb? Clearly not! But if we accept the Lamb as a metaphor for Jesus, then we have from the outset already treated this passage as partly symbolic. And once we open the door to symbolism, we suddenly increase the complexity of our challenge to understand the passage. Where do we draw the line between that which is metaphor from that which is literal? If the Lamb is a metaphor, what else is a metaphor? For example, the Revelation 14 passage describes them as all male virgins, but in Jeremiah 31:12,13 we read that women are included among their number, suggesting this is another metaphor, and so you can see how we have quickly moved from being in a position to make our decision, and suddenly entered into a whole new dilemma. But what if there were some other clue to help us unravel this mystery? What if there were another perspective with which we could view this 144,000, a lens to see something we haven’t seen before? I believe there is, and the answer has been right in front of us all this time.


QB56 The 144,000

15 Oct 2020

https://youtu.be/KF908eivkZ0

Well, what a journey we have been on through this series of Quick Bites, exploring many difficult and sometimes controversial topics relating to the end-times, and one of the key principles I have adopted through this volume of teaching, has been the necessity to approach scripture, and in particular eschatology from a Bridal perspective. When we don’t look at prophecy through the Bridal lens, we are prone to come up with many different views and opinions on such matters of the future, which at times has only served to fragment and harm the church, which is the complete opposite of why the scriptures and prophecy have been given in the first place, which is to be our guide to life, and our blueprint for how the Bride should get ready. When prophetic interpretation leads to division and strife, we seriously have to question the very doctrinal foundation upon which we stand.

But when we are prepared to lay down previously held positions of eschatological thought, and allow our fingers to be prised away from what we hold onto so dearly (because in them we have found a measure of understanding), then we are ready to look again at the Biblical narrative without the presuppositions that we once held, and we are able to revisit the Word of God, without the temptation to fit scripture into our former beliefs as though looking for confirmation of an old mindset, rather than a willingness to let those beliefs be scrutinised and revised.

If the Bride is to truly prepare. then she must learn this lesson well. She must embrace the Bridal paradigm and allow her vision and Biblical compass to be recalibrated accordingly. But there is more at stake here than just her preparation, for preparation does not take place in a vacuum devoid of who she is and what she has been called to do. Her preparation is not a passive act of waiting for her rapture to escape the impending night of a world increasingly destined for judgment, but is a radical pro-activity, clothed in humility and holiness, yes, but she is a warrior, a prophetess, and mightily empowered to do great exploits. She is no cowering violet hiding in the shadows. Is that a Bride worthy of betrothal to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords? I don’t think so! She will reach a place in her devotion that is uncompromising and will not bow the knee to any idol. There will be something wild, something untamed about her, a rare beauty of an untethered soul, she will show a ferocity for holiness, and yet a gentleness like a lamb. Her heart will overflow with love, and her words will be filled with wisdom and great insight. Throughout this process, she will resemble her Bridegroom with increasing glory.

This is our passion, our vision, and our mandate, to prepare the Bride to become all that she was created to be, and to fulfil all that she has been mandated to do. That requires a solid Biblical exegesis, upon which she is not left disorientated, confused or unaware of what lies ahead, but rather a firm scriptural foundation upon which she can depend as though her life depended upon it, because that’s exactly the point, it does depend on it!

So, this has been my hope and prayer, that in writing this volume of Quick Bites, it has been as though I were writing “The Gospel according to the Bride”. To give her a voice, so that she might help us to understand what she knows, and to see what has been revealed to her. By adopting the Bridal paradigm, we are given a glimpse into her world, without which we would simply be none the wiser, but as the writer of Hebrews instructs:

“Therefore, let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and advance forward to maturity, and perfection and spiritual completeness” Heb 6:1a

With this in mind, I will complete this first volume of “the Gospel According to the Bride”, as promised, with a new series on the 144,000. If you remember, in our previous study the ‘Second Exodus’, it was always necessary for Jesus to return as the Son of Man, to complete the work of salvation, not only for those who eagerly await His appearing, but also for the Nation of Israel, upon which so much depends. For ultimately, there can be no Bride, and no wedding without her, for as the apostle Paul writes “Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory and the covenants; theirs the giving of the law, the temple worship, and the promises.” Romans 9:4 Where we ended the “Second Exodus” series was upon the return of saved Israel, who had been gathered into the wilderness of the nations, but now were returning on the Highway of Holiness, back to Mount Zion with great rejoicing, singing and dancing. The New Covenant with Israel has been ratified, the Day of Atonement fulfilled, and the closing question we asked was this: If the Wedding of the Lamb takes place in Heaven, how do those returning back to Israel, back to Zion, enter into Heaven for the wedding? Since the rapture or the gathering up into the clouds when the Lord comes as the Son of Man has already happened, does that mean that there is another rapture now for returning Israel? Or is there some other way in which Israel shall be admitted? That’s a really good question, and it deserves a really good answer, which I’m excited to get to. but before we go deeper into this study, I’ll finish today with the two passages which refer specifically to the 144,000 as the springboard for next time:

Revelation 7:1-4 After these things I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, on the sea, or on any tree. 2. Then I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God. And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, 3. saying, "Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads." 4. And I heard the number of those who were sealed. One hundred [and] forty-four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel [were] sealed:

John then accounts for 12,000 sealed from each of the tribes of Israel. We then come across these 144,000 again in

Revelation 14:1-5 Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred [and] forty-four thousand, having His Father's name written on their foreheads. 2. And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps. 3. They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the hundred [and] forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth. 4. These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from [among] men, [being] firstfruits to God and to the Lamb. 5. And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne of God.

Fascinating isn’t it? Well, this is where we’re pick up next time.


QB55 – The Second Exodus (Part 9)

11 Aug 2020

https://youtu.be/JBFlfAO42C4

The Bride will be prepared in the wilderness. It is here that we are able to make our final wedding preparations. The wilderness is not a place of suffering or misery or self-pity, but it is the place of romance. It is the place where we are separated out from the crowds into solitude so that we can be alone with Him. It is the place of intimacy. In a very real sense, the Lord is leading His Bride into the wilderness today, into a place where the stars shine more brightly and the waters from the ravine is pure. O that we might find the well in the desert and know its Source who is Christ. O that we may cherish this most holy and secret place. The Bride loves the desert. She sings in the desert, she turns the Valley of Baca into refreshing springs (Ps 84:6) But this wilderness is not only a metaphor, for the remnant of Israel it will be a very real and literal place.

Hos 2:14-16 NKJV - 14 "Therefore, behold, I will allure her, Will bring her into the wilderness, And speak comfort to her. 15 I will give her her vineyards from there, And the Valley of Achor as a door of hope; She shall sing there, As in the days of her youth, As in the day when she came up from the land of Egypt. 16 "And it shall be, in that day," Says the LORD, "[That] you will call Me 'My Husband,' And no longer call Me 'My Master,'

Did you know that the wilderness is the place of betrothal? This is how it was for Israel on the first Exodus when Moses led the nation into the wilderness and came to Mount Sinai. Hosea goes on to write in verse 19 "I will betroth you to Me forever”. Once the Bride has been purified in the wilderness, she will return home on a highway of Holiness. Here’s what Isaiah wrote about this coming great moment.

Isa 35:4-10 NKJV - 4 Say to those [who are] fearful-hearted, "Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come [with] vengeance, [With] the recompense of God; He will come and save you." 5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, And the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. 6 Then the lame shall leap like a deer, And the tongue of the dumb sing. For waters shall burst forth in the wilderness, And streams in the desert. 7 The parched ground shall become a pool, And the thirsty land springs of water; In the habitation of jackals, where each lay, [There shall be] grass with reeds and rushes. 8 A highway shall be there, and a road, And it shall be called the Highway of Holiness. The unclean shall not pass over it, But it [shall be] for others. Whoever walks the road, although a fool, Shall not go astray. 9 No lion shall be there, Nor shall [any] ravenous beast go up on it; It shall not be found there. But the redeemed shall walk [there], 10 And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, And come to Zion with singing, With everlasting joy on their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness, And sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

Hallelujah. Praise God. I believe this passage in Isaiah is another clear reference to the time of the Second Exodus as we have been learning, when the Lord will come to deliver His people by leading them out into the wilderness. Isaiah begins in this passage with a word of encouragement, saying to those who are afraid, he says, ‘Be Strong and do not fear, because your God will come’ and when He comes He will come with vengeance. This is a reference to the Day of the Lord, when the wrath of the Lamb shall come, and the seven bowls will be poured out. On that Day the Lord will come and He will save His people. We know this will be when Jerusalem is surrounded by the nations of the world. Isaiah foresees a time when blind eyes and deaf ears are opened, but then we are transported away from Jerusalem into the wilderness where Isaiah describes how waters shall burst forth like streams in the desert, where the parched ground shall become a pool. Isaiah has taken us to see this wilderness location where the redeemed shall be gathered, and he sees that there in this wilderness place there shall be a highway there, which shall be called the Highway of Holiness, it will be safe passage upon which the ransomed of the Lord shall return. To where will they return? It will be to Zion with singing and everlasting joy shall be upon their heads. Gladness and joy shall be theirs, and sorrow and mourning shall flee away.

Jer 31:12,13 They shall come and sing aloud on the height of Zion, and they shall be radiant over the goodness of the LORD, over the grain, the wine, and the oil, and over the young of the flock and the herd; their life shall be like a watered garden, and they shall languish no more. 13 Then shall the young women rejoice in the dance, and the young men and the old shall be merry. I will turn their mourning into joy; I will comfort them, and give them gladness for sorrow.

After all of Jerusalem’s troubles, Jacob’s trouble, the great tribulation and the persecution of the nations, God shall redeem His people and they shall sing and rejoice and dance once more in the Bride Bridegroom relationship. For God will restore them into the covenant of a marriage relationship with His people. This completes the Second Exodus of Israel’s escape from her enemies surrounding Jerusalem, into the wilderness to be prepared as the wife who has made herself ready. Remember all this time, the Bride has been both in Heaven and upon the Earth. The objective has always been to bring the two together, to complete the Bride and to prepare her for her wedding day. That has always necessitated the salvation of Israel. Unless you believe that the gentile church is raptured prematurely and married whilst Israel is still in great tribulation upon the earth, then there must be a time to bring convergence and unification of the two into One New Man, because there is only one bride. Now that we have journeyed with Israel through her deliverance, redemption, preparation and return to Zion with singing, I will finish this series with one remaining question: If the Wedding of the Lamb takes place in Heaven, how do those returning back to Israel, back to Zion, enter into Heaven for the wedding? Since the rapture or the gathering up into the clouds when the Lord comes as the Son of Man has already happened, does that mean that there is another rapture now for returning Israel? Or is there some other way in which Israel shall be admitted? Well, that will be where we continue next time as I begin a new series and take a look at Revelation 14 and the mysterious 144,000. May the Lord bless you richly.


QB54 The Second Exodus (Part 8)

10 Aug 2020

https://youtu.be/XsXypWve_Zo

In this series, we have covered a lot of ground and some really difficult prophetic passages. I’ve chosen just a selection of verses available to piece together enough of a picture to help us understand a period of time I have called ‘the Second Exodus’, which commences upon the Day of the Lord (described Matt 24, when Jesus returns as the Son of Man), to the wedding of the Lamb which happens before His Return in Rev 19 (as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords). This period of time, which as I shared in Quick Bites 45-46 will be a total of 30 days. There will be many things taking place during this time of wrath, but our focus has been upon Israel and how she is to be prepared for her wedding day.  For her atonement there will be just 10 days, which are known as the Days of Awe, these join the Feast of Trumpets when Jesus returns, to Yom Kippur which is 10 days later and called the Day of Atonement. I believe there is good Biblical support for this viewpoint, and whilst I’m not stating these things as an absolute, I am saying I believe them to be best possible fit when considering the entirety of Biblical Prophecy. You see it is not good enough to focus on one area of eschatology, pull some scriptures together that support each other, and promote a subsection of the future when it does not stack up to other Biblical Texts which contradict or oppose that view. Does that mean that the Bible contracts itself, absolutely not! It means there’s a problem with our interpretation or presupposition that was brought into the process. That’s the challenge for the student of prophecy, how do you fit all the pieces together harmoniously? Well as you may have heard me say before, we need a blueprint, an end time picture of what the Lord sees and desires, because that blueprint is the underlying influence upon all prophecy. I believe the Bride is that blueprint. When we see the Bride and understand who she is and how she will prepare, it is the key to unlock the unfolding of future events. The Wife must make herself ready, and that means both Jew and Gentile. We can’t side-line Israel’s gathering, redemption, and wedding into a Millennial event, as though it were inconsequential and supplemental to the main story which belongs to the church. No, it doesn’t belong to the church, the story belongs to the Elect, there’s a subtle but important difference, one includes Israel, the other does not. The Lord will not tear the branch from the Olive tree, but He will cultivate them together as One, the One New Man, the Bride. Matthew 24 speaks of the gathering of the Elect, thank God that it does. The pre-trib believer will say ‘yes this is Israel’ and the post-trib believer will say, no the Lord is speaking to His church. Jesus could have easily mentioned either Israel or the Church as the intended crowd to be gathered, but He uses neither and says it will be the Elect who are gathered. That’s because to mention either Israel or the Church as those gathered, would automatically exclude the other. The church will be gathered, but so will Israel. On the Day of the Lord, Jesus will return as the Son of Man to gather the Elect, to gather His Bride. Those ready and waiting will be caught up together into the air at the first resurrection, but for unsaved Israel the Son of Man’s role as Saviour and Redeemer is not yet finished. The remnant of Israel, wherever they may be, will be gathered not up into the air, but to a location upon the earth. This gathering will not be at first to Israel but to a place Ezekiel calls the ‘wilderness of the peoples’. Listen again to Ezekiel 20:34,35 And I will bring you out from the people, and will gather you out of the nations where you are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out. And I will bring you into the wilderness of the people, and there will I plead with you face to face. The word ‘plead’ also means to judge, govern, vindicate or punish. The point I want to make here is that it is a singular location not a dispersion but a convening, a gathering. The Lord said “I will bring you out of and bring you into” “I will bring you out from the people, and gather you out of the nations where you are scattered, and I will bring you into, into the wilderness, into the wilderness of the people”, which is also called the wilderness of the nations. It is here that He will meet with them face to face. This location does not describe the current dispersion of the Jews, it is the place that they will be brought into not out from.

Now in this wilderness location there will be a sifting of the sheepfold of Israel. Eze 20:37-38 NKJV - 37 "I will make you pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant; 38 "I will purge the rebels from among you, and those who transgress against Me; I will bring them out of the country where they dwell, but they shall not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I [am] the LORD.

The Lord said they will all be brought out of the countries where they dwell and brought into the wilderness of the nations, where there will be a purging, and the rebels will be sifted out. Eze 34:17 says the Lord will judge His flock, judging between one sheep and another. They will pass under the rod. Lev 27:32 describes this act of passing under the rod as a way to select a tenth of all animals from the herd or flock and dedicate them to the Lord as holy. In this sense, not all Israel will be saved. Not all Israel will enter their homeland. Just as in the first Exodus not all those who left Egypt returned to Canaan, but they perished in the wilderness, so also not all those who are gathered into the wilderness will return to Zion. Judgement will begin first with the Jews and then the Greek Rom 2:9 Yet, as Ezekiel writes, those chosen shall be brought into the bond of the covenant. What covenant do we suppose this may be? Well let’s look at another favourite passage of mine found in Hos 2:14-23 NKJV - 14 "Therefore, behold, I will allure her, I Will bring her into the wilderness, And speak comfort to her. 15 I will give her her vineyards from there, And the Valley of Achor as a door of hope; She shall sing there, As in the days of her youth, As in the day when she came up from the land of Egypt. 16 "And it shall be, in that day," Says the LORD, "[That] you will call Me 'My Husband,' And no longer call Me 'My Master,' 17 For I will take from her mouth the names of the Baals, And they shall be remembered by their name no more. 18 In that day I will make a covenant for them With the beasts of the field, With the birds of the air, And [with] the creeping things of the ground. Bow and sword of battle I will shatter from the earth, To make them lie down safely. 19 "I will betroth you to Me forever; Yes, I will betroth you to Me In righteousness and justice, In lovingkindness and mercy; 20 I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness, And you shall know the LORD. 21 "It shall come to pass in that day [That] I will answer," says the LORD; "I will answer the heavens, And they shall answer the earth. 22 The earth shall answer With grain, With new wine, And with oil; They shall answer Jezreel. 23 Then I will sow her for Myself in the earth, And I will have mercy on [her who had] not obtained mercy; Then I will say to [those who were] not My people, 'You [are] My people!' And they shall say, '[You are] my God!' "

Wow, what an amazing prophecy that fits so beautifully into our Bridal perspective on the end times. Through this entire series on the Second Exodus, the underlying question is how does the wife make herself ready, because when Jesus comes as the Son of Man in Matt 24, the wife will not yet be ready because Israel will not yet be fully saved, and there can be no wedding without her. Those already in the New Covenant will be raptured upon the Lord’s coming, but what of unsaved Israel? For a brief period of time the Bride will be in Heaven and upon the Earth. This has been the subject of this series, how Israel is brought back into the marriage covenant, so that the wife can complete her preparations. For that to happen she is led into the wilderness to be romanced by the Lord. Ezekiel has told us those who pass under the rod will come into the covenant, and Hosea 2 is a beautiful prophecy that describes this betrothal and renewal of their first love. There in the wilderness Israel will sing, just as she did when she came up before from the land of Egypt. It is there that Israel will call the Lord her husband, and there that the Lord will betroth her to Himself forever. Wow, I’m just speechless, what beauty, what majesty, what glory there is contained in this most wonderful romance between the Lord and His Bride. Thank God, that He has not forsaken Israel, not in the least, our God is faithful to His promise, and we all, whether Jew or Gentile shall be made one, and we shall be ready, and we shall be united with our Bridegroom Jesus Christ forever. This is the glory that awaits us, the hope of our faith, the certainty of our calling, and the resolute cry of our hearts, in which we cry Maranatha, Even so, Come Lord Jesus Come.


QB53 The Second Exodus (Part 7)

5 Aug 2020

https://youtu.be/6hRgqmUEMpw

Hi everybody and welcome back for part 7 in this series ‘The Second Exodus’. If you’ve just joined us, and not watched parts 1 to 6, then it’s good idea to watch those as well because each episode builds upon the former to develop this teaching line upon line, precept upon precept. So where are we currently at in our timeline? Jesus has returned to earth as the Son of Man just as Matt 24 teaches. At this time the Bride who is ready and waiting will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air and will be presented to the Father in Heaven, but this is not yet time for the wedding of the Lamb, for Israel is not fully saved, and therefore the wife has not yet made herself ready. First Israel and the Lord have a date in the wilderness that has been prophesied thousands of years earlier. Remember a key point in our studies, is that when Jesus returns as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords in Revelation 19, He does so with His Bride, that means Israel has been saved prior to this moment, and therefore necessitates an earlier period of time in which the Lord will come as the Son of Man to deliver Israel, and to gather her to Himself, and to enable her to be the wife who has made herself ready. This period of time is what I mean when I refer to ‘The Second Exodus’. Jesus will come for Israel right at the end of 1260 days immediately after the tribulation of those days. At that time Jerusalem will be surrounded by the nations of the world, and in great peril. But the Lord will come and provide a means of escape by standing on the Mount of Olives which will be split into two to form a mountain pass, through which the survivors of the siege will flee. They will flee into the wilderness and will join those who have already sojourned there for the last three and a half years. This place Ezekiel calls the wilderness of the nations or peoples, and I believe a strong contender for its location will be Bozrah, the ancient capital of the Kingdom of Edom which is 20 miles south east of the Dead Sea in the land of the nation Jordan.

This will be a place of great bloodshed and vengeance against the nations. Isaiah 63 specifically mentions Bozrah as where this will take place, as does Isa 34:1-8. Here’s verses 4-6 NKJV - 4 All the host of heaven shall be dissolved, And the heavens shall be rolled up like a scroll; All their host shall fall down As the leaf falls from the vine, And as [fruit] falling from a fig tree. 5 "For My sword shall be bathed in heaven; Indeed it shall come down on Edom, And on the people of My curse, for judgment. 6 The sword of the LORD is filled with blood, It is made overflowing with fatness, With the blood of lambs and goats, With the fat of the kidneys of rams. For the LORD has a sacrifice in Bozrah, And a great slaughter in the land of Edom.

Even though there are similarities between this great slaughter described in Isaiah 34 and 63, and what is commonly known as the battle of Armageddon in Rev 19, I do not believe them to be the same. Yes on both occasions Jesus is described as wearing blood stained garments Isa 63:1,2 and Rev 19:13, and on both occasions there is mention of a sword. Isa 34:6 refers to the sword of the Lord filled with blood, and Rev 19:15 as a sharp sword coming out of His mouth with which to strike down the nations, but there are differences also.

Firstly, the location of the slaughter that Isaiah prophesied is in Bozrah, but there is another location of great slaughter that Joel speaks of as the valley of Jehoshaphat or the valley of decision, which connects east Jerusalem to the Mount of Olives. Revelation also mentions a great slaughter outside the city in Rev 14:19,20 “So the angel swung his sickle across the earth and gathered the grape harvest of the earth and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. And the winepress was trodden outside the city, and blood flowed from the winepress, as high as a horse's bridle, for 1,600 stadia.” So these two slaughters happen at different locations, one in Borzah, Edom, and the other just outside Jerusalem.But I believe there is another reason why these battles are not the same. That’s because these two battles happen at different times. Am I saying there will be a battle before Armageddon? Absolutely! Although the battle seems rather one side and more of a slaughter. One happens at the beginning of God’s wrath and the other at the end. There is also a shift in the focus of hostilities during this period. At first, and before the Lord returns, the nations will come against Israel and Jerusalem, that’s where we place Zech 14, when Jerusalem is under siege. But destroying Israel will prove to be impossible, for the Lord will come amongst His people to fight for them. So the focus of hostilities shifts from between the nations and Israel, to a climax between the beast and false prophet and the Lamb, since the Lamb is now upon the earth. Rev 17:14 reads “These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, because he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.” This is a reference to the Battle of Armageddon which concludes the wrath of God. It is demonically induced after the sixth bowl of wrath is poured out on the river Euphrates Rev 16:12-16 and so comes right at the end of this period of wrath: the 30 days it will take between the Beast losing his authority Rev 13:5 to the end of the abomination of desolation Dan 12:11. This is when Jesus will return once more, and as Rev 17:14 records, the Lamb will conquer His enemies because He is Lord or Lords and King of Kings, notice here also in this verse that He is accompanied by His Bride, the called, chosen and faithful.

