The Language of Prophecy (Part 2)

 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 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.
 
 The central focus in the first part of our meditation was to draw
 the
 attention of the Lord's people to the fact that God is carrying out
 an intensive work in the midst of the assemblies of His people.
 This
 work is essentially one of cleansing with a view to preparing His
 people for the glory that is to be revealed.  He cleanses by the
 use
 of the Spirit of His word, when through the preaching and teaching
 of
 God's word, He draws the attention of His people to the fact that
 they should cleanse themselves.
 
 There is a washing of the water by the word (Ephesians 5:25).  But
 if
 the Lord's people will not hearken to His corrective ministry, then
 He would use hard agencies; He would use the instrument of
 judgement
 to get their attention.  We know that ".judgement will begin in the
 house of God." (I Peter 4:17).  Those who respond to divine
 dealings
 positively will be fitted to receive the glory, the unlimited
 anointing that is yet to be revealed upon the church.  We can say
 with all authority that the church's finest hour is just about to
 break upon us.
 
 Let us now pick up the meditation on "THE LANGUAGE OF PROPHECY
 (Part
 2)".  Remember that the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of
 prophecy.
  It is the testimony of Jesus that saves and keeps saving until we
 are perfected in His likeness and image.  That being so, the
 prophetic word will take on greater and greater prominence among
 God's people at this time of the end.  And, we know that the
 ministries in the church will begin to turn to prophetic subjects
 as
 God opens the door of understanding of His word.  We begin by
 reading
 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."
 
 Please, take note of the word "signify".  It is the word that tells
 us the book of Revelation will be generously sprinkled with signs,
 symbols, spiritual imageries, and figurative expressions.  The
 purpose is not to mystify the message it carries, but, to bring it
 forth in such a dramatic manner that it leaves a lasting impression
 on those who open up to it.  It is good in the sight of God, and,
 we
 trust it is safe for the Lord's people for this approach to be
 adopted.
 
 We have found in the previous message that the 'SUN' stands for the
 Living word giving light and life unto His people.  The 'MOON'
 stands
 for the Written word, both Old and New Testaments, in their
 capacity,
 when quickened to the understanding of the believer, to reflect the
 Living word.  The 'STARS' stand for persons who have grown in the
 image of the Lord Jesus Christ.  These ones being under the
 influence
 of the Living word and the Written word, exercise ruling functions
 in
 the midst of the Lord's people to bring them also to the same
 experiences, while they as sheep under the great shepherd continues
 to receive light from Him.
 
 The 'BEAST', we said, represents Kingdom, and could represent
 prominent persons within the kingdom.  The kingdom could either be
 political or religious.  Then, the 'SEA' we saw represents the
 Nations of the unsaved world, in their restless and troubled state.
 
 In this part, we will begin with the symbol of 'HEAVEN'.  In
 Matthew
 6:9, we find Jesus teaching His disciples how to pray.  And He
 said,
 when you pray, say, ".Our Father who is in 'HEAVEN'.".  Again,
 Psalm
 115:16, says, ".the 'HEAVEN', even the 'HEAVENS' belong unto God,
 but
 the 'EARTH' has He given unto the children of men.".  From these
 two
 scriptures, one usage of the word 'HEAVEN' is that it represents
 the
 sphere of the immortal God, the place of the dwelling of spirit
 angels who are in the service of God.  That 'HEAVEN', the place of
 the LORD God Almighty and the sphere of the existence of the spirit
 angels, is not to be found in the material world.
 
 You remember that God made the material world out of the things
 that
 are in Him.  Being the Self-Existent One, He could not possibly be
 living in the material world and deriving its existence from it.
 God
 does not need oxygen or any form of sustenance from the material
 world.  Rather, the material world is sustained by the word of His
 power.  Therefore, the first usage of the word 'HEAVEN' is that it
 represents the abode of the Most High God, that realm of glory and
 power that sustains the material universe.
 
