May 25-29, 2010

Ask rain from the Lord at the time of the spring rain – The Lord who makes the storm clouds; and He will give them showers of rain, vegetation in the field to each man. Zechariah 10:1

This week we finish our time with Daniel, but not with obscure prophecies. It is obvious that God wants believers who are on the earth during the end-times to understand what is happening in the world they live in. It is also to these faithful ones that God will reveal the sealed book in its time.

God’s final words to Daniel must have brought great comfort. Daniel had experienced a lifetime of difficulty. Rest is not found in his life’s journal! When Daniel asked God how it would all end, God tells him that it will remain a secret until that time, but that he would rest until the end and then rise to receive his inheritance. You can almost hear Daniel’s appreciative sigh as he savors God’s gracious words.

As our journey takes us back to the land of Israel and the rebuilding of the Temple, we find that what had been started with great enthusiasm, has been left half finished. I wonder how often this is the story of our lives. God’s word, zeal, and lofty intentions are the initiators of great works, but all too often, we get discouraged or sidetracked and the work is left incomplete. Their time was consumed with building their own houses while they justified their actions by saying, “It’s not time for us to finish God’s house.” Then they wondered why their pockets had holes and they ended up with puny crops. The more they did to get ahead, the farther behind they got. Sound familiar? Jesus put it all in order when He walked this earth and told us, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you.” Neglecting the work of building our temples according to God’s word will only result in weariness with little to show for it.

On Tuesday we are given a lesson on the Law that should have a major impact in our lives as well. The question was asked about the robe of the priest touching something. Does the touching cause the object to become clean? The answer was, “No.” And yet if someone touches something dead, they become defiled. When our lives are filled with dead works, everything we touch becomes defiled. And yet when we are doing God’s will and working with people, we can aid them and help them, but we cannot make them holy. Holiness is not transferable!!!

This week we begin our walk with Zechariah. Like Daniel, his prophecies can be a bit perplexing. And like Daniel, we find that much of what he speaks will find its fulfillment in the days of Christ’s Millennial Reign. It is a time when Jesus will sit on the Throne in Jerusalem. He says clearly that this One who is called the Branch will remove the iniquity of the land in one day. I am of the opinion that these mysterious words actually speak of two events. We know that when Jesus came the first time He dealt with the iniquity of mankind for we know that He was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities. This event began the age of the Gentiles. Paul wrote to the Romans and told them:

For I do not want you brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery, lest you be wise in your own estimation, that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; Romans 11:25

When Jesus comes again to set up His kingdom, the age of the Gentiles will be over and the time of the grafting back in of the Jews will begin. He will begin His reign by dealing with the iniquities of the land of Israel. How will this be accomplished? I believe Zechariah gives us the answer a few chapters later when he says:

And I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplication, so that they will look on Me whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him, like the bitter weeping over a first-born. Zechariah 12:10

The iniquities of the people of the land of Israel will be accomplished the same way it is has been accomplished for us - they will look on and believe in the work of the slain Lamb! Every sacrifice offered during the Millennial Reign will be offered in gratitude and in recognition of the One whom they pierced. Just as we celebrate Passover and take the bread and the wine to remember our Passover Lamb, they will bring their offerings in remembrance of the sacrifice Jesus became on their behalf. What fulfillment there will be!!! No wonder Paul talks about the glory that will come when the Jews are grafted back in!!!!!!

Under the unction of the Holy Spirit, Zechariah tells us that, in spite of Messiah’s presence, some nations will continue to set themselves against His rule and will have to be forced into submission. This information will help us understand the events we will witness when we get to the territory of the Book of Revelation, so put the information in the file cabinet of your mind. We will need to retrieve it later.

Once again, the prophet of the Lord speaks to evil shepherds. Clearly they are shepherds who use the flock for their own pleasure. Their heart is has no love or concern for the sheep. They are only concerned with how the sheep can benefit them. We end our week with a list of attributes that define a worthless shepherd.

1. They don’t take into consideration the needs of the old or the young
2. They don’t seek for those who have been scattered and are still in bondage
3. They don’t take time to bring healing to the injured
4. They don’t feed those that are healthy
5. They consume the best sheep for their own satisfaction
6. They abandon the flock

So much to think about! So much to learn! May our eyes and ears be opened and may God shed light on our path as we walk this intriguing path.