But what of the bloodshed in Edom? Why should there be as Isaiah writes, “a sacrifice in Bozrah, a great slaughter in the Land of Edom?” I believe the nations who come against Israel and surround Jerusalem will not have relented on their intent to see her downfall and will try again to destroy her, this time they will gather at Bozrah, to surround her once more. Is this what Micah foretold would happen? Let’s read Micah 2:12,13 The Septuagint puts it like this “Jacob shall be completely gathered with all his people: I will surely receive the remnant of Israel; I will cause them to return together, as sheep in trouble, as a flock in the midst of their fold: they shall rush forth from among men through the breach made before them: they have broken through, and passed the gate, and gone out by it: and their king has gone out before them, and the Lord shall lead them.” The Lord is the breaker, the Good Shepherd who will open up the breach, and pass on ahead of His people who will rush forth from among men. They will pass through the gate and shall leave the sheepfold, the enclosure of Bozrah. Into which they had been gathered as a flock in the midst of their fold. The return to Zion has begun.

Did you know that some claim this story is depicted in the stars and constellations of the night sky? It truly is a magnificent tale. For in the northern sky there is a constellation known as Draco, a serpentine dragon, which circles menacingly around another constellation which today is known as the Little Dipper, but in Ancient times was called the Lesser Sheepfold. I encourage you to find a star map that shows these two constellations and you will see one star leading the others out of the Lesser Sheepfold which are all heading out of the enclosing threatening Draco. What’s even more fascinating is that this lead star, is the North Star, also known as Polaris, because it is the one around which all the others move. Well, I’ll leave you to research that one further, but thought it an interesting anecdote worthy of mention.


QB52 The Second Exodus (Part 6)

4 Aug 2020

https://youtu.be/P9FlFtaLI7I

Trying to locate where the gathering of Israel will be on the Day of the Lord is notoriously difficult, and I will do well not to be absolute in my study. Ezekiel 20:35 says “I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples (or nations)”, but we are not given any explicit reference where that wilderness might be. So are there any other scriptures which do give an actual place name, or at least a connection with somewhere that we might more readily identify? Well, our key passage in Zechariah 14 does say that the valley of the mountains will reach to Azal, and that those in Jerusalem will take this route as they flee. But this is still not enough, first because the location of Azal is disputed, and secondly, even though the flight of the refugees from Jerusalem will take this route, doesn’t mean that this is where they finish their journey. So where else might we look? We are searching for a scripture that locates Jesus upon the earth with His people during the time of the gathering, that gives an indication of where that location may be. Well, how about the prophet Micah.

Mic 2:12-13 NKJV - 12 "I will surely assemble all of you, O Jacob, I will surely gather the remnant of Israel; I will put them together like sheep of the fold (Bozrah), Like a flock in the midst of their pasture; They shall make a loud noise because of [so many] people. 13 The one who breaks open will come up before them; They will break out, Pass through the gate, And go out by it; Their king will pass before them, With the LORD at their head."

I love this text, and yes it does tick several boxes. It is a reference to the gathering of the remnant of Israel, and it does place the Lord amongst His people. “Their King will pass before them”, Micah writes, “the Lord at their head.” So this passage does qualify as fitting the time of the gathering with the Lord amongst His people. It does fit into our Second Exodus narrative. But what of location? Does this verse have a geographical reference that can help us identify where the gathering will be? Well, as I previously mentioned I will not state this as absolute or doctrinal, but as my belief and understanding when letting scripture interpret scripture, I believe there is enough to give a good indication of where the Lord will gather His people, and there is a clue to right here in this text found in Micah. It’s well buried under the translation process, but if you go back to the original Hebrew, the phrase ‘sheep of the fold’ Mic 2:12 actually uses the word “botsrah”, which although does mean sheepfold, it is also used to mean the place Bozrah which was a chief city of the ancient kingdom of Edom the homeland of Jacob’s brother Esau. Here’s the translation in the King James Version Mic 2:12 [KJV] I will surely assemble, O Jacob, all of thee; I will surely gather the remnant of Israel; I will put them together as the sheep of Bozrah, as the flock in the midst of their fold: they shall make great noise by reason of the multitude of men.

Scholars suggest that this Bozrah is in the mountain district of Petra about 20 miles south east of the Dead Sea in the Land of Jordan today.  Now that is interesting because there are other scriptures that refer to Edom and its capital Bozrah in the end times. The story of Israel and Edom goes right back to the story of Jacob and Esau. There had always been rivalry between them, then over many generations the two brothers became the kingdoms of Israel and Edom, but the enmity between them continued. That’s why when Israel having been delivered out of Egypt and now travelling through the wilderness on their way to Canaan, were heavily opposed and denied entry by the Edomites to pass through their territory. Numbers 20:14-21 gives the account. It wasn’t until after forty years of wandering around in the wilderness that Israel was finally permitted to pass through Edom territory Deut 2:2-8. Could it be that there is unfinished business with Edom? Certainly the prophets suggest this. Even though the actual geo-political kingdom of Edom was destroyed by the Babylonians in the 6th century BC, there is a sense in which the spirit of hostility towards Israel personified by Esau and Edom continues in the nations today.

By the rivers of Babylon, the psalmist laments over Zion, and writes in Ps 137:7 [ESV2011] Remember, O LORD, against the Edomites the day of Jerusalem, how they said, “Lay it bare, lay it bare, down to its foundations!” What judgement there shall be indeed against those nations who shall seek the demise of Jerusalem and of Israel in the days to come. Will the Lord not deal with them like He did the Edomites of old? There are fascinating parallels here. Sadly, we don’t have time to go into them all now, but how about this one? That whilst Israel was refused entry into Edom during the first exodus, it will be Bozrah in Edom, that is the Lord’s choice location to gather the remnant of Israel during the second Exodus. I believe this is the place in the wilderness referred to in Rev 12 where the woman will find refuge away from the dragon for three and a half years. Edom is already prophesied as a place that will escape the Anti-Christ. Daniel 11:41. Those fleeing from Jerusalem on the Day of the Lord, will be gathered together with those who had gone before at the start of the great tribulation in Bozrah, as the sheepfold of the Lord. The nations that will seek Israel’s demise and surround Jerusalem, will not succeed to complete her annihilation. What do we think those nations will do when they see the flight of those in Jerusalem join those already assembled in the wilderness? Having just witnessed the very return of the Lord Jesus Christ, will they now finally repent, and seek mercy at His feet? I don’t think so! Did Pharaoh relent on his campaign against Israel, even after the waters of the Red Sea had been piled high on both sides to form a passage of escape right through the middle? Did Pharaoh then surmise that he was no match for the wrath of God? No. Instead, blinded by his own pride, his hardened heart and his hatred for God and His people, Pharaoh pursued the escaping Hebrew nation with his mighty chariots and horsemen right down through the middle of the parted Red Sea. The very place of God’s deliverance becomes the place of destruction for those who oppose the Deliverer. In the same way, neither will those nations who have set themselves against Israel relent in their pursuit of her, and so the demise and fall of the nations will begin in the wilderness of the peoples. This war will reach its climax during the Armageddon campaign, but it begins here in Edom. Here’s what Isaiah writes:

Isa 63:1-6 [ESV2011] Who is this who comes from Edom, in crimsoned garments from Bozrah, he who is splendid in his apparel, marching in the greatness of his strength? “It is I, speaking in righteousness, mighty to save.” 2 Why is your apparel red, and your garments like his who treads in the winepress? 3 “I have trodden the winepress alone, and from the peoples no one was with me; I trod them in my anger and trampled them in my wrath; their lifeblood spattered on my garments, and stained all my apparel. 4 ​For the day of vengeance was in my heart, and my year of redemption had come. 5 I looked, but there was no one to help; I was appalled, but there was no one to uphold; so my own arm brought me salvation, and my wrath upheld me. 6 I trampled down the peoples in my anger; I made them drunk in my wrath, and I poured out their lifeblood on the earth.”

This intriguing passage in Isaiah 63, not only specifically mentions Bozrah as the place of great bloodshed, but also it reveals that this day of carnage is the day of wrath, and of treading the winepress. It is described as the day of vengeance and the year of redemption. With these details we are able to accurately place this passage during the time of the Lord upon the earth when He comes in the days of wrath which begin on the day of the Lord. Which begins the Second Exodus.


QB51 – The Second Exodus (Part 5)

3 Aug 2020

https://youtu.be/w8aCggVq0LU

The gathering of Israel was prophesied many times by the Old Testament prophets, but more than this, the time of their gathering is also foretold as connected with the Day of the Lord. Let’s take Zephaniah for example. Much of Zephaniah is about the Day of the Lord, about a coming Judgement of Israel, a gathering and punishment of nations, but the final verses end with hope for Jerusalem and Israel.

Here’s a quote from Zephaniah 3:14-20 NKJV - 14 Sing, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all [your] heart, O daughter of Jerusalem! 15 The LORD has taken away your judgments, He has cast out your enemy. The King of Israel, the LORD, [is] in your midst; You shall see disaster no more. 16 In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: "Do not fear; Zion, let not your hands be weak. 17 The LORD your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet [you] with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing." 18 "I will gather those who sorrow over the appointed assembly, Who are among you, [To whom] its reproach [is] a burden. 19 Behold, at that time I will deal with all who afflict you; I will save the lame, And gather those who were driven out; I will appoint them for praise and fame In every land where they were put to shame. 20 At that time I will bring you back, Even at the time I gather you; For I will give you fame and praise Among all the peoples of the earth, When I return your captives before your eyes," Says the LORD.

Notice in this prophecy that the Lord, the King of Israel will be among His people. Interestingly Zephaniah specifically mentions Zion and writes, “In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: ’Do not fear Zion, let not your hands be weak. The Lord your God in your midst, The Mighty One will save’”. This is a picture of the Lord physically present amongst His people in Jerusalem to save them, He will be amongst them as the King of Israel, the Mighty One. Zephaniah writes the Lord will rejoice over Israel with gladness, quiet them with His love and rejoice over them with singing. At that time, the Lord will deal with all her oppressors and will save them. Could this be a reference to when Jerusalem will be delivered, at the time when the nations surround her? I believe so. He will stand upon the Mount of Olives and provide a means of escape. Notice this day of flight from Jerusalem is also the day of gathering for those dispersed elsewhere. Zephaniah prophesies, ‘At that time, I will bring you back, even at the time I gather you’.

Okay, quick recap: I’ve been going through the events that will take place when the Lord returns in Matt 24. In particular our focus has been upon the Bride, and specifically how she will be the wife who has made herself ready in Revelation 19, because when Jesus returns in Matthew 24, the wife isn’t yet ready, for Israel is not yet fully saved. Indeed when Jesus returns as the Son of Man, Israel will be in great distress. But the Lord will come for her and not abandon her. There is a period of time, the days of the Son of Man, in which the Lord will lead Israel in the same way that Moses led Israel out of Egypt, away from her oppressors, to bring her through the wilderness to Mount Sinai.  

There are many similarities between the first exodus and the second exodus. In the first exodus just as the waters of the Red Sea were parted to provide a means of escape Exo 14:21, so shall the Mount of Olives be parted in the second exodus for those in Jerusalem to flee Zech 14:4,5. In the first Exodus the Lord bore His people on eagles’ wings to bring them to himself Exodus 19:4, Israel will once again be carried upon the wings of a great eagle Rev 12:14. Or how about Exodus 20:10 which reads “So I took them out of the land of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness.”? In the first Exodus, Israel escaped from her opposers in Egypt, did you know that in the book of Revelation Jerusalem is referred to as Egypt (Rev 11:8). Jerusalem is referred to symbolically as Sodom and Egypt, in both of those places there was an escape. Moses led Israel out of Egypt, so also the Lord will lead Israel out of symbolic Egypt which is Jerusalem. Now where was it they went after escaping through the Red Sea? It was into the Wilderness. Deut 8:2 explains the Lord led Israel into the wilderness to humble and to test them, to reveal what was in their heart and whether they would keep His commands or not. It was in the wilderness that Israel became the betrothed wife of Jehovah God, with the marriage covenant established upon Mount Sinai. I hope to show how this same process will take place once more. The Lord Jesus will be among His people, and He will lead them into the wilderness in order to test them, to sift them and to prepare them as the wife who has made herself ready. The wife will be prepared in the wilderness. This is always the case, the Bride in the Wilderness. When we speak of the gathering, it will not be to Jerusalem or even to Israel, not at first, but it will be into the wilderness. Here’s what Ezekiel writes in Ezekiel 20:33,34 [ESV2011] “As I live, declares the Lord GOD, surely with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm and with wrath poured out I will be king over you. 34 I will bring you out from the peoples and gather you out of the countries where you are scattered, with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, and with wrath poured out. 37 And I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples, and there I will enter into judgment with you face to face. 36 As I entered into judgment with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will enter into judgment with you, declares the Lord GOD. 37 I will make you pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant.”

I have yet to teach on the feasts of the Lord, but I’d like to mention them here because every feast has a prophetic fulfilment, and what I am teaching on the Second Exodus will be in harmony with and a fulfilment of the feast of trumpets, which initiates ten days of awe and finishes with Yom Kippur the day of Atonement. The next feast to be fulfilled is the feast of trumpets which we believe is when the Lord will return. When Jesus returns it will be a prophetic fulfilment of the feast of trumpets which will initiate ten days of awe before Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement which is the most important day of the Jewish faith. All during this time the key emphasis is upon self-examination and repentance. In Quick Bites 40 – 44, a key point I brought out was that the wrath of God is reserved until the Day of the Lord. That the sixth seal and seventh trumpet mark the Day of the Lord and the commencement of the seven bowls of wrath. Because the Day of the Lord, will be upon the Feast of Trumpets, it means that the ten days of awe, during which will be the final opportunity for repentance and salvation of Israel, it will also be a time of wrath upon the earth. That’s what Ezekiel mentions here at the time of the gathering of Israel, the Lord will gather His people out of the countries where they are scattered with an outstretched arm and with wrath poured out. Ezekiel continues in verses 35-37 And I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples, and there I will enter into judgment with you face to face. 36 As I entered into judgment with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will enter into judgment with you, declares the Lord GOD. 37 I will make you pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant.

Wow, that’s amazing, the Lord makes the similarity between the first and second exoduses. He says, just as I judged your fathers in the wilderness, so I will do so with you. He also says that He will enter into judgement with them face to face, that’s because Jesus will be physically with them at that time. Where will this gathering take place? It is into the wilderness of the peoples, other translations say the wilderness of the nations, where that will be, I will continue next time.


QB50 The Second Exodus (Part 4)

31 Jul 2020

https://youtu.be/dYcLPOkxDjA

Dan 12:5-7 [ESV2011] 5 Then I, Daniel, looked, and behold, two others stood, one on this bank of the stream and one on that bank of the stream. 6 And someone said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream, “How long shall it be till the end of these wonders?” 7 And I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream; he raised his right hand and his left hand toward heaven and swore by him who lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and half a time, and that when the shattering of the power of the holy people comes to an end all these things would be finished.

As we have seen, there will be a time of unprecedented suffering to take place at the end of this age which is foretold in both the Old and New Testaments. There are many different names ascribed to this period of suffering or tribulation, but whatever term we use we are referring to the same 3 1/2 year period, which is the second half of Daniel’s 70th week in Daniel 9:27, Jacob’s trouble Jeremiah 30:7, or the great tribulation Matt 24:21. Though there will be a different agenda being played out for Israel and the Gentiles, it is still the same period of time.

And in our mini Quick Bite series, the Second Exodus, we are specifically focussed upon Israel and what the future holds for her. Remember to keep the Bride in full view, and ask, how will the Lord prepare His people Israel to be the wife who has made herself ready as in Revelation 19:7? That’s the question isn’t it? Because that’s the Lord’s heart and desire, what all of Creation has been about, to prepare a Bride that He will become one with as in a marriage relationship. As incredible as that sounds, what an awesome and unfathomable act of Divine Love and mercy it truly is. Who are we, that our Lord should be so mindful of us and loving? Yet this is the truth of the Gospel, the Divine Mystery being revealed. Let us therefore align our hearts with His, and make ourselves ready as His Bride, the wife of the Lamb.

Last time I shared that for a brief period, the Bride would be both in Heaven and upon the earth, that’s because when the Lord returns as the Son of Man, He is not only coming for His prepared Bride, but for Israel also who has yet to enter into the New Covenant. Now those who are ready, prepared and waiting for the Lord’s return shall be gathered into Heaven on that great Day of the Lord, but what of those in Israel who are not yet saved, where will they be, where will the unprepared wife be when Jesus returns? I believe there is a threefold answer to that question: First, some of Israel will already have been in the wilderness for three and half years. Rev 12:14 [ESV2011] reads “But the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle so that she might fly from the serpent into the wilderness, to the place where she is to be nourished for a time, and times, and half a time.”. But not all of Israel will leave their homeland, or Jerusalem. Though Jesus had warned them to do so when they see the Abomination of Desolation, we find those who remained in Jerusalem now under attack from the nations of the world. Zech 14:1-2 [NET2] reads “A day of the LORD is about to come when your possessions will be divided as plunder in your midst. 2 For I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to wage war; the city will be taken, its houses plundered, and the women raped. Then half of the city will go into exile, but the remainder of the people will not be taken away”Then lastly, there will be a third group of people who are neither in Jerusalem, nor the place in the wilderness provided for the woman. Here’s Daniel 12:7 again, this time reading from the Septuagint “And I heard the man clothed in linen, who was over the water of the river, and he lifted up his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and swore by him that lives for ever, that it should be for a time of times and half a time: when the dispersion is ended they shall know all these things.” Did you notice the reference to the dispersion? The dispersion will end after the time of Jacob’s trouble, after the great tribulation. Now of course, we know that since 1948 Israel has been politically recognised and many Jews have been returning back to their homeland ever since, and I don’t want to take anything away from this return back to Israel, but when looking at the Biblical references to the return of the dispersed tribes of Israel back to their homeland, then we cannot fail to notice that the completion of this return is specifically prophesied as taking place on or after the Day of the Lord, which is after the great tribulation. Here’s some scriptures that refer specifically to this gathering.

Isa 11:10-12 10 In that day the root of Jesse, who shall stand as a signal for the peoples—of him shall the nations inquire, and his resting place shall be glorious. 11 In that day the Lord will extend his hand yet a second time to recover the remnant that remains of his people, from Assyria, from Egypt, from Pathros, from Cush, from Elam, from Shinar, from Hamath, and from the coastlands of the sea. 12 He will raise a signal for the nations and will assemble the banished of Israel and gather the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.

Ezek 34:11,12 11“For thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out. 12 As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness.

Jer 30:7-10 [ESV2011] 7 Alas! That day is so great there is none like it; it is a time of distress for Jacob; yet he shall be saved out of it. 8 “And it shall come to pass in that day, declares the LORD of hosts, that I will break his yoke from off your neck, and I will burst your bonds, and foreigners shall no more make a servant of him. 9 But they shall serve the LORD their God and David their king, whom I will raise up for them. 10 “Then fear not, O Jacob my servant, declares the LORD, nor be dismayed, O Israel; for behold, I will save you from far away, and your offspring from the land of their captivity. Jacob shall return and have quiet and ease, and none shall make him afraid.

What each of these verses tells us is that the gathering of the dispersed remnant of Israel will take place on a particular day, a specific time in the future. Ezekiel calls it a day of clouds and thick darkness, and Jeremiah describes it as the day of Jacob’s trouble, when Israel shall be saved. It will be at that time, that David their King will be raised up, which is a Messianic reference to Jesus as the King.


QB49 The Second Exodus (Part 3)

30 Jul 2020

https://youtu.be/oUgplyHKWyc

When asked by His disciples what would be the sign of His coming and of the end of the age Matt 24:3 we have no record of Jesus mentioning the escape through the Mount of Olives foreseen by the prophet Zechariah. The signs He gives are varied but does not include this particular part of Zechariah’s prophecy. If Jesus were to stand on the Mount of Olives before His return as the Son of Man in Matthew 24, surely He would have mentioned this amongst the signs He gave to mark that great day. So when will Zechariah’s prophecy in chapter 14 take place? I believe it will be when Jesus returns in Matthew 24, for He will not allow His people to suffer one more day than those already ascribed. That number of days is unequivocally given as 1260, the second half of Daniel’s 70th week. Jesus said immediately after the tribulation of those days, He would come as the Son of Man upon the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And Hebrews 9:38 tells us He will bring salvation with Him when He comes. This salvation is two-fold. It will complete the salvation of those who are His and eagerly await His appearing 2 Tim 4:8, but it will also be for the salvation of Israel who have yet to enter into the New Covenant relationship with Him. The return of Jesus in Matthew 24 will fulfil more than one promise and will serve to bring convergence between two prophetic timelines, namely that of both Jew and Gentile back together into one fold, one Elect, one New Man, one Bride. The partial hardening of Israel that Paul writes of in Romans 11:25 shall be ended, and the day of their salvation shall come. This is a key point for us to understand. What I am saying is that when Jesus comes as the Son of Man upon the clouds with great glory, it will not be as simple as we might have previously assumed, for there is still much to transpire.

