Entering God’s Rest (7)

So, now let’s assume that you have received the gift of faith by God’s grace and you have believed in Jesus for the forgiveness of your sins and for your spiritual salvation.  Legally, that is, in God’s court room, you have now been justified by faith.  What now? Is that it? No, now you begin your walk with God. Now you can start down the “narrow path.” Now you need to begin to “labor” to enter God’s rest.

For he that is entered into his rest, he also has ceased from his own works, as God did from his. Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. For the word of God is living, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. (Hebrews 4:10-13 KJ2000)

Now we come to the crux of the matter. So far we have learned that to even have a chance of entering into God’s rest we must have true faith in God.  Faith is God’s gift to us who believe. This faith marks the beginning point for anyone who would follow after God and who would walk in Jesus’ ways. Yet, as soon as we come to faith, which is not of works, God says, “WORK to enter my rest!” And this is the command that has befuddled Christians since the dawn of time because most then proceed to think that they must perform certain spiritual duties or perfectly obey certain Biblical laws before they can really be accepted by God. In theological terms they link this command to work in Hebrews 4:11 to their “justification.”

Justification, though, is a legal term which states that “based upon Christ’s work and his gift to you of faith in that work, you have been declared “righteous” before God.” It is this legal transaction, one that I can’t even begin to understand, that reconciles us to God. Justification establishes our relationship with God and thus allows us to communicate with him and get to know him. Justification, however, does not literally make anyone righteous. It is the laboring to enter God’s rest which actually transforms us. One term the Bible uses for this labor is “practicing righteousness.”

When we first believe in Jesus we usually remain as bound to certain sins as before. Yes, I know that sometimes Jesus casts out demons and delivers people from addictive bondages when they come into “saving” faith, but this is not the norm. It’s usually not that easy. Justification by faith deals with our spirit and its eternal abode. It does not deal with our soul, the place “where we live,” so to speak. Our soul is our mind, our will, and our emotions. Our soul is what we think of as “you” or “me.” I can’t really know your spirit, but I can know your soul.

The problem of understanding justification versus laboring to enter God’s rest (or, practicing righteousness) has been compounded through the centuries because translators have used various words to translate the Greek word psuche, which means “soul.” On the other hand the Greek word pneuma is usually translated “spirit.” In Hebrews 4:12, quoted above, the Greek word translated “soul” is psuche and the word translated “spirit” is pneuma, which is correct.

Sometimes the word psuche is translated as “life.”  For example, when Jesus says, ”whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it,”  (Matthew 16:25) it is the Greek word psuche which is translated “life” here. Jesus is talking about the salvation of the soul, not the spirit in this passage. He is dealing with the spiritual aspect of laboring to enter God’s rest, not justification by initial faith in him.

Because of the various contradictory translations many commentators speak of “saving one’s soul” when they really mean “saving one’s spirit.” Hebrews 4:12 attempts to draw the distinction between soul and spirit as the discussion now moves from mere faith in God to “working out our salvation in fear and trembling.”  (Philippians 2:12) The reason for this is because the salvation of our spirits has been accomplished by the one-time work of Christ by shedding his blood on the cross for our sins. It is a done deal. The salvation of our souls, however, has not yet been accomplished, but is an on-going work which is typified by the exodus wilderness journey.

It is precisely because of this confusion, of not distinguishing between the soul and the spirit, that most people utterly miss the meaning of the book of Hebrews. This book contains at least five stern warnings against losing our salvation. One group of Bible scholars, the Calvinists, say that all of these warnings deal with people who were never really saved (spiritually saved, that is). Another group, the Arminians, believe that these warnings indeed do speak to Christians and that all Christians bear the risk of losing their eternal salvation. Calvinists believe in the doctrine “once saved always saved.” Arminians believe that you can lose your spiritual salvation. Both are right to some extent, and both are wrong to a very great extent.

Men can never lose the salvation of their spirits because Christ’s work has accomplished this for us. They can only lose their souls which means that they will miss out on the first resurrection, even if they actually believe in Jesus. This explains the reason for the many warnings in the Bible which apply to Christians. Christians who fail to save their souls will have their part in the Lake of Fire, along with total unbelievers. The Lake of Fire is that place, thing, or process which many mistakenly call “hell.” The Lake of Fire brings about the destruction of carnal, unbelieving souls so that these ones may ultimately enter into the Kingdom of God. For remember, outside the Kingdom “are dogs, and sorcerers, and fornicators, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loves and makes a lie.” (Revelation 22:15)

As we continue in the book of Hebrews we find that only the mature, only those who ultimately learn to discern between good and evil and then actually will (choose) to do the good make up this company of believers who enter into God’s rest. See Hebrews 5:14. This company goes by many names in Scripture, for example, the Bride of Christ, the manchild, the two witnesses, the order of Melchizedek, the remnant, Gideon’s 300, and the overcomers.

Part 8: The Two Witnesses

Part 1: Entering God’s Rest

What is fire in the Scripture?  What does it represent?  Why did God’s Law demand that certain sinners be burned after they were stoned to death for their sin?  To illustrate endless torture in Hell as most religious people think?  Hardly.

1 This is the blessing with which Moses the man of God blessed the people of Israel before his death. 2He said,

“The LORD came from Sinai

and dawned from Seir upon us;

he shone forth from Mount Paran;

he came from the ten thousands of holy ones,

with flaming fire at his right hand.

3 Yes, he loved his people,

all his holy ones were in his hand;

so they followed in your steps,

receiving direction from you,

4 when Moses commanded us a law,

as a possession for the assembly of Jacob. (Deuteronomy 33:1-4, ESV)

Notice in this passage that “flaming fire” is at, or in, God’s right hand.  Notice also that his “holy ones” are in his hand.  God’s holy ones literally comprise his flaming fire.  These are those who follow in God’s steps.  They know his way.  These are those that receive direction from their LORD.  They respect and obey the law he commanded Moses.

Now consider the book of Daniel.

9″As I looked,

thrones were placed,

and the Ancient of Days took his seat;

his clothing was white as snow,

and the hair of his head like pure wool;

his throne was fiery flames;

its wheels were burning fire.

10 A stream of fire issued

and came out from before him;

a thousand thousands served him,

and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him;

the court sat in judgment,

and the books were opened. (Daniel 7:9-10 ESV)

Here once again we see God described in terms of fire.  Fire defines his very throne, the symbol of his rule and authority.  So, now let’s consider what Jesus meant when he told his disciples that they must be salted with fire.

43 And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:  44 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. 45 And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:  46 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.  47 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire:  48 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.  49 For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt.  50 Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another. (Mark 9:43-50)

Everyone shall be salted with fire.  You and I are no exceptions.  So, then, are we to pluck out our eyes when we look upon anything or anyone with lust?  Are we to cut off our arms or our feet if we find that we sin by using them?  Isn’t this what Jesus tells us to do?  If he does not mean for us to do that, then what does he mean?  Can we follow any instructions that he gives us?  How can we know what to do and what not to do?  How do we know when he speaks literally and when he does not?  How can I know anything!

“The sum of thy word is truth,” declared the psalmist.  Study this word.  Learn it.  Know it.  Obey it.  In Scripture “fire” describes the application of God’s word.  Those who learn to apply it in this life save their souls and become tools in the hand of God.  Those who do not shall have their part in the Lake of Fire.  They too will be salted with fire in due course.  Jesus tells his disciples to apply the word now.  Salt yourself with fire now, while you still have a choice in the matter.

