G-d gave His Son and His Fivefold Ministry

In John 3:16 we read: "For G-d so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." In Ephesians 4:11-17 we read: "And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of G-d, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love."

In Ephesians 5:1-7 we read: "Be ye therefore followers of G-d (not man), as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to G-d for a sweet-smelling savor. But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger (Babylon is the great whore and she has many harlot daughters), nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of G-d. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of G-d upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them." In Revelation 18:4 we read: "And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues."

In Ephesians 4:1-7 we read: "I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One G-d and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ." (Is this what you have been hearing at your fellowship dear one?)

Since the beginning G-d has chosen a handful of men who He then teaches and equips and then sends out to speak His words to His people and to try to lead them out of Egypt, Sodom, Gomorrah and denominational Babylon. In Jesus' parable of the wedding feast we see how badly religious people respond to G-d's servants and how they crucified His only begotten Son. His people need to know who is who. Who is taught by man and who is taught by G-d. In John 10:27-28 we read: "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me (not men): And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish , neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand." Dear one you need to hear Jesus and His Christ now before it is too late!

You need to be able to tell the difference between the false apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and/or teachers and the real ones that G-d is sending. If you can not hear G-d to ask Him who is who; you will know them all by their fruits, Are they saving souls or taking your money? Do they direct you to G-d or to themselves? Are they serving you or are you serving them? Do they tell you to hear G-d or to hear them? Please see Matthew 15:14, 20:25-27; John 16:12-13; 2 Corinthians 1:23-24; Galatians 1:8-9: 1 John 4:1; Luke 24:30-32; James 3:17 and 2 peter 1:20-21. But above all you will know them by their love.

In 1 Corinthians 13:2 we read: "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity!"

Those who are taught and sent by G-d gather only unto the Lord Jesus Christ and they are given by G-d to the church "for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity (not many different denominations) of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of G-d, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ (the missing 14th generation): ...., But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love." These will not charge you for anything they do - for freely they have received and freely they will give!

Those who are taught by man and sent by man can only teach what other men have taught them and they thus divide their believers into the various denominations. In 2 Timothy 3:7 we read: "Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth." Paul warns us: "That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;....Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of G-d upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them." At the last judgment, when all these "teachers" and denominational "leaders" and all of their followers are judged - they will finally hear Jesus say to them: "I do not know you!

Does He Know you dear one? Do you hear Him? If you do, you need not that any man teach you.

Jesus' Eight Parables in Matthew Chapter 13

In Matthew 13:3-43 we read: "And he (Jesus) spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls (demons) came and devoured them up: Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. (See Revelations 2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22;) And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.(John 10:27) For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous (not evil) men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them. Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower (Jesus). When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side. But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. (How many will be offended and fall away when they find out there really is no rapture?) He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: But while men slept, his enemy (the devil) came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. So the servants (angels) of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares (Revelation 18:2)? He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants (angels) said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up (now)? But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest (The end of the world): and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first (not the "raptured" church) the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them (The Lake of Fire): but gather the wheat (those written in the Lamb's book of Life) into my barn (Heaven). Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof. Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman (Revelation 17 & 18) took, and hid in three (Revelation 16:19) measures of meal, till the whole (Revelation 18:4) was leavened. All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake He not unto them: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world. Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field. He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world (Revelation 14:7-20); and the reapers are the angels. As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world (Revelation 16:7). The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear." (See Revelations 2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22;)

In Matthew 13: 44-53 we read: "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind: Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away. So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord. Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old. And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these parables, he departed thence."

Matthew Chapter 13 contains eight parables. In the first four parables we see they have six common elements in them that help us to interpret all of the individual parables. The common elements are: (1) they are all about "the kingdom of heaven," (2) “a man,” Jesus, (3) “a field,” the world, (4) “seed,” the Word of G-d or its effect, (5) "growth or spreading," church growth, and (6) "the presence of evil," weeds, birds of the air, and yeast (1 Corinthians 5:1, 6:7, 2 Corinthians 11:13, Galatians 1:7). Jesus gave the first four parables to the "multitude" - while He told the last four only to His twelve disciples in private. Jesus uses all of these parables as prophecies about what will happen until His return. These first four parables describe the outward characteristics of His church, the working of the mystery of sin arising in His own church, and the extent to which the Evil One is allowed to carry on his opposition. The remaining four parables illustrate the inner characteristics of His true church. After the eighth parable, Matthew makes another concluding statement, ". . . when Jesus had finished these parables, . . . He departed from there".

What does the mustard seed represent?

The mustard seed was the smallest seed known at the time. The Greek word used for "seed" and "seeds" is the word "sperma." The usage of the word refers to intentionally planted seeds that are supposed to produce something worthwhile. When grown, a mustard seed can reach anywhere from 4 to 10 feet high. In John 12:24 Jesus told us: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit". The mustard tree is to remain rooted in Jesus Christ. The King James Version says “it is the greatest among all herbs,” growing far reaching branches beyond natural explanation. The birds’ of the air in this parable come from the Greek word “orneon,” signifying ”to perceive, to hear.” A tree, whose large branches offer a sanctuary for birds, was a familiar Old Testament symbol for a mighty kingdom which gave shelter to the nations - Ezekiel 31:2-6; Daniel: 4:10, 21-22).

This parable of the mustard seed is teaching us that from a small beginning, the kingdom of G-d will grow until it extends itself to be the greatest kingdom on earth. Jesus Himself had an insignificant entrance into the world by human standards, and the church He founded is likewise a "little flock" (Luke 12:31-32), small and designed by G-d not to become a physically powerful organization that would make a spectacle of itself. The church was supposed to meet in homes not in huge man-made cathedrals or "churches". In Matthew 7:13-14, Jesus says the way that leads to eternal life is difficult and narrow, and few find it. He reiterates in Matthew 20:16 that few are chosen. In Luke 10:2, when sending the seventy out, He says the laborers are few. Paul tell us in I Corinthians 1:26-29 that G-d calls the weak and the base of the world to put to shame the mighty and the noble. Jesus is referring to those chosen few who, upon their calling by G-d, voluntarily submit to G-d's dominion, the Kingdom of G-d .

We see this same thing in Daniel 2:31-36 (NASB) "You, O king, were looking and behold, there was a single great statue; that statue, which was large and of extraordinary splendor, was standing in front of you, and its appearance was awesome. "The head of that statue was made of fine gold, its breast and its arms of silver, its belly and its thighs of bronze, its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay. "You continued looking until a stone was cut out without hands, and it struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay, and crushed them. "Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver and the gold were crushed all at the same time, and became like chaff from the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away so that not a trace of them was found. But the stone (Jesus) that struck the statue became a great mountain and filled the whole earth. "This was the dream; now we shall tell its interpretation before the king. Here the small stone from G-d was seen to break in pieces the large statue representing the kingdoms of the earth and, subsequently, grew to become a great mountain that towered over all that had gone before it. The truth of the matter is that the kingdom of G-d that has started out with small beginnings will grow to enormous proportions until it can be seen throughout the entire earth. We are even told when it will happen: Daniel 2:44 (NASB) "And in the days of those kings (Revelations 17:12, 18:3) the G-d of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed, and that kingdom will not be left for another people; it will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, but it will itself endure forever. In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim (BCE 606), Daniel and his friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were among the young Jewish nobility carried off to Babylon. The four were chosen for their intellect and beauty to be trained as advisors to the Babylonian court. Daniel was given the name Belteshazzar, i.e., prince of Bel, or Bel protect the king!(not to be confused with the neo-Babylonian king, Belshazzar). Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were given the Babylonian names, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Many of us have also been carried off to Babylon (Revelation 17 & 18).

What became of Jesus' true church? The original Mustard seed that became a tree ceased to be Jesus' true church when it divided the believers and perverted Jesus' doctrines and objectives, moving beyond Jesus' intended limits. It became a counterfeit of the true church, simply taking the name "Christian" and keeping man's doctrines rather than Jesus' teachings. The true church has been carried off to denominational Babylon and once again we the true believers must come out of the great whore and her harlot daughters so G-d can once again rededicate His own true church that will gather Jesus' believers only unto Him. It is a consistent characteristic of G-d's mustard tree (true church) to remain as a small herb, gathering together only unto Him and spiritually feeding the few who are chosen to hear Christ and become regenerated children of the Kingdom of G-d.