On that great day of the Lord, He is coming for His Bride, even though at that time His Bride will not yet be complete or ready. Yes, of course, there will be those of us who are ready and prepared at that time, and if so, then as promised we shall be caught up together with the resurrected saints, to meet the Lord in the air when He comes 1 Thess 4:17, but the Wife will not yet  be ready, because Israel will not yet be fully saved and therefore the wedding of the Lamb will not yet have come. There can be no wedding without Israel, because the promise is made to her and there is but one wife, the One New Man. When Jesus returns at first in Matthew 24 He will do so as the Son of Man, because there is still an appointed time for Israel in which she shall be saved, and for a brief period, the Bride will be in Heaven and also upon the earth. Those who are ready for His return will now be in Heaven, but Israel will still be upon the earth, and Jesus will be with Her upon the earth to lead her back to Mount Zion in time for the Wedding, just like Moses led Israel through the wilderness to Mount Sinai to enter into a marital covenant with the Lord. Don’t worry, I’ll cover these points later in this series.

I’ve presented a very different picture to the popular conception of the Lord turning around to return to Heaven for His marriage with those who have just been gathered up. That would mean a wedding without Israel, how can that be? Remember one of the key principles I’ve been teaching throughout all these Quick Bites, is that the Bride is central to our understanding and interpretation of how end time events will unfold. We need to think Bridal. Where is the Bride at any point in the text? And that means keeping our eye on Israel all the time, because the covenant is made with her. Jesus’ role as Saviour, as the Son of Man, as the Lamb of God, is not yet complete. Israel rejected Him on His first coming, but this will not be the case on His second coming. For at that time, Zechariah writes in chapter 12:10 the Lord “will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn.” When Jesus comes as the Son of Man on the clouds, He will indeed gather His Elect. But as we have seen in Quick Bite 36 – 38, the Elect is inclusive of Israel but not exclusive to her. The Elect are the Eklektos, the chosen, the Bride. Yes, there will be a gathering up to meet the Lord in the air and Jesus will present us to the Father 2 Cor 4:14 at that time, but He will not remain in Heaven, instead He will continue His journey to Earth and gather together the rest of His Elect, the rest of His Bride. Jesus will bring deliverance for Israel by standing on the Mount of Olives exactly after the allotted 1260 days and not a day more. Israel will not suffer beyond the number of those days under the persecution of the Beast or the nations who rage against her.  Rev 11:2 NKJV reads "But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles. And they will tread the holy city underfoot [for] forty-two months. Immediately after the number of those days is complete, the Lord will return but He will not be alone. The Prophet Joel writes of this moment in Joel 3:11 [ESV2011] Hasten and come, all you surrounding nations, and gather yourselves there. Bring down your warriors, O LORD.

Dear Jerusalem will suffer greatly, but the Lord will not abandon her forever 1 Sam 12:22. Did you know the very name Zechariah means “Yahweh remembers”, and the Lord will indeed remember His people. Deut 32:9 reads “For Jacob is the Lord’s inheritance”,  and Isaiah writes 14 But Zion said, “The LORD has forsaken me; my Lord has forgotten me.” 15“Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you. 16 Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me. Isa 49:14-16 [ESV2011]

It is here in Jerusalem, and specifically Mount Zion that will be forever the city of the great king. Here is what the psalmist writes in Psalm 48. 1 Great is the LORD and greatly to be praised in the city of our God! His holy mountain, 2 beautiful in elevation, is the joy of all the earth, Mount Zion, in the far north, the city of the great King. 3 Within her citadels God has made himself known as a fortress. 4 For behold, the kings assembled; they came on together. 5 As soon as they saw it, they were astounded; they were in panic; they took to flight. 6 ​Trembling took hold of them there, anguish as of a woman in labor. 7 By the east wind you shattered the ships of Tarshish. 8 As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the LORD of hosts, in the city of our God, which God will establish forever. — Selah 9 We have thought on your steadfast love, O God, in the midst of your temple. 10 As your name, O God, so your praise reaches to the ends of the earth. Your right hand is filled with righteousness. 11 Let Mount Zion be glad! Let the daughters of Judah rejoice because of your judgments! 12 Walk about Zion, go around her, number her towers, 13 consider well her ramparts, go through her citadels, that you may tell the next generation 14 that this is God, our God forever and ever. He will guide us forever.


QB48 The Second Exodus (Part 2)

28 Jul 2020

https://youtu.be/O9Vw6ArFBG0

In part one of this mini-series, I asked the question when will Jesus stand on the Mount of Olives to provide a means of escape for those besieged in Jerusalem? Let’s read our core passage Zech 14:1-5 again [NET2] A day of the LORD is about to come when your possessions will be divided as plunder in your midst. 2 For I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to wage war; the city will be taken, its houses plundered, and the women raped. Then half of the city will go into exile, but the remainder of the people will not be taken away. 3 Then the LORD will go to battle and fight against those nations, just as he fought battles in ancient days. 4 On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives which lies to the east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in half from east to west, leaving a great valley. Half the mountain will move northward and the other half southward. 5 Then you will escape through my mountain valley, for the valley of the mountains will extend to Azal. Indeed, you will flee as you fled from the earthquake in the days of King Uzziah of Judah. Then the LORD my God will come with all his holy ones with him.

This passage clearly describes an end time future event. Yet there are some very notable elements described by Zechariah which are not explicitly mentioned by either Jesus or the New Testament writers. Not least the Lord will stand on the Mount of Olives which will split in half to provide a means of escape for those besieged in Jerusalem. This lack of reference poses a problem for the Bible student in understanding when this event will take place. Certainly if one takes the view that Jesus returns only once, and therefore the Matthew 24 account of Jesus returning as the Son of Man on the clouds to gather His Elect, if this return is also seen as the same event as in Revelation 19 when Jesus returns out of heaven this time on a white horse, not as the Son of Man, but as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, then there’s a real conundrum here. If indeed there is just one return, then we must also squeeze Zechariah’s prophecy in chapter 14 into the same time, but herein lies the problem: because Revelation 19 quite clearly teaches that the Beast, False Prophet and armies coming against the Lord will meet a rather gruesome end and be totally annihilated, whereas in Zechariah 14 it is about flight and escape of those in Jerusalem from her oppressors. Here’s how the battle is described in Rev 19:17-21 NKJV - 17 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven, "Come and gather together for the supper of the great God, 18 "that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all [people], free and slave, both small and great." 19 And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. 20 Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. 21 And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh. Does that sound like the same event described by Zechariah? How would it be possible for the armies in Zechariah 14 to continue to hold Jerusalem under siege if they are about to be annihilated as Revelation 19 describes? The Zechariah 14 event is about escape, but the Lord’s return in Revelation 19 is about vanquish. In my opinion it simply is not possible to reconcile what Zechariah prophesied in chapter 14 with the battle of Armageddon described in Revelation 19. But it is not only the difference in the battles described that separate these two events from each other. For example, since in Revelation 19 Jesus is returning with His Bride, how is it that Israel is still upon the earth and in need of a deliverer as in Zechariah 14? If Israel were saved at this point, she would not need a horizontal means of escape out of Jerusalem, because she would receive a vertical gathering up to meet the Lord coming on the clouds. Interesting. Does that mean she missed the wedding of the Lamb? I don’t think so, this can never be, since the Wife who has made herself ready is inclusive of Israel. The wedding contract is made with her. Only by virtue of being grafted into the Olive Tree is the Gentile church able to participate in the covenant blessings and promises made to Israel. This is our position at Call2Come: we have prioritised the Bride as the central thread, the foundational piece in which there is no negotiation. There is one Bride and one wedding. And since when Jesus returns to judge and make war in Rev 19, He will be accompanied by His Bride, it necessitates an earlier occasion in which Israel will be saved, and for her salvation Jesus will come again as the Son of Man. That means Jesus upon the earth before Revelation 19, in other words, when Jesus returns as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords Rev 19:16, it will not be the first time that He would have returned. Zechariah’s prophecy helps us to clearly identify an earlier time of Jesus upon the earth. Now this eschatological viewpoint simply isn’t possible when holding to a one return of Jesus position, which leaves us with a choice: We either leave Israel out of the picture, and consider her grafted into the Bride later, during the Millennium once Jesus has returned, or we put things in order, accept the marriage covenant is made with Israel, accept that it is the gentiles who are grafted into her, and accept that when Rev 19:7 says ‘the wife has made herself ready’ that it means Israel. So that still leaves us with the question: When will Jesus stand on the Mount of Olives? When will the Second Exodus begin?


QB47 The Second Exodus (Part 1)

27 Jul 2020

https://youtu.be/TqzELDycMzU

Zech 14:1-5 [NET2] A day of the LORD is about to come when your possessions will be divided as plunder in your midst. 2 For I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to wage war; the city will be taken, its houses plundered, and the women raped. Then half of the city will go into exile, but the remainder of the people will not be taken away. 3 Then the LORD will go to battle and fight against those nations, just as he fought battles in ancient days. 4 On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives which lies to the east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in half from east to west, leaving a great valley. Half the mountain will move northward and the other half southward. 5 Then you will escape through my mountain valley, for the valley of the mountains will extend to Azal. Indeed, you will flee as you fled from the earthquake in the days of King Uzziah of Judah. Then the LORD my God will come with all his holy ones with him.

When we talk of the gathering of the Elect it is not quite as simple as a singular rapture into the clouds in some sort of escapism theology. No, the truth is far more engaging, more gritty than this, much closer to home with troubling implications for both Jew and Gentile. Any eschatological perspective that we adopt must be comprehensive, and it must be rooted in the Covenant promises God made to Israel. The promise of gathering is made to her, the promise of resurrection is made to her, the promise of reigning forever is made to her. The church by no means replaces Israel, but then neither does Israel replace the church. If the truth be told, there will be neither Jew nor Gentile, but by virtue of belonging to Christ then we are all heirs of Abraham. Gal 3:28-29. That doesn’t mean, we will lose our ethnicity. In the same way when Paul teaches there will not be male or female, doesn’t mean that we will lose our gender, that’s not the point here, the principle is that the basis of our relationship with each other and with the Lord is not about any earthly, physical or human trait, but about our spiritual re-creation, flesh of His flesh, and bone of His bone, the Bride, the corporate expression of the Body of Christ, made of living stones.

On the Day of the Lord the Elect will be gathered. This does include a rapture, a being caught up together in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air when He comes as the Son of Man, but along with those resurrected, this rapture into the air will only include those who are saved and ready for His coming. At this time, not all Israel is saved, and therefore the Bride will be in Heaven but also upon the earth. The Bride is not quite ready, not until Rev 19:7 are we told the wife has made herself ready. Indeed, at the moment of the Lord’s return in Matt 24, Jerusalem will be in great distress, and though there is the current ongoing return of Jews back to their homeland today, we are told that the tribes of Israel will still be dispersed around the world on the Day of the Lord. Speaking of the Day of the Lord listen to what Isaiah writes:

Isa 11:10-12 In that day the root of Jesse, who shall stand as a signal for the peoples—of him shall the nations inquire, and his resting place shall be glorious. 11 In that day the Lord will extend his hand yet a second time to recover the remnant that remains of his people, from Assyria, from Egypt, from Pathros, from Cush, from Elam, from Shinar, from Hamath, and from the coastlands of the sea. 12 He will raise a signal for the nations and will assemble the banished of Israel, and gather the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.

So let’s pick up the story and look at what Zechariah wrote in chapter 14. He describes the siege of Jerusalem, when all the nations are gathered against her to make war. There will be great pillage, rape and exile of half the city, the Septuagint puts half the city will go into captivity. No wonder the Lord warns in Mat 24:15-16 NKJV - 15 "Therefore when you see the 'abomination of desolation,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place" (whoever reads, let him understand), 16 "then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Zechariah then follows with the emphatic declaration of the Lord’s return as a warrior to fight against those nations. But there are significant differences in the battle described here in Zechariah 14, from the Battle of Armageddon described in Revelation 19. In Revelation 19, there is no need for escape from the armies who wage war against the Lamb or from the Beast, on that occasion the victory will be decisive and the only one fleeing will be those who dare to oppose the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, those who try to flee from the wrath of the Lamb. Here in Zechariah 14 there is no account of the finality found in Revelation 19, instead we are told the Lord will provide a means of escape for His people by standing on the Mount of Olives.  The Mountain will split into two and a passage of escape, a great valley of the mountains will extend to Azal. Just as they had escaped before in the days of King Uzziah, Israel shall do so again. And just as the waters of the Red Sea had been parted to provide a means of escape for Israel from Egypt, so also the Lord will open the mountains to provide a valley in which to flee from her oppressors once more. When will this great Exodus take place? This has been a subject of great difficulty for Bible commentators for centuries, but now that we have firmly placed our chronological markers on our eschatological timeline, I believe it provides opportunity to place this Exodus event with precision also. To be continued.


QB46 The Transition of Kingdoms in 30 Days (Part 2)

23 Jun 2020

https://youtu.be/PDJ8jkY0DOU

QB45 The Transition of Kingdoms in 30 Days (Part 1)

22 Jun 2020

https://youtu.be/LC9FIWPZs2s

QB44 The Seals Trumpets and Bowls (Final Part)

18 Jun 2020

https://youtu.be/rFGMnxS8krQ

Rev 6:9-11 NKJV - 9 When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. 10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, "How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?" 11 Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both [the number of] their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they [were], was completed.

The great tribulation of the Elect will be a time of much suffering, persecution and as John saw in the opening of the fifth seal, even martyrdom for the saints of God. Those slain cry out asking ‘How long O Lord until you avenge our blood?’ and they are told ‘a little while longer until the number of those who would be killed was complete’. The word for avenge in the Greek as in ‘avenge our blood’ is the word ekdikéō, (ek-de-keh-o) and is found in  Rom 12:19 NKJV - 19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but [rather] give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance [is] Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. Here we see the connection between vengeance and wrath. How will the Lord avenge His righteous ones? Through wrath. He will repay, but as those under the altar in the fifth seal were informed, even though it would not be long, that time of wrath had not yet come. It is on the opening of the sixth seal - on the Day of the Lord, that we read Rev 6:17 ‘the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?’ This will mark the end of 1260 days of great tribulation, and will initiate the sequence of seven bowls of wrath we find recorded in Rev 16. Significantly in Rev 14 and 15 we see the Elect, already gathered and in Heaven by this time. The outpouring of God’s wrath will never be upon His Bride, how can that be? Then Rev 17,18 describes the judgement of ‘Mystery Babylon the Great, the Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth’ when the appeal of those slain and under the altar in Rev 6 is answered. Rev 19:2 NKJV reads - 2 "For true and righteous [are] His judgments, because He has judged the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her fornication; and He has avenged on her the blood of His servants [shed] by her."

The day of wrath coming upon the earth will be an entirely righteous indignation from a God who is entirely Holy. Sin will run its full course, and wickedness will flourish, as lawlessness runs rampant to replace the righteousness of God, with a toxic humanism and perversion of the Created Order. Yet even as in Noah’s day there will be opportunity to repent right up until the final hour. Rev 14:6 Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth—to every nation, tribe, language and people. 7 He said in a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water.”

But for those who receive the mark of the beast their fate is clear. Rev 14:9A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives its mark on their forehead or on their hand, 10 they, too, will drink the wine of God’s fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. They will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their torment will rise for ever and ever. There will be no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and its image, or for anyone who receives the mark of its name.” 12 This calls for patient endurance on the part of the people of God who keep his commands and remain faithful to Jesus.

Our God is a loving God and He is so merciful, not treating us as our sins deserved, that whilst we were still sinners He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes on Him will not perish but receive everlasting life. As Peter writes in 2 Pet 3:4 there are those who question the Day of the Lord saying ‘Where is the promise of His coming, things have not changed but continue to be as they always have been’  Peter responds in v9 saying The Lord is not slow to fulfil his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you,1  not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.’

To those who receive the gift of His Son Jesus, who have been washed in His blood and their sin expunged from the record, they will never be taken from His hand. To those who keep their lamps lit during the night vigil, who live a life worthy of the calling, who are numbered amongst the Elect they may be comforted that the Lord has not forgotten them, and will soon come for them to take them to the wedding of the Lamb. But there must be a day of reckoning. Sin must be dealt with once and for all. The reign of darkness imposed by the fallen minions of every demonic kind, rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, will be torn from their thrones and stripped of their authority for ever. We can endure the night, because we know that rejoicing will come in the morning. What a day it will be, when the summation of all history will converge at that time. When the prophetic timeline of Jew and Gentile shall be joined forever, when our Bridegroom shall see the travail of His soul and be satisfied, when the longing of His heart to gather Jerusalem as a hen gathers her chick shall finally be fulfilled. Those days shall soon be upon us, let us be comforted by Paul’s words in Rom 5:9 [ESV2011] Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.


QB43 The Seals Trumpets and Bowls (Part 2)

16 Jun 2020

https://youtu.be/9-ZZVL6EkIk

In our quest to determine where the sequences of seals, trumpets and bowls fit into the end time narrative, I have laid an important chronological marker in stating that the sixth seal and seventh trumpet converge on the Day of the Lord, when Jesus comes as the Son of Man to gather His Elect as in Matt 24. I proposed in Quick Bite 41 the wrath of God will not yet have been unleashed up to this point. That’s because the wrath of God is reserved until after the rapture and will be poured out in the seven bowls. We’ve dealt with objections to this position already from the progressive view in Quick Bite 42, but now we must respond to challenges from the simultaneous view, which believes the sequence of seals, trumpets and bowls are either concurrent or even describe the same event but from a different perspective, if that were so, then the bowls would not follow the trumpets. The simultaneous view compares the details depicted in the three sequences and observes the similarities between them. For example the first trumpet and first bowl both relate to the earth (Rev 8:7, 16:2), the second trumpet and second bowl relate to the sea (Rev 8:8,9, 16:3), the third trumpet and bowl relate to rivers and springs (Rev 8:10,11, 16:4), and the fourth trumpet and bowl both relate to the sun (Rev 8:12, 16:8,9). Now whilst the similarities are clearly observable, the resemblance is not enough to claim them as happening at the same time or indeed that they are the same event. An example that undermines the reliability of the simultaneous view is the comparison of the earthquake mentioned in all three sequences, namely the sixth seal, the seventh trumpet and the seventh bowl. Listen carefully to the description of the earthquake in each.

Rev 6:12-14 NKJV - 12 I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. 13 And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. 14 Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place.

After the seventh trumpet we read Rev 11:19 NKJV - 19 Then the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple. And there were lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail.

Then in Rev 16:17-20 NKJV - 17  the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, "It is done!" 18 And there were noises and thunderings and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such a mighty and great earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth. 19 Now the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. And great Babylon was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath. 20 Then every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.

In each sequence there will be an earthquake. And because the devastation caused will be so great, especially with the sixth bowl and seventh seal earthquakes, the simultaneous view sees these as the same event, since such colossal damage can only happen once. The argument goes like this: “If the sixth seal earthquake causes every mountain and island to be removed, then that’s a final, unrepeatable process. The earthquake in Rev 16:20 which records every island to flee away and every mountain to not be found must therefore be describing the same event.” On the face of it, that would seem to be a good point. However, as always, let’s go back to the text and see what it’s actually saying and what it’s not. Here’s the sixth seal earthquake again in Rev 6:14 “Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place.” The Greek word for ‘moved’ is kinéō (ke-neh-o) and means to be moved, set in motion, to remove. It also means: to excite, disturb, to throw into commotion, or to wag. Wag meaning to shake back and forth as in a dog wagging its tail. This word kinéō (ke-neh-o) is used to describe the riot of the Ephesians against Pauls preaching in Acts 21:30 which reads “And all the city was disturbed” other translations “The whole city was rocked” or “Then all the city was stirred up”. I suggest what Rev 6:14 is describing in the sixth seal is not a disappearance or removal, but a shaking of the mountains as one would expect with an earthquake, but what it isn’t describing is a complete disappearance as in the earthquake at the time of the seventh bowl in Rev 16:20 Which reads “Then every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.” Incidentally, the word ‘fled’ in Greek means ‘to escape safely out of danger, to shun something abhorrent, to flee, seek safety by flight’. But what isn’t in this verse is the word kinéō (ke-neh-o) as it was in Rev 6:14.

In summary then, I have proposed the seventh trumpet and sixth seal converge on the day of the Lord when the Lord will come on the clouds as the Son of Man with His angels to gather His Elect. The wrath of God has been withheld until this point as we learnt in Quick Bite 41, and as I will cover next time, the wrath of God is poured out in the seven bowls. Since this viewpoint does not conform to either the progressive or simultaneous view, I have responded to objections proposed by both. Now that we have done so I can confidently continue laying out this Bridal perspective on the unfolding of future events.


QB42 The Seals Trumpets and Bowls (Part 1)

15 Jun 2020

https://youtu.be/e00JLcRmurQ

The question we are currently asking in our studies is not whether the wrath of God has been reserved for the Day of the Lord (for in Quick Bite 41 we have already seen that this is the case), but how the seals, trumpets and bowls fit into the picture. This is a point of great contention and difficulty. The two main positions on this are either the three sequences are progressive, that is the seals are followed by the trumpets which are followed by the bowls, one sequence following the other, or the three sequences are simultaneous, that is the first seal, first trumpet and the first bowl happen at the same time, then the second seal, trumpet and bowl take place and so on. Obviously, they both can’t be correct, so which one is right, or is there another possibility? I believe there is. What I have proposed so far is that the sixth seal and seventh trumpet converge at the same point, the Day of the Lord, when the Elect are Gathered, but I do not support that the bowls also converge on that day.

