Parables - Page 2

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=168 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF" background="129a11c3.png"> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Welcome to the Heart4God Website!"><U><B><IMG SRC="4b55a500.png" border=0 width="90" height="80" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id2.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Writings of Joseph Herrin"><U><B>Writings by Date</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id212.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Writings of Joseph Herrin Organized "><U><B>Writings by Topic</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.heart4god.ws/Audio/index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.heart4god.ws/Audio/index.htm"><U><B>Audio Files</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id690.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Videos"><U><B>Videos</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id323.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Writings of Others"><U><B>Other Authors</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id324.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Links"><U><B>Links</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id339.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Questions and Answers"><U><B>Q&A</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id328.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Heart4God Email List"><U><B>Heart4God E-mail List</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.parablesblog.blogspot.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.parablesblog.blogspot.com"><U><B>Parables Blog</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id306.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="File Downloads"><U><B><IMG SRC="2b264140.png" border=0 width="100" height="20" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <bR> <div> <B>Parables - Page 2</B></div> <div> <IMG SRC="c2827160.png" border=0 width="807" height="22" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <B>Types of Parables</B></div> <div> Obvious - Presented as a parable</div> <bR> <div> Mark 4:30-32</div> <div> And He said, "How shall we picture the kingdom of God, or by what parable shall we present it? It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the soil, though it is smaller than all the seeds that are upon the soil, yet when it is sown, grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and forms large branches; so that the birds of the air can nest under its shade. "</div> <bR> <div> This type of parable is introduced as a parable. The hearers are made aware from the beginning that what is being told to them is a cloaked saying and that it has a double meaning. The majority of Christians are only aware of this most obvious type of parable, and even the meaning of these obvious parables are hidden from many Christians.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Types of Parables</B></div> <div> Signification - Revealed through Signs and Symbols</div> <bR> <div> Revelation 1:1</div> <div> The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants--things which must shortly take place. <U>And He sent and signified it </U>by His angel to His servant John...</div> <bR> <div> In this type of parable the entire book is written in the form of symbolic language. Many unusual signs and word pictures are given to describe spiritual truth that is hidden from the masses, but made known to those whom Yahweh chooses to disclose it.</div> <bR> <div> Example: </div> <bR> <div> Revelation 1:12-16</div> <div> Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters; He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength.</div> <bR> <div> Observe how full of symbols this passage is. Every symbol is filled with spiritual meaning, yet the meaning is hidden and must be searched out. We read here of seven golden lampstands, of a man clothed with a garment down to the feet, and having a golden band around his chest. The color of his hair is described as well as the character of His eyes. His feet are said to be as fine brass refined in a fire, and his voice as the sound of many waters. In his right hand he has seven stars, and a sharp two-edged sword comes from his mouth. He is shining like the sun in its strength.</div> <bR> <div> Every detail here is important, for it is Spirit breathed, and stands for some revelation coming from the throne of Yahweh. Yet Yahweh chose deliberately to convey these truths in dark speech, in the form of a parable, so that only those whom He granted understanding would truly discern their meaning. I have heard more ridiculous things taught out of the book of Revelation than any other book of the Bible. This is because men who have not had Yahshua explain the symbols to them have attempted to discern their meaning by employing their own carnal mind. The result is confusion and folly.