Who are the fowls/birds?

In Revelation 18:2 we read: "And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great (man's denominational religion) is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird." In the above mustard seed comments - Jesus uses a shrub/tree coming from a seed (John 12:24) to represent kingdom growth, consistent with other tree/kingdom references (Ezekiel 17:23 and Daniel 4:11-21). With the seed’s growth, it attracts the presence of evil - depicted as birds (Matthew 13:4,19; Revelation 18:2) to infiltrate His church while taking advantage of its benefits. Birds are naturally attracted to the taste of the mustard seed. Matthew identifies the birds of the air as "the wicked one" (Matthew 13:4, 19). Mark connects them with "Satan" (Mark 4:4, 15), and Luke links them to "the devil" (Luke 8:5, 12). In Genesis 15:11, fowls also swooped down to steal Abraham's sacrifices, and he has to drive them away (see Deuteronomy 28:26). The end-time Babylon has become "a habitation of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird" (Revelation 18:2). In the parable, Jesus predicts the birds of the air would lodge in the branches. These "birds," demons led by "the prince of the power of the air" (Ephesians 2:2), have now totally infiltrated His church. Upon the unsuspecting early church, Satan moved quickly to implant his agents in it to teach false doctrines while appearing to be true Christians. Just as G-d permitted Satan to tempt Adam and Eve to lead them to sin and to attack Job intensely (Job 1:12; 2:6) and to sift Peter as wheat (Luke 22:31), He has allowed many antichrists to lodge within His church (I Corinthians 11:18-19). If you do not understand - then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in your heart. If you understand dear one - bind the devil and take back His church! (Matthew 12:29; Mark 3:27)

Who are the good seed?

Children of the Kingdom. Some of which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.

Who does the Sower Represent?

The sower is Jesus Himself. He is the planter who came to atone for our sins so that we all might become fruitful. In this parable, people who do not understand are likened to a wayside. The word of G-d cannot penetrate into their hearts, they are blinded and the word of G-d is quickly stolen by the devil and his demons.. People who are not committed are likened to stony places because their good impulses are as shallow as a thin coat of earth that covers the surface of a rock. These people, even if the truth of the Good News intrigues them for a moment in their lives, are neither willing nor able to stay committed, nor to continue rooted in Jesus Christ. They turn back and fall to temptation after the first firey trial. When speaking of the seed falling amidst thorns, Jesus meant people burdened with earthly concerns, worries, fears, their jobs, their greed for gain or power, and/or their desires for earthly pleasures. Like weeds, all of their concerns of/for this world and/or the race to gain more illusory comforts has choked up everything good and holy in them. And, finally, people with hearts sensitive to the good news, ready to change their lives and put them in line with the teachings of Jesus, are likened to the good, rich earth.

What are the tares?

The tares are children of the wicked one (Matthew 23:15), disgraceful denominational leaders, whom the Lord calls the 'sons of perdition or the evil one' as opposed to the 'Sons of the Kingdom'. The history of the Denominational Church is full of events that could not and did not come from G-d, e.g., wars, burnings at the stake, inquisitions, torture, confusion, sexual fornications, denominations, heresies, man-made doctrines and schisms, religious persecutions, denominational hassles and intrigues, and other ungodly acts of denominational leaders. Seeing these terrible acts, many have left, or have forsaken and even ridiculed and mocked the very teachings of Jesus. The devil is the author of confusion, the accuser of the brethren and the sower of all acts of evil and darkness. The devil is real and comes as an angel of light and there are many real, evil persons who are or who are controlled by demons, who relentlessly and insidiously push and/or lead people towards all things evil, cunningly playing with human weaknesses and manipulating them. According to this parable, "But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares," i.e., the devil has had a chance to influence men and spread false doctrines and discord because the believers are not awake enough to keep vigil. (Wake up - dear one!) In Ephesians 6:12 we read: "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places]." Many people in the denominational churches, all who bear the name Christian, do not belong to the true Church of Jesus Christ. Is Christ divided? If not, why are they/you? Leave all those who would lead you astray!

What does leaven represent? Matthew 13:33; Luke 13:21.

Physically, leaven is a lump of old dough in a high state of fermentation, or a substance that causes dough to rise (yeast). Leaven or fermentation implies a process of corruption (Luke 12:1; 1 Corinthians 5:6-8; Galatians 5:9). In the Old Testament, it is generally symbolic of sin and evil. In every instance that leaven appears in the Bible, it represents evil. Jesus' use of this symbol refers to the false doctrines of the Pharisees, the Sadducees, and Herod (Matthew 16:6-12; Mark 8:15), and to later to all denominational corruptions of doctrine by those who place more importance on the traditions of men than on the Word of G-d. Paul uses leavening as a reason not to allow evil in the fellowship (I Corinthians 5:6-13). His reference to Christ's sinless sacrifice, and his statement that true believers are unleavened shows the typical significance of leaven. In Galatians 5:7-9, its diffusive quality describes the harmful effects of false doctrine. He calls leaven a persuasion, something that exerts a powerful and moving influence, which hinders people from obeying the truth. Such a thing, he declares, is not from Him who calls us. In the parable, the leaven adversely effects the progress of His true church. The leaven is hidden in the meal, representing the way Satan subtly strikes against the truth. Leaven is symbolic of denominational doctrines that confuse, lead astray, divide, disintegrate, break up, and corrupt. The leaven of the Pharisees was hypocritical ritual and/or formality. That of the Sadducees was unbelief and/or skepticism. Herod's was of shameful self-indulgence in worldly desires. The denominational leaven of those in Babylon who have distorted Jesus' truths down through the ages have always been due to greed, pride, control, and/or worldly desires (Revelation 18:3). Naturally yeast is used to metabolize the sugars in the dough, it forms carbon dioxide that puffs (pride) into tiny gas pockets all through the dough. The gas can't escape because of the elastic gluten in the flour, so these pockets of gas stay in the loaf. When the loaf finally goes into the oven, the gas expands even more as the temperature rises, until the dough finally bakes, holding the shape of those tiny gas pockets, now filled with (hot) air.

Who does the woman represent?

Whenever we find the symbol of a woman in the Bible, she represents a system of beliefs and practices that badly influence other people. Nations or political groups and religions or denominational churches all have specific man-made or demonic beliefs. All human-based belief systems go contrary to G-d because "the carnal mind is enmity against G-d" (Romans 8:7). What the woman does and how she acts determines what denominational belief system she is representing. The woman in the parable takes leaven and hides it in the meal (Matthew 13:33). Hid is translated from the Greek word enkrupto, from which comes the English word "encrypt." The root word, krupto, means "to conceal" or "to keep secret." Hence, this woman is surreptitiously placing her leaven or false doctrines into His ransomed church. She is an opponent of Christ (see many antichrists) and infuses His church with many divisions and corrupting ideas. Elsewhere she is called "Wickedness" (Zechariah 5:7-8), "Jezebel" (Revelation 2:20), and the "Babylon the great whore and her harlot daughters" (Revelation 17 &18).


What are the three measures of meal?

Most of the Jews listening to Jesus would have recognized the three measures of meal (an ephah) as the meal or grain offering (Leviticus 2) that was offered to G-d. This meal offering was never allowed to contain any leaven (Leviticus 2:5). The meal offering represents the offerer's pure service and loyalty to his fellowman and is typified in how Jesus Christ came not to be ministered unto, but to minister and give His life as a pure ransom for many (Matthew 20:25-28). The second great commandment of Matthew 22:36-39: is our pure love of one another. Thus, the three measures of meal can represent love, service, and loyalty to our brethren in His church. They also represent our body, soul and spirit all of which need to be totally free of any leaven. The whore mixes leaven (false denominational doctrines) into the one truth. Jesus warns us in this parable that false doctrines would be infused by stealth into His one church, and these evil beliefs would divide, confuse, corrupt, erode, and even destroy the love of the brethren. As these false denominational doctrines are allowed to grow, our mutual affection and loving concern that allow us to be in service to one another are all changed to hate, animosity, prejudice, pride, jealousy and discord.. The phrase "till all was leavened" is a terrible indication how bad it will get and how bad all the devil's doctrines and resulting divisive, insensitive, uncaring, self-absorbed, self-centered attitudes and beliefs would spread through the entire church system just as leaven spreads through entire bread dough. Now, G-d's people all need to leave Babylon and once again establish the true church that gathers believers only unto Jesus and therein "through love to serve one another" (Galatians 5:13). To hear Jesus and His Christ and to love one another again is the only antidote to all of the denominational leavening that not only poisons and divides all of the brethren but also creates all confusion, sickness, hate, discord and death.