The progressive view would say, ‘Hey, wait a minute, the sequence of seven trumpets doesn’t begin until Rev 8:2 which is after the seventh seal in Rev 8:1.’ Since the Bridal view I’m presenting here must stand up to scrutiny, I’ll answer this objection here. Rev 8:1,2 [LEB] And when he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. 2 And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them. True the reference to the seven trumpets is made after the reference to the seventh seal, which if we saw the Book of Revelation as entirely linear in the chronology of the events it describes then yes we would have to accept that the sequence of trumpets does not begin until after the seventh seal. The problem with this approach is that the Book of Revelation is thematic and does not always place these themes or events in chronological order but rather the way in which either John received them, or at least in the order he wrote them down. An example of this is Rev 7:14 NKJV - 14 And I said to him, "Sir, you know." So he said to me, "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. But the appearance of the Dragon, Beast and False prophet who cause 3 ½ years of great tribulation against the Elect don’t appear until Rev 12 and 13. This kind of juxtaposition is typical of Revelation, because of the complexity of the vision John received, there is no simple way of writing everything down, other than the way he was instructed. The Book of Revelation contains both macro and micro views and perspectives, zooming in at times on specific details, whilst at others zooming out to give the big picture, like Rev 12 which covers a much larger timeframe some of which is historical with the imagery of the birth and ascension of Jesus as the man-child snatched up to heaven. So when reading Rev 8:1,2 which gives the seventh seal in verse 1, and the start of the seven trumpets in verse 2, it’s not enough to presume that just because the reference to the trumpets comes after the reference to the seventh seal, that they must therefore be one after the other chronologically. This is a key principle to have in our ‘good student of the word’ toolkit: that any separate sequence or theme given to John is chronological in itself, for example, in the seven seals sequence, seal one is followed by seal two and so on, but when attempting to sort the sequences and themes together chronologically, the scripture reference should not be the only consideration. For example, if you were asked to describe three weddings which had all taken place yesterday, the simplest way to do that is to describe them one after the other, but that doesn’t mean they were sequential. Rev 8:1 and 2 are connected grammatically by the use of the word ‘and’. ‘And I saw the seven angels who were given seven trumpets.’ The use of ‘And’ doesn’t mean what’s described in verse 2 follows that in verse 1. How else might John introduce the seven trumpet sequence? Nowhere in Revelation does he try to teach, or give an apologetic to what he’s witnessing, but he simply records as instructed. The use of ‘And’ is perfectly acceptable in this case as the start of a new sequence. The word ‘and’ in the Greek can be interpreted ‘also’, in which case the translators could have written ‘I also saw seven angels who were given seven trumpets’. In summary then, because things have to be written sequentially, doesn’t mean that the events themselves are necessarily progressive. Therefore, just because the first reference to the seven trumpets in Rev 8:2 follows the seventh seal in Rev 8:1 does not disprove the proposition that the sixth seal and seventh trumpet converge on the Day of the Lord, but is rather a literary necessity when describing multiple events, that one must follow the other in the text.


QB41 The Wrath of God

12 Jun 2020

https://youtu.be/WDncRBKHOXs

We’ve reached an important milestone in our studies which all centre around the Day of the Lord. There are numerous things which will all happen on that day, the subject of which could fill many books, so my challenge is to present as best I can the nuggets of truth found in scripture to help piece together the end-time puzzle from a Bridal perspective in this Quick Bite format.

Last time I asked the question, if the Elect are gathered immediately after the great tribulation, how is it they escape the wrath of God? As incredible as it may seem, is it possible the wrath of God begins on the Day of the Lord when the Elect are Gathered and not before? That during the tribulation of the Elect, which will last 1260 days, the wrath of God has not yet been unleashed. I realise this may be a bit of a wrecking ball to many currently held opinions, but it highlights the importance to tenaciously separate our own thoughts from what scripture actually says. At any point it’s so easy to allow our preconceptions to taint and blemish the Biblical narrative. So let’s look to see what the scripture does say, and perhaps even more importantly what it doesn’t say.

Here’s what Zephaniah says about the day of the Lord. Zep 1:14-15 NKJV - 14 The great day of the LORD [is] near; [It is] near and hastens quickly. The noise of the day of the LORD is bitter; There the mighty men shall cry out. 15 That day [is] a day of wrath, A day of trouble and distress, A day of devastation and desolation, A day of darkness and gloominess, A day of clouds and thick darkness,

From this passage and many others, the Day of the Lord is associated with wrath. We know from Rev 6:12 that this day begins on the opening of the sixth seal when everyone tries to hide Rev 6:17 “For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?” And furthermore, we’ve established that the Day of the Lord is when the Elect are gathered, and in Quick Bite 36 to 38 I’ve explained the Elect as the chosen Bride, the One New Man. So the difficulty we have is trying to reconcile if the Elect are not gathered until after the tribulation, how is it they escape God’s wrath because surely the tribulation is a demonstration, an outpouring of God’s wrath. Where do we place the sequences of the seven seals, the seven trumpets and the seven bowls on the eschatological timeline? If these sequences relate to God’s wrath it creates a conundrum, because as Paul writes in 1 Thess 5:9 “God has not appointed us to wrath”. There’s a real dilemma here. That’s one reason why the pre-trib view arose; to be able to answer the question, ‘how can the Elect go through the tribulation and not be appointed unto wrath?’ Its answer was to separate the church from Israel. 

To resolve this issue, we need to be precise about how the Bible connects wrath with the sequence of seals, trumpets and bowls. This is a crucial point in the discussion, because the supposition is that the seals, trumpets and bowls are about the wrath of God. So let’s check that supposition to make sure it’s correct before we go any further. In the New Testament there are two Greek words used for ‘wrath’. The first is the word ‘orge’ (ar-gay) and means ‘anger, vengeance, indignation, and punishment’. The second is the word ‘thymos’ (thoo-maas) and means ‘passion, heat, boiling up anger soon subsiding’, there are derivatives, but these are the two root words for ‘wrath’.  Interestingly, by the simple use of a good concordance, you’ll find the first mention of either ‘orge’ (ar-gay) or ‘thymos’ (thoo-maas) wrath in the book of Revelation is not found until Rev 6:16,17 16 and [they] said to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath (orge) of the Lamb! 17 "For the great day of His wrath (orge) has come, and who is able to stand?". Then the second occurrence of either ‘orge’ (ar-gay) or ‘thymos’ (thoo-maas) wrath is found after the blowing of the seventh trumpet in Rev 11:18 The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, And the time of the dead, that they should be judged, And that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, And those who fear Your name, small and great, And should destroy those who destroy the earth."

Remember, we’re leaving out our preconceptions of what we think the God’s wrath is, and simply letting the scriptures speak to us. By doing that, neither ‘orge’ (ar-gay) or ‘thymos’ (thoo-maas) wrath appear in Revelation until the sixth seal which we already know is the Day of the Lord after the tribulation of the Elect, but now we also see the trumpet sequence isn’t connected with ‘wrath’ either until the seventh trumpet in Rev 11:18 says ‘The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come’. Regarding the sixth seal I believe it’s clear the wrath of God had not come until this point, because otherwise, why hadn’t everyone tried to hide before, there is a direct cause and effect here, the wrath of the Lamb has come and therefore everyone is terrified and try to escape. Regarding the seventh trumpet, the timing of wrath could be seen as earlier, as some translations put it “your wrath came”, and therefore the text on its own is ambiguous. But when going to the original ancient Greek construction and verb tense of ‘your wrath has come’, found in both the seventh trumpet and the sixth seal, we find an exact match. In other words just as with the sixth seal the wrath of God had only come at that point, so also the seventh trumpet marks the coming of God’s wrath. Now in no way do I mean to lessen the dreadful and horrific things that will take place during the seals and trumpets, that’s not my point. The issue is being really careful to understand the application of God’s wrath in the context of the tribulation, and keep clearly within the Biblical narrative. We’ll carry on with this next time.


QB40 The Day of the Lord

11 Jun 2020

https://youtu.be/VdgKVKkMnUg

There was a day that Isaiah longed to see when he writes in Isaiah 64:1,2 Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains might quake at your presence—​as when fire kindles brushwood and the fire causes water to boil— to make your name known to your adversaries, and that the nations might tremble at your presence! Well, his prayer is finally answered at the climax of this current era, when all speculation will be answered about who Jesus really is, for Jesus will return in full view, and just as Isaiah prayed, His name will be made known to His adversaries, and the nations will tremble at His presence. When will this happen? This has been the subject of great debate since Jesus ascended from the Mount of Olives in Acts 1. But even outside the church, the world seems to have a fascination with some sort of apocalypse, an end of the world scenario which is the fashion of so many books and films. Astronomers point us to the signs in the heavens, with such phenomena as planet alignment, blood moons, comets and precession of the equinoxes, whilst archaeologists and historians bring us artefacts like the Mayan calendar which some argue has significance and implications today. Many religious leaders have made predictions of dates which have come and gone over the centuries, the fact is, despite the abundance of predictions for the end of the world, in all these things, we are still here. But there will be a day like no other, when the heavens shall be rolled back, and lightning will split the sky. And unlike the arrival in obscurity of Jesus’ First Coming, when He comes again as the Son of Man riding on the clouds, His glory shall be seen throughout the whole earth. What a day that will be. Jesus describes in Matt 24:29 how the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give its light, the stars will fall from heaven and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. This parallels Joel’s prophecy and is called the ‘Day of the Lord’.  Joel 2:31 [ESV2011] “The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes.” This passage in Joel we find being fulfilled on the opening of the sixth seal. Here’s what Rev 6:12-14 [ESV2011] says “When he opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth, the full moon became like blood, 13 and the stars of the sky fell to the earth as the fig tree sheds its winter fruit when shaken by a gale. 14 The sky vanished like a scroll that is being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place.

So quick recap: When Jesus comes as the Son of Man on the clouds to gather His Elect, this is known as the Day of the Lord when the Sun will be darkened and the moon will become like blood. But listen to what happens next continuing from verse 15

15 Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, 16 calling to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, 17 for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?”

I’d like to highlight this very important point. Did you notice it says how everyone will try to hide away from Him who is seated on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb? Why? Because the great day of their wrath has come. Let that point sink in for a moment. The day of wrath comes on the Day of the Lord, which is the same time when the Elect are Gathered. That means that those who have been raptured have escaped the wrath of God. Surely it can’t be that simple can it? What about all the trumpets and bowls? Something doesn’t add up, have we missed something here? Do we need to go back to the eschatological drawing board and start again? How can the Elect, go through the great tribulation and still escape the wrath of God which is so clearly a part of Revelation? Well, I’ll answer these questions next time. Thanks for listening.


QB39 If the Days of the Tribulation are Shortened, How Long Will They Be?

10 Jun 2020

https://youtu.be/azpu_TQXwhk

In recent studies we have unpacked the meaning of the Elect, so that we may identify those Jesus speaks of in Mat 24:31 31 "And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” From our studies we now know who His Elect are, and as we discovered there was no great mystery, no complex solution, the answer is as the text says; His chosen, that’s you and I, His Bride, the One New Man, which Peter beautifully describes in 1 Pe 2:9 NKJV as “a chosen (eklektos, Elect) generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvellous light”

We also know from verse Matt 28:29 that we shall be gathered immediately after the tribulation, when the sun will be darkened and the moon will not shine.  This is a direct reference to Joel’s prophecy in Joel 2:31 [ESV2011] who writes “The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes.”

But is that the end of the matter? Maybe not, for we may probe deeper and say “well, when will the great tribulation end? How long will it be?” This question seems valid because Jesus himself taught in Matt 24:22 NKJV "And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake those days will be shortened.” Does that mean that the gathering (or rapture) of the Elect, takes place sooner that expected? If the days are shortened, how long will the great tribulation be? The prophet Daniel was given the answer to that question in Dan 7:25 and Dan 12:7 concerning the apocalyptic visions he saw, Dan 7:25 He (that is the anti-Christ) shall speak words against the Most High, he will wear out (harass) the saints (holy ones) of the Most High, And shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints (or holy ones) (the Septuagint doesn’t say saints but power) shall be given into his hand for a time and times and half a time.

Who are the saints (or holy ones) of the Most High referred to here? Many will say these are Israel, but what does the text say, let’s allow the scripture to speak to us and read further in verse 27 Then the kingdom and dominion, And the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, Shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom [is] an everlasting kingdom, And all dominions shall serve and obey Him.' In this verse we are told who the saints are – they are the ones to whom the dominion, and greatness of the kingdoms under all of heaven will be given. And who is it who will share the Kingdom with the Lord? Paul answers that question when he writes to Timothy in 2 Tim 2:12 If we endure, we shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us. It is the Elect, who are destined to reign with the Lord. You see how difficult it is when we try to separate Israel from the church? It doesn’t work. If the church is to reign with the Lord, then she must place herself into the context of Daniel 7, or if the church says no no this passage relates to the nation of Israel, then she can’t claim the blessing promised here to reign. But why does it have to be one or the other? That’s what we’ve inherited through different theological systems that separate Israel and the Gentile church like dispensationalism. That’s why the Bridal mindset is critical here, because it sees the Bride, the One New Man, and doesn’t make the distinction. This is a profound mystery and a miracle of Divine Grace. We hear much talk of ‘reformation’ but reformation merely re-forms, what we need is beyond reformation. We need transformation. Not a re-form but a change of form, a transform. The church can’t take the promises made to Israel, and not be identified with her also. She can’t take the promise of being gathered which was made to Israel and change the timing of when that promise would be fulfilled. It’s all or nothing, we’re either in or out, not a pick and mix theology, taking the assurances and promises made to Israel, without the solidarity of standing with her through the tough times ahead. So when are the Elect gathered? They are gathered after the great tribulation, which is 1260 days after the revealing of the Anti-Christ. Finally then, when Jesus said “but for the elect's sake those days will be shortened.(meaning cut off as in amputate)” (Matt 24:22) He did not mean that Daniel was wrong, or that there had been a revision to the dates, but instead the meaning of those days being shortened, or amputated, is that the wickedness of the Beast would not be permitted to take its full course, those days will be cut off, the short reign of the Anti-Christ will be terminated before his plans succeed.


QB38 Who Are the Elect? (Final Part)

9 Jun 2020

https://youtu.be/MV3gDCiVPvg

1 Peter 1:1-2 NKJV 1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 elect (eklektos) according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.

When Peter writes his first letter, he addresses it to the “pilgrims of the Dispersion”. This familiar term was ascribed to the scattered Jews who had been displaced out of Israel into other lands because of the Roman invasion. Then in verse 2, Peter describes them as ‘elect according to the foreknowledge of God’. It would appear at first glance that Peter is writing specifically to the Jews, but if we continue reading the letter, it becomes clear who he is addressing. This identification of Peter’s readers is important because it links into our wider discussion of who are the Elect? As one of Jesus’ closest disciples, Peter’s testimony of the Elect would be in harmony with the Lord’s, so his understanding of the Elect helps us to identify those to be gathered immediately after the great tribulation that Jesus spoke of in Matt 24:31.

In 1 Pet 1:18 Peter writes “knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold” and later 1Pet 2:10 “who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.” Peter gives us a window through which we are able to look closer at his readers. He describes them as ‘ransomed from the futile ways of their forefathers’. Does that sound like the Jews or the Gentiles? Or what about those ‘who once were not a people but are now the people of God’, to whom does Peter refer?The apostle Paul writes similarly in Eph 2:11-13 “11 Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh--who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands-- 12 that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” When Peter writes, he does so to those who were not a people, but had been ransomed, to be the people of God, So yes. I do believe Peter includes Gentile believers when he writes, but more than that, His perspective has changed, for he no longer differentiates between Jew and Gentile but sees them as the Lord does, the Elect. Wonderfully inspired by the Holy Spirit, he calls them ‘pilgrims of the dispersion’, and ‘elect of God’, and in so doing, Peter is grafting in the wild olive branch into the native olive tree that is Israel.  Wow, that’s important, because like Paul, Peter is saying that there is a ‘commonwealth of Israel’, he is identifying Gentile believers with their Hewbrew roots.  The underlying message of Peter is to encourage the ‘Elect’ around the known world to persevere through great hardship, persecution and suffering. For in their endurance they follow the footsteps of Jesus who suffered and died for them so they might be saved. Peter proposes a solidarity in suffering shared jointly by Jew and Gentile, because there is only one Elect. Whatever path the gentile church takes that separates them from Israel is not one ordained by God. There isn’t a separate plan of God for a Gentile church, no, if she is to benefit from any benevolence of Divine mercy, it is only because she has been grafted into Israel. All the covenants and promises are made to Israel, not to the gentile church. Here’s what Paul writes Rom 9:4 They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises.

So to answer our question: Who are the Elect? I think Peter gives a great answer when he writes in 1Pe 2:9 NKJV “But you are a chosen (eklektos, Elect) generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvellous light”

I’ll finish by drawing together the points I made last time and just now. Jesus never referred to Israel as the Elect, He always spoke of Israel directly, but He did use the term Elect when speaking of the chosen to be at the Wedding Banquet. Peter understood the Elect of God to be inclusive of both Jew and Gentile, and he created a solidarity in suffering between the two. Ultimately Peter describes the Elect as a chosen (Elect) generation, a royal priesthood and a Holy nation, God’s own special people. I believe this to be good biblical exegesis letting scripture speak for itself, and using scripture to interpret scripture, and not eisegesis putting something into the text that isn’t there. I hope you’ll agree with me. We’ve taken time to unpack this because it’s an important marker on our timeline. At this stage, since we have identified the Elect, or I should say ‘His Elect’, I am happy to connect Matt 24:29-31 and 1 Thess 4:13-18 since they both refer to the same group of people, “we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord”


QB37 Who Are the Elect? (Part 2)

8 Jun 2020

https://youtu.be/LfZlUm6RLz0

Mat 24:29-31 NKJV 29 "Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 "Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 "And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

Agreement over the identity of those being gathered by the Lord’s angels in this well-known passage has been the subject of much debate and controversy for a long time. I believe the key to understanding this passage and to approach eschatology in general, is to do so from the Bridal paradigm, which is inclusive of Israel. The core issue is over the term ‘the Elect’, although it’s worth pointing out, that the passage doesn’t say ‘the Elect’ but ‘His Elect’. The word ‘Elect’ is the word ‘eklektos’ and simply means ‘chosen’, in other words this passage in Matt 24 when speaking of those being gathered it means the ones that Jesus has chosen. It’s really not my intention to argue for a particular viewpoint, as I believe there are problems with any viewpoint, whether it be pre-trib, mid-trib, pre-wrath or post-trib, unless any view is approached from a renewed bridal mindset it will invariably fail to see the bigger picture of the Bride with the Bridegroom who returns to reign upon planet earth. The Bride isn’t a doctrine, that we tag onto the end of the eschatological timeline in Rev 19 onwards, but she is our corporate identity and her footprints are to be seen throughout all scripture, especially as we move into the end times, because it’s as we approach the end that the Bride becomes increasingly evident, as her final preparations are being made. My passion is for the Bride to be ready, to make clear her critical role to play in the end times that necessitates her presence upon the earth during the tribulation. But before I can move on to share more about those things, it’s important to establish this crucial identification of the ‘Elect’ or should I say ‘His Elect’? To do this is not difficult if we approach scripture as we should with an open mind, not looking to put anything into the text that it doesn’t say, but just let the text speak for itself. We must let scripture interpret scripture rather than filter the interpretation through our own prejudices and suppositions, because we’re not looking for scripture to support what we already believe, but calibrate what we believe against what the scripture explicitly teaches. A classic example of this is the pre-trib supposition that the Elect must be Israel because the church would have been raptured before the tribulation. But the text doesn’t say Israel, it says His Elect. In this case, the pre-trib view forces a conclusion on the verse to support its position and doesn’t allow the verse to speak for itself. I hope you can see how dangerous that can be. The right approach is to step back, separate what is being said from what is not, and let scripture interpret scripture. So here’s what I believe is a good exegesis of the term ‘His Elect’. First of all,

  1. Does Jesus use the word ‘eklektos’ (chosen, elect) to refer to Israel elsewhere? The answer is no. When Jesus meant to refer to Israel He did so directly. For example: Matt 10:5,6 These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. There isn’t any scripture in which Jesus refers to Israel as ‘His Elect’.
  2. Does Jesus use the word ‘eklektos’ (chosen, elect) elsewhere in His teaching? Yes. When He teaches the parable of the wedding banquet, remember the one who was found at the banquet without the wedding garments on was thrown into outer darkness, Jesus said Matt 22:14“many are called but few are chosen (Elect)”. The Elect are those who shall attend the Marriage Banquet, and as I have shared in our earlier study of the 10 virgins, these are the Bride, for the terms “guest”, “virgin”, “friend of the bridegroom” are all interchangeable depending upon the underlying principle being taught at the time.
  3. Do we know who Jesus’ disciples saw as being ‘His Elect’?  The answer is yes we do. Amongst those closest to the Lord was the apostle Peter. Listen to what he writes  in 1 Peter 1:1-2 NKJV 1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 elect (eklektos) according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.

    Surely, Peter’s view on the Elect should be able to persuade us once and for all, since his view is a reflection of what Jesus’ taught Him. It’s very significant how Peter begins his letter, for he writes to ‘the pilgrims of the Dispersion’ which was a term originally used of the Jews who had been scattered into different lands because of the Roman invasion. Does that mean that Peter saw the Elect as the scattered tribes of Israel? Well, I’ll address that question and more next time.

QB36 Who Are the Elect?

29 May 2020

https://youtu.be/Q4vNJP1-fTc

Matt 24:29-31 29 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.”

Today I want us to pause and reflect for a moment on what it really means to adopt a bridal perspective on matters of the end times. We know from church history, that there has been much controversy and disagreement over matters of the future, at times aggressive even leading to denominational splits within the Body of Christ. Was this ever the Lord’s intention to leave us in a quandary over such things, was He not always clear in His teaching? Even when using parables so “they may be ever hearing but never understanding” Luke 8:10 He would then explain the meaning to His disciples, and the Gospel writers would give us the interpretation. The problem over Matt 24 would never arise if the Lord didn’t use the term ‘the elect’ as He does in verse 31 “And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” If only the Lord had said ‘the angels will gather the tribes of Israel’, then there would be little doubt what He meant. Similarly, if He had said ‘the angels will gather the church’, then we would also be clear. The debate hangs on the identification of who Jesus meant when He said the Elect. We have no record of the disciples asking Jesus about this, I strongly suspect they knew exactly who the Elect were. The Greek word for Elect is ‘eklektos’ (ek-lek-tos) and means ‘chosen by God’. Certainly, there are no shortage of Old Testament passages which refer to Israel as the Chosen (or Elect) of God. For example:

Deut 7:6 For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. He has chosen you to be his people, prized above all others on the face of the earth.

Ps 135:4 For the LORD has chosen Jacob for himself, Israel as his own possession.