</div> <bR> <div> Notice the depth of detail here. There are seven golden lampstands. Why seven? Why are they of gold? Look at the description of the man. Why does his garment go to his feet? Why not to the knee? Why is the golden band around his chest instead of his waist? Why is his hair white like wool, and like snow? Why is it not another color, or compared to something else that is white? Why are the seven stars in his right hand instead of his left? Why is the sword described as “two-edged” rather than as a single edged blade?</div> <bR> <div> Every detail is pregnant with meaning, yet all the meaning is lost unless the Spirit of Christ brings illumination to that which is dark.</div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="725" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 346 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="bb427540.jpg" border=0 width="295" height="340" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="bb50ef70.jpg" border=0 width="270" height="247" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> I want to look at just one thing listed in this passage and show some of the depth of meaning that is hidden in the word of God. We know from the ensuing passages of the book of Revelation that the golden lampstands are an image of the churches of Christ. We find that Yahshua delivers a specific message to seven different churches and that one is threatened with the removal of their lampstand unless they repent.</div> <bR> <div> The church is called to be a light unto the world, and a candlestick gives off light, so it is easy to understand the association between these two things. The candlestick is also an image of God. It is appropriate that this symbol should stand for both God and the church, for the church is to be a reflection of God. Christians are called to be conformed to the image of Christ, and the church is described as being a body whose head is Yahshua. Therefore, the image of the candlestick represents both Christ and the church.</div> <bR> <div> Yet as we dig deeper we understand that every detail of the candlestick’s construction also stands for some particular truth.</div> <bR> <div> Exodus 37:17-24</div> <div> And he made the candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work made he the candlestick; his shaft, and his branch, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers, were of the same: And six branches going out of the sides thereof; three branches of the candlestick out of the one side thereof, and three branches of the candlestick out of the other side thereof: Three bowls made after the fashion of almonds in one branch, a knop and a flower; and three bowls made like almonds in another branch, a knop and a flower: so throughout the six branches going out of the candlestick.</div> <div> And in the candlestick were four bowls made like almonds, his knops, and his flowers: And a knop under two branches of the same, and a knop under two branches of the same, and a knop under two branches of the same, according to the six branches going out of it.</div> <div> Their knops and their branches were of the same: all of it was one beaten work of pure gold. And he made his seven lamps, and his snuffers, and his snuffdishes, of pure gold. Of a talent of pure gold made he it, and all the vessels thereof.</div> <bR> <div> The candlestick is made of one single piece of beaten gold. This is because the candlestick not only represents the church, but it also represents God Himself. Even as there is only one church, we read in Scripture:</div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="755" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 281 WIDTH="442"><div> Deuteronomy 6:4</div> <div> "Hear, O Israel! Yahweh is our God, Yahweh is one!”</div> <bR> <div> Matthew 28:19</div> <div> “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit...”</div> <bR> <div> Revelation 4:5</div> <div> Out from the throne come flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder. And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God...</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="bb50ef70.jpg" border=0 width="270" height="247" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> God’s nature is viewed by three perfect numbers. The numbers are 1, 3 and 7. God is One God. He is also a Triune God, or Three in One, for He is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. He also is declared to have seven spirits, which are identified in Isaiah 11:2.</div> <bR> <div> Isaiah 11:2</div> <div> The Spirit of Yahweh will rest on Him, </div> <div> The spirit of wisdom and understanding, </div> <div> The spirit of counsel and strength, </div> <div> The spirit of knowledge and the fear of Yahweh.</div> <bR> <div> Spirit of Yahweh</div> <div> Spirit of Wisdom</div> <div> Spirit of Understanding</div> <div> Spirit of Counsel</div> <div> Spirit of Strength</div> <div> Spirit of Knowledge of Yahweh</div> <div> Spirit of the Fear of Yahweh</div> <bR> <div> Observe how this candlestick represents God in each of these numbers. It is one candlestick. It has three branches. It has seven candles. These are the three numbers associated with Yahweh and He has stamped these three numbers upon the entire creation, for it is a reflection of His glory and a product of His mind.