Section Two Table of Content

 

Table of Content

Title                                        Page

We Then That Are Strong Ought To Bear

  The Infirmities Of The Weak                  34

Justification                                  37

The Binding Of The Devil And Satan             39

In The Last Days the Lord’s House Shall Be

  Established In The Top Of The Mountains      43

Physical Death, And What Follows               47

And So All Israel Shall Be Saved               49

Our House Which Is From Heaven                 53

Jesus Defeated Death Hell And The Grave        56

Rise And Measure The Temple Of God, But The

  Court Which Is Without, Measure It Not       58

And The Woman Fled Into The Wilderness

  (Revelation 12:6)                            62

 

WE THEN THAT ARE STRONG OUGHT TO BEAR THE INFIRMATIVES OF THE WEAK

                                                                          December 28, 2010

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Our title is a direct quote from where Paul challenged the saints in Roman with: “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.”  Romans 15:1

This document is about Christian growth.  It includes both the new born breast feeders, and the stronger meat eaters. 

You know?  There are some who consider themselves to be meat eaters that are still on the breast.  The author of Hebrew addressed himself to some that he reckoned to be toddlers according to their knowledge of the Scripture.     

His inspirational message to them went like this: “Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God.  Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of lying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.”   Hebrews 6:1-2

*** (This might be surprising but the Lord doesn’t save any one that hasn’t heard and believed the basics of what the writer referred to as the principles of Christ.  That’s why he suggested: “Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection.”    

My understanding is that the principle doctrine of Christ, is the heritage of the newborn babes that are in Christ. 

That Hebrew writer had earlier reproved those same members with; “For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first Principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.  [13] For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.”  Hebrews 5:12-13

Thus far the New Testament writers have enabled us to identify those whom they consider to be weak in the doctrine of Christ.

Now let’s take a look at those whom the writer considered to be strong.   

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  I believe that, first and foremost, Paul would say that a strong Christian is one who has a good understanding of the Holy Scripture and that has a spirit of compassion.

Here is Paul’s assessment of what a strong Christian should be.

He wrote: “And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient.”   2 Tim. 2:24

Then he gave the progressive recipe for Christian growth.

He said of himself and other established Christians: “we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; [4] And patience, experience; and experience, hope: [5] And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.”  Romans 5:3-5

Then going against all principles that the flesh holds dear, he told those at Corinth, and us; “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.”  2 Corinthians 12:10  

Now the basis of Paul’s refuting was that: “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak.”  

If God had His way, the weak in Paul’s stimulus would only apply to the newborn in Christ  However, that is not always the case, for some were saved decades earlier, but yet they are on the milk of the WORD.

(Doesn’t that sound familiar?)

Lest we should believe that we are among the strong and should flex our muscles in fleshly pride, the apostle points out one of our many weaknesses.                

He said: “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. [27] And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”

Romans 8:26-27 

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 Not only does the Spirit help our infirmities as we pray but He intercedes for us with groanings when we testify or sing the songs of Zion.

I believe that when the saint sings about the way they picture Heaven, and we are aware that the Bible says: “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”

That is one of the times that:  “We then that are strong are supposed to bear the infirmities of the weak, for it is then that; “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.” Romans 15:1 

  Consequently, it is what is flowing from their heart at the time that finds its way before God and His Throne; and not what is spoken with the mouth.

 However, that does not hold true in the case of those that write and sing songs that are contrary to the doctrine of the Holy Scriptures.

Not forgetting that all of God’s good creation sings and testifies of its Creator.

 And we fall into that category.

May God Bless.                            

Amen!

JUSTIFICATION

                                                                                April 27, 2009

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When Paul taught on the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, he said: “Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.”  Romans 4:25

In saving us the Lord wrought us through a major three-step operation in order to Justify us.  All were for our justification. Through the pen of Isaiah, our Heavenly Father prophesied that: “He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.” Isaiah 53:11  (His reference was to Jesus Chrust.)

 But when we were raised with Jesus in His resurrection the three-step operation was completed.

Some taught that the resurrection had already past and over threw the faith of some.

  The Apostle told them:  “And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. [18] Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.”  1 Corinthians 15:17-18    

In other words if Christ had not raised we could not have had part in His Resurrection.

 

Now here is that three-step plan that God used in saving us.

First, we were crucified with Jesus on His cross.

Paul wrote:   “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.” Romans 6:6

Be attentive to this:

There was also justification in Jesus’ death for our old man is crucified with Him in order that the original sin and his deeds might be destroyed.

Then we were buried with him by baptism into His death.