These and many verses tell us Israel are the Elect of God, furthermore Paul writes in Rom 11:1 I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! For I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew.

What are we to make of this? The answer comes when we understand the Elect to be the bride! Had Jesus said ‘the angels will gather Israel’ or ‘the angels with gather the church’ we would have taken it to be mutually exclusive as we do today, and argue depending upon whether we are ‘pre-trib’ or ‘post-trib’, for the Elect to be either Israel or the church but not both. As though there were two plans of salvation, one for Israel and one for the church, two covenants, one for Israel and one for the church, or even two Elects or two Chosen Peoples with two different gatherings. But this is not true. There has only been and will ever be One Chosen People, One Elect and One Covenant. There has only been and will ever be One plan of Salvation for both Jew and Gentile. The Bridal mind cannot separate Jew from Gentile, she has been healed in Christ to think from a One New Man perspective. When we take a side, we are not seeing as the Bride should. She is indelibly changed to think differently, to think as her Bridegroom thinks and see how He sees, and what He sees is His Bride. All the promises the church has received have come to her through the Covenant God made with Israel, the New Covenant is made with Israel (see Quick Bite 19), whatever blessing we have is only because we have been grafted into the Olive Tree. The Promise of Salvation, for a Messiah was made to Israel, the promise to be Gathered was made to Israel, what promise did God ever make separately to the church for her to raptured in a way that would tear her apart from the tree. He has one plan of Salvation, one resurrection of the righteous, and one gathering of the Elect, His bride! Now that we are grated in, are we to be torn away, and leave the Bride upon the Earth? By no means, we are not the Bride on our own, but corporately together. When He comes for His Bride, He will not take her one member at a time, but as a whole. Now I’ve just made some pretty radical points, so let me back this up with a scripture that we’ll find in Matthew 22. I’m sure you’ll remember the parable of the wedding banquet, when the imposter was thrown outside because he didn’t have the wedding garments on, well Jesus concluded His teaching in verse 14 saying “For many are called, but few are chosen.” And what was the word for chosen? It is the exact same word as the Elect.


QB35 Unravelling the Rapture (Final Part)

28 May 2020

https://youtu.be/fbl9GDsZR78

It’s time to connect the dots! We have seen that when Paul speaks of the rapture, aka ‘the gathering’, he has in mind the ‘Day of the Lord’ also known as the ‘Day of Christ’ and in case there is any doubt, he clarifies that this day happens after the abomination of desolation when the son of perdition, the man of lawlessness is revealed. I have shared previously about two separate occasions when Jesus will come again, first in Matt 24 as the Son of Man, and second in Revelation 19 as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. We have seen how these two events differ in their description, and I have proposed they are not the same. By the time we get to Revelation 19, the Bride has already been raptured, because we see her in heaven, receiving fine linen to wear, and following the Lord out of heaven when He returns to judge and make war. This leaves us with Matt 24 as being the only remaining candidate that combines ‘a coming’ with a rapture/gathering’ that happens sometime after the abomination of desolation. Let’s look a bit closer at Matt 24 and see how it compares to Pauls teaching in Thessalonians:

15 “So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand),16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 7 Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house, 18 and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. 19 And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! 20 Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. 21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. 22 And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. 23 Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. 24 For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you beforehand. 26 So, if they say to you, ‘Look, he is in the wilderness,’ do not go out. If they say, ‘Look, he is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. 27 For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 28 Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather. 29 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.”

There are a great many similarities between Paul’s teaching in 1 and 2 Thessalonians and Jesus’ teaching in Matt 24 and 25, to point out a few: both Jesus and Paul define the gathering after the abomination of desolation, and after the tribulation, both Jesus and Paul teach Jesus will come again on the clouds, they both refer to the apostasy and falling away and they both mention the playing of a trumpet. Yet even with such conspicuous parallels between the two, it is still not enough for the astute disciple to say that just because similarities exist doesn’t mean that they are necessarily describing the same thing, and I would have to agree! Indeed, the pre-tribulation view is that the gathering in Matt 24 is not the rapture spoken of by Paul in Thessalonians, and this debate has persisted for a long time. So what can be done to reconcile the differences which can so easily divide the Body of Christ today? I am not looking to exert one viewpoint above another by shouting louder metaphorically, no we must approach this with utmost love and respect for all. Let us be those who listen to each other, especially when what they have to say can be supported with good biblical exegesis. It’s not about defending a particular position and scoring points, that’s not where I’m coming from, my objective here isn’t to take sides, or to persuade anyone to change theirs, no let that be left to the Holy Spirit to grant us all wisdom and understanding as we fervently study the scriptures with an open heart and mind. My objective is to give a Biblical Rationale of the Call2Come viewpoint, so that people know what we believe and why. I don’t like the labels pre-trib, mid-trib, post-trib or pre-wrath, though they may help to consolidate groups of people with similar views, they can also serve to alienate us from each other. I believe we need a new paradigm, a new approach, lest we continue going around in circles with no resolution. Is there such a way forward, a unified position that will draw us all together. I believe there is! It will take us all, laying down our positions and opinions, to embrace a new design. You will have heard me say by now, that I believe the key to unlocking the end times is the Bride, and next time I will share how the Bridal paradigm can open up a whole new perspective on the gathering in Matt 24.


QB34 Unravelling the Rapture (Part 5)

27 May 2020

https://youtu.be/0qB6NNlTpjQ

Paul writes clearly in 1 Thess 4:13-18 that the rapture does not occur before the resurrection, and that the resurrection happens when Christ returns. Here’s verses 16,17 again: 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.

This has given us some vital chronological markers in putting together a framework that we shall build upon later. The point I made last time, is that the resurrection and rapture are tied into the coming of the Lord and we asked if there was a way to peg this ‘coming of the Lord’ that Paul writes of in 1 Thess 4 to another event that would position it securely on our timeline? Now the reason this is important is because of disputes over another suggested secret coming and rapture before the day of the Lord’s arrival on full display. That’s why I’m asking the question: can we peg the Lord’s coming that Paul teaches, with any other event which is not disputed? If yes, then we can be confident knowing when the resurrection and rapture take place on our timeline. To find another event that relates to Paul’s coming of the Lord, let’s look at what he writes later in his second letter to the Thessalonians 2:1-5 NKJV 1 Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, 2 not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. 3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for [that Day will not come] unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. 5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things?

On a simple, first glance, reading of this text, Paul puts the matter of the day of the Lord (or Christ as it is here) in no uncertain terms. He makes an unequivocal, indisputable statement saying that the day of Christ will not come until two things happen: First, there will be a falling away, other translations give ‘the great rebellion’ or ‘the apostasy’, then secondly, the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition (or man of lawlessness) who exalts himself above God, will sit as God in the temple. Jesus and Daniel both referred to this heinous act as the abomination of desolation. To summarise then, Paul is saying that the day of the Lord, will not happen until after the abomination of desolation in the temple, when the son of perdition is revealed. There is little doubt, when this happens that we are in the Great Tribulation. Therefore, the resurrection and subsequent rapture will not happen until after this point. This would appear to shatter the pre-trib viewpoint once and for all. Paul says in no uncertain terms, ‘concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him’ this will not happen until after the apostasy and the revealing of the son of perdition. However, the pre-trib view does not dispute that the day of the Lord described here will not be as Paul taught, but the point of contention is that when Paul writes in v1 ‘Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him’, he lists the ‘coming of our Lord Jesus Christ’ as separate to ‘our gathering together to Him’, implying that they are two separate events, and the gathering together happens at another coming before this one. However, I believe this point is not sustainable and here’s why. In the same chapter verse 5, when Paul writes “when I was with you I told you these things”, he refers to things he had already taught them. Now we know from his first letter what he taught. We learnt in Quick Bite 33 that Paul explicitly teaches the ‘coming of the Lord’ and ‘our gathering together’ are not two separate events, but happen simultaneously, they are not separated by time. Therefore, when Paul teaches in 2 Thess 2 the timing of the day of Christ is after the apostasy and the abomination of desolation, he is including the resurrection and rapture.


QB33 Unravelling the Rapture (Part 4)

26 May 2020

https://youtu.be/hXf4NgKDdUg

Since the passage in 1 Thess 4:13-18 is the core passage that teaches on the rapture and is used by both the pre-tribulation and non-pre-tribulation view, it would be worthwhile taking a little time to digest what Paul is teaching and why. 1 Thess 4:13 gives us the answer to the ‘why’ question, for he writes: But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. Here we see the reason why Paul writes the rapture passage, because he doesn’t want the Thessalonians to be ignorant about those who have fallen asleep, otherwise, Paul writes, they will be sorrowful like those who have no hope. Paul’s intent is to tackle their ignorance by teaching them what they are unsure of, so that they won’t sorrow, on the contrary, he wants to reassure them, verse 18 reads ‘Therefore comfort one another with these words’. What words does Paul intend for them to comfort each other with? We can discern why the Thessalonians were troubled, when we read what Paul wrote: 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. The Thessalonians were concerned about those who had died: would they be resurrected and would they see them again? It was about their longing to be together. That’s why Paul writes the way he does, he says, we shall be gathered together with them. This is the assurance Paul comforts the Thessalonians with and us, for this is our hope also, that we shall see our loved ones again, those who have gone before us and are now asleep in the Lord shall arise and we shall be gathered together with them to meet the Lord in the air. Wow what a wonderful day that will be, what a glorious triumph.    For if we believe Jesus died and rose again, shall we not also believe that those who are in Him, yet asleep, shall rise also? But more than this: those you long to be re-united with shall return with the Lord when He comes. At this point of course it would be their departed souls coming with the Lord to receive their new glorified body at the impending resurrection. Paul continues in verse 15 ‘For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive [and] remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep.’ Paul’s use of the phrase ‘by the word of the Lord’, is incredibly emphatic. He’s saying, these aren’t my words, I didn’t make this up, this is what the Lord has said, and this is His word to you, not mine, that we who are alive until the Lord’s coming will by no means precede those who are asleep. ‘By no means’ also places special emphasis on this point, in other words: absolutely in no way will the dead in Christ not be raised first, the rapture comes after the resurrection not before. Did you notice something else here in verse 15? Paul writes the word of the Lord as follows: “we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord” Paul understood those who are alive shall remain until the coming of the Lord, they wouldn’t be raptured before this time, but would remain until He comes. This then is our next foundational marker: the resurrection/rapture doesn’t happen until the coming of the Lord. Let’s continue to read the rest of the passage 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.

Since we now know that the resurrection/rapture happens when the Lord returns, if there was a way to put a chronological marker for when that day might be, then we have completed mapping out the stages of the rapture and have been able to anchor it to a specific event which can be measured. Without this kind of mapping we are left with a “Christ could return any time” imminency perspective, or a secret rapture theory. So, is there a way to peg this ‘coming of the Lord’ that Paul writes of in 1 Thess 4 to another event that positions it securely on our timeline? Sadly, we are out of time for today, so this is where we’ll pick up from next time.


QB32 Unravelling the Rapture (Part 3)

25 May 2020

https://youtu.be/I8JKzQKn0I4

In our studies so far looking at the end times, I have wanted to establish some foundational markers that will serve to provide us with a framework upon which we can begin to add the various pieces of the eschatological puzzle. We’ve been taking our time, because it’s important to lay a solid foundation and bed these underlying principles down, otherwise once we begin to add the weight of other events, if the foundation is not strong it will begin to crumble, and we’ll end up back at the beginning in our quest for understanding, and possibly even resign ourselves to thinking that the matter of the end times is simply too deep, too complicated, too controversial to warrant further time trying to understand, and instead opt for a more inconclusive, open-ended approach, that simply trusts things will work out in whatever way the Lord has determined. But what if there were some kingdom assignment, some prophetic mandate that has been entrusted to us specifically for the days ahead? What if there is a position to occupy which gives us a unique vantage point from where we can intercede with great assertion? Then it necessitates an alignment in our understanding and spiritual perception so that we can see more clearly and participate in the End Time Campaign. If being prepared for what lies ahead is more than a passive wait-and-see, but a pro-active equipping and training, then we must ensure that we are marching to the right rhythm, that we understand where the battle lines are drawn, and what will be the key events of how the battle will unfold. This is my objective here; to help prepare the Bride, to give the right battle plans so that she understands who she is, what she has been entrusted with and what her destiny shall be. So far in building a foundational framework we have established that the triumphant return of the Warrior King in Revelation 19 takes place after the rapture, since the Bride follows the Bridegroom out of heaven which means she is in Heaven leading up to this point. Then we examined the differences between the coming of Jesus in Revelation 19 and His appearance in Matt 24. Just to be clear this appearance in Matt 24 is also a coming of Christ, let’s read Matt 24:30 “Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” So what I am saying is that there are two separate and visible comings of the Lord, the first in which He comes as the Son of Man Matt 24, and the second in Rev 19 in which He comes as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. We know that the rapture doesn’t happen in Rev 19, because Jesus is returning with His Bride not for His Bride, but I won’t make the leap just yet to say that the rapture must therefore happen in Matt 24, I don’t want to make that theological jump or assumption. At this point in our journey, it is enough to establish that there are two different occasions in which Jesus is seen as returning to the earth, but the purpose for each is very different.

The key passage on the rapture is found in 1 Thess 4:13-18 13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive [and] remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.

We’ll cover this passage in more depth tomorrow, but the next foundational marker to be put into place and provide our framework, is that the rapture happens after the resurrection. Listen to what Paul writes: ‘The dead in Christ will rise first, then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them’. That’s pretty clear, the dead in Christ rise first. This is the resurrection and Paul said this happens first.  


QB31 Unravelling the Rapture (Part 2)

22 May 2020

https://youtu.be/5PVqhxVsV6s

When considering the triumphant return of Jesus in Rev 19 when He comes as King of Kings and Lord of Lords to judge and make war, I have already shared how at this stage the Bride is in Heaven, which necessitates an earlier rapture. This is a key point of the Bridal Perspective on the End Times. Remember we must keep the Bride in full view, because that’s our blueprint to help us piece together the various pieces of the jigsaw. I believe the return of Jesus in Rev 19 is not the same event as the coming of Jesus on the clouds in Matt 24. To help bed this down a little further, that Revelation 19 is not synonymous with the gathering, I want to make some comparisons between the Warrior return in Rev 19 and the gathering of the Elect in Matt 24. So here are the two passages: Matt 24:30,31"Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.”

Rev 19:11-16 11 Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. 12 His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. 13 He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. 15 Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

On closer study of these two passages, there are some very noticeable differences:

  1. In Matthew, Jesus is coming on the clouds,
    whereas in Revelation, He is coming on a white horse
  2. In Matthew, Jesus is coming with angels to gather the elect, whereas in Revelation, He is followed by His armies (who are the elect, His Bride) to make war
  3. In Matthew, Jesus is named the Son of Man, whereas in Revelation, He is named Faithful and True, The Word of God and the King of Kings and Lord of Lords
  4. In Matthew, Jesus has no weapon described, whereas in Revelation, He has a sharp sword coming out of His mouth
  5. In Matthew, Jesus has no crown described, whereas in Revelation, He is crowned with many crowns
  6. In Matthew, the emphasis is upon gathering the elect, whereas in Revelation it’s upon judging and making war
  7. In Matthew, there is the element of surprise, for He will come like a “thief in the night” (Matt 24:43), but in Revelation, there is no element of surprise, in fact the Kings of the earth go to make war with the Lamb Rev

As we can see, there are numerous differences in these two passages. The key to understanding what is taking place is by looking at the name of the Lord. For He has many names, but a biblical principle is that each name of God, reveals an aspect of who He is. For example, when the Israelites came out of Egypt after three days in the wilderness they were desperate for water, but the waters at Mahra (ma-rar) were bitter, so the Lord healed the waters to reveal to them that His name was Jehovah Rapha (ra-far) meaning “I AM the Lord who heals you”. The names used of Jesus in the two passages of Matt 24 and Rev 19 reveal to us in what capacity He is coming. The title King of Kings and Lord and Lords in Revelation 19 is used because He is returning to reign. Whereas the title Son of Man used in Matthew is primarily because Jesus is returning as the Saviour.


QB30 Unravelling the Rapture (Part 1)

21 May 2020

https://youtu.be/X6tFrvUYkG0

In taking a step by step approach in this Quick Bites series, I purposely started at the end of Revelation, because I wanted to put the Bride in full view from the outset. The Bride is the Key to unlock the understanding of future events because this is the ultimate and Eternal Purpose of God. It is what He is after, His objective, His heart; to create an exquisite Bride for His Son. Having a Bridal consciousness enables us to see things from God’s perspective, from a higher elevation, just like the angel in Rev 21:9,10 who carried John in the Spirit to a great and high mountain to show him the Bride, the wife of the Lamb. When we take this higher elevation, we see things from a different lens, and once our eyes have been opened. we see the footprints of the Bride from Genesis 1 to Revelation 22. Following on from last time, we have established that when Jesus returns to judge and make war in Revelation 19, the Bride is now dressed and following behind. Jesus isn’t returning to earth for His Bride, He’s returning to earth with His Bride. This leaves us with the question about the rapture, because if the Bride is in Heaven in Rev 19, then that means she has been gathered up beforehand. The moment we talk of the rapture we are instantly into deep water, not least because the Bible never actually uses this word. Great care is needed in our exegesis if we are to navigate our way through the minefield of historic differences of opinion on the use of the word and when (or even if) it takes place. The New Testament was originally written in Greek, and the word ‘rapture’ is derived from the Latin translation of the Greek word ‘harpazo’ (har-pad'-zo) which is in the Bible, meaning ‘to seize, carry off by force, catch up, snatch out or away, pluck and pull’. Though this word has lots of uses, and not necessarily in the way we are more familiar with, for the purpose of clarity, when mentioning the word ‘rapture’, I am referring to the Greek word ‘harpazo’ in the way Paul did, to mean a ‘catching up in the clouds’ in 1 Thess 4:17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up (harpazo, raptured) together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus, we shall always be with the Lord.

The next challenge we face is that one of the most well know passages some people use to refer to the rapture actually doesn’t use the word ‘harpazo’ (rapture) at all.

Matt 24:29-31 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.”

Jesus is teaching here, explaining that He will send out His angels to gather His elect from one end of heaven to the other. The word to gather is episynágō (ep-ee-soon-ag'-o) meaning ‘to gather together in one place, to bring together to others already assembled’. There is nothing within the word itself that gives any thought of gathering upwards into the air. This passage on its own would not be enough to support the rapture as we know it, because there’s nothing to say those the angels gathered do not remain upon the earth. Indeed, the pre-tribulation view is that this passage does not refer to the rapture, but as the physical gathering of the Jews back to Israel, which does happen of course, but I will share another time how I see that unfolding. Next time, we will look a little more at Matt 24 and other related passages to see if we can piece together a clearer picture, of the timing of the rapture. I want to give reasons why I don’t see this gathering relating to the [physical] return of the Jews to Israel [as in pre-tribulation view], and why I do see this gathering as the rapture described by Paul after the Tribulation.


QB29 The Armies in Heaven

20 May 2020

https://youtu.be/JaOllE605f0

When Jesus returns as the warrior, to judge and make war in Rev 19:11 He will not be coming alone. Rev 19:14 And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. This naturally raises the question: Who are these clothed in fine linen white and clean following Jesus? For whoever they are, the Bible says they are already in heaven before the Lord’s return to make war. Otherwise, it would not be possible for an army to follow the Lord who comes out of heaven, if the army were not already in heaven also. The text describes this army as being clothed in fine linen white and clean, this is very similar to the description of the wedding garments, although there is a difference in the word used for white. The white clothing of the army is the word  ‘leukos’ (loo k-ah-s), meaning dazzling light, brightness, like the garments of angels, and of those exalted to the splendour of the heavenly state. It symbolises a glorified form. The word ‘leukos’ also means shining or white garments worn on festive or state occasions and of white garments as the sign of innocence and purity of the soul. ‘Leukos’ is the word used when describing the transfiguration of Jesus Mat 17:2 “and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light.”

The word white used for the wedding garments is not ‘leukos’ (loo k-ah-s) as it was for the armies, but is the word ‘lampros’ (lam-pras) meaning brilliant, clear, splendid and magnificent, elegance in dress or style. Truly these are the wedding garments, she will be clothed magnificently, elegant, shining and brilliant. So the two descriptions are very similar, but a slightly different emphasis.

Okay, what we know so far about these armies is 1) They are already in Heaven, because that’s what the verse says, that they are in heaven and they follow the Lord who comes out of Heaven and 2) They are wearing fine line white and clean. Now to me there are only two possible answers of who these riders on white horses could be: Either they are the Bride or they are the angels. Maybe since verse 11 actually uses the plural “armies” it is both! Well, let’s look at Rev 17:14 to help further in the identification process. They will make war with the Lamb, but the Lamb will conquer them, because he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those accompanying the Lamb are the called, chosen, and faithful.” This helps to identify the company of those returning with the Lord as “the called, chosen, and faithful”. Because these terms are not used for angels, but for those who have been saved and remained faithful we now know that those who return as an army upon white horses following the Lord as He comes out of Heaven to make war are His Bride. This is consistent with the context of the preceding passage of the Bride ready and arrayed in bright clean linen. Does this mean that the angels are not also returning? Indeed the angels are also described as wearing pure and white linen Rev 15:6. Well, there are other passages that mention the angels returning with the Lord at various times like Matt 13:41 talking of the end time harvest, Matt 24:31 a reference to the rapture and Matt 25:31. So in answer to our question who are these returning with the Lord in Revelation 19? We can be confident that it is a reference to the Bride, but because the term is plural, armies, and the angels are mentioned at various times in other passages specifically as returning with the Lord, it is reasonable to expect that the angels will be among the Lord’s when He returns. So why is this important? Because it helps to unravel the chronology and sequence of future events which is necessary if we are to be prepared as we should for what lies ahead. We cannot look at the Lord’s return as a warrior in Rev 19, as being the same time as the rapture, because this is the Bride returning with Her Bridegroom having already prepared, not the Bridegroom coming for His Bride. She is following the Lord out of Heaven, which means at this point she is not on the earth. Therefore, the rapture event takes place before this, and we’ll come to that next time. 