Chapter 2 of Hebrews tells us that Jesus qualifies as man’s high priest before God because he himself took on the nature of man and then suffered and tasted death for every man.  The next chapter warns us of disobedience again, saying,

Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways. So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.)  Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end… (Hebrews 3:7-14 KJV)

Israel under Moses set the pattern for all later-day believers.  Each generation before today died before entering God’s kingdom.  None were glorified although many earnestly yearned for their new body and believed the Lord’s second coming was at hand.  All before us have died in the wilderness of the testing of their faith, but not all have failed.  Hebrews 11 lists many champions of faith who prevailed and will receive a “better” resurrection.  The Book of Hebrews exhorts us, just as it did the dead Christians before us, to work out our salvation in “fear and trembling” as Paul says.   Think of this book as the water (of the Word) that sprinkles (baptizes) the seed of the Spirit in you.  Think of it as the Book of the Overcomer.

Which seed did you receive when you believed in Jesus?  Which seed are you?  Are you that which hears and then immediately forgets or never understood the wonderful truths of God’s Word?  Are you that which once heard and were very zealous for the Lord, that is, until temptations or persecutions came your way?  Or, again, are you that which walked with God for some time, but then the cares of this world or your desire for riches choked the Word within you?  Have you become hardened to God’s Word because of the deceitfulness of sin?  Or, have you persevered along the way and continued to bear fruit for the Kingdom?

Every person to whom Hebrews was written once believed.  Harden not your hearts as did those in Moses’ day!  Do not provoke God in your day of temptation in the wilderness, the wilderness which now is.   And why did they and we err and fall into hardness of heart through temptation?  Because we have not known God’s ways!  Make it your goal today, while it is still called today, to learn something more of God’s ways.  He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel. (Psalms 103:7 KJV)  To know God’s ways is to know his mind and is an essential step in becoming like him, which is the goal of our creation and all faith.

The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.  (Psalms 145:17 KJV)

Blessed is every one that fears the LORD; that walks  in his ways. (Psalms 128:1 KJV)

The salvation of man’s spirit is the “first” salvation.  It comes before any other salvation, of which there are two more, the salvation of the soul and the salvation of the body.  No area of Christian theology remains so misunderstood as the salvation of the soul.  Virtually every popular Christian preacher, theologian, and writer believes the many Scriptures relating to the salvation of soul actually deal with the salvation of the spirit.  Such is not the case.  Let’s first look at a few Scriptures dealing with the salvation of the spirit.

Scripture renders spiritual salvation as our “new birth,” being “born again,” or “begotten of God.”  This is the first thing Jesus tells Nicodemus when he says,  “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3   Nicodemus answers in unbelief and Jesus continues with even a more mysterious word.

“Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. ” John 3:5

Jesus first tells Nicodemus that one must be born of the Spirit before he can even see the Kingdom of God.  This means that one cannot even become aware of the reality of God’s Kingdom unless he becomes born of the Spirit.  The word “born” here means “begotten of God.”  This occurs when a man believes in the LORD Jesus for the forgiveness of his sins and for his reconciliation with God.  It is at this point that one receives the earnest of the Holy Spirit.  This occurs when the “seed” of the Word impregnates our spiritual egg (so to speak) and brings new spiritual life to us.  This spiritual event Jesus calls being born again or begotten of God.

Becoming born of God has nothing to do with man’s own will.  God sovereignly brings new life to whom he will when he will.  This is why Paul says,

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. Ephesians 2:8-9

God gives men the gift of faith by his grace (grace means “unmerited favor” or “unmerited gift”).  Men cannot muster up enough faith to bring their own salvation.  God must somehow bring this faith to a man.  Thus faith and spiritual salvation has nothing to do with man’s own works.

Some people attempt to move on in God before their new birth even occurs, but this is not possible.  This is what Paul means when he says,

Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? 2 Corinthians 13:5

Paul says that Jesus Christ dwells in believers, but he does not dwell in unbelievers, the reprobate.  These few Scriptures introduce us to the salvation of the Spirit.  Jesus’ second answer to Nicodemus first introduces the salvation of the soul.  Remember, he said, “except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”

It is one thing to see something and quite another to enter into it.  I see my house before I enter it.  I see a city before I come into it.  I view the mountain before I climb it.  Likewise, one must see the Kingdom of God before he can enter it.  The salvation of the soul is all about entering the celestial city, the Kingdom of God, the New Jerusalem.  Now we will begin to learn how to do it…

The following command does not deal with some future event we all wait for:

And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.  And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities. (Revelation 18:2-5 KJV)

God commands each of us to come out of Babylon now.  If we wait until she stands fully judged, then we fail the test and lose our rewards.  Not only that, we ourselves will actually share in her judgments and plagues. 

While it is said, Today if you will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the rebellion. For who, when they had heard, did rebel? did not all that came out of Egypt by Moses? But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? And to whom swore he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief. (Hebrews 3:15-19 KJ2000)

What, then, is Mystery Babylon?  What does God require that we leave?

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the vain glory of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. Little children, it is the last hour: and as ye heard that antichrist cometh, even now have there arisen many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last hour. (1 John 2:15-18 ASV)

God requires that we come out of the ways of the world system and that we walk in his ways.  What are the ways of the world system?

1. Public Schools
2. Sex outside of marriage between a man and a woman
3. Working for any business which conducts work that is contrary to God’s laws.  This includes corporations like Monsanto which genetically modify plants God created, corporations which pollute our streams and air, pharmaceutical companies which work to outlaw natural remedies and create drugs which affect men’s minds (sorcery), military manufacturing companies, armies which promote an evil agenda, medical companies which perform evil deeds like sex-change operations and abortions, and so on.
4. Living off the public with large multiple retirement paychecks
5. Wearing the latest fashions
6. Wearing the latest hair cuts
7. Tattoos
8. Piercings
9. Watching television programs
10. Watching most movies because they include much blood lust and sexual lust
11. Allowing your teenagers to date
12. Airplane trips to Europe (now you can stand by while strangers ogle your wife and daughter as they strip search them before boarding the plane)
13. And on and on. 

I am not trying to make a list of dos and don’t for you.  You need to learn to discern what is the world’s way and what is God’s way.  Failure to learn this principle of coming out of Babylon will lead to our judgment just as surely as it led to Achan’s death in Joshua’s day. 

Rest reigns as one of the preeminent doctrines of Scripture.  Sadly, most people never learn this foundational law of creation.  Rather than seek to understand God’s revelation of the seventh day and the sabbath rest, men prefer to call those who obey God’s Law “legalistic.”  Some even accuse Moses of legalism, especially with regard to the following passage:

And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man that gathered sticks upon the sabbath day. And they that found him gathering sticks brought him unto Moses and Aaron, and unto all the congregation. And they put him in ward, because it was not declared what should be done to him. And the LORD said unto Moses, The man shall be surely put to death: all the congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp. And all the congregation brought him without the camp, and stoned him with stones, and he died; as the LORD commanded Moses. (Numbers 15:32-36 KJV)

Amazing, isn’t it, that God would condemn a man to death for picking up sticks on the sabbath day?  Surely he was about to do some evil deed with those sticks, like light a fire to keep warm or to cook his food.   No, the point was not that he would do some evil deed.  He had disobeyed the Law which said,

Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it. (Exodus 20:9-11 KJV)

God commanded that no one in Israel, not even the slaves or the animals, work on the seventh day.  God considered this man’s act of collecting sticks to be work.   Moses and the people knew that this act was work.  They did not know the penalty for disobeying the statute.  So, Moses asked God and God prounounced the verdict, death!  But, why death?  Was God looking for extraordinary obedience from man on this particular day?