What is the Treasure Hidden in the Field and/or the Pearl of Great Price?

Both the Pearl and the Treasure are intended to instruct us to prefer the Kingdom of Heaven to the whole world, and therefore to deny ourselves all selfish desires and all the lusts of the flesh, so nothing will prevent us from obtaining so valuable a possession. We need to be careful - for we are all so easily led astray - by the allurements and lusts of the world, that eternal life often fades from our view; and the true value of the Kingdom of Heaven is often forgotten. We need to pick up our cross daily and follow Him. The Kingdom of Heaven is the real treasure or pearl of great price, and by comparison to it all earthly goods are insignificant (or dung, as expressed by the Apostle Paul). However, a man cannot take possession of this "treasure or pearl" until he makes up his mind to really sacrifice everything: his earthly desires, his prejudices and unforgiveness, his spare time and quietness, as well as all of his goals, successes and the pleasures of this life. Otherwise he is like the rich young ruler who wants his earthly treasures more than his Heavenly treasures. In Matthew 16:26 we read: "For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?"

And with many such parables Jesus was speaking the word to them as they were able to hear it; and Jesus did not speak to them without a parable; but Jesus was explaining everything privately to His own disciples. (John 10:27) - if you want to know what Jesus really meant dear one, you need to privately hear Him!

The three parts of the Holy Temple.

The Holy Temple was in three parts but it was still only one Temple.

It had the Outer court, the Holy Place and then the Holy of Holies.

The Outer Court had vessels of brass, the Holy place had vessels of silver and the Holy of Holies had vessels of gold. (We are earthen vessels that need to be refined.)

It had areas for the various believers, the priests and then the High Priest. (Outside were the unbelievers.)

Jesus said he was the way, the life and the truth.

We all have a body, a soul and a spirit.

An egg has a shell, the white of the egg and then the yolk.

There are three forms of water - solid (ice), liquid and clouds (gas) but it is still water in any form.

There is one Lord (Father), Jesus (Son) and Christ (Holy Spirit) they too are still one in any form..

In John 21:15-17 Jesus said their were three kinds of believers - lambs, sheep and sheep.

There are three kinds of unbelievers goats, dogs and pigs.

Some believers are 30 fold, some are 60 fold and some are 100 fold.

G-d contols only the spirit, G-d controls the spirit and the soul, G-d control the body, soul and the spirit.

Some are born again and baptised in water, some are baptised in the Holy Spirit and some are refined with true baptism (Mark 10:38-39)

There were three Annointings - Lepers, priests and Kings.

There are three parts to heaven - Paul was caught up the the third heaven.

In Revelation 16:19 there are three parts to Babylon that must be destroyed along with hades, death and everyone not written in the Lamb's book of Life.

There were 12 Tribes, then one Judah and then one Jerusalem.

There are some who are saved/called, some who are elect/chosen, and some who are very elect/faithful.

First, we overcome by the blood of the lamb, second, the word of their testimony and then third, those who loved not their lives unto death.

There are servants, guests and friends at the wedding feast. Father is also there with the Bride and Bridegroom.

Some vessels are created for a common purpose some for a noble purpose and some are created for destruction.

Not everyone wears a crown in Heaven, Not everyone will reign with Jesus. In Psalm 84:10 we read: "For a day in thy courts [is] better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my G-d, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness." Some of us will be asked to come up further - some of us will be asked to go lower. I just want to be there. The above divisions found in the Old and New Testament basically are used to show the degree of surrender and commitment the various kinds of believers have made to the Lord Jesus Christ and/or their crucifixion (lack) of self.

Seven Jewish Feasts and how they relate to our being formed in the womb.

The seven feasts of Israel are powerful and they come in a peculiar kind of order. Passover is first, which falls on the 14th day of the first month. Unleavened bread starts the next night and continues for seven days. First fruits is during the week. This is the festival many Christians now call “Easter.” (The Biblical Passover has to do with the Lamb of G-d being killed for our sins. Easter Sunday was not observed by the second century Christians in Asia Minor. They observed Passover. In Luke 22:14-20 - Jesus specifically mentioned that Christians were to observe the Passover as He did). Pesach or Pentecost is 50 days later. The Feast of Trumpets is the first day of the seventh month. The Day of Atonement is the tenth day of that month. The Feast of Tabernacles is the 15th day. These feasts are specifically written down in Leviticus, chapter 23:1-44. The now resting Zola Levitt discovered an amazing correlation between these Jewish Holy Days and the gestation of a human baby, from conception to birth when he was wrote a book for new parents. Zola contacted a gynecologist for some professional help in understanding gestation and pregnancy. As they talked, the gynecologist showed Zola a series of pictures, pointed to the first one (an egg and a sperm) and said, "On the fourteenth day of the first month, the Mother's egg appears." For most women the egg appears ready to be fertilized on the 14th day of a their cycle. The statement struck a chord in his Jewish mind because that was also the date of Passover. He remembered the roasted egg on his family Seder table every Passover. Now, for the first time, he knew what that egg on the Passover plate meant! The average pregnancy begins on the 14th day of the first month just like Passover! Not wanting to lead the gynecologist off from the subject at hand, he didn't say anything, but continued to listen. The gynecologist continued: "The egg must be fertilized within 24 hours, or it will pass on. Once fertilized it begins to travel down the fallopian tube the next day to the womb." The egg that is released from the mother’s ovary must be utilized/fertilized within 24 hours, or by the next day. This reminded Zola of the next day Feast of Unleavened Bread and the seed or grain that "fell into the ground and died" in order to produce a harvest, the first fruits of which was presented to G-d. Next, the gynecologist said, "Within two to six days, the fertilized egg attaches itself to the wall of the womb and begins to grow." And, sure enough, the Jewish evangelist thought, "The Feast of First fruits (the festival of planting) is observed anywhere from two to six days after Passover!" Next, he was shown a photo of an embryo as it develops arms, hands, fingers, legs, feet, toes, a head, eyes, etc. The gynecologist continued, "Around the fiftieth day, the embryo takes on the form of a human being. Until then, we don't know if we have a duck or a tadpole." Zola thought, "That's Pentecost!" Only after 50 days do we see the embryo has become a new creature – a human fetus. That’s also the day you can first hear the heartbeat – the 50th day, which is the festival of Pentecost, where new creatures are made. Then there is a period of general growth as all of the various senses start to develop. Sight is not developed first because there is nothing to see in the womb. The next picture showed the embryo at seven months. The gynecologist said, "On the first day of the seventh month, the baby's hearing is developed. For the first time, it can now hear and distinguish sounds (John 19:27) outside the womb." Zola knew that the hearing develops just in time for the Jewish Festival Feast of Trumpets! The gynecologist continued, "On the tenth day of the seventh month, the hemoglobin of the blood changes from that of the mother, to a self-sustaining baby." Fetal blood must change to adult blood so that the baby can take its own oxygen and breathe its own air when it is born. That change occurs around the 10th day of the seventh month, when the blood becomes acceptable " Zola thought, "That's the Day of Atonement, when the blood was taken into the Holy of holies!" Next, the gynecologist said, "On the fifteenth day of the seventh month, the lungs become fully developed. If born before then, the baby would have a hard time breathing and surviving." On the 15th day of the seventh month, the tabernacle or the houses of the spirit, the lungs, are finished. That is the first day there can be a safe delivery. And Zola thought, "That's the festival of Tabernacles, a time of celebrating the Temple, home of the Shekinah glory or Spirit of G-d." In the New Testament, the Greek term pneuma, normally translated as "breath," is applied to the "Holy Spirit." If the fetus continues in the womb for another month and a half for a full-term pregnancy - its birth will normally take place on the tenth day of the ninth month. Eight days after birth, in Jewish families, a son is circumcised. Zola noted that the eight days of Chanukah (the Feast of Rededication, or new life!) are celebrated right on schedule, nine Gregorian months of 30 days and ten days (or ten Jewish months of 28 days) for a total of 280 days after Passover. No human being could have understood our 280 day gestation period 3,500 years ago. The establishment of the Jewish Holy Days was given to Moses directly by Jehovah, Himself. Its direct correlation with the normal human gestation period is truly remarkable that shows us who created us!!