QB28 The Warrior Returns

19 May 2020

https://youtu.be/n-UiVn6Hblo

Rev 19:11 Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war.

Once the marriage of the Lamb has come, because His wife has made herself ready, the first thing John sees is a rider on a white horse. Some draw a similarity here with the rider in Rev 6:2 So I looked, and here came a white horse! The one who rode it had a bow, and he was given a crown, and as a conqueror he rode out to conquer. On that occasion, the white horse appears upon the opening of the first seal, and no other explicit mention is given of the horse or its rider for the rest of Revelation. It is hard to reconcile these two riders as being the same because of the numerous differences between them. The first rider has no name, whereas the rider in Rev 19 is ascribed several names, Faithful and True v11, the Word of God v13, and King of Kings and Lord of Lords v16 which unmistakably identifies Him as our Lord Jesus Christ.  The first rider had a bow, whereas Jesus has a sharp sword which comes out of His mouth. The unnamed rider was given a crown whereas Jesus is crowned with many crowns Rev 19:12, the unnamed rider is actually one of four horsemen who are connected with the opening of the first four seals, whereas Jesus is the One who opens the seals. What does connect them, is they are both conquerors, although their fates are very different. The first horseman we’ll come back to another time, so now let’s put Jesus in full view. The vision John saw in Revelation 19 was a clear picture of Christ returning as a warrior. On Jesus first coming He rode into Jerusalem on a donkey which is a symbol of peace, but on His second coming He will return on a white horse a symbol of war. Our opening verse 11 of chapter 19 says in righteousness Jesus will judge and make war, we might ask who will Jesus make war with? Well in Rev 16:14 we see the kings of the world being gathered together in Armageddon “for the battle of the great day of God Almighty” and in Rev 17:14 there are ten kings described who go to make war with the Lamb. There are also many other prophecies which forewarn the surrounding of Jerusalem by the nations of the world. In addition to these armies and  kings, this same term “make war” is found previously in Revelation 13:4 So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?” The answer to that question will be answered by Jesus the warrior King! Jesus will make war with the beast and with the false prophet. Rev 19:20 Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone.

This is an important point to secure in our understanding lest we be fooled into thinking some other alternative. It is Jesus Christ who defeats the beast and the false prophet not vicariously through the church, but by His actual physical return. The demise of these two enemies of God, happens after Jesus returns and not before. The passage is quite clear on this point, which then makes it very difficult to hold to a victorious church, post millennial viewpoint, without allegorising this text. What I’m saying is that the plain sense meaning of the passage states that the Beast and False Prophet are only captured and thrown alive in the lake of fire after Jesus returns. Which means for the notion of a victorious church era and Kingdom Now doctrine - something has to be done with this passage, because it is hard to reconcile a euphoric millennial age until the Beast and False Prophet have been eliminated. This one truth forms the very foundation of our hope, that Jesus Christ is coming back, and when He comes, He will come as a warrior, as King of Kings and Lord and Lords to make war against our enemies and His. He will be crowned with many crowns, and will reign forever and ever in righteousness and justice. Let us therefore set our hopes on His glorious return more than on our successes, more than on whatever advantage we think we have now, for His glory shall be ours also. What is it that we have now, that will compare to what we shall have then? What state we might achieve now, to that which shall be then. No, let us fix our eyes on Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith, not only for the Saviour that He is, but also as the Warrior Bridegroom King who is coming to reign


QB27 The Testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophecy Final Part

18 May 2020

https://youtu.be/RxEygQ-rxxY

In concluding this mini-series, I’d like to summarise, if possible, the last four parts into this one statement: The Spirit of Prophecy activates the testimony of Jesus within His servants, so that they may testify on His behalf. This Testimony of Jesus has legal right and authority in the courts of Heaven, and is invoked whenever we pray in the name of Jesus, so that, first, we are able to overcome Satan our adversary, and secondly, we are able to enforce matters legislated upon in the Heavenly courts. The Spirit of Prophecy brings the revelation of Jesus to us that we might know the things shortly to take place.  

Just as with His disciples, there are things that Jesus wants to say to us about what is to come, and He will send the Spirit of Prophecy to speak on His behalf. This process of receiving revelation is not purely contained with the scriptures, but is being spoken by the Spirit even now because revelation is developmental, and as one draws closer to the event in view so the details become clearer. There is a principle scholars call ‘prophetic foreshortening’ which is similar to what happens when we view a landscape from far away, when we are far away it is difficult to differentiate distances between objects that are close together. The biblical prophecies are all authentic and without error, yet the prophets of old saw things from afar, but as the day draws nearer we are in a position to see the details more clearly because we are much closer. For example how could anyone of John’s time, or older yet, in Isaiah’s time, comprehend the technological age we are now in? Even so, we desperately need and are so grateful for the prophetic record given to us in scripture. These form the very platform, the vantage point upon which we stand as we gaze further into the coming unveiling. Now here is an important principle that must be observed in dealing with prophecy – never remove the foundation! All prophecy in the Word of God is foundational. Even though we accept that the Spirit of Prophecy is still speaking today, it will always be consistent and serve to bring further revelation on that which has already been written. That’s why we must know the Word, because in the last days there will be many false prophets, and we must be able to recognise the counterfeit by knowing the truth. There is much being spoken today which is neither consistent with the Word of God, or the ways of God. How will you know the difference? By developing a sensitivity to the inner voice of the Holy Spirit which comes from a lifestyle of personal study in the Word, and a daily walk of intimacy with the Lord. Amos 3:7 reads: Surely the Lord GOD does nothing, Unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets. The word secret is “cowd” (sode) and means ‘secret counsel, intimacy with God, an assembly’. The Septuagint puts it like this “For in no way shall the Lord God do a thing that he should not uncover (or reveal) instruction to his servants the prophets.” Instruction here meaning to tutor, educate or train, to nurture. Beloved, we are in training! We are being led into greater depths of intimacy, nurtured and trained to be able to discern the secrets of the Lord ahead of time. It is time for the Bride to arise and to take on the prophet’s mantle, for there are things which the Lord Jesus himself will declare as His testimony in the Heavenly Court, which will be a prophecy in the heart and upon the lips of His end time warrior bride. This is so important, we must take responsibility and act now. For without maturity we are not equipped for the days ahead. The Bride bridges heaven and earth. She is seated with her Bridegroom in heavenly places but she is also planted on the land as a warrior and a prophetess in the Spirit of Elijah, like John the Baptist, to prepare the way of the Lord. The Bride must awake with a revived spiritual perception, a new lens, a new paradigm, a new prophetic consciousness.


QB26 The Testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophecy part 4

16 May 2020

https://youtu.be/S-DUjXyqK3I

In studying the ‘Testimony of Jesus’, so far we have seen the meaning of testimony in a legal context because the ancient Greek word “martyria” (mar-too-ree'-ah) has a legal connotation as ‘one who testifies before a judge or gives testimony in a court of law’ but the word martyria” (mar-too-ree'-ah)  is also described as ‘the responsibility committed to the prophets to testify concerning future events.’ The Revelation of Jesus comes to us as the Testimony of Jesus, but also the Lord appoints others to testify His Revelation on His behalf, just like His angel in Rev 22:16, and here also in our key text Rev 19:10 Then I (that is John) fell down at his feet (the angel) to worship him, but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God.” For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. The angel was testifying on the Lord’s behalf and was telling John, don’t worship me, I’m a fellow servant with you, what I have been revealing to you is not my testimony but the Testimony of Jesus, therefore worship Him, because the “Testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophecy”. When talking of testimony here, I am referring to the prophetic definition of testifying about future events. So in this context the Testimony of Jesus is the revealing by Jesus of things to come, but it comes to us as it did the angel by the Spirit of Prophecy. This is what Jesus said when speaking of the Holy Spirit in John 16:12-15 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare to you. All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.” Jesus said there was still much he wanted to tell his disciples, but He was not able because they could not bear any more at that time. Indeed, we know after His resurrection, Jesus spent forty days teaching them many things about the Kingdom Acts 1:3. But the instruction here is that He would speak to them through the Holy Spirit specifically about the things to come. So this doesn’t refer to His teaching before His ascension, for at that time they had not yet been baptised in the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will come. And when He comes He will not speak on his own authority, but the testimony of Jesus about the things to come. The apostle Peter also taught on this same principle when he writes in 1 Pet 1:10-11 Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that would come to you searched and carefully investigated. They inquired into what time or what circumstances the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating when He (that is the Holy Spirit) testified in advance to the messianic sufferings and the glories that would follow.

Peter teaches it was the Spirit of Christ within the prophets who testified in advance of the things to come, not only the work of the Cross, but also the glories that would follow. This is the Spirit of Prophecy at work, empowering and activating the Testimony of Jesus within his servants. Remember the end-time saints will “hold to the testimony of Jesus”, I believe this means they will hold to the “spirit of prophecy”. There will be an outpouring of the Holy Spirit, the “Spirit of Prophecy” to empower the church to rise up as a warrior Bride, a prophetess, who will have the Testimony of Jesus upon her lips, to make prophetic declaration upon the earth of matters being legislated in the Heavens. For there the Lamb has taken the scroll and will open its seals as the administration of the apocalypse unfolds. A unification between Heaven and Earth, as the Bride begins her final preparations not only to be dressed in fine linen, but to be His glory upon the earth, learning to reign with Him in the closing hours of this era, and going before Him in the Spirit of Elijah, like John the Baptist to make His paths straight.


QB25 The Testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophecy (part 3)

14 May 2020

https://youtu.be/bmhUjLkiR6k

As the world moves towards the finality of this dispensation there is an acceleration of wickedness upon the earth. Satanic forces are manoeuvring and implementing their dark plans, which are unfolding in both the visible and invisible realms. The Bride must not be blind or unable to see the reality of what’s really going on around her. She must be aware of the battle being played out, and the nature of the warfare in which she is engaged. For she is not called to be a spectator. Neither is she an overcomer only, but she is called to be a warrior Bride and prophetess, to participate in the will and purpose of God in the last days. What will be the hallmark of the end-time warrior bride? Well, scripture gives us a great window into the future to see her qualities:

And they overcame him through the blood of the lamb, and through the word of their testimony, and they loved not their life even unto death. Rev 12:11

This well-known verse specifically mentions three qualities describing the end-time warrior bride. Firstly, they overcome Satan by the blood of the Lamb! Hallelujah! The context of this verse is that Satan – the accuser, has been hurled down to the earth to make accusation against the brethren before God day and night. But by the blood and only by the blood are our sins atoned for, and any accusation from Satan is answered most powerfully by the blood which has paid the debt in full and washed the sin away. The blood of Jesus will never lose its power, and speaks continually on our behalf in the same courtroom that Satan brings his accusations. Another quality of the overcomers listed in this verse is that they loved not their life even unto death. Jesus is their Lord, and their commitment to Him is total. They love Him more than they love life itself, and if the price for obedience and loyalty is their death, then their faith knows there is glory that awaits them beyond death’s veil, for death has lost its sting and serves only as the doorway through they will pass into immortality.

Now there is one other quality mentioned in Rev 12:11 which says they overcome Satan by “the word of their testimony”. We usually understand this as the story of our salvation, indeed when asked to give our testimony, that’s usually what we mean. But I believe there is more that we can glean from this phrase “the word of their testimony”. Let’s read what John writes later in this chapter:

Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. And he stood on the sand of the sea. Rev 12:17 ESV

There is a connection here between verse 11 and verse 17, between the “word of their testimony” and “the testimony of Jesus”. Whilst I am not saying that the word of their testimony is not the story of their salvation, I am suggesting it is more than this, and that the word of their testimony is the testimony of Jesus. There is precedent for this both with angels and man. Remember in Rev 22:16 Jesus says “I have sent my angel to testify to you these things”, you could say the word of the angel’s testimony was the testimony of Jesus. In Rev 1:9 John records he was exiled on Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. John’s testimony was the testimony of Jesus. In the same way, we have been given the Testimony of Jesus through which we are able to overcome our adversary. Remember the word ‘testimony’ has a legal connotation, as someone’s testimony before a judge of court of law, this is what we have been entrusted with, the Testimony of Jesus in which we are able to stand - a position of justification and redemption, yes, which is our defence, but the Testimony of Jesus is also our offence – the means to advance and to enforce legal jurisdiction. When we pray “in the name of Jesus” it is because the name of Jesus is supported by His testimony as in a court of law, and when His name is used and therefore His testimony invoked it gives the legal right for the matter to proceed in our favour.


QB24 The Testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophecy (part 2)

13 May 2020

https://youtu.be/d1bDcT50uug

Last time I made the point that the Revelation of Jesus comes to us in the form of a testimony, His testimony, the Testimony of Jesus. Though messengers, like His angel, may testify on His behalf, it still remains His Testimony. Ultimately the Testimony of Jesus, whether carried by men or angels, are enabled to do so through the Holy Spirit, which is also called the ‘Spirit of Prophecy’.

The word testimony in ancient Greek is “martyria” (mar-too-ree'-ah) and is described as the responsibility committed to the prophets to testify concerning future events. But the word ‘testimony’ also has a legal connotation, meaning ‘one who testifies before a judge or gives testimony in a court of law’. When looking at the Testimony of Jesus from a legal perspective, we catch a glimpse into the courts of Heaven and the protocol being enacted. The Testimony of Jesus bears witness in the Heavenly Courts, of all that He is, all that He has accomplished and all that He is entitled to. For example, in nullifying the legal certificates and decrees against us, Col 2:13-15 reads “And even though you were dead in your transgressions and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, he nevertheless made you alive with him, having forgiven all your transgressions. He has destroyed what was against us, a certificate of indebtedness expressed in decrees opposed to us. He has taken it away by nailing it to the cross. Disarming the rulers and authorities, he has made a public disgrace of them, triumphing over them by the cross”. Jesus Testimony endures in the Heavenly courts and testifies in our defence against the rulers and authorities, disarming their claims of outstanding debt, because the Testimony of Jesus declares that the ransom for us has been paid in full, and the righteous requirements of the law have been met because He is the Lamb who was slain. In Revelation 5 we see this courtroom in session. The chapter begins “And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals. Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to lose its seals?” We read there was no one worthy found anywhere, except the Lion of the tribe of Judah, and John sees the Lion as a Lamb, who comes and takes the scroll out of the right hand of Him who is sat on the throne. Jesus was able to take the scroll because of who He is, His Testimony makes Him worthy. Rev 5:9-10 “And they sang a new song, saying: ‘You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.’"

The Testimony of Jesus not only reveals things to come, but is also used in a judicial sense. His Testimony is of the highest honour, and cannot be refuted by any power of hell, His Testimony gives the legal right to enforce and transact the Eternal Purpose of God. Now the Testimony of Jesus is part of who He is, and is embedded in His wonderful name. His name is higher than any other and is supported by His Testimony, so that when we pray “in the name of Jesus” we are calling upon His Testimony as in a court of law, which gives absolute authority and permission granted for the matter to proceed in our favour. When contemplating the name of Jesus, John Newton who wrote the hymn Amazing Grace also penned these words:

“How sweet the name of Jesus sounds in a believer’s ear! It soothes our sorrows, heals our wounds and drives away our fear.

It makes the wounded spirit whole and calms the troubled breast; 'tis manna to the hungry soul, and to the weary, rest.

O Jesus, shepherd, guardian, friend, my Prophet, Priest, and King, my Lord, my Life, my Way, my End, accept the praise I bring.

How weak the effort of my heart, how cold my warmest thought; but when I see you as you are, I'll praise you as I ought.

Till then I would your love proclaim with every fleeting breath; and may the music of your name refresh my soul in death.


QB23 The Testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophecy

12 May 2020

https://youtu.be/n0admGqyBVI

The Book of Revelations begins with these words:

The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him, to show his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel to his servant John: Who bore record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. (Rev 1:1,2)

The underlying purpose of Revelation is to reveal Jesus, to make Him known now and to signify the means by which His glory will be revealed to the whole world in the coming days. This is what these opening verses in Revelations tell us; that God gave to Jesus to show His Revelation to His servants things which must shortly come to pass. The phrase “things which must shortly come to pass” positions this prophecy into the future. It is what we might call ‘predictive’ prophecy and not historical. Scholars agree that Revelation was written around 96AD whilst John was exiled on Patmos, and therefore we might reasonably ascribe much of what is written as after this date. As we learnt in Quick Bite 13, shortly doesn’t mean imminent or at any time, but quickly, when the things John sees taking place occur, they will do so quickly. The opening continues and shows the means by which our Lord would signify and attest to His Revelation is by sending His Angel to John. The angels are Jesus’ servants, communicating His Revelation to John. And throughout this prophecy we see many angels involved in the administration of these signs and visions for John to witness, which he wrote down as instructed Rev 1:19. So what we have in Revelation is the written record of what John saw, and our pages are filled with strange visions like a seven headed beast with ten horns coming out of the sea, or a city coming out of heaven dressed like a bride. John, no doubt, found the same challenge as did Paul who saw things too sacred to be put into the limitation of human language. 2 Cor 12:4 But a vision inspires the imagination and gives room for the Holy Spirit to enlighten. So as John witnessed and recorded the Revelation of Jesus Christ, he encountered many angels with various roles and assignments, which we find punctuating the unfolding of the prophetic narrative, but in particular, and as indicated here in Rev 1:1 there is one angel in particular commission by Jesus who sent His angel to John, to testify on His behalf. Chapter 22:16 also supports this and reads “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.” The word I want to point out here is the word “testify”, Jesus sent His angel to testify. In other words the Revelation of Jesus is given to us in the form of testimony, His Testimony. This is what our opening verses in chapter 1 tell us, for it says that John “bore record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw”. The Revelation of Jesus comes to us as “The Testimony of Jesus”, and in Rev 19:10 the angel informs John, that the “Testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophecy”. So in summary, the point I am making is that the revelation of Jesus, that which He is revealing to us about himself and about the things to come, it comes to us in the form of His Testimony, the Testimony of Jesus. And when Jesus testifies, His words are carried by His messengers, in this case His angel, but in all cases and ultimately by the Holy Spirit who is “the Spirit of Prophecy”.  The testimony of Jesus is prophetic because it is revelatory.


QB22 How Should I Approach the Book of Revelation?

11 May 2020

https://youtu.be/QgCxeTe1Ctw

The opening of the Book of Revelations reads:

The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him, to show his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel to his servant John: Who bore record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. (Rev 1:1,2)

Right from the outset we are given the foundational truth and purpose for this last book of the Bible and it begins saying “The Revelation of Jesus Christ”. This word ‘revelation’ in the ancient Greek is ‘apokalupsis’ which simply means ‘to make known something that was previously unknown, to reveal something hidden, a laying bare, making naked, to disclose the truth about someone, an unveiling’. What is it that this book is to unveil? It is the unveiling of Jesus, it is to make Him fully known, not only in the words of this prophecy, but in the literal sense - when the events which this prophecy foretell actually take place. At that time the whole world will see who Jesus truly is, for He will be on full display to consummate the Kingdom of God upon the Earth and to be joined to His wife forever Eph 5:31. This end time prophecy is all about His unveiling, the revelation of Jesus Christ. But more than His unveiling, He is also the One bringing the revelation, as verse 1 says it is “Revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave Him”, Not given, as in Jesus saw something that He didn’t see before, for as fully God, Jesus is omniscient, all knowing with the Father. No, it was given to Jesus to make the revelation of Himself, for He was worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals. This is so important for us to understand and apply whenever we read this most profound last book of the Bible. For though the record contains all manner of visions and encounters that John had, the ultimate purpose of this book, is to glorify and magnify the Lord Jesus Christ. After we have speculated and debated on such glimpses of the seals, trumpets and bowls, the anti-christ and false prophet, the fall of Mystery Babylon, the Second Coming, the Millennium and the New Jerusalem, let us ensure we are not overly distracted by such things in a way that leads us down a path which does not have Jesus in full view. For this is His Revelation, its purpose is to put Him at the centre and make known to us the full nature of who He is and what He will accomplish in the days that follow.  Ultimately there is nothing gained and much to lose if we approach this most wonderful book of Revelation from mere curiosity and intellectualism. For it is not an appeal to the mind so much as it is to the heart, to the spirit of man, to quicken not our rational thought but our spiritual alertness, so that we might align ourselves to who He is and what will shortly take place. The correct response to this prophecy or any prophecy is to worship God, because in His sovereign grace He is permitting us to see into matters concerning the future that we might know Him now. So in answer to our question “How should I approach the book of Revelation?” we should do so in pursuit of knowing Jesus more, for ultimately He is the one speaking to us through this prophecy. This is the Revelation of Jesus, though He has sent His angel to testify, it is His testimony.

Rev 19:10 Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God.” For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.


QB21 How Does the Wife Get Dressed?

9 May 2020

https://youtu.be/bpzOQlAer7w

Yesterday we saw the difference between being a wife and a bride. A wife is the one with whom the wedding contract has been established, but it is the Bride who enters into the consummation of the marriage. Being a wife is not enough, just like being one of the ten virgins was not enough, for she must also prepare and be ready for when the Bridegroom returns. That means having oil in our lamps and wedding garments in which to be dressed. Being the Bride is about adornment, about being beautiful and fully compatible for the Groom. John sees in Rev 21:2 the New Jerusalem coming down out of Heaven like a Bride beautifully dressed for her husband. So if the wife is to be dressed, how does she receive her wedding garments? Rev 19:8 says “And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.” This verse makes the connection between being and doing. Between what it means to be dressed like a Bride and the actions taken by her. For the “fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints” Being requires doing, for in the process of doing we become. Paul makes this connection between who we are and the work required in order to grow, very well when he writes to the Ephesians in 4:11-16 saying “11 And he gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists and some pastors and teachers; 12 For the equipping of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:13 Until we all reach unity in the faith, and in the knowledge of the Son of God, growing into a mature man, with a stature measured by the fulness of Christ: 14 Then we will no longer be children, tossed to and fro, carried about with every wind of teaching by the trickery of men who craftily carry out their deceitful schemes; 15 But speaking the truth in love, we should grow in every way into Him who is Christ our head: 16 From Him the whole body grows, fitted and held together through every supporting ligament, as each one does its part, the body builds itself up in love.”

