Symbols
May 2008
In a corner of South Dakota resides a sculpture created to immortalize four of our nation’s presidents. Public interest in the endeavor that would transform an obscure mountain into the Mt. Rushmore National Memorial that it is today, virtually guaranteed it its own place in history. Sixty some odd years since the completion of the carving, few can say they have not viewed a movie or read a book documenting the triumphs of this work, even fewer can say they have never seen a picture or held a miniature replica of this now world famous sculpture. Those that have had the opportunity to visit this sculpture in person say, nothing prepared them for the magnitude of what they are now beholding. Originally conceived as an instrument to direct ones thoughts to the men we elected to guide our Nation, this larger than life image, this marvel of engineering and logistical triumphs, somehow through a process we do not always comprehend, took on a persona itself and has become the destination instead of the journey. Very few, who while standing in front of this majestic sculpture, take the time to look past the symbol to see the character of the men symbolized.
All of us live in a world full of symbols. We interact on a daily basis with symbols to the point that we usually process the information provided by them subconsciously. For instance, when we see a ring on the third finger of a person’s left hand we know that they profess to be married because the ring is a symbol of the commitment they made to their spouse. When we open a cookbook we immediately process the information provided by the symbols that tell us how much of each ingredient is needed to complete the recipe. When we drive down the road and see a yellow sign with a curved black line on it, we know that there will be a curve in the road ahead. All of this information is provided to us through symbols, and not one of us would confuse these symbols with the real. No one that I know of would hold up a piece of sheet music and ask everyone in the room to listen, because until the notes (symbols) indicated on the page are actually played there will be no reason to listen. Even when presented with a life size portrait, people are not confused between the person and the symbol. You see for the most part, few have trouble distinguishing symbols from the things symbolized.
Of course there are symbols that break this rule, symbols like Mt. Rushmore that through notability have taken on a life of their own by becoming the real through the photographs and carvings made to symbolize it. A picture of Mt. Rushmore is just a symbol, a symbol that directs our minds to the mountain in South Dakota where the heads of four of our nation’s presidents have been carved. But the sculpture at Mt. Rushmore was originally created as a symbol of the lives of these four presidents. Anytime one symbol directs our minds to another symbol it becomes more difficult to visualize the reality for which the symbol is merely a place holder. Many who stand in the presence of this sculpture fail to look beyond the symbol to see the lives symbolized. Few see George Washington kneeling in the snow as he sought the counsel of God. Few see Thomas Jefferson whose close Christian walk allowed God to inspire him to write “We hold these truths to be self-evident; that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights, among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” Few see Abraham Lincoln whose devout Christian values guided this nation through its lowest ebb and was able to write, “Fellow citizens we cannot escape history. In giving freedom to the slave, we assure freedom to the free.” Or Theodore Roosevelt whose Christian values compelled him to root out corruption wherever he found it. Instead they see granite that has been blasted, jack hammered, chiseled and ground smooth for the sole purpose of bringing great art to the public.
Not only is this failure to look beyond the symbol to the thing symbolized true for our day, but it has been taking place since the beginning of time. The tendency to embrace the symbol and overlook the thing symbolized is all too human, especially in the area of theology where God gives object lessons in the form of symbols. If we embrace the symbol to the point that it becomes the reality to us, we will fail to comprehend the truths these symbols would have provided us. The Spirit explained to me that each prophetic prophecy has within it a literal application of this same prophecy. Symbols are used like place holders in the prophetic application of the prophecy, but in the literal application, the person, place or thing symbolized, must occupy that position. If we try to mix and match; allow symbols in the literal or the thing symbolized in the prophetic, we will lose the correct understanding of both.
Before we look at some of the symbols we are failing to look beyond, the ones that would bring present truth for our day, let us take a lesson from history to become aware of the consequence of this failure. At Sinai, God allowed Moses to view the Heavenly Sanctuary in order to gain insight as to how to construct the earthly sanctuary according to the blueprint provided in what we now call the Law of Moses. With this information Moses was able to reestablish the Symbolic Service. This is the service where the priest was to offer daily, weekly, monthly and yearly sacrifices and offerings. This service continued starting over again each year, a symbol of the work Messiah will complete for us in the Heavenly Sanctuary. ...And what was done in type (symbol) in the ministration of the earthly sanctuary is done in reality in the ministration of the heavenly sanctuary.” GC 420. At the First Advent the Lamb slain from the foundation of the World came to the people who had been given the Symbolic Service, but they did not recognize Him because they had allowed ritual to overshadow the symbols, causing them to stop looking for the One symbolized. The sacrifices and offerings had taken on a persona of their own and had become the destination instead of the journey. We stand in this same precarious position; there are symbols that should illustrate present truth for our time, but if we refuse to look beyond these symbols we will not recognize the Second Advent.