 Again, in John 3:13, we see Jesus speaking to Nicodemus, saying
 ".no
 man has ever ascended unto 'HEAVEN', but He that came down from
 'HEAVEN', even the Son of man which is in 'HEAVEN'.".  Reading that
 verse several times over, you will understand Jesus was saying
 that,
 though He was physically present upon the earth in the days of His
 flesh, He was nevertheless in 'HEAVEN'.  The reference in that
 passage is to the fact that He had access to heavenly power, glory,
 authority and majesty.  Again, we notice that if that is true of
 Him,
 it could be true also of persons called unto salvation and fitted
 to
 receive the inheritance of the eternal kingdom of our Lord Jesus
 Christ.
 
 Then, in Psalm 103:19, we are told that ".the Lord God has prepared
 His throne in the 'HEAVENS' (take note of the distinction between
 'HEAVEN' and 'HEAVENS'), and that His kingdom ruleth over all.
 Again
 in Daniel 4, a chapter penned by Nebuchadnezer after he had
 experienced God's judgement.  While giving his testimony, in the
 seventeenth verse, he says, the things that happened to him did
 happen so that all of creation might know that the Most High God
 ruleth in the kingdoms of men.
 
 In the twenty-sixth verse of the chapter, when Daniel was giving
 the
 interpretation, he said the thing that happened did happen to the
 intent that the living (that is, creation) might know that the
 'HEAVENS' do rule.  If you look at what Nebuchadnezer said in the
 seventeenth verse, considered in the light of what Daniel said in
 the
 twenty-sixth verse, you will find that the Most High God who ruleth
 in the affairs of men, does so in His (or, by means of His)
 'HEAVENS'.  And, the context is quite clear.  The judgement that
 came
 upon Nebuchadnezer was sourced by certain persons who, seeing
 certain
 abominations in the kingdom of Nebuchadnezer, prayed unto God and
 decreed judgement.  We are told that the decree was of the 'holy
 watchers', and of the 'holy ones'.  God's administration of His
 universe therefore, is done through what might be called the
 'HEAVENS'.
 
 The 'HEAVENS' in this connection stand for the realm of Spirit
 angels
 and the realm of the church.  God does all that He does through His
 Spirit angels and through His church.  In the Old Testament age,
 the
 Spirit angels occupied a realm of authority and power that was
 higher
 than that of men who sought God under that covenant, that is, the
 church of the Old Testament.  But, in the New Testament, the church
 occupies a position of authority and power that is higher than that
 of Spirit angels.  In fact, the Spirit angels wait upon the
 ministry
 of the church.  In other words, the primary authority is in the
 hands
 of the church (Hebrews 1:5-14).  So, when the Bible says, ".the
 'HEAVENS' do rule.", the reference is to the fact that God's power
 and ruling functions is administered through agencies who could be
 Spirit angels or His people, the church.  These are the 'HEAVENS',
 and they are said to be the 'holy ones', the 'holy watchers', who
 watch to promote the interest of God in His universe.
 
 We have so far examined two meanings of the word 'HEAVEN'.  First,
 we
 said heaven represent the place of God's dwelling , and the
 dwelling
 (realm) of Spirit angels in the administration of God, even though,
 even though, we know that God would have to humble Himself for His
 creatures (whether spirit or human) to see Him.  When God appears
 in
 the form the angels can see, He is said to be an angel of the Lord.
 
 The same is true when He comes in our visions and prophetic dreams.
 
 What we see is only a manifestation of the Lord's presence.  We
 also
 saw that the 'HEAVENS' stand for God's administration, the church
 and
 the Spirit angels who administer the interest of God.
 
 Next, we note that the 'HEAVEN' could also be used to typify the
 firmament, which is the atmospheric heaven.  For example, Psalm
 103:13 says, ".as the 'HEAVENS' are higher than the 'EARTH' so is
 God's mercy great to them that fear Him.".  The reference here is
 to
 the atmospheric 'HEAVEN'.  This will mean the sky in its high reach
 compared to the 'EARTH' upon which we are standing.
 
 Again, in II Corinthians 5, we find another usage of the word
 'HEAVEN'.  In verse 1, we read:
 
 "For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were
 dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands,
 eternal in the 'HEAVENS'."
 