There is a progression here in Paul’s writing. First of all we learn there have been gifts given which we know as the apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor and teacher. But when we look at this passage from a Bridal perspective, we realise that these appointments are given by the Bridegroom so that His Bride can get ready. She has to grow up into maturity. How will you know that she is fully grown, well Paul gives the answer when he writes, she will have a stature measured by the fulness of Christ. That happens when each part of the body is equipped to do the work of the ministry, and as each part does its work, so it builds itself up in love. So in answer to our question: How does the wife get dressed? The point that I am making is that there are works for her to do, but more, in fact I believe there are bridal assignments that only she can fulfil, because it will take the church with a bridal mindset and relationship with each other in oneness, to have bestowed upon her the anointing and authority necessary for the assignment to be achieved. How will know recognise if the Bride is getting dressed? Well, one sure way is that she will take a resemblance to her Bridegroom more and more. In fact Jesus Himself said to His disciples on their last supper together in John 14:12-14 12 "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. 13 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.”


QB20 What’s the Difference Between a Wife and a Bride?

8 May 2020

https://youtu.be/RpdyOf5q6AY

I can’t speak for all the wedding customs around the world, but in the UK the marriage doesn’t take place when a couple become engaged and betrothed to each other, but only upon completion of the legally accepted marriage ceremony, usually in a church or registry office. When people are engaged they are not yet officially married and their relationship is not yet legally binding. The marriage certificate is only produced once the wedding ceremony has been completed. During the wedding ritual it is customary for the bride to wear a wedding dress and if in a church, she will proceed to walk up the aisle to the altar, where she will stand alongside the man she is to marry, at which point the person officiating the wedding will lead the couple through their vows and legal declarations, until the final statement is made: “I now pronounce you husband and wife”. So the sequence leading up to her wedding day is at first the betrothed woman is called the “bride to be”, then on the actual day of the wedding she is the bride, and finally, upon completion of the wedding ceremony, the bride finally becomes the wife, and is thereafter known and called the wife of the husband. This is somewhat different to the Hebrew wedding customs of Jesus’ time. In a traditional Jewish wedding the first stage of the marriage was the betrothal in which a contract (known as a ‘ketubbah’) was signed and legally binding. At this stage, the couple are considered to be fully married, although consummation is not yet permitted and the wedding feast remains until after the consummation. Remember Mary and Joseph? The angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said “don’t be afraid to take Mary your wife”. They were betrothed, engaged to each other, and even though their relationship had not yet been consummated, Mary was still Joseph’s wife. Because the contract was legally binding, Joseph intended to divorce Mary privately to avoid her being disgraced. Matt 1:18,19

Now that we know it is the wife who becomes the Bride, and not the Bride that becomes the wife, let’s look again at Revelation 19:7 “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife has made herself ready.”Though some translations say ‘his bride has made herself ready’, a study of the Greek shows the word used here is gynē (goo-nay) meaning wife, and is the same word used when referring to Mary as the wife of Joseph. The word for Bride is nýmphē (noom-fay) and is the word used in Rev 21:2 “Then I, John, saw the holy city, the New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned (beautifully dressed) for her husband”

So why is this distinction between a wife and a bride important? What is the difference between the two? You see being a wife means that although there is a wedding contract in place which exists in the New Covenant, being a wife does not mean that she is necessarily ready for her wedding day. Whereas being the Bride, means that she has made herself or is at least making herself ready, because she knows that her Bridegroom is coming. For this, the Bride must be adorned and beautifully dressed for her husband as in Rev 21. Being the Bride is about preparation (Matt 25:1-13), beautification (Eph 5:27), glorification (1 Cor 11:7) and consummation Eph 5:31,32 which reads “’For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.” Jesus our glorious Bridegroom King is coming for His wife that He might be one with her in a much more profound and intimate way than the way we understand being one and intimate with Him now. Yes there is an intimacy shared that we have with Jesus now, but there is a Bridal intimacy much deeper anticipated. He paid the price for His wife 2000 years ago when He died for her as her Kinsman Redeemer. He was then, is now and ever shall be ready for her, what He waits for now is for His wife to make herself ready for Him, for His wife to be His bride, beautifully dressed, adorned and glorious.


QB19 The New Covenant Fulfils an Old Promise

7 May 2020

https://youtu.be/fKRG0U2jT-8

Every marriage begins with a covenant, an exchange of promises and wedding vows made by each partner to the other. This is what took place on Mount Sinai between Israel and Jehovah. There are many scriptural references which highlight the Lord as a Husband to Israel His wife.

Isa 54:6-8 (ESV2011) ​For the LORD has called you like a wife deserted and grieved in spirit, like a wife of youth when she is cast off, says your God. ​For a brief moment I deserted you, but with great compassion I will gather you. ​In overflowing anger for a moment I hid my face from you, but with everlasting love I will have compassion on you,” says the LORD, your Redeemer.

Jer 31:31-33 NKJV "Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah- "not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them, says the LORD. "But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.

Did you notice something very important in this passage in Jeremiah. Yes the Lord is the Husband and Israel and Judah corporately together are His wife, but there is more, for the Lord said that He will make a new covenant with His wife. One in which will not be written on tablets of stone, but written on hearts and minds. Ezekiel goes further and prophesies in Eze 36:24-26 NKJV "For I will take you from among the nations, gather you out of all countries, and bring you into your own land. "Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.

So when we read Rev 19:7 which says “Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” Then we must understand the legal document to legitimise this marriage of the Lamb, is the New Covenant which was promised to Israel long before Jesus was born. The two cannot be separated, but one is a fulfilment of the other. The Marriage of the Lamb, is a fulfilment of the promise made between the Lord and Israel. When Jesus took the cup and declared in Matt 26:28 “this is my blood of the new covenant” He was saying to His disciples who were with Him that night, through me the New Covenant promised long before to your forefathers has come. Yes, it is a New Covenant, but it has an ancient history! And though the ‘Old’ is fading away and will soon disappear’ (Heb 8:13), its purpose of providing the basis of marriage between God and man continues in the New. It is only because the gentiles have been grafted into the Olive tree that is Israel, that they are able to participate in the promises made to Israel. There can be no wedding without Israel, for there is but one Wife. No secret rapture of a gentile church to a wedding without the very one with whom the promises of a new covenant have been made, how can this be? There is a spiritual law, as Paul writes “First for the Jew, and then the Greek (or Gentile)” This law not only applies to salvation and judgement, but also in marriage also. As Laban said to Jacob when Jacob realised he had been tricked into marrying Leah before Rachel in Gen 29:26 “It is not our custom to give the younger daughter in marriage before the firstborn”


QB18 How Many Wives Does God Have?

6 May 2020

https://youtu.be/bCHiQpzpuW4

There is a large debate over whether God divorced Israel, often quoting from Jeremiah 3:8 or Hosea 1, but great care is needed in our exegesis to understand what actually took place. At this point in history, Israel was divided into two houses, or kingdoms: there was the Northern Kingdom (known as Israel), and the Southern Kingdom (known as Judah). The Lord appeals to the Northern Kingdom of Israel,  and in Jer 3:8 the prophet writes “Then I saw that for all the causes for which backsliding Israel had committed adultery, I had put her away and given her a certificate of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah did not fear, but went and played the harlot also.” At first glance it would appear that God did divorce Israel for the passage says that He had given her a certificate of divorce. Yet when we read further on in the same passage in verse 14 we find that the Lord considers Himself still married to her, “Return, O backsliding children,” says the LORD; “for I am married to you. I will take you, one from a city and two from a family, and I will bring you to Zion.” Jer 3:14

What are we to make of this? Is the Lord still married or not to Israel at this point in time? When Israel divided into two houses, did He then have two wives? Was the northern Kingdom a wife and the southern Kingdom another wife? Well, how many betrothals took place on Sinai? There was just one, one wedding between the Lord and Israel. Even though later she divided politically into two, God’s covenant remained with Israel as a whole - it was their corporate identity, as One people, that the Lord entered into a covenant relationship with, not with their divisions but their corporate identity as a whole. Therefore even though the nation of Israel divided politically into two, God didn’t then have two wives. In the same way He doesn’t accommodate our divisions and have a separate covenant for each. No, God will always only have one wife, and therefore there will always only be one wedding covenant, one wedding contract.

The fact is that when the northern tribes had torn themselves away from the south, they were not only divorcing (which means separating) themselves from Judah, but were also divorcing (or separating) themselves from the Lord and from the covenant that defined their relationship with the Lord as their Husband. Significantly, they then erected statues of Baal in Samaria, the capital of the Northern Kingdom. (The word Ba ‘al means husband or master). When we step out of unity with each other into divisions or plurality we endanger the very covenant relationship by which we are consecrated unto the Lord, for at the heart of that covenant is the glory of oneness. The essential nature of the Bride is that she is One. Is Christ divided? Is there from Him plurality, divisions or even denominations, no, if we are truly in Christ, then we are also truly One with each other. Is that not the enduring message of the bread that we share, that we partake of one body, though we are many? How many wives does God have? There is but one. There has only ever been one. He fell in love with her and remains in love with her still. He has not forsaken her and gone with another, no, His love for her is eternal, yes she is Israel, but not the Israel of man, but the Israel of God (Gal 6:16), which includes all those who have come into the New Covenant, both Jew and Gentile. This is a key point when we consider what it means that the wife has made herself ready, that she has not only embraced her bridal identity with the Lord, but also her corporate reality with one another.


QB17 Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia

5 May 2020

https://youtu.be/a132i_qBIIk

The final song recorded for us in the Bible is found in Revelation 19. It is the great show stopper, the finale, the masterpiece which until this point has never been able to have been sung, because in the outworking of God’s Eternal Plan there remains just a few final pages to be turned. But there will come a time, when history will reach its climax, like the final chapter of a good book, in which everything comes together in a glorious ending where the villains are apprehended and the hero conquers all. This is where we find this final song, as it bridges the gap between the old dispensation and the new, and it’s key is ‘Alleluia’

The first Alleluia is in verse 1 which reads “After these things I heard a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, “Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honour and power belong to the Lord our God!” For me this multitude represents those saved from all nations, tribes, peoples and tongues. We have here an early glimpse of the Bride, not yet fully revealed but her praise is loud and exuberant. John refers to this multitude previously in Rev 7:9,10 who also say “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” Her song of praise continues in verses 2 and 3 saying “For true and righteous are His judgments, because He has judged the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her fornication; and He has avenged on her the blood of His servants shed by her. Again they said, “Alleluia! Her smoke rises up forever and ever!” This second ‘Alleluia’ celebrates the fall of Babylon as previously instructed in chapter 18:20 “Rejoice over her, you heavens! Rejoice, you people of God! Rejoice, apostles and prophets! For God has judged her with the judgment she imposed on you.” As in chapter 7:12 so also here in chapter 19, we find it is the Bride in waiting who leads the Alleluia chorus which is then affirmed with the third ‘Alleluia’ in verse 4 “And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sat on the throne, saying, ‘Amen! Alleluia!’” All this praise builds to a great climax and fourth ‘Alleluia’ in verses 6 and 7. Verse 6 reads “And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunder, saying, “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns!” Here we have also a great multitude similar to those in verse 1 only here we are given a definition of them in the preceding verse which describes them as “all you His servants and those who fear Him, both small and great”. Like the build up of a song in a choir, when at last on the final chorus, all members join together to bring a unified expression at the highest volume possible, so now it is time for all God’s servants, both small and great to participate. O how the angels have longed for this moment, having served Almighty God through the ages, having been His servants and carried out His commands, having witnessed Satan and a third of their number fall like lightning, should now join the chorus with the ultimate expression of highest praise saying “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns!”

It is of no coincidence that this unifying and repeated word ‘Alleluia’ is transliterated from the Hebrew language and means “praise the Lord”. Alleluia is only found four times in the New Testament and each occurrence is found here. This is the praise language of Israel, and Heaven and Earth shall join together to sing her song of the Lord when she finally comes into her salvation and destiny. That’s why the final line of this most wonderful song ends with these words in verse 7 “Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.”


QB16 The Bright Morning Star

4 May 2020

https://youtu.be/RwuGVnaIWgE

When Jesus first came as the incarnate Son of God, born of the Virgin Mary, there was a star that appeared in the east Matt 2:2 to signify His arrival. It was a sign in the heavens given by the Father to mark the arrival of His Son. Those who understood how to interpret the signs for the coming of the Lord, were given the means by which they might follow the star and it led them to Bethlehem, where they worshipped the One born King of the Jews, and bowed down to present to Him their offerings of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Yet these wise men were not Jewish but from the lands in the East, and as John writes “He came to His own, but they received Him not”. John 1:11 In meekness and majesty, as a baby laid in a manger in humble attire, was born the Star that even the pagan prophet Balaam foresaw when he prophesied concerning the Messiah in Numbers 24:17 “​I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near: a star shall come out of Jacob, and a sceptre shall rise out of Israel;” Yet when Jesus returns, it will not be in obscurity or without the observation of the entire world. On His first Coming, His own did not receive Him, but when Jesus comes again, “they will look on Him, the One they pierced and they will mourn for Him as one mourns for an only child” Zech 12:10 On His first coming, a star went before Him and was noticed by only a few, on His second He will be that star, and the whole world will witness His arrival. Jesus said, “I am the Bright Morning Star”. The term ‘Morning Star’ is significant, and is known to astronomers as the planet Venus. Apart from the sun and the moon, Venus is the brightest object in the sky. The reason it is called the morning star, is because at certain times of the year, Venus rises above the horizon to greet the dawn whilst it is still dark, as a precursor to the rising of the sun that heralds a new day is dawning. This is the description Jesus uses for Himself as the ‘Morning Star’, His coming signifies that a new day is dawning, and that night is ending. His coming will usher in a new era in which He will reign forever and ever.

Worthy of note is that the term ‘morning star’ was also used of Lucifer in Isa 14:12 “How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations!” But there is a great difference between the Lord and Lucifer - a chasm so great that one cannot be reconciled to the other. Lucifer was a created light, so given to radiate the glory of God. But Jesus is no created light, for He is the Light, the Light of the world. A light so great not an infinite number of lights combined could compare to His radiance. That is why He is not only the ‘Morning Star’, but Jesus is the ‘Bright Morning Star’. Paul writes in Thessalonians concerning the coming of the Lord saying “And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of his mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming” 2 Thess 2:8 His brightness will dispel the greatest of darkness, that no power of Hell will be able to stand, or hold Him back. His brightness will expose all counterfeit light and herald a new day, the Millennial Reign, in which we as His Glorious Bride shall radiate His glory as we reign together with Him.


QB15 I Am the Root and the Offspring of David

3 May 2020

https://youtu.be/7WmXyFn7AKQ

We have been looking at the importance of Jesus’ final words before our Bibles close with the apostle John’s response who calls upon Jesus to come. These words are important because what Jesus says here consolidates and focuses our understanding of who He is and why He’s coming back. Jesus as the Alpha and Omega is a powerful statement of His absolute deity and authority above all things, it is also a name that the Father gives Himself in Rev 21:6,7, we know on this occasion that it is the Father speaking because He refers to those who overcome as His sons. So this name of the Alpha and the Omega demonstrates His complete harmony and oneness with the Father. Hebrews 1:3 speaking of Jesus says this “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.”  When Jesus said “I Am the Alpha and the Omega” He is stating the truth of who He is. He is able to be the Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last, Beginning and the End, because He is One with the Father, and He is worthy to hold the highest office because He is the Lamb who was slain before the foundation of the world Rev 13:8. Jesus as the Alpha and the Omega is God in human form, but not the adamic form from the dust, but the glorified form that awaits us also on His return. This first statement of being the Alpha and the Omega sets the foundation for the second when Jesus says “I am the root and the offspring of David” Rev 22:16, The first statement is one of His Eternal nature, the second is one of His eternal office. it is because He is the ‘Alpha and Omega’ that He is able to be the root and offspring of David. Jesus’ was the first throne, and His will be the last. Kingdoms rise and fall, leaders too, all at His sovereign hand.  David was King, because Jesus had always been King, the pre-existing King who reigns with the Father as the Son of God, but now as the offspring of David, He is coming as the Son of Man to reign from Mount Zion, bringing Heaven and Earth together under one Sovereign Head who is Christ. In Rev 11:15 we read “Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, ‘The kingdom of this world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.’” When Jesus said He was the root and the offspring of David, He was saying “I am the fulfilment of all the messianic prophecies of a future king and glorious kingdom”. 1 Kings 9:5 reads “Then I will establish the throne of your kingdom over Israel for ever, as I promised your father David saying, ‘You will never fail to have a man on the throne of Israel.” Jesus is returning to earth and will reign from Mount Zion forever, in doing so He is fulfilling the promises made to David and to Israel of a future King and Kingdom. Is not the One who died for the sins of the world worthy to be its King also? There is no one else like Him, no one else who is worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, no one else who is both God and Man in which He is able to bring Heaven and Earth together in one new glorious Kingdom over which He shall reign. Behold your King, the King of all Kings is coming, and “Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.” Isa 9:7


QB14 I Am the Alpha and the Omega

2 May 2020

https://youtu.be/qKAEWK8f7Eo

If the final chapter of Revelations is like the closing argument or summation in a courtroom in which the defence and prosecution present their fundamental argument and main points of the case, then these closing words of Jesus in the Bible present the  emphasis and context of the time that we are living in now and sets the tone and agenda for what will follow. There is however a fundamental difference from the courtroom analogy, because in a courtroom after the summation, it is down to the jury and judge to deliberate on the verdict and what the final ruling should be, but in the case of our Lord’s return, the Final Judgement, the Millennium the New Heaven and Earth and the Wedding of the Lamb, all these future events are not subject to third party scrutiny or the deliberation of man. Indeed these things have already been ruled upon, and the verdict written in the Heaven record before creation ever burst forth when the Lord spoke the words ‘let there be light’, for the Lord has known the end from the beginning, and has determined the glorious outcome that awaits us ahead of time. Regardless of man’s opinion, political machinations, humanistic appetite, and flagrant violation of God’s statutes, the Lord is in absolute control of future events. Man may try to erect his Tower of Babel like Nimrod in defiance of God and rebellion against His judgement through the flood, there is no empire that either man, the ancient dragon or the antichrist can build that will stand against the coming of the Lord. This was the summation given by our Lord Jesus Christ. His closing declaration when He said “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” It was an unequivocal, undeniable, unchangeable  and indisputable statement of truth. He doesn’t yield to our agendas, our personal philosophies or our beliefs of what is or isn’t true. He stands before the entire world and says “I Am”. No man on Earth or power of darkness in heavenly places can change who He is or His Eternal plan set in motion before time began. He defies all powers, thrones and Kingdoms, for His name is higher than any other, He is the Alpha. He is before all things and in Him and through Him all things were created and have their being. He was eternally existent and coequal with the Father and has not changed in who He is, and yet His form He did change, that He might forever be the mediator of a New Covenant, and the propitiation of our sins through His own sacrifice in human flesh. This is the One who is speaking to us in this final chapter as He makes His closing speech, for He says, I Jesus have sent my angel to bring my testimony to you, that I Am. Jesus is not only the Alpha but He is also the Omega. His is the first word and His will be the last. He will have the final say. The summation of all things is Christ Himself. His  closing argument is not with a rationale appealing to reason, but a declaration of who He is as the Alpha and Omega. He is His own self existent statement of truth that demands respect and cannot be refuted, those that do not yield cannot change their fate for they will give their account  why they did not believe or refuse to accept their only hope of salvation, and those that do believe and accept the Alpha and Omega, will be those who join with the Spirit and respond by saying ‘Come!’.


QB13 Could Jesus Return At Any Time?

1 May 2020

https://youtu.be/sVK_a-Sna-c

In Revelation 22, Jesus declared three times that He was coming back quickly. The word quickly in Greek (tachy ‘ta-who’) means speedily, suddenly, without delay or soon. In verse 7 Jesus said “Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.” Then in verse 12 He says “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work”, then finally in verse 20 Jesus says “He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming quickly.’”

This is the manner in which Jesus will return, when He comes, as He surely will, He will come quickly. When the time set by the Father is fulfilled, He will not delay. Presently Jesus is received in Heaven as it says in Acts 3:21 until the restoration of all things, but when that time comes, the nature of His return will be one of great speed, just like lightning, so shall the glory of His appearing be. This quick return sets the spiritual climate in which we have been living for the last two thousand years, that Jesus will come back speedily. But notice here, that there is a difference between a quick return and an imminent one. Though Jesus says He’s coming back quickly, doesn’t mean His return is imminent, as in the sense Jesus could return at any moment unexpectedly, for Jesus also gives clear instruction about the signs of His coming. It is true we will not know the hour as in Matt 24:36 which reads “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.”But though we may not know the day or hour of His return, Jesus uses the parable of the fig tree to describe that when you see the things He told them, taking place, then to know that this is the season of His return. Listen to what Luke writes in chapter 21 Luke 21:28-31 (ESV2011) 28 Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” 29 And he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. 30 As soon as they come out in leaf, you see for yourselves and know that the summer is already near. 31 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near.

The Bible doesn’t teach an imminent return. Though it says you won’t know the day or hour, doesn’t mean that it could be any day or hour. Yes Jesus will return like a thief in the night which will catch those in darkness by surprise, but only when certain criteria has first been fulfilled. The only return that the Bible teaches is when He returns in great glory known as the Day of the Lord, which Paul writes should not be a surprise to us, because we are children of the light  (1 Thess 5:1-5). Jesus taught us to watch and pray, for there are signs which will herald that the day of His coming is near, and He will return exactly in the way He said He would, in the way which is recorded for us in His Word, so that we will know. And the final recorded requirement, the one that all Heaven is waiting for is found in Rev 19:7 “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife has made herself ready.”


