The Language of Prophecy

The Language of Prophecy (Part 1)

Dear Beloved Brethren,

"But it shall be one day which shall be known to the Lord, not day,
nor night: but it shall come to pass, 'THAT AT EVENING TIME IT
SHALL
BE LIGHT.' " (Zechariah 14:7

We cannot but first give God 'THANKS' for the Holy Convocation of
the
Lord's people in the city of Calabar in the Cross River State of
Nigeria between the 11th and 16th of this month as previously
announced. The Lord did great and marvellous things and trully,
His
right hand and His holy arm has gotten Him the victory (Psalms
98:1-3). Surely, His glory has returned unto His people. May that
which He has (and will yet) achieve remain and abound to lead and
motivate His people unto greater heights in Him - AMEN. We do
thank
'YOU' for answering that prayer call - the Lord richly bless you
for
Him. Amen & Amen !!!

We do want to welcome you to this 'HIS VOICE THROUGH THE WEB'. It
is once again 'LIGHT IN THE EVENING TIME.' Be blessed with it and
remember, PASS IT ON TO OTHERS that it might be made plain upon the
tables (of their hearts) so that as they read, they too might run
with it. Other writings have been posted on the Kingdomlife
Website,
so we encourage you to visit that website www.kingdomlife.com and
be blessed. Pray for Brother Bill Gorton also as the Spirit of God
uses him to direct the affairs of that website.

We give thanks to the Lord for giving us such opportunity to bring
to
His people matters that pertain to His divine plans for His church
and the whole of the human race. In this meditation, we shall be
examining some signs and symbols used in the book of Revelation.
We
will be dealing with only five signs and symbols. As mentioned in
the last meeting, this is "LANGUAGE OF PROPHECY - (Part 1)".

Our examination is intended to serve as an additional aid to
understanding the meditation in the latter part of the book of
Revelation.

In the message "Come Up Hither", we are assisted to come to a
heavenly position to see things which must shortly be, things which
must come to pass hereafter. And, we see two contrasting
pictures/imageries that show what will be the outcome of those who
follow the Lamb in faithfulness, and of those who will not allow
the
word of God to influence their lifestyles. Revelation 1:1

"The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto Him, to shew
unto His servants things which must shortly come to pass; and He
sent
and signified it by His angel unto His servant John."

In the third verse, we are told that a blessing is placed upon
those
who read this book and those who hear the words of the prophecy of
this book. There is no mystery about it. I invite you into this
exciting search of the scriptures to discover to yourself, in all
clarity, what God is speaking to His people today. Note that the
words are sent principally to the Lord's people, and we must all
hear
it, in Jesus' name.

We shall be examining five symbols, the first is the 'STAR', the
second is the 'SUN', the third is the 'MOON', (these three shall be
taken together). Then, the fourth of these five symbols is the
'SEA'; and the fifth is the symbol of the 'BEAST'.

Recall that Joseph, the eleventh son of Jacob, had certain dreams,
which he told to his parents and his brothers. We will just take
the
second of these dreams. In Genesis 37, it was recorded that Joseph
had this dream in which he saw the 'SUN', the 'MOON' and the eleven
'STARS' bowing down to him. We know that the brothers had an
interpretation; the parents also knew the meaning of his dream. It
is quite interesting that when we come to Revelation 12, we meet
these three symbols again: a woman clothed with the 'SUN', standing
upon the 'MOON', and having a crown of twelve 'STARS' upon her
head.

Now, what was the interpretation given to the dreams that Joseph
had?
We are told that the father rebuked him and said, "What is this
dream that thou has dreamed? Shall I and thy mother, and thy
brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth?
Will you indeed rule over us?" So, in that dream, the 'SUN' stood
for the person of Jacob, the 'MOON' stood for the person of
Joseph's
mother, while the eleven 'STARS' stood for the eleven brothers.

Now, in Genesis 1, we are told that God made two great lights: the
'SUN' as the greater light and the 'MOON' as the lesser light. The
greater light (the sun) was to rule the day, and the lesser light
(the moon) was to rule the night. They were to divide between
light
and darkness. When we consider this in the light of the
interpretation which Jacob gave to Joseph's dream, we come to the
understanding that the 'SUN' stands for the father in his capacity
to
give light, and separate between light and darkness. The 'MOON',
from what we know naturally, receives light from the 'SUN' and
reflects it. In the seventeenth verse, we are told, ".and He made
the 'STARS' also.". And we know that the 'STARS' also shine light.

Summing up what we have discovered in the first reference to
Genesis
37and Genesis 1, we may say that the 'SUN' represent the Father
figure in His capacity to give Light (Life). The 'MOON' represents
the Mother figure, in her capacity to receive Life (Light) and to
reflect (birth) the same. The 'STARS' represent the capacity to
emit
light particularly in the night season.