</div> <bR> <div> Consider light. A single ray of light can be split by a prism into the seven individual colors of the rainbow. All colors can be formed from the three primary colors; red, yellow and blue. God’s word says He is light, and therefore the light of the creation is stamped with the numbers 1, 3, and 7.</div> <bR> <div> Consider sound. Musicians recognize that music is divided into three octaves of seven notes each. Thus all sound as expressed through music is marked by the numbers 1, 3, and 7.</div> <bR> <div> Consider Nature. All nature can be viewed as a whole. Yet when we begin to classify nature it naturally falls into seven divisions:</div> <bR> <div> I.      KINGDOM     </div> <div> II.      SUB-KINGDOM </div> <div> III.      CLASS </div> <div> IV.      ORDER</div> <div> V.      FAMILY</div> <div> VI.      GENUS</div> <div> VII.      SPECIES</div> <bR> <div> These are not arbitrary divisions arrived at by the caprice of man. They are the result of observing God’s creation and understanding how it is divided.</div> <bR> <div> These numbers 1, 3 and 7 are found everywhere in the creation. In chemistry we find that matter exists in three states; solid, liquid and vapor. The earth itself is commonly divided into air, land and sea. Yet man is the greatest reflection of the character of God, for in Genesis we read the words of God, “Let us create man in our image, after our likeness.”</div> <bR> <div> Man is a single creature, and is therefore one. Yet man consists of body, soul and spirit. Thus man is stamped with the number three. These three components of man can be further broken down into seven.</div> <bR> <div> Man also has one life in this flesh, but this life can be broken down into three stages, as seen in John’s first epistle: little children, young men, and fathers. Yet these three can be broken down to the following seven, as observed in E. W. Bullinger’s book “Number in Scripture.”</div> <bR> <div> There are seven Greek words used to describe these seven ages, according to Philo:—</div> <bR> <div>    1. Infancy (paidion, paidion, child).</div> <div>    2. Childhood (paiV, pais boy).</div> <div>    3. Youth (meirakion, meirakion, lad, stripling).</div> <div>    4. Adolescence (neaniskoV, neaniskos, young man).</div> <div>    5. Manhood (anhr, aner, man).</div> <div>    6. Decline (presbuthV, presbutes, old man).</div> <div>    7. Senility (gerwn, geron, aged man).  </div> <bR> <div> This same pattern of 1, 3 and 7 can be observed in the major patterns given by God to the Hebrews to serve as instructions of the children of God. In the Feast days of Yahweh there are three major feasts of Passover, Pentecost and Tabernacles. These three major feasts are further broken down into seven individual parts. Passover consists of Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and the Feast of Firstfruits. Then comes Pentecost, then we have Tabernacles which is another three part feast consisting of The Feast of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement, and the Feast of Tabernacles.</div> <bR> <div> Many other examples could be cited both from the Creation and from Scripture that reveal how this characteristic of God has been stamped upon all things. Yet out interest right now is in the golden lampstand.</div> <bR> <div> Every detail of this candlestick is also filled with spiritual truth. We are told that it is to be formed of beaten gold, and in this we can begin to make another connection. There are three distinguishable parts of the candlestick and each part pertains to a specific member of the godhead.</div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="747" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 253 WIDTH="428"><div> <B> </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>The body of the candlestick represents Yahshua.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>The oil that fills the candlestick represents the Holy Spirit.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>The seven flames of the candlestick represent God the Father.</B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="bb50ef70.jpg" border=0 width="270" height="247" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b70118ccffff00.png" HEIGHT="19" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The body of the candlestick represents Yahshua.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b70118ccffff00.png" HEIGHT="19" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The oil that fills the candlestick represents the Holy Spirit.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b70118ccffff00.png" HEIGHT="19" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The seven flames of the candlestick represent God the Father.</div> <bR> <div> The body of the candlestick represents Yahshua.