The people whom God had called to be the pillar and ground of the truth had become representatives of Satan. They were doing the work that he desired them to do, taking a course to misrepresent the character of God, and cause the world to look upon Him as a tyrant. The very priests who ministered in the temple had lost sight of the significance of the service they performed. They had ceased to look beyond the symbol to the thing signified. In presenting the sacrificial offerings they were as actors in a play. The ordinances which God Himself had appointed were made the means of blinding the mind and hardening the heart. God could do no more for man through these channels. The whole system must be swept away. DA 36.
The most basic of present truths that Christians are overlooking right now, the foundation of all other present truths God has for our generation, is found in the first two chapters of Genesis. And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply... Genesis 1:26-28. And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. Genesis 2:7. Jesus the Word, the Only Begotten Son of the Father, the one by whom everything that is made was made, a sculptor without equal, fashioned man from the dust of the ground just like He had fashioned all the animals, except with man there is something profoundly different. There is added information that tells us man was created in the image and likeness of God. Image – a sculpture, likeness – a portrait, a symbol that would allow us to comprehend who the Only Begotten Son of God really is, because immediately after they were created God directed them to be fruitful. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Romans 1:20. Adam and Eve were to be a living object lesson. Adam, male was formed in the image and likeness of God the Father. Eve, female was formed in the image and likeness of God the Holy Spirit. And the child whom they were directed to create, would be formed in the womb in the image and likeness of God the Only Begotten Son, a symbol that would allow us to understand the vast difference between God’s Only Begotten Son and ...Adam, which was the son of God. Luke 3:38. An earthly family created in the image and likeness of the Heavenly Family.
The reason this object lesson has become one of those we have trouble looking beyond, is because sin entered before Adam and Eve could produce a righteous child who could stand as a symbol for God’s Only Begotten Son. The child who was born to Adam and Eve after sin entered would not be able to symbolize God’s Son, rather through his deeds he would direct everyone’s attention to his own father Adam and Adam’s fall. God was not caught off guard, a contingency plan was already prepared, Jesus would take on humanity in order to become Adam’s near kinsman. This would place Jesus in a position to supply Adam with an “alive” child who could redeem the dominion lost after Adam and all his seed had died. Jesus with His Wife would produce a righteous Child who when given to Adam and Eve would allow them to achieve their designed calling, a privilege bestowed upon them by right of their birthright. This Child would restore to them their lost dominion and complete the picture Adam was permitted to paint, a picture allowing us to understand ...even his eternal power and Godhead.
With this information fresh in your mind, I would now like to direct your attention to a story in the Bible that is a symbol of what we will go through in our day. This story is found in the first book of Samuel chapter seven and took place at a time after the death of priest Eli; we find a period where the children of Israel under the leadership of Samuel cried out unto Jehovah. And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines. Then the children of Israel did put away Baalim and Ashtaroth, and served the LORD only. 1 Samuel 7:3-4. For the record you will notice that Samuel’s advice was to put away their false gods if they really wanted Jehovah to return unto them. And for the record you will notice that they put away Baalim (plural of Baal a male deity) and Ashtaroth (a female deity). Israel had taken from the heathen a replacement god family, to worship in place of their own God Family. It would not be possible for Samuel to intercede for them until they put away these counterfeit gods. So after they had put away these gods we are told, And Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered it for a burnt offering wholly unto the LORD: and Samuel cried unto the LORD for Israel; and the LORD heard him. 1 Samuel 7:9. The mention about the offering being a lamb that is still nursing from its mother is very important but we will not go into this now. The important information for now is that while the lamb was still being offered, the Lord thundered (spoke) and the Philistines were smitten before Israel.
