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Volume 1 -THE GARDEN OF EDEN - Adam's Creation and His
Volume 2 - NEW BEGINNING AND NEW WORLD ENVIRONMENT Volume 3 - JOSEPH, EPHRAIM AND MANASSEH - A Foreshadow of God's Agenda for Jew and Gentile Volume 4 - CROSSING THE JORDAN RIVER - A Foreshadow of Salvation for Jew and Gentile Volume 5 - THE BOOK OF REVELATION - God's Agenda for the End Time Volume 6 - THE SEVEN LETTERS TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES Volume 7 - CHRIST IN THE TABERNACLE - A Foreshadow of Redemption **************** |
This quick study is a sub-topic support for the foreshadows in Volume 6 - SEVEN LETTERS TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES ************************************ Introduction The Mystery of God This revelation is supported by the Apostle Paul in - Ephesians 3:3-6 - How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, (4) Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) (5) Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; (6) That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel. After the resurrection of Jesus the mystery of God was revealed to Paul under the anointing and power of the Holy Spirit. This mystery is now revealed to Christians by the anointing of the Holy Spirit. The apostle Paul was one of the first to receive a deeper revelation of truth from the Holy Spirit as he received revelation of the meaning of the "mystery of God". The mystery of God was a deeper understanding of God's Word. It is the work of the Holy Spirit to make known a deeper understanding of truth to Christians. Christ declared the Holy Spirit would perform this work of revelation after His resurrection in - John 16:12-13 (NIV) - "I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. (13) But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. What was this mystery? Ephesians 3:9-11 (KJV) - And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: (10) To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, (11) According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord. "Make all men" - The church's ministry of the gospel is to everyone. Everyone should see plainly the promise of God given to Abraham, that all people on earth would be blessed. How one receives this blessing is made known by the illumination of the Holy Spirit, as one hears and believes the preached gospel. When the Christian sees how this mystery (secret plan) works out in his favor, he has a new eternal hope, he becomes a new creation. The joy of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit is shed abroad from his heart to others, as though the countenance of his joy was rays of light. God gets the glory and the principalities and powers in heavenly places learn a lesson on the manifold (multi-faceted) wisdom of God. "See" - (Strong's Concordance - Hebrew) - #5461 photizo (fo-tid'-zo); from #5457 (see below); to shed rays, i.e. to shine or (transitively) to brighten up (literally or figuratively). Use in KJV-- enlighten, illuminate, (bring to, give) light, make to see. #5457 phos (foce); from an obsolete phao (to shine or make manifest, especially by rays; luminousness (in the widest application, natural or artificial, abstract or concrete, literal or figurative). Use in KJV-- fire, light. All men will see as the Holy Spirit enlightens them by illuminating truth (revelation), as sending forth rays of light. This is a truth that will be made manifest in men's mind through faith under the power of the Holy Spirit's ministry. *********************************** Another scripture in Revelation portrays Christ as having seven horns and seven eyes. Are these linked to the same ministry of the gospel under the power of the Holy Spirit? Yes! Horns represents the power and authority of God's Word. Eyes represents Christ through the Holy Spirit overseeing those who have faith in the Word of God. The Word seven in the book of Revelation represents completeness, meaning the end time is a time of Christ completing the ministry of the gospel under the power of the Holy Spirit. When the gospel is finished in Revelation 10:7, the next thing that follows is the time of wrath under the seven bowls. The Christ returns to the earth. Seven Horns and Seven Eyes Revelation 5:6 (KJV) - And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. In the above scripture "horns" and "eyes" are linked together in a vision of the Lamb of God. The horns and eyes are the Holy Spirit performing His work in the ministry of truth. "Eyes" - (Strong's Concordance - Greek) #3788 ophthalmos (of-thal-mos'); from #3700; the eye (literally or figuratively); by implication, vision; figuratively, envy (from the jealous side-glance). #3700 optanomai (op-tan'-om-ahee); a (middle voice) prolonged form of the primary (middle voice) optomai (op'-tom-ahee); to gaze (i.e. with wide-open eyes, as at something remarkable). Ophthalmos, literally or figuratively, means vision. It is taken from the prime word "optomai" which means to gaze with wide open eyes, as at something remarkable. The eyes of the Lamb observes as the Christian is born again through faith in Him as their Savior. This is a remarkable thing for Christ to see, as the Holy Spirit responds to the faith of anyone who believes in the preached word and repents of his sin and accepts Christ as Lord of his life. Darkness is overcome by the light of God and rays of light are radiated from the heart of the new creation, as the Holy Spirit sets up His eternal residence. "Horns" - In the Greek concordance the word "horn" literally means horn. The Greek concordance does not give us any guidance concerning a