</div> <bR> <div> Yahshua is declared to be the image of the invisible God. We also read:</div> <bR> <div> Hebrews 10:5</div> <div> Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, But a body You have prepared for Me.”</div> <bR> <div> We are also told that Yahshua learned obedience through the things He suffered. All of these things are observed in the golden form of the lampstand. The body of the lamp is a picture of the body of Christ. Even as Yahshua was beaten, whipped and crucified, His body suffering many things, so too is the outward form of the candlestick to be formed of beaten gold.</div> <bR> <div> The Holy Spirit is pictured in the oil inside the lamp.</div> <bR> <div> Even as Yahshua is pictured in the body of the lamp, we are told that Yahshua was filled with the Holy Spirit.</div> <bR> <div> Luke 4:1</div> <div> Yahshua, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led around by the Spirit in the wilderness...</div> <bR> <div> In the presentation on the oil of anointing, we saw that anointing oil was made from the crushed flesh of ripe olives, and this “beaten oil” was used to light the lamps in the Temple. The anointing oil always signifies the Holy Spirit.</div> <bR> <div> Acts 10:38</div> <div> “You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God <I><B>anointed Him with the Holy Spirit </B></I>and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.”</div> <bR> <div> The seven flames represent God the Father.</div> <bR> <div> Hebrews 12:28-29</div> <div> Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; <I><B>for our God is a consuming fire.</B></I></div> <bR> <div> We also read in Scripture that Yahweh God is Spirit, and we read already where the seven flames represent the seven spirits of God.</div> <bR> <div> See then how much is represented by a single image that is mentioned in this passage from Revelation. Yet there is even more.</div> <bR> <div> Jeremiah 1:11-12</div> <div> Moreover, the word of the Lord came to me, saying, Jeremiah, what do you see? And I said, I see a branch or shoot of an <U>almond tree</U> [the emblem of alertness and activity, blossoming in late winter]. Then said the Lord to me, You have seen well, for I am <U>alert and active</U>, watching over My word to perform it.</div> <div> [Amplified Bible]</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Shaqed (shaw kade) - Almond Tree</div> <bR> <div> Shaqad (shaw kad) - Alert and sleepless</div> <bR> <div> This Scripture is fascinating in that we see Yahweh speaking through means of a pun, that is, He is using a play on words. There are two words in Hebrew that sound very much alike. They are the words Shaqed and Shaqad. The first word means almond tree, and the latter word means alert and sleepless.</div> <bR> <div> The candlestick is decorated with the form of almond blossoms, and in this we see another aspect of God. We read in Scripture:</div> <bR> <div> Psalms 121:2-4</div> <div> My help comes from Yahweh... He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.</div> <bR> <div> The golden candlestick in the Temple was to be always lit. It was never to be allowed to go out.</div> <bR> <div> Leviticus 24:2-4</div> <div> Command the Israelites that they bring to you pure oil from beaten olives for the light [of the golden lampstand] to cause a lamp to burn continually. Outside the veil of the Testimony [between the Holy and the Most Holy Places] in the Tent of Meeting, Aaron shall keep it in order from evening to morning before the Lord continually; it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations. He shall keep the lamps in order upon the lampstand of pure gold before the Lord continually.</div> <div> [Amplified Bible]</div> <bR> <div> This is a symbol that God never sleeps, but is always alert.</div> <bR> <div> The almond tree is also symbolic in that it is the first tree to bear fruit, for it blossoms in winter.</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="bbb47ae0.jpg" border=0 width="327" height="430" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Almond tree blossoming in winter with snow in the ground.</div> <bR> <div> Bethlehem Almond Tree</div> <bR> <div> The almond blossoms are part of the outer body of the candlestick that we said represents Yahshua, the Son of God. He is the firstborn among many brethren. He is the first man to reveal the nature of God in His body. He is therefore like the almond tree in that He bears fruit before any other tree.</div> <bR> <div> We have only looked at one symbol from the book of Revelation, and we have seen that a picture truly is worth a thousand words. Yahweh has hidden tremendous truths in the pictures He gives to us through the Bible, yet very few Christians ever discern any but the most basic symbols. A man could literally spend many lifetimes plumbing the depths of all the symbols used in Scripture.</div> <bR> <div> Do you love the truth enough to have God reveal His secrets to you?</div> <bR> <div> Continue to <A HREF="id594.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Parables Page 3"><U>Next Page</U></A></div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>