We are living in the time of the end, the age symbolized by this story. Christians have followed the same path as their historical counterpart and Samuel’s advice is just as significant for us today as it was for them. We have taken for ourselves the very same pagan gods as did ancient Israel. I know this is tough language but let us look at the facts. Most Christians worship Christ on Sunday the day the heathen have set aside to worship Baal the sun god. Most Christians celebrate Christmas, the day the heathen have set aside to worship Baal the son of the sun god. And most Christians celebrate Easter, the day the heathen have set aside to worship Ashtaroth, consort of Baal, mother of his child, and goddess of fertility. Now that our condition is laid bare before us, we see two tasks ahead. First, of course is to put away our Baalim and Ashtaroth; stop trying to worship Christ our legal husband, on the special days we enjoyed with our illicit lovers, no spouse would ever accept this sort of behavior. (Ezekiel 23:30) And second, return to true worship and celebrate with our Lord on the days He has set aside to be special. This is going to be difficult; the foray into pagan worship has been long and gradual and now we are faced with the task of discerning which of the prevailing customs we hold dear are true and which are in error. We need a landmark, a reference point, a star to guide us. Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments. Malachi 4:4. Why would God send a message telling us to remember the Law of Moses? Because this law is the schoolmaster that brings us to Christ! Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. Galatians 3:24. Remember it is this law that contains all the information concerning the Symbolic Service, and of course it is the Symbolic Service that delineates for us the duties of our Messiah in the Heavenly Sanctuary. As Christ officiates in the Heavenly Sanctuary on the special days set aside by God at creation, He anticipates that we will acknowledge what He is doing on our behalf, by taking time out from our daily cares and giving Him our full attention. (Special days - mô‛êd, Strong’s number H1450 meaning an appointed time, assembly or festival. Translated seasons in Genesis 1:14 and feasts in Leviticus 23:2). As He expected His disciples could stay awake and pray with Him one hour, He expects us to stay spiritually awake so we can pray with Him as we follow Him in the Heavenly Sanctuary.
At this point many are saying, Mr. Slawson, you are taking the verse out of context. The schoolmaster is only needed to bring us to a realization that it is Jesus whom is pointed out by the lamb and after we reach that conclusion the law has no more value because it has accomplished its mission. Let us go through these verses keeping them in context. In Galatians 3:1-5, we find Paul reproving the people living in Galatia who after making the effort to look beyond the symbol to behold Christ the Man symbolized, have gone back to robotically following the law as if salvation came through works instead of faith in Jesus. In verses six through thirteen, Paul explains how Abraham lived by faith and that it is only through his faith that God counted him righteous. Continuing on he explains that anyone trying to reach justification by keeping the law will fail, because the law only points out liability. In verse fourteen he explains how through faith in Jesus Christ all nations, even gentile nations, can receive of God’s blessings through Abraham. In verse fifteen we are reminded that even when men enter into a covenant, after the handshake it is binding and nothing can be added or removed. By verse sixteen Paul has setup the letter and is ready to get down to what is really on his heart. In this verse, Paul declares Abraham to be a symbol, a symbol of one of his descendants, not just any one of them you know, but one in particular. Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. Galatians 3:16. What about Abraham is he declaring to be symbolical of Christ? Obviously he is suggesting that it is the promises made to Abraham that we are dealing with, and that these same promises are also made to Christ. So to paraphrase verses fifteen and sixteen we could say, unto Abraham and unto Christ were the promises made, and these promises are sure because of the handshake. Verses seventeen and eighteen explain that the law cannot nullify the promises because the promises exist in the form of a covenant, a covenant confirmed by God to Christ. Remember we are keeping this in context, so before going on to the next verse, let’s review. What we know so far is that the promises given to Abraham are also given to Christ. Abraham is the symbol, Christ is the one symbolized. By using the information provided in the story of Abraham with regard to the promises we are allowed to understand how the promises will be applied to Christ. By looking past the symbol Abraham, to see the one symbolized, we are allowed to understand that Christ is also promised a Son. Not a Son by the bondwoman (church) but a Son by the Freewoman. Likewise in this next verse Paul tell us, Christ will produce His promised seed or offspring. Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. Galatians 3:19. Read this very carefully, Christ receives the very same promises made to Abraham, the most notable of these promises is the promise of a child, and the verse reads “till the seed (Child) should come to whom the promise was made (Christ)”. The law Paul is speaking of here, the law that will continue until after the Child is born to Christ, is the same law Malachi 4:4 reminds us to keep. This law must remain in effect during probationary time, and cannot end until after the promised Child is born to Christ. We know this to be true, because recorded within its symbols are duties and offerings that are to be carried out by a family; father, mother and son.