 When this verse of scripture is read in the context of the
 preceding
 three verses, we find that the 'HEAVENS' referred to there is the
 realm of the regenerated spirit of man.  The reference there is not
 to the atmospheric 'HEAVENS' or to a geographical location above
 the
 planetary bodies, but to the sphere of the regenerated spirit where
 the Holy Spirit resides.  This is clear.  It says, ".if our earthly
 house of this tabernacle were dissolved.".  The reference here is
 to
 the physical body.  We are told that if our physical, earthly
 (fleshly) body is destroyed in death, we have another body, not
 made
 with hands, eternal in the heavens.  This is clearly an invisible
 body, and that invisible body is located in our spirit realm.
 
 Reading this preceding verses, you will come to understand that the
 descent of that invisible (divine) body (for it is contained within
 the physical body) occurs as the believer co-operate with the Lord
 Jesus Christ, receiving His word and submitting to His rule.  So
 Paul
 says, ".in this physical, earthly tabernacle we groan, earnestly
 desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from
 'HEAVEN'.".
 And he said that he was not seeking for this experience through the
 gateway of death, that is, to be unclothed, to give up the physical
 body in physical death, but that he might be clothed upon
 additionally.  That is, he was desiring that what was mortal and
 incorruptible in his body might be swallowed up of the life that
 proceed from the 'HEAVEN' of his spirit nature.
 
 The blue print of all things that are contained in the inheritance
 of
 the believer are entered into as the Holy Spirit makes Christ known
 and incorporate Christ in our nature.  So Paul was speaking of two
 bodies that are realities in the believer.  The first, our human
 body, which is earthly, and the other, our spirit body that is
 heavenly and is a reality in our regenerated spirit, which is here,
 called the heavens.  And he was desiring that while yet alive, the
 power of Christ life would so work in him that death and mortality
 might be swallowed up by the life that comes from his spirit, that
 he
 might be clothed upon with a spirit body which is eternal.  So, the
 word 'HEAVENS' could also be used for man's spirit.  We move yet to
 another usage.
 
 In Micah 6:2, we find the prophet reporting a controversy between
 God
 and His people.  And, in proclaiming the Lord's word, he said,
 ".hear
 ye, O mountains, the Lord's controversy, ye strong foundations of
 the
 earth.".  And lest we begin to think the prophet is out of his mind
 to be talking to mountains and rocks, he explains himself in the
 verses following showing to us that the mountains and the earth he
 was addressing were the Lord's people.  Again, in Deuteronomy 32,
 Moses was preaching and said, ".give ear O 'HEAVENS' and hear O
 'EARTH'.".  We know that Moses was not speaking to the 'MOON' and
 'STARS' or planetary bodies, but to the Lord's people, those whom
 by
 reason of divine dealings have been brought to the estate of
 spiritual leadership and those of the Lord's people who receive
 ministries from them.  Moses was saying that these ones, His
 princes
 and His people, should hear and consider God's word.
 
 Thus, the word 'HEAVENS' and 'EARTH' are sometimes used to
 represent
 God's people.  The 'HEAVENS' would refer to the leadership over
 Israel, those who stand in the place of authority to administer the
 day-to-day governance of the polity of Israel.  These include the
 priests, the prophets, the king and princes.  The 'EARTH' is then
 used in a positive sense to represent the generality of the Lord's
 people (outside the above classes).  As we shall discover later,
 the
 word 'EARTH' can also be used to represent those of the Lord's
 people
 that are earthly-minded (that is using the word in a negative
 sense).
 
 So, the word 'HEAVEN' can refer to spiritual leadership.  Spiritual
 leadership can also be represented as mountain.  For example, in
 Micah 6:2, that we read, the mountain in question is the spiritual
 leadership over Israel.  Hence, in this context, both the mountains
 and the 'HEAVENS' speak of the same set of people.
 
 We move to another usage of the word 'HEAVEN'.  We are told in
 Ephesians 2:6 that the church is sitting in 'HEAVENLY' places in
 Christ Jesus.  Thus, the present sphere of the church's ministry
 and
 the present sphere of the believer's daily living is in the
 'HEAVENS'.  This is the picture we find almost throughout the book
 of
 Revelation.  So, when certain things are revealed as being in
 'HEAVEN', the present sphere of the activities and ministry of the
 church is referred to.
 