No, Jesus taught that God implemented the sabbath for man’s sake, not man for the sabbath’s or God’s sake.  The law of the sabbath teaches us the principle of entering into God’s rest.  To enter his rest means that we do not have to outwit every enemy, hoard food, or connive to earn enough money for all our lusts.  It simply means that we learn to trust God.  We don’t use the doctrine as an excuse to quit working and providing for our families.  We don’t use it as a talisman to protect us from stupid acts like jumping off of high cliffs into rock filled water.

The reason that breaking this law brought the death penalty under the Old Covenant is because God means the doctrine to teach us to “lose our soul (life)” in this age so that we will gain it in the next.   Jesus says that if we gain our soul (life) in this age, then we will lose our soul.  He means that we will not attain to the first resurrection of the dead, will not be accounted overcomers, and thus will  not rule in the coming Kingdom of God on earth.  This is that which Jesus taught on the sermon on the mount when he exhorted his hearers to stop worrying about all their needs.  “Sufficient to the day is the evil thereof.”  Stop worrying about tomorrow and enter into God’s rest today while you still can.

The Two Witnesses (7)

The next thing we see in Joshua concerning the two witnesses concerns bringing God’s people into rest.  The book reads,

And to the Reubenites, and to the Gadites, and to half the tribe of Manasseh, spake Joshua, saying, Remember the word which Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, saying, The LORD your God hath given you rest, and hath given you this land. Your wives, your little ones, and your cattle, shall remain in the land which Moses gave you on this side Jordan; but ye shall pass before your brethren armed, all the mighty men of valour, and help them;  Until the LORD have given your brethren rest, as he hath given you, and they also have possessed the land which the LORD your God giveth them: then ye shall return unto the land of your possession, and enjoy it, which Moses the LORD’S servant gave you on this side Jordan toward the sunrising. (Joshua 1:12-15 KJV) 

Here we see the Reubenites, Gadites, and half-tribe of Mannasseh serve as types of the overcomers because they have entered God’s rest before any of their brethren.   God gave man the Sabbath Day in order to teach us the importance of entering his rest .  Entering God’s rest  reveals one of the highest goals of all Scripture.  This explains why disobedence to the Sabbath brought the death penalty under the Old Covenant.  It was not because Moses was “legalistic” as I have heard some foolish pastors proclaim.  The Sabbath represents dying to self and allowing God to live through you.  It means giving up your plans, your programs, and your selfish ambitions.  Yes, it even means giving up your ridiculous prophesies which never come to pass.

Hebrews 3-4 teaches more about entering God’s rest than any other place in Scripture.  Hebrews 4:9 proclaims, “There remaineth therefore a sabbath rest for the people of God.”  Many have mistakenly taken this to mean that Christians must keep the Sabbath in the same way as Old Covenant Israel did.  Therefore Puritans strictly forbade partaking of any enjoyable activities on that day.  Even great movies like Chariots of Fire show a perverted view of this doctrine by its main hero and its application to young people playing ball on Sunday.  The sabbath rest remaining for God’s people does not deal with religiously “not working” on a certain day of the week.  I know Christians who take Saturday as a Sabbath.  I know others who take Sunday.  And I know a few who take a different day each month depending on when the new moon rises.  I personally rest all day on most Sundays, but if I have to, I will work.  Yes, Moses did teach us that we could not work on the Hebrew sabbath day, which I believe to be Saturday.  The New Covenant takes this natural concept into the spiritual dimension.

The purpose of entering God’s rest now is to cease from our own labors.  Our own labors bring nothing but death.  As Jesus said, “the flesh profits nothing.”  Most church programs, even if they began in the Spirit, have devolved to works of the flesh.  Thus God remains displeased with much that we do.  He desires us to wait upon him.  He would rather us do nothing than to do works of the flesh that we attribute to Him.  Many preachers and prophets have gone forth in these last days, but many speak from their own minds, not the mind of the Spirit.  The overcomers represented by these two and one-half tribes in Joshua have entered God’s rest before the third day.  These are those “alive and left” when Jesus comes to be glorified in his saints.  These are those, along with the ones of the first resurrection that also entered God’s rest, who bring the remaining people of God into rest in the coming Kingdom.

Jesus spoke many words that we have not understood, nor applied to our lives.  I personally am always challenged by his statement to Pilate, “My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.”  My problem is that I see incredible need in the world and want to do something about it.  I pray, but seldom see what I know to be the answer to that prayer.  For example, I have never seen a person raised from the dead, a lost limb restored, a blind person receive sight, etc.  And, I’ve heard about the great “end time revival” for over thirty years and have seen nothing but false signs and wonders and countless false prophets.

That leaves me with only one apparent option, the political one, the option of trying to bring in the Kingdom of God in the flesh.  But, friends, let me tell you, that ain’t gonna happen.  While we dwell in this mortal flesh we will sin.   We will fall into temptation and we will never be able to bring about or “bring in” God’s kingdom through our earthly efforts.

Right now the Kingdom of God dwells only within us who acknowledge that Jesus has come in the flesh and that he is in fact coming in our flesh.  This mystery is “Christ in you, the hope of Glory.”   We cannot enforce this kingdom in any way.  Remember when the young man wanted Jesus to tell his brother to give his inheritance to him?  Jesus said, “Man, who made me judge over you?”  Jesus claimed no authority over legal matters of this world.  He did not even try to take the religious leaders’ position. 

What does Jesus say about our position in the world?  “If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.” (John 15:19 KJV)  And, “I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” (John 17:14-17 KJV)

What is our purpose then if God does not call us to change the political scene?  “As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.”  (John 17:18-19 KJV)

Jesus sends us into the world to bring truth to the world, just as he brought truth to the world two thousand years ago.  If we really know the truth, then that truth sanctifies us, sets us apart for God’s use.  God’s true servants today display this sanctification.  Do not pretend to yourself or to others that you know the truth if you walk in daily debauchery.

Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. (2 Corinthians 6:14-18 KJV)

And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.  Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. (1 John 2:28-3:3 KJV)

When you allow God’s truth to sanctify you, you will know it.  Others will see and feel your peace and become ashamed of their own sin.  The goal is that they too will become sanctified in God’s truth.  True sanctification means coming into agreement with God and submitting to his molding you into his image, an image “not of this world.”

Paul tells us in his letter to the Colossians that, without the indwelling Christ in our hearts, we possess minds alien to God and hostile to all of his ways.  Then he reveals God’s solution to man’s rebellion.  He calls it, “the Mystery of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”   Following is a summation of this mystery in a nutshell.

First, Paul prays for the Christians at Colossae to be filled with the “knowledge of God’s will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in  a manner worth of the Lord.”  The entire prayer in chapter one is worth reading.  Indeed we should pray this prayer for ourselves and others we know if we seek to mature in Christ.

Second, he assures us that God has “delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”  Here is one of the Scriptures theologians rely upon when they say that the kingdom of God has already come.  The kingdom has come in this spiritual sense, but as Hebrews teaches, we do not yet see all things in the natural subject to this kingdom.  This explains how the kingdom can already be (in the spiritual) and yet is not (in the natural).  There is coming a day when we will literally see all things subject to the Lord Jesus.

Third, Paul explains how Jesus reconciles all things to God by virtue of the fact that he himself is the image of the invisible God, that he created all things, and that the fullness of God dwelt in him bodily.  By virtue of these truths he was empowered to make peace between God and man by his blood on the cross.

Fourth, he tells how men who were once alienated from and hostile to God in mind have now been reconciled to God in Christ’s flesh by his death.  It is this “alien mind” which causes men to do evil deeds.  The remainder of Paul’s letter deals with fixing this problem.