For years this passage has been read “till the seed (Jesus) should come to whom the promise was made (Abraham)”. Before anyone becomes confused, I wish to point out that this is also a correct interpretation of the verse. The promises made to Abraham are not limited to the promise of a child. There are many other promises that must be taken into account. When we consider all of the promises God made to Abraham and subsequently to Christ, we find there is a double application for this verse. Let us consider this verse in reference to the first application or the First Advent because it will then become a symbol to provide insight into the second application or the Second Advent. By rereading the first part of the verse, Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till..., we find that the law was added, because of sin, and that it would remain in effect till something else took place, and at that time, some or all of it would end. Now we have two questions that must be answered, what ends and when does it end with reference to the birth of the promised seed? By turning to the classic prophecy of the Advents in the book of Daniel we find the answer to what it is that ends. And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease... Daniel 9:27. With the help of Bible commentaries and dictionaries we find that the word sacrifice in this text refers to the offering of the bloody flesh of a slaughtered animal, and the word oblation refers to all of the various, bloodless agricultural harvest type offerings that were usually considered voluntary or gift offerings. We also find that the word cease means to, cause to rest as in celebrating Sabbath, just as if they had finished their work and are now able to rest. Now when we read the text, “till the seed (Jesus) should come to whom the promise was made (Abraham)”, we understand that when Jesus came, type met antitype. Jesus the one symbolized by all of the bloody animal sacrifices was now on the scene. . Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; Matthew 27:50-51. Jesus did not cry out with a voice of a dying man. He cried out with a loud voice, the voice of a man committed to the fight, the voice of one who had just been passed the baton and was prepared for the next leg of the race. Jesus Christ, the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world, stepped into the role just vacated by the animal sacrifices that had finished their work and were now allowed to rest. Now we have the answer to both questions. What ends and when does it end with reference to the birth of the promised seed? It is the sacrifice and oblation that ends and it ended after Jesus finished His three and one half year ministry, confirming the covenant. Notice that the oblation also comes to an end at Jesus’ death because it too is a symbol. Jesus, after making His sacrifice for us, calls upon us to voluntarily take up our cross and follow Him. Jesus is not interested in harvesting grain and grapes etc., He is interested in reaping a harvest of souls. After His resurrection Jesus offered Himself, in the Heavenly Sanctuary, as firstfruits of the dead. This offering is a promise of an abundant harvest of souls that will be gathered into God’s Kingdom who have gone through the grave. All who surrender themselves to be joint heirs with the lamb that dies will receive their inheritance after they have been raised from the grave. For many the first application of the verse is enough, but for all who are striving to be numbered among the one hundred and forty four thousand, this is not enough for they are looking forward to the second application of this verse.
But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. 1 Corinthians 15:20-23.
In the above text we find the statements, by man came death and in Adam all die. These statements indicate that instrumentally through an act or deed of Adam, death came upon all who were in Adam. We must remember that Adam did not act singularly. Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created. Genesis 5:2. The trespass was committed by both Adam and Eve. The proof of this sin was borne out in their harvest; Cain killed Abel, offering proof beyond a shadow of a doubt that both the seed and the ground it was to be planted in had been corrupted. Adam and his family, created to be a symbol of the Heavenly Family, by necessity becomes a symbol of the Second Adam; Jesus and His Family. Adam lived from the time God breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, until he fell into a deep sleep, with the essence of his helpmeet contained within himself, at which time God separated her from him. Jesus lived from His baptism until He fell asleep on the cross with the essence of His Helpmeet contained within Himself, at which time God separated Her from Him. The Bible says Jesus did not sin. But Satan, through the agency of witness tampering, has inspired men to use faulty archeological and scientific studies to imply that He did. We have a saying; the proof of the pudding is in the eating. In this case the proof of Jesus’ righteousness is in His harvest. The only way to be absolutely certain that the seed and/or the ground it is to be planted in is one hundred percent weed free is to grow a crop. In this case, the crop will be the Child promised to Jesus born of His legal Wife fulfilling the promise “till the seed (Child) should come to whom the promise was made (Christ)”. Immediately after the Son is born, He is caught up to God and the throne where upon examination He is found to be free from sin. Even though Jesus’ Son can trace His lineage back through His Human parents to David, Jesse, Judah, Noah etc. all the way back to Adam, He is born free from condemnation. The reason this Child can be born free from the hereditary condemnation For as in Adam all die is that His Father rose from the grave victorious and was, as the Bible says, “cut off” from the condemnation of Adam’s sin, and His Mother having been dipped in Her Mate’s blood at Calvary and was then set free. (Read the law of the leper in Leviticus 14) The complete absence of sin in both parents assures us that Their Child will be born “cut off” from the death sentence that has been passed down throughout the generations from Adam. This is the promised Child with whom the one hundred and forty four thousand are looking forward to becoming joint-heirs. He will be the firstfruits of them that live, promising us an abundant harvest of living souls from this earth.