We are His Creation

Psalm 139:14 reads; "I will praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are your works, and my soul knows very well." In the original Hebrew text, the word 'fearfully' means: with great reverence and heart-felt interest and respect. The word 'wonderfully' means: unique, set apart, uniquely marvelous. In Isaiah 44:24 we read: "Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, and He who formed you from the womb..." The word 'formed' in the Hebrew means to fashion or to mould into a form, especially as a potter - with a definitive purpose in mind. In Ephesians 2:10 we read: "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which G-d has prepared beforehand that we should walk in them" Let's examine the word 'workmanship.' It comes from the Greek word 'poiema' and the word signifies a work of art brought forth by an artisan. Our English word poem and poetry stem from this word. We are created to reflect the beauty of G-d's love. This is to be uniquely expressed through our individual characteristics which have been carefully selected for us, that we - being set apart unto Him - may fulfill the purposes of G-d on the Earth. Jeremiah 29:13 reveals a special truth regarding this very matter; "For I know the thoughts (purposes) that I think (plan) toward (for) you. Thoughts (purposes) of peace and not of evil, to give you a (quality) future and a hope." The word for 'thoughts' in the Hebrew means purposes, intentions, skillful works. The word for 'think' is the root word for 'thoughts' and it means to think, to plan, to devise, to invent, to meditate and to abound. The plans that G-d has for us all have been well thought out, meditated upon, devised specifically for us so that we would abound in them. In Isaiah 64:4-8 we read: "For since the beginning of the world [men] have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O G-d, beside thee, [what] he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him. Thou meetest him that rejoiceth and worketh righteousness, [those that] remember thee in thy ways: behold, thou art wroth; for we have sinned: in those is continuance, and we shall be saved. But we are all as an unclean [thing], and all our righteousnesses [are] as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. And [there is] none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee: for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities. But now, O LORD, thou [art] our father; we [are] the clay, and thou our potter; and we all [are] the work of thy hand." In 2 Corinthians 9:8 we read: "And G-d is able to make all (not just some) grace abound toward you; that you always having all sufficiency in all things may abound to every good work.

We are to allow Him to continue His Creative Work

In Zechariah 4:6 we read: "Not by might, not by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord!" In Psalm 51:10 we read: "Create in me a clean heart, O G-d; and renew a right spirit within me." (The word rendered “create,” ברא bera’ – is a word which is properly employed to denote an act of “creation;” that is, of causing something to exist where there was nothing before. It is the word which is used in Genesis 1:1: "In the beginning G-d “created” the heaven and the earth," and which is commonly used to express the entire act of creation.) In Hebrews 12:2 we read: "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of [our] faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of G-d." Philippians 1:6 tells us, “I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus.” In John 1:12 we read: "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of G-d, [even] to them that believe on His name:" In Mark 10:15 we read: "Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of G-d as a little child, he shall not enter therein." (All a little child can do - is trust its parents.) In John 6:29 - Jesus told them, "This is the only work G-d wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent."

Dear One, pray only for the knowledge of His perfect will in and for your life and ask Him for the power of the Holy Spirit to stand fast and to carry that out.

The Parables of the Wedding Feast.

Jewish law wants the entire community to bring joy and happiness to both the Kallah (bride) and Choson (groom). Most of the laws and customs relating to the wedding ceremony, its preparations and Seudas Mitzvah (festive reception meal) date back to our Patriarchs and the giving of the Torah at Sinai. The Talmud teaches that, originally man and woman were created as a single being or entity. Togetherness is their natural state. Their love stems from this natural tendency to be one. Our sages tell us that prior to the marriage neither man nor woman is considered a complete entity. The marriage is the joining of the two halves - man and woman - into one complete wholesome being (John 17:19-26). To take it a step further, we are taught in Chassidic philosophy that upon birth each body contains a portion of one soul, and at the marriage the two parts unite as one soul once again. Thus, it is at the time of the wedding that the creation of bride and groom is completed and is therefore, such a meritorious occasion. The wedding day has, for both the bride and groom, all the sanctity and solemnity of Yom Kippur. Both have fasted until after the chuppah ceremony through which time they seek G-d's forgiveness for any past wrongdoings. The groom, who dons a kittel (white robe) under the chuppah, and the bride in her gown, are attired in white symbolizing angelic purity and freedom from sin. They pray that the Al-mighty "open a new gate for us as the old gate is closed" so that their new life together evolves from a pure and fresh beginning. During each day of their marriage the bride and groom will strive to grow and adjust to each other in order to establish the foundation for a Bayis Ne'eman B'Yisrael - a faithful Jewish home.

In Jewish society, the marriage contract was generally made between the Fathers of the bride and groom who normally had not seen each other before they were engaged. The Groom makes a covenant or contract promise. The Ketubah is a document that is used for the purpose of assuring the bride will be provided for. Once this document is signed and witnessed by two people then it is binding and the couple are considered married. They drink (Matthew 26:27-29) a cup of wine (Luke 5:33-34) to seal the covenant. The Groom pays a price to show he is serious and makes a spoken promise to his bride that he would come back to claim her soon, this is the Engagement Promise. Although considered married at this point, they separate for a time. The bride remains with her family and waits and wears a veil. This shows she belongs only to the groom. She prepares for her wedding by making blankets, and other useful things. She also shows gratitude to her family for raising her and she mends any hurt relationships. No matter what, she had to be ready because the groom will come to get her at night. The groom leaves to go and prepare a bridal chamber - he works on it (John 14:1-4) until it pleases his father. The Chuppah canopy is derived from this type of a bridal chamber.. When the bridal chamber is finally finished and all is ready, the groom then returns for his bride without notice (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). The marriage ceremony then takes place and the wedding banquet follows. The wedding banquet was one of the most important and joyous occasions in the Jewish life and could last for up to seven days. Jesus compares Heaven to the wedding banquet that a king had prepared for His only Son. The oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered and all things are now ready, a royal feast where the best of everything is available and plentiful. Indeed Jesus first miracle was at the wedding feast of Cana when He miracuously turned water into the best wine (see John 2:1-11). In Biblical times the kittel was worn by all the men attending the wedding. The Kittel is a white robe, it looks somewhat like a bathrobe. It is a garment worn at Passover. It is also worn by the Groom at a wedding. The word Kittel is rooted in the Hebrew word Katal - "To Slay". This garment worn by priests during certain sacrifices such as Passover or Yom Kippur. It was the Jewish custom for the host (John 3:27-36) to provide each guest with a wedding garment see Sampon and the 30 wedding garments in Judges 14. In Judaism the Sabbath is seen as the bride. In Biblical Christianity, the Church, the Body of Believers is seen as the bride and the Messiah is the bridegroom. The Father (not Babylon) makes and approves the choice. In John 6:44: Jesus said: "No one can come to me unless the father who sent me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day." In 2 Corinthians 11:2 we read: "For I, Paul have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin (not a whore or harlot as in Revelation 17 &18) to the Messiah."

A Traditional end to a Jewish wedding serves as a reminder of the fragility of life, even during the most joyous of celebrations. Life is fragile. In a Jewish wedding, we break a wine glass as a symbol of our past. Forgiveness is an end to a shattered past. As the Groom smashes the wine glass under his foot everyone shouts Mazel Tov! Which means Good Fortune, may your lives from now on be not shattered, but full of fortune and joy.

In Matthew 22:2-14 we read: "The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city (Babylon). Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests. And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen.

In Luke 14:16-24 we read: "Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.

In Matthew 25:1-13 we read: "Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins (the saved church) , which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy (Acts 8:18) for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know (John 10:27) you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh." (Half the "saved" church was foolish according to Jesus.)

In Revelation 19:7-10 we read: Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him (and only Him) glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of G-d.” And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship G-d! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”

Who are these that would not come? The entire unsaved world.

Who choses to work rather than accept G-d's free gift? Religious people insist that they want to earn their own way - they freely choose not trust Jesus. Religious people always want to depend on their own works, their own self-righteousness, to make them "acceptable" before G-d. Look at the denominational churches dear one and watch them as they work to fill their pews. Look at the prodigal son's brother. No one is righteous, no not one - and no one can say that he earned his own way. We all deserve eternal punishment. These "workers" turn down Jesus free gift and G-d's free invitation. "Ephesians 2:8-9 "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of G-d not by works, so that no one can boast."