The solution to man’s alien mind, says Paul, lies in partaking of the “mystery of the Gospel.”  This mystery has been hidden for ages, he says, but has now been revealed.  The mystery is Christ in you, the hope of glory.  “Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.“  Col. 1:28

Here, then, lies the key to all Scripture.  Here we come to understand the mind of God with respect to man’s duty and relationship to him.  Now take this key and fly back to the beginning, back to Genesis chapter 1 and God’s (Jesus’) creation of man.  There re-learn that God made man in His image.  His image.  His image.   Now return to Paul’s message.

Colossians teaches us that Jesus in the flesh “is the image of the invisible God” and that in him “all the fullness of God” dwelt.  But, Jesus never sinned.  Jesus never possessed a mind alien to God.  Here we learn that by some spiritual mystery Christ Jesus may dwell within us and that it is this particular indwelling by which we may one day be glorified!  This represents the culmination of man’s creation.  In Christ man comes full circle.  He was created with glory in the first man, Adam.  Through his six thousand year sojourn as a foreigner in a foreign land and with the tutoring help of God’s Law, he learned to discern good and evil.  But, he could not perfectly obey that Law in his own strength.  Thus that Law could never bring him to reconciliation with God on to salvation and then to glorification, being like God.  Now, Paul tells us, the only way to salvation and glory is Christ in you!  Next, we will begin to discover how this works its way out today in the world through each of us.

Revelation 21:4

and He shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and death shall be no more; neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, any more: the first things are passed away.

21:4

and He shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and death (Carnality, corruption) shall be no more;

I Corinthians 15:53-55;

For this corruptible (Perishable, death) must put on incorruption, (Imperishable) and this mortal must put on immortality. :54, But when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. Death where is thy sting.

neither shall there be mourning, (For Sin) For there is no more sin.

nor crying, nor pain, any more: Jesus took all sorrow and pain upon Him.

Isaiah 65:16-17;

That he who blesses (Greek Word # 1288, Meaning: to knell, to bless.) himself in the earth shall be blessed by the God of truth; and he that swears in the earth shall swear by the God of truth; because the former troubles  (Sins) are forgotten, and because they are hid from Mine eyes.: 17,For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former  (Sins) shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. (Isaiah 43:25,26;)

Philippians 2:10-11;

that in the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

We become sons when we kneel before Jesus our Lord and King. And as a result we are blessed.  No one needs sin, to feel happy and fulfilled, for Jesus is our fulfillment. Then, we all will give the throne of our lives to Jesus and every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess, Jesus as Lord and we are all blessed.

the first things  (The natural, temporal) are passed away.

I Corinthians 15:46;

However, the spiritual is not first, but that which is natural; (The natural has passed away, it is temporal) then that which is spiritual. (We have now passed out of death into eternal life.)

II Corinthians 4:18;

while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Revelation 21:5

And He that sits on the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said, Write: for these words are faithful and true.

21:5

And He that sits on the throne (The Throne of our lives, in God’s temple)

So Now Jesus takes His Rightful seat, His throne, in our lives, in His Eternal Temple, built without hands.  The Eternal Tabernacle of God is with men. (NOTE: Revelation 1:7; 21:3;)

said, Behold, I make all things new.

II Corinthians 5:17;

Wherefore if any man is in Christ, (Walking in the Light, walking in the Spirit) [he is] a new creature: the old things are passed away;

behold, they are become new.

And he, said, Write: for these words are faithful and true. (NOTE: Revelation 3:14;)

Isaiah 55:11;

So shall my word be that goes forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

Revelation 21:6

And He said unto me, They are come to pass. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that thirst of the fountain of the water of life without cost.

21:6

And He said to me, They are come to pass. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. (Eternal,  symbolized, as a wedding ring, without beginning or end.)

I will give to him that thirst of the fountain of the water of life

John 7:37-38 On the last day (The Seventh Day of the Feast of Tabernacles, October 21^st 2008)  (#7 seven means: The number of Divine, perfection, complete, endless, covenant) that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water. – Many believe this day points to the Rapture of the Church when the Messiah Jesus will appear in the heavens as He comes for His bride, the True Church. Jesus wants us to seek Him, to be thirsty for Him. He promises us that He will give us a flowing, endless fountain, which will wash us with the water of the word, the water of life, Jesus, Himself.

His blood cleanses us from all unrighteousness.

I John 1:9;

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.       

without cost.  (Without buying or selling the spiritual.)

Without paying the price of redemption, Jesus paid that price for us.

Romans 3:24;

Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 1:7;

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace. (Without cost, Jesus paid the price.) (NOTE: Revelation 2:2; 18:11; 21:6)

Revelation 21:7

He that overcomes shall inherit these things; and I will be his God, and he shall be My son.

21:7

He that overcomes (We overcome sin by Abiding in Christ, by walking in the Light of His Spirit by Practicing Righteousness)

shall inherit these things; (Eternal rewards of Righteousness)

and I will be his God, and he shall be My son. (We not only become the sons of God, but also the bride of Christ.)

Galatians 3:28; 

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

I John 4:4;

You are of God, My little children, and have overcome them: (Satan, the beast, demons and false Prophets)  because greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world.

John 16:33;

These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you might have peace. In the world you shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. (We overcome the world and sin by abiding in the Light, which is abiding in Christ, by Practicing Righteousness.)

Revelation 2:7;

He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him that overcomes, to him will I give to eat of the tree of life, (Jesus) which is in the Paradise of God. (NOTE: Revelation 2:7,11,17,26; 3:5,12,21; 21:7)

Revelation 21:8

But for the fearful, and unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and fornicators, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, their part [shall be]

in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone; which is the second death.

21:8

But for the fearful, and unbelieving, (All of the old fallen nature; the wicked, unrighteous and lawless)

and abominable, and murderers, and fornicators, (Sin and the deceitful pleasures of the flesh.)  

and sorcerers, and idolaters, (The Beast and False Prophet and those led astray by them)

and all liars, (Satan, his demons, and all given to their ways)

their part [shall be] in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone; which is the second death. (This is for the Fallen Nature of Man, the Beast, False Prophet and Satan) (Note: Revelation 20:5,6,14; 21:8)

Revelation 21:9

And there came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls, who were laden with the seven last plagues; and he spoke with me, saying, Come hither, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.

21:9

And there came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls, who were laden with the seven last (Last, before all tabernacle with Him) (Note: Revelation 9:5;)

plagues; (To flatten, smite, hammer; Judgments of God, which is His Light of Truth, shining to expose all, that is not of Him in our lives.) (Note: Revelation 9:5; @ Zechariah 14:13-17; 9:18,20)

and he spoke with me, saying, Come hither, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.

Ephesians 5:30-32;

For we are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones. :31 For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and shall be joined to his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. :32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. (His Body, His Bride, His wife.)

Revelation 21:10

And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God,

21:10

And He carried me away in the Spirit (Our true state)

to a mountain great and high, (Government of God, The Mount of Transfiguration Matthew 17:1-13;)

and showed me the holy (Perfect, blameless)

city Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, (The True Church)

Galatians 4:26;

But the Jerusalem that is above is free, (The True Church, set free from sin) which is our mother.

Revelation 21:11

having the glory of God: her light was like unto a stone most precious, as it were a jasper stone, clear as crystal:

21:11

having the glory of God: her light was like a costly stone (Jesus)

most precious, as it were a jasper (The Greek Word #2393, Iasps; ee-as-pis, meaning: Jasper. From Greek Word #  3471, Moraino, mo-rah’ee-no; meaning: to become foolish; as a fool; simple.)