May 17-21, 2010

And when he had come near the den to Daniel, he cried out with a troubled voice. The king spoke and said to Daniel, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you constantly serve, been able to deliver you from the lions?” Daniel 6:20

This week we spend the first part of our week with Daniel. Many years have passed since he was taken to Babylon, and yet he remains faithful to his God. He’s lived through the fall of Jechoiachin’s and was taken to Babylon at the same time. He was was eighteen years old when he was taken into captivity and had only reigned for three months before he was carried off to Babylon. (II Kings 24:8). Thirty-seven years later Jehoiachin was released from prision. Unlike Zedekiah who was taken captive when Jerusalem finally fell, Jehoiachin was not maimed or blinded. Thirty-seven years have passed, Jehoiachin is fifty-five years old, Nebuchadnezzar has died and his son Evil Merodach sits on the throne. What stirred the compassion in Evil Merodach’s heart that prompted him to release Jehoiachin? It’s anyone’s guess. There is nothing that has been found that in antiquities that record his change of heart. There is one sure influence – God was in control!

As we continue to spend time with Daniel, we are confronted with some very difficult dreams and visions. If we think we find Daniel’s visions perplexing, can you imagine what it must have been like for Daniel! The difficult part about understanding these confounding images is in trying to discern what time period each portion relates to and what concerns end-times. It has often been said that history repeats itself. What may look like it fits into a certain time and epoch may actually be a vision of another time period. And you can be sure that that is all in God’s plan as well. Perhaps that is what Ecclesiastes 3:15 means when it says:

That which is has been already, and that which will be has already been, for God seeks what has passed by.

Much has been said and taught as truth through the ages, only to come short of what is truth. Next week, when we hear Daniel’s final words, we will hear God tell him to seal the book until its time. If we try to reveal it out of its epoch, we are certain to come up with a manmade interpretation. Unfortunately, many end-time doctrines have been based on faulty insights have been traditionally held as truths. In the parable of the sower who went out to sow the seed of the Kingdom, Jesus taught that the most difficult place to cultivate insight and understanding is on the road of tradition!

By the time we hear Daniel tell his familiar story of God’s salvation in the lions’ den, Daniel is getting older. He would have to be somewhere in his fifties. When Daniel interprets the handwriting on the wall for King Belshazzar, he is unimpressed by the king’s lavish gifts. He’s seen kings come and he’s seen kings go. The favor of an earthly king can be a short-lived grace. But God’s grace remained on Daniel. Instantly, Daniel finds himself in the good grace of Darius the Mede, Belshazzar’s assassin. It is this Darius that finds himself backed into a corner by his own decree and ends up having Daniel thrown into the lions’ den. Daniel knows that the favor of an earthly king cannot save him, but the favor of the King of King’s is a mighty fortress!

It is also during this first year of Darius the Mede that Daniel finds himself reading the prophecies of Jeremiah. It’s been nearly forty years since Jeremiah spoke God’s words to the people of Judah and Jerusalem, and yet, for the first time, Daniel embraces what he spoke and begins to intercede for a nation! In his prayers of repentance Daniel sees himself as one of those who had missed the mark and failed to hear. Daniel realizes their guilt and understands that the only request he can legitimately make is for God’s mercy!

By the end of the week, we see the beginning of the return of the people to Jerusalem and Israel. Once again, we don’t know the events that turned the heart of Cyrus of Persia. All we know for certain is that God stirred his heart. We also know that God gave the Israelites favor with their neighbors while they were in captivity. They gave more to the Israelites that the king’s decree demanded! We are introduced to those who would lead the Israelites back to their homeland. Our first introduction is to Zerubbabel, whose name means “born in Babylon.” He is the grandson of Jehoiachin and, therefore, a direct descendant of David. Some confusion exists when comparing Ezra 3:2 and I Chronicles 3:19. One says he was the son of Shealtiel, while the other says he was the son of Pedaiah. The difficulty comes in the understanding of the word “son.” He could have been of the same seed and been Pediah’s nephew, or he could have been his legal son resulting from a levirate marriage. The logistics of these things is quite foreign to us! But one thing we can be certain of, he was of the seed of David, of kingly descent, and that is why he was chosen to head the mission. His right-hand man was Jeshua, son of the high priest Jehozadak. Nebuchadnezzar put his grandfather to death at Riblah. (II Kings 25:18)

The list of who’s who and their ancestry is filled with names we recognize and names we don’t. Seraiah was Ezra’s father. Mordecai is believed to be the Mordecai who adopted Esther. Not everyone on the list went with the first wave of people who returned. Some came later with Ezra. An interesting bit of information is found in the list of King Solomon’s servants. Two of the names are those of women. Hassorphereth meant “female scribe” and Pokereth-hazzelbaim literally means “huntress of the gazelles.”