Now as they went on their way, he entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to what he was saying. But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him (Jesus) and asked, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me." But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her" (Luke 10:38-42). We all should choose to simply sit down and listen unto the Lord Jesus Christ whose yoke is easy and whose burden is light!

Who are these that will harm and even kill G-d's servants? In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus warned, “You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘You shall not murder’; and ‘whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, ‘You fool,’ you will be liable to the hell of fire.” In Matthew 24:48-51 Jesus warns: "But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, ‘My master is staying away a long time,’ and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Pastors please pay attention to this warning! In Luke 12:41-48 we read: Peter asked, "Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everyone?" The Lord answered, "Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. But suppose the servant says to himself, 'My master is taking a long time in coming,' and he then begins to beat the menservants and maidservants and to eat and drink and get drunk. The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers." "That servant who knows his master's will and does not get ready or does not do what his master wants will be beaten with many blows. But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked." In Matthew 23:8 we read: "But be not ye called Rabbi (teacher): for one is your Master, [even] Christ; and all ye are brethren (followers)..

What is the missing wedding garment? The Bible often explains what is proper attire for the wedding feast! It is your responsibility to clothe yourself properly!

Romans 13:14: "Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature."
Colossians 3:12 "Therefore, as G-d's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience."
1 Peter 5:5 "Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, "G-d opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."
Rev 19:7-9 - "Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’”'
Revelation 22:14: "Blessed [are] they that do his commandments (that wash their robes in the blood of the Lamb) that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city."
Revelation 7:13-17: "And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation (they were not raptured), and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of G-d, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and G-d shall wipe away all tears from their eyes."
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The fiery furnace is the Lake of Fire. The place of weeping and gnashing of teeth is obviously not heaven or pardise.

Matthew 8:12 "But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
Matthew 13:41,42 "The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Matthew 13:50 "and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
Matthew 22:13 "Then the king told the attendants, 'Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'
Matthew 24:51 "He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
Matthew 25:30 "And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
Luke 12:46 "The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers."

Think that once you are saved that you are always saved dear one?

Many so-called "believers" are on their way to the lake of fire. Notice the place with the hypocrites and worthless servants is the same place with the unbelievers. In Revelations Jesus warns His believers to come out of the great whore Babylon and her harlot daughters - have you come out? The Furnace is the lake of fire, and these wedding parables all deal with G-d's final judgment. The Darkness is the temporary place which holds those who are sleep awaiting the final Judgement when all who are not written in the Lamb's Book of Life are thrown (along with death and hades) into the Lake of Fire to burn for ever - this is the second death. In Hebrews 6:4-6 we read:"For [it is] impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of G-d, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them (see my teaching on many antichrists) again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of G-d afresh, and put [him] to an open shame." In Genesis 6:4-7 we read: "And G-D saw that the wickedness of man [was] great in the earth, and [that] every imagination of the thoughts of his heart [was] only evil continually. And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them." In Acts 8:13-24 we see that Simon the Sorcerer had once believed and even had become baptized for the forgiveness of his sins. Simon had also been following after Philip constantly and observing all that Philip was doing. But Simon had returned to the vomit (Proverbs 26:11). Peter declared this to be a true proverb (2 Pet 2:20-22) when he used it to condemn those who forsake their conversion and return to the vomit of this world, as Lot, Solomon, Demas, and others have done. To escape the demonic pollutions of this world and then return to be entangled and overcome in them again puts a man in a worse condition than before his conversion. This is a great reminder to us. Our salvation can be forfeited by our own actions. If we purposely choose to leave Him after we have come to the Lord, then we have personally severed ourselves from G-d. Peter tells Simon that he needs to repent and change his heart before G-d. Simon is told to pray personally to G-d for forgiveness. G-d is the only one who forgives sins. No man can pray to forgive your sins. Therefore we must all personally repent and pray to G-d to forgive us.

Is There an Unforgivable Sin?

In 1 john 2:27 we read: "But the anointing (Christ) which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him (not in religion). The Holy Spirit convicts men of their sin and draws them to the Savior (John 16:8-11; 3:5-6) not to denominational churches (Revelation 17 & 18). 'Him that cometh unto me (not unto religion), I will in no wise cast out' [John 6:37]. 1 Corinthians 1:10 states: Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. Is Christ (the annointing) divided dear one? We all should be one - See:(John 8:31-32, 14:15-24, 17:22-23; Romans 12:4-5; Ephesians 4:3-6,13; 2 Corinthians 13:11; Ephesians 4:13; Colossians 3:13-15; 1 John 2:3-6; etc.)

"And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years." -Genesis 6:3 "Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come." -Matthew 12:31-32 "For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame." - Hebrews 6:4-6 Matthew 7:21-23 states: "Not everyone who says to Me, "Lord, Lord," shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, "Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?" And then I will declare to them, "I never knew (John 10:27) you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness." Mark 3:22-30 states, "And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, 'He has Beelzebub,' and, 'By the ruler of the demons He casts out demons.' …'Assuredly, I [Jesus] say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they may utter; but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation;' because they said, 'He has an unclean spirit'" In Matthew 12:31-32, Jesus says to the Pharisees, "Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come" (See many antichrists)

'For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins' (Hebrews 10:26). (Read Romans 1:16-32 and see some of the demons in Babylon and her harlot daughters.) "It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living G-d" (Hebrews 10:31). "Seek the Lord while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return to the Lord, and He will have compassion on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon" (Isaiah 55:6). Come out of Babylon and her harlot daughters!

What Sins are forgivable?

In Romans 7:15-8:2 we read: "For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of G-d after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank G-d through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of G-d; but with the flesh the law of sin.There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death." But, dear one Paul was not condemned because Paul was still in Christ Jesus and Paul did not want to sin.

Judas betrayed Jesus once and was damned. Peter denied Jesus three times but Peter is in Heaven - why? Because Peter did not want to deny Jesus and Judas did. Your intentions are what Jesus will judge at the end. (See Hebrews 6:6.)

Where are you dear one, what do you intend to do next and are you ready for the last judgement?

Chanukah the Festival of Lights.

Chanukah, the Jewish festival also known as the "festival of lights" is an eight day festival commemorating the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem in the 2nd century BCE - Chanukah begins on the 25th day of the Jewish month of Kislev (but the starting date on the western calendar varies from year to year) - this is the anniversary of the exact day the Jews stopped fighting. The name "Chanukah" derives from the Hebrew verb "חנך", meaning "to dedicate". Chanukah is probably the best known Jewish holiday, not because of its great religious significance, but because of its proximity to Christmas. Many non-Jews (and even many assimilated Jews!) think of this holiday as the Jewish Christmas, adopting many of the Christmas customs, such as elaborate gift-giving and even the decoration of "Chanukah bushes". It is bitterly ironic that this holiday, which has its roots in a revolution against assimilation and suppression of Jewish religion, has now become the most assimilated, secular holiday on the Jewish calendar.

The story of Chanukah begins in the reign of Alexander the Great who conquered Syria, Egypt and Judea. When the Second Temple in Jerusalem was looted and the services stopped, Judaism was effectively stopped. Under Alexander's relatively benevolent rule, many Jews assimilated, adopting much of Hellenistic culture, including the language, customs, dress, etc., in much the same way that Jews in America today blend into the secular American society. More than a century later, a successor of Alexander, Antiochus IV was in control of the region. In 167 BCE Antiochus ordered an altar to Zeus erected in G-d's Temple, he banned circumcision and began to oppress the Jews severely - killing some, he placed a Hellenistic priest in the Temple, prohibited the practice of the Jewish religion, and desecrated the Temple by requiring the sacrifice of pigs (unclean, non-kosher animals) on the altar. Antiochus's actions proved to be a major miscalculation as his decrees were massively disobeyed and provoked a large-scale revolt. Two groups opposed Antiochus: a basically nationalistic group led by Mattathias, a Jewish priest, and his five sons Jochanan, Simeon, Eleazar, Jonathan, and Judah and a religious traditionalist group known as the Chasidim, the forerunners of the Pharisees (no direct connection to the modern movement known as Chasidism) - they joined forces in a revolt against both the assimilation of the Hellenistic Jews and oppression by the Selucid Greek government. Judah became known as Yehuda HaMakabi ("Judah the Hammer"). By 166 BCE Mattathias had died, and Judah took his place as leader. By 165 BCE the Jewish revolt against the Antiochus and the Seleucid monarchy was successful. After recovering Jerusalem and the Temple, Judah ordered the Temple to be cleansed, a new altar to be built in place of the polluted one and new holy vessels to be made. According to the Talmud, olive oil was needed for the menorah in the Temple, which was required to burn throughout the night every night but, at the time of the rededication, there was very little olive oil left that had not been defiled by the Greeks. There was only enough olive oil to burn for one day, yet miraculously, it burned for eight days - (the time it took to have new olive oil pressed and made ready). The eight day festival of Chanukah was instituted by Judah Maccabee and his brothers to commemorate the miracle of the oil, not their military victory: Jews do not glorify war.