Then the Apostle said: “Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.” Romans 5:9

Second: we are buried with Him.  Paul said that: “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death:”

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Third: We were “Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.”

Col. 2:12 

Being crucified with Jesus then buried with Him brought no life to us.  We needed to be resurrected in order to have life.  Our life came through Jesus’ resurrection, when we were raised with Him.

Being raised with Jesus Christ was the final step, of the three-step process that God used in saving our soul.

Thus, “He was raised, from the dead, for our justification.”

When we were buried with him; our sins were also buried.  When we were raised with Jesus our sins remained buried. Thus by our being raised with Jesus, detached us from our sins. Thus giving us eternal life at topside.

The great Apostle also said: “Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Romans 6:11

During this past Easter season a certain teacher spent most of his allotted time trying to disprove that our being raised with Christ was: “The First resurrection.”

He read no scripture but he quoted other teachers of the past.

May God show them the truth of the matter,

Amen.

THE BINDING OF THE DEVIL AND SATAN

                                                                        November 18, 2003

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John wrote: "And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.

[2] And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,"  Revelation 20:1 & 2

The way John described that certain angel, it sounded like something Jesus said of Himself. In the first chapter of The Revelation, He said: “I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.”  Revelation 1:18

 Who, other than Jesus could make such profound statement as having the keys of death and Hell and the bottomless pit?

Isaiah described our Redeemer as an angel. He wrote: “In their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old. ”Isaiah 63:9

Paul said something to that effect. He said: "Because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. " Galatians 4:6                       

The binding of the Devil and Satan

In the following Jesus told us that it was He that binds Satan.

After the Pharisees accused Him of casting out devils in the name of Beelzebub, He responded with: "But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you. [29] or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house." Matthew 12:28-29

Didn’t Jesus portray the Devil and Satan as a strong man and Himself as the stronger of the two?  I say yea and Amen!

  David said of his redeemer: "He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me."  Psalm 18:17

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“The great chain”

 Since the fall of Adam his posterity has been without strength to resist the temptations that sin has to offer.  Romans 5:6

Paul also said that We were helpless and without Christ, and without God in the world. Ephesians 2:12

 As Paul implied, our enemy was\is too strong for us.

Jesus equaled the score somewhat by binding the devil and Satan. 

 He bound him with the strong chain that He forged while he was here on earth.       

He also hammered out that mystical chain (link by link) on this wise:

With each temptation that He overcame, He added a link to that proverbial chain.

On target, the writer said, "For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." Hebrews 4:15

Jesus began to forge that mythical chain after He was baptized. Then He added strength and links to it during the next forty days and nights as He went about defeating the Devil and Satan in the wilderness.  Mark 1:13

He added other links to to the chain when He resisted the temptations set forth by the Pharisees and Seduces.

Matthew explained one such event. He wrote; "The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven."  Matthew 16:1

Mark recorded he added another link. He wrote, "The Pharisees came to him, and asked, "Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife? tempting him."   Mark 10:2

It is obvious that when Satan and his associates tempted Jesus, they furnished the materials (needed) to forge another link in that already strong chain.                When we are tempted, we are offered the chance to put up a few barriers of our own, else James wouldn’t have said; "My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations.  Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. [4] But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing."  James 1:2-4 Oh, by the way, Jesus did not bind Satan until after Pentecost for that came with the Better Covenant. Though Jesus’ work of redemption was in full force from the foundation of the world.

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That is understood from where the writer of Hebrews said;   (“For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart: [21] And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:”)

Hebrews 12:20-21

 It is obvious that the Devil does not have the influence in the life of the saints that he has in the life of sinners.

After the twin towers were brought down.  Someone said that we must conclude that Satan isn't bound. His thought was based upon what is going on in the world.  I agree that Satan isn't bound in the lives of the people of the world.

Ah! But take a look at God's redeemed.  It tells a different story, altogether.

After Jesus binds the Devil and Satan, he is on no wise out of commission; that only places him in a predicament whereas he is manageable by the saint.

I like to compare the binding of Satan to a comic drawing I saw in a magazine as I sat in the dentist’s lobby.

 That drawing portrayed a hippie as being handcuffed to his arresting officer.

As the officer stood at the phone booth reporting in to his superiors, the hippie slipped off one of his thongs and picked the wallet from the pocket of a bystander.

The child of God is represented in the officer. The pickpocket portrayed the bound, but much active Satan.

 "And cast the Devil and Satan into the bottomless pit."

Several scriptural sayings typifies the flesh as having no foundation. Such as: The bottomless pit, a horrible pit, the miry clay, etc. Thus it is bottomless.

