Wednesday, February 22, 2012

The Relevance of Zerubabbel

“The hands of Zerubabbel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands also shall finish it (Zechariah 4:9).” From the name of a devout Hebrew who participated in the building of the temple, God fashioned a parable which is meant to help counsel his lawgivers, the priesthood. “Judah is my lawgiver (Psalms 60:7).” “Who hath despised the day of small things? For they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubabbel (Zechariah 4:10).” Zerubabbel's name will help usher in New Jerusalem. “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 into it (Isaiah 2:2).”

"The Lord hath a controversy (Jeremiah 25:31)." Zerubabbel's name was used in prophesy to help identify what the Lord's controversy is all about: “Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your ceiled houses, and this house lie waste? (Haggai 1:4).” God's primary concern is not so much about the in house festivities of his people, but rather, it is that all the descendants of Abraham are not dwelling in peace and unity: religion has defiled God's call for peace and unity (Ephesians 4:13; Psalm 133:1-3).

“Ye have sown much, and bring in little… He that earns wages, earns wages to put it into a bag with holes (Haggai 1:6).” “Ye looked for much, and, lo, it came to little; when you brought it home, I did blow upon it. Why? Because my house is waste, and ye run every man to his own house. Therefore the heaven over you is stayed from dew, and the earth is stayed from her fruit. I called for the drought upon the land, and upon the mountains… and upon all labor of the hands (from Haggai 1:6-11).”

Consider a mystery: In the book of Ezra, Cyrus made a proclamation: Sheshbazzar, the then governor of Judah, was to take the Jews from Babylon and build the house of the Lord in Jerusalem (Ezra chapter one through 2:2). Zerubabbel went with them. They set up the walls, and joined the foundation of the Lord’s temple (Ezra 4:12). Then skirmishes erupted and letters were sent, and a new king caused their work to cease (Ezra 4:24; 5:16). This information was published to verify that the temple's construction had begun, and that the foundation of the temple had been laid.

Several kings and some years later, Zerubabbel was now governor (Haggai 1:1) and work on the temple was being resumed, when suddenly prophecy erupted: “Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land; And I will shake all the nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory… the glory of this latter house shall be greater than the former… and in this place will I give peace, saith the Lord (from Haggai 2:6-9).” These words are prophetic words, for they corroborate the immense shaking that is prophesied to take place when the sixth seal of the Revelation is opened: in that day every mountain and island shall be moved out of its place as an earthquake shakes even the heavens (Revelation 6:12-14).

The mysterious prophecy that erupted before Zerubabbel was intended to make an announcement that something really big is destined to occur on the twenty fourth day of the ninth month (Haggai 2:10). God stressed Zion's need to pay attention to this date by reiterating the word, consider. “Consider from this day upward, from before a stone was laid upon a stone in the temple of the Lord… Consider now from this day upward, from the four and twentieth day of the ninth month, from the day that the foundation of the Lord’s temple was laid, consider (Haggai 2:15-18).”

Consider: The temple’s foundation had already been laid, and stones had already been laid upon it, so why was God saying, “before a stone was laid upon a stone?” This message was coming forth on the twenty forth day of the ninth month (Haggai 2:10; 2:20), so why was God deferring to a future date, saying, “Speak to Zerubabbel, governor of Judah, I will shake the heavens and the earth; I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms, I will destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the heathen; I will overthrow the chariots, and those that ride in them; and the horses and their riders shall come down, everyone by the sword of his brother. In that day, I will take thee, O Zerubbabel, my servant… and will make thee as a signet: for I have chosen thee, saith the Lord of hosts (Haggai 2:21-23).”

Has there ever been any relevance ascribed to this signet?  Or was our omniscient God eluding to a future day, and to the building of Zion? Could the declaration of this date, combined with the setting Zerubabbel’s times, and the prophesied shaking of the heavens, earth, and the nations, as well as God's promise to set Zerubabbel's name on high, divulge a secret yet future?

“Is the seed yet in the barn? Yea, as yet the vine, and the fig tree, and the pomegranate, and the olive tree, hath not brought forth: from this day I will bless you (Haggai 2:19).” Remember this date: the twenty fourth day of the ninth month; a date which was prepared by the foresight of God, a date prophesied by the prophet Haggai. Could this be the day that God rips open the sixth seal? Will this date prove to be the day in which God decisively divides his sheep from the goats? Will knowing this date help infuse strength into the building of Zion?

God’s people must acknowledge and affirm that salvation is granted through covenants (Isaiah 42:16; Romans 8:19). Changing the way that every believer worships God is the solution to the controversy. “Mine house shall be called a house of prayer for all people (from Isaiah 56:7).” “Who art thou, O great mountain? Before Zerubabbel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, grace, grace unto it (Zechariah 4:7).” Zerubabbel’s name is chosen to mark change.

“My heart is toward the governors of Israel, that offered themselves willingly among the people (Judges 5:9).” God will protect those priests that willingly sacrifice themselves in order to help him build the truth of end times. "The Lord shall save the tents of Judah first (Zechariah 12:7)." “I will make the governors of Judah like an hearth of fire among the wood, like a torch of fire in a sheaf; and they shall devour all the people round about, on the right hand and on the left (Zechariah 12:6).”