Chanukah is not a very important religious holiday. The Jews regard this holiday's religious significance is far less than that of Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Passover, and/or Shavu'ot. It is roughly equivalent to Purim in significance, but, you won't find many non-Jews who have ever heard of Purim! Chanukah is not even mentioned in Jewish scripture; the Chanukah story is found in the book of the Maccabbees, which Jews do not accept as scripture. The ancient Jewish Historian Flavius Josephus narrates in his book Jewish Antiquities XII, how the victorious Judas Maccabbeus ordered lavish yearly eight-day festivities after rededicating the Temple in Jerusalem that had been profaned by Antiochus IV Epiphanes. Josephus does not say the festival was called Chanukah but rather the "Festival of Lights": "Now Judas celebrated the festival of the restoration of the sacrifices of the temple for eight days, and omitted no sort of pleasures thereon; but he feasted them upon very rich and splendid sacrifices; and he honored G-d, and delighted them by hymns and psalms. Nay, they were so very glad at the revival of their customs, when, after a long time of intermission, they unexpectedly had regained the freedom of their worship, that they made it a law for their posterity, that they should keep a festival, on account of the restoration of their temple worship, for eight days. And from that time to this we celebrate this festival, and call it Lights. I suppose the reason was, because this liberty beyond our hopes appeared to us; and that thence was the name given to that festival. Judas also rebuilt the walls round about the city, and reared towers of great height against the incursions of enemies, and set guards therein. He also fortified the city Bethsura, that it might serve as a citadel against any distresses that might come from our enemies."

The only required religious observance related to the holiday is the lighting of the Chanukah candles. Hillel argued in favor of starting with one candle and lighting an additional one every night, up to eight on the eighth night. Jewish law adopted the position of Hillel. The candles are arranged in a candelabrum called a Hanukia. Many people refer to the Hanukia incorrectly as a menorah. The name menorah is used only to describe the seven-branched candelabrum that was housed in the Jewish Temple. The Hanukiah holds nine candles: one for each night, plus a shamash (servant) at a different height. On the first night, one candle is placed at the far right. The shamash candle is lit and three berakhot (blessings) are recited: l'hadlik neir (a general prayer over candles), she-asah nisim (a prayer thanking G-d for performing miracles for our ancestors at this time), and she-hekhianu (a general prayer thanking G-d for allowing us to reach this time of year). The first candle is then lit using the shamash candle, and the shamash candle is placed in its holder. The candles are allowed to burn out on their own after a minimum of 1/2 hour. Each night, another candle is added from right to left (like the Hebrew language). Candles are lit from left to right (because you pay honor to the newer thing first). Our rabbis taught the rule of Chanukah: ... on the first day one [candle] is lit and thereafter they are progressively increased ... [because] we increase in sanctity but do not reduce. -Shabbat 21b, Babylonian Talmud. Except in times of danger, the Chanukah lights were to be placed outside one's door, on the opposite side of the Mezuza, or in the window closest to the street. Rashi, in a note to Shabbat 21b, says their purpose is to publicize the miracle.

Because of the law prohibiting the lighting of a fire on Shabbat, Chanukah candles are lit before the Shabbat candles on Friday night, and they are lit after Havdalah on Saturday night. The following blessings are said: "Baruch atah adonai eloheinu melech ha'olam asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav v'tzivanu l'hadlik neir shel Chanukah." or "Blessed are You our G-d, Creator of time and space, who enriches our live with holiness, commanding us to kindle the Chanukah light." On the first night, the Shehecheyanu is also recited. Why the shamash candle? The Chanukah candles are for this use only; we are not allowed to use them for any productive purpose. We keep an extra one around (the shamash), so that if we need to do something useful with a candle, we don't accidentally use the Chanukah candles. The shamash candle is at a different height so that it is easily identified as the shamash.

There is a custom of eating foods fried or baked in oil (preferably olive oil), as the original miracle of the Hanukkah menorah involved the discovery of a small flask of pure olive oil used by the Jewish High Priest, the Kohen Gadol. This small batch of olive oil was only supposed to last one day, and instead it lasted eight. Among Ashkenazic Jews, this usually includes latkes (pronounced “lot-kuhs” or “lot-keys” depending on where your grandmother comes from), or “potato pancakes.”

Gift-giving is not a traditional part of Chanukah, but has been added in places where Jews have a lot of contact with Christians as a way of dealing with children’s jealousy of their Christian friends. The only traditional gift of the holiday is “gelt,” small amounts of money. Chanukah gelt is a Jewish custom rooted in the Talmud: “The Talmud states that even a very poor person must light Chanukah lights, even if he can’t afford it. A person with no money is required to go ‘knocking on doors’ until he collects enough to buy at least one candle for each night of Chanukah. The Torah concept of charity -- tzedakah -- requires us to help the recipient in the most dignified manner possible. Therefore, the custom arose to give gifts of money during Chanukah so that someone who needs extra money for Chanukah candles can receive it in the form of ‘Chanukah Gelt.’”

Another tradition of the holiday is playing dreidel, a gambling game played with a square top. Most people play for matchsticks, pennies, M&Ms or chocolate coins. A dreidel is marked with the following four Hebrew letters: Nun, Gimmel, Heh and Shin. On Israeli dreidels, there is no Shin but rather a Peh, which stands for Po, meaning here.These letters stand for the Hebrew phrase "Nes Gadol Hayah Sham", a great miracle happened there, referring to the miracle of the oil. The letters also stand for the Yiddish words nit (nothing), gantz (all), halb (half) and shtell (put), which are the rules of the game! There are some variations in the way people play the game, but one way is where everyone puts in one coin. A person spins the dreidel. On Nun, nothing happens; on Gimmel (or, as we called it as kids, “gimme!”), you get the whole pot; on Heh, you get half of the pot; and on Shin, you put one in. When the pot is empty, everybody puts one in. Keep playing until one person has everything. Then redistribute it again, because nobody likes a poor winner.

A traditional song of this holiday is “Ma'oz Tzur,” (Rocky Fortress) better known to Christians as “Rock of Ages” (the tune is the same as one of the more popular ones; the Christian translation takes substantial liberties - see below.) The lyrics of this song date back to approximately the 13th century B.C.E. It is believed to be written by a man named Mordecai, because that name is encrypted in the first letters of the five stanzas. The music dates back to at least the 18th century, and possibly as far back as the 15th century. Most people are only familiar with the first stanza. This very literal translation is not what most people are used to seeing (it is usually translated as "Rock of Ages"). "Who can tell of the feats of Israel - Who can count them? In every age a hero arose to save the people. Who can tell of the feats of Israel - Who can count them? In every age a hero arose to save the people. Hear! In those days at this time - Maccabee saved and freed us. And in our days the whole people of Israel - Arise united to save ourselves." A popular less literal but more easily sung translation: "Who can retell the things that befell us, who can count them? In every age a hero or sage came to our aid. Who can retell the things that befell us, who can count them? In every age a hero or sage came to our aid. Hear! In days of yore in Israel's ancient land - Maccabeus led the faithful band. Now all Israel must as one arise - Redeem itself through deed and sacrifice."

Chanukah will begin on the following days on the Gregorian calendar:
December 1, 2010 (Jewish Year 5771)
December 20, 2011 (Jewish Year 5772)
December 8, 2012 (Jewish Year 5773)
November 27, 2013 (Jewish Year 5774)

Words to The Christian Rock of Ages - in John 8:12 we read: "Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." In Matthew 5:14-16 we read: "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." So let your little light shine dear one!

1. Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
let me hide myself in thee;
let the water and the blood,
from thy wounded side which flowed,
be of sin the double cure;
save from wrath and make me pure.

2. Not the labors of my hands
can fulfill thy law's commands;
could my zeal no respite know,
could my tears forever flow,
all for sin could not atone;
thou must save, and thou alone.

3. Nothing in my hand I bring,
simply to the cross I cling;
naked, come to thee for dress;
helpless, look to thee for grace;
foul, I to the fountain fly;
wash me, Savior, or I die.

4. While I draw this fleeting breath,
when mine eyes shall close in death,
when I soar to worlds unknown,
see thee on thy judgment throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
let me hide myself in thee.

Are you really ready to give your all to Jesus?

In two Gospels we read about a woman who Jesus said would be remembered "Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world". When was the last time you heard a denominational preacher even mention this woman and her total sacrifice?

In Matthew 26:6-16 we read; "Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat. But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste? For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor. When Jesus understood it, he said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me. For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always. For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial. Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her......Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver. And from that time he sought opportunity to betray Him.

In Mark 14:3-11 we read: "And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head. And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made? For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against her. And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me. For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always. She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying. Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.......And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went unto the chief priests, to betray him unto them. And when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money. And he sought how he might conveniently betray Him."

In the other two Gospels we also see the gift of the very precious alabaster box of spikenard ointment that was given directly to Jesus.

Luke 7:36-50 we read: "And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat. And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner. And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on. There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged. And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also? And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace."

In John 12:1-8 we read: "Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him. Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment. Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him, Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein. Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this. For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always."

In Jesus day, it was customary to anoint the body of the deceased with precious ointments such as spikenard. The biblical spikenard was a costly aromatic ointment, preserved in alabaster boxes, whose chief ingredient is believed to have been derived from Nardostachys grandiflora (or N. jatamansi), a plant of the family Valerianaceae (valerian family). Spikenard is a aromatic rhizome. The botanical name has its roots in the Hindu word Jatamansi which means "lock of hair." It's use goes back in several cultures and religions. Medically it's part of the Ayurveda, and is traditionally considered to calm the nerves and promote awareness and strengthen the mind. Spikenard oil can be effective for tension, stress, migraine, nervous indigestion and insomnia. It is anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and fungicidal. Spikenard's warm and earthy scent has a calming effect on the mind, soothing deeply-held anxiety and instilling a profound sense of peace and inner balance. It was prized in early Egypt and in the Middle East during the time of our Savior. Spikenard essential oil is 93% sesquiterpenes which have the ability to oxygenate the brain. The amount of Spikenard essential oil that was poured on our Savior before his death would have cost a common laborer in the time of our Savior a whole years worth of wages!

The anointing of spikenard prepared Jesus for His death and burial. He tells us this Himself. The fragrance that filled the room announced to the spirit world that Jesus would pass through death to life, that He would be the blood sacrificial offering pleasing to G-d. He is the fragrance of life to those who are called to life, and the fragrance of death to those destined to die. The spikenard represents a life poured out in a supreme act of worship. Mixed with Jesus’ Blood and the spices of myrrh and aloes, the fragrance says to each and all in heaven and on earth that Jesus is Lord over death. Spikenard" means "glistening." In the Song of Songs 1.12 it says, "While the king is at his table, my spikenard sends forth its fragrance. A bundle of myrrh is my beloved to me; that lies all night between my breasts. My beloved is to me a cluster of henna in the vineyards of En Gedi. (1.12-14) Spikenard cost an entire year’s wages. It represents all that you have, all that you do and all that you are. To pour it out on Jesus’ head and feet seems a total waste and not true worship to many religious people. Like David before her, Mary would not worship the Lord with something that cost nothing In 2 Samuel 24:24 we read: ". And the king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will surely buy it of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my G-d of that which doth cost me nothing. So David bought the threshingfloor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. And David built there an altar unto the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So the LORD was intreated for the land, and the plague was stayed from Israel." Jesus said to this woman who gave Him her all: "Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace."

Religion and greedy men want all the things of this world for themselves. Most people will not give all their wealth and all their eternal hopes to Jesus. Both Matthew and Mark record that as soon as Jesus was annointed with this expensive gift everyone (who did not so receive) was upset and murmured the money should have been given to the "poor". Matthew and Mark then note that Judas immediately went out and betrayed the Lord so he could have some money of his own. John 12.5 records the first words we have of Judas. "Why was this fragrant oil not sold for 300 denari and given to the poor?" His last words are in Matthew. 27.4: "I have sinned by betraying innocent blood." Judas was the treasurer who now watched the annointing with incredulity and literally "snorted" with self-righteous indignation. "What a waste. What wicked extravagance." His criticism seemed valid. He appeared devoted to the concerns of the poor. But, Judas wanted all the money from the spikenard given to him.(Sounds like a lot of denominational pastors.) . Mary chose to put her entire earthly treasure into the Kingdom of G-d, into the Kingdom of G-d (not Judas money purse) where no one comes to steal. Greed cannot understand giving, only taking. Satan hates to see Jesus glorified. Satan seeks to rob the Lord of His inheritance. All things are Christ’s but, Satan is filled with pride. His desire is to have everything in himself, to be as G-d, to be the seat of knowledge, to be as G-d knowing. Satan fills people with lies, anger, jealousy, envy, greed, pride, indignation, predjudice, avarice, selfishness, false piety, hate and many other demonic influences to try to steal our gifts for G-d and to turn our affections against our brethren and to try to divide us from our gathering together to worship the Lord.

Mary of Bethany is found three times in the gospel records and each time she is at the feet of Jesus (Luke 10.39, John 11.32, John 12.3). She loved to listen to His word. When Lazarus lay dead she fell at His feet and poured out her sorrow. Here now she comes again to His feet (John 13:1-17) in this supreme act of worship. When Lazarus died, she said, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." (Jn 11.32) Her Brother Lazarus is again alive and sitting at this supper - Lazarus had been dead and stinking but Jesus had brought Lazarus out of the grave and out of the grip of death. He had been loosed from the grave clothes and is now seated here eating with this same Jesus at this supper. (Eph. 2.6) Here with her Brother Lazarus as a living witness, Mary demonstrates an understanding of what is required to be seated with Him. She lets down her hair and wipes Jesus’ feet with her hair. She takes the place of a servant, a slave girl. In untying her hair she does something Jewish women did not do in public (1 Cor. 11.15). She dismantled her glory. She humbled herself in an act of worship that was public, spontaneous, sacrificial, lavish, personal, and unembarrassed. Mary was uncalculating in her generosity. Jesus did not condemn Mary. He blessed her. Mary blessed Jesus, and He blesses her.

Dear one, are you really ready to worship the Lord in Spirit and in truth? Praising the Lord is easy and makes us feel good But to truly worhip Jesus like this woman did - can be found in Romans 12:1 where we read: "“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of G-d, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto G-d, which is your spiritual worship.” This level of worship and relationship with Jesus will bring ridicule and criticism, even from others close to Jesus. Mary’s worship was rebuked and rejected by all of His disciples, it was criticized and condemned. Judas called it "a waste." "Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of Life." (Rev. 3.10) Sacrifice is an offering up, not a giving up. “If we suffer with him we shall reign with him". Sacrifice is the offering up of a life to G-d. The anointing destroys the yoke. The anointing prepares one for the glory of G-d. The anointing consecrates one to the service of G-d. The spikenard anointing covered Jesus with the fragrance that when mixed with His Blood would be pleasing to the Father as Jesus offered it to Him in the Holy of Holies! That is why denominational churches do not remember to or want to talk about this woman and her total sacrifice unto the Lord.

Dear one, are you truly ready to worship the Lord Jesus Christ in spirit and in truth? Are you ready to die to sin, to self (Romans 6.11), to die to the world (Gal. 6.14), to die to the divisions of man, e.g., denominations, nationalism, gender, race, caste, culture, language (Eph. 2.13-22), to die to the Law (Romans 7.14) and to only hear the Lord (John 10:27). If so, you will then hear the Lord's promise that "to Him (the one) who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne." (Rev. 3.21). In Revelation 3:22 we read how we may hear Him - "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the chuches." Dear one, do you really want to hear Him ask you to willingly and humbly present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to G-d, which is your reasonable service, or spiritual worship? Or will you also say like all those at the supper - what a waste"?

