144,000 Series #2 - Part 47 of Riddles, Enigmas & Esoteric Imagery of Revelation

The short time Jesus was on the earth was spent confirming to His apostles that He was the Messiah, by sharing what the scriptures revealed through the Law & the Prophets. These men were not ignorant, simply uneducated. Religious history was facing a crucial turning point with the new covenant that Jesus was introducing, and the apostles had to be conditioned by the Truth, spiritually, mentally, emotionally and psychologically so they could believe, and eventually carry this Truth to the utter most parts of the earth.

Because of the need of the moment, Jesus spent His time confirming who He was, while preparing them for His death and resurrection, which was totally incomprehensible to them. Jesus did not explain to them the eternal plans and purposes of God, because there was not enough time. The Revelation was His opportunity to exquisitely reveal His glory, and that of the Godhead, while describing how the invisible spiritual world influences everything done on the earth.

The Revelation prophecy provides detail, through metaphorical language, symbolism, riddles and esoteric imagery, about what He accomplished by His death and resurrection for the eternal purposes of His family on the earth. As we study the symbolism for 144 we will find that Jesus, not only shed His blood for the sins of mankind, but much more is revealed in Revelation chapters 7 & 14.

Last week I provided the modern viewpoint of the 144,000. The rest of this series will be devoted to the historical viewpoint,  much of it known by believers for 1800 years.

Historical Viewpoint
And I heard the number of those who were sealed. One hundred and forty-four thousand of all tribes of the children of Israel were sealed...Rev. 7:4. Numbers in prophecy of scripture are important because of their spiritual symbolism. The number 12 symbolizes divine government - 12 tribes of Israel and 12 apostles. The number 4 symbolizes a portion, 4 corners of the earth, or a change in the earth or heavens - depending on the context.

Vast changes in religious practices were provided by the Cross of Jesus Christ. The 12 tribes of Israel - earthly divine government - was replaced by the 12 apostles - divine spiritual government. These changes were so profound that even history was divided - D.C. changed to A.D. Understanding of the fundamental spiritual transformation was provided when Jesus appeared in all His glory to John, so that believers could finally comprehend the marvelous plan of God for His people.

The 144,000 in this text is obviously symbolic - a representative figure of all 12 tribes of Israel. So the use of the number 4 in this text symbolizes, not only a portion, but also a change in the earth and heavens - new covenant changes. When we do the math we can see that 12,000 people from each tribe must be sealed.

What does sealed mean? The Apostle Paul explained it very clearly to believers - because they believed in Jesus Christ they were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession to the praise of His glory...Eph. 1:13-14. In essence, he is saying to believers, when this difficult earthly journey is finished, all the promised heavenly blessings will be given to them when they enter the New Jerusalem.

In the original Greek language the word seal is sphragizo meaning:  to attest to; seal by a signet stamp, such as a signet ring.

In ancient times, when a ruling sovereign - King or Queen - made a decree, it was written on parchment, sealed with sealing wax colored with red dye, then stamped with the personal signet ring of the monarch. It was called a 'signet ring' because the insignia on the ring, dipped in the sealing wax and stamped on the document, was equal to the sovereigns' personal signature. When the 'signet ring' was used to seal a decree, what was written in the document was immutable and irrevocable.

Even the red sealing wax had symbolic spiritual significance. The red color was made from the dead body of the cochineal (cosh-neal) insect. This parallels the red blood of the body of Jesus Christ - both guarantee irrevocable decrees - covenants. Jesus often used the natural world to explain a spiritual truth, so that human beings could comprehend the moral principles of His heavenly world.

Now we understand what it means to be sealed. So what is the irrevocable guarantee that was preserved by sealing the 144,000.  God's promise to Abraham was to provide a holy nation through him. After Abraham's grandson Jacob was renamed Israel, he provided through his progeny the 12 tribes of Israel, which was the earthly holy nation God promised to him, but not the spiritual holy nation...Gen. 15:3-6. The promise of the spiritual holy nation had not been fulfilled as yet.