In Numbers 24:17, Balaam, in his open vision says, ".I shall see
him,
but not now: there shall come a 'STAR' out of Jacob, and a Sceptre
shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab.".
And,
Bible scholars agree that the 'STAR' referred to is Jesus. In
Revelation 22:16, we know that Jesus Christ is called the bright
and
morning 'STAR'. In II Peter 1:19, He is referred to as the Day
'STAR'. Again in Revelation 2:28, we are told that one of the
rewards of the overcomer is that he would be given the morning
'STAR'. So, it is clear to us that the 'STAR' refers to ruling
functions, governmental and highly developed spiritual graces.
Jesus
in His message to the seven churches was seen holding the seven
'STARS' in His right hand, and He said, ".the seven 'STARS'
represents the angels of the seven churches.". We touched on that
in
the message "Come Up Hither". We noted that the angels are those
who
exercise spiritual leadership in the midst of the various churches.

Please turn with me to Psalm 19, a chapter we will be referring to
again in another connection. Here we find that the figure of the
'SUN' and that of the Bridegroom are associated. We are told that
the words of life create an environment for the Son of God to
tabernacle Himself. He is said to be as a Bridegroom coming out of
His chambers. In Revelation 12, we see a woman clothed with the
'SUN'. And it is clear from other scriptures that the woman is the
church: the bride of Christ. We know that the 'SUN' is Jesus; the
quickening Spirit, in His capacity as Life-giver, imparting life
into
the woman, who receives seed of Him and give birth to a life over
which death has no power. This is said by way of introduction. We
will deal with it more fully when treating Revelation 12.

Now, in Isaiah 60, we see two contrasting verses. The first says
".the 'SUN' shall no longer be thy light by day; neither for
brightness shall the 'MOON' give light unto thee." (verse 19). In
the first reference, the natural sources of light: the 'SUN' and
the
'MOON' are being referred to. But, in the second part of the verse
which says, ".but the Lord shall be unto thee an everlasting light,
and thy God thy glory.", the spiritual equivalence of these two
great
lights are referred to. Christ, the living word is the 'SUN', the
scriptures in its capacity to reflect the light of Jesus Christ, is
the 'MOON'. We call the 'SUN' the Logos, using terms that are
familiar to us, and the 'MOON' Rhema. In the picture that we see
in
Revelation 12, the woman was standing on the good of God's word,
the
covenant that Jesus sealed with His blood. In fact, Galatians 4
tells us that the new covenant can be regarded as a woman. And the
figure of the 'MOON' represents the scriptures; the old and the new
covenants in their capacity to reflect the person, power and
purpose
of the Son of God.

Let us pursue the matter of the 'STARS' a little bit further. What
would the eleven 'STARS' mean? You remember that the twelve sons
of
Jacob were called Patriarchs. That is, they were the beginning of
the twelve tribes of Israel. They were the twelve patriarchs
around
which the nation of Israel was built. So, the twelve 'STARS' in
Revelation 12 would stand for the twelve apostles, those men who by
their ministries, together with the Lord Jesus, constituted the
nursing fathers of the New Testament church. We are, of course,
just
gathering this information to help us in a future date.

Two other things need mentioning in relation to 'STARS' in
prophetic
symbolism. The first is that in Revelation 9:1, 8:10-11, we read
of
a 'STAR' falling down from heaven. What will a fallen 'STAR'
represent? Remember that the church is seen as seated with Christ
in
the heavenly places. Those within the church who have attained to
the estate of the five-fold ministry can be said to be 'STARS' in
the
heavens of God. The church in the time of preparation of God's
heaven. Although each believer is positionally a 'STAR' in that
heaven, ordained to shine forth the light of God to the dark world,
those in the church that stand in the place of spiritual ministries
are, strictly speaking, referred to as 'STARS' in prophetic
scriptures. Remember Revelation 1, Christ was shown holding the
seven 'STARS' in His right hand.

The fallen 'STAR' then will represent someone who has been brought
by
grace to the estate of ministry in the church, and who by reason of
unfaithfulness has lost contact with God, and has begun to live
like
an ordinary man. In Revelation 8:11, we are told that the fallen
'STAR' is called wormwood. Wormwood, we are told, stands for
bitterness. Hence, it is said that the waters were made bitter by
the wormwood. A ministry that is supposed to bring life to the
Lord's people brought bitterness. And just as the bitter water
will
bring death, so will the influence of the fallen ministry bring
death
to those who are exercised under it.