Now we can see why there is a “scapegoat” in the atonement service. Now we can see why Moses was not supposed to strike the rock the second time he brought water for the people, and now we can see why Abraham was not allowed to slay Isaac. All these are symbols to point us to the Messiah who will be “cut off” from sin at birth, and thus not come into the condemnation of death.
There are numerous places in the law where if we would really consider the clues, hidden in the form of symbols, we would know that our comprehension of the plan of salvation is deficient. I would like to examine one of these places. In Numbers chapter six we find the law concerning the Nazarite vow. This law is important for us to consider because Jesus took this vow just before He left His disciples, which He declared would last until God’s Kingdom was here. For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come. Luke 22:18. When the Kingdom of God has come; when the days of separation are fulfilled and Jesus is preparing to again drink of the fruit of the vine, He must end His separation according to the law. There are specific offerings that must be offered unto the Lord for those who have taken the Nazarite Vow. And this is the law of the Nazarite, when the days of his separation are fulfilled: he shall be brought unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: And he shall offer his offering unto the LORD, one he lamb of the first year without blemish for a burnt offering, and one ewe lamb of the first year without blemish for a sin offering, and one ram without blemish for peace offerings, Numbers 6:13-14. In these verses we find three distinct animal sacrifices, a male lamb, a female lamb and a father lamb. Except for the fact these are in a different order, we see here another set of symbols that illustrate for us a family. Every animal sacrifice specified in the Law, points to Jesus. ...He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. Hebrews 10:9. Jesus takes away the earthly priesthood and animal sacrifice in order to establish a Divine Priesthood and Sacrifice. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Act 4:12. Before Jesus can end His separation spelled out in the Nazarite Vow, the literal People symbolized in this symbolic service must be physically available for us to see and comprehend. There will be no pinch hitting, no stunt doubles and no substitutes, because these too are symbols and symbols were only given to us for educational purposes. The only reason for a symbol to exist is to stand in place of the real, and as the Spirit explained to me, symbols cannot coexist during the time of the literal application.
Many tell me that this alleged Messiah Family I write about is not even mentioned in the Bible. The truth is that this Family is mentioned, both in parable and in prophecy, and in both cases God has held His hand over it, keeping it a mystery, until the time has come for it to be present truth.
Literal hidden in parable
The instance I would like to look at first is found in the book of John and took place just a few days before Jesus’ death. And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. 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. John 12:23-24. It is obvious that Jesus is speaking here in a parable, and when asked why He taught in parables, And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand. Luke 8:10. Some were allowed understanding of this mystery, but for most it would be kept a mystery until the time comes for it to be present truth. We, you and I, are living in the time in this world’s history when the Second Advent is expected. According to John in the book of Revelations, it is now time for this mystery to be understood. But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets. Revelation 10:7. In other words before the time of the seventh angel, more precisely during the last portion of the sixth angel, God will begin to open to us this mystery by removing His hand and allowing us to see that the key to this parable is found in ...but the woman is the glory of the man. 1 Corinthians 11:7. Using this key to unlock the verse, we find Jesus explaining, that the time is at hand for His Helpmeet to be separated from Him. He then goes on to explain how this will all take place. First I must die, then like a seed I will be divided into two halves and a sprout will grow up from between the two of Us. The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified, Jesus the Husband, glorified by the Woman who will be His wife and the Jesus the Father, glorified in the Son She will bring forth in His name. It is from this sprout that the harvest of the living is reaped. All who surrender themselves to be joint heirs with the lamb that lives will receive their inheritance without the need of going through the grave.