David used the miry clay to represent the flesh.  He wrote:  “He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.” Psalm 40:2 

As sinners, we were living in the flesh, with the Devil enthroned in our heart.

Paul said it like this: "For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.” Romans 7:5

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Again, Paul to the rescue; He wrote: "Ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his."  Romans 8:9

When testifying that the Lord saved him from the flesh, David wrote:

"I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. [2] He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock,"  Psalm 40:1-2

That horrible pit and miry clay, as it were, was the flesh that David’s Redeemer delivered him from.

Jesus compared those whom build on the things that pertain to the flesh to one that builds on the sand.

 

I quote: "And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand." Matthew 7:26

When we repented, God sent forth the Spirit of his Son into our heart.  He brought with Him that mystical chain.

He bound the devil and Satan that was in our heart and cast him out into our mortal flesh.  He took us out of the flesh and put His spirit in us and now we walk in the Spirit rather than in the flesh.  Amen!!

And Satan was cast downward into our flesh and he is imprisoned therein as long as we are alive upon the earth.

   Because Satan was in his flesh and ours, Paul explained it like this:

 "For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not."

Romans 7:18

By comparison, sins and devils are one.

This is understood where Jesus saved Legion.  The Savior sent his sins/devils into the herd of swine.  The rest is history.

May God be blessed forever, Amen!

IN THE LAST DAYS THE LORD'S HOUSE SHALL BE ESTABLISHED

IN THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAINS

                                                                        April, 27 2000

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I came up with this very long title from where Isaiah said:  “And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD’S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills, and all nations shall flow unto it.”   Isaiah 2:2 

 The prophecy of Isaiah was that Jesus would establish the house of the Lord in the top of the mountains.  These mountains, as it were, turned out to be the mountains in the vicinity of Jerusalem of Judah.   

Jesus came and established the Lord’s house and He did it on the top of the mountains to the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy.

 He first established the twelve as the foundations of that latter day house.

 

  Mark described that event.  He said: "And he goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto him whom he would: and they came unto him.  And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach."   

Mark 3:13-14  

  Then in verse 19 Mark said: “…and they went into an house.”  I believe that what Mark said was two-fold in nature.  Perhaps Jesus and his Apostle did go into a house that stood near by.  However, since Jesus came to establish the latter day house (in the tops of the mountains) I am persuaded that He and His apostles went into the latter day house, on the Day of Pentecost.

  And to the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy that all nations shall flow unto the latter day house.”   Isaiah 2:2 

  Paul told the Gentiles:  “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

[20] And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; [21] In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: [22] In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.”

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John said something to that effect when he described the foundations of The New Jerusalem. 

 He wrote: "And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb."    Revelation 21:14 I take that to mean that the Church and New Jerusalem are one and the same establishment.

Now aren’t the Church and New Jerusalem the same establishment?  Think about it.

The LORD GOD prophesied that Jesus would be the bedrock upon which the latter day house should stand and its Chief Corner Stone.

Here is that prophecy:  “Therefore thus saith the LORD GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone a precious corner stone, a sure foundation… ”   Isaiah 28:16   

  We, as God’s children are also stones, even lively stones of the latter day house.

  Peter said as much. He wrote; “Ye, also as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 2:5

Luke said: "And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God."  Luke 6:12

In the proceeding passage Jesus established His disciples, in the fact that before making decisions that could have dire consequences, they were to offer up intercessory prayer to God.

 After Jesus spent all night in prayer to His Heavenly Father, the next day He chose His twelve apostles.  Wow!

You know the story about the devils that possessed Legion and that Jesus cast them out. 

Luke wrote: "And there was there an herd of many swine feeding on the mountain:  and they besought him that he would suffer them to enter into them. And he suffered them."  Luke 8:32

Matthew said: "And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, And was transfigured

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before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light."  Matthew 17:1-2 

As far as I am concerned, the above is an indescribable event.  However, it did take place upon a high mountain.

Matthew described another event that took place upon a mountain.  He wrote: “...And he went up into a mountain and set down there and a great multitude came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed

and many others…”.    (In that mountain Jesus established His disciples in the fact that He could heal all types of sicknesses.)

Again Matthew said: “When they saw the dumb speak, the maimed to be whole, the lamed to walk, and the blind to see: and they glorified the God of Israel.”    Matthew 15:29-31   

Then again Jesus used a mountain to establish His doctrine in His apostles.

John said: “And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples.    And the Passover, the feast of the Jews was nigh.