How did the sealing of the 12 tribes of Israel fulfill the promise of a spiritual holy nation? Stay tuned...much more to come on this fascinating symbolism.

God's sheep question the doctrines of men...sheeple follow without question...



144,000 Series #1 - Part 46 of Riddles, Enigmas & Esoteric Imagery of Revelation

 

 

This blog is dedicated to comparing the modern viewpoint of eschatology to the historical viewpoint. In order to do so, understanding the symbolism is critical so we can place the fulfilled visions of Revelation in their proper historical setting of fulfillment. Historians help us with this task.

 

In order to understand the subject of the 144,000, we must study all of chapter 7 of Revelation, along with chapter 14:1:13 - these two chapters correlate. Keep in mind that the book of Revelation is the unveiling of Jesus Christ and His plans and purposes for mankind in the earthly realm - past, present, future - by revealing the invisible powers in the spiritual realm.

 

We do not need to be a biblical scholar to interpret the meaning of the 144,000, we need only to read the Bible, and allow the scriptures to unveil the interpretation of this symbolism, which we will find is an ingenious blueprint for the firstfruits of salvation, and the harvest of souls that will follow.

 

As we study together the Old and New Testament scriptures, we will see a beautiful synthesis in the variables of the number 144, which symbolizes the spiritual firstfruits of redemption, as well as the new beginnings of life after death in the heavenly city. The 144 symbolism weaves a significant thread throughout the Bible, from the 12 tribes of Israel - including the Feast of Fristfruits - to the born again eperience - and finally to the building of the New Jerusalem, where the wall of the heavenly city is measured by 144 cubits.

 

Modern Viewpoint

The modern viewpoint of this subject is probably the only one you have heard during your whole Christian life, no matter which mainline denomination you have become affiliated.

 

Although there is some deviation, the most common explanation of the 144,000 is that they are Jewish believers representing the 12 tribes of Israel, who somehow become saved during a seven-year tribulation under the rule of the Antichrist, after the church has been swooped away in a secret Rapture.

 

These Jewish men will be scattered across the land to be a witness for Jesus Christ on the earth. Then Jesus comes back again, and sets up His kingdom on the earth for a thousand years. After the thousand years of bliss have been completed, the devil is released from prison to tempt the people born during the thousand-year reign of Christ on the earth. These things must take place before the fiery end of the world, and Judgment Day.

 

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...Rev. 14:4

 

Modern scholars interpret the symbolism 'not defiled with women, for they are virgins' as 144,000 Jewish men who have never had sex, thus have not become defiled. These men survived the destruction of the third-time rebuilt temple in Jerusalem, causing them to flee for their lives from the evil Antichrist, who forces every survivor to take his mark on their hand or forehead - or they can't buy or sell.

 

Refusing to take the mark, the 144,000 set out across the planet to witness for Jesus Christ, starving scavengers, warning people if they take the mark they will go to Hell.

 

Is this really what the Bible reveals about the purpose of the 144,000?

 

Does the firstfruits symbolism in this text reveal a crucial turning point in religious history? Stay tuned...

 

God's sheep question the doctrines of men...sheeple follow without question...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 





Predicting the Future - Part 45 of Riddles, Enigmas & Esoteric Imagery of Revelation

I began this blog in late 2013 and only wrote once a month in the beginning - now weekly. Since I acquire new readers along the way, occasionally I will reintroduce myself and the purpose of this blog. I contrast the modern viewpoint of the end-time doctrine to the historical viewpoint of end-time doctrine. This is the only subject of this blog.

When I was the owner of a Christian bookstore, I had at my disposal all of the books written about the modern end-time doctrine, which I read voraciously. In the beginning I believed everything thing these authors predicted about the future, thinking, "Wow...how do these people predict the future - they are so gifted!" I was in awe of their ability to interpret Bible prophecy. After all, these authors were degreed scholars, why wouldn't I believe them?