I Corinthians 3:18-19;

Let no man deceive himself. If any man thinks that he is wise among you in this world, let him become a fool, that he may become wise. (One who can see the vision of Eternal God) :19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He is the One, Who catches the wise in their craftiness:

Jasper represents: the Glory of God. It is a variety of Quartz, It is similar to Jade with the appearance like a green opal and has a depth of translucency that is unique. Green is the color of life, I John 5:11,12; The life is in the Son. He who has the Son has life. It is the last stone in the high priest breastplate. God chose Jasper stones for the shoulder pads of the priest with the names of the twelve tribes engraved on them.

stone, (From Greek Word #3037, lithos, lee’-thos; meaning: A stone; literally or figuratively: -mill-, stumbling- stone.)

clear as crystal: (Pure, Able to be clearly understood and seen clearly, unadulterated. Righteous) (NOTE: Revelation 4:6; 15:2; 21:11; 22:1;)

The Glory of God Returned

Adam and Eve saw that they were naked. Our nakedness is sin and severs the Glory of God’s fellowship, His Grace, to clothe us in His Light of Righteousness. His Grace, His Power that keeps the clothing of Light turned on, had departed from them. They could only see the flesh, because, they were, fallen from Grace.  Now we have returned to the flow of God’s Power, His Grace has restored the Glory, our true clothing of robes of righteousness.

Revelation 21:12

having a wall great and high; having twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels; and names written thereon, which are [the names] of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:

21:12

having a wall (Wall of Salvation, Protection from unGodly thinking)  

great and high; (Heavenly)

having twelve (#12, is the number of God’s Divine Government)

gates, (Entrance into Godly thinking)

and at the gates twelve angels; (Messengers)

and names written thereon, which are [the names] of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:

Revelation 21:13

on the east were three gates; and on the north three gates; and on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.

21:13

on the east (Eternal, Place of God’s Glory; a rising of light, dawn; sunrise [Son] to make rise; to prop up; arise to spring up. The conclusion; result; to accomplish; to make an end. To finish.)

were three (#3 is the number of the Trinity)  

gates; (Entrance into Godly thinking) and on the north (Place of God’s throne and judgments. Also, Hidden; dark; gloomy; unknown)

three gates; and on the south (Place of refreshment. Also, Dry; parched; drought; parts of Egypt)

three gates; and on the west (Not Still; to roar. A large body of water breaking surf. Sunset, [Son] set, setting down)

three gates.

Revelation 21:14

And the wall of the city had twelve foundation stones, and on them twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

21:14

And the wall (Wall of Salvation, Protection from unGodly thinking)

of the city (A group of people, The New Jerusalem)

had twelve (#12, is the number of God’s Divine Government)

foundation stones,   (Jesus is the foundation of Godly governing thinking.)

I Corinthians 3:10-11;

According to the grace of God which was given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder I laid a foundation; and another builds thereon. But let each man take heed how he builds thereon.:11; For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

The foundation of repentance, that we build upon, is the forgiveness of Jesus. Only Jesus, as God the Son, could have been, the redemption price, required by the Father, for forgiveness. God, Himself, incarnate on Earth.

Hebrews 6:1;

Therefore leaving the elementary teachings of Christ, let us go on to perfection; not laying again (You only lay a foundation once.) the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,)

and on them twelve names of the twelve apostles (Sent ones) of the Lamb.

Revelation 21:15

And He that spoke with me had a golden measuring rod to measure the city, and it’s gates and it’s wall.

21:15

And He that spoke with me had a golden (Godly thinking)

measuring (The measuring line, to measure ourselves against His word.

Isaiah 28:17;

And I will make justice the measuring line, and righteousness the level; and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding-place.

reed (Greek word # 25630; Kalamos, meaning: A Rod; A Reed; A  Scepter, indicating, rule or judgment.) God’s loving chastisement, to cause us to line up according to His word

to measure the city, (A group of people, The New Jerusalem)

and it’s gates (Entrance into Godly thinking)

and it’s wall. (Wall of Salvation, Protection from unGodly thinking) (NOTE: Revelation 11:1; 21: 21;)

Revelation 21:16

And the city is laid out foursquare, and the length thereof is as great as the breadth: and He measured the city with a reed, twelve thousand furlongs: the length and the breadth and the height thereof are equal.

21:16

And the city is laid out foursquare, (North, East, South and West; # 4, is the number of the world)

and the length thereof is as great as the breadth: and He measured (Lined up to His word)

the city (A group of people)

with a reed, (Greek word # 25630; Kalamos, meaning: A Rod; A Reed; A  Scepter, indicating, rule or judgment.) God’s Measurement is His loving chastisement, to cause us to line up according to His Word  (Jesus, who rules as head over all, His body.) (NOTE: Revelation 11:1;)  

twelve (#12 is the number of God’s Divine government)

thousand (The Greek word, #5506, Chillarchos, khil-ee-ar-klos; from #5507 and #757; A thousand; the commander of a thousand soldiers. Word, #757, Archo, ar’-kho; meaning: To be first, political rank or power; to reign  (rule) over.

This is also the definition of the word, Province. The word in Hebrew, for word Province, is Mediynak [Med-ee-naw] # 4082 meaning: Under the rule and judgment of the King; From the root, #1777; To Judge) (NOTE: Revelation 9:16; @ Esther 1:3; Revelation 16:8; 21:16;)

Let us examine the word, thousand. It is a unit of measure. (To line up against, in this case God’s Word)

The Lord’s Days are Eternal, without number; the verse of II Peter 3;8; tells us, that, a day with the Lord is but a thousand years, and a thousand years as but a day. (NOTE: Revelation 14:20;)

furlongs: (Greek word # 4712, Stadion meaning: a certain measure of distance. A stadium or race course: A furlong, race.)

Let us run the race, for the crown, of Life. The kind thinking, which is able to endure God’s judgment, to produce, fruit of the Lord, which is eternal and incorruptible, a hundred-fold. (Matthew 13:23.) (NOTE: Revelation 7:4; 14:20; 21:16,17;)

The dimensions of the New Jerusalem 12000 X 12000 Furlongs (144,000 means: the number of God’s Remnant, who will gather to God, His ultimate redeemed creation. 12×12=144. Perfect, promised land. The perfect witness of His Divine Government. We have become His Bride the New Jerusalem)

the length and the breadth and the height thereof are equal.

Ephesians 3:17-19;

That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, (II Thessalonians 2:10;The love of the Truth so as to be saved.) may be able to comprehend with all the saints (Perfect and Holy by practicing Righteousness) what is the width and length and depth and height– to know the love of Christ (The anointing of the Holy Spirit to recognize, understand and comprehend Truth.) which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.(Which is Love. I John 4:16;)

Revelation 21:17

And He measured the wall thereof, a hundred and forty and four cubits, [according to] the measure of a man, that is, of an angel.

21:17

And He measured the wall (Wall of our Salvation, Protection from unGodly thinking. It is a group of people, made up of living precious stones)

thereof, a hundred forty four cubits, (144,000 means: the number of God’s Remnant, who will gather to God, His ultimate redeemed creation, All Mankind.) (NOTE: Revelation 21:16)

according to the measure of a man, (A man who measures himself, with the plumb-line of the Word by Practicing Righteousness.)

that is, of an angel. (Ministering Spirits. True ministering to others can only be done in Truth.)

Truth Reigns

When thoughts do not line up against the plumb-line of the Word it is sin, When we Practice righteousness we re-align with the Word by confessing our sin and coming back into agreement with the Word of Truth. The measurements of Man have become the same measurements as an Angel. Both are measured against the same plumb-line, which is the Word of God. Always lining up to the Truth is to be a ministering Spirit at all times to God and Man. Lies and deceit are defeated, Truth reigns. John 14:6; I am the way, the life and the Truth………no one comes to the Father but through me. (The Truth.)