 Jesus then lifted up his eyes and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, whence shall we buy bread, which these shall eat?  And this was to prove him for he himself knew what he would do.”   John 6:3-6

 

You know the story where Philip found a small lad with five barley loaves and two small fishes.  And how Jesus blessed the loaves and the fishes then gave it to his disciples to serve it to the multitude.  John 6:13

Upon that mountain His disciples were established in the fact that their LORD

can (and did) take a small amount of food and, by blessing it, it became an abundance.

Then Matthew told of the time that Jesus preached the “Sermon on the Mount. “He wrote: ”And seeing the multitudes, He went up into a mountain:  and when he was set his disciples came unto him.  And he opened his mouth and taught them saying, Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.    Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.  Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth.  Blessed are they, which do hunger and thirst after righteousness; for they shall be filled…"  Matthew 5: 1-6 

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I didn’t copy Jesus' entire sermon.  For, Matthew continued to write until that he had completed chapter five, then, chapters six and seven.

During the last days Jesus did establish His Church in a mountain.  The writer of Hebrews told the Small Remnant and those whom they had won to Christ:

“For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,

[19] And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more:

[20] (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart:

[21] And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:)

   But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,

[23] To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, [24] And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.” Hebrews 12:18-24   

Amen and Amen!

PHYSICAL DEATH AND WHAT FOLLOWS

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When man’s physical body dies, his soul/spirit, immediately ascends back to GOD who gave it.  Ecclesiastes 3:21

 Paul taught in 2 Corinthians 5:8 that: “To be absent from the body, is to be present with the Lord.”

Another writer said,  “… it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.”   Hebrews 9:27

Then the wise man Solomon asked: “ Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?”

Ecclesiastes 3:21

When the body dies, he/she goes back to God who gave it.  Saints are welcomed into heaven while the unsaved are thrust into the Lake of fire.

 Their fate depends on what they do with the LORD JESUS Christ If they accept Him on His term.

Paul also assured that while we are here in this earthen body we are not in heaven with The LORD.

 He wrote in II Corinthians 5:6, “Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord.”

   Luke wrote about the life and death of Lazarus and the rich man.

He said: “And it came to pass that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;

[23] And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.  And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame:[25] But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receiveth thy good things and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.”

Luke 16:22-25The scripture assures us that those men’s senses were still intact.  The rich man was miserable while Lazarus was comforted.  That showed that both

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were aware of their state of being, and it put to rest the idea that their souls were sleeping. 

   I believe the reason the Lord said that Lazarus was comforted instead of saying that he was ecstatic or beside himself, was that was not the will of GOD to reveal all of the pleasures that heaven holds for God’s redeemed.

  God gave Paul a hint as to why the Lord might have chosen to describe Lazarus as being comforted rather than revealing his euphoric feelings.  He said: “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”  1 Corinthians 2:9

   Sadly to say, one of my friends taught that when JESUS said the angels carried Lazarus to Abraham’s bosom, he contended that the angels were Lazarus’ pallbearers.  But nay, I believe The LORD used the word carried in the same sense that another writer used it to describe Nebuchadnezzar’s carrying away of Judah and Israel to Babylon.

However, ever let it be said that the angels accompanied Lazarus on his flight to Glory rather than bearing him as a dead man.

My doctrine is in agreement with where Moses taught that when death overtakes our mortal body, our soul/spirit flies away. 

 Here is what he said: “The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.” Psalm 90:10 

  I take Moses to have meant that whether it is the believer or the unbeliever, their soul ascend or descends to their long home under their own power.  Though Lazarus of Bethany was dead, in body, JESUS said that He was asleep, because, He said in John 11:11  “Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.”  Thus, Jesus brought Lazarus’ body back to life, not his soul.

The writer described Stevens’ martyrdom, by saying, “And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit, and kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.”  Acts 7:59-60  

I believe that instead of Stevens’ soul falling asleep it was his body.  I also think that he believed that the Lord would wake up Stevens’ body at the last trump.

Paul testified by saying: “… [23] I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart and to be with Christ; which is far better: [24] Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.”    Philippians 1:23-24 When Paul told the Philippians “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:21

 He said it all.  Amen!!

                              

AND SO ALL ISRAEL SHALL BE SAVED

(Romans 11:26)

                                                                              May 18, 2010

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God’s promise to Israel was:  “Thy people also shall be all righteous: they shall inherit the land forever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified.”  Isaiah 60:21

Our hind sight tells us that during the Old Testament that Israel’s make up was of the righteous and the unrighteous; But that during the New Testament her members would be all righteous. And they are.

For in another prophecy God said that she would be called by a new name, which the Lord Himself would name. Isaiah 62: 2                                                                       And He did name her his Church and the members of the true Church are a righteous.