The second instance I would like to draw your attention to is found in the book of Matthew. And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. Matthew 18:5. The Spirit explained to me that this is not meant to be read, your child, my child or one of our neighbor’s children, who is able to stand up and preach Jesus. But rather this is Jesus’ Own Son, the Child who at birth will receive His Fathers name. This my friends, is the part of the Second Advent we now know nothing about, because as a church we have refused to look beyond the symbols. Those that continue along this path will not recognize the opening scenes of the Second Advent and will reject Jesus’ Son and in rejecting the Son they will find they have alienated themselves from the Father.
Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: Matthew 7:22-24. Jesus is speaking about two different groups of people. Of one group Jesus says I never knew you, because they refused to accept His Son who He gave to be a redeemer for humanity’s inheritance, according to the law borne out in the story of Ruth. Of the second group, He calls them wise, because they have built their house upon the rock. He does not intend for us to understand that all who have a rock under the foundation of our residence will be saved. In His parable He is telling us that our family and our spiritual life (house) must be grounded upon the rock, and this rock is revealed truth. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven... and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Matthew 16:17-18.
I would like to look one more time where this Messiah Family is found in the Bible, mentioned in parable. This takes place one day after Jesus has fed the five thousand with the loaves and fishes, with enough left over to fill twelve baskets. And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither? Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed. Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. John 6: 25-29. The fundamental doctrine of what we must do to be saved is found in these verses but this information is given in the form of a parable, that in seeing they might not see and hearing they might not understand, because this is part of the mystery of God. We are on the verge of the opening of the Seventh Seal and it is now time for the mysteries of God to be understood. I would like to go though these verses using the rest of the chapter to explain their meaning.
Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life. In verse thirty-one and thirty-two Jesus explains that the bread, manna, Moses gave them from heaven was only temporal bread and should not be confused with the bread which the Father will send. For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. John 6:33. At this point those with Him requested, give us this bread. And in verses thirty-five through forty Jesus explains to them that I am the bread of life sent by My Father into this world in order to secure a harvest from this world. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. John 6:40 Like the Jews who said, How can this man give us his flesh to eat, many of us too have a hard time with this idea. We have a saying that is usually said about someone who is into sports; we say that they eat, drink, live and breathe the game. These people know off the top of their head all of the stats of their favorite teams, and follow closely the careers of each player. Even though we are aware of this concept, many refuse to apply it to what Jesus is saying. Many prefer to latch onto the part about and believeth on him, not wishing to put forth the effort in eating, drinking, living and breathing Jesus, because that would require us to stand out from nominal Christians as we closely follow His career in the Heavenly Sanctuary.
God the Father sent His Son into this world to be to us the bread of life, that in eating, drinking, living and breathing His Son, we would come to know Him. Even though this is a true statement, this is not what Jesus is telling us in the next part of the verse. Which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed. What Jesus is telling us is He is going to do just what He has witnessed His Father do, that is give His Son to be to us the bread of life. It says the Son of man shall, future tense, because the Father has sealed Him, or set Him aside, for this work. This understanding can be confirmed by reading further into the chapter. Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. John 6:53. This part of the Gospel has remained a mystery long enough. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. Genesis 2:24. According to scripture the flesh that the Son of man gives that we must eat, drink, live and breathe, is the one flesh that comes into existence after a man leaves his father and mother and is joined unto his wife. Maybe it is only obvious to grandparents, but is should be apparent to everyone, that the one flesh they are to become is in their child. When a grandmother or grandfather takes into their arms for the first time, that new grandchild, they look them over and proclaim. O look! Look at those eyes, look at that mouth, look at those fingers, and they continue on until each feature has been labeled as to whether it has been acquired from its mother or its father. You see these facts, these principles are not foreign to us. We know these things yet we refuse to allow them to be applied to Jesus because we do not believe He is really human. We refuse to allow ourselves to image our Messiah in a marital embrace because Satan has degraded this beautiful God given principle to the place that many find it uncomfortable to think about.
Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. This part of the verse is not too difficult to understand now that we understand the first part of the verse. If we want to work, the work of God, we must believe on the one He hath sent, but this believing is an active belief in that we must eat, drink, live and breathe His career. Many claim to be closely following Christ’s career, pointing to the many wonderful works they are performing in His name, but when the Son is revealed, if they refuse to believe on him (the son) whom he (the father) hath sent, they will find the Father professing, I never knew you. God the Father sent His Son and promised eternal life to all who believe on Him, and that they would be raised up at the last day. Jesus will send His Son and promises eternal life to all who believe on Him. One is the firstfruits of the dead and one is the firstfruits of the living.