Hebrews 1:13-14;

But of which of the angels had He said at any time, Sit at My right hand, Till I make your enemies (Unrighteous Thinking) the footstool of your feet? :14; Are they not all, ministering spirits, sent forth to do service (To bring mankind into alignment with the Truth) for the sake of them that shall inherit salvation? (Soteria, #4991 from Sozo, #4982 meaning: To save. Deliverance, preservation, salvation. God’s power to deliver from evil.)  

Revelation 21:18

And the building of the wall thereof was jasper: and the city was pure gold, like pure glass.

21:18

And the building (Godly choices of Gold, Silver, Precious Stones)

I Corinthians 3:12;

But if any man builds on the foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;

of the wall (Wall of our Salvation, Protection from unGodly thinking. It is a group of people, made up of living precious stones)

thereof was jasper: (The Greek Word #2393, Iasps; ee-as-pis, meaning: Jasper. From Greek Word #  3471, Moraino, mo-rah’ee-no; meaning: to become foolish; as a fool; simple.)

I Corinthians 3:18-19;

Let no man deceive himself. If any man thinks that he is wise among you in this world, let him become a fool, that he may become wise. (One who can see the vision of Eternal God) :19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God…

And the city (God’s people, His Bride; The New Jerusalem)

Was pure (Perfect, unadulterated, without blemish or defilement)

gold, (Godly Thinking)

like pure (Perfect, unadulterated, without blemish or defilement)

glass. (Clear, Able to see and understand Truth.)

Revelation 21:19

The foundation stones of the wall of the city were adorned with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, chalcedony; the fourth, emerald;

21:19

The foundation stones

I Corinthians 3:10,11;

According to the grace of God which was given unto me, as a wise master builder I laid a foundation; and another builds thereon. But let each man take heed how he builds thereon. :11; For no man lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Christ Jesus.

of the wall (Salvation in Jesus is Protection from unGodly thinking. A group of God’s people, made up of living precious stones)

of the city (His Bride; The New Jerusalem)

were adorned with all manner of precious stones.

Matthew 16:18;

And I also say to you, that you are Peter, and upon this rock (Precious stone)  I will build My church; and the gates of Hell (Where we enter into unGodly thinking) shall not prevail against it.

I Peter 2:4-5;

And coming to Him, as to a living stone, which has been rejected by men, but is, chosen and precious, in the sight of God.:5; You also, as  living stones, are built up a spiritual house,(Temple) to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

I Corinthians 3:12;

But if any man builds on the foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;

The first (#1, is the number of the Father)

foundation stone was jasper; (The Greek Word #2393, Iasps; ee-as-pis, meaning: Jasper. From Greek Word #3471, Moraino, mo-rah’ee-no; meaning: to become foolish; as a fool; simple. From #3474, Moros, Dull or stupid; blockhead, foolish. From the base #3466, Musterion, To shut up the mouth, a secret or mystery, through the idea of silence)

I Corinthians 3:18-19;

Let no man deceive himself. If any man thinks that he is wise among you in this world, let him become a fool, that he may become wise. (One who can see the vision of Eternal God) :19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God…

In order to have the wisdom of God, we must see our foolishness compared to God’s ways. (Isaiah 55;9; As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts. Psalm 111;10; The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To Him belongs eternal praise.)

The priests of God, which Aaron was High priest, wore a two apron, garment, called an Ephod, in which, jewels were set. Jasper is the 3^rd jewel in the 4^th row of The Breastplate of Judgment, on it’s front were 12 precious stone with the names of the twelve tribes. This Breastplate was worn on top of the Ephod. It was Jasper stones, God chose on the shoulder pads of the Priests. On them the names of the twelve tribes were engraved.

the second, (#2, is the number of Witness) sapphire; (#4552, Sappheros, sap’-fi-ros; of the Hebrew #5601;Cappiyr, sap-peer; Meaning: A gem for scratching other sapphires. from #5608, Caphar, saw-far; To score with a mark as a tally or record. To inscribe, to enumerate; to recount, count, number, declare, celebrate, commune; to scribe, show forth, talk, tell, writer.)

The Sapphire gem is one of great hardness and is found in many colors. However, it is generally known for it’s deep blue color. The Hebrew word for Sapphire refers to Lapis. It is the 2nd jewel in the 3^rd row of The Breastplate of Judgment. Sapphires are mined in Sri Lankan mines. is an island nation in South Asia, located off the southern coast of India. Sapphires are also mined in Australia, Madagascar, Thailand and Myanmar. Madagascar Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, Tanzania and Kenya

the third, (#3, is the number of the Godhead; Father, Son and Holy Spirit; the Trinity)

chalcedony; (#5472, The Greek word, Chalkedon meaning: chalcedony, which is a precious stone of misty grey colour, clouded with blue, yellow, or purple. From #1491; Appearance, fashion, likeness. From #5475; through the idea of hollowing out, as a vessel; From #5465; to lower, as into a void, to let down, to strike. From #5400; fearful sight. From #5399; To be in awe of, to revere: fear, reverence.)

A translucent, variety of Quartz, Chalcedony, received it’s name from, Chalcedon, a city in Asia. (Means: Slime, Mire, Luke 15:11-32; The Prodigal son, saw his condition in the Pig Mire) Occurring in a variety of colors, Agate, Bloodstone and Jasper, Chrysoprase and Onyx are all variety of Chalcedony.

the fourth, (#4, is the number of the World)

emerald; (#4665, Smaragdos, smar-ag-dos; Of uncertain origin, meaning: The green gem, Emerald.)

Emerald, a deep green variety of Beryl. This stone represents the glory of God and or the Saints. It is the 3^rd jewel in the 1^st row of The Breastplate of Judgment. Emeralds, were also an article of trade between Tyre (#6865, Tsowr, tsore; Rock; From #6864, tsor; A rock; flint; [to start a fire.] a sharp stone #6697; sharp rock #6696; to beseige, bind #6695; to distress #6694; Tyre; to distress; Rock; root = to besiege. A bundle tied fast together; a flint. Matthew 13:30; Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather up first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them; but gather the wheat into my barn.)

In Matthew 13, we find the parable of the sower and also the tares. (False grain, in which, to make false spiritual bread. Those who are not abiding in the Light) The tares grow together with the wheat until the harvest. At that time the angels separated the wheat (Those who abide in the Light) (Note: Revelation 2:22; 3:18; 6:12; 14:2,14-19; 16:1; 18:4;) from the tares and the tares are burned, refined by God’s consuming Fire. (The Goats, those who are connected to the Harlot Babylon, or, are Heathen.)

The Jewel, Emerald, was used to describe the rainbow around the Throne.

Revelation 4:3; And He who sat [was] to look upon like a jasper stone and a sardius: (Glory, brightness of God) and [there was] a rainbow (Symbol of covenant) round about the throne, like an emerald (Symbol of the glory of God and His saints. Green is the color of life) to look upon. Emeralds are also found in Zambia, Brazil, Zimbabwe, Madagascar, Pakistan, India, Afghanistan and Russia, as well as in the United States and Canada.

Revelation 21:20

the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, topaz; the tenth, chrysoprase; the eleventh, jacinth; the twelfth, amethyst.

21:20

the fifth, (#5, is the number of Grace)

sardonyx; (#4557, Sardonux, A Red and White variety of Charcedony; Onyx stone; Therefore, called as a type; Sardonyx. From the base of #4556, The nail of a finger; hence, Sardonyx was obtained from India and was used for signet rings [symbol of authority, sealed with the Holy Spirit])

Esther 8:2; 

The king took off his signet ring, which he had taken away from Haman, and gave it to Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman.