QB12 Why Should the Bride Call Come Now? (Part 3)

30 Apr 2020

https://youtu.be/l3tgY9wsbuE

In the final chapter of our Bibles Revelation 22, Jesus is on centre stage and talking directly to us through the words of the prophecy given to John. Each time Jesus speaks it reveals something important either about the manner of His coming or the glory in which He will come. Like the closing argument and summation in a courtroom, where emphasis is given on the main points to be considered and a justification of what the correct response or outcome should be, we can look at this chapter in a similar way. What were the last recorded words of Jesus in the Bible? Because whatever they were it sets the whole context of how the church should live, what should be its vision, and what should be its heartbeat. The closing words of Jesus is embedded within the DNA of the church today. So what were our Lord’s final words? In Rev 22:20 Jesus says “Surely I am coming quickly (or soon)” and John replies “Amen, Come Lord Jesus”. This is the correct response and reflects John’s heart for His Lord. This is John who was known as ‘the disciple whom Jesus loved’, John who witnessed the miracles, the humanity and the deity of Jesus whilst upon the earth. John who stood at the foot of the cross and took Mary the Mother of Jesus into his home, and for more than 60 years after Jesus ascended back to Heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father, had lived his life as the apostle of love, and now in his old age exiled on Patmos. John knew Jesus intimately perhaps more than any other. He knew Jesus’ heart for us, and he also knew that the only answer for a victorious church, was for it to be ready as the Bride so that Jesus would come back again to establish His throne personally and geographically in Jerusalem, because that’s what Heaven is waiting for, for the Wife to make herself ready. Not a Kingdom Now perspective through a surrogate church representing Jesus on earth while He remained in Heaven, O no, such post millennial thinking was never a thought in John or the early church fathers. No, it was only by Jesus actual bodily return as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, crowned with many crowns, that would finally overthrow the kingdoms of darkness, destroy the antichrist and the false prophet, and establish a millennial reign in which Satan would be bound for a thousand years. This is the blessed hope that we should hold so dear to our hearts, the hope of His glorious appearing, that Jesus who promised will come back, shall return soon. So when Jesus said He was coming quickly, what else could John say? What else can we say, if Jesus says He is coming soon, what should our response be? Should we say, not yet Lord, I haven’t finished what I wanted to do, not yet Lord the church is still growing, not yet Lord we haven’t established your kingdom in every nation and sector of society. No, the call to come is the right and honouring response that can only be made by the Bride. Did you notice the Bible doesn’t say the Spirit and the Church say Come! But it is the Spirit and the Bride who say ‘Come’. For the church without her bridal identity will continue to go through an endless cycle of reformation and reset until she can finally agree with Spirit and Call Come as the Bride. It is this call to come, that breaks that cycle and aligns us with our destiny and it is this call that Heaven is waiting to hear as a sure sign that the Bride is getting ready, and more than anything else that her desire is for Him.


QB11 Why Should the Bride Call Come Now ? (Part 2)

29 Apr 2020

https://youtu.be/mNEL_aIg_Cc

The verse “The Spirit and the Bride say ‘Come’” is familiar to the church and yet as a whole is not seen as something that requires any particular response or application today, but rather as seen as a statement of what will be when Jesus returns. After all, how can the Bride call “Come” if she is not yet ready? Can the Bride only pray this prayer once she is fully dressed? Or have we missed something which has major significance and implications for the church today? In Greek Come is the word “erchomai” meaning ‘the coming of someone; to come from one place to another, and used of persons arriving and those returning; to appear; make one’s appearance; or to come before the public.’ This is the word used in Revelation 22:17. But in total the word “erchomai” is actually written seven times within this final chapter. Biblically, the number seven is accepted as a number of perfection and completeness. It is written three times when Jesus says He is coming quickly in verses 7,12 and 20. Then it is also written three times in verse 17, that reads “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him who hears say, Come. And let him who is thirsty come.” So that is a total of six times so far, and then the closing prayer and benediction of all scripture is made by John who responds to Jesus saying He is coming “Amen, Come Lord Jesus”. Our Bibles close with this call for Jesus to come, the word “erchomai” now written seven times! But on closing inspection, even though “erchomai” is written seven times, it is actually used eight times and the number eight is also significant as it is the number of new beginnings. So how can it be written seven times but used eight? Well amongst the recitations of Come, on one occasion it is a joint prayer of agreement. In Rev 22:17 it says the “Spirit and the Bride say ‘Come’!”, so it is written once but used by both the Holy Spirit and the Bride. This is the ultimate prayer of agreement, that when the Bride calls ‘Come’ she is agreeing with the Spirit who has always been saying ‘Come’ and it is like a portal opened between heaven and earth, because there has been a wonderful alignment between the two realms, a convergence, a unification of heart. We should need no further rationale when we realise that this is the written record, the closing prayer of scripture. The call to come is not therefore an option for the Bride, she is compelled, for she is responding from a heart that has been quickened by the Spirit within her calling come. John closes with this call. Let him who has ears to hear, let him call come. If we listen deep inside our spirit, we will hear this cry, let it therefore be released and let us join together to ask the Lord to Come.


QB10 Why Should the Bride Call Come Now?

28 Apr 2020

https://youtu.be/gwtYv9rX7EA

John writes in 1 John 3:2 “Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.”  John is saying that though we are now the children of God, there is so much more, for what we shall be has not yet been revealed. The word ‘revealed’ means something which is previously unknown or a secret - to make it known others, something (or someone) which is hidden away, to make it appear so that it is plainly recognised and thoroughly understood. Paul writes “For now we see in a mirror dimly but then face to face, now I know in part, but then I shall fully know, even as I am fully known” I Cor 13:12 Whilst there remains things which we will not know or understand fully until our glorification takes place when Jesus returns, yet it is true now that what no eye has seen or ear heard, what no heart of man has imagined of what God has prepared for those who love Him, those things are able to be revealed by the Spirit which searches even the very depths of God (1Cor 2:9-10) We are able to know now in part of what we shall be then. Indeed it is necessary for us to have this revelation of what we shall be so that we can align ourselves with God’s heart and intentions towards us now, for we must prepare now for what shall be then. Not only the revelation but also the quickening of this transformation process of who we are in Christ is a work of the Spirit of God within the yielded believer. But the role of the Holy Spirit has not ended with either the revelation or the outworking thereof, for the Holy Spirit also testifies with our spirit of this great work He has done in us that we may know in full assurance of who we are, and in knowing that we might appropriate and take possession of our identity in Christ. In Romans 8:16 Paul writes  “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God”Once the Spirit has brought revelation, transformation and witness of His great work, it activates a cry within us that agrees with the Holy Spirit, for we have received the Spirit of adoption by which we cry “Abba Father!”

All this pertains to our identity as children of God. But it has been revealed by the same Spirit that we are not only children of the Father but we are also the Bride of His Son Jesus. The same Spirit by which we have born again into adoption as sons is the same Spirit by which we have been brought into betrothal as the Bride, and the same Spirit that bears witness that we are the sons of God, also bears witness in our spirit that we are the Bride.  Now here is the answer to our question, why should the Bride call come now? Because just as the correct response for us as children of God is to cry “Abba Father”, and this cry activated in us by the Spirit of Adoption, so also the correct response for us as the Bride of Jesus Christ is to cry “Come”, and this cry has been activated within us by the Spirit of Betrothal. This call for the Lord to come, is there in each of us, and is what needs to be released so that we can align ourselves with who we are, and appropriate our Bridal Identity so that we can begin to prepare. Maranatha.


QB9 Does the Bridal Paradigm Change My Relationship With the Father?

27 Apr 2020

https://youtu.be/4_V0prk9y9M

There is rarely something more beautiful than a changed life like the story of the prodigal son who from spiritual destitution and being alone is restored back into the Father’s house. In the loving embrace of arms that stretched out wide to greet him, pain, fears and failures were washed away in the overwhelming love that his father had toward him. So also for us. We too have come to know the Father’s love, and through our relationship with Him are finding the place of healing, confidence, identity and all the blessings of what it means to be a child of God. This was Jesus’ heart for us, that we would know the Father and His great love for us. John puts it beautifully when he writes in his first letter 1 John 3:1 “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called the children of God, for that is what we are.”It is quite clear that the focus of Jesus first coming was to restore us into a loving relationship with the Father. It is no wonder then that there is a natural concern when considering the implications of the Bridal Paradigm and how this may affect our relationship with the Father. And so it should, because it reflects our love for Him. But let us be reassured that He will always be our Father and that because we are being awakened by a new romance with the Son is in no way a replacement of our love for Him, indeed it remains necessary for us to remain in the Father’s house, because it is here that we grow into the maturity that is capable of marriage, and this is the Father’s heart for us that we should mature and be ready as a Bride for His Son. It is only because we are first children of the Father, that we are able to be a Bride for the Son. And just as it is not possible to come to the Father except through the Son, John 14:6 neither is it possible to come to the Son except through the Father. When Jesus prayed in Gethsemane He said John 17:9 “I pray for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours.” It is the Father who gives us to the Son. Let us then continue to grow into maturity that comes through a right relationship with the Father, but let us also embrace that that maturity is one which prepares us for the deepest love of all. What glory awaits us of which we barely conceive, yet the Spirit bears witness that what we are now is only the foretaste of what shall be. I will close with a favourite scripture of mine in 1 John 3:2 “Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.”


QB8 Will You Go With This Man?

26 Apr 2020

https://youtu.be/9vgwHq9nR34

The Bridal message the Holy Spirit is bringing to the church today is a challenge of radical reform that confronts and threatens to change much of what we have understood about the church. Our perspectives, preferences, personalities and programming must all give way to a vastly superior paradigm. The bridal paradigm isn’t asking to be squeezed onto our already crowded bookshelves along with other doctrines to be referenced occasionally, but it is the very bookshelf upon which everything else must either find a place to fit or be discarded altogether. The bridal paradigm demands a reformation at the core of who we are, it is our identity which is under review here. It is not a refreshing or even another revival that is required. Over the years the church has had many and yet still remains asking for more, though we thank the Lord for those that we’ve had, what is needed here goes deeper than a refreshing or revival, what is needed is an awakening to our highest identity. There is something deeply hidden away in every child of God that resonates with the Bridal message, because the Spirit of God placed the Bridal DNA within us all when we were born again. It merely needs to be awakened like a planted seed waiting to be watered, or like the sleeping beauty, the Bride is being romanced in the wilderness with kisses from the Son. Now here is the challenge that confronts the church and its leadership today. We could say that just as Laban was looking after his sister Rebekah, so the leaders of the church today have a custodian role for the Bride which is a temporary assignment to nurture and provide for her until the time comes for her to leave. Now after Laban had originally accepted the bridal message and agreed to release Rebekah, by the time the morning had come, he had changed his mind and wanted to slow down the whole affair. The account describes how the servant became angry and warned “Hinder me not since the Lord has prospered my journey”. Once the Holy Spirit brings the bridal message we must not stand in His way, the Lord is jealous for His Bride. The word jealous means fiercely protective of one’s rights or possessions, and this is how the Lord is over His Bride. So Laban quickly retreats and suggests let’s ask the girl, by calling her a girl, he is emphasising her age, suggesting she is not ready. O how mistaken we are when we think we know better than the Lord concerning His Bride. So here is the question that we must all answer, it is the question that was put to Rebekah that day, “Will you go with this man?” Will you forsake the comfortability of what you know and even those that are around you into the unknown journey of the Bride. Will you come to embrace the message that demands an answer and align yourself into your bridal identity. It’s time for the Bride to arise, it’s time to receive the extra oil. Let us respond like Rebekah did who answered simply but decisively “I will go”.


QB7 How Does the Bride Get the Extra Oil?

25 Apr 2020

https://youtu.be/1GjNWVoLqEo

One of the longest chapters in the bible is Genesis 24 which is all about the Bride and typified in this chapter by Rebekah. The account given is that after Sarah had died Abraham summoned His chief servant Eleazar to go and find a wife for his son Isaac from among his own people. So there are Abraham (meaning father of many), Isaac (who is called the only begotten son ) and the chief servant. Here is a picture of the trinity, in which the Father commissions the Holy Spirit to find a wife for His Son.  Remember the story? How the chief servant travels to the far country, back to the Father’s extended family, and asks for a sign in which the suitable bride will be the one who being found by the well will offer water for the servant’s camels also. When Rebekah fulfilled this requirement of kind service to a stranger, the bible says that the servant brought out gifts of gold. Wow, can you imagine that, Rebekah got a lot more than she expected when she showed kindness that day. Even though the servant had not explained why he had come he gave gifts. This is a picture of the church at the well. The church has received gifts from the Holy Spirit, without yet hearing the message of the bride. So this is the first outpouring, the gifts of the Spirit for the church by the well. But the story doesn’t end there! Rebekah invites the man back to her home and runs back home to tell her guardian brother Laban all that had happened. And just like Rebekah, those that show respect and kindness to the Holy Spirit begin to position themselves to receive the extra oil. So Laban ran out to meet the servant and brought him back to their home. It is here that the servant shared the reason why he had come, that he had come to find a wife for Isaac. Laban accepted the bridal message and released Rebekah to go, saying “this is from the lord”. At which point the servant brought out more gifts including clothes for Rebekah to wear. Here then is the answer to our question, how does the Bride get the extra oil? There is an outpouring by the Holy Spirit which is given upon accepting the bridal message, and agreeing to follow the Holy Spirit back to the Bridegroom. This is what the Spirit is saying to the churches today. I’ve come for the Bride. I have gifts and clothes to help her to get ready but you must not detain me on my quest. The bride belongs to the bridegroom, there is nothing that we can do to beautify her or make her ready in the natural, it is the Holy Spirit who will enable the Bride to get ready when she receives the extra oil.


QB6 What is the Extra Oil?

23 Apr 2020

https://youtu.be/DgymymZD3FU

If our passport into the wedding banquet depends upon us having extra oil so that we can keep our lamps lit, then the question we might ask is whether this extra oil is more of what we already have or is it different in some way. Well to answer that question lets continue with our symbology in the parable of the ten virgins. A central part of this parable are the lamps which required oil to be lit. Why should it matter whether the virgins had lamps or not? Well, what does a lamp do? It gives off light so that the holder can see where they are or where they need to go, and as it was customary for the Bridegroom to come at night it was necessary for the Bridal company to have lamps that were lit so they could find their way in the night. The psalmist writes “Your Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path” Ps 119:105. Isn’t this so true, that it has been the Word of God, that has shown us the way, has given direction in our life, and revealed things we couldn’t see before, yet it was only because the Holy Spirit brought the revelation of what we read and heard in the Word. Yes, it is the Holy Spirit who illuminates the Word so that we are quickened by the living Word in our hearts. Now just before Jesus went to the Cross, He told His disciples in John 16:12-13 (LEB) “I still have many [things] to say to you, but you are not able to bear [them] now. 13 But when he—the Spirit of truth—comes, he will guide you into all the truth. For he will not speak on His own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will proclaim to you the things to come.” This is an interesting verse. It says there were things that Jesus didn’t share with His disciples, and not even in the period of forty days before His ascension where He taught them many things about the Kingdom, He still didn’t tell them everything, because the verse says that when the Holy Spirit comes, He will guide them into all truth. And even more specifically about the things to come. The revelation of the Word illuminated by the Holy Spirit has helped us to arrive at where we are today. But where we are today is not yet our final destination. The Holy Spirit wants to take us on a journey and is bringing fresh revelation of the Word, to help us see what we haven’t seen before. There is extra oil for the Bride, the oil is the same Holy Spirit but the revelation is different, and it’s this new light that will help the Bride go further and deeper than she has ever been before, from Salvation to Marriage, from Covenant to Consummation.


QB5 Who Will Be At The Wedding Banquet?

https://youtu.be/dMTJXKN0Dk0

This follows on from the previous question about the ten virgins and whether we are prepared or not when the Bridegroom returns. Now I’m hoping you’ll grant me some latitude and allow me to use the virgins, the lamps and the oil in a symbolic way. For example oil is a well-accepted symbol of the Holy Spirit, but Jesus doesn’t make this connection directly, its inferred, and therefore we are making an assumption, nonetheless it is a reasonable assumption and one that I’m happy to accept. Now in the same manner, to answer our question who will be at the wedding banquet, even though this is hotly debated, I believe it is reasonable to say the virgins can represent those who are saved. After all, they are all expected at the wedding, they are all part of the bridal company and they are all expecting the Bridegroom to return which reflects their belief.  The problem is that the Bridegroom was delayed in coming, and therefore was longer than they expected, so when they had all awoken the foolish declare that their lamps are going out or some translations say have gone out, but either way it shows that they had been lit previously which means they all began with a lamp and with oil. The difference between them was that the wise took extra oil in a separate flask. The Greek word used for the lamps going out is to quench, this same word is found in 1 Thessalonians 5:19 where Paul writes “do not quench the Spirit“. O how we need be continually filed with the Holy Spirit. Not just once but a daily infilling. There is extra oil for the bride to help her be ready during the night watch. The foolish virgins lamps had been quenched and they had no oil, and therefore whilst they had gone to buy oil, the door to the wedding banquet was shut and they were not permitted to enter, and when they pleaded to be let in, the Lord replied “I do not know you”. So as controversial as it may be, my answer to our question is that not everyone who were saved and therefore began in the bridal company will be allowed to enter the wedding, but only those who have their lamps lit when the Bridegroom comes.


QB4 Why are there 10 virgins in the parable of Matt 25

22 Apr 2020

https://youtu.be/uuH7LvmNUVE

When it comes to biblical numerology there is a principle I like to use. That any numbers we consider should only be used to support a principle that already exists in the bible, numbers have a supporting role not a primary one. So in answer to our question: why 10 virgins, we need to look at what is already in scripture to see if there is a parallel with the number ten. Well, it just so happens that there are a few, but I want to draw our attention to two in particular and then I’ll share what I believe is the closest reason for ten virgins. The first parallel is the number ten leading to judgement day. There were ten generations which passed from Adam to Noah when God judged the sin of mankind by sending the great flood, and there are ten virgins which are to be ready for when the Bridegroom comes, which is also the day of the Lord. Jesus himself said “just as it was in the days of Noah, so too it will be in the days of the coming of the Son of Man” (Luke 17:26),. The second parallel is the number of ten commandments which represent the marriage covenant given by the Lord to Israel on Mount Sinai. In Leviticus 26:3,12 it reads ‘If you walk in my statutes and are sure to obey my commandments ….. I will walk among you, and I will be your God and you will be my people.”

Whilst these parallels hold interest, I think ultimately the significance of the number ten in this parable is that in Jewish custom ten was and is the minimum required number to form a congregation or assembly which can1 officiate certain religious ceremonies including reading the marriage blessing. Interestingly Ruth 4 gives the account of Boaz assembling ten elders at the city gate to oversee the redemption of Ruth to be his wife. This number ten is when individuals become a collective body and illustrates the corporate nature of the bride, that though she is made up from many individuals, she is one. Paul writes in Romans 12:5 Though we are many we are one body in Christ and individually members of one another.


QB3 Are the 10 Virgins the Bride?

21 Apr 2020

https://youtu.be/MNGJ28haQ4g

In the parable of the ten virgins in Matter 25, the Bridegroom is delayed in coming and therefore the oil the virgins started with was not enough to last the duration of the night. Jesus uses this parable to teach on the importance of our individual preparation for the Bridegroom’s coming, and in particular that we should have extra oil so that our lamps do not run out before He returns. Now because there is only one Bride, which is the collective body of believers who are ready when Jesus returns, and Jesus is addressing our individual responsibility to be ready, the characters used is that of ten virgins and not of one bride, so that the difference between wisdom and foolishness can be illustrated on a personal level. So individually, none of the virgins were the Bride, but the five wise virgins corporately together were. Because the Bride doesn’t feature specifically in this parable, some argue that the virgins are therefore not the Bride, but remember that Paul uses the term virgin explicitly referring to the Bride in 2 Cor 11:2 where he writes “For I am jealous [for] you with a godly jealousy, because I promised you [in marriage] to one husband, to present [you] [as] a pure virgin to Christ.”


QB2 Is the Bride the Church?

20 Apr 2020

https://youtu.be/9uI6havCEl4

This depends upon what we mean when we say church. The word church is the word ekklesia  and means called out assembly. The word ekklesia is not unique to Christianity or even to the New Testament. In Acts 7:38 it reads “This is the one who was in the assembly in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him at Mount Sinai, and who [with] our fathers received living oracles to give to us.” This verse in Acts speaks of Moses leading the Assembly, which is the word ekklesia, (ie. Church) So the concept of church is common to both the Old and New Testament. Note that Moses led the “called out assembly” (church) from Egypt to Sinai which is the place where Israel became consummated as a nation and also betrothed to Jehovah in marriage. So being the ekklesia (or church, called out assembly) is a transitory state that leads to marriage. As the church we are the called out assembly and like Moses led Israel out of Egypt, through the Red Sea and the Wilderness to Mount Sinai, so also Jesus leads out His ekklesia from captivity to betrothal. Being the church is the beginning of our journey, being the Bride is our destiny. So to answer our question is the church the Bride? We will always be the “called out assembly” and therefore we will always be His church, but we must also understand that we are a called out assembly (i.e. the church) to be the Bride. So the church cannot remain where she is, she must go beyond the threshold of church into the destiny of being the Bride. She must go deeper and not only relate to Jesus as the Saviour, but also as our Bridegroom. If we do not allow the Holy Spirit to take us on that journey, then we may find that though we are the church, we may never be ready as the Bride.


QB1 Who is the Bride?

19 Apr 2020

https://youtu.be/cSa3D9x_gvg

The Bride comes out of the Bridegroom because she has to be of the same DNA as Him to be compatible with Him. Only that which is from the Bridegroom is able to be joined back to Him. The Bride is the One who will be joined together with the Lord in the harmony of a marriage union when He returns again to reign upon the Earth. She is neither Jew nor Gentile but a corporate new creation, and a spiritual being. Though her roots can be seen in the natural Israel, she transcends natural Israel, because her origin was before and her destiny to reign with Jesus will be after. She has always been in the heart of God, and the Father purposed that He would give the Bride as a love gift to the Son.