What does this woman's sacrifice have to do with the death of Ananias and his wife Sapphira?

In Acts 5:1-11 we read about the deaths of Ananias and his wife Sapphira. All the way through the book of Acts, Luke recorded the many miraculous things that the disciples of Jesus were able to do after they were filled with power from the Holy Ghost and the phenomenal growth of the true Church. Acts 4:33 summarizes everything when it says, “With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all.” It’s a picture of a wonderful community of G-d’s believers. The gospel of the resurrection is proclaimed and abundant grace is upon all the people ... - Why does Luke stop discussing the positive growth of the Church and write about this depressing death story? “But a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property.” This links our text with what has just been said at the previous chapter. Acts 4:36-37 tells us that a man called Barnabas sold a field and gave the money to the apostles so that it could be used for distribution among the believers who were in need. His action must have brought Barnabas much praise and thanks among the believers. In fact, his name was actually “Joseph”, but the apostles called him “Barnabas” which means “Son of Encouragement”. It is this event at the end of the previous chapter which now leads into these two deaths. Acts 5:1-11 is not an interruption in the flow of the acts of the apostles, rather, it is an integral part of that narrative. Ananias, moved by what he has just seen Barnabas do, decides along with this wife, to do the same thing. The only difference is, his action is motivated by a completely different spirit than that of Barnabas. If Barnabas was moved by the Holy Spirit to do what he did, and for that he won much praise and favour from G-d and men, Ananias has done the opposite. Moved by a different spirit, an unholy spirit, he received no praise, but only G-d's severe judgment.

Religious people continue to ask: "Isn’t the Lord supposed to love everyone? Doesn’t his grace come upon all people?" Some denominational theologians have even said that they hope this story is a legend and not true because it makes the apostle Peter seem harsh and G-d’s judgment severe. Think about it, Ananias was not even given a chance to repent before he was struck down. Then the apostles didn’t even have the courtesy to inform his wife about his death and when she came looking for him, she was also struck down for participating in their lie. What kind of pastoral care is that? You see, Luke tells us this story of judgment in the midst of many other stories which speak of the spread of the gospel and the power of the Holy Spirit in people’s lives because he wants us to know that the Spirit at work among G-d’s people is a HOLY Spirit and G-d will not tolerate and/or be mocked by satanic lies and/or human sin! We all must learn to fear the Lord - for G-d is a fearsome fire and no man should ever dare treat Him other than what He has revealed Himself to be, holy and sinless. G-d will not be trifled with, rejected, insulted, mocked or lied to. In Romans 2 verses 8 and 10 it says that “for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. ... but glory, honour, and peace for everyone who does good.”

In Lev. 27:30 - 34 we read “‘A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the LORD; it is holy to the LORD. If a man redeems any of his tithe, he must add a fifth of the value to it. The entire tithe of the herd and flock—every tenth animal that passes under the shepherd’s rod—will be holy to the LORD. He must not pick out the good from the bad or make any substitution. If he does make a substitution, both the animal and its substitute become holy and cannot be redeemed.’

Peter confronts Ananias with his crime in verses 3-4. He says, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit ...” And then at the end of verse 4 he says, “You have not lied to men but to G-d.” Here we come already to the heart of the matter. The real crime is not that this man and his wife kept back some of their own money. Their crime is that they have lied to G-d when they pretended to give all as the woman had freely done to Jesus!. Ananias and Sapphira lied to the Holy Spirit while attempting to make themselves look better than they were. Peter says to the husband, “Didn’t (the field) belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t (all) the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing?” Trying to steal from, or trying to fool or con the Omnipotent, All-knowing Lord is going to destroy you forever!. If Satan cannot destroy the church from without, he will attempt to destroy it from within - that is why the great whore and her harlot daughters (Revelation 17&18) are filled with demons. Do not lie to G-d dear one! If you promise G-d to do or give something - you better do it or give it! There is no way that you can choose to even substitute something else - if you do try both now belong to G-d! Ananias and his wife Sapphira lies and theft if left unchallenged by G-d would have interupted the victorious progress of G-d's people.

Dear One, there were miracles before the death of Annias and his wife but, after their deaths even Peter's shadow healed and G-d added to the church daily!

“The story of the deaths (Act 3:23) of Ananias and his wife can be compared Achan in the book of Joshua. In both stories an act of deceit and theft from G-d. Do you remember Achan? After the victory of the Israelites at the battle of Jericho, Joshua ordered that all of the goods and the wealth of the city were to be devoted to the Lord. The people could keep nothing for themselves. The city of Jericho and its wealth was to be offered as the first fruits to the Lord. It was all to be given to the Lord. In Joshua 7:1 it says, “But the Israelites acted unfaithfully in regard to the devoted things; Achan, the son of Carmi of the tribe of Judah, took some of them. So the Lord’s anger burned against Israel.” As a result of this crime Israel was defeated in their next battle. This loss was only because Achan had lied and stolen from the living G-d and had thus interupted the victorious progress of G-d's people. When the sin of Achan was later discovered he, like Ananias in our text, was punished by being put to death. The Lord will not be mocked. He will not tolerate sin. Those who say that the G-d of the Old Testament is a vengeful and violent G-d but, the G-d of the New Testament is a G-d of love and grace, have never read His whole book! It is all one revelation. The terrible G-d of the Old Testament is also the Loving G-d and Father of our Savior Jesus. He is the Sovereign One. He is the Holy One. We are to fear Him! Apart from his grace, we are all the same as Achan at the battle of Jericho and Ananias and Sapphira in the early Christian Church. It is no wonder that our text concludes in Acts 5:11-16 by saying, “So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things. And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon’s Porch. Yet none of the rest dared join them, but the people esteemed them highly. And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them. Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed." G-d had again removed all who were interrupting the victorious progress of G-d’s people!

It is interesting to note that before and after the deaths of these two lying thieves that only pretended to give G-d their all - that Luke tells us about miraculous healings which the apostles and in particular Peter, were enabled to perform. In Acts 3 we read an account in which Peter healed a man who had been crippled from birth. Immediately after their deaths, it says in Acts 5:15 that the apostles healed so many others that people brought their sick into the streets so that “at least Peter’s shadow might fall on them” as they lay in the street. Once again G-d destroyed those who were interrupting the victorious progress of G-d’s people. Dear one, I believe the deaths of "Ananias and Sapphira" (and all who are currently interrupting the victorious progress of G-d’s people) will have to be repeated before we see the prophecy in Haggai 2:9 fulfilled: "The glory of this latter house shal be greater then of the former, saith the Lord of Hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the Lord of Hosts." Don't you know dear one, the coming of the Kingdom means the total restoration for mankind and creation and all that G-d chooses to bless with his grace, it also means removal and destruction of all that which is evil. In 1 Peter 4:17 we read: "For the time [is come] that judgment must begin at the house of G-d: and if [it] first [begin] at us, what shall the end [be] of them that obey not the gospel of G-d?" In today's society, which is willing to tolerate any philosophy, except one that claims to be the exclusive truth, there is a strong tendency to dilute the proclamation of Christ as the only way to G-d. This makes the message of Revelation especially relevant to the denominational church today. After each admonition to each of the seven churches John writes, "Listen what the spirit says to the churches" . . . (2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22). Although a different message was given to each church, each message ended with this clear warning: "To him that overcometh". There is only one him - and he must overcome all the seven churches! If you still have any doubt about G-d's judgment of Christians, you need to fully understand these two chapters. They give us insight as to how G-d deals with churches today. To each church John writes, "He who has an ear, let him hear . . . John tells the reader to stop, look and listen to what Jesus Christ (not Babylon) is saying to him that hath an ear..

Jesus said "I tell you the truth. The person that believes in me (not Babylon) will do the same things I have done. Yes! He will do even greater things than I have done. Why? Because I am going to the Father. And if you ask for anything in my name, I will do it for you. Then the Father's glory will be shown through the Son. If you ask me for anything in my name, I will do it." But dear one how can He do this work if we are not totally committed to bringing all the believers to Him? His true church can not be filled with demons or people who listen to Satan and steal from G-d. Once the true church is no longer divided, and free from all demonic influences and filled with the Holy Spirit - then and only then shall we see Jesus' promise of greater works!

Shalom!