“Be strong, O Zerubabbel” “All the remnant of people, obeyed the voice of the Lord their God, and the words of the prophet.” “I am with you.” “They came and did the work in the house of the Lord.” (quotes from Haggai 1:12 through 2:4). The building of covenant understanding is God's will, and it is our Mount Zion, therefore it will be built! “This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, not by might, not by power, but by my spirit (Zechariah 4:6).”

“This people say, The time is not come, the time that the Lord’s house should be built… Thus saith the Lord of hosts… Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified (Haggai 1:2,7-8).”

“Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion: for I will make thine horn iron, and I will make thy hoofs brass: and thou shalt beat in pieces many people: and I will consecrate their gain unto the Lord, and their substance unto the Lord of the whole earth (Micah 4:13).”

Covenant understanding is the kingdom message that will consume all the deceptive practices of religion, and it shall stand forever! “In the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever (Daniel 2:44).”

God is with us so long as we work together in agreement with his word. “According to the word that I covenanted with you… so my spirit remains among you: fear ye not (Haggai 2:5).”

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Message of the Covenants

“I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me… even the messenger of the covenant (Malachi 3:1,KJV).” By grace this is the long anticipated covenant message; a promised message preordained to overturn the practices of religion (Ezekiel 21:27,KJV); and brought forth to to turn the counsel of wise men backward, and to make their knowledge foolishness (Isaiah 44:25,KJV). This message also serves as a warning unto all of God's people: prepare the way for the pending judgment of our God.

God initiated worship. He gave believers a pattern for the sanctuary, and thereby God inspired the creation of gathering places for his people. The sanctuary was purposed to be a place for sanctifying God's elect, and for bringing glory unto God's name. Misunderstood and misrepresented teachings of God's word, instigated “religion.” Religion scripted rules for acquiring salvation, rules which have held in place for generations. These rules were founded upon God’s word, which is why they are nearly impossible to defeat. End times are about God defeating the rules of religion.

God scripted those verses which separated the religions. He allowed for certain verses to be like stumbling stones, and as stones which could be thrown at one another. These defiant verses produced a need to study his word, and to call upon him for answers. Then the fortitude of God granted salvation based upon covenants. He spoke covenants; knitting them together as one, calling them “the everlasting covenant.” God gave Christ’s flesh, his teachings, as a covenant (John 17:4; Isaiah 49:8,KJV), but equally as important, God poured Christ’s blood out upon all covenants (Zechariah 9:11,KJV). The blood of one spotless lamb, is, “the blood of the everlasting covenant (Hebrews 13:20,KJV).” That means that Jesus' blood is the promised establishment for all of God's covenants: his blood is the believer's assurance that everyone who makes, or has made, an obedient decision to know who God is, and to do his will, will reap eternal rewards. “I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a god unto thee, and to thy seed after thee (Genesis 17:7,KJV).”

Fear of making mistakes strengthened religion; but Christ’s blood triumphs over the power of man's mistakes by establishing salvation that is based upon covenants. The power of God's covenants is evidenced in verses, like, “I will give them one heart, and one way that they may fear me forever (Jeremiah 32:39,KJV),” and, “Cursed be the man that obeys not the words of his covenant (Jeremiah 11:3,KJV).” God allowed the power of his covenants to be misunderstood and to remain elusive until the day that he would release the surprise ending which would not only correct his flock, but it will most assuredly punish the hypocrites (Isaiah 33:14; Jeremiah 23:20,KJV).

Christ’s covenant is elusive. “He will show them his covenant (Psalms 25:14,KJV).” Believers are to accept Christ's yoke, and become his bride. “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me (Matthew 11:29).” Christ's yoke has to do with his burden, which is to do the work of the Father and to demonstrate godliness to the world, and help others know and believe that God exists. Believers are to take Jesus' yoke upon themselves. This is initiated by vowing to learn of Jesus. Union happens when two of you agree together as one, wherefore believers must keep their vow, and continue to walk together and learn of Jesus, until the two of you become one flesh. Ultimately the words "one flesh" allow that the two of you will be in perfect agreement with the Lord God, and with his word.

Covenants began with Noah. God used an awe-inspiring rainbow to demonstrate that his covenants are forever (Genesis 9:13,KJV)! God gave his people covenants through Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, and ultimately Jesus Christ. He partitioned a separate covenant for the priesthood (Deuteronomy 17:19-20; Joshua 1:8; Malachi 2:8,KJV), and gave believers the promise of a new covenant (Hosea 2:18,KJV). Incidentally, an aloof covenant is revealed in the words “my covenant with them.” Are we privy to an Islamic covenant? (Isaiah 59:21,KJV).

A “perpetual covenant” was written in the ten commandments; Remember the Sabbath Day and keep it Holy (Exodus 31:16,KJV). Could the Sabbath day covenant be God's way of preserving a remnant in every religion? “I will make all my mountains a way (Isaiah 49:11,KJV).”