But, at the same time, I also voraciously read and studied the Bible, which eventually created a contradiction to what the scholarly authors told me the scriptures said. Now questions nagged me to the point that I really needed answers.

So in 1975 I began my research, not only in the Bible, but also biblical history already documented by credible historians. The main thrust of my research has been to define the riddles, enigmas, metaphorical language, idioms, and esoteric imagery of Revelation. I believed that the message of Revelation was locked up in the symbolism - define the symbolism and we unlock the message - no interpretation needed.

Jesus focused His teaching to His apostles on the purpose of His miraculous birth and why He must die on a cruel Roman cross for the sins of mankind - and be raised from the dead. Jesus did not have time to explain the depths of this Divine intervention into the affairs of men on the earth. But in my research I finally realized the real purpose of the Revelation.

Jesus appeared in the visions to give the details of what had taken place while He was on the earth. He knew His apostles still did not understand how everything that happens on the earth is influenced by the invisible spiritual realm - by God or by Satan and his demons. The visions revealed the past, present and future - but educating His church was a primary purpose. He also had a dire warning for the religious leaders of Israel of their impending doom, giving them time to repent.

As I began to analyze everything I was reading about the Revelation, I realized that most of the visions have already been fulfilled, documented by historians with names, dates, and places. Martin Luther experienced the fulfillment of the seventh of the beast in Revelation 13 & 17, documenting his findings as the Holy Roman Empire. Prophecy is understand in its fulfillment.

The message in these visions was coded by symbolism, so His church would understand the message and warning, but their persecutors, such as Nero and the Sanhedrin, would think the words of the visions were gobbledegook, and dismiss the Christians as madmen. 

In order to evaluate your own personal life, will you find more accuracy when you look back at the events that already have taken place, or will you find more accuracy by looking into your future - events that have not come to pass as yet?

In the last fifty years, the market has been flooded with books and movies interpreting the visions of Revelation with scary images of monsters, or human beings with large numbers stamped on their foreheads and forearms - 666. More recently a chip the size of a grain of rice is being purported by the Christian church as the mark of the beast - if you take it you will go to Hell.

These end-time scholars believe that most of Revelation has not been fulfilled, so they are interpreting Bible prophecy with their intellectual shrewdness. This means in their published books and movies they are interpreting the future for the whole church - events that have not come to pass as yet. How accurate will they be?

They will be as accurate as you will be if you try to predict the events in your own future. This seems like a common sense deduction to me, but apparently for all of the Bible scholars on television and radio today this is not the case. Speculating on the future of the Church seems like risky business. Although, the prophetic parables of Jesus Christ include future events, but are written in clear language, so that we can spiritually prepare ourselves for His return and Judgment Day.

Finding out through my research that the modern end-time doctrine of all mainline churches is barely a hundred years old, confirmed my nagging doubts. Cyrus Scofield published his study Bible in 1909, who soon became the darling of eschatology with his findings adopted into the curriculum of all Bible schools in the country. Anyone who became a Christian during this hundred years has been taught only this doctrine - but is it the truth as defined by the symbolism?

This blog will concentrate on defining the metaphorical language of Revelation, unraveling the riddles so that we can understand the message. By doing so we will find out when, where, how, and by whom many of the visions were fulfilled. Looking back is a lot more fun, because we have evidence, undeniable historical documentation, to prove the fulfillment of the visions, rather than the risky interpretation - guessing - of future events, where there is absolutely no proof - only fanciful speculation.

Starting with Part 1 - to present time, this blog has already solved the riddle of the two-horned beast; the seven-headed beast; the real mark of the beast; robe of righteousness; Judgment Day and outer darkness with historical documentation. Who are the 144,000? Stay tuned...

God's sheep question the doctrines of men...sheeple follow without question...