figurative or implied use of the word in the scriptures. Therefore, a look at the Hebrew meaning is required for gaining insight. I think this is permissible because Jesus knew the Hebrew language and used the word "horn" to represent a certain meaning in this metaphor of the Lamb with seven horns and seven eyes. "Horn" was used in the Old Testament many times as a prophetic symbol of the work of the Holy Spirit. Horn implies the power and authority of God's word. Let us look at an Old Testament scriptures where "horns" was used in a metaphor describing Christ. All altars are used for sacrificial ceremonies. In the Old Testament it was the blood sacrifice of animals for the forgiveness of sin (brazen altar in the tabernacle courtyard) and the sacrifice of self reliance at the altar of incense in the tabernacle's Holy Place. This scripture is concerned witht he altar of inscense that was positioned adjacent to the vail in the tabernacle - Leviticus 4:16-18 (NIV) - Then the anointed priest is to take some of the bull's blood into the Tent of Meeting. (17) He shall dip his finger into the blood and sprinkle it before the LORD seven times in front of the curtain. (18) He is to put some of the blood on the horns of the altar that is before the LORD in the Tent of Meeting. This scripture is concerned with Moses' song he quoted to the Israelites in the desert when the Law was given to them. It is a prophetic revelation of Christ (using Joseph as an Old Testament type of Christ) - Deuteronomy 33:17 (NIV) - In majesty he is like a firstborn bull; his horns are the horns of a wild ox. With them he will gore the nations, even those at the ends of the earth. This is the power and authority of Christ to gore the nations with the Word of God, beginning at His crucifixion and resurrection and continuing to the end time. "Horns" (Strong's Concordance / Hebrew) #7161 qeren (keh'-ren); from #7160; a horn (as projecting); by implication, a flask, cornet; by resemblance. an elephant's tooth (i.e. ivory), a corner (of the altar), a peak (of a mountain), a ray (of light); figuratively, power. #7160 qaran (kaw-ran'); a primitive root; to push or gore; used only as denominative from #7161, to shoot out horns; figuratively, rays. Use in KJV-- have horns, shine. The word "qeren" represents ray of light (Holy Spirit) that has power. Qeren is taken from the root word "qaran" which means to push or gore and figuratively, rays of light that "shoot out" like the goring of a horn. "Horns" has a similar meaning to the Greek word for "see", as previously discussed, #5461 photizo (fo-tid'-zo), which means to shed rays of light, illumination of truth by the Holy Spirit. But, "horns" in the Hebrew metaphor goes a step further with power to push (prod) the believer to repentance, by goring the heart of the believer separating him unto Christ. The goring action is the word of God functioning as a double edged sword - Hebrews 4:12 (KJV) - For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. The work of the Holy Spirit is paramount in the ministry of truth through the church. Without Him, no one could be saved and faith would fall to the earth with no effect. The Holy Spirit gores the believer into repentance. Apart from repentance no one could be re-born. Additionally, the Holy Spirit through His ministry of God's truth to each believer, is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Meaning, through the Holy Spirit, God knows the contents of the heart and works to transform the mindset of the believer to conform to the truth. We can see the principle of transforming of the mind through the Word of God, and therefore, see the goring action of the horns. More on the altar of incense - Exodus 30:1-3 (KJV) - And thou shalt make an altar to burn incense upon: of shittim wood shalt thou make it. (2) A cubit shall be the length thereof, and a cubit the breadth thereof; foursquare shall it be: and two cubits shall be the height thereof: the horns thereof shall be of the same. (3) And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, the top thereof, and the sides thereof round about, and the horns thereof; and thou shalt make unto it a crown of gold round about. The altar of incense in the Holy Place of the tabernacle in the wilderness was constructed with a horn on each corner. The altar of incense represents the prayers of believers submitted to God during the process of sanctification (transformation of the mindset). When the believer is in a place of need and submits his petition to God, he holds onto the horns, so to speak, and perseveres until his season is due and God answers his petition. This is time of building faith in God as the source of all his needs. When God provides, the believer knows in his heart that God is true and trustworthy to perform that which is promised in His Word. The Holy Spirit etches this experience with God in the believer's heart and he is forever changed. When God looks upon his heart, He will see a full persuasion of faith. Figuratively, it could be said, "horns represent the power of God through the Holy Spirit to change a believer's heart." ("Qeren" figuratively means "power".) During his transformational experience the Word gored through his self-sufficiency and established sufficiency in God as Provider. The believer's relationship with God and Christ becomes one of intimacy. The Holy Spirit is a promised gift to each person who accepts Christ as Lord and Savior. He's a gift and a promise because without Him nothing good happens inwardly. God is the source of life and the Holy Spirit imparts that life to us, in fulness.
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