The Interpretation

Then the Lord took the authority back from that which He had given to Satan, (Haman), and gave the authority, sealed with the Holy Spirit (Signet ring), to the righteous man. (Mordecai) Then the queen set the righteous man over the thoughts (House) of Satan.

the sixth, (#6, is the number of Man)  sardius; (#4556,  Sardios, sar’-dee-os; From the base of #3037, lithos, lee’-thos; meaning: A stone; lit. or fig.: -mill-, stumbling- stone.)

A Red variety of Charcedony; A red stone, obtained in India, (Praise Him, give Him thanks, Flee ye away) was used for jewelry and for royal seals.  It was included in the adornment of the king of Trye. (A bundle tied fast together; a flint.) (Note: Revelation 5:9; 14:3; 21:19,20)

Ezekiel 28:12-13;

Son of man, take up a lamentation over the king of Tyre, and say to him, Thus says, the Lord: You had the seal of perfection, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty.:13; You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering, the sardius, the topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the turquoise, the emerald. And the gold, workmanship of your settings and sockets, was in you; in the day that you was created they were prepared.

It is the 1^st jewel in the 1^st row of The Breastplate of Judgment.

the seventh, (#7, is the number of endless, eternal, complete, Perfection)

chrysolite; (#5555, Chrusolithos, khroo-sal’-ee-thos; From

#5557 gold  and #3037; stone, i.e.  yellow gem: Gold [Godly thinking] Stone; Chrysolite)

Transparent olivine is sometimes used as a gemstone called peridot, the French word for olivine. It is also called chrysolite, from the Greek words for gold and stone. Some of the finest gem-quality olivine has been obtained from a body of mantle rocks on Zabargad island in the Red Sea.

the eighth, (#8, is the number of Resurrection and new beginnings)

beryl; (#969, Berullos, bay’-rool-los; a Beryl)

Beryl ranges in color from bluish-green to yellow, white, pink and deep green. This Stone is the 1^st stone of the 4^th row of Aaron’s Breastplate. Solomon and the king of Tyre wore this stone. (Song of Solomon 5:14; and Ezekiel 28:13.) This stone was imported from the area of Tarshish. Beryl is also called Tarshish Stone. (#8659, Tarshiysh, tas-sheesh’; Tarshish is a place on the Mediterranean Sea, hence the epithet of a merchant [One who sells the Spiritual; Canaanite. Revelation 18:11-15;] vessel as it is for or from that port. Root = To Break, Brokenness. She will cause poverty; she will shatter. Breaking; subjection; i.e. of enemies; hard; contemplation, to break.)  Beryl is found in certain European countries such as Austria, Germany, and Ireland. It also occurs in Madagascar at Muzo and Chivor, Boyacá, Colombia. Emeralds are a variety of Beryl and are also found in the Transvaal, South Africa, Minas Gerais, Brazil, and near Mursinka in Urals. In the United States are found in North Carolina. New England‘s pegmatites have produced some of the largest beryls found. The wheels of Ezekiel’s vision were described as resembling Beryl or Tarshish.

Ezekiel 1:16;

The appearance of the wheels and their work was like unto a beryl: and they four had one likeness; and their appearance and their work, was as it were a wheel within a wheel.

Ezekiel 10:9;

And I looked, and behold, four wheels beside the cherubim, one wheel beside one cherub, and another wheel beside another cherub; and the appearance of the wheels was like as Tarshish stone.

the ninth, (#9, is the number of the Fullness of God)

topaz; (#5116, Topazion, top-ad’-zee-on; meaning: Topaz)

A yellowish-green form of Chrysolite, The Topaz was the 2^nd gem in the 1^st row of the Breastplate of Judgment. These stones were often found from an island in the Red Sea (Separation from the world by baptism, Cleansed by His blood) called Topazos. The island was frequently surrounded by fog. It was sought by navigators, hence, it received it’s name Topazin; in it’s native tongue, means: To Seek. (Jeremiah 29:13 And you shall seek me, and find me, when you shall search for me with all your heart.) It can be found in Ethiopia, Nigeria and in the Ural and Ilmen mountains, Afghanistan, Czech Republic, Germany, Norway, Pakistan, Italy, Sweden, Japan, Brazil, Mexico, and the United States. This stone, yellowish-green, is often pale in color. The Topaz of Ethiopia (A black countenance; full of darkness; a region of burnt faces; blackness) was famous for it’s quality.

the tenth, (#10, is the number of the Law)

chrysoprase; (#5556, Chrusoprasos, khroo-sop’-ras-os; From #5557, and Prason (A Leek) gold; greenish-yellow, light green gem.)

These gems were found in many Egyptian graves, as well as in Australia, Germany, Poland, Russia, and Brazil. Also found in the United States in Arizona and California.

the eleventh, (#11, is the number of Judgment and the Two witnesses of God, the Word and Works)  

jacinth; (#5192, Husklithos, hoo-ak’-in-thos; Of uncertain origin, the Hyancinth or Jacinth;)

A gem of deep blue color, probably a Zircon:-jacinth. This stone can also be found as yellow-orange, or Turquoise. It is the 1^st stone in the 3^rd row of Aaron’s Breastplate of God’s Judgment. Jacinth have been found in Russia, Canada, Pakistan and Norway.

the twelfth, (#12, is the number of God’s Divine Government)

amethyst. (#271, Amethustos, am-eth’oos-tos; From #1, A a, al-fah; Of Hebrew origin, the first letter of the alphabet; (from it’s use as a number) in the sense of union. And from a derivative of #3184, Methuo, to drink to intoxication, to get drunk. The amethyst, to prevent intoxication):

It’s Color varies from light to deep violet. A six (Six is the number of Man) sided purple Crystal. It is the most highly valued in the Quartz group. It is the 3^rd stone in the 3^rd row of the Breastplate of Judgment. Amethyst are found in Brazil, Uruguay, Russia as well as India.

Each Jewel, has within its Hebrew definition, the loving correction and Chastisement of our Father.

In the Book of Esther, where King Ahasuerus, who is a type and shadow of Jesus Christ, ruled and reigned from India to Ethiopia, we find the foundation stones of New Jerusalem, cry out the same rule from Ethiopia to India.

Revelation 21:21

And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; each one of the twelve gates was a single pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.

21:21

And the twelve gates (Entrance into, Godly thinking, God’s Government)

were twelve (#12, is the number of God’s Divine Government)

pearls; (#3135, Margarites, From. Margaros [A pearl oyster;] a pearl)

each one of the twelve gates was a single pearl:

A Pearl is a small lustrous sphere that forms around a painful irritant such as a grain of sand in the Mollusk or Oyster. Though the ordeal of suffering the Mollusk then proceeds to place layer after layer of nacre around the grit until a priceless pearl is formed. Truth and Godly thinking are learned and formed through the suffering of  Fighting the Fight of Faith. Thus, a Pearl is a symbol of our treasured faith and Truth. The gates of the city are the entry way into the city. So, too, the mysteries of God are understood as a speck of faith upon which is layered the spiritual doctrine of Truth. To understand these spiritual meanings is to enter the gates of the city of God

 Romans 8:18;

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time (Time spent in tribulation and experiencing the furnace of affliction of the world.) are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed in us. Glory is God’s Light which clothes us from within.

I Peter 2:23;

Who, when He  (The Son) was reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him (The Father)  who judges righteously;

Jesus referred to pearls in a figurative manner to speak of wise thoughts. (Matthew 7:6;) Jesus taught that people could possess the world’s greatest treasure, “The one pearl of great price.” Which is the Spiritual Wealth of the Kingdom of Heaven. (Matthew 13:45,46;)

I John 3:2;

Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.