Literal hidden in prophecy
Now that we have looked at some of the places where our Messiah Family is mentioned in parable, let us take a look at some of the places this same information is given to us in prophecy.
He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. Isaiah 53:8-10. It is generally agreed that this passage refers to the life of Jesus and how after His death he shall see his seed. Many disavow the fact that this passage implies that there will be a wife and child by passing it off to mean the church and spiritual children. But the Lord saw fit to provide for us additional information in the story of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch. As we all know a eunuch is as good as dead as far as having a child is concerned, and now this Ethiopian eunuch has found a passage in the scriptures about a person, who after his death is able to see his seed. As he ponders this mystery, the Holy Spirit inspires Philip to tutor him and then makes sure this story is included in the scriptures for our instruction. There is one more Old Testament prophecy like this one where the wife or mother figure is implied rather than mentioned. Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son’s name, if thou canst tell? Proverbs 30:4.
I would like to be able to say that from the book of nature we have learned that there can not be a child without a mother figure. Even though we have gone through all the symbols that show this same truth, I feel there are a few who still need help with this concept. So with out delay let’s go directly to the prophecy where the mother and child are both described. And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. ... And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne. Revelation 12:1-5. This prophecy is filled with symbols. For years we have understood that the woman John saw here, was symbolic of God’s church and the child to whom she gave birth, was symbolic of Jesus. And indeed, this was present truth for that time, but anytime a symbol, directs our attention to another symbol, we can be sure we do not yet have a complete understanding of the prophecy. Just like in the case of the Mt. Rushmore National Memorial, when a symbol points to another symbol we have a much harder time looking beyond the symbol to see the individuals symbolized. We can not allow ourselves to hold onto our incomplete understanding with such tenacity that we say the Bible means this and this only. Be assured one day truth will come that will allow us to understand to whom all of these symbols in Revelation twelve are directing our attention.
The present truth for today is a message explaining to us who this Woman and Child really are, and how they impact our salvation. In the final analysis, in the literal application of this scene, this Woman is Jesus’ Bride. Woman a term coined by Adam meaning she was taken out of man tells us She is the very same person who was separated from Jesus’ side as He hung on the cross after He had entered into that deep sleep like Adam. A woman clothed with the sun, She is clothed in Her Husband’s righteousness, the sun directs our attention to the literal person Jesus, Jesus the light of this world. And she being with child; the Child directs our attention to the literal Son of Jesus, the one He is able to see even after He has been dead. Now you see the symbols are all directing our attention to literal individuals.
Many ask why I continue to try to share this information with them because they have no curiosity to look into another message, they are satisfied with the truth they have and the position they now hold. As I said before, we are now on the brink of the opening of the seventh seal. According to John in Revelation eight verse five there will be an earthquake when this seal opens. We know from inspiration that the earthquake that marked the opening of the sixth seal was the Lisbon earthquake of November 1, 1755, and from history that it was a devastating earthquake. I will answer your question with these questions, are you prepared to live through all of the events that must transpire in the first six months after the seventh seal opens? Is your faith strong enough and your knowledge of truth broad enough to sustain you through the time of trouble that will come? Have you oil in your lamp and extra oil in your flask to see you through these troublous times?
The present truth for today, the oil that must be in your flask is an understanding of the Messiah Family. We have been told to ...strive with all the power that God has given us to be among the hundred and forty-four thousand. RH, March 9, 1905. The one hundred and forty-four thousand all have a seal in their forehead, they are sealed by knowledge, knowledge they have gained in their quest to understand one particular three part message. The 144,000 were all sealed and perfectly united. On their foreheads was written, God, New Jerusalem, and a glorious star containing Jesus’ new name. EW 15. I ask you today, look at your flask, is it full? If it is not, please do not wait until you hear the voice of the Bride and the Bridegroom before you try to fill it, because then it will be too late. As the scroll of truth unrolls, we will learn that this mystery is all about Jesus, His Wife and their Son. Not only will we be allowed to see the Messiah Family, we will learn the role each member plays in the redemption process for mankind. As the hand of God is lifted allowing us to comprehend this mystery, we find that the information was always there; in symbols, in the creation story, in the sacrificial offerings, in the parables, and in prophecy.
Yours to help teach this Gospel of the Kingdom
Athen Slawson
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