  The Apostle Paul picked up on Isaiah’s prophecy by writing: “And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:  For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.”  Romans 11:26-27

  The Lord told Israel: “and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.”  Zechariah 3:9   (And thus He did.)  Yea, God did take away the sins that Israel committed during the Old Testament era and they their sins were unfathomable.

Paul explained that removal, he wrote:  “And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses.  Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross: And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.” Colossians 2: 13-15

Now there is a difference between the doctrine on the salvation of the soul and the doctrine that deals with the sins of the flesh.  The author of Hebrews explained the nature of both.  First, he explained how Jesus’ shed blood saved the souls of mankind beginning with Adam. 

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He wrote:  “For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.”   Hebrews 4:3

When he spoke on behalf of the ministry rather than Salvation, He said: “But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.  For if that first covenant  had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.” Hebrews 8:6 & 7

 Since Calvary, the sacrifice of Jesus has purged the conscience of God’s ministers from dead works, enabling them vocalize in the calling wherein God called them.

  

  The Lord’s Passover (of the older Testament) was the annual sacrifice that dealt with Israel’s sins of the flesh.  That sacrifice had to be repeated annually because their sins were again brought to remembrance in the form of guilt.   

(By the way God’s Passover came on the fourteenth of the first Jewish month Abib.)

The blood of the Old Testament sacrifices was all about the ministry and not about the salvation of their souls.

 

God provided Israel with the means whereby they dealt with their sins and that was through the blood of sacrificial animals. Hebrews 9:13

The blood of those animals served to cover sins, but it didn’t take them away such sins were left in reserve for Jesus.   

Listen to how the writer of Hebrews explained that Old Testament ordinance.

 He said: “For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year, continually make the comers thereunto perfect.  For then would they not have ceased to be offered?  Because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.  For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.”   Hebrews 10:1-4 

 

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Notice, in the above, the writer did say that those offerings made the Israelites, (whom he called comers,) perfect from one Passover to the next.

Not forgetting that God Prophesied to Israel: “Thy people also shall be all righteous: they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the

work of my hands, that I may be glorified.”  Isaiah 60:21

  In the first place God promises were limited to the saints of Israel and not to Israel at large.                  

Paul said as much.  He asks:  ”What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded.”

Romans 11:7

 

Here is the detailed account on why Israel at large was not Heirs of the promise, whereas the small, saved remnant was.

Jesus told the Jews that when they killed Him the kingdom would be taken from them and given to those that were bearing fruit.  Mark 12:11 

And He told those fruit bearers: “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.  Luke 12:32

   An everlasting Covenant if you will, for the small remnant became the soul heirs of the kingdom of Israel on the day Israel at large, crucified and Killed the Son of God.  (O, that the teachers of our day could see that.) 

God said: “…I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.”  Genesis 12:3  

That promise did not extend to Israel’s non-believers.  For the Lord had His saints at heart. Paul explained it like this: “Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded.”  

According to Jesus the promise that God made to Abraham and his seed has been taken out of context.  He disallowed such doctrine.  Jesus told then  that being a descendant of Abraham did not make the unregenerate of Israel an heir of the promise.

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Here is what He told the Jews: “I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.”  (According to Jesus, their father was the Devil.)  John 8:44  

“They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father.  Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham.” 

John 8:38-39

And so all Israel is saved and she is made up of God’s redeemed of both Israel and the Gentiles.  Jesus calls her His Church.

Paul devoted the entire eleventh chapter of Romans, explaining how our Lord made good on the promise that all Israel would be saved, and he did it through the use of two olive trees.

  He symbolized Israel as the good olive tree, then he let the wild olive tree represent the Gentiles.

  He used the branches of those trees to characterize each of the members of Israel and the Gentiles.

Please study his presentation that he wroti in Romans Chapter eleven.  

 

 Paul told the Romans that because of unbelief the sinners of Israel were broken off from the good olive tree and that God replaced the unbelieving Israelites with the believing Gentiles, thus making the inhabitants of the Kingdom all righteous.    Fulfilling the promise: “And so all Israel shall be saved.”

 Did you know that since all Israel is saved that it means that the Church is the true Israel of the New Testament?

Paul wrote; “And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.” Galatians 6:16

But Jesus renamed her His Church and therefore let us call her the Church unless we need to refer to Her by another name as did Paul for the purpose of explaining her history.

May God Bless.    Amen!

Our House Which Is From Heaven

                                                               
Page 53                                                                                                December 16, 2010

What this document is about is the body of the saint. No it doesn’t deal with the resurrection but it is about our departure from this life.