 Now, let us divert for some little time to talk about the 'EARTH'.
 Psalm 115:16 which we have referred to earlier on reveal that the
 'EARTH' could stand for the habitable part of our world; the land
 mass.  Again, the word 'EARTH', can stand for man's body.  This
 should be clear.  If the spirit stands for the 'HEAVENS', then the
 'EARTH' could represent man's body.  In Genesis 2:7, we are told
 God
 made man out of the dust of the 'EARTH'.  So the human body,
 'EARTHY'
 as it is, could be represented by the word 'EARTH'.
 
 Again, the word 'EARTH' could represent the social order of the
 present world, the systems and order that operate in the present
 world.  It is this social order, which finds expressions in the
 kingdoms of this world, that is being referred to in scriptures
 when
 it is said, ".the 'EARTH shall pass away." (Matthew 5:18).
 
 Closely related to the above, the word 'EARTH' can be used to
 represent the peoples that inhabit the world.  For example, when it
 is said that the knowledge of the glory of God shall cover the
 earth
 as the waters cover the sea, it is talking of the tremendous
 blessings that the ministry of the perfected church shall bring
 upon
 the nations of the world.  We know that the overcoming church will
 shepherd the nations to the pure worship of Jehovah.  So, the word
 'EARTH' could stand for persons within our world.
 
 Finally, the word 'EARTH' could be a figure for apostasy.  Putting
 it
 more appropriately, when believers are living like those who are
 not
 yet saved in their affections, desires, wills and emotions, they
 are
 said to be dwelling upon the 'EARTH'.  There are two minds ruling
 in
 the church - the mind of the flesh which brings about death and
 death
 things, and, the mind of the Spirit which brings life and peace
 (Romans 8:1-7).  Paul in Philippians 3:18, lamented that in the
 church of his day, there were those who conducted their affairs as
 enemies of the cross of Christ, ".whose God is their belly, whose
 glory is in their shame, who mind 'EARTHLY' things.".  And in
 Colossians 3:5, we are told to mortify therefore our members that
 are
 upon the 'EARTH'.  Again, in Revelation 3:10, we are shown that
 there
 is an hour of trial that shall come upon all them that dwell upon
 the
 'EARTH'.
 
 When these verses are read and considered together, it becomes
 clear
 that the word 'EARTH' could mean believers who are allowing the
 works
 of the flesh to gain prominence in their lives, men and women
 called
 to an 'HEAVENLY' course, who rather chose to follow an 'EARTHLY'
 course.  When this is considered in the light of II Thessalonians
 2,
 we find that it is in the time of spiritual declension, a time when
 there is a lowering of spiritual standards, a time of apostasy,
 that
 the antichrist makes itself manifest.  And the antichrist is a
 many-member body, as John revealed in I John 2, that is consisting
 of
 many persons.
 
 So, we find that the word 'EARTH' could speak of a class of people
 who are saved but who do not allow Christ to rule over their lives.
 
 So that, in the atmosphere that they sustain, in the large crowd
 that
 they maintain, it is possible for deception to overtake them.  From
 this 'EARTH' class, we are told that a beast (a religious kingdom)
 shall emerge (Revelation 13:11).
 
 We judge that we have said enough to assist any to do a more
 detailed
 study on these two great symbols, which are used frequently in the
 book of Revelation.  The Lord bless you, the Lord cause His face to
 shine upon you, the Lord do you good.  The Lord enable you to put
 to
 death, and the Lord enable us to put to death, whatever is
 'EARTHLY'
 in our lives, for when the Lord comes to judge sin, He will judge
 sin
 wherever it is found, whether in the church, or out of it.  And
 when
 we live our lives holy unto the Lord, we are able to sustain a
 spirit
 of discernment by which we are able to know what things are not in
 agreement with the Lord's mind.
 
 Beloved Brethren, once again, We bless you in the name of the Lord
 Jesus, whose we are and whom we serve.  By our next meeting, we
 will
 be considering "THE LANGUAGE OF PROPHECY (Part 3)". Don't give up,
 keep on praying.
 
 JESUS IS LORD!
 Your Brother - 'Segun Ogunfile.