Furthermore, let us consider the imagery of a wandering 'STAR' as
revealed in Jude 1:13. What would a wandering 'STAR' mean? By
analogy, we know that as there are wandering 'STARS', there are
also
fixed 'STARS. In Revelation 12, we are shown a dragon also in the
heavens, the very sphere of the daily living and operations of the
church. And we are told that this dragon cast down a third part of
the 'STARS' of heaven. That is a great fraction when viewed from
the
standpoint of the fact that there are millions of Spirit-filled
believers in the earth. So, a wandering 'STAR' would mean one who
has lost his spiritual distinctiveness. Even though he is still
able
to emit light, now and then, nevertheless, he is out of course,
having lost his spiritual and moral bearing.

In Jude 1:13, we are told such ones are reserved for judgement.
Again, in that chapter, we are shown that moral failures sourced
the
wandering of those 'STARS' from their God pre-determined course.
But
in Daniel 12:3, we are told that ".those that turned away to
righteousness shall shine as the 'STARS' forever and ever.". When
through the word of God and the Spirit of God, a servant of God can
bring the ministration of life to the Lord's people, he is
fulfilling
his ministry. But when the ministry no longer stands in the
interest
of God, then such a one is a wandering 'STAR'.

We have looked at the symbol of the 'SUN', the 'MOON' and the
'STARS'
in a positive sense. We should note, however, that these symbols
can
also be used negatively. For example, in Psalms 121:6, it is said,
".the 'SUN' shall not smite thee by day nor the 'MOON' by night.".
It is clear from the context that these heavenly bodies can also be
used to represent the powers of darkness. In particular, the
'MOON',
being something that rules in the night (and we know that
associated
with the night is darkness and its unfruitful works) is sometimes
used to picture the powers of darkness. The 'STARS', in this
connection, will represent men and women that exercise themselves
in
wickedness, the rulers of the darkness of this world.

By the time we examine the symbol of 'HEAVENS', this will become
very
clear. Just the same way we have 'STARS' in the heavens of God,
there are also evil 'STARS' in the heavenly places that rule this
present world.

We want to move straight to the picture of the 'SEA'. Now in
scriptures, for example, in Revelation 17, we find the mention of a
mass of water. There we are shown a woman, an harlot, sitting upon
many waters. And, in verse 15, the Spirit of God gave the
interpretation, saying that the waters upon which the woman sitteth
represents multitudes of people, tongues and tribes. So, a mass of
water will stand for a great number of people. This figure is
familiar to everyone of us. For example, a great crowd in a public
function, standing or sitting side by side may be described as a
'SEA' of heads. So, the word 'SEA' will represent a multitude of
people. Specifically, it pictures the nations as they are
presently
constituted in their various national boundaries.

But, there is yet another element that we need to bring in relation
to that figure to assist us to get a full understanding. In
Revelation 21:1, we are told John saw a new heaven and a new earth,
for the former heaven and the former earth were taken away, and
there
was no more 'SEA'. Here, we find another usage for the word 'SEA',
closely linked to the first. The 'SEA' in this passage is used to
describe the present social order and the restlessness of this
present world.

This restlessness and rebellion in man usually find expression in
civil unrest, commotion, and wars as men and women rise up against
governments that no longer cater for their welfare. Isaiah 57:20
says the unregenerate, the unsaved, the wicked, is like a raging
'SEA' when it cannot rest. Again in Luke 21:25, we are told that
at
the time of the end, there shall be upon the earth distress of
nations with perplexity; the 'SEA' and the waves roaring.

Daniel 7 teach that it is from such unrest, commotion and wars
(strengthened by the workings of spirit forces upon the sinful
nature
of mankind) that political kingdom emerges. Verse 2 says, ".I saw
in
my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of the 'HEAVEN'
strove
upon the great 'SEA'. And four great beasts came up from the
'SEA'.". So, the world (outside of the church) in their
unregenerate, restless and rebellious condition can be symbolised
by
the word 'SEA'. Here, the emphasis is on the ability of the 'SEA'
to
rage, that unsettled, unruly nature that is easily stirred up at
any
slight provocation. Now, in Revelation 21:1, we are shown that in
the age to come, when Christ's kingdom shall have been established
upon the earth, that condition will no longer be found amongst men.

May God grant it, in Jesus' name.

Now, we go to the next image/sign that we are picking, that is the
'BEAST'. Let us go to Daniel 7:2. There, we are told that the
four
winds of the 'HEAVEN' strove upon the great 'SEA', that is, there
was
an activity from the spiritual realm influencing things on a
world-wide scale. And the Bible says, out of the 'SEA' arose four
great 'BEASTS'. In verse 17, we are told that these four 'BEASTS'
represent four kings. But in verse 23, the four beasts are said to
represent four kingdoms. So, the figure of the 'BEAST' represents
a
kingdom. In addition, it represents prominent persons within that
kingdom. This is important.