It is no coincidence that the first thing to be rebuilt was not the foundation of the Temple, or a gate, or a wall – it was the Altar. Not only was it the first thing to be rebuilt, but it was built in time for Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement and it was during this time that the sacrifices resumed. What a powerful picture of God’s rebuilding in our lives! It begins at the foot of the cross, our sacrifice for sin and our atonement. Ahhhhhh!!! Don’t you just love God’s word and its intricate beauty? So much to see! So much to learn! Thank you Lord for this wonderful word puzzle that reveals Your glory. You are sooooo good!!!

Take time to smell the roses! There’s more than meets the eye!!!

May 10-14, 2010

…and you will be driven away from mankind, and your dwelling place will be with the beasts of the field. You will be given grass to eat like cattle, and seven periods of time will pass over you, until you recognize that the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind, and bestows it on whomever he wishes. Daniel 4:32

This week we journey with Daniel and Ezekiel. Both of them lived in the land of Babylon, but under very different circumstances. Ezekiel lived amongst the exiles of Israel, while Daniel lived with the exiles of royal and aristocratic linage in the King of Babylon’s service. Both spoke revelations of God. Daniel’s ministry revealed the future events of the King of Babylon, while Ezekiel foretold the future of Israel.

We begin our week’s excursion with Daniel. Besides the uniqueness of King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream and its unusual interpretation, I find a couple other things in this story to be quite intriguing. The fact that the king named Daniel “Belteshazzar” after his own god is quite amazing. Obviously Nebuchadnezzar recognized that Daniel did not operate according to the spirit of man, but a greater spirit was in operation. In the beginning of Nebuchadnezzar’s relationship with Daniel, he attributes Daniel’s abilities to his god, but as their relationship grows, Nebuchadnezzar recognizes that YHWH has no equal. Not only does he recognize Daniel’s God, he recognizes Daniel’s Hebrew name. Notice that when Daniel first came in, Nebuchadnezzar addresses him as Belteshazzar.

O Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, since I know that a spirit of the holy gods is in you and no mystery baffles you, tell me the visions of my dreams which I have seen, along with its interpretation. Daniel 4:9

But when the king is journaling the event, he refers to him as Daniel.

But finally Daniel came in before me, whose name is Belteshazzar according to the name of my god… Daniel 4:8

This is of great significance and in the days ahead, we will continue to see Nebuchadnezzar’s heart change.

EZEKIEL’S VISION OF THE TEMPLE

Our time with Ezekiel is filled with mystery and looking far into the future. God’s instructions to Ezekiel were to “see with your eyes, hear with your ears, and to give attention to” all that he was shown. Then go and declare the message to Israel. A quick word study of the words “give attention to” reveals God’s preparation for giving His word. In the NASB the words are translated “give attention,” while the NIV and the NLT render it “pay close attention.” The phrase in Hebrew consists of two words. The first one literally means “to commit something,” and the second is the Hebrew word for “heart.” What was Ezekiel supposed to do with the information he received from God? He was to commit it to his own heart first before declaring it to the people.

God’s word is God’s word, whether we believe it or not, but the messenger of God is expected to appropriate His word to his own heart before he declares it! Does that mean that we as leaders will never fail or have flaws? Of course not! But it does mean that when we do, people should see the same level of remorse and repentance in us as we expect from them. If the word is committed to my heart, it will convict me and cause the same desire for change that is intended in the hearts of those to whom I carry the message.

Some may find the plans of the Temple to be tedious and wonder why it is important to have all the details. Was it merely for building purposes? God’s word to Ezekiel says otherwise.

As for you, son of man, describe the temple to the house of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities; and let them measure the plan. Ezekiel 43:10

No wonder God told Ezekiel to “see, hear, and commit to heart!” The details of the coming Temple contain far more meaning than the simple physical dimensions, and if we understood their significance, it would cause our hearts to bow to the King of the Universe! This Temple is not the one that was rebuilt when the children of Israel returned from captivity, nor is it found in the New Jerusalem in Revelation 21. It is clearly the Temple from which Messiah will rule during His millennial reign. Although we are not able to do a thorough examination of all the details in our quick visit with Ezekiel, there are some things that stand out to me. Did you notice the difference in the number of steps to each division of the Temple?