Judgment Day - Part 44 of Riddles, Enigmas & Esoteric Imagery of Revelation

In this series on the Wedding Garment that began with Part 34, I pray your eyes have been opened, so that you will truly be prepared for the Lord's return. This means that you will be wearing not only the Garment of Salvation, but also the Robe of Righteous - Wedding Garment - which is required to enter the Wedding Hall. If not, you will not be properly attired for the Marriage of the Lamb and will not be permitted to attend. Many are called to the Wedding - few are chosen to go in...Matt. 22:14.

In the last blog we described the foolish virgin in the Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins. There were ten virgins...five of them were wise, and five were foolish...Matt. 25:2.

The number 5 in the Bible symbolizes incomplete. The 5 foolish virgins are Christians, but while on the earth they attended to the treasures of the world to benefit themselves, leaving little time to attend to spiritual treasures that are stored in Heaven to weave their Robe of Righteousness - Wedding Garment. The foolish virgins were incomplete when the Bridegroom arrived - not ready.

When Jesus returned, the 5 wise virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut...Matt.25:10. The number 5 symbolizes incomplete, revealing they entered the Wedding Hall leaving behind many Christians who were not ready - the attendees in the Wedding Hall were incomplete...Matt. 22:11-13.

How did the wise virgins prepare to go into the Wedding Hall when Jesus returned? While on the earth they built their houses - temples - on the foundation of salvation with gold, silver, and precious stone...I Cor. 3:12. These materials symbolize the righteousness of God. The wise virgins did not busy themselves in the materialism and entertainment of the world, which would only benefit. themselves. Their "works" only benefited the Kingdom of Heaven - glorifying only Jesus Christ.

What works will not burn up on Judgment Day? I will answer with a question - what are you doing today that could burn up in a fire on the earth? As we ponder that question, we will realize that even our physical body dies and returns to dust - so what is left of us?  We must examine the "works" we are doing right now, while we still have time to make any needed changes.

Will acts of love burn up? Will acts of humility - putting the needs of others before our own - burn up? Will obedience to God - no matter how others reject or humiliate us like they did Noah, Joseph, or Jeremiah - burn up? When we lead someone to Christ - will that burn up? When we use our precious time to disciple someone in the Word of God - will that burn up? When we are kind and gentle toward others - will that burn up? When we bring peace to a volatile situation, rather than anger and rage - will that burn up? These are the questions we must ask ourselves, and the Lord will give us His answer.

God told us to...pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness...I Tim. 6: 11. If we built our house - temple - from these "works" it will not burn up when we stand before Jesus at the Great White Throne Judgment. These are the incorruptible treasures, along with forgiveness, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, faithfulness and self-control, that are stored in Heaven, which are the threads that weave our Robe of Righteousness - Wedding Garment - so we can participate in the Marriage of the Lamb.

While on the earth, each believer is given the freedom to choose the materials with which he builds his house. But the Word of God is informing us that there are consequences for building our house out of wood, hay, and stubble - it will burn down to the foundation of salvation when we stand before Jesus on that Day. If our house burns down, we will be left with only the Garment of Salvation. Paul said, If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss, but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire...I Cor. 3:15.

The loss that will be suffered by this believer on Judgment Day will produce weeping and gnashing of teeth. Why? He will not be allowed in the Wedding Hall - Holy of Holies because he does not have on the fine linen Robe of Righteousness - the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints...Rev. 19:8.

In Part 39 I explained how this believer was sent to place in Heaven referred to as Outer Darkness, symbolizing the "works" he accomplished on the earth defiled his temple with darkness, which burned up in the glory of His brightness. No darkness is allowed in the Holy of Holies where the Marriage of the Lamb takes place. See - Parable of the Wedding Feast - Matt. 22:1-14.

The believers who are sent to Outer Darkness will suffer great loss. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth - sobbing and wailing - while grating their teeth from the pain and rage for not being prepared for the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. Now you can't say you didn't know.

Are you really prepared for the return of the Lord Jesus Christ?

God's sheep question doctrines of men...sheeple follow without question...