To say a 'BEAST' is coming out of the 'SEA' is not to suggest that
a
wild, unusual creature, a big massive animal, is coming up out of
the
'SEA', as some would have us believe. But that is a prophetic way
of
saying that there is something of a government, of a kingdom, of an
empire, that shall emerge out of the nations of the world. Later,
we
will look again at this in a very clear way. The 'BEAST'
symbolises
a kingdom; the kingdom could be political when it is shown to be
coming out of the 'SEA'. It could also be a religious kingdom
(when
the 'BEAST' is pictured as coming out, not from the 'SEA', but from
the 'EARTH'). When we take the symbols of the 'EARTH', the
'HEAVEN',
and some others, this will become very clear.

There is yet another element that need be examined in relation to
the
'BEAST'. For those who are used to foul words, when in common
language, someone says, "you are a goat", the reference is that
there
is a known attitude (behaviour) of the goat, which the person has
just manifested. It may refer to his being stubborn or being
stupid.
So, in seeing one main element in the figure of the beast, we know
that there are certain fully developed characteristics, which the
Lord is speaking about.

There is a little pamphlet that many of us are quite familiar with.

It is called "The heart of a man". There, in the figure of the
heart
of a sinner is seen at least eight beasts, each beast representing
a
particular character trait that is contrary to God's word. For
example, you will find the picture of a dog. The reference is to
lose morals, cheap virtues, persons who cannot keep their bodies in
sanctification.

Thus, when the picture of a single 'BEAST' is used to symbolise an
individual, it means there is a dominant character trait in the
person, which is known of that 'BEAST'. For example, Alexander the
king over the ancient empire of Greece, reputed in history to be a
great one, was represented in Daniel 7 under the symbol of a
leopard
(verse 6). This was because of the swiftness with which he rose up
and led the Grecian Empire into great heights. This swiftness,
among
other traits, is what was represented in the leopard. While the
leopard is known to be ferocious, the lion is known to be full of
strength with devouring powers. So these figures are used in
scriptures to assist in conveying the word of God in a graphic
manner
to those who have ears to hear.

Taking a look at Matthew 7:15, for example, it is evident that the
Lord Jesus Christ was talking about certain persons that may occupy
prominent positions in our society, some of which will be found in
the church. Talking about the false prophet, he says, such a one
is
a ravening wolf, he comes to you in sheep clothing but inwardly, he
is a ravening wolf. Then He went further to say, ".by their
fruits,
ye shall know them.". That is, by the character they display, you
shall know them. For, ".out of the abundance of the heart, the
mouth
speaketh.". If inwardly they are ravening wolves, then, what
things
fill the inside comes out through the mouth.

If we take the picture of the 'BEAST' coming out of the 'EARTH'
(Revelation 13:11-18) for example, we are told it is shaped like a
lamb, having two horns like a lamb, but, when it speaks, it speaks
like a dragon. So, the outward expression of a man's life is
needed
to be able to identify what he is made up of, that is his inward
disposition.

The church of the Old Testament had its own periods of spiritual
declension, when persons occupying positions of authority were
other
than God expected of them. In Ezekiel 22:25-29, we are told that
the
princes of Israel, the priests, the judges and the prophets of
Israel
were ravening beasts. They did not spare the flock. It is this
same
persons that were supposed to feed the people that were skinning
them, and God calls them ravening wolves. Many of such symbols are
used in the book of Revelation. When we come to contrasting
between
the two women, the two lambs, the two harvests, the two cities, the
heaven and the earth, you will find these pictures we have just
examined enabling us have a clear understanding.

We will suggest you go through your scriptures, checking references
that have these five symbols in them, and see the way they are
used.
The way a symbol is used in a given context tells us how we should
understand it. That is, by reading a passage, you will understand
how God intends for us to understand the symbols used. Again, we
will also have you add the figure of the 'HEAVENS' and the 'EARTH'
in
your examination. When in Micah 6 the prophet says, ".Hear ye O
mountains, the Lord's controversy, and ye strong foundations of the
'EARTH'.", was he speaking to the rivers, mountains, trees, land
and
the like which are found on the 'EARTH'? When Moses said, ".Hear O
'HEAVENS', give ear O 'EARTH'.", was he addressing the
constellation
of stars and the planetary bodies?

Brethren, in understanding we ought to be men. When God's word is
clear, there will be no excuse for us to turn our back to God's
call
unto repentance. It is in allowing His word to rule over us that
we
are able to enter into that perfection and glorification He has
reserved for us.

We bless the Lord for His tremendous help towards these meetings by
the power of His Holy Spirit. In our next meeting, we shall be
going
into "THE LANGUAGE OF PROPHECY - (Part 2)" We do covet your
prayers
as always. We encourage 'YOU' to be strong in the Lord and in the
power of His might as you stay blessed in Him.

JESUS IS LORD!
Your Brother - 'Segun Ogunfile.