We are becoming a pearl of great value, one with Jesus,. Jesus is the suffered, Pearl through which we enter the New Jerusalem.

Jesus Christ, the complete, supreme, Absolute Truth, is the single one Pearl, that is our entrance into Godly, Righteous, thinking, for

John 14:6; says, …No one comes to the Father but through Me.

Romans 8:29;

For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;

Galatians 4:19;

My children, with whom I am again in labor until Christ is formed in you.

and the street (Jesus, is the Way, also called a street)

of the city (A group of people, called the New Jerusalem)

was pure (Clear, without blemish or defilement.)

gold, (Godly Thinking)

as it were transparent (Pure, Unadulterated, Clear, without blemish or defilement)

glass. (Crystal. The veil is removed as we abide in Christ, therefore, we are no longer blinded and can see clearly, with understanding)

Revelation 21:22

And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God the Almighty, and the Lamb, are the temple thereof.

21:22

And I saw no temple (No temple built with hands for we are now the temple, His Bride, One man, in union, A Corporate body. One with our Creator, He is the Head, we are the Body of Christ)

therein: for the Lord God the Almighty, and the Lamb, (We are the Body of the Lamb of God)

are the temple thereof. (Of the city, New Jerusalem, the True Church, His Bride)

Revelation 21:23

And the city has no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine upon it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the lamp thereof [is] the Lamb.

21:23

And the city (A group of people, called the New Jerusalem)

has no need of the sun, (A created representation of the Light of the Son.)

No life can exist on Earth, without the light of the Sun, just as, the same is true, without the light of the Son, there, can be no life

neither of the moon, (Man’s thinking)

to shine on it: (New Jerusalem)

for the glory of God did lighten it, (The Glory Of God, illuminated within His people.)

and the lamp thereof is the Lamb.

Revelation 21:24

And the nations shall walk amidst the light thereof: and the kings of the earth bring their glory into it.

21:24

And the nations (Former heathens)

will walk (In the Spirit)

In the midst (Abiding in Christ, Jesus is in the midst, of our lives, ON THE THRONE!)

of the light: (The Light Of Truth)

and the kings of the earth bring their glory  (The Light Of Truth, illuminated within His people)  

into it. (NOTE: Revelation 2:1;)

Revelation 21:25

In the daytime (for there shall be no night there): It’s gates will never close.

21:25

In the daytime (Light)

(for there shall be no night there): (Darkness, Evil, Satan, his Demons, the False Prophet and our old man, our old fallen nature, the Beast, have all been thrown into the Lake of Fire.)  

It’s gates (Entrance into Godly thinking)

will never close. (Everlasting Righteousness,)

The Lord has brought in everlasting Righteousness. There are no more unrighteous thoughts, we have the Mind of Christ, we are glorified with Him and we are One. The Power of the Holy people has been completely shattered of Daniel 12:6 and 7;….How long shall it be until the end of these wonders?

Daniel 12:7;

And 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 unto heaven, and sware by him that lives for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and a half; and when they have made an end of breaking in pieces the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.

Daniel 9:24;

“Seventy (# 70, is the number before increase.) weeks have been decreed for your people (The righteous remnant are the True Jews Romans 2:29 With a circumcision of the heart) and your holy city, (Meaning: The heavenly Jerusalem, a group of people who are perfect by practicing righteousness, through faith, their power of self rule is broken. Jesus our Creator has control. He will return,)

to finish the transgression,

to make an end of sin,

to make atonement for iniquity,

to bring in everlasting righteousness,

to seal up vision and prophecy

and to anoint the most holy place

The Seventy weeks are: 490 years of Jewish self-sufficiency, self-government, with Jerusalem as their Capital, cut out of the, “Times of Gentiles,” dominion; also, Self-Rule of Self on the throne of our lives.

Revelation 21:26

and they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it:

21:26

and they shall bring the glory and the honor (God’s Image, His Likeness; The Precious)

of the nations (The Greek word #1484, Ethnos; a nation, people. The whole race of mankind. Frequently signifies the heathen, pagans or Gentiles as distinguished from Jews or believers.)

into it: (The New Jerusalem)

Revelation 21:27

and nothing unclean, and no one who practices abomination and lying: but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

21:27 and nothing unclean, (Unrighteous, Dead as in Sin)

and no one who practices abomination and lying: (Practices Lawlessness, wickedness and evil.)

If One does not Practice Righteousness, then, not only is he the abomination, desolate without Jesus, (Truth on the throne,) then, he does not practice the Truth but, lies.

I John 3:4;

Every one that practices sin, practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness.

But, only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life. (The old man is done away, God has redeemed His creation from the fall, we have become new. Jesus has brought in everlasting righteousness.)

Philippians 2:10-11;

that in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of [things] in heaven and [things] on earth and [things] under the earth,:11;and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

I John 5:11-12;

And the witness is this, that, God gave to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.:12 He that has the Son has the life; he that does not have the Son of God does not have the life. (The Beast, The False Prophet and Satan)

In this Chapter of Revelation, we have been shown

the fulfillment of Jesus’ words to Peter.

Matthew 16:18

And I also say to you, that you are Peter, and upon this rock (Precious Stone) I will build My church; and the gates of Hell (Where we enter into ungodly, unrighteous, thinking) shall not prevail against it.

I Peter 2:4-5;

And coming to Him as living stone, (Jesus is the foundation which was laid that we build upon. I Corinthians 3: 10,11;) rejected indeed of men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God. :5; You also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house, (Temple) to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Isaiah 61:10;

I will greatly rejoice in Jehovah, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decked himself with a garland, and as a bride adorned herself with her jewels.

We are the foundation Stones, Precious Jewels, in the City of our God, the New Jerusalem, His Bride, His Body. We see in each jewel, each individual gem, a picture, a story, which unfolds the revelation of our brokenness. The Veil has been removed, from Tyre to Tarshish, from India to Ethiopia, His-story is revealed within the pages of His word.

Isaiah 23:1;

The burden of Tyre. (A bundle tied fast together; a flint.)

Howl, you ships (Vessels) of Tarshish; (To Break, Brokenness. She will cause poverty; she will shatter. Breaking; subjection; i.e. of enemies; hard; contemplation, to break.)  for it is laid waste, so that there is no house, (Temple) no entering in: (Into the Light, Abiding in Christ)  from the land of Kittim (They that bruise, Beaters down; Subduers; bruisers) it is revealed to them. (But they do not see)

Esther 1:1, Now it took place in the days of Ahasuerus, the Ahasuerus who reigned from *India to **Ethiopia over ***127 ****provinces.”

The Interpretation

Now it took place in the days of Jesus (Ahasuerus) who reigned over the whole earth. Because of His love and mercy and for His names’ sake, (Ezekiel 36:22) for we have rebelled and defiled His good Name, therefore He will protect His Name, for we were created in His image. He decided to change His creation back, where we had fallen, which is grace, from the bestial level that Adam once had dominion over. We would *praise Him and flee away from our old identity, for He would change us back into His image, ** by burning away our faces, our identity, exchanging it for His. (*Hebrew Definition for: India to**Hebrew Definition for: Ethiopia) ***For He is one with God who witnesses of His divine, complete, perfect, endless covenant, (1: is the # of God. 2: is the # of witness.7: is the # of divine, complete, perfect, endless covenant, Altogether equal 127) ****of whom we are all under the rule and judgment of the King.  (****Hebrew Definition for: Provinces)

Hebrews 12:7;

It is for chastening that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom [his] father does not chastens?

We have all gone through the Millennium

and it is revealed what we all were created to be, “SONS OF GOD.”