Let’s consider the massive Jewish crowds and priests which eye witnessed the power, doctrine, and miraculous healings of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ exemplified change, and rattled the Jews of his day by audaciously braking their covenant (John 5:16,KJV). Fear of making mistakes against God, held the Jews captive. Despite the miracles before them, many Jews hoped in the laws of their temple, and Christ was crucified.

Ironically, Jesus' death spared Judaism. The Jewish priests feared, “If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him (John 11:48,KJV).” Scripture says that the high priest prophesied: that means, God gave him a message for their nation: “One man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not (John 11:50,KJV).” God intentionally preserved Judaism to admonish His children: Religion contains powerful misunderstandings, but God foreordained its mission.

God designated four carpenters to build His house (Zechariah 1:20, KJV). Their assignment was to increase the knowledge of Him. An image in the book of Daniel is purposed to identify these four carpenters (Chapter two). The head of gold announces the first of Abraham’s nations, descendants of Ishmael and Esau that eventually culminated into Islam (Numbers 24:20; Genesis 36:12,KJV). Silver marks Judaism, and brass depicts Christianity (Christ’s feet; Revelation 1:15,KJV). The iron symbolizes God’s rod which was given to the priesthood, categorized separately, because they had no inheritance in the land (Ezekiel 44:28,KJV). God expressly inhabits all four aspects of the image, but is not bound by their practices (Psalms 82:1,KJV). Christ is poised to cast the stone preordained to thresh them all. This will leave one mountain, Mount Zion, wherein God’s house will be established; and all nations shall flow unto it (Isaiah 2:2,KJV).

“When you shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place (Matthew 24:15,KJV).” There it stands, one statue, prepared expressly for you. The religious rules which are presently standing in our pulpits, are not God. God prepared covenants to safely lead his children home. Will you see the abomination of desolation, or choose to follow the dictates? Choosing incorrectly, is abomination. “Behold, ye are nothing, and your work is as nought: an abomination is he that chooseth you (Isaiah 41:24,KJV).”

“Time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God (1Peter 4:17,KJV).” Christians, God is preparing to pour pestilence upon those within the church that have forgotten him (Lamentations 2:6, Daniel 9:27, Ezekiel 7:15, James 5:3,KJV). This is the consequence for not listening to his word, and for not hearing his messengers (Job 31:3, Isaiah 28:21, Jeremiah 29:32,KJV). “Righteousness shall go before him; and shall set us in the way of his steps (Psalms 85:13,KJV).”

The strange act of pouring pestilence upon his people will verify God’s covenant message. Like the pestilence which was poured upon Job, pestilence will be poured upon men who deem themselves innocent. Like the trials of Job, on-lookers will cast cynical accusations upon the afflicted (Psalms 38,KJV). These accusations are a judgment of the Lord God. The accusations are referred to in scripture as the pestilence of the noisome beasts (Ezekiel 14:21,KJV). This pestilence is meant to open the ears of all believers (Job 36:15,KJV). The Lord does not afflict willingly, nor will he cast off forever. He will take the cup of trembling, and put it into the hand of the oppressors (Lamentations 1:21,KJV).

The pestilences will cause news of the covenant message to spread quickly throughout the nations (Revelation 18:10,KJV). They shall look upon the righteous son of God, and mourn for him (Zechariah 12:10,KJV). “He will gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad (John 11:52,KJV).”

“Arise, O God, judge the earth: for thou shalt inherit all nations (Psalms 82:8,KJV).” “Lift up thyself, thou judge of earth: render a reward to the proud (Psalms 94:2,KJV).”

God's word says that when God frames evil against a nation, “If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them (Jeremiah 18:8,KJV).” Our mission is to pray, and help believers turn from the mistakes of their religion and from their religious iniquities, unto the truth of God's word (Jeremiah 26:3,KJV). “Sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the Lord your God, and cry unto the Lord (Joel 1:14,KJV).”

“Fear not the reproach of men… for the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool: but my righteousness shall be forever (Isaiah 51:7-8,KJV).”

The mystery of Babylon pertains to Christian rebellion; it is about the leaders of God's house who have lost their focus. They have forgotten that God's people belong unto Lord God. They say, as Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon did, “I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honor of my majesty (Daniel 4:30,KJV).” Pestilence will overturn all the mistaken, iniquitous practices of Babylon.

“Flee out of the midst of Babylon, and deliver every man his soul: be not cut off in her iniquity; for it is the time of the Lord’s vengeance; He will render unto her a recompense… Babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed: howl for her; take balm for her pain, if so be she may be healed. We would have healed Babylon, but she is not healed: forsake her… Her judgment reaches unto heaven, and is lifted up even to the skies. The Lord hath brought forth our righteousness: come, and let us declare in Zion the work of our God (Jeremiah 51:6-10, KJV).”

This understanding was maintained in the King James Version of the bible. Call on the Father who will help to show you the way. To God be the glory, and the victory, for the Lord God Omnipotent reigns!

“God made his own people to go forth like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock. And he led them on safely, so that they feared not: but the sea overwhelmed their enemies (Psalms 78:52-53,KJV).”