Jehoshua is on the throne of David in New Jerusalem and He is the King of a New Israel
They say like father like son and this is no less true of Jehoshua Messiah and His Father Jehovah. Unfortunately, the Christian churches have largely sanitized the Messiah into a flower child hippy. However, the real Son of God is anything but a flower child hippy. The Jehoshua of the bible is like his Father Jehovah:
Exodus 15:1-3 1 Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto Jehovah, and spake, saying, I will sing unto Jehovah, for he hath triumphed gloriously: The horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. 2 Jehovah is my strength and song, And he is become my salvation: This is my God, and I will praise him; My father`s God, and I will exalt him. 3 Jehovah is a man of war: Jehovah is his name. "My father's God" refers to Jehovah being the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Here the children of Israel are praising Jehovah God for destroying the Egyptian's. Notice they are not mourning for their enemies but celebrating their demise. This celebration by Israel at the destruction of their enemies is also seen in Revelation 19 prior to second advent of Jehoshua when he treads the winepress of his Father's wrath. We will look at Revelation 19 later in this study. In verse 3 the children of Israel identify Jehovah as a man of war. Being a warrior is a part of Jehovah's divine character. As stated above like father like son. Hebrews 1:3 says that Jehoshua is the express image of Jehovah God: Hebrews 1:3 "Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high" Jehoshua being the express image of God's person especially denotes character. Paul says that Jehoshua is the power and wisdom of God: 1 Corinthians 1:24 "but unto them that are called, both Judeans and Greeks, Messiah the power of God, and the wisdom of God" Jehoshua is the power and wisdom of Jehovah God. This means he has the mind of God. God's wisdom is fully made evident in Jehoshua His Son. Numbers 21:14 "Wherefore it is said in the book of the Wars of Jehovah, Vaheb in Suphah, And the valleys of the Arnon" There was actually an ancient book called the "wars of Jehovah". This book likely detailed Israe's battles against their enemies. Zechariah 14:3-4 3 Then shall Jehovah go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. 4 And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east; and the mount of Olives shall be cleft in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, [and there shall be] a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south. Many modern Christians try to water down the true war-like character of Jehovah and make every excuse in the book as to why He destroyed whole nations including the women and children, however it is clear that Jehovah is experienced in battle. At the second advent of Messiah, it will be just another battle that Jehovah will fight on behalf of His people. His last day war against the nations will be just as when he fought in the previous battles against them. It's important to note the warrior spirit of our God so that we can have a better understanding of His Son Jehoshua. Joshua 10:14 "And there was no day like that before it or after it, that Jehovah hearkened unto the voice of a man: for Jehovah fought for Israel" Jehovah destroyed 5 kings and their armies that came against Israel. He had the sun and moon stay still until Joshua made an end of them. It was Jehovah that fought against and destroyed Israe's enemies even though Joabua and Israel were doing the battle on the ground. Joshua 10:43 "And all these kings and their land did Joshua take at one time, because Jehovah, the God of Israel, fought for Israel" Ultimately it was Jehovah doing the battle against the Amorite kings and their lands. He even dropped hailstones on them which killed more of the Amorites than the sword did: Joshua 10:11 "And it came to pass, as they fled from before Israel, while they were at the descent of Beth-horon, that Jehovah cast down great stones from heaven upon them unto Azekah, and they died: they were more who died with the hailstones than they whom the children of Israel slew with the sword" This will be similar to the great and terrible day of Jehovah when he drops hailstones on the wicked. It is noteworthy that Joshua was from the tribe of Ephraim. Ephraim received the first born inheritance blessing from Israel (Genesis 48). This is the first born blessing given to Ephraim by way of Joseph; Genesis 49:22-26 22Joseph is a fruitful bough, A fruitful bough by a fountain; His branches run over the wall. 23 The archers have sorely grieved him, And shot at him, and persecute him: 24 But his bow abode in strength, And the arms of his hands were made strong, By the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob, (From thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel), 25 Even by the God of thy father, who shall help thee, And by the Almighty, who shall bless thee, With blessings of heaven above, Blessings of the deep that coucheth beneath, Blessings of the breasts, and of the womb. 26 The blessings of thy father Have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors Unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills: They shall be on the head of Joseph, And on the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren. Even though Judah was given the Kingship of Israel Ephraim as a tribe was given the preeminent status as the first born son. Verse 24 definitely applies to Joshua as Jehovah God made his bow, arms, hands strong and mighty. Joshua was a savior of Israel hence the crown was upon his head as he was a type of king fulfilling the first born blessings given to Joseph and Ephraim. It is noteworthy that Joshua and Jehoshua are the same name showing that the warrior Joshua is a prototype of the Messiah Jehoshua. Genesis 49:8-12 8 Judah, thee shall thy brethren praise: Thy hand shall be on the neck of thine enemies; Thy father`s sons shall bow down before thee. 9 Judah is a lion`s whelp; From the prey, my son, thou art gone up: He stooped down, he couched as a lion, And as a lioness; who shall rouse him up? 10 The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, Nor the ruler`s staff from between his feet, Until Shiloh come: And unto him shall the obedience of the peoples be. 11 Binding his foal unto the vine, And his ass`s colt unto the choice vine; He hath washed his garments in wine, And his vesture in the blood of grapes: 12 His eyes shall be red with wine, And his teeth white with milk. This is the blessing given to Judah which is the tribe that Jehoshua sprang from. The tribe of Judah was given the Kingship and the prophecy that his hand would be on the neck of his enemies. This denotes violent dominance. Back to Joshua, he actually did this in chapter 10 to the Amorite kings: Joshua 10:22-26 22 Then said Joshua, Open the mouth of the cave, and bring forth those five kings unto me out of the cave. 23 And they did so, and brought forth those five kings unto him out of the cave, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, the king of Eglon. 24 And it came to pass, when they brought forth those kings unto Joshua, that Joshua called for all the men of Israel, and said unto the chiefs of the men of war that went with him, Come near, put your feet upon the necks of these kings. And they came near, and put their feet upon the necks of them. 25 And Joshua said unto them, Fear not, nor be dismayed; be strong and of good courage: for thus shall Jehovah do to all your enemies against whom ye fight. 26 And afterward Joshua smote them, and put them to death, and hanged them on five trees: and they were hanging upon the trees until the evening Joshua literally had the chief men of Israel put their feet on the necks of the kings of the rival nations. He put them to death and hung them on trees. This doesn't sound very nice does it? Let's go to the gospel of Luke and see what Jehoshua is gonna do to the unbelievers upon his return: Luke 19:27 "But these mine enemies, that would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me" The word slay is translated from the greek word "katasphatto" (Strongs 2695) and means "to kill down, slaughter, slay". Do you hear what Jehoshua says he is going to do to his enemies? The word slay means "slaughter". This is not the Jehoshua you hear being preached in the churches of Christendom. However, this is the Jehoshua of the bible. The Son of God is going to slaughter his enemies just as his prototype Joshua slaughtered his. Like Joshua, Jehoshua will be empowered by his God Jehovah. Back to the Genesis prophecy about the Judean king. Verse 10 says the sceptre shall not depart from Judah. This is connected with the Davidic covenant and was fulfilled at Messiah's ascension into heaven (Hebrews 1;8-9). Verse 11 of Genesis 49 says that the King Jehoshua will wash his garments in wine and his vesture in the blood of grapes. This means he will be a warrior that kills many people, so much so that his garments will be full of the blood of his enemies. The grapes symbolize the wicked i.e. the grapes of wrath. He washes his garments in wine which is grapes which again symbolizes the blood of his enemies. The washing of his garments in wine means that his clothes are completely stained with the blood of his enemies. This prophecy is stated in Isaiah 63: 1 Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, marching in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. 2 Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winevat? 3 I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the peoples there was no man with me: yea, I trod them in mine anger, and trampled them in my wrath; and their lifeblood is sprinkled upon my garments, and I have stained all my raiment. 