7 steps up to the entrance gates

8 steps up to the inner court

10 steps into the entrance of the Temple

These are not random numbers, but a significant code of entry! After you have pondered the plan for a while, do you have any thoughts or insights you want to share? I know I have a boatload of them!!!

I hope you take some time to admire the carvings on the walls and doors. Everywhere you look you see cherubim and palm trees. Each palm tree has the face of a man looking at one side of it and the face of a lion looking at the other. What is so significant about the palm tree? What does it represent and why is it seen all over the Temple wall. Why not the olive tree or the cypress or cedar? And why is it constantly in the gaze of the lion and cherubim?

Another interesting observation is that the priests were never to go among the common people with their priestly garments on. He was to dress in holy attire when he was in the presence of God and common attire in the presence of the people. As a priest, he was never to lose sight that he also was a man and the laws and regulations pertained to him as much as anyone else. Jesus warned about this when he walked this earth. He told His disciples not to follow the ways of the scribes and Pharisees who had seated themselves in the chair of Moses;

And they love the place of honor at banquets, and the chief seats in the synagogues, and respectful greetings in the market places, and being called by men, Rabbi. But do not be called Rabbi; for One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers. Matthew 23:6-8

I’ve been in places where everyone was introduced by honorable titles: This is Rev. So-n-so and Apostle Onthego. Oh yes, and then there’s Bishop Toknight and Evangelist Wintheworld. There are pastors who would not know how to pastor without the title before their name. To think of themselves as one of the sheep is far beneath their calling. In God’s plan, the priests are continually reminded that they wear the same garments as the people they serve, but are called to stand before God in His holiness.

We also discover that the sacrificial system is part of the Messianic Reign. Clear directions are given for both the Prince and the people. I have my belief as to why this is, but what are some of your thoughts?

And in this Messianic time each tribe is given an equal portion of inheritance. The allotments are a very different setup from their apportionment during the time of Joshua. Take notice that there are seven tribes that are north of the Princely and priestly portion and five to the south. It may interest you to write them down in their given order and see if you can discern anything from it.

You may ask yourself, “Why doesn’t she just tell us what she sees or knows?” My answer is found in Ezekiel 43:11:

And if they are ashamed of all that they have done, make known to them the design of the house, its structure, its exits, its entrances, all its designs, all its statutes, and all its laws. And write it in their sight, so that they may observe its whole design and all its statutes, and do them.

The deeper meanings of the Temple were withheld for those who took more than a curious glance! If the initial description of God’s abode on earth caused them to search their own soul and desire more, then God told Ezekiel to unveil the rest, but not until. And so for now, we will take a quick overview of this heavenly mystery and pray that it strikes a spiritual nerve in us, bringing about a desire for revelation and change. And may the law of the house – ABSOLUTE HOLINESS – become our only pursuit!

May 3-7, 2010

You are very entertaining to them, like someone who sings love songs with a beautiful voice or plays fine music on an instrument. They hear what you say, but they don’t act on it.

Ezekiel 33:32

As we continue our journey with Ezekiel, I have to keep reminding myself that these words are written before the New Testament was penned. The sin of the people, the concepts of the day and the warnings of God parallel those God has given to the people of the end times.

On any given Sunday, you can find millions of people attending church. But why do they come. How often I hear the words, “Oh, I love going to First Upbeat Tabernacle. I just love their music!” Pretty words and moving music stir the soul for the moment, but IF the Word is preached that calls for changed lives and a reevaluation of ideals and priorities, the message is left on the pew with the bulletin and tithe envelope. This was the same warning Paul the apostle gave to his young protégé Timothy.

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teacher in accordance to their own desires; and will turn away their ears from the truth, and will turn aside to myths. II Timothy 4:3

God clearly says that the people of Ezekiel’s day primarily focused one thing – money! Once again, we hear Paul’s warning to Timothy:

For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. I Timothy 6:10

How did the people stray so far from the truth? We have already heard the answer when we walked with Isaiah and Jeremiah, but once again Ezekiel expounds on Israel’s ungodly influence. The sad part is that the shepherds of Israel, the prophets, priests and kings, propagated this heart and attitude! They didn’t merely fleece the sheep to fulfill their own desires; they killed them, cooked them and ate them. God’s word to Ezekiel was to rescue the sheep from their mouths. We see this same attitude in many of the churches today. Money has become a primary focus and while the average church attendees live in modest homes with middle-income salaries, the shepherds live like kings and beg for more.