When our body dies

Paul startsour earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.    For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:”  2 Corinthians 5:1-2

Then he reasoned; “If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.

[4] For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon.”  2 Corinthians 5:3

In the above I have underline the words and phrases that I believe Paul substituted for the word, “Body” rather than use the word body itself.

(Let me explain.)

When Paul wrote the letter about ‘our house, which is from heaven,’ he avoided the use of the word body, even though the body, of the saint, was the basis subject of his composite. 

 

 I believe he substituted words that have the same meaning as that of the body, rather than use the word body itself.  Here is why.   

When he wrote his first letter to the Corinthians, he encountered some opposition that claimed that the resurrection had already past.

He had already written a lengthy letter on the resurrection to the Corinthians; if for no other reason I believe he used symbols in this letter in order to keep the confusion between the two doctrines at a minimum.

 I believe that is a viable reason for him using symbols.

 

Now, I say that since our house is from heaven, that such exchange is not the glorified body.  For that body shall be raised at the Resurrection.

Doesn’t that make sense?

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Therefore what Paul said was that ‘being unclothed from our earthly house and then being clothed with our house which is from Heaven.

Thus it is a matter of putting off this body of flesh then immediately being fitted with our house that is from heaven.

Paul taught, that he, as well as other Christians have a desire to be clothed upon with their house which is from Heaven, even if it means putting off their earthly house of flesh in order to be clothed with that house.  

Then he added more backbone to his statement.  He said for himself and those whom are vibrant Christians: “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.”   2 Corinthians 5:8

He also said in Philip. 1:21,  “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

Assuming that we should die before the Resurrection, I believe our new house will be likening to that of Moses and Elias. 

  Their bodies were not the product of the Resurrection because prior to the Resurrection of Jesus no one had been resurrected, bodily.

For “Jesus Christ was the firstfruits of them that slept.”

Considering that Moses and Elias were clothed upon with a body and that they kept their own identity suggests that our body that is from heaven is a valid doctrine.

  Such doctrine is in line with where Paul said:

 “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.” 

1 Corinthians 13:12

Now ‘our house, which is from heaven’ must be glorious but David deemed the Resurrection of the body as being more glorious.   

He wrote: “As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness:  I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.”  Psalm 17:15    

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During the time of His ministry Jesus made the following statement

He said: “And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.”  John 3:13  

I believe that before Jesus could take his redeemed to Heaven, sin had to be dealt with at the Cross.

But as we learned in a former document entitled, “Paradise and Hell” the saints that died while the Old Testament was in force, were escorted to the Paradise of God to await the work of the cross and the resurrection.

Therefore since no one had entered the portals of Glory before the resurrection as saith Jesus.

I believe that those taken to Abraham’s bosom, such as Lazarus, Moses and Elias that were clothed upon, with ‘their house, which was from heaven.’

May the God of Heaven be blessed forever,

 Amen!

JESUS DEFEATED DEATH HELL AND THE GRAVE

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The warfare that Jesus initiated between Himself and the Devil ended after forty-two months with Jesus the victor.  

His triumphal victory was ordained of God that He might succour His redeemed, regardless of what, Godly inituated situation they found themselves in during their pilgrimage.   

The word succour cannot be better defined than where one said:  “The will of God will never take you where the Grace of God will not succour thee.” (Author unknown)

The Psalmist described Jesus’ ability to sustain His saints on this wise: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”  Psalms 46:1

The author of Hebrews also defines the meaning of the word succour, he said: “For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.”  Hebrews 2:18

According to the Merriam Webster’s Dictionary, the word succour is pronounced the same way as, the bony fish: “sucker.”  

 It also added that the meaning of the word succour is to help, aid, assist, assistance, comfort, lift, relief, secure, support; maintain, nourishment, and sustenance.  Jesus met all of those criteria with much to spare.

Why, Jesus even succored the Gentiles the entire forty-two months that they spent treading the outer court under foot.

(More on that later)

Now, our God ordained that the forty-two months wherein Jesus, endured much pain and suffering, should succored His saints. And that succoring was in full force from the foundation of the world, and shall continue until the end of the same.

The Lord’s sustenance embraced Moses during his forty days and nights without food or water. 

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Here is that account. Moses wrote: “When I was gone up into the mount to receive the tables of stone, even the tables of the covenant which the LORD made with you, then I abode in the mount forty days and forty nights,  I neither did eat bread nor drink water:”  Deuteronomy 9:9

  

 As we know, Jesus went without food and water for forty days and forty nights, that abstinence from food and water was more than enough to qualify Him as being an all sufficient succour to uphold any and all of His redeemed. 