4 For the day of vengeance was in my heart, and the year of my redeemed is come.5 And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me; and my wrath, it upheld me. 6 And I trod down the peoples in mine anger, and made them drunk in my wrath, and I poured out their lifeblood on the earth. This prophecy of Isaiah concerning Jehoshua is never talked about in churches. Why is this? Because it will destroy the false effeminate hippy Jehoshua preached by mainstream churches and even non mainstream denominations or movements. Verse 1 of Isaiah 63 is describing the conquering Davidic King. Verse 2 mirrors the Judean prophecy in Genesis 49:11 where the King washes his garments in wine and in the blood of grapes. Verse 2 of Isaiah 63 says his apparel (vesture, clothing) will be red meaning full of blood. Red like the winefat as those who trodden grapes under their feet in the winepress. Verse 3, Jehoshua's return will be so violent that he will stain all his garment with the lifeblood of the Edomites. He will do this in his wrath and anger. This totally goes against the effeminate portrayals of the Son of God as well as the fanciful rapture scenarios. The Messiah comes back to fight a physical war and He gets all his clothing stained with the blood of the Edomites. Verses 4 and 5, Jehoshua is doing this killing willingly and with pleasure as he says the day of vengeance is in his heart. The day of vengeance for the Edomites (Jewry) is the day of redemption for Jehoshua's brethren (Israel). Verse 6, Jehoshua makes the Edomites drunk in the cup of His Father's wrath, he gives them a double cup of judgement for their violence against others. They will drink of the wine of violent wrath. The Son of God again emphasizes that this will be a bloody thing as he says he will pour out the lifeblood of the Edomites on the earth. Let's go to Psalm chapter 2: 6 Yet I have set my king Upon my holy hill of Zion. 7 I will tell of the decree: Jehovah said unto me, Thou art my son; This day have I begotten thee. 8 Ask of me, and I will give [thee] the nations for thine inheritance, And the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. 9 Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; Thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter`s vessel. 10 Now therefore be wise, O ye kings: Be instructed, ye judges of the earth. 11 Serve Jehovah with fear, And rejoice with trembling. 12 Kiss the son, lest he be angry, and ye perish in the way, For his wrath will soon be kindled. After the persecution of the Messiah, Jehovah sets him upon the holy hill of Zion. This refers to the resurrection and ascension to the throne of David in New Jersuslem.(Acts 2:29-31; Hebrews 1:8-9; Acts 13:32-35). Verse 7 is a coronation hymm of an Israelite King as Jehovah begets Jehoshua into Kingship. It is a spiritual begetting as the Davidic King is anointed with the Spirit of Jehovah to rule the house of Israel. This passage also applies to Jehoshua's baptism since that was His anointing as King of Israel even though he wouldn't sit on the throne until his ascension. Jehovah God established a father-son covenant relationship with the royal seed of David (2nd Samuel 7). The anointing of the Davidic King was equivalent to him being begotten as God's son. Verse 8, the nations that will be given to the Son of God are the nations of the world. The Son of God's kingdom will cover the whole earth i.e. the Kingdom under the whole heaven as stated in Daniel 7. The uttermost parts of the earth will be under the authority and possession of Jehoshua. These nations are the kingdoms of this earth and the will become the kingdoms of Jehovah God and His Messiah: Revelation 11:15 "And the seventh angel sounded; and there followed great voices in heaven, and they said, The kingdom of the world is become [the kingdom] of our Lord, and of his Christ: and he shall reign for ever and ever" Jehoshua's kingdom is forever as stated by Isaiah the proohet: Isaiah 9:6-7 6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of Jehovah of hosts will perform this. The Kingdom of the Son of God is conducted from the throne of David and it is an everlasting Kingdom and Jehovah His God will see to it. So what happens to the nation's that are given as an inheritance to Jehoshua? In verse 9 it says he breaks them to pieces like a potter's vessel. This means he destroys them. See Jeremiah 18 and 19 for the results of what happens when a potter's vessel is broken to pieces. In verses 10-12, the mighty men of the earth, kings and judges are instructed to fear Jehovah God and worship His Son. There is a blessing when leaders of nations run their countries with a fear of God. The psalmist is saying this in contradiction to the nations raging and imagining vain things against Jehovah and His Messiah in the first few verses. Those who don't worship Jehovah God and honor His Son will be met with the wrath of Jehoshua whose wrath is kindled easily. Revelation 19:11-13 11 And I saw the heaven opened; and behold, a white horse, and he that sat thereon called Faithful and True; and in righteous he doth judge and make war. 12 And his eyes [are] a flame of fire, and upon his head [are] many diadems; and he hath a name written which no one knoweth but he himself. 13 And he [is] arrayed in a garment sprinkled with blood: and his name is called The Word of God. This is describing Jehoshua at His coming and John says that he will make war and judge in righteousness. This means that all the other texts depicting Jehoshua killing and slaughtering people are done in righteousness. This definitely destroys the false image the churches have of Jehoshua. It would be offensive to many believers today the idea that the Son of God is gonna kill people at his second advent. His eyes are as a flame of fire representing judgement. Jehoshua the Son of God will judge the wicked and unbelieving upon his return at the valley of Jehoshaphat. This world's ideology that teaches "don't judge" will be proven to be an ideaology of Satan as that is the very thing Jehoshua will do. The Messiah will judge and condemn every Sodomite, transgender and every practitioner of every other religion. Jehoshua has a majestic (many diadems) crown. The many doesn't denote the amount of crowns Jehoshua wears for he only wears one and it is the crown of David. Here in Revelation just as in Isaiah and Genesis 49 we read that the King of Israel will have his garments sprinkled in blood in connection with his judgement of the nations and his destruction of them. This indicates a real physical war. Revelation 19:14-15 14 And the armies which are in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white [and] pure. 15 And out of his mouth proceedeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness of the wrath of God, the Almighty. Jehoshua will not be alone he will have his army with him. The purpose is war. The sharp sword that comes out of his mouth is a literal sword that he will use to execute vengeance on the wicked. The language of it coming out of his mouth shows that he will judge the nation's with the sword. The result of ruling the nation's with a rod of iron is that not that Jehoshua will politically rule over them but rather that they will be dashed to pieces like a potters vessel as stated in Psalm 2. The rest of the context of Revelation 19 supports that the nation's will be destroyed at the second advent of Messiah. Also in verse 15, we see the language of Jehoshua treading the winepress just as we see it in Genesis 49 and Isaiah 63 as well as Revelation 14. Jehoshua is going to execute His Father's wrath against the wicked, he is going to tread them underfoot like they are grapes and they are in the winepress. This is why he will have his garments sprinkled with blood. Revelation 19:16-18 16 And he hath on his garment and on his thigh a name written, KINGS OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. 17.And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in mid heaven, Come [and] be gathered together unto the great supper of God; 18 that ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses and of them that sit thereon, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, and small and great. Jehoshua is the Davidic King of bible prophecy whose kingdom has no end (2nd Samuel 7). He is the ultimate King above all other kings. Just as there will be the marriage supper of the Lamb for the bride of Messiah there will be a great supper of God for the wicked. The birds of the heaven will be the guests and the wicked will be the food. Kings, presidents, prime ministers will be the food for the fowls to eat. Mighty men signifies the dignitaries of the world. It won't only be the military men and political dignitaries that suffer the wrath of the lamb of God but also free men and bond men. Jehoshua is not some communist who is gonna favor people just because they are poor but rather he is going to kill them with the sword and feed them to the birds of the heaven. Those both of high and low estate social will suffer the same fate due to their lawlessness. Revelation 19:19-21 19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat upon the horse, and against his army. 20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought the signs in his sight, wherewith he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast and them that worshipped his image: they two were cast alive into the lake of fire that burneth with brimstone: 21 and the rest were killed with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, [even the sword] which came forth out of his mouth: and all the birds were filled with their flesh. This is not just some spiritual eretheal war it will be tangible and physical and the beast, false prophet and their kingdom are real physical kingdoms. Jehoshua is a real physical being. This war will be motivated by the nation's thinking that Jehoshua and his angels are aliens from outer space and since Hollywood has programmed people to think that such an invasion is possible the whole world will be gathered to fight against the Son of God and his army. Verse 19 says that Jehoshua has an army and every army fights. Jehoshua will cast the beast and false prophet into the lake of fire after he kills them with his double edged sword. Not only they will be killed with brutal violence but also the rest of them meaning the military captains, the mighty men (elite), free men (high social estate) and bond men (low social estate). Jehoshua will feed the sweet old grandma's that rejected him to be eaten by the fowls of heaven. He will kill the poor minimum wage workers that denied his right to rule over their lives and that practiced other religions. Jehoshua is a man of war just like his Father Jehovah. ReplyForward
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This is one of the better known and referenced passages of scripture by what is callled "the church", however the depth of what this passage means is almost always overlooked. This is done either ignorantly or on purpose. There is a seldom if ever talked about truth here in Matthew 16 that behooves the mainstream church to not understand.
In this study, I am only going to focus on the phrase "I will build my church; and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it". When this statement by Jehoshua is discussed in the churches it is always over spiritualized. It is taught in the churches that the gates of hell refers to a literal burning hell where Satan rules and/or Satan's spiritual kingdom where he rules over his demons. While certainly Satan's kingdom is the gates of hell, however his kingdom has physical subjects who are the enemies of the people of God. It is not just a spiritual kingdom but a very real physical kingdom with subjects who are living breathing beings. There is no literal burning spiritual underworld where Satan rules called hell so we can eliminate that from the discussion. This will be a study that the churches will stay away from with a ten foot pole as it upsets their politically correct doctrine of Universalism. They don't want to admit that the church has real life and blood enemies that they (the church) are called to assault. They want to over-spiritualize everything and make the enemies of the church some generic philosophical idealogy. Let's look at Matthew 16: Matthew 16:13-20 13 Now when Jehoshua came into the parts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Who do men say that the Son of man is? 14 And they said, Some say John the Baptist; some, Elijah; and others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets. 15 He saith unto them, But who say ye that I am? 16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Messiah, the Son of the living God. 17 And Jehoshua answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jonah: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I also say unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it. 19 I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 20 Then charged he the disciples that they should tell no man that he was the Messiah. Jehoshua tells Peter that he will build his church (assembly of called out ones) on the confession that he (Jehoshua) is the Son and Messiah of the living God. This in itself is vital in understanding Jehoshua's following words "that the gates of hell shall not prevail against it (the church)". There is so much that can be said about Jehoshua being the Son and Messiah of God but for now let's look at the statement that is the subject of this study. It's easy to look at Jehoshua's statement as a generic statement that Satan will never destroy his church, however there is a deeper truth here and it is prophetic. Let's go back to the book of Genesis: Genesis 22:15-18 15 And the angel of Jehovah called unto Abraham a second time out of heaven, 16 and said, By myself have I sworn, saith Jehovah, because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son, 17 that in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heavens, and as the sand which is upon the seashore. And thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies.18 And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed. Because thou hast obeyed my voice. This is the well known passage where Abraham offers up Isaac his only begotten son (Hebrews 11:17) to Jehovah as a sacrifice as commanded. We know that Jehovah stopped Abraham from doing this. Due to Abraham's faith and obedience, he was blessed with Jehovah reiterating the covenant promises of Genesis 12 that in Abraham's (seed) shall all nations of the earth be blessed. In verse 17 of Genesis 22, Jehovah adds something to the covenant blessings in that Abraham's seed would possess the gates of their enemies. This was definitely implied in Genesis 12 but here it is clearly stated. This is where Jehoshua drew from when he said the gates of hell would not prevail against his church. Often times, we think of Jehoshua's statement as the church being in a defensive posture against the devil, however it is the very opposite. Gates denote trying to keep something out and it is hell that is putting up it's gates against the church not the other way around. This means that the church is to be on a continuous assault against Satan's kingdom which is manifested in human beings and human organizations. Jehovah doesn't just tell Abraham that his seed will possess the gates of some spiritual enemy but rather that they will possess the literal gates of literal enemies. What's amazing about this prophecy is that it wasn't just told to Abraham but also it was said to his son Isaac's wife Rebekah. The title "only begotten" denotes being the son of inheritance which applies to Isaac even though Abraham had other son's and even an older son (Ishmael). This is important to remember as Jehoshua is called the only begotten Son of God. Genesis 24:55-60 55 And her brother and her mother said, Let the damsel abide with us [a few] days, at the least ten. After that she shall go. 56 And he said unto them, Hinder me not, seeing Jehovah hath prospered my way. Send me away that I may go to my master. 57 And they said, We will call the damsel, and inquire at her mouth. 58 And they called Rebekah, and said unto her, Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, I will go. 59 And they sent away Rebekah their sister, and her nurse, and Abraham`s servant, and his men. 60 And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her, Our sister, be thou the mother of thousands of ten thousands, and let thy seed possess the gate of those that hate them. Abraham sent his servant to go get a wife from his kindred for his son because he didn't want Isaac to marry one of the Canaanites. The servant of Abraham asked Rebekah's family if she could go with him right away so that he could present her to Isaac. After Rebekah agrees to go with Abraham's servant instead of delaying it her brother blesses her by telling her that she will be a mother of millions and that her seed (descendants) will possess the gates of those that hate them. Obviously, these that would hate the descendants of Rebekah would be actual people and not just evil spiritual beings. The Abrahamic blessing is confirmed to Rebekah who would be his son Isaac's wife. There is an obvious connection to what Abraham and Rebekah are told to what Jehoshua tells Peter. Jehoshua is outright stating that the Abrahamic promise of possessing the gates of his (Abraham's) enemies now applied to the church (ekklesia) that he (Jehoshua) would build. Just as Isaac was the only begotten son of Abraham and thereby entitled to the covenant promises, Jehoshua's claim of being the Son of the living God entitled him to those same blessings. This is why Jehoshua linked Peter's confession of his (Jehoshua's) Sonship and Messiahship with it being the foundation of the church because as the only begotten Son he inherits the Abrahamic blessings. John 1:51 "And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye shall see the heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man" This statement by Jehoshua is connected to his affirmation of Nathanael's confession that he (Jehoshua) is the Son of God and King of Israel. Jehoshua's statement above is lost on most Christians in terms of prophetic significance. Jehoshua is obviously referring to Genesis 28: 3 And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a company of peoples. 4 And give thee the blessing of Abraham, to thee, and to thy seed with thee. That thou mayest inherit the land of thy sojournings, which God gave unto Abraham. This is the passage of scripture that Jehoshua is referring to in John 1:51. This is where Jacob has the dream of the ladder with angels ascending and descending. The prophetic truth of Jacob's dream is lost on most Christians. The dream given to Jacob by Jehovah is a confirmation of what is stated above in that Jacob is the inheritor of the blessing of Abraham. The Abrahamic covenant blessing is that the seed of Abraham would multiply and be fruitful and to possess the gates of their enemies. Just to verify that Jehoshua is now the recipient of the Abrahamic covenant let's go to what the apostle Paul stated in Galatians 3:16 "Now to Abraham were the promises spoken, and to his seed. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ" The many seeds that Paul is mentioning is the other sons of Abraham such as Ishmael and his sons from Keturah. The one seed that Paul mentions isn't Jehoshua as popular taught but rather Isaac. Paul mentions "thy seed which is Christ". This seems to indicate that Jehoshua himself as being that one seed spoken of in the above passage and that anyone in covenant with him is recipient of the Abrahamic covenant blessings. However, as stated the comparison of many seeds to the one seed can only be about Isaac since the many seeds are his half brothers. When Paul says "And to thy seed, which is Christ", surprisingly he doesn't mean Jehoshua Messiah. Many Christians often forget that the word "Christ" is not a proper name for Jehoshua but rather it describes a spiritual condition meaning that he is the anointed of God. Basically, Paul is saying that the Galatians seed is anointed (Christ). This means that Paul is identifying the Galatians as the seed of Abraham and Isaac. This may shock most Christians because of hand me down doctrine that the Galatians were non Israelite gentiles, however chapter 4 indeed proves that the Galatians were Israelites as does Peter's epistle. Galatians 3:26-29 26 For ye are all sons of God, through faith, in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ did put on Christ. 28 There can be neither Jew nor Greek, there can be neither bond nor free, there can be no male and female; for ye all are one [man] in Christ Jesus. 29 And if ye are Christ`s, then are ye Abraham`s seed, heirs according to promise. Verse 29 is the verse I want to look at here. Paul says that if ye are Christ's then ye are Abraham's seed. Many read this as meaning if you are Jehoshua's meaning your in covenant with him then you are Abraham's seed. However, the word"Christ" simply means "anointed" and doesn't necessarily mean Jehoshua everytime it is used. This should be understood as Paul saying that if you are anointed (Christ) then you are Abraham's seed, heirs according to the promise. So the word "Christ" in verse 29 applies to the Galatians themselves and not Jehoshua. Again, this is Paul identifying the Galatians as the literal seed of Abraham through Isaac. The evidence that the seed being spoken of in Galatians 3 is Isaac and not Jehoshua is in Romans 9: 6 But it is not as though the word of God hath come to nought. For they are not all Israel, that are of Israel: 7 neither, because they are Abraham`s seed, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. 8 That is, it is not the children of the flesh that are children of God; but the children of the promise are reckoned for a seed. 9 For this is a word of promise, According to this season will I come, and Sarah shall have a son. The passage above is rich with prophetic truth. It is often misunderstood among Christians. In verse 6, when Paul says not all Israel is Israel he is not distinguishing between believing Israelites and unbelieving Israelites but the context shows that he is distinguishing between those who claim to be Israelites but are not because they are not of Isaac. An Israelite who does not believe in Jehovah's Messiah is still an Israelite as Paul says they are his kinsmen (kinsmen of the womb) according to the flesh that he has a burden for. There are people who are Abraham's seed yet they are not all children of Abraham. This is because Abraham had other sons namely Ishmael. Jehoshua told this to the pharisees: John 8:37 "I know that ye are Abraham`s seed: yet ye seek to kill me, because my word hath not free course in you" Jehoshua acknowledged that the Pharisees were Abraham's seed, however this doesn't mean they are of Isaac as they could still be of the seed of Abraham and be descendants of his other sons and even they could be of Isaac but not Jacob. Being of Esau would disqualify them from being Abraham's children. John 8:39 "They answered and said unto him, Our father is Abraham. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham`s children, ye would do the works of Abraham" Jehoshua acknowledges the Pharisees as Abraham's seed which includes all Abraham's children and also Esau as well. However, to be a child of Abraham you must be of Isaac and Jacob. This is what Jehoshua is telling them that they may be the seed of Abraham but they certainly are not his children otherwise they would do the works of Abraham. The works of Abraham are to have faith in the promises of Jehovah God. Jehoshua is the evidence of those promises as He is the only begotten Son of God. The hatred of the Pharisees was evidence to Jehoshua that they were not of Isaac and Jacob because even those who rejected Messiah would still be considered children of Abraham as Paul states the gifts and calling are without repentance and that the unbelieving Israelites are the elect for the father's sake. Much of the religious establishment in Jehoshua's day were from the line of Esau most notably Herod the Jewish client king of Rome. In Galatians 4 Paul makes it clear that the seed of promise is through Isaac: Galatians 4:24-26 22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, one by the handmaid, and one by the freewoman. 23 Howbeit the [son] by the handmaid is born after the flesh; but the [son] by the freewoman [is born] through promise. 24 Which things contain an allegory: for these [women] are two covenants; one from mount Sinai, bearing children unto bondage, which is Hagar. 25 Now this Hagar is mount Sinai in Arabia and answereth to the Jerusalem that now is: for she is in bondage with her children. 26 But the Jerusalem that is above is free, which is our mother. Isaac and Ishmael are the focus here. Ishmael was born after the flesh and represents the sinai covenant genders unto bondage. This is because the Sinai covenant was not of promise meaning it wasn't an unconditional covenant. The covenant made with Abraham was unconditional and Isaac is the inheritor of that covenant. Those who are of the seed of Isaac are of the free woman (Sarah). The children that descend from Hagar are of bondage and are a type of the earthly Jerusalem which became a city of bondage with the arrival of the Messiah and Jehovah's program of worship moving to new Jersuslem New Jersuslem is the mother of the seed of Isaac (the church). Those of the seed of Ishmael via Hagar are still in bondage. Paul compares the Judeans who are still worshipping according to the old covenant as being likened unto Ishmael's seed. Many of them actually were the seed of Ishmael and Esau hence Paul says they are Hagar's children. Galatians 4:28-31 28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise. 29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him [that was born] after the Spirit, so also it is now. 30 Howbeit what saith the scripture? Cast out the handmaid and her son: for the son of the handmaid shall not inherit with the son of the freewoman. 31 Wherefore, brethren, we are not children of a handmaid, but of the freewoman. Just as it was in the times of old testament Israel, it was in Paul's and our time where the children of the flesh persecute the children of the spirit. The context of this clearly shows that the children of the flesh are the descendants of Ishmael and Hagar. This would also appy to the descendants of Esau. Many spiritualize these verses away, however Paul gives no hint at all these verses are not literal. Many of the so called Jews, who were still practicing the old covenant, were of Ishmael's and Esau's descendants. Therefore according to Paul they are children of the flesh and persecute the true children of Israel who are through Isaac. In verse 30 Paul says the handmaid and her son will be cast out and have no inheritance with Sarah and Isaac. This is an obvious reference to Hagar and Ishmael. Is this literal or can we spiritualize it away? Malachi 3:6 says that Jehovah is the same yesterday, today and forever. Should it surprise us that He favors His ethnic people Israel over other ethnic nations just as He did in the old testament? Malachi 1:1-4 1 The burden of the word of Jehovah to Israel by Malachi. 2 I have loved you, saith Jehovah. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob`s brother, saith Jehovah: yet I loved Jacob; 3 but Esau I hated, and made his mountains a desolation, and gave his heritage to the jackals of the wilderness. 4 Whereas Edom saith, We are beaten down, but we will return and build the waste places; thus saith Jehovah of hosts, They shall build, but I will throw down; and men shall call them The border of wickedness, and The people against whom Jehovah hath indignation for ever. This pasaage is within the context of Jehovah saying He changes not (Malachi 3;6). Remember, there were no chapter's in the bible until the translations were put out. What does Jehovah say above about Esau? He says that he hates Esau and His seed. Is this a temporary hatred? No, verse Jehovah says He has indignation against Esau forever. See Isaiah 63 for a brief description of Messiah destroying Esau's descendants at the second advent. Jehovah says that whenever and wherever Esau builds, He (Jehovah) will throw down. Jehovah still hates Esau in the new covenant era: Romans 9:13-14 13 Even as it is written, Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated. 14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. Paul proves that Jehovah is the same in the new covenant as He is in the old covenant which in this case is Him (Jah) rejecting (hating) Esau. It is the Edomites and Ishmaelites that Paul is discussing as being children of bondage and cast out in Galatians 4. Both Ishmael and Esau mixed with the Canaanites which Jehovah says will have no place in the temple of Jehovah in the age to come: Zechariah 14:21 "Yea, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be holy unto Jehovah of hosts; and all they that sacrifice shall come and take of them, and boil therein: and in that day there shall be no more a Canaanite in the house of Jehovah of hosts" Unlike what the Universaliats teach not every group of people will have a chance at salvation as both the Cannanites and Edomites are rejected by Jehovah God. This should not surprise us in light of the prophecy that Jehovah's holy seed (Israel) would posses the gates of it's enemies. No evidence of the enemies of Jehovah's holy seed being allowed in the gates of the city of Jehovah God: Revelation 21:10-12 10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, 11 having the glory of God: her light was like unto a stone most precious, as it were a jasper stone, clear as crystal: 12 having a wall great and high; having twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels; and names written thereon, which are [the names] of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: The 12 gates to the city of New Jerusalem are named after the 12 tribes of Israel. No Canaanite or Edomite will possess these Israelite gates but Israel will possess theirs. ReplyForward |
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