Ezekiel 34:4 sums up the negligence of the shepherds. There are six issues God had against them. You may want to take a moment to identify them, especially if you are a shepherd!!!

God promises to remedy the injustice by sending the Good Shepherd! It is no coincidence that Jesus said, “I am the Good Shepherd; the Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.” His declaration was a direct response to Ezekiel’s words. His words were also a Messianic declaration. Only the Messiah, the Prince of God, the descendant of David could claim to be the Good Shepherd God promised would come. The shepherds of Israel failed to lead and feed God the sheep of God’s flock, but the Good Shepherd had come to give His life for them.

God maked it clear that His promise to restore them was not based on their deserving of it, but for the sake of His own reputation. There are four things God promised to do that would accomplish their restoration. Can you find them? Do you see their fulfillment in the execution of the New Covenant? When these things are active in us, we will detest our old ways and embrace godly change!

This week we take a journey with Ezekiel through the valley of dry bones. It would be easy to camp here for the entire week and stand amazed at what we’d find. The dismembered, scattered body of Israel mirrors the disunity in the church world today. How we need to hear God’s voice ordering us to, “Pull yourselves together!” As we observe the bones with Ezekiel, we find that they are not just bones, nor are they just dry bones; we are told that they were VERY dry. If you have ever looked at a bone before you threw it to a dog, and then examined it after he’s chewed on it for a few days, you’d understand what a very dry bone is. Our dog used to love to devour the marrow on the inside of the bones. These bones in Ezekiel’s vision were not just dry on the outside; they were devoid of marrow on the inside. Bone marrow is the place where blood cells are produced. Life and health depend on this sticky red substance. Our immunity system is dependent on healthy bone marrow. Bones that are dry are brittle and easily broken. When we understand the importance of the skeleton of the body, we can see that it truly is the foundation of the body. The heart is useless if it doesn’t have the blood to pump through it? The Bible clearly tells us “the soul of man is in the blood.” (Leviticus 17:11)

Israel did not just need healing: She needed a resurrection!!! Once again we hear the words of the Good Shepherd, “I am the resurrection and the life.” The rebirth of those who were dead came in a distinct order and was activated by a method God used before. What were the steps that brought them to new life and caused them to stand as an army? What initiated their new beginning?

On Wednesday we get a bird’s eye view of the great battle that is to come, the Battle of Gog and Magog. Most often we hear about the Battle of Armageddon, but the Battle of Gog and Magog is often obsecure. Ezekiel’s description of what will take place after the Messianic reign is also foretold in Revelation 20. So many nations have been identified with Magog through the years that you wonder if anyone could really know. There are some things we know for sure. We know that Magog was a son of Japheth, Noah’s son. We also know that the territory of Magog during Biblical times spanned the countries known today as Iran, Libya, Ethiopia, Egypt, Turkey and the Moslem Republics. It is clear that the one goal of the allied army headed by Gog, Satan himself, is to wipe the Jews from the face of the earth. You really don’t need to be a rocket scientist to connect the dots!!! This battle has been brewing since the time of Abraham, Isaac and Ishmael. In fact, we can follow its roots back to the beginning of time. Personally, I think you will find its seed in the historical event of Cain slaying Abel. Some may question how I come up with that, but for those who really like to dig, I’ll give you time to search it out.

God calls Ezekiel to be Israel’s watchman. He clearly tells him his job description and responsibilities. He is to warn the people of what he sees and hears. If they listen then great! If they don’t, he will not be held responsible. His job is to give them the message whether they hear or not!!!

Once again we hear from Jeremiah as he recaps the slow death of Jerusalem. The fall of the city took place as a result of three invasions. Nebuchadnezzar took captives during the seventh year of his reign, the eighteenth year of his reign, and the twenty-third year of his reign. What a sad song we hear sung as we listen to the words of Psalm 137!

Our week ends with the chronicles of each tribe and important group. Their ancestry is recorded from the founding father to the head of the tribe or clan at the time of captivity. These records would be extremely important when they would be restored to the land – a subject we will examine later on. It is interesting to read through their records and note which tribes are mentioned without giving the number of their fighting warriors. Do you think that may have significance? Hmmm!

May your week be filled with unveiling mysteries and your mind intrigued by God’s ability to conceal a matter for the kings who long to search it out. I pray you enjoy the hunt!!!