   Matthew described the time that Jesus spent earning the right to be an all sufficient succour.  

 He wrote; “Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.  And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.” Matthew: 4:1-2

Jesus succoured Elias, Whose name was Elijah in the Old Testament. 

He through fervent prayer shut up heaven that it rained not for three years and six months. The exact time that Jesus used in earning the right to succour him.

  By translating those three and half years into months, we come up with forty-two months. The same amount of time that Jesus used in earning the right to be the succour to Elijah and others that needed Jesus to hold their hand during the Old Testament.

 Therefore, Jesus’ presence was there as succour to Elijah.  

 James weighed in on that event, He said: “Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.  And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.”   

James 5:17-18

 

How about the lost world? The apostle addressed that issue also.

He quoted Jesus as saying: “… I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”   2 Corinthians 6:2

May the Good LORD Bless.  Amen!

RISE AND MEASURE THE TEMPLE OF GOD BUT THE COURT WHICH IS WITHOUT, MEASURE IT NOT  (For it is given to the Gentiles and the Holy City shall they tread under foot forty and two months.)

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Our title is long but it is the command that John received from the angel

He wrote: “And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.”  Revelation 11:1 and 2

John did measure the temple of God and arrived at:  “The city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal.”  Revelation 21:16  (Trust me those figures are symbolic numbers.)

The angel also added: “But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.”   Revelation 11:2

Now the Gentiles were not sinners, by no means.

In the case of the Gentile saints, I believe that forty and-two months was the  time, the LORD used in knocking off the rough edges that prevented then from fitting into the temple of God.  And because that was factual, John was told: “But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.”

Hopefully that assessment will begin to make sense as we proceed.

The reason Cornelius and the guests of his house were brought into the outer court of Kingdom rather than being fitted into the temple with the apostle and other Israelite Christians, was that their ignorance of the doctrine of Christ, and they knew very little about conducting themselves as Christians.                                                      

 Case in point, though Cornelius  was “A devout man, and one that

feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.” Acts 10:2

Saved? Yes. Ignorant? Yes.                                                                                                                                           

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The writer said; “And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him.” Acts 10:25 

During the Old Testament the seed of Abraham ministered in all of the offices of the Kingdom, including the executive and the lesser ministerial offices.

Some of the ministry was as simple as carrying toting the wood and carrying water.

Both sinner and saint alike carried out those duties.

However; none but the saved men of the Israelites were allowed to preach from God’s pulpit, for saith God: “No stranger, uncircumcised in heart, nor uncircumcised in flesh, shall enter into my sanctuary, of any stranger that is among the children of Israel.”  Ezekiel 44:9  

However the qualifications of a priest or High Priest was that they were to be of the lineage of Aaron, but oddly enough, salvation was not an issue.

Case in point:

It was the unregenerate, blaspheming Caiaphas that was serving in the office of high priest during the time of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.  John 18:13

      In contrast to the Gentiles being kept from ministering for forty and-two months, Paul begin to preach the gospel shortly after the Lord saved him.  Acts Chapter nine recorded his conversion, five chapters later he had been ordained an apostle. 

Here is that record: “As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.”  Acts 13:2

Then in the very next chapter Paul and Barnabas are called apostles.  Acts 14:14

Now the unbelieving religious Jews troubled the Gentiles by saying that if they were not circumcised they could not be saved.  They were so contentious concerning that matter, that the apostles sent the brethren to the church at Jerusalem to settle the matter once for all.

The Church at Jerusalem answered with the following letter:

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“Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must  be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment: It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth.  For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well.  Fare ye well.”  Acts 15:24-29

Later on Paul would rebuke the Galatians for hosting the legalists of his day.

He wrote: “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.   But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. [9] As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.” Galatians 1:6-9    

In the following Paul assured the Gentiles that the blindness of Israel was seasonable. He wrote: “For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.” Romans 11:2

The fullness of the Gentiles had come full circle by the time Paul wrote his letter to the Ephesians. By that time God had taken the Gentiles from the outer court and fitted them into the Temple of God. 

  Paul assured the Gentiles that they were no longer treading in the outer court.

He told them:  “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; [20] And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; [21] In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth

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unto an holy temple in the Lord: [22] In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.”  Ephesians 2:19-22

 

Paul used the good and the wild olive trees to show how God had removed Israel’s sinners from His ministry then brought in the saved Gentiles in their stead. 

He told the Gentile saints: “And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert grafted in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;”  Romans 11:17 

 Then Paul warned the Gentile saints against thinking themselves to being something that they were not: He told them: “Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in.  Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:”

Romans 11:19-20

Removing Israel’s sinners from the ministry then bringing in the saved Gentiles in in their stead was to the fulfillment of where God promised Israel that all of her people would be righteous.

   

He prophesied: “Thy people also shall be all righteous: they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified.”   Isaiah 60:21

Please! Understand that this doctrine was all about the ministry and not salvation in the least.

May the God of Abraham be blessed forever.

Amen!

AND THE WOMAN FLED INTO THE WILDERNESS

(Revelation 12:6)

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We are still on the subject where Jesus defeated the Devil in forty-two months, and where God decreed that His victory was sufficient to sustain or succour His saints as they proceeded to carry out His commission to preach the Gospel to the whole world.

I don’t believe that the word succour can be better defined than he who said:  “The will of God will never take you where the Grace of God will not succour, or sustain thee.” 

  That was definitely the case with the woman in the wilderness.  John said:

“And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her a thousand two hundred and threescore days.”

Now, a thousand two hundred and threescore days is equal to forty-two months or three and half years, for these are all equivalent measures of time.

 I believe the reason John used days instead of months or years when relating to the Elect Lady was that her members relate to God on a daily basis, as opposed to months and years, for they are to die out to sin on a daily basis. 1 Corinthians 15:31

  Paul said: “Though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.”   2 Corinthians 4:16  

That woman was the body of Christ and at the time she was made up of the Jewish Saints only, because the saved Gentiles had not been brought into the ministry for they were unlearned in the Gospel of Christ.

 Before His ascension Jesus’ last words were: “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samara, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”  Acts 1:8  

However Jesus had earlier told His disciples: “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.”   Mark 16:15-16  

By the time they had evangelized Jerusalem, Judaea, and Samaria, the rulers had killed Steven and James.  Yea, though they faced perilous times they got

the job done.  

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 Paul said they did, he wrote: “But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.”  Romans 10:18 

“And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.”   Revelation 12:14

 During the Old Testament Israel had Moses and the prophets. They prophesied of the Lord’s coming to earth. The letter and the Spirit of that ministry was represented as wings.

 In his vision by night Daniel witnessed her wings being plucked. Daniel 7:4 

Then John saw her being refitted with new wings that can not be plucked, because Her New Testament wings are the letter and the Spirit of the Grace Covenant.

   John said it like this; “And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place.

Those new wings consisted of the renewing of the Holy Ghost and the testimony that Jesus Christ had come to earth, through the virgin birth, He was crucified, buried, and yea, He arose from the dead the third day.

“THE WOMAN WAS NOURISHED FOR A TIME, AND TIMES AND HALF A TIME FROM THE FACE OF THE SERPENT.”

The disciples faced the serpent while in and near Jerusalem. When Jesus referred to His persecutors as; “Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?”  Matthew 23:33 

And John addressed those same men as; “O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?”  Matthew 3:7 

They were not name-calling, instead they identified those men as being the seed of the serpent that the Lord God prophesied of in Genesis 3:15.

 Not many days hence the seed of the serpent did bruise the heel of Jesus literally as they drove the nails in his hands and feet.    However, that was not the fulfillment of the primary prophecy. That prophecy read: “And I will put enmity

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between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed.  It shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.”  Genesis 3:15   

(And was there ever enmity between the seed of the woman! Jesus Christ and those men that He referred to as serpents.

 The primary fulfillment of that prophecy was the old, old story of Jesus Christ and Him Crucified because that was what the Lord’s prophesy was all about.

Jesus identified the indwelling spirits of lost men as serpents, and the Gospel as the saints’ feet.

When He sent His apostles out to preach, Jesus commanded them through the  symbols. He said: in the process “Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.”  Luke 10:19-20 

And tread on serpents they did.

The Psalmist also made use of those symbols in describing the preaching of the Gospel. He said: “Through thee will we push down our enemies: through thy name will we tread them under that rise up against us.”  Psalms 44:5

Considering wherein the Devil’s head was bruised and Jesus bruised His heel gives us an indication as to who got the worst of that litigation.

   The Psalmist put it this way:  “The heathen are sunk down in the pit that they made: in the net that they hid is their own foot taken.  The LORD is known by the judgment, which he executeth: the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands.”  Psalms 9:15-16

Seeing the woman was nourished for a time, and times, and half a time. Seemingly, those figures are one year-two years-and a half year, the sum of those numbers are equivalent to three and half years.  That makes sense for three and half years can be equated to forty two months or one thousand two hundred